Abstract: A compact scooter supported by a pair of wheels is propelled by the cyclic operation of a pair of stabilized pedals by a standing user with hands on a handlebar. The elongate pedals having curved ends are connected to a crank and rocker link for predetermined pedal angles configured to maintain heel contact during the cyclic operation. The feet are positioned on pedal extensions with the heels of the feet rearward of the crank pivots to develop superior crank torque imposed upon the wheels for faster speed and better startup acceleration. Stunt features are provided to perform wheelies, rail grinding and step maneuvers.

Abstract: A hybrid drive for a motor vehicle which possesses, in a gear train (1), a first electrical machine (4) located between an internal combustion motor (2) and a multi-gear vehicle transmission (3). The hybrid drive further possesses a second electrical machine (6) permanently connected with an input shaft (5) of the transmission. First and second clutches (7, 8), respectively, are placed between the first and second electrical machines (4, 6) and the internal combustion motor (2) and the first and second electrical machines (4, 6) can be respectively driven as either a motor or a generator.

Abstract: By a lean burn operation, a highly efficient operation region is enlarged, the proportion of engine operation in a low torque condition is increased, and the proportion of motor operation using a battery is decreased. It is possible to provide a hybrid car of an engine-electric motor configuration which can effect a highly efficient operation without increasing the capacity of motor and that of battery.

Abstract: A control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle is provided, capable of charging the battery device when the state of charge of the battery device tends to decrease and the initial state of charge of the battery device is reduced by a predetermined amount. The present device comprises a lower limit threshold value setting device S060, an upper limit threshold value setting device for setting the lower limit and upper limit threshold values, respectively, of the discharge amount of the battery device, a mode setting device S054 for increasing the state of charge when the state of charge is reduced to the lower limit threshold value, a mode setting release device S062 for releasing the mode setting changed by the mode setting device, and a discharge depth detecting device S063 for detecting the discharge amount of the present state of charge by comparison with the initial state of charge.

Abstract: A wheeled caddy for washing a vehicle for providing tools and supplies readily reachable for a user to wash one's vehicle. The wheeled caddy for washing a vehicle includes a base assembly including a base member being mounted upon a wheel assembly for movement upon a ground; and also includes a support member being mounted upon the base member and having an open top; and further includes a handle assembly including a handle holder member being securely attached to the support member, and also including a handle member being pivotally attached to the support member; and further includes a bucket being removably supported upon the support member; and also includes cleaning accessory holders being securely attached to the support member for holding items used to wash a vehicle.

Abstract: An adaptation to coach landing legs of a recreational vehicle, trailer or the like improves vehicle stability through the use of crossed and clamped stabilizer rods attached by pins or by magnet attachment to the landing legs.

Abstract: A control device for in-wheel transmissions in an electric vehicle, each of which comprises a stepped transmission that transmits power from each motor to each vehicle wheel. The control device is arranged to alleviate gear-change shock without increasing the number of steps of the in-wheel transmissions. Gear-change of the in-wheel transmissions of the vehicle wheels is effected with a time difference between the vehicle wheels. The change of acceleration produced by the gear change thereby occurs in such a manner that the change of acceleration is dispersed in regard to time, so the gear-change shock is alleviated compared with the case where gear-change of the four wheels is performed simultaneously.

Abstract: A hydraulic drive for a vehicle has a pressure source (7) generating a predetermined pressure for maintaining the operating pressure of a hydraulic motor (5), a braking cylinder (18) with a spring chamber (20) comprising a spring arrangement (19) for operating a braking arrangement (17) and a release chamber (21) that can be acted upon by pressurised fluid from the pressure source (7) against the force of the spring arrangement (19) with the purpose of retaining the braking device (17) in its release position, and comprises a braking control valve (22) that, in a release position, releases a flow from the pressure source (7) to the release chamber (21).

Abstract: A step platform assembly for attachment to a vehicle hitch assembly is disclosed. The platform assembly includes a planar step platform member rigidly fastened to a coplanar linear step support member having an aperture adjacent a step support member end opposite the step platform member. The aperture contains a bushing member with the planar step platform member and step support member assembly adapted for rotatable connection to the hitch assembly by a fastener there between. A locking system is present for selectively securing the step platform member and linear step support member either beneath a vehicle body or exterior a vehicle body.

Abstract: An improved shopping cart with a floating basket. The basket is moveable in response to downward and/or lateral forces applied against the basket. The ability of the basket to move in response to such forces reduces the tendency for the shopping cart to tip over. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the shopping cart basket moves downward as the basket is loaded. In another embodiment, the shopping cart basket pivots upon application of a lateral force to the basket. A further embodiment combines both the vertical movement and pivoting movement of the basket.

Abstract: A mounting system for a heat exchanger includes an isolator fabricated of a nitrile rubber material to dampen vibrations. The isolator includes a body portion and a pair of legs. The body portion includes a pair of openings sized to receive a vehicle hood latch support. The legs include contoured inner surfaces and are sized to straddle the top surface of the heat exchanger. A vehicle hood latch support assembly is frictionally attached within the isolator body portion openings. As the vehicle is initially assembled, the isolator legs straddle the heat exchanger to secure the heat exchanger to the vehicle.

