Abstract: A loudspeaker enclosure for an automobile trunk-mounted open loudspeaker carried beneath the rear package shelf of the automobile comprises a closed housing having an opening in the top wall thereof shaped and dimensioned to permit the housing to be fitted over the loudspeaker, with the housing top wall disposed snugly against the underside of the rear package shelf, and an elastic strap for releasably holding the housing in place over the loudspeaker. The housing includes two inner box-like members each comprising a plurality of hingedly interconnected panels formed from a single piece of corrugated fiberboard, and an outer plastic shell, the inner corrugated members and the outer shell all being fastened together in a nested configuration, so that each wall of the housing except the top wall has at least two layers of corrugations. A cushion is provided between the rear package shelf and the top wall of the housing.

Abstract: A two-wheeled trailer for towing behind a cycle having a tongue which extends forwardly and on one side of the rear end of the rear wheel of the cycle. The forward end of the tongue is provided with a conveniently disconnectable hitch which is mounted on one side of the cycle and usually adjacent the rear wheel axle of same. The hitch comprises a resilient member having a pivotal connection disposed between the tongue and the cycle which provides the trailer with freedom of movement about one axis relative to the cycle, the resilience of the member providing the trailer with freedom of movement about the other two axes relative to the cycle.

Abstract: A power steering system for electric vehicles in which an electric drive motor for the supply pump of a power steering system is controlled by a motor control which is in turn controlled by the steering demand of the operator. The motor and pump are operated only during steering operations and only at the power level required for any steering demand.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a spherical bearing rod end having an outer race member, an intermediate member of yieldable material within and supported by said outer race member and an inner race operationally supported by said intermediate member comprising preforming a rod end blank having a ball-like section at one end thereof, flattening the spherical section to form two enlarged faces, each face having an inwardly disposed annular dished portion whereby the material flows uniformly to the outer periphery of the faces to form a uniformly cold formed annular area, removing the inwardly disposed annular dished portion to form a bore through said faces thereby leaving said uniformly cold formed annular area to serve as the outer member, inserting in said bore said intermediate member and said inner race member, interlocking with mechanical interlocking means said intermediate member and inner race member within said bore to effect the bearing support of said inner race member within said intermediate member.

Abstract: The main frame rails of an automotive vehicle are offset at the rear spring mount of the front suspension. This divides them into two portions at different levels, the forward portion being higher than the rear portion.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device and method for holding a storage battery provided with a general container against two walls at right angles on one of which the bottom of the container rests. According to the invention, a longitudinal part bearing vertically against the cells and not on the edge of the container is used and a pull is exerted on that part towards the ridge of the dihedral formed by the said two walls. Application of the invention is to storage batteries installed in land vehicles, sea craft or aircraft.

Abstract: A safety steering wheel for motor vehicles comprising a central structure ich is fixed to the steering column, a steering wheel rim, a plurality of spokes which connect the central structure to the steering wheel rim and a rigid cover disposed between the rim and the central structure and fixed to the periphery of the latter; the central structure being arranged to yield by flexure and the spokes being arranged to yield during compression of the steering wheel, and a second structure yieldable on compression being fixed to the periphery of the rigid cover.

Abstract: A device for mounting a brake on a ski having a safety fastening comprising a longitudinal slide bar attached to the ski comprises a brake element slidably mounted on the slide bar. The brake element is secured in place and is so fitted that it cannot be detached from the slide bar in the transverse direction.

Abstract: A crawler type vehicle for aiding a baby trying to creep, the device consisting of a seating or cushion upon which the baby is placed resting upon his abdomen, the seating or cushion being supported upon rollable wheels so that when the child pushes against the floor with his hands and feet, the crawler device supports the weight of the baby so to make it easier for him to move or travel.

Abstract: A ski binding comprises a sole-plate incorporating a spring-winder safety release mechanism releasably holding the plate on a ski by means of a flexible cable. A ski boot has a recessed housing defined by a peripheral wall fitting over the sole-plate. The boot sole and sole plate are locked together as a unit by locking means, such as pivoted levers or sliding bolts in the periphery of the plate engaging in corresponding recesses in the peripheral wall of the boot sole. These recesses may contain a compressible material preventing the recesses from being filled with snow or mud when the user walks. A control member is provided for voluntarily unlocking the boot from the soleplate, independently of the safety release mechanism.

