Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.

Thetford Corporation

Asc Corporation

Lear Corporation

Ut Automotive Dearborn, Inc.

United Technologies Automotive Systems Inc.

Coastal Trading Company

Sheryar Durrani

Richard Lawrence Matsu

Kenneth J Hall

Gregory F Exner

Mark D Good

Andrew J Massara

James C Masters

Philip W Leistra, Iii

Russell K Davidson

Mark T Lecznar

Greg Exner

John Curtis Hofer

William R Cohoon

Mark E Scharboneau

E Scott Dershem

Dennis E Martin

Mark R Shermetaro

William K Schneider

John F Krueger

E Joseph McCarthy

A includes a main body portion defining a waste holding chamber, a vent path extending from the waste holding chamber to atmosphere, and a float member. The float member is coupled to the tank for movement between a first position and a second position. The float member is movable from the first position to the second position in response to an increase in fluid level within the storage chamber. The vent passage remains open for venting the storage chamber when the float member is in the first position and is blocks the vent passage in the second position.

Portable waste transfer tank

A flush toilet assembly includes a bowl assembly defining a bowl and a base supporting the bowl assembly. One of the bowl assembly and the base may include a male coupling element and the other may include a cooperating female coupling element. A flush lever may be interconnected to the base for movement between first and second positions and may include a cam surface. A water valve may include a cam follower associated with the cam surface and may be moveable from a closed to an open position through cooperative engagement of the cam surface and cam follower in response to movement of the flush lever from the first to the second position. The base may integrally define a flush water path extending between an inlet port and an outlet port. The water valve may be disposed within a recess defined by the base which intersects the flush water path.

Flush toilet assembly

A power latch system is employed for securing a convertible roof to an automotive vehicle body. In another aspect of the present invention, a striker is movably mounted to either a forward or rearward portion of a convertible roof which is operably engaged by an automatically powered latch mounted to the vehicle body. Still another aspect of the present invention employs a rotatable latch having a striker engaging slot internally projecting from a periphery.

Power latch for an automotive vehicle convertible roof system

A steering wheel assembly generally comprises a hub having a bore for receiving an outer end of a steering column shaft. A gear is disposed within the upper end of the bore. The gear includes circumferentially spaced teeth extending radially outwardly from an annular collar. The annular collar defines an axial bore having internal threads complementary to threads on an outer end of the steering column shaft. The gear includes an axial inner end, an opposite axial outer end and an axial mid-point. A web-flange tapers radially outwardly from the axial mid-point on the collar toward the inner end.

Steering wheel assembly with improved gear

A latching and control apparatus for an automotive vehicle convertible roof employs an actuator which operably drives a main gear. In one aspect of the present invention, the main gear causes a latching hook to move from an unlatching position to a latching position. In a further aspect of the present invention, the main gear causes a first structural roof member to move relative to a second structural roof member.

Latching and control apparatus for an automotive vehicle convertible roof

The seat back flanges (32) mount a seat back (34) to a seat frame for reclining movement relative to the seat frame and a control mechanism controls the pivotal movement of the seat back (34). The control mechanism includes a tubular cylinder (54) and a first coil spring (56) is wound around and in gripping engagement with the cylinder (54). The cylinder (54) is non-rotatably secured to the seat frame by being welded or otherwise secured to the flanges (32). The first coil spring (56) has first (58) and second (60) ends extending tangentially from the cylinder (54). A second coil spring (62) is wound in the opposite direction around and is in gripping engagement with the cylinder (54) and, likewise, has third (64) and fourth (66) ends extending tangentially from the cylinder (54). A cam shaft (72) is included for moving the second end (60) relative to the first end (58) for unwinding the first coil spring (56) in a clockwise direction from the gripping engagement with the cylinder (54) to allow the pivotal movement of the seat back (34) relative to the seat frame and for moving the fourth end (66) relative to the third end (64) for unwinding the second coil spring (62) in a counterclockwise direction from the gripping engagement with the cylinder (54) to allow the pivotal movement of the seat back relative to the seat frame.

Automotive seat back recliner

A switch for a vehicle steering wheel assembly is formed from a first and second layer of flexible material. Circuit traces are disposed on an opposed face of the first layer to control a horn function and at least a cruise control function. The second layer overlays the first layer and has a plurality of electrically conductive members spaced from the circuit traces. The second layer may be moved toward the first layer, such that at least one of the electrically conductive members is driven into contact with a circuit trace to close a switch.

