Abstract: A vehicle includes a passenger compartment enclosed by a body, which body includes at least a roof present at the upper side, two side walls positioned opposite each other on either side of a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, which join the roof, and a rear wall, which joins both the roof and the side walls. At least a portion of the rear wall and a rear portion of the roof can be moved in a forward direction so as to form a reduced passenger compartment and a freely accessible loading space located therebehind.

Abstract: A load cell comprises two rings having at least three tubes extending from the first ring to the second ring. Sensors are mounted on the tubes to measure strain of the load cell body in a plurality of directions. The load cell can further be mounted on a vehicle spindle to measure forces and moments of a wheel assembly at the spindle as a vehicle is operated.

Abstract: A swivel joint according to the present invention includes first and second base members. A spider includes first and second arcuate surfaces which form joints with the first and second base members, respectively. Furthermore, the spider includes first and second pins both opposed from each other and third and fourth pins opposed from each other. A first mechanism is coupled to the spider and the first base member and is adapted to effect a force between the first arcuate surface and the first base member. Also, a second mechanism is coupled to the spider and the second base member and is adapted to effect a force between the second arcuate surface and the second base member.

Abstract: A system and method for rendering information on a wireless personal information manager device includes reading viewing control parameters in a dataset stored in memory on the device. The dataset further includes a plurality of records to be selectively viewed. The viewing control parameters are processed to render the records selectively on the device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a streaming information appliance for receiving and selectively reading blocks of streaming information. The information appliance includes a buffer, a writer module which receives blocks of streaming information and writes the blocks to the buffer at a write position, and a reader module which selectively reads the blocks from the buffer at a read position. An adjustment mechanism adjusts the relative positions of the read and write position.

Abstract: A keypad includes a light emitting source, a light detector and waveguide assembly adapted to receive light from the light emitting source and having a plurality of waveguide branches adapted to conduct light to the light detector. A plurality of user actuated keys is provided. Each key includes a moveable engaging member disposed proximate a waveguide branch to engage the waveguide branch as a function of key operation.

Abstract: A testing machine and method are provided for simulating cornering loads on at least a vehicle component. This testing machine and method includes an actuator having an actuator rod oriented at an angle with respect to a level support surface, the angle being selected as a function of a cornering angle of the vehicle during operation.

Abstract: A friction stir welding spindle includes a support having a center bore. A spindle shaft is adapted to support a stir welding tool and extends within the bore. A bearing assembly allows simultaneous rotational and axial displacement of spindle shaft in the bore relative to the support. A sensing device is adapted to provide an output signal indicative of at least one of a force coincident with axial displacement of the spindle shaft and an axial position of the spindle shaft.

Abstract: An assembly is provided having two opposing parallel guides and a panel having two opposite parallel lateral edges cooperating with said guides for a frictional sliding movement of the panel relative to the guides. The edges of the panel are resiliently curved such that there are defined three contact points between each edge and corresponding guide. In one embodiment, two contact points are near the ends of each edge and there is an intermediate contact point. The assembly may be provided in an open roof assembly for a vehicle.

Abstract: A rolling wheel testing apparatus includes a spindle assembly adapted to support a tire and wheel assembly for rotation. The spindle assembly includes an output shaft end having a plurality of holes extending into the shaft end substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of the spindle assembly. A plurality of signal wires are provided in particular. A signal wire is disposed in each of the holes.

Abstract: A wheeled work machine includes a rigid frame assembly having a support with a boom pivot. A front wheel assembly is joined to the frame assembly proximate the support, while a rear wheel assembly is joined to the frame assembly at an end remote from the support. The frame assembly further supports an engine, operator platform and cargo support. The operator platform is supported by the frame assembly between the boom pivot and the engine, while the cargo support is disposed behind the operator platform.

Abstract: An operating mechanism for two panel-shaped elements which are movable, substantially in the plane in which they extend, between an operative position, in which they lie side by side in the same plane, and a parallel, stacked position, and which each co-operate with guideways by means of guide elements at their transverse sides extending parallel to the direction of movement. A first panel-shaped element is provided with a connecting pin, which engages in a curved guide track formed in the second panel-shaped element, which curved guide track is so configured that when a force is exerted on the second panel-shaped element for the purpose of moving said element, a force comprising a force component transversely to the guideways will be exerted on the connecting pin, and in that the guideways comprise a transverse guideway portion connecting thereto.

