Abstract: A panel fixation member of a bracket 31 for attaching a sun visor to a roof panel 33 has a pair of division walls 51a, 51b divided by slits S that divide lengthwise a surrounding wall formed substantially in a shape of a cylinder, and it is composed of a grommet screw 51 of which the diameter is expanded by insertion of a first conductive screw 43 into its inner surrounding portion in a state where it is inserted into a fitting hole 33a of the roof panel 33 thereby to be tightened in relation to the fitting hole 33a. Further, a protective wall 51c is extendedly provided for both side edges of the division wall 51a facing the slits S, which covers slit openings on a side face of the grommet screw 51 by extending in a flexible direction of the division wall 51b.

Abstract: A tubular bumper beam for automobiles includes a rollformed tubular beam and tubular inserts positioned transversely in end sections of the beam. The illustrated tubular insert includes front and rear ends positioned adjacent the front and rear walls of the tubular beam in a manner that reinforces the front and rear walls for improved corner impact strength. Material is extruded from the beam walls into the ends of the insert to form deformed tubular portions that telescopingly extend into the tubular insert to retain the insert in the beam, and further include radiused annular root sections that connect the tubular portions with the walls of the beam, and still further optionally include dished areas around the root sections that help stabilize the beam walls. A method related to the above is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a roof door opening and closing device for a roof opening type container.

Abstract: The present invention provides a portable enclosure for use in protecting an all-terrain vehicle or another open-topped vehicle against damage and degradation from exposure to the weather. A further use of the portable enclosure of the invention is as a blind for use in hunting. The portable enclosure includes bendable support beams that arch from front to rear mounting brackets attached to the vehicle. The support beams are held parallel to one another by cross braces and a top panel. Additional front, rear, and side panels, each being equipped with a transparent window, are attached to the top panel and each other by Velcro® or zipper fasteners. The support beams and cross braces are segmented to pack into a carrying case along with the folded fabric panels.

Abstract: A carrier system for transporting equipment, such as bicycles. The carrier of a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a partial enclosed compartment having a substantially oval shape. Two opposing lid members are pivotally mounted on each end of the compartment. The two lid members open upward and outward to allow full access to the interior of the compartment. The two lid members then close downward and towards one another with a slight overlap to fully enclose the body to form the carrier body. In one embodiment, the axle assembly and tongue are directly mounted on the lower surface of the trailer body. Equipment mounting devices are formed or affixed directly in the interior of the trailer body. The equipment is thus able to be securely transported without danger from the elements or from unauthorized access.

Abstract: A commercial truck body is described, with particular reference to a fire truck body. The truck body if formulated of a co-polymer material with certain strategic corners of the co-polymer material being formed by a single sheet of copolymer bent into the predetermined angle and extrusion welded on the interior portion of the corner. Other junctions of the copolymer material are formulated using traditional fusion, butt, and other joint techniques. In the fire truck application, the liquid storage tank can be integral with the copolymer truck body such that the copolymer truck body formulates both the exterior of the truck body and the liquid storage tank itself. The liquid storage tank can alternatively be a separately formulated copolymer tank also formed with bent corners and interior extrusion welds.

Abstract: A fifth wheel trailer for hitching to a truck by a fifth wheel hitch in a towing bed of the truck wherein a front section of the trailer extends over a cab of the truck when the trailer is coupled to and supported by the fifth wheel hitch. The front section of the trailer comprises a first section extending over the towing bed of the truck and a second section extending over the cab of the truck.

Abstract: A four-wheeled utility vehicle has a body frame; a driver's seat disposed on the body frame; a load-carrying platform having a front end portion and a rear end portion, the load-carrying platform disposed behind the driver's seat; a cabin frame having a rear portion and surrounding the driver's seat. The cabin frame is disposed in front of the load-carrying platform. The rear portion includes a lower end which is positioned on a level below the load-carrying platform and a middle portion which is located on a middle level in a vertical direction within the rear portion. The lower end of the rear portion is joined to the body frame. The middle portion of the rear portion is bound by the front end portion of the load-carrying platform in an easily separable manner.

Abstract: A convertible vehicle (1) with an unfoldable roof (2), which can be placed under a cover (5) in the open position and has at least one rear bracket (4), which rests on the cover (5) in the closed position of the roof (2), and is constructed in such a way that the opening motion of the roof (2) includes a combined lift/rotation motion (13) of the bracket (4).

Abstract: The present invention refers to a retractable hard top (3) for motor vehicles (1), comprising: a first upper substantially rigid roof section which forms a substantially horizontal upper roof section, a second substantially rigid rear roof section (5), which is hingedly connected to the first roof section (5) via a first rod assembly (31, 33) and to the motor vehicle, and which forms a substantially vertically or obliquely extending rear roof section, and a rigid rear window (9) which is pivotally arranged at the second roof section (7) and which is commonly movable therewith, wherein when pivoting the second roof section (7) into a retractable position in the motor vehicle, the rear window (9) is pivoted into the interior of the second roof section (7).

Abstract: Method and device for avoiding reflections and contrasts in vehicle dashboards, wherein the dashboard 1 has one or more ventilation openings 3,4 along and at a distance from the lower edge of the vehicle windshield 2. Each ventilation opening 3,4 is covered by an air permeable cover 8, having a surface structure giving a low or insignificant contrast relative to the upper surface of the dashboard 1.

Abstract: A four bar link is provided between a walled cargo area of a truck and a rigid rear cargo door. The effective length of the lower link of the four bar linkage is longer than that of the upper link such that the motion of the door is generally up and over the top of the truck body. An eccentric cam is joined to the upper link with a tensioned spring extending around the cam such that the spring slackens as the door opens. The cam is configured so that, as the door is opened, the spring slackens more slowly initially then more quickly. This allows the door to be moved initially mostly outwardly before moving significantly upwardly and still be effectively counterbalanced throughout its motion.

Abstract: An assembly for providing additional storage in a vehicle includes a drawer housing located beneath a rear seat of a vehicle. The housing may serve as a coupling location for the seat cushion and includes front and back walls and cross beams which define side openings on either side of the vehicle. A drawer fits within the housing and may be opened from either side. In a preferred embodiment, the assembly also includes a load floor coupled to the drawer housing and movable between a generally vertical position in which access to the drawer is facilitated and a lowered position where it supports the cushion of the seat or, if desired, the seat back in a folded position. The drawer may slide across the floor of the vehicle or, in the preferred and illustrated embodiment, include rails which cooperate with grooves on the front and back walls of the drawer housing to facilitate easy sliding of the drawer.

Abstract: A reverse opening vehicle door is provided (10), including a door body (16) having a fore portion (18) and an aft portion (20), a catch mechanism (50), and a hinge mechanism (70). The catch mechanism (50) and the hinge mechanism (70) permit the door body (16) to move between at least three positions including a closed position (22) having a fore closed position (30) and an aft closed position (32), an intermediate position (24) having an aft intermediate position (34) located outboard and rearward of the aft closed position (32) and a fore intermediate position (36) located rearward of the fore closed position (30), and an open position (26) in which the fore portion (18) is rotated rearward about the aft intermediate position (34).

Abstract: A retainerless weather strip to be fixed to a door panel of an automobile by a clip, which comprises: a base bottom portion to be attached to the door panel; a hollow seal portion to seal between the door panel and a body panel; and a seal lip portion, wherein the base bottom portion has a cutout-shaped step portion formed at a lower end portion on the automobile exterior side of the base bottom portion, and the weather strip further comprises a thick waterproof sponge member provided on the cutout-shaped step portion, wherein the thick waterproof sponge member has a thickness sufficiently larger than the depth of the cutout-shaped step portion, and has an elasticity such that a portion in which the clip is located and portions in which the clip is not located can be equally elastically contracted when the base bottom portion is fixed to the door panel by the clip so that watertightness is kept between the thick waterproof sponge member and the door panel.

Abstract: A drive device for a swivelling component that is pivotally mounted, for example, on a motor vehicle. The swivelling component is connected to a drive via a coupler which can be swivelled by the drive. The coupler having a connector which is connected via a connecting rod to the swivelling component. The connector can be driven by the drive and is movably supported along a guideway. To achieve uniform transfer of motion the guideway is a curved guide rail that is circular with the center of the circle lying on the axis of rotation of the swivelling component or is a three-dimensional curve.

Abstract: A folding roof for convertible vehicles includes a front roof part hinged to a rear roof part whose rear end is hinged to the vehicle. The front and rear roof parts can be stowed in the trunk of the vehicle with the front roof part folded over the rear roof part connected to its hinge to the vehicle. The rear roof part has a central roof part hinged to the rear roof part, extending as far as the hinge between the front and rear roof parts and cooperating with an arrangement which, when the roof is stowed in the trunk, holds the central roof part at a distance above the rear roof part.

Abstract: A truck lid hinge and opener system for removably connecting a lid or cover to the bed of a truck wherein the bed includes a vertical front wall, first and second vertical side walls extending rearwardly from the front wall, and a tailgate at the rearward end of the bed with the side walls having downwardly extending flanges at the upper end thereof. A pair of hinge units removably hingedly connect the forward end of the lid to the truck bed. A pair of like opener mechanisms pivotally interconnect the sides of the lid to the side walls of the truck bed. Each of the open mechanisms includes a gas spring which is adjustably mounted to compensate for varying temperature conditions. The hinge units and opener mechanisms are clamped onto the truck bed to avoid drilling holes in the truck bed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a seating arrangement for a motor vehicle including a steering wheel, the seating arrangement includes a lower seat member, a seatback member and a theft deterrent system. The seatback member is coupled to the lower seat member for articulation between a first position and a second position such that the seatback member is oriented generally vertical in the first position and an upper portion of the seatback member is adapted to be disposed adjacent to the steering wheel when the seatback member is in the second position. The theft deterrent system is operative for selectively locking the seatback member in the second position.

Abstract: An adjustable hinge assembly for swingably attaching a closure panel over a trunk space of an automotive vehicle. The hinge assembly includes a hinge strap which has a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion is adjustably attached to two brackets that are attached to the trunk lid and the second end is rotatably attached to the vehicle body using a ball and socket joint. The brackets include rounded surfaces that are rotated and translated relative to attachment surfaces of the hinge strap, and the brackets operate in conjunction with the ball and socket joint to allow the trunk lid to be precisely fit over the trunk space opening.