Abstract: A tricycle having two spaced fore wheels and a single rear wheel connected to a frame structure. The fore wheels are connected to the frame by a longitudinally extending shaft. A double wishbone suspension comprised of a pair of upper arms and a pair of lower arms connected by vertical links at their outer ends join the fore wheels to the frame and longitudinal shaft. The upper arms are pivotally connected to the frame while the lower arms are pivotally and separately connected to the longitudinal shaft by a shock absorbing cushion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bracket which can mount different units to a vehicle body without the use of additional spacers or the like. The bracket has an offset support bolt so that upon the bracket being seated in a 180 degree reversed orientation, the bolt assumes a new position with respect to the vehicle body so that a different unit can be mounted using the same number of parts.

Abstract: A motor-car control group includes two elongate control assemblies which project symmetrically from opposite sides of a cowling covering the steering column into zones immediately behind the steering wheel rim for ready finger-tip availability to the driver. Each assembly includes an end push-button switch and rings rotatable by means of a projecting fingerpiece or a knurled surface about a tubular support to control respective auxiliary electrical services, such as headlights or windscreen wipers, by cooperation of contacts on the rotatable rings with fixed contacts on respective adjacent fixed annuli. Instrument and indicator light assemblies may be mounted on the cowling leaving the dashboard free of obstruction, or the cowling and/or instrument assemblies may be integral with the dashboard.

Abstract: A seat belt restraint system including a seat belt retractor for mounting in a vehicle, webbing stored on the retractor, a mechanism for transferring loads acting on the retractor in an emergency situation to a load-bearing part of the vehicle and a clamp associated on the load transfer mechanism which contacts the roll of webbing stored on the retractor subsequent to relative motion between the clamp and the retractor as a result of forces acting on the retractor during the emergency. The system may be a passive seat belt system.

Abstract: An anti-jackknifing control device for a tractor-trailer which includes a fifth wheel having a pair of oppositely disposed pneumatically operated cylinder-piston assemblies, the pistons of which are insertable into arcuate slots in a bottom plate on the trailer so as to limit the turning movement of the tractor relative to the trailer to a predetermined angle in either direction from a centerline corresponding to a longitudinally aligned position of the tractor-trailer together with an alarm in the driver's cab actuted by a limit switch in each of the slots which is closed by the bottom plate at a turning angle in either directon intermediate the centerline and predetermined angle.

Abstract: A bicycle operated by a rider in a reclining position. The frame of the bicycle is constructed of a forward section, a middle section and a rear section. The rear section supports the rear wheel and the back of the seat. An X member behind the seat connected to the rear section provides further support for the back of the seat. The forward section is reinforced by a pair of more or less parallel crank assembly braces extending from the rear of the middle section to a crank assembly positioned at the front of the forward section. A chain extends from the crank assembly to the rear wheel to drive the bicycle.

Abstract: A motorcycle of such a type that a vehicle body frame is provided thereon with an internal combustion engine 4 in front and a transmission 5 in rear. An intermediate driving shaft 18 is interposed between a crankshaft 8 of the engine 4 and an input shaft 13 of the transmission 5. The driving shaft 18 is provided at its both end portions with an A.C. generator 19 and a control member 20 for an ignition circuit, for instance, a pulse generator or a contact breaker. According to this arrangement, even in the case where the engine is of a multiple cylinder type and the crankshaft is comparatively large in length, the motorcycle is prevented from becoming remarkably large in width locally at its crankshaft portion.

Abstract: A device for the raising and lowering of a tilting cab of a road vehicle, with respect to the chassis of the vehicle on which the cab is pivoted, permits both lifting and lowering to take place under the control of a manual pump. The cab can also be left in a "floating" condition, when lowered, for the absorption of vibration which would otherwise be transmitted to it by the chassis during running, and in the "floating" condition, exceeding of a certain amplitude of relative movement between the cab and the chassis causes hydraulic clamping of the cab with respect to the chassis. A mechanical locking device may additionally be provided for locking the cab to the chassis in fully lowered condition, and the hydraulic system may permit acceleration of the downward movement of the cab, during lowering, for better engagement of such mechanical locking device.

Abstract: A hitch is disclosed which readily attaches itself via hitch assemblies to the bumper of an automobile and simultaneously secures the cross bar or draft bar of the hitch in a manner which requires no threading devices to obtain the securing action. In fact the securing action is by the simple movement of a lever into an over centered position on the hitch assembly and this in cooperation with two chains thereof, one attached to the upper margin and the other attached to the lower margin of the bumper or possibly the frame of the car securingly clasps not only the hitch assembly to the bumper but the draft bar to the hitch assembly. Preferably, two hitch assemblies are provided one located near each end of the cross or draft bar. Thus with "snaps" of each lever into over center position the bumper hitch is secured to the automobile awaiting for connection of the trailer tow bar thereof for coupling to an awaiting trailer.

Abstract: A folding framework for a wheelchair has side frames interconnected by front and rear toggle braces each preferably formed from a pair of U-shaped arms of spring wire and a linkage extends between the hinges of the toggle braces. A securing arm is latchable with the linkage to hold the structure in an erected condition, the arrangement being such that the side frames are maintained parallel to one another. Direct drive motors may be mounted on wheels and to facilitate folding the hinges of the toggle brace may be offset relative to the fore and aft line of the vehicle so that when folded the side frames are offset relative to one another and the motors overlap. Preferably a diagonal brace extends below the folding framework to maintain parallel alignment of the side frames and a latching arm co-operates with the linkage between the toggle braces so that on lifting the latching arm, the linkage and the toggle braces are displaced in the closing direction.

