Abstract: A combined hat and earphones device comprises a flexible hat positionable over the head and ears of a person, and a pair of earphones integrally and inconspicuously connected to lower portions of the hat such that the earphones would be held adjacent the person's ears when the hat is being worn. The hat has an eyelet defined in an inner surface thereof, while electrical wires extending from the earphones extend downwardly out of the hat through the eyelet and have terminal ends thereof connected to a common plug member adapted to be received in the earphones jack of a portable radio or cassette player.

Abstract: A vehicle height adjusting device includes a resilient member having an outer end coupled to a wheel support member and an inner end supported on a vehicle body, the resilient member having a vertically resilient characteristic and serving as a suspension component, and a load unit disposed between the resilient member and the vehicle body for applying a vertical bonding stress to the resilient member to displace the resilient member for thereby varying the height of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A steering angle detector comprises a differential transformer. The steering angle detector includes a rod member extending substantially transversely of the vehicle body and axially movable in response to steering action of the vehicle body, a metallic core mounted on the rod member, and primary and secondary coils disposed around the core in slightly spaced relation thereto.

Abstract: A parts installing system installs a plurality of parts on a workpiece substantially simultaneously. The system includes a parts stocker for stocking a cluster of substantially closely arranged parts thereon, and a parts transfer device for transferring the parts from the parts stocker to a prescribed position over the workpiece and setting the transferred parts over the workpiece. The parts transfer device includes a parts spreading mechanism unit which picks up the clustered parts from the parts stocker and spreads them into respective relative positions corresponding respectively to relative positions which will be taken by the parts set on the workpiece. The system also includes a pressing device for pressing the parts set over the workpiece onto the workpiece, and a bolt fastening device for fastening the pressed parts to the workpiece with bolts. The parts installing system is suitable for use on various automated production lines to achieve a high rate of production.

Abstract: An earring device including two interlockable, elongated portions. When worn by the wearer, the device gives the appearance of a tapered structure spiked through the wearer's earlobe.

Abstract: An automatic wheel attachment apparatus for attaching a wheel to a wheel attachment member of an automotive body. The automatic wheel attachment apparatus includes a reorienting device for reorienting a wheel attachment surface of the wheel attachment member, a phasing device for phasing wheel attachment bolts on the wheel attachment member, the phasing device being movable longitudinally and vertically of the automotive body to bring the wheel attachment member and the phasing device into central alignment with each other, a detecting device for detecting the amount and direction of movement of the phasing device, and a nut runner for fastening the wheel to the wheel attachment member while the center of the wheel attachment member as detected by the detecting device is being held in alignment with the center of the wheel. At least the reorienting device, the phasing device, and the detecting device are combined in a single robot.

Abstract: An electrically power-assisted four-wheel steering system (100) for vehicles with front wheels (32a, 32b) and rear wheels (48a, 48b) comprises a front-wheel steering device (35) including a rack (2) for the front wheels which transversely extends and has an end portion (2b) thereof formed with a first toothed part (2a) meshing with a first pinion (1, 1a) operatively connected to a steering wheel (27), a rear-wheel steering device (40), a linkage mechanism (50) including a second pinion (14) which meshes with a second toothed part (13) formed over a predetermined region at one side of a transversely substantially central portion of the rack to operatively transmit a transverse displacement of the rack to the rear-wheel steering device, and an electric motor (5) for operatively providing auxiliary torque to the front-wheel steering device and to the rear-wheel steering device.

Abstract: A gravel shield for hitch trailers of the type having a front tongue frame member for hitching to a towing vehicle. The gravel shield includes a lower portion adapted to cooperate with a portion of the tongue frame, an imperforate front sheet and rear cushioning material. The shield is adapted to be operably disposed so as to cover the lower front portion of the trailer so as to protect same from gravel and other road debris during travel.

Abstract: An off-road vehicle has a hydraulic brake operating assembly mounted on a steering handle. The steering handle has a base, a rectangular handle portion integral with the base, and a cover covering the base. The brake operating assembly has a brake oil reservoir, two brake levers pivotally supported on lateral sides of the handle portion for braking front and rear wheels, respectively, and two brake master cylinders communicating with the brake oil reservoir through hoses and responsive to operation of the brake levers for generating hydraulic pressure. The brake oil reservoir is centrally fixedly mounted on the rectangular handle portion. The brake master cylinders are fixedly mounted respectively on the lateral sides of the handle portion.

Abstract: A wheel alignment control system for a vehicle having at least one pair of rear road wheels opposing each other in the transverse direction of the vehicle, for changing and setting a wheel alignment factor of the wheels in relation to a current speed of the vehicle. The wheel alignment factor to be set by the control system is a camber angle of the rear wheels, a static toeing angle of the rear wheels, or a dynamic toeing angle of the rear wheels. The dynamic toeing angle of changed to be set by changing a stroke characteristic of each of a pair of suspenion units respectively supporting the rear wheels, on which the stroke characteristic of an associated one of the suspension units exerts an effect such that, in accordance with a stroke length thereof, the toeing angle of a corresponding one of the rear wheels is varied.

