Abstract: An off-road vehicle has a vehicle frame of piping, a power unit including an engine, a fuel tank, an air cleaner, and other components, and a double-wishbone suspension supporting a rear wheel on the vehicle frame. The vehicle frame has a side frame member positioned laterally of the power unit and a rear frame member positioned rearwardly of the power unit. The suspension comprises a knuckle having a proximal end and an upward extension, a lower arm assembly coupled between the proximal end of the knuckle and the side frame member, and a bifurcated upper arm having a vertex end pivotally coupled to the upward extension of the knuckle, a front leg pivotally coupled to the side frame member, and a rear leg being pivotally coupled to the rear frame member.

Abstract: A self-propelled fishing device for connection between a line of a fishing pole and a line of a fishing lure. The device includes a submersible waterproof body capable of pulling the fishing lure in a trolling manner while submerged below the surface of the water.

Abstract: A cast-in member and a heating member are set in a mold with the cast-in member being in the vicinity of the heating member. Molten metal is poured through an ignition runner into contact with the heating member to ignite the latter and produce heat. The cast-in member is heated with the heat from the heating member. Thereafter, molten metal is poured through a runner into a cavity in the mold to cast the metal around the cast-in member.

Abstract: A relative positional relation detecting system has a detector for the recognition of and inspection by use of a predetermined identification mark provided on each of at least two members to be put in a predetermined relative position to each other. The detector comprises an irradiation device for irradiating the identification mark with rays of light, a light detection device for detecting reflected rays of light from the identification mark, and a judging device for judging whether or not the members are put in the predetermined relative position, depending on a detection signal from the light detection device.

Abstract: A four-wheel steerable motor vehicle has a mechanism for steering front wheels in response to turning motion of a steering wheel, and a mechanism for steering rear wheels in response to steering of the front wheels. The rear wheels have camber with respect to ground which is more negative than camber of the front wheels with respect to ground. The motor vehicle also has front wheel suspensions supporting said front wheels, respectively, and rear wheel suspensions supporting said rear wheels, respectively, the front and rear wheel suspensions being of the double-wishbone type.

Abstract: An off-road vehicle comprises a vehicle frame, a pair of front wheels rotatably supported on a front portion of the vehicle frame, a pair of rear wheels rotatably supported on a rear portion of the vehicle frame, and a framework on each of lateral sides of the vehicle frame and including upper and lower pipes inclined upwardly in a forward direction and substantially parallel to each other. Each of the front wheels is rotatably mounted on the framework by means of a front wheel suspension mechanism comprising knuckle arm supporting the front wheel, a V-shaped upper arm having a base pivotally mounted on an upper portion of the knuckle arm and front and rear ends pivotally attached to the upper pipe at front and rear positions thereon, and a V-shaped lower arm having a base pivotally mounted on a lower portion of the knuckle arm and front and rear ends pivotally attached to the lower pipe at front and rear positons thereon.

Abstract: A fuel supply system in an off-road vehicle including front and rear wheels having wide tires, respectively, an engine mounted on a rear portion of a vehicle frame, and an exhaust pipe extending from the engine and disposed on one side of the engine transversely of the vehicle frame. The fuel system comprises a fuel tank assembly disposed on the other side of the engine transversely of the vehicle frame, and an air cleaner case disposed rearwardly of the fuel tank assembly. The vehicle frame comprises a plurality of welded pipe members. The fuel tank assembly has an outer peripheral flange supported at plural locations thereon by at least two of the pipe members of the vehicle frame. The fuel tank assembly has a cap for detachably closing a fuel inlet hole, the cap including a resiliently biased cover swingably mounted on an upper surface for covering a key slot from above.

Abstract: A rider-controlled working machine having a four-wheel steering system including a steering link mechanism operatively interconnecting a steering wheel and front and rear wheels for steering the front and rear wheels simultaneously. The steering link mechanism includes a device for steering the rear wheels such that when the steering wheel is turned through a relatively large angle, the center of turning movement of the working machine is positioned between extensions of the axles of the front and rear wheels at the time the front and rear wheels are in a neutral steering position, and when the steering wheel is turned through a relatively small angle, the center of turning movement of the working machine is positioned between an extension of the transverse axis of an earth working unit coupled to the rear end of the working machine and the extensions of the axles of the rear wheels.

Abstract: A fixing structure is provided for a motorcycle including a swing arm by which an axle having at either end thereof a drive wheel and a torque damping mechanism fixed thereto respectively is rotatably supported substantially at the central part thereof. The fixing structure fixes a driven sprocket to a transversely inner part of an outside constituting member of the torque damping mechanism. The fixing structure includes a plurality of fixing lugs projectingly formed at predetermined intervals on the outer circumference of the outside constituting member, and a plurality of fixing lugs projectingly formed with a predetermined width on the inner circumference of the driven sprocket to be fixedly fastened in a detachable manner with the fixing lugs of the outside constituting member, respectively.

Abstract: A fishing rod holder for supporting one or a plurality of fishing rods in various adjustable positions. A base member is provided with a vertical post for receiving a desired number of collar support members in vertically stacked and abutting relation. Each collar is provided with an arm which supports a sleeve for receiving a fishing rod. A common locking member is provided at the top of the post to permit simultaneous release of the collars for individual rotational adjustment, or simultaneous locking thereof into desired adjusted positions.