Abstract: A multipurpose light weight easily assembled and disassembled garden trolley featuring two upright tubular frame members the upper portion of which are angled backward to form handles, the lower portions of which are angled forward to form a base and to provide for the attachment at the forward curves of a wheel and axle assembly. The trolley is provided with a removable garden refuse bag supporting assembly unit, laterally fixed by a compression crossbar between the two tubular frame members and a garden basket supporting assembly unit laterally fixed by a compression crossbar between the two tubular frame members above the garden refuse bag supporting assembly unit and provides particular stability to the garden trolley. The trolley is also provided with an array of removable attachment means for garden tools.

Abstract: A scabbard for receiving a blade of an ice skate. The scabbard has a pouch with a top opening for receiving the blade of the ice skate and is constructed from various material layers to protect a user from being cut by the sharp edges of the blade when the ice skate is carried and to protect the blade when the ice skate is being stored. In addition to preventing puncture of the pouch, a friction enhancing material is disposed on an outer portion of flexible material of the pouch along a bottom of the pouch and extending from a first end to a second end of the pouch, which also allows a skater to safely walk with the scabbard attached about the blade. The pouch has a drawstring means for adjustably fitting the pouch, about the blade of the ice skate. This permits the scabbard to be used on various sizes of ice skates without modification.

Abstract: An invention relates to an inflatable gas bag (10) for an occupant restraint system of a vehicle, in particular of a motor vehicle. In order to avoid the formation of creases in the inflated state, which occurs with conventional gas bags and in order to be able to employ more lightweight textile materials for the manufacture of a gas bag, the gas bag (10) consists of a multilayered textile composite material which comprises at least one layer of a textile material and one layer of a polymer material whose melting range is lower than the melting range of the textile material. The textile composite material is formed into a specified three-dimensional shape which is to develop during inflation of the gas bag (10), and the individual layers of the textile composite material are joined together in this three-dimensional shape.

Abstract: An inflatable tube ski vehicle with steering mechanism comprises an inflated, torus-shaped tube or bladder and a ski insert disposed in the central opening of the bladder. The ski insert may be dish-shaped, or it may partially wrap around the top and/or bottom of the bladder. In either case, the ski vehicle has a steering/braking mechanism comprising left and right lever arms pivotally attached to and extending down through the ski insert. To turn, a rider simply pulls on one of the lever arms, causing a lower portion of the lever arm to extend past a bottom of the insert. To brake, both arms are pulled simultaneously. Because the ski vehicle is round and because the weight of the vehicle and rider are largely uniformly distributed over the center of the vehicle, a pivot or fulcrum point occurs directly under the rider's seat, affording a significant degree of control.

Abstract: A retractable step for use with a vehicle comprises a stepping member having a stepping deck, a first arm, a second arm, a motor and a stop. The first arm has a first end pivotally attached to the vehicle, and a second end pivotally attached to the stepping member. The second arm also has a first end pivotally attached to the vehicle, and a second end pivotally attached to the stepping member. The motor is drivingly connected to the first arm such that a rotation of the motor causes rotation of the first arm about its first end and moves the stepping member from a retracted position to an extended position, or vice versa. The stop is located within the range of motion of the second arm such that the second arm bears against the stop when the stepping member is in the extended position. The first and second arms are situated such that the first arm is loaded in compression and the second arm is loaded in tension when the stepping member is in the extended position and a load is placed upon it.

Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle that responds reliably to the assist requests of a driver from start-up to departure of the vehicle.

Abstract: A pedestrian is sensed in a region of space external to a vehicle by generating a first magnetic flux at a first location on the vehicle so that the first magnetic flux extends into a region of space external of the vehicle, conducting the first magnetic flux through the region of space external to the vehicle to a second location on the vehicle, sensing the first magnetic flux at the second location, generating a signal responsive to the magnetic flux sensed at the second location, and discriminating a pedestrian when the pedestrian is located within the first magnetic flux, wherein the operation of discriminating is responsive to the signal.

Abstract: A system where a trailer/dolly (10) is lifted from the ground (by means of block and tackle, hydraulic rams, etc.) so as to locate beneath, or nest within, the chassis or sub-frame (12) of a vehicle. When it is to be used the trailer/dolly is either coupled under a vehicle or trailer as a dolly only or it is lowered and moved rearwardly of the vehicle so it can be towed behind the vehicle using hitch (40). The chassis (14) of the trailer/dolly is in the form of a rectangular frame which can be enlarged in size by telescopic movements of members (20A B; 22A, B etc.). A large number of small wheels (16A, B; 18A, B etc.) may be provided on sprung stub-axles.

Abstract: A propulsion system for use in a hybrid vehicle, the propulsion system includes an internal combustion engine, an electric motor/generator operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine, an electric storage medium, and a propulsion system controller for actuating the propulsion system. The propulsion system controller varies the operating conditions of the electric motor/generator system in response to operating conditions of the vehicle. The propulsion system controller further varies the operating conditions of the electric motor/generator during an engine cranking sequence.