Abstract: An independent rear wheel suspension (100; 100') for a vehicle in which a knuckle (1) rotatably supporting a rear wheel (2) of the vehicle is pivotably connected in a vertically movable manner to the vehicle body by means of a substantially longitudinally extending trailing arm (5), a substantially transversely extending upper arm (3), a substantially transversely extending short front lower arm (6), and a substantially transversely extending long rear lower arm (4). The knuckle (1) is vertically swingingly pivotably attached to the upper arm (3) and the rear lower arm (4). The upper arm (3), trailing arm (5), front lower arm (6), and rear lower arm (4) are vertically swingingly pivotably attached to the vehicle body. The knuckle (1) is leftwardly and rightwardly swingingly pivotably attached to the trailing arm (5) so as to rotate about a substantially vertical axis (12-14) extending through the rear end part (A) of the trailing arm (5).

Abstract: A steering gear box mount includes a resilient member interposed between a motor vehicle body and a steering gear box for allowing movement of the steering gear box. The mount also has a structure for limiting allowed movement of the steering gear box. The structure includes a mechanism for selectively rigidly fixing the steering gear box to a motor vehicle body, or a mechanism for continuously adjusting the allowed movement of the steering gear box.

Abstract: A motorcycle [1; 50] having a front wheel [23] and a rear wheel [5] includes a motorcycle body [4, 2] including an engine [2], the engine [2] having an engine body [6] and a cylinder [6] disposed on a rear portion of the engine body [6] to define a space [S] forwardly of the cylinder [7] and forwardly and upwardly of the engine body [6]. Upper and lower front swing arms [19, 20] extend horizontally and forwardly from the motorcycle body [4, 2] substantially parallel to each other, the front wheel [23] being operatively supported on front portions of the upper and lower front swing arms [19, 20]. The upper and lower front swing arms [19, 20] have rear portions [19a, 19b, 20a, 20b] pivotally mounted on the motorcycle body [4, 2] for vertical swinging movement with respect thereto. The rear portions [19a, 19b] of the upper front swing arm [19] are pivotally mounted on the motorcycle body [4, 2] within the space [S].

Abstract: A cooling device is mounted on an off-road vehicle including a vehicle frame having a pair of main pipe members spaced from each other transversely of the vehicle and extending longitudinally of the vehicle, the main pipe members having rear portions joined to each other, a central roll bar mounted on the main pipe members substantially centrally in their longitudinal direction, and a rear roll bar coupled between the rear ends of the main pipe members and the central roll bar, and an engine mounted on a lower portion of the vehicle frame rearwardly of the central roll bar. The cooling device includes a radiator positioned in a space surrounded by the main pipe members, the central roll bar, and the rear roll bar, and mounted on a support pipe extending and joined between the main pipe members. The cooling device also has a shroud attached to the rear surface of the radiator, and a fan motor fixedly accommodated in the shroud.

Abstract: Engine-powered portable working apparatus (100) including a soundproof casing (4) for accommodatingly supporting therein a main unit (1) having an engine (10) and a rotary working machine (11) driven by the engine, and a carrying handle (6) provided on the soundproof casing. The soundproof casing (4) comprises a first casing half (2) and a second casing half (3) to be joined together along a predetermined mating plane (P). The first and second casing halves (2, 3) are, respectively, integrally formed with a first handle half part (23) and a second handle half part (33) to be joined together along the mating plane (P) to thereby cooperate with each other to constitute the carrying handle (6). The working apparatus (100) further comprises an anti-vibratory member (5) for elastically holding the main unit (1) in the soundproof casing (4).

Abstract: A steering gear box mount includes a resilient member interposed between a motor vehicle body and a steering gear box for allowing movement of the steering gear box. The mount also has a structure for limiting allowed movement of the steering gear box. The structure includes a mechanism for selectively fixing the steering gear box to a motor vehicle body, or a mechanism for continuously adjusting the allowed movement of the steering gear box.

Abstract: A motorcycle engine is disposed between the front and rear wheels of a motorcycle, and has a pair of cylinders. A front wheel suspension mechanism has a swing arm assembly extending forwardly, the front wheel being steerably supported on a front end of the swing arm assembly. The front wheel suspension mechanism has a damper or upper and lower arms disposed between the cylinders of the engine. Since the damper is positioned in the space between the engine cylinders, the damper may be of an increased length.

Abstract: A supply line for supplying a sealant from a sealant supply source to a sealing robot has pressure sensors and is coupled to relief valves through branch lines. If the pressure in the supply line excessively rises or drops, then the relief valves are opened to release the pressure from the supply line and the supply pump is inactivated. The pipes, devices, and pump on the supply line are therefore protected from damage. The sealing robot has an sealant applicator gun movable with respect to an article to which the sealant is to be applied by the sealing robot. A pump driving device is controlled to vary the rate at which the sealant is discharged from the pump as a function of the speed of relative movement of the sealant applicator gun with respect to the article.

Abstract: A pedal bracket assembly for installation on a structural body having a vertical member and a transverse member projecting transversely from the vertical member includes a support member having vertical flanges adapted to be fastened to the vertical member and side walls joined to the vertical flanges and extending vertically, a pedal pivotally coupled to the side walls, and a holder member having a first adjustable component connectable to the transverse member with first bolts and first nuts for positional adjustment in a first direction in which the transverse member projects, and second adjustable components connectable to the side walls with second bolts and second nuts for positional adjustment in a second direction normal to the transverse member.