A convertible includes a top having a foldable support structure made of metal sections articulated with one another. The metal sections are hot-formed and at least partially heat treated.

A control duty is obtained, which asymptotically makes the output of a control subject consistent with an output of a reference model. The output of the control subject simulates a dynamic characteristic of a variable valve timing controller, and the output of the reference model simulates an ideal input-output characteristic of the variable valve timing. The control duty makes a difference between the output of the reference model and an actual valve timing small enough. A parameter of a contro...

A method is provided for making an automobile assembly having a molded plastics structural member and a reinforcing member in which a polymerisable adhesive is employed to bond the two members together and an automobile assembly having a bonded structural member and a reinforcing member. The assembly is suitably used as a "front end carrier" or a bumper system in an automobile.

A sunshade for use with an automobile includes a plurality of housings which can be mounted on the roof of the automobile. Each of the housings contains a flexible sunshade which is mounted on a roller. The sunshades can be unrolled to protect the front windshield, the side windows, the rear window and the roof of the automobile. Magnets are provided on the outer edges of the sunshades for attachment to the body of the automobile.

A sunshade includes a fabric shelter, which is sized and shaped adapted for sheltering a window of a window frame of a vehicle, having a heat blocking side for blocking heat radiation of sunlight from entering into the vehicle through the window frame, and a retention frame having at least two resilient retention portions spacedly mounted along a peripheral edge of the fabric shelter, wherein the resilient retention portions of the retention frame is adapted to be deformed for respectively apply...

An automobile hood has a skin and a frame reinforcing it. At least part of a space defined between the skin and the frame is packed with a foamed metal which breaks down continuously upon receiving an external force. Its continuous breakdown absorbs a substantially equal amount of impact energy continuously.

An automobile seat includes a seat cushion frame, a side frame, and a seat back frame mounted on the side frame to be rotatable within a limited angle. An elastic member and a guide portion having an elastic member holding portion are mounted on the side frame and the seat back frame. The seat back frame is normally fixed to the side frame with the elastic member held in the holding portion, but when a load greater than a predetermined value is inputted from behind, a lower portion of the seat b...

A hinge for pivotably mounting a panel to a vehicle body includes a panel attachment plate securable to the panel, a body attachment plate securable to the vehicle body, and an intermediate member pivotably attached between the body and panel attachment plates. The intermediate member has opposite sidewalls and a center flange extending between the sidewalls. The sidewalls engage the body attachment plate with the center flange spaced from the body attachment plate when the intermediate member i...

A bonnet for an automobile, having an outer member made from FRP and an inner member made from FRP and joined to the back-surface side of the outer member, wherein the outer member has a high-rigidity section having a rigidity higher than a rigidity of the central section of the outer member along an outer edge of the outer member, and the inner member is joined to the outer member at the high-rigidity section. While being achieved an advantage of weight lightening of the bonnet by making it fro...

An automobile seat includes a seat cushion, a seat back tiltably mounted on the seat cushion, and a head rest mounted on an upper portion of the seat back. The automobile seat also includes a seat cushion frame, a pair of side frames mounted on the seat cushion frame, and a seat back frame mounted on the pair of side frames so as to be rockable within a limited range of angle. The seat further includes a seat back frame rocking mechanism for causing, when an acceleration greater than a predeterm...