Flexible switch for a vehicle steering wheel assembly

A steering wheel assembly generally comprises a hub having a bore for receiving an outer end of a steering column shaft. A gear having circumferentially spaced teeth is disposed within an upper end of the bore. The gear includes threads complementary to threads on an outer end of the steering column shaft. A hub cap is threadably secured over an outer end of the bore in the hub, thereby retaining the gear within the hub. A hub plate is secured to the hub and provides structure to which an airbag inflator is secured above the hub and hub cap. During removal of the steering wheel assembly from the steering column shaft, the gear impinges upon the hub cap and directly transmits force to the hub to separate the hub from the steering column shaft.

Steering wheel assembly

A vehicle steering wheel assembly includes a steering wheel body having a hole and a flexible outer cover. The cover and steering wheel body defines an air chamber. A diaphragm is disposed in line with the hole and includes an electrically conductive film on an opposed face. In an off position, the electrically conductive material is spaced from a pair of circuit traces in the clockspring. The circuit traces control a horn function. An operator may apply a force to the outer cover which drives the diaphragm and the electrically conductive material into contact with the circuit traces. An electrical circuit is closed and actuates the horn function. When the force is removed from the outer cover, the electrically conductive material moves out of contact with the circuit traces and into an off position.

Air actuated horn switch for a vehicle steering wheel assembly

A plate for mounting an airbag, and for carrying horn switch contacts is snapped to the hub of a steering wheel. The plate may move between actuated and non-actuated positions relative to the hub. Integral springs bias the plate to a non-actuated position. An operator may apply a force to the steering wheel central portion to overcome the spring force and move the plate to an actuated position at which a horn switch is actuated. The plate has slots which snap on snap fingers from the hub. The snap on assembly simplifies and improves the overall assembly of the steering wheel. Moreover, the use of the integral springs also simplifies and improves the overall assembly. The airbag cover is preferably guided in a central area on the steering wheel to insure that the airbag cover is centered, thus minimizing gaps between the airbag cover and the steering wheel.

Snap-on air bag and horn switch module

A clock spring and steering wheel rear cover arrangement are particularly well-suited for a modular steering wheel and air bag sub-assembly. The clock spring is attached to the rear of a hub in the steering wheel assembly, and the rear cover snaps behind the clock spring. The clock spring and rear cover may be pre-assembled with the modular steering wheel and air bag such that the entire assembly is attached as a unit to a steering column. A tab from the rear cover may snap into an opening on the rear of the hub. The clock spring may include a hard connection into an air bag igniter, or may utilize a wire harness connection. A single opening in the rear of the hub for the steering column may receive an electrical connection for accessories on the steering wheel along with providing a connection to the air bag igniter. Also, the clock spring housing includes structure to be aligned on the steering column.

Modular clock spring arrangement

A modular steering wheel and airbag combination includes an airbag assembly, a steering wheel assembly and a separate hub plate. The combination is preassembled as a unitary component which can easily be attached to a steering column shaft. A taper or wedge lock is formed between the steering wheel armature and hub plate. The steering wheel assembly includes a plurality of ribs or spokes extending from an upper rim portion of the steering wheel assembly and a ring portion connecting the spokes to provide structural integrity and support to the steering wheel assembly. The airbag assembly includes a retaining ring as part of an airbag component which provides easy and secure attachment of the airbag component to the hub plate. The inventive steering wheel and airbag combination comprises a structure for securing the combination to a steering column shaft. One embodiment of the structure includes a worm gear and complementary gear. The complementary gear may be a helical gear. In other embodiments, the combination is secured to a steering column shaft by rotating the combination to a predetermined stop position and inserting the locking bolt into the threaded bore and tightly securing the bolt. A method of securing the combination to a steering column shaft is disclosed. A method of forming and assembling a steering wheel and airbag combination is also disclosed.

Modular steering wheel and airbag combination

A universal firearm locking assembly prevents unauthorized access to a trigger of a firearm. The firearm locking assembly includes a first side member and a second side member which pivot relative to each other about a pivot member. A locking mechanism locks the first side member relative to the second side member after the side members are clamped around the trigger and a trigger guard of the firearm. The locking mechanism includes a spring which is wound around the pivot member with enough force to prevent relative motion between the spring and the pivot member. The spring is secured to one of the side members and the pivot member is secured to the other. An access code input into the circuitry via a keypad will unlock an unlocking plate which can then be rotated to release the spring from the pivot member allowing them and the side members to move relative to each other.

Growing community of inventors

Canton, MI, United States of America

Sheryar Durrani