Magna International Inc.

William J Harney

Timothy Frances O'Brien

Douglas Broadhead

Manfred Fritsch

Gordon Liu

Tomislav Jankovic

A vehicular module () secures a plurality of components to a motor vehicle () having a frame (). The vehicular module () includes a tray () and a support member () that is fixedly secured to the tray (). The tray (includes a plurality of receiving apertures for mounting a plurality of components thereto. The support member () engages the frame () of the motor vehicle () to support the tray () and provide structural integrity to the vehicle frame (). The module () may be pre-assembled prior to installation to the vehicle frame ().

Mid structural module

A powered seat adjuster incorporating features including:

Powered six-way seat adjustor and mechanisms therefor

A load bearing structural assembly comprising a threaded lead screw having a central axis, the lead screw having a mounting mechanism and an anchor mechanism affixed to one end thereof; the lead screw having mounted thereon a first drive nut having an opening therethrough, the first drive nut having a predetermined load bearing capacity, the structural assembly having a second drive nut having an opening therethrough the second nut affixed to the first drive nut, the second nut having a much greater predetermined load bearing capacity than the first drive nut; the structural assembly having a collet having an interior and exterior, the collet in communication with the exterior surface of the second drive nut upon the interior of the collet, having an opening therethrough, having a transmission mechanism affixed to the first drive nut and the collet, when the transmission mechanism subjects a load upon the first drive nut in a direction along the lead screw, such load will be subjected upon the collet which will further capture the second drive nut within the opening at the interior of the collet and force the second drive nut to clamp down on the lead screw sufficiently to prevent rotation of the lead screw and to pass the load from the transmission mechanism to the lead screw to the anchor mechanism, and from the anchor mechanism to the mounting mechanism, thereby resolving the axial loading of the lead screw.

A method of fastening, at least one tubular element at, at least one portion thereof to an at least one member of predetermined thickness, the method comprising establishing at least one opening through the at least one member, the at least one opening extending through the thickness of the at least one member, providing recesses within the at least one member, the recesses of predetermined configuration and being disposed about the perimeter of the at least one opening through the at least one member, the recesses extending radially away from the at least one opening and across at least a portion of the thickness of the at least one member, inserting the at least one tubular element within the at least one opening; holding the at least one tubular element and the at least one member within a jig; establishing recesses within the jig proximate each abutting edge of each of the tubular elements and the at least one opening through the at least one member; applying a predetermined force upon the ends of the at least one tubular element, the force being of a substantial predetermined magnitude to cause the wall portion of the at least one tubular element proximate the at least one opening and proximate the recesses established within the jig, to bead radially away from the at least one tubular element and further cause radial portions of each bead proximate the at least one opening to flow into the recesses formed within the at least one opening about the perimeter of the at least one opening; such beading providing fastening engagement between the at least one tubular eleent and the at least one member wherein no further fastening is required.

Method of fastening a tubular element to a member and joint produced

An improved pivot assembly comprising a pivot mechanism upon which a seat adjuster pivots, a bracket mechanism having an elongated slot in which a fastening mechanism for the pivot mechanism is contained, a lining portion affixed to the bracket mechanism the lining portion having flanges extending through the elongated slot laterally away from the lining portion, the flanges having a predetermined curvature, a fastening mechanism passing through the lining portion, bracket mechanism and pivot mechanism, whereby when the fastening mechanism is affixed to the pivot mechanism through the bracket mechanism the flanges of the lining portion are biased against the fastening mechanism, thereby the tolerance of the improved pivot assembly are optimized to allow a minimum of play or chuck amongst the components therefor.

Growing community of inventors

Willowdale, Canada

William J Harney