Abstract: A skateboard wheel includes a roller body consisting of a solid piece of resilient plastic formed with cooling bores passing therethrough. At one end region the roller body is formed with an enlarged recess with which the cooling bores communicate. In this recess the roller body has reinforcing fins intergral with the roller body, situated in planes which contain the axis of the roller body, and distributed about this axis.

Abstract: An instructional aid for holding the tips of a pair of skis together is disclosed. This aid is suitable for a novice skier learning to ski. It enables the skier to keep the skis in a snowplow position. The aid has a first and second clamping means adapted to be mounted on the tips of a pair of skis. One of the clamping means has a U-bend with a shank portion which extends downwards and hooks into an eyelet on a second clamping means attached to the tip of the other ski. The shank may easily be disengaged from the eyelet by the skier but not when the skis are in the snowplow position. Thus the skier need not remove the skis to separate the connection.

Abstract: A road transportable apparatus for moving drill pipe and casing including a rigid support frame assembly with a bifurcated mast assembly pivotally secured thereto, the support frame assembly being rigidly securable to the walk of a conventional drilling rig pipe rack. A hydraulic power cylinder is employed to rotate the mast assembly relative to the support frame assembly. Power winches are included and operate cables extending therefrom over the outer end of the mast assembly where they are securable to the respective opposite ends of the length of drill pipe or casing suspended therebelow. A hydraulic control system is disclosed for controlling the operation of the power cylinder and the power winches. A demountable trailer frame assembly is provided for supporting the support frame assembly and mast assembly when transported over the ground.

Abstract: In a safety ski-binding where the ski boot is connected to the ski by a sole plate which is releasably held to the ski by retaining means, any undesirable play between said retaining means and the sole plate that might be caused by manufacturing tolerances, inaccuracies in assembly and the like is compensated by the provision in a recess of the sole plate of at least one slide member which passes therethrough and is vertically displaceable relatively thereto within limits, the lower end of the slide member resting on the ski and the sole of the boot coming to lie on the upper end.

Abstract: A shock absorbing trailer hitch for cushioning end thrust shocks between towing and towed vehicles is disclosed having a base member rigidly attached to one vehicle with a pair of upstanding slide guides thereon and a second member slidably supported within the slide guides by a pair of generally parallel extending slide members. The second member provides one connector for coupling the vehicles together and tongue weight between the vehicles is borne by the slide members. Movement of the second member relative to the first is limited between rigid stop positions and cushioning of end thrust shocks is provided by a resilient plug which mechanically engages the first and second members and urges the second member toward a position intermediate the rigid stop positions.

Abstract: An offset platform, mounted on isolation mountings on a tractor having cross beams carried on the chassis for pivotally and yieldably supporting the platform on its mountings. The mountings serve not only as described for the platform, but provide also an isolation mounting, conjointly, to any and all tractor superstructure included on the platform such as an operator's cab, seat assembly, and rollover protective frame structure.

Abstract: Apparatus for effecting a driving connection between a pushing vehicle and a pushed vehicle. The apparatus has pushers attachable to and providing a bumper formation on the leading end of the pushing vehicle for pushing engagement with the wheels of the other vehicle. Each pusher includes a frame pivotally attachable to the leading end of the pushing vehicle for left and right swinging thereon about a vertical axis independently of the frame of the other pusher, and a coupler slidably carried by the frame for reciprocable sliding movement in a substantially horizontal direction transversely of the pushing vehicle.

Abstract: A roller cutter drill bit with a body having a journal, a roller cutter, bearing means for rotatively mounting the roller cutter on the journal and a part of said bearing means including a maraging steel sleeve with a lubricant between the sleeve and the journal and between the sleeve and the roller cutter to prevent galling.

Abstract: A speed-change operating mechanism which actuates a push rod at a speed transmission hub for a bicycle by means of a control wire so as to change the bicycle speed. The mechanism comprises a first operating member for actuating the rod, a second operating member oscillated with the control wire and an adjustor for adjusting the relative position between both the first and second members, through which adjustor the first operating member becomes cooperable with the second operating member, thereby easily and precisely adjusting the travel of the push rod with respect to the control wire.

Abstract: An air cushion vehicle flexible skirt assembly includes a plurality of skirt elements. Each skirt element comprises a first section including an endless band of flexible material. A second section of the element includes a plurality of members each comprising an endless band of flexible material having a peripheral dimension which is less than the peripheral dimension of the first section. The members comprising the second section are each joined at one of their edges to one of the edges of the endless flexible band comprising the first section to constitute an extension thereof. If desired, these skirt elements may depend from a bag member forming another part of the flexible skirt assembly.