Abstract: An expandable bicycle headset structure is provided to aid in the mounting of a steerer tube of a front fork to a head tube of a bicycle frame. The headset structure has a first tubular member and a second tubular member that are mounted on the steerer tube. The first and second tubular members have bores that are sized to receive the steerer tube therethrough. The first and second mating adjustment structures are adjustably coupled together to change an effective overall axial length of the expandable bicycle headset structure. Thus, the first and second mating adjustment structures apply an axial force to a headset that rotatably mounts the steerer tube of the front fork to the head tube of the bicycle frame.

Abstract: A bicycle shift control device includes a fixed member and a rotatable member rotatably coupled to the fixed member for rotation around a handlebar between at least two shift positions. The fixed member is adapted to be coupled to the handlebar adjacent a hand gripping area of the handlebar. The rotatable member has inner and outer axial ends with a tubular outer actuating surface extending between the inner and outer ends and around a center longitudinal axis of the hand gripping area. The actuating surface is configured to define a tubular hand grip with a finger operating projection extending outwardly relative to the tubular hand grip. The actuating surface includes a first portion constructed of a first material and a second portion constructed of a second material more rigid than the first material. The second portion has the finger operating projection.

Abstract: A bicycle pedal assembly includes a pair of pedals and a pair of cleats. The cleats are configured and arranged to selectively cooperate with the right and left bicycle pedals such that two different release forces can be attained using a single pair of cleats. The pedal includes a body that rotates about a shaft and a front and rear clamping members are coupled to opposite ends of the pedal body. Also, the front and rear clamping members are preferably pivotally coupled to the pedal body.

Abstract: The invention provides a combination measuring device allows fast measurement without lowering a measurement accuracy. The combination measuring device accommodates objects in a plurality of containers, performs combination calculation by measuring weights of the objects accommodated in the containers, discharging and collecting the objects selected for an optimum combination from the containers, and thereby obtaining the weighed objects having a target weight. This combination measuring device includes a plurality of measuring units, and a control portion. Each of the measuring units has a measuring portion for measuring the weight of the object accommodated in the container, and a stock portion for stocking the containers accommodating the weighed objects. The control portion performs the combination calculation by using weight values of all the objects stocked by the stock portions of all of the measuring units, while selecting zero or at most one container from each of the measuring units.

Abstract: A top pull type front derailleur is designed to move or shift a chain between two or more sprockets for changing gears. The front derailleur basically has a bicycle frame clamping band, a linkage assembly and a chain guide. The linkage assembly includes a cable connection point and is arranged between the bicycle frame clamping band and the chain guide to move the chain guide laterally towards and away from the clamping band. The clamping band has a top pull cable guide surface that is configured and arranged relative to the clamping band to guide a cable from vertically above the clamping band to the cable connection point when the front bicycle derailleur is operatively mounted to a bicycle frame. Preferably, the top pull cable guide surface is formed on a peripheral surface of a roller that is rotatably mounted on the clamping band.

Abstract: An engine fuel injection control system including a particulate filter is configured to compare an accelerator request fuel injection quantity based on an accelerator depression amount to an air fuel ratio request fuel injection quantity determined based on a target air fuel ratio based on the engine operating condition. The engine fuel injection control system is configured to select the smaller of the accelerator request fuel injection quantity and the air fuel ratio request fuel injection quantity as a target fuel injection quantity. When the engine is operating in a low rotational speed region with full load, the target air fuel ratio is adjusted to a value substantially equal to the air fuel ratio that provides a maximum torque. Thus, the fuel is injected to achieve an air fuel ratio close to the stoichiometric air fuel ratio the torque performance and acceleration performance can be improved.

Abstract: A shift and brake control device is configured to combine an electrical shift operating device and a cable operated brake operating device. The control device basically has a brake lever bracket with a pivotally mounted brake lever moveably coupled to the brake lever bracket to move between a rest position and a braking position along a brake operating plane, and at least one an electrical shift control switch. The electrical shift control switch is either fixedly mounted to the brake lever or the brake lever bracket. When two electrical shift control switches are used, the electrical shift control switches are mounted to both the brake lever and the brake lever bracket. In some embodiments, the electrical shift control switch has a rotating operating member, while other embodiments have a sliding operating member.

Abstract: A vehicle body end structure has a longitudinal frame member connected to a transverse frame member by curved parts to disperse the load when the vehicle undergoes an end (rear or front) collision. In particular, wedge-shaped open spaces exist between the interior surfaces of the transverse frame member and the corresponding wall surfaces of the curved parts that face the interior surfaces. Consequently, when the vehicle undergoes an end collision, the inward collapsing of the transverse frame member causes the curved parts to gradually undergo bending deformation while being folded over such that the curved parts touch against the transverse frame member. Deformation control structures are provided on the curved parts to prevent localized stress concentration from occurring and enable the curved parts to deform in a stable manner. Thus, the curved parts are prevented from undergoing acute bending and the input load is absorbed more efficiently.

Abstract: A fixed shaft cover of a bail arm includes a first guide portion that guides line along its outer circumference, and an indented portion that is disposed such that a bail is interposed between it and the first guide portion. The indented portion further includes a second recessed portion disposed to interpose the bail between the second recessed portion and the first guide portion, and a first recessed portion that is disposed at a portion of the fixed shaft cover closest to the spool. The first recessed portion is connected at least partially with the second recessed portion on a side closer to the line roller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a part (108, 200, 300), comprising the following steps: a) applying a first flat layer consisting of a support material (102, 202, 302), to a construction platform (101, 201, 301), b) introducing at least one recess (103, 203, 303) into the support material (102, 202, 302), c) filling the recess (103, 203, 303) with a construction material (104, 204, 304), d) applying a further layer of support material (102, 202, 302), e) repeating steps b) through d) until completion of the part (108, 200, 300), and f) removing the support material (102, 202, 302). This method is to provide a manufacturing method and a device that combine the advantages of the layerwise construction (rapid prototyping) with the advantