Abstract: A quick-release bicycle axle fastener for standard hollow axles and standard safety drop-outs, comprising a control rod through the axle; a mount attached to one or both ends of the control rod; a cam lever attached to each mount; a washer with a finger grip, slidably mounted on the control rod inboard of the mount, shaped to engage the safety drop-out when pressed against it; and a spring urging the washer against the drop-out at all times. The cam forces the washer inward against the drop-out for clamping attachment of the wheel axle to the drop-out. When cam pressure is released, the interlock washer continues to be urged against the drop-out by the spring for safety until the washer is pulled outward by the fingers of a user. When the wheel is re-installed, the washer automatically shifts into engagement with the coupling surface of the drop-out, providing an automatic, undefeatable safety backup for the cam.

Abstract: The vehicular windshield cover of the invention includes a first tubular housing arranged to have extensible or retracted therefrom a fluid impermeable flexible web that extends to a second housing having a cylindrical concave surface arranged to accommodate the first cylindrical housing during a nested configuration when the web is wound within the first cylindrical housing. The web securedg about an axle within the first cylindrical housing is arranged such that the axle is fixedly secured to a cap member that iS rotatably mounted to the cylindrical housing, such that rotation of the cap relative to the housing permits fueling of the web within that housing. Various structure to secure the housings to the Windshield is arranged to include suction cups, straps, and the like.

Abstract: A motorized extendible drawer apparatus for a vehicle is provided. The apparatus has a drawer slidably mounted to a frame. The drawer is extendible from the frame in a cantilever position for allowing access within the drawer. The frame has a tray mounted on a top side of the frame for additional storage. A pair of rails mounted to outside surfaces of the drawer engage a plurality of roller bearings mounted on the frame. A threaded rod is connected to the frame in a fixed position and at a height level above the drawer. A motor assembly is mounted to a back side of the drawer and to the threaded rod for moving the drawer in first and second directions. A switch mechanism for controlling the motor assembly is also provided.

Abstract: In a device for connecting a longitudinal beam (1) of a vehicle seat, especially a motor vehicle seat, to the vehicle structure (2) in a positively engaging manner both in the longitudinal direction of the seat and in the vertical direction, with a throat (7), which is provided on the longitudinal beam and is open toward the bottom and is intended to hold a bolt (5), which is provided on the vehicle structure (2), and a hook (9), which in its locking position reaches from the top behind the bolt (5) received by the throat (5), the hook (9) has a locking device (10, 13), which in its locking position holds the hook (9) in its release position. The locking device (10, 13) exhibits a releasing element (13), which can be moved by the bolt (5), entering into the throat (7), into a position, in which the locking device (10, 13) releases the hook (9).

Abstract: A removable rack system provides the ability to carry elongated loads and is easily and simply installed and removed without the use of special tools or other equipment. The rack system includes a rear rack having a hitch tongue which is releasably connected to a conventional hitch receiver of the truck. A center post extends upward from the hitch tongue and supports a cross member at its upper end. The cross member may be of such a height that it can be used in conjunction with a removable front rack located near the cab of the truck. The front rack can support elongated loads that extend above the cab of the truck.

Abstract: A collapsible fire fighting bucket assembly to be suspended from an aircraft for fighting wild fires, the bucket being made of pliable material and having an open upper end for filling from a body of water. A tubular extension extends from an opening in the bottom of the bucket and has a free end formed with a discharge port provided with resilient sealing lips which are brought into sealing engagement with each other to close the port to minimize water leakage from the tubular extension. A harness suspends the bucket from the aircraft and a releasable support releasably supports the free end of the tubular extension within the bucket body extending upwardly from the opening to close the discharge port. The releasable support cooperates with the openings to allow the tubular extension to be rapidly lowered so as to extend downwardly from the bottom to open the discharge port for dumping the water.