Abstract: A folding chair and cart structure having an upright frame and a transverse member pivoted thereto, one end of the transverse frame forming a seat portion and the other end extending beyond the upright frame and carrying a pair of wheels, a sheet of canvas secured to the upright and transverse frames to form a seat and a track for removable engagement with the wheels. The structure functions as a cart by merely tilting the upright frame to a horizontal position and the entire structure is foldable into a compact unit for transport and storage.

Abstract: A passive restraint harness system is provided for deployment of a safety belt. The safety belt is a piece of webbing forming a lap belt portion and a cross chest portion. An upper anchor connects one end of the webbing to the upper rear edge of a vehicle door and a lower anchor connects to the other end of the webbing to the lower rear edge of the same vehicle door. A vehicle sensitive seat belt retractor located adjacent the seat of the user of the belt and inboard of the user is slidably connected to the piece of webbing forming lap and chest portions and urges it under a spring bias toward the retractor. This forms the lap belt portion and the shoulder or cross chest portion in respect to a seated user. A track is vertically oriented on the inner door face and fastened to the lower anchor. A slider is also on the track and the slider is over the webbing above the lower anchor. A traveler linkage is supported on the rear of the track and connected to the slider.

Abstract: A machine stepper has a machine-supporting platform that normally stands on the floor by means of fixed support posts. A substantially rectangular frame is provided underneath this platform and can shift relative to it. This frame is constituted by a pair of generally parallel longitudinal members and a pair of generally parallel transverse members pivoted together at corners at each of which is provided a respective upright and vertically extensible leg. Two of the diagonally opposite legs pivot about respective longitudinally extending horizontal pivot axes and the other two legs pivot about respective transverse horizontal pivot axes. Cylinders are provided for horizontally shifting the frame relative to the platform so that when the legs have been extended to lift the posts of the platform off the ground these cylinders can step the platform horizontally and when the expansible legs are shortened it is set back down on the floor.

Abstract: A safety belt device for a vehicle having without glass frames doors and a pair of seats, comprising a retractor provided on the floor between the seats, a door pole upwardly extending from a rear portion of the door to a connecting portion higher than an occupant's shoulder, and a safety belt connected between the retractor and a seat belt connecting portion of the door pole. When the door is closed, the safety belt extends diagonally across the occupant's body, and when the door is opened, the safety belt is positioned to permit the occupant to get in and out of the vehicle.

Abstract: An improved rear wheel suspension for a motorcycle is provided which includes a body frame, a rear wheel support frame such as a rear fork pivotally mounted on the body frame for upward and downward movement relative thereto and rotatably supporting a rear wheel, at least one rear shock absorber disposed between the body frame and the rear wheel support frame for damping the relative movement between the body frame and the rear wheel, and a mechanism for adjusting the damping force of the rear shock absorber in a manner such that the rate of increase in the compression stroke of the rear shock absorber is increased in proportion to the upward movement of the rear wheel relative to the body frame.

Abstract: This invention relates to a motorcycle turn signal subassembly including a pair of turn signals, the electrical parts and the mounting hardware therefor for use in combination with the mounting hardware for a breakaway-type handlebar mounted windscreen in place of the latter or in combination therewith so as to retain its breakaway capabilities by disconnecting the hardware connection and providing a quick-disconnect coupling between the electrical system and the lamp housing.

Abstract: A control (51, 151) for automatically effecting a lock-out of an interaxle differential (14) of a wheeled vehicle (10). The control is arranged to sense a deflection of one of the axles (22) of the wheeled vehicle utilizing a springy beam (24, 124) mounting for transmitting a sensible signal through interconnecting structure (36, 136, 38, 50) from the deflectable beam to the lock-out lever (37) of the interaxle differential (14). In one form, the beam is made to be springy by being provided with a tapered end portion (32) connected through the linkage (36) and in another form, the beam connection to the linkage (136) is through a leaf spring (152). A stop (155) may be provided for limiting the deflection of the axle being sensed.

Abstract: A flow control system for use in a power steering apparatus including a fluid cylinder for amplifying the manual steering torque and a control valve associated therewith. The flow control system is installed in a pressure fluid feed line which feeds fluid from a hydraulic pump to the fluid cylinder via the control valve.

Abstract: A lightweight, yet heavy duty, self-contained towing vehicle of relatively small size and designed for maximum maneuverability in confined quarters, driven by a multi-speed, electric motor in which the forward speed is greater than the reverse speed. The steering control handle is pivotally mounted in cooperative relation to the drive wheels to act as a manual differential clutch thus facilitating maneuverability and convert the vehicle from power driven to freewheeling and even to somewhat control the speed of the vehicle. A clamp-on bracket is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis on the front end of the vehicle and selectively adapted to engage and hold a conventional tow bar of the type provided with the aircraft. The vehicle is battery powered and has two electrical systems, a first which drives the vehicle forwardly at one speed and a second, which drives the vehicle in reverse at a second slower speed.

Abstract: A passive vehicle occupant restraint belt system comprises a belt leading from an inboard location adjacent the lower rear portion of the seat to an outboard location adjacent the rear edge of the vehicle door. An elongated guide rail affixed on the inboard side of the seat carries a belt transfer guide having a guide ring through which the belt passes intermediate the inboard and outboard ends. The guide rail extends lengthwise along the seat and slopes upwardly from back to front. The guide ring is located at substantial distance above the guide rail, and the slope of the guide rail is such that the guide ring holds an inboard portion of the belt at substantially the level of or some distance above the level of the front of the seat when the belt transfer guide is in the forward position on the guide rail. The belt transfer guide is driven back and forth along the guide rail, preferably in response to opening and closing motions of the door.