Abstract: A broadsheet for manufacturing a carton for foodstuffs, such as chips, is described, which container comprises a container and a subcontainer for a garnishing, such as mayonnaise. The broadsheet is composed of a primary sheet of material for forming a container and a secondary sheet of material connected thereto for forming a subcontainer. The primary sheet of material is substantially rectangular and, starting from a first corner point, includes at least two folding lines extending to the opposite corner point and to one of the two sides of the rectangle adjacent thereto, respectively, whilst the secondary sheet of material is connected to one of the sides via a folding line and, starting from one of the corner points adjacent to the side in question, extends substantially along half the length of the side. Furthermore, a carton manufactured from the broadsheet is disclosed.

Abstract: An exerciser adapted for use with a pedaled device includes a frame having a post support ends for supporting the pedaled device and a frame mounting flange. A resistance device is selectively securable to the frame mounting flange in a first position relative to the opposed support ends. An adapter is selectively securable to the frame mounting flange and has an adapter mounting flange such that when the adapter is secured to the secured mounting flange, the resistance device is securable to the adapter mounting flange.

Abstract: An ignition timing device for timing an engine having a timing port and a timing mark indicative of a position of a movable member. The ignition timing device includes a sensor adapted to be secured in the timing port to provide a timing mark signal indicative of presence of the timing mark. Also, an ignition sensor is adapted to provide an ignition signal indicative of the occurrence of an ignition spark. A filter receives the ignition signal and provides a filtered ignition signal. The filter filters ignition sparks of compression strokes from ignition sparks of compression and exhaust strokes of a selected cylinder to provide the filtered ignition signal. Also, the delay element is provided that receives the filtered ignition signal and provides a delayed signal having a selected delay from the filtered ignition signal. A comparator receives the timing mark signal and the delayed signal.

Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle having a roof opening includes a closure element for the roof opening, which is driven by a driving element. The closure element can be locked in at least one position with respect to the vehicle, whilst the driving element can be disconnected from the closure element in that position for the purpose of driving another element. A coupling arm is pivotally connected to the closure element and engages the driving element. The coupling arm, in a first pivoted position thereof, is substantially rigidly connected to the driving element, and in a second pivoted position the closure element is fixed in position with respect to the vehicle the guide, whilst on the other hand the driving element is made movable with respect to the coupling arm and the closure element.

Abstract: Fuzzy keyboards, to determine a most-likely-to-be-intended keystroke or keystrokes, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method adds each of one or more keys to each of a current list of key sequence hypotheses, to create a new list of key sequence hypotheses. The method determines a likelihood probability for each hypothesis in the new list, and removes any hypothesis failing to satisfy any of one or more thresholds. The most likely key sequence of the new list may then be displayed. Some embodiments of the invention relate specifically to soft keyboards, while other embodiments relate specifically to real, physical and hard keyboards.

Abstract: A loading assembly used in a vehicle spindle test fixture includes a wheel adapter housing that is mountable to a vehicle spindle. A pair of vertical struts are provided. Each vertical strut is joined to the wheel adapter housing at spaced-apart first pivot connections. A bell crank is coupled to each end of the vertical struts at spaced-apart second pivot connections. An actuator is pivotally coupled to the bell crank at a third pivot connection. The location of the second pivot connections relative to the third pivot connection approximates the location of the first pivot connections relative to the spindle axis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a facility for selecting from a sequence of natural language characters combinations of characters that may be words. The facility uses indications, for each of a plurality of characters, of (a) the characters that occur in the second position of words that begin with the character and (b) the positions in which the character occurs in words. For each of a plurality of contiguous combinations of characters occurring in the sequence, the facility determines whether the character occurring in the second position of the combination is indicated to occur in words that begin with the character occurring in the first position of the combination. If so, the facility determines whether every character of the combination is indicated to occur in words in a position in which it occurs in the combination. If so, the facility determines that the combination of characters may be a word.

Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle having an opening in its fixed roof comprises a stationary part to be fixed to the roof, which stationary part includes a guide rail present on at least one side of the roof opening. A panel supported by the stationary part is adjustable between a closed position, in which it closes the roof opening, and an open position, in which it has been moved to a position above the fixed roof. This is effected by an operating mechanism present between the panel and the guide rail, which operating mechanism includes a supporting part which supports the panel and a first slide which is capable of sliding movement along the guide rail. The supporting part of the operating mechanism slidably supports the panel, while a second slide is provided, which is capable of moving the panel with respect to the supporting part by a connecting part. Preferably, the panel and the supporting part are guided with respect to each other by a roller guide.