Abstract: A mechanism for steering the front and rear wheels of a four-wheel-steerable vehicle includes a front wheel steering device operatively coupled to a steering wheel and having at least a rack-and-pinion gear mechanism having a nonlinear gear ratio, a rear wheel steering device, a linkage shaft operatively connecting the front wheel steering device and the rear wheel steering device to each other, and at least one steering force assisting device disposed in a steering force transmitting path comprising the front wheel steering device, the rear wheel steering device, and the linkage shaft.

Abstract: A turn signal cancelling apparatus for a vehicle having a handlebar and a blinker unit which is operable to be activated by a manual operation and is operable to be deactivated by a cancelling signal.

Abstract: A V belt (1; 201) for power transmission to be stretched over a driving pulley (100) and a driven pulley to effect power transmission therebetween, the V belt comprising a looped metallic belt (2), a plurality of V-shaped metallic blocks (3; 203) fitted on the metallic belt in a continuous manner along the length of the metallic belt, and a plurality of stoppers (5; 75) each respectively applied to one of the V-shaped blocks to cooperate with a concave groove (3b; 203b) of the V-shaped block so as to surround the metallic belt. At least a part (5d; 75d) of a base portion (5a; 75a) of the stopper is curved in a radial direction of the V belt to permit a resilient uniform opening of both side portions (5b; 75b) thereof in lateral directions (Y).

Abstract: An independent rear suspension includes a knuckle having a spindle for supporting a wheel, the spindle having a central axis, a trailing arm coupled to the knuckle, a pair of spaced lower arms pivotally mounted on the knuckle, a knuckle arm extending substantially upwardly from the knuckle, an upper arm pivotally mounted on the knuckle arm, and a damper having a lower end coupled to the knuckle at a position below the central axis of the spindle, the damper having a lower portion disposed between the spaced lower arms and in the vicinity of the central axis of the spindle.

Abstract: A steering system for a motor vehicle includes a centering mechanism for establishing a neutral steering position. The steering system includes a steering wheel and a steering assembly for steering vehicle wheels in response to angular movement of the steering wheel. The centering mechanism is mounted on at least a portion of the steering assembly for establishing the neutral steering position of the steering assembly.

Abstract: A self-propelling snow removing machine includes a body frame extending rearwardly and upwardly with a steering handle attached to an upper end thereof, a snow removing mechanism operatively mounted on a front portion of the body frame, a running mechanism operatively mounted on a lower portion of the body frame, an engine mounted on the body frame and having an output shaft extending forwardly of the body frame, and a power transmitting mechansim supported on the body frame and operatively coupled to the engine, the power transmitting mechanism including a transmission for connecting the engine output shaft to the running mechanism and for connecting the engine output shaft to the snow removing mechanism. The engine has a cylinder with its axis inclined laterally of the body frame, the power transmitting mechanism is mounted on the body frame forwardly of the engine, and further includes a gear mechanism for coupling the engine output shaft to the transmission and a clutch.

Abstract: A differential case with a limited-slip mechanism includes a pair of axles held in coaxial relation to each other, a pair of side gears mounted respectively on inner ends of the axles, pinions interposed between and held in mesh with the side gears, a case housing the side gears and the pinions therein and supported on the axles, and a clutch mechanism interposed between the case and each of the side gears and including a plurality of discs arranged for mutual frictional engagement. The case comprises a central cylindrical body having opposite open ends and caps attached to the opposite open ends. The central cylindrical body has grooves extending axially thereof and defined in an inner peripheral surface thereof at at least one of the opposite ends, the discs having portions engaging in the grooves for preventing rotation of the discs. The caps and the one-piece central cylindrical body may be made of different materials.

Abstract: A motor vehicle with a riding saddle includes front and rear wheels, an engine, a front wheel steering device for steering the front wheel, a frame having an integral head pipe supporting the front wheel steering device, a rear fork having a front end pivotally mounted on the frame and a rear end supporting the rear wheel, and a cushioning unit having a front end pivotally coupled to the frame and a rear end coupled to the rear fork for relative angular movement. The cushioning unit extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal central axis of the motor vehicle an is displaced laterally from the longitudinal central axis, leaving a space on one side of the cushioning unit. The motor vehicle also includes accessories disposed in the space on one side of the cushioning unit. The frame includes main and down tubes extending downwardly and rearwardly from the upper and lower portions, respectively, of the head pipe. Each of the main and down tubes is composed of a pair of laterally spaced members.

Abstract: A rotary lawn mower bar with non-metallic replaceable cutting and sweeping components. The rotary bar has L-shaped retaining arms each of which passes through a central channel in a replaceable component. The replaceable components can either cut vegetation, or can be used for blowing or sweeping purposes.

Abstract: A racket string straightner including an elongate holder having a straight row of individually slidable teeth mounted therein. Each tooth has a string-receiving notch, and the notches are aligned along the row so as to straighten a string received therein. An aperture is provided in each tooth so as to extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of the holder, for receiving a string transverse to the string to be straightened.