Abstract: An attachment for the dashboard of a motor vehicle including a rectangular panel pivotally movable between positions approximately parallel to the top of the dashboard and to the windshield and having a raised lip bordering three sides which contacts the windshield when the panel is raised. The defroster outlet discharges into the space between the panel and windshield, the air being confined by the lip and exiting through one or more air outlet passages therein. The panel serves as an effective glare and heat shield when in its raised position. A shallow drawer, which may be extended to provide a shelf disposed within a recess in the dashboard and is covered by the panel when in its lower position.

Abstract: A specially constructed hinge, mounted within the open body of a light truck, pivotally supports a body-enclosing, box-type shell behind the truck cab for vertical swinging movement of the shell about an axis extending transversely of the truck adjacent the uppermost portion of the cab end of the shell whereby the shell may be swung selectively up or down to open or close the body without encountering interference between the shell and cab. The hinge comprises a pair of parallel, upright, laterally spaced plates each secured to a respective sidewall of the truck body and defining a pair of spaced, arcuate, non-concentric slots for captively retaining corresponding rollers carried by depending structure on said shell. An electric winch selectively retracts or releases cable and pulley assemblies associated with respective pairs of rollers for powered raising or lowering of the shell relative to the truck body.

Abstract: A cab joint line sealing arrangement for use in a vehicle having a base portion and a cab. The sealing arrangement includes a channel structure secured to the cab to define a projecting channel extending lengthwise along the cab peripheral portion. The web of the channel structure is provided with spaced openings and the vehicle base portion is provided with a corresponding plurality of threaded securing devices for receiving a complementary threaded securing device extended through the channel openings and arranged to clamp the channel web to the vehicle base portion. A compressible seal is provided adjacent the channel to extend lengthwise parallel thereto for sealing the cab to the vehicle base portion as an incident of the securing of the cab to the base portion by the threaded securing elements.

Abstract: A channel-shaped guiding, sealing or finishing strip, such as for use in vehicle bodies for sealing door flanges or windows, comprises a channel-shaped metal carrier covered with plastics or rubber material. The metal carrier is made up of a series of side-by-side generally U-shaped elements which are interconnected by short connecting links. The connecting links are each kinked or corrguated so as to enable the sealing strip to be stretched or compressed slightly.

Abstract: An off-the-road type of vehicle which is adapted to travel on the rough terrain has a pair of frames distributed longitudinally of the vehicle, these frames, for example, forming a cab frame which is adapted to accommodate an operator of the vehicle and a load-carrying frame. A pair of ground-engaging structures such as wheels are associated with the frames to support the latter for travelling movement. A suspension connects one of the ground-engaging structures with the frame associated therewith, and this suspension includes an elastically yieldable structure to provide the possibility of elastic yielding movement in this suspension. A joint structure interconnects the pair of frames so that they are turnable one with respect to the other at least about an axis which extends longitudinally of the vehicle in the direction of travel thereof and which is substantially horizontal when the vehicle is on substantially horizontal ground.

Abstract: Pneumatic-coil series spring support means, as for vehicles, which substantially inhibits tilt of the pneumatic spring component, as by providing a rigid extension of the movable spring seat of the pneumatic spring component and hinging the remote end of the rigid seat extension to the member which carries the relatively fixed spring seat of the pneumatic spring component, leaving the coil spring component to take the required lateral movement of the combined spring support means; particularly for arrangements in which the pneumatic spring component is located below the coil spring component.

Abstract: To provide needed stability between a vehicle, such as a pick up truck, and an added removable body component, such as a camper, one or more large inflatable structural components are positioned fully between them at the cab location. For example, wherein a large camper is placed on a pick up truck and the camper has a cab-over portion generally housing a sleeping space, two inflatable structural components are utilized. One structural component is located fully on the cab roof and inflated into mutual contact with the cab-over portion of the camper that is directly opposite the full cab roof; the other structural component is located between the full rear of the cab, minus any window area, and the front wall of the camper, minus any window area, and is inflated into mutual contact with their respective surfaces.

Abstract: Suspension apparatus, particularly for use with motor vehicles, utilizing a pair of pistons. The upper ends of the piston rods are connected one to either side of the underbody of the vehicle. Each piston is displaceable within its respective fluid containing cylinder. The upper and lower chambers of one cylinder are respectively connected by fluid lines to the lower and upper chambers of the other cylinder. Each fluid line is connected by an auxiliary line through a separate metering valve to separate hydraulic accumulators.

Abstract: A partition for segregating the air space within the passenger compartment of an automobile or the like relative to the passenger seats thereof including an elongated upper support track for affixment to the inner roof portion of an automobile, a plurality of side brackets for removable affixment to the opposed inner wall portions of the automobile, and a transparent curtain secured on the free lateral edges thereof to the plurality of side brackets, and on the uppermost free edge thereof to the upper support track.