Abstract: A convertible top bow comprises an elongated U-shaped metal channel defining a trough bounded by a pair of spaced side walls interconnected at their bottom ends by a bottom wall. An elongated plastic tacking strip has a generally-trapezoidal main body received in the channel. The main body has an upper tacking surface for receiving staples to secure a fabric top to the bow. The tacking strip is secured to the channel by deforming the upper ends of the channel side walls inwardly to clinch the tacking strip body beneath the wings. The tacking strip has a pair of upwardly convex curved wings extending from the depressed upper tacking surface up and over the upper edges of the channel sides. This isolates the channel tops from engagement with the fabric cover and provides bearing surfaces for the fabric cover as it moves over the bow during top movement.

Abstract: An improved asymmetric wire-hook for a closure one-piece latch wire retainer pivotally mounted to a hinged member wherein the hook is latched upon rotation through an elongated slot of an anchor member. The retainer includes axially aligned wire-lengths terminating in spaced apart opposed bend portions interconnected by the wire-hook. The wire-hook includes one end of a long finger connected to one bend portion and sloped downwardly at a predetermined obtuse-angle relative to one wire length and a short finger connected to the other bend portion and extending downwardly at a right angle relative to the remaining wire length. The long finger lower end terminates in a first acute-angled bend juncture connected to a proximate end of a single lead-in wire segment upwardly sloped at a relatively steep incline while the short finger lower end terminates in a second acute-angle bend juncture connected to a proximate end of a single lead-out wire segment upwardly sloped at a relatively flat incline.

Abstract: An axle assembly for a motor vehicle of the type including a rigid drive axle and a rigid axle tube extending between a drive axle differential to the axle wheel end. The axle tube features a radial flange defining an outboard facing bearing retention shoulder. A bearing carrier unit is bolted onto the axle tube flange to trap the bearing outer race. The axle shaft engages the bearing inner race which is trapped between a flange on the axle shaft and a nut threaded onto the axle. This wheel and system provides improved wheel run-out characteristics which are advantageous for disk brake applications and facilitates the use of anti-lock braking system wheel speed sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a cab of a conventional over-the-highway truck or tractor vehicle relative to a vehicle frame which includes a pair of longitudinally extending rails and a transverse member interconnecting the rails. A pair of mounting assemblies are located near the front of the cab to resiliently and pivotally connect the cab to the rails. A pair of spaced apart spring members are located near the rear of the cab to support the cab for limited movement relative to the frame. A spaced pair of dampers extends between the cab and the frame to damp movement of the cab. The spaced dampers are located between the spring members. A centering damper is mounted between the cab and the frame to damp transverse movement of the cab. The centering damper is located between the spaced dampers.

Abstract: An arrangement of a rear lid or the like on the body frame of a motor vehicle, particularly for vehicles with a storable roof structure, with a pivoted mounting of the rear lid by which the rear lid can be swung up into an erect loading position around an axis which extends close to one of its ends, providing accessibility to a two-part storage-space region through an opening in the frame which is freed when the rear lid is swung up, a part of the cress-section of the frame opening being associated with each of the two storage-space regions. In order that relatively easy accessibility to both storage space regions can be assured when the rear lid is swung up, the rear lid can be moved by a slide-swing mounting on the body frame into a loading position in which the partial cross-sections of the frame opening are conveniently accessible only from one side of the erected rear lid.

Abstract: Actuating structure is provided for manually moving hook members mounted on a rigid support structure. The rigid support structure supports a portion of a cushioned seat structure of a vehicle seat for use in a vehicle having a floor surface. The hook members are mounted on the rigid support structure for movement between (1) an operative position engaged in hooked relationship with anchor members of the floor surface so as to detachably fixedly retain the rigid support structure and the portion of the seat structure when mounted thereon in a fixed operative position on the floor surface and (2) an inoperative position disposed above the operative position thereof so as to enable the rigid support structure and the portion of the seat structure when mounted thereon to be moved relatively over the floor surface. The actuating structure is constructed and arranged to move the hook members between the operative and inoperative positions thereof.

