Abstract: An inflatable pillow on which passengers seated in rows of forward-facing seats may lean forward, rest their heads, and relax. The pillow's shape, once inflated, is predetermined to substantially occupy the space in front of such passengers. In one embodiment, the predetermined shape includes faces that fit snugly against a support means, such as a tray table, and abuts against a vertical restraint, such as the back of the seat in front. The predetermined shape nonetheless allows the vertical restraint to recline towards the pillow without causing the pillow to move. In another embodiment, the predetermined shape includes a plurality of flexibly connected cells that may be folded to form a shape that substantially occupies the available space while still allowing the seat in front to recline. A means is also included to inflate the pillow optionally with air supply from an external climate control near the passenger such as an air conditioning vent, where such an external climate control is available.

Abstract: An air dam is comprised of a plurality of flexible bristles which have upper ends fixedly mounted on a mounting bracket adapted for mounting on the underside of the vehicle front end so that the bristles depend generally vertically toward the road surface. The bristles are mounted in closely packed relationship providing an air impermeable wall which effectively functions as an air deflecting dam. The bristles are sufficiently stiff to resist being bent by the air flow and yet are sufficiently yieldable to bend rearwardly when the air dam brushes over a curb and then bend forwardly as the vehicle backs away from the curb. The mounting bracket extends in a curvilinear path to provide a desired plan form configuration matching the plan form configuration of the vehicle body.

Abstract: An independently sprung front suspension system for improving the ride and handling of a recreational vehicle having a unitized body and frame. A wishbone-shaped lower control arm having spaced apart inner ends is mounted for pivotal movement on a control arm shaft, and a tubular member surrounding the control arm shaft is secured to the frame. A pair of spaced apart elastomeric bushings are mounted on the shaft within the tubular member which permit large horizontal deflection and minimal vertical deflection of the shaft within the tubular member during road impact and braking conditions, thereby substantially isolating the frame from such road impact.

Abstract: A leaf spring suspension system including a compliant front leaf spring hanger assembly for supporting the front end of the longest or main leaf spring and operatively connecting same to the vehicular side rail, the hanger assembly including a pair of oppositely disposed, cup-shaped rubber bushings surrounding the front spring-eye and being confined in a preloaded manner within the hanger housing for permitting lateral and longitudinal movement of the front end of the main leaf spring in response to any side load exerted on the leaf spring stack for improved lateral force compliance characteristics during vehicular turns.