Abstract: A ski rack (120) for attachment to an articulated support rack (10) is disclosed. The ski rack includes a vertically oriented mainframe (124) to which a set of mounting arms (132) is attached for securing the ski rack to frame members (30, 32) integral with the support rack. A support frame (126) is secured to the top of the mainframe; a locking frame (130) is secured to the bottom of the mainframe. Skis are placed in a support rack in vertical orientation such that the top clips of the skis are suspended by the support frame. The tail ends of the skis are disposed inside the locking frame (130) to prevent the skis from swaying. The mounting arms, the support frame, and the locking frame are all hingedly secured to the mainframe so that when the ski rack is not used it may be folded flat for storage.

Abstract: A bicycle handlebar assembly (25) for damping and reducing the shock to which a cyclist is normally exposed is disclosed. The assembly includes a mounting block (256) attached to the head (12) of a bicycle front fork assembly. An upper linkage member (252) and a lower linkage member (254) that are parallel and spaced apart from each other are pivotally attached at their tail ends to the mounting block. A handlebar clamp (258) for securing a set of handlebars (24) thereto is pivotally attached to the front ends of the upper and lower linkage members. A damping element is disposed against one of the linkage members for slowing the downward movement of the linkage members and serving as a sink for a downward force applied to the linkage members when the handlebars are urged downward. In some preferred embodiments of the invention the damping member is a spring element (268).

Abstract: A bicycle handlebar assembly for dampening and reducing the shock to which a cyclist is normally exposed is disclosed. The assembly includes a mounting block attached to the head of a bicycle front fork assembly. An upper linkage member and a lower linkage member that are parallel and spaced apart from each other are pivotally attached at their tail ends to the mounting block. A handlebar clamp for securing a handlebar thereto is pivotally attached to the front ends of the upper and lower linkage members. A dampening element is disposed against one of the linkage members for slowing the downward movement of the linkage members and serving as a sink for a downward force applied to the linkage members when the handlebars are urged downwards. In some preferred embodiments of the invention the dampening member is a layer of elastomeric material disposed between the upper and lower linkage members. In other embodiments of the invention the dampening members include a spring element.

Abstract: A bicycle including a novel bicycle frame and seat support as disclosed. Bicycle frame includes a top tube as a first section extends substantially vertically from the second section extends diagonally downward towards the rear tube to which two frame stays which are joined to chain stays adjacent the rear wheel hub are attached. A center tube extends from a bottom bracket to the top tube section adjacent where the frame stays are joined to the top tube. A beam seat support formed out of a pair of elongated beams is attached to the frame top tube first section. A bicycle seat is attached to the end of the beam seat support.

Abstract: An articulated support rack (10) for a vehicle (12) having a trailer hitch sleeve (20). The support rack (10) includes a base member (28) having a tongue portion (41) slidably engaged with the trailer hitch sleeve (20). First and second frame members (30, 32) are pivotally mounted in spaced parallel relationship on the base member (28). A pair of arms (34) are pivotally attached to the top rail (54) of the frame members (30, 32) to remain in a substantially horizontal position as the frame members (30, 32) pivot between a substantially raised position and a substantially lowered position. A pair of lock plates (36) are pivotally mounted to the base member (28) and have notches (74) formed thereon to positively engage and lock the frame members (30, 32) in the raised position.

Abstract: A seat support for a bicycle including a combination beam interconnected with a bicycle frame at one end and having a seat mounted on its opposite end. The combination beam includes longitudinally extending load support members of relatively high modulus of elasticity spaced from each other along at least a portion of their length to define a gap. An elastomeric shock absorbing material is positioned in the gap. The material being deformed responsive to relative movement of the structural members of the beam when the beam is bent under load such that the material absorbs shock and vibration.

Abstract: A lubricating and cleaning device adapted to be mounted to a pressurized can of lubricating oil and used to lubricate and clean a drive chain of a bicycle or motorcycle. The device has a generally cylindrical housing with an open slot to receive the chain. A plurality of brushes are positioned within the housing to engage the chain. A tube extends from the pressurized container to the housing to transmit the lubricating oil to one of the brushes so that the chain can be lubricated.

Abstract: A seat support for a vehicle including a combination beam interconnected with the vehicle at one end and having a seat mounted on its opposite end. The combination beam includes longitudinally extending load support members of relatively high modulus of elasticity spaced from each other along at least a portion of their length to define a gap. An elastomeric shock absorbing material is positioned in the gap. The material being deformed responsive to relative movement of the structural members of the beam when the beam is bent under load such that the material absorbs shock and vibration.

Abstract: A cross country ski having a bottom running surface with a plurality of grooves formed thereon. Each groove has a central portion extending transversely to the length of the ski and two lateral portions slanting rearwardly and outwardly from the forward portion. Each groove has a surface slanting toward a flat portion coincident with the running surface, in a manner that at any transverse location on the bottom of the ski a portion of the bottom surface is in contact with the surface of the snow.

Abstract: A pair of replaceable cleaning cartridges adapted to be inserted alternatively into a cassette cleaner. There is a first cleaning cartridge having a drive element which engages a drive member of the machine to cause a cleaning pad to move on a back and forth cleaning path to clean a read/write head. The second cartridge contains a stationary cleaning pad to engage and clean the drive member of the machine.

Abstract: A cleaning cassette for a tape drive machine wherein a capstan of the machine drives a cleaning portion of the cassette across the magnetic head of the machine. The cassette includes a carriage having two ends which extends across the cassette in the length direction, which is pivotally mounted on one end, and which includes a slot around the pivot pin to allow back and fourth motion across the head. The other end of the carriage holds the cleaning portion and is allowed to move toward and away from the head by virtue of the pivotal mounting. A drive gear system in the cassette moves the carriage across the head.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning a digitally encoded disc by moving a circumferential wiping surface in a circular path across the periphery of the disc toward the middle of the disc, and again outwardly toward the periphery of the disc. This is accomplished by having a gear drive connection between a rotatable disc support member and a rotatable wiping member positioned above and offset to one side of the support member. Rotation of the cleaning member causes a relatively slower rotation of the support member so that all parts of the disc are properly cleaned.

Abstract: A conventional J-hook is mounted to a slot board by means of an adapter having a front plate fitting against the slot board and a mounting element extending into a slot of the slot board. The J-hook has a right angle finger portion, comprising a laterally extending member which fits in an upper horizontal recess formed in the front plate and mounting portion of the adapter, and an upper finger retaining portion which extends behind the flange defining the slot. The adapter maintains the J-hook in a proper position so that it will not inadvertantly be pulled loose from the slot board by, for example, a lateral and downward force being exterted on the J-hook.

Abstract: A container having a base containing portion and a movable cover portion is provided to contain a product for shipment or storage. The cover of the container is removed, and the base portion of the container, having two upstanding side walls, is suspended from a pegboard or slot board by providing two mounting adaptors to engage the side walls. Two mounting connectors, such as J-hooks, are used to interconnect the mounting adaptors to the pegboard or slot board, so as to mount the base portion of the container to display the product.