Abstract: A visor mounting system includes a visor pivot rod with an end which extends through a bezel and a non-circular locking plate which cooperates with the bezel and pivot rod for allowing the visor to be initially inserted in an aperture in the underlying roof support and subsequently rotated using the visor as the installation tool to a position in which the locking plate lockably engages an aperture in the vehicle roof completing the installation. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking plate includes arcuate collars which slidably interfit with arcuate collars of the bezel to interlock the plate and bezel from relative rotation and yet allow the locking plate and bezel to move with respect to one another.

Abstract: A passenger car body includes a removable top constructed as a roof which covers a passenger compartment above a belt line of the body. So that the occupants have particularly good viewing conditions while the venting of the passenger compartment is good, the removable top has roof frames which bound the side windows and between which--viewed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle--there extend several transparent roof sections.

Abstract: An improved vehicle bed assembly, and process of manufacture, which involves formation of the floor pan (31) by roll forming, with the floor pan (31) having strengthening ribs (34) extending longitudinally throughout the entire length of the floor pan so as to terminate at the front and rear free edges thereof. The rear free edge (36) of the floor pan (31) cooperates with a rear sill member (32, 32') which has rib-end defining projections (47, 99) formed thereon and cooperating with the ends of the ribs (34) on the floor pan (31) for closing off the ribs and creating a transition to a flat horizontal surface defined on the rear sill member. The rib ends of the rear sill member preferably have guide portions (49, 102) which nest into and are fixedly secured, as by spot welding, to the rearward ends of the ribs defined on the floor pan.

Abstract: A vehicle roof with at least one roof cover part that can be opened during driving in the manner of a sunroof by being moved into at least one open position on guideways arranged in roof parts lying laterally to it in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle. A rear roof part that is stationary, at least during this sunroof mode of operation, is fixed with the lateral roof parts and can be moved with them and the cover part into a storage space in the rear part of the vehicle to expose a convertible-type roof opening. Supporting B-columns are movable in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle, and the rear roof part is mounted to them in a pivotable manner. By pivoting the rear roof part and subsequent pivoting of the B-columns, only a very small storage space is required between the seats and the rear axle for stowage of the roof.

Abstract: A tarp assembly is provided for a pick-up truck, and includes a pair of elongated rails mounted to the side walls of the truck along the truck bed. The first rail includes a rotatable shaft with a crank assembly controlling the rotation of the shaft. A tarp is movable between a storage position within the first rail and a use position extending over the rails and over cargo contained in the bed of the truck. A hook on the free side of the tarp secures the tarp to the second rail in the use position.

Abstract: A window molding for a vehicle includes a main portion disposed between a vehicle body and a vehicle window, an ornament portion connected with the main portion along the length of the main portion and for covering between the vehicle body and the vehicle window, a lip portion which is connected with the main portion so as to form a groove with the ornament portion and a projection portion disposed on one end portion of the groove which gradually increases in the direction of the one end of the groove so as to fill the groove.

Abstract: A tonneau cover assembly is provided having a rail system, a cover and one or more clamping mechanisms. The clamping mechanism includes a two-piece clamp. The first member is engageable with the rail, and includes an abutment mechanism thereon to contact the rail. The first member also includes a pivotable lever which can be used to exert a force on the second member. The first member includes an opening therein to receive the second member therethrough. The second member includes an extension having one or more teeth thereon. The extension is positioned through the opening in the first member, such that the teeth may engage a portion of the first member. The second member also includes a portion which is engageable with a vertical rail of the side wall of the vehicle. By actuating the lever, the clamp is positioned securely to the rail and the vehicle side wall.

Abstract: A sliding visor includes a visor body with a slide extending within a track extending along the upper edge of the door frame and downwardly into the A-pillar. A storage pocket located at the end of the track receives the visor body for the unobtrusive storage of the visor when not in use. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a windshield mounted track visor is employed and includes a track concealably mounted behind the vehicle headliner above the windshield. The headliner includes a recess formed therein for receiving the visor for storage.