Abstract: A chassis frame for motor vehicles in which cross members projecting from sides of the frame interconnect longitudinal members in the form of hollow girders. The longitudinal members have openings in their side walls, and these openings conform with the cross-section of the cross members. The cross members have a center section and abutting end sections inserted from the sides through the openings into the hollow interior of the longitudinal girders. The cross members pass through the longitudinal members so that the end sections project beyond these longitudinal members. The center section of the cross members penetrate the wall of the longitudinal members facing the vehicle center. The center section and the end sections abutt each other bluntly and are connected to each other by welds within the interior of the hollow section of the longitudinal members. The end sections of the cross members, furthermore, pass through the outer wall of the longitudinal members.

Abstract: An independently sprung front wheel assembly including a frame, a steering knuckle and associated wheel, a control arm pivotally connected at its inner ends via a shaft and surrounding clamp members to the frame and its outer end to the steering knuckle, a coil spring mounted between the control arm and the frame, and an elastomeric bushing mounted around the shaft within each clamp and having vertically oriented sides of reduced effective thickness for providing a low horizontal rate and high vertical rate for increased horizontal movement and minimal vertical movement of the wheel and control arm relative to the frame during road impact conditions to substantially isolate the frame from such impacts.

Abstract: An air deflector for a road vehicle is described. The deflector defines a streamlined face which reflects air impinging on said face, upwardly and rearwardly to an upright spoiler region which imparts an upward motion to the air as it leaves the deflector.

Abstract: A pivotal implement, such as a pivotal plow includes an implement frame having an axle extending longitudinally in the direction of travel which is pivotally supported on an undercarriage for movement relative thereto about its axle. The undercarriage includes a pair of spaced apart wheels each of which is supported by a transversely-extending axle which is coupled to the undercarriage for independent vertical movement in a substantially vertical direction, relative to the longitudinal axis of the undercarriage, for movement between an upper limiting position and a lower limiting position. Blocking means are associated with each of the wheel axles for preventing a tipping of the undercarriage relative to the implement frame about its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A truck described herein comprises a loading table mounted on a body frame of said truck in such manner that said loading table may move in the forward direction along said body frame when an impact force larger than a predetermined value is applied to a vehicle body of said truck. An energy absorber means is interposed between said body frame and said loading table for absorbing the kinetic energy possessed by said loading table. In one aspect of the invention, the truck also comprises a stopper mounted on said body frame to limit the forward motion of said loading table along said body frame, the stopper also including separate energy absorber means for absorbing the kinetic energy of said loading table. Each of said energy absorber means consists of a member which absorbs the kinetic energy through friction, elastic deformation, plastic deformation, or through their combined effect.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved battery operated fork-lift truck having at its rear end a frame structure comprising a plurality of vertically, horizontally or otherwise extending frame and wall members which define a plurality of compartments which are satisfactorily closed themselves and independent of one another to accommodate in a mutually isolated fashion a variety of equipment required for operation of the truck.

Abstract: A carrying frame for supporting demountable freight carriers on vehicles is disclosed. The carrying frame includes a bottom portion carried by the vehicle; two substantially identical, longitudinal support elements adapted for receiving a freight carrier thereon, situated on the bottom portion and movable relative to the bottom portion in a lateral direction of the vehicle; reciprocating adjusting means on the bottom portion for moving the supporting elements to a predetermined position; and restraining means for retaining said freight carrier on said supporting elements and in a fixed position relative to said bottom portion. The reciprocating adjusting means further includes spaced first and second means for displacing the longitudinal supporting elements first in one lateral direction and then in the opposite lateral direction from said one lateral direction.

Abstract: An equipment-moving dolly comprising a walking beam having a rigid planar member with a planar surface, said planar member having attached thereto, approximately perpendicular to the planar surface, one or more rigid, weight-bearing arms, said arms terminating in a means for attaching the walking beam to a carriage base; a carriage base having a rigid member, said rigid member having attached thereto two or more rigid, weight-bearing struts, including a pair of outer struts approximately perpendicular to a plane taken through the carriage base, with each strut parallel to the other struts, said outer struts having a means for pivotably attaching said walking beam to said carriage base for allowing the walking beam to pivot relative to said carriage base, and having a means for attaching said struts to a roller assembly; and a roller assembly comprising two or more roller devices in tandem having a means for individually attaching each roller device to the struts of the carriage base.

Abstract: A strip-like profile projecting from a windshield column of a motor vehicle which forms a water-collecting channel open in the direction toward the windshield and in which the water rising during the drive is conducted in the direction toward the vehicle roof; the strip-like profile is thereby extended at its upper end around toward the top side of the windshield while the water-collecting channel discharges into a channel extending approximately parallel to the center longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A power driven ski is divided by an aperture into anterior and posterior ski portions, which are held one to the other by a bridge so that their combined undersurfaces form a longitudinally smooth skiing undersurface throughout the length of the ski. A motor driven endless tread is circulateably supported around the posterior ski portion for thrusting against the snow over which the posterior ski portion slides.

Abstract: A ski having a sole profile which is symmetric to the longitudinal axis of the ski and defined at both sides by edges of wear-resistant material and comprising a further edge on each side projecting laterally over the corresponding first edge on this side.