Abstract: My invention is a new and improved hammer mechanism which reduces the strength of the hammer mainspring without also reducing the hammer's strike force. My invention comprises a link mechanism integrally assembled to the hammer of a firearm. The link mechanism moves at a positive velocity relative to the hammer as the hammer itself moves from the “cocked” position to the striking position. Both the hammer and the link mechanism are biased into the striking position by the hammer mainspring with a section of the link mechanism protruding from the front surface of the hammer and impacting the firing element of the firearm or primer. The link mechanism thus impacts the firing element or primer at a velocity and force roughly equal to the aggregate velocities and forces of the hammer and the link mechanism.

Abstract: An interbar assembly (34) for reversibly attaching a supplemental device, e.g., grenade launcher (32), to a host weapon, e.g., rifle (10). A preferred interbar assembly (34) attaches at its forward end to the rifle barrel (16), and at its rearward end to a “brace” (37) located in the breech area of the rifle (10). In a preferred embodiment, such connection can be made without the need for special tools after simply removing the host weapon lower hand guard (26b), which is readily removable, but without any other alterations.

Abstract: An improved telescopic gunsight is provided by combining a conventional telescopic gunsight with a reticle having a primary vertical cross-hair, a primary horizontal cross-hair intersecting the primary vertical cross-hair, a plurality of secondary horizontal cross-hairs having predetermined thickness evenly spaced a predetermined distance along the primary vertical cross-hair, a plurality of secondary vertical cross-hairs having predetermined thickness evenly spaced a predetermined distance along at least some of the secondary horizontal cross-hairs and an optical range-finder for quickly determining the range to the intended target. Some of the secondary horizontal cross-hairs are marked with a unique identifying character to assist the shooter in quickly finding an aiming point.

Abstract: A sighting device comprises a fiber optic element removably mounted on a support bracket which is adapted for attachment to ventilation rib of a gun. The sighting device is primarily for use in low light conditions and can be readily mounted and removed from the gun in immediate response to changing light conditions. In addition, the fiber optic element is removably attached to the support bracket, thereby allowing alternate fiber optic elements to be selectively mounted on the sighting device as desired.

Abstract: A breech block firearm safety device for the prevention of injury to children having unauthorized access to loaded firearms. This device will also protect gun owners from injury due to mishandling or the dropping a loaded weapon. The safety device utilizes a two piece blocking assembly having a breech member and a bore member. The breech member is inserted into the breech just as you would insert a live round to arm a weapon. The bore member is inserted into the muzzle of the firearm and screw connected to the breech member using special tooling. The chamber blocking assembly can be easily extracted but the overall length is such that the end of the bore member remains in the breech making ejection impossible. The assembly can only be returned to the breech, making manual or automatic loading of live ammunition impossible. When the above safety device is installed in a revolver the overall length prevents the rotation of the cylinder and prevents the loading of live ammunition into firing position.

Abstract: A speaker support bar supports a pair of speakers above a vehicle headliner. The speaker support bar is positioned vertically above the headliner, and thus the uniform appearance of the headliner is preserved. The speaker support bar extends between lateral support ends which transfer the weight of the speakers to the headliner over a wide area, and near the vehicle frame. Thus, the headliner is able to support the weight of the speakers. The invention also facilitates the pre-assembly of the headliner and its sound system prior to attachment of the headliner to the vehicle.

Abstract: The single-foot drivable skate and skateboard is constituted of the simultaneously steering-driving mechanism, synchronous differential driving mechanism, wheel and board. The simultaneously steering-driving mechanism comprises a universal pedal, the driving-steering rod and the single pole truck. The single pole truck pivotally supports the board with a pivot joint or ball joint. The driving-steering rod slides in the slot passing through the pivotal joint and the truck. The synchronous differential driving mechanism made of the noncontact gripping force or the upper-bounded gripping force includes the engaging drums shifted by the shift screws. The shift screws are knotched at the ends of the crankshaft axis. With the manipulation of a sole or heel, the skate or skateboard can twist the pedal to skate, tread the pedals to skate forward and backward, accelerate, decelerate, free-run, brake, turn right and left.

Abstract: A hitch support mechanism is positionable in a vertical direction to adjust for the hitch height of a trailing vehicle. The hitch support may be adapted to be removably attachable to a receiver fixed to a vehicle. The hitch support may be configured as a four-bar linkage in which a fixed link is secured by a trunnion to the receiver of a towing vehicle. A translating link may support directly attachment of a hitch, such as a ball hitch. Two rotating links, spaced from one another may extend parallel to one another. The rotating links connect the fixed link to the translating link. The rotating links each rotate about a respective axle, remaining parallel with respect to one another. An adjustment mechanism may fix the relative position of the translating link with respect to the fixed link. A system of apertures and a pin may provide a very compact adjustment mechanism, resulting in a light weight and compact envelope for the hitch support.

Abstract: A spare tire storage compartment cover has at least two sections joined by a living hinge. When the cover is in place over the spare tire storage compartment, it is held in place by a conventional tie-down mechanism that secures the first section in place. The second section, located toward the rear of the vehicle when the cover is in place, can be rotated relative to the first section to allow access to the spare tire storage compartment. The first and second sections are preferably formed from wood, such as composition board, and a carpet is secured to both sections in conventional fashion, such as by clips. The carpet provides the living hinge joining the first and second sections.

Abstract: An assembly for mounting a vehicle sunshade in a panel opening comprises a first mounting member that receives a sunshade mounting shaft to permit rotation thereof. A second mounting member closely receives the first mounting member. A plurality of resilient legs extend from the second mounting member. The legs are arranged to extend into the panel opening to retain the second mounting member in the panel opening. Cooperating surfaces on the interior of the legs define an axially outer first position of engagement and an axially inner second position of axial engagement. The first position prevents radial inward deflection of the legs to retain the first mounting member in the panel opening and the second position permits radial inward deflection to allow removal of the second mounting member from the panel opening.

Abstract: An "I" tent door configuration (60) is described with pull ties (120). A system for adapting and attaching a tailgate tent (22) to a vehicle (20) having various rear opening (173) configurations is described. This system includes attachment to vehicle (20) appendages: hatch (32), rear rain gutter (31) and tailgate (30), and adaptation devices for a vehicle (20) not equipped with said appendages. This system also includes embodiments of a support sleeve which holds lift support (278) open. A rain/sun fly (25) is described for use with an independent canopy (322) and/or rear panel (49) of tailgate tent (22). Finally, magnetically hemmed side window screens (24) are described.

Abstract: In a fuel cut controller wherein fuel supply is stopped to some cylinders when there is a fuel cut request, an ordinary fuel cut mode and a multi-cylinder fuel cut mode are set. When the ordinary fuel cut mode has continued for a predetermined time, fuel cut is performed in an equal or larger number of cylinders in the multi-cylinder fuel cut mode, and the engine output torque therefore decreases further. At the same time, due to the increase in cylinders where fuel supply is stopped, the amount of fresh air flowing from these cylinders to a catalytic converter increases, and the amount of unburned fuel flowing into the converter from the cylinders where fuel supply is performed decreases. As a result, heat due to reaction of unburned fuel in the converter decreases, and the increasing amount of fresh air cools the converter, so temperature rise of the converter is suppressed.

Abstract: The automatic seats in a vehicle are designed to minimize the seriousness of car-crash injuries during a frontal collision. When the vehicle collides against the other vehicle or any other stationary objects at a relative velocity of 40 Km/h or up, the backrest is pushed to recline backward by the action of the springs together with various mechanisms especially designed. Spring of either torsion type or tension type is used. The collision results in pulling the upper part of the body of the driver or the occupants fastened by the designed safety-belts to recline backwards. Thus, the pelvis, the chest and the head of an occupant sitting on this automatic safety car seat are moved away to the farmost and thus, can avoid striking with the deforming frontal parts of the car intruding by the frontal collision. The chest injuries and the brain damage can then be effectively avoided.

Abstract: An arrangement for absorbing collision energy in a vehicle, preferably a passenger car, incorporating a framework and a forward portion with a wheel housing (24) on each side. A first elongated force-transmitting device (2) with a first end portion (2a), a second end portion (2b) and an intermediate portion (2c) which is arranged between these latter. The first end portion (2a) is connected to the framework and the second end portion (2b)is connected to a bumper element at the forward end of the vehicle. The intermediate portion (2c) extends past the pertinent wheel housing (24). The second end portion (2b) is at the same time designed with a greater width than the intermediate portion (2c) and covers the greater part of the width of the vehicle wheel arranged in the wheel housing (24).

Abstract: A support structure for supporting a foamable material in a cavity of a hollow structural member so that the foamable material blocks the cavity of the hollow structural member when it is foamed by external heating. The support structure includes a support member disposed in the cavity so as to be perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the cavity and adapted to retain the foamable material in such a manner that at least one side surface of the foamable material is restrictively covered by the support member, and an engagement pin integrally provided on the support member and adapted to engage an aperture formed in the hollow structural member.

Abstract: A hydraulic power steering gear assembly includes an assembly body defining a piston chamber having opposed chamber ends with plunger passages formed in the ends, a reciprocating piston and a chamber having opposed ends and a passage extending between the piston ends, a check valve at each end of the piston passage, and a plunger assembly in each plunger passage with each assembly including a spring frictionally holding assembly in the passage and a poppet extending into the chamber to unseat a ball valve as the piston is moved toward one end of the chamber.

Abstract: A vehicular bumper beam is comprised of a hollow member of high tension steel, which has a front corner portion with an inclined surface. With this arrangement, when a collision energy is applied obliquely to the corner portion of the bumper beam, the collision energy is received by the inclined surface. As a result, a small collision energy arising from a collision at a low speed can readily be absorbed while a large collision energy arising from a collision at a high speed can be transmitted to a vehicle body quickly and efficiently.

Abstract: The invention relates to an integral motor vehicle rear axle of the twist-beam axle type, which comprises an opposed pair of longitudinal control arms (2) of a high flexural strength and torsional stiffness for carrying a wheel carrier for a wheel, and a transverse strut (3) which is resistant to bending but resilient relative to torsional stress and which comprises a profiled cross-section changing the position of the shear center. The transverse strut (3) consists of an extruded aluminum profile with an extrusion structure extending in the longitudinal direction of the transverse strut.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel has an annular rim, a hub, and a plurality of wire spokes coupling the rim and the hub. The rim has an axially extending web provided with tire locating beads. In some embodiments those ends of the spokes joined to the rim extend through the web whereas in other embodiments the rim is provided with a flange radially inward of the web to which the spokes are joined. The rim has circumferentially spaced scalloped or sculptured zones the surfaces of which are inclined relative to the axis of the rim, thereby enabling the spokes to be coupled to the rim at axially spaced points and distribute the forces acting between the spokes and the rim over a relatively greater area axially of the rim.

Abstract: A tonneau cover for a pick-up truck cargo box in which a flexible sheet cover is attached to a frame with snap fasteners. The snap portions carried by the frame rails are slidable there along and can be removed from the rail to change the position of the snap fastener. A spring retainer is mounted to the rail end to prevent inadvertent removal of the snap portions by providing a deflectable stop in the path of travel of the snap portions. The stop portion is deflectable to enable the snap portions to be removed from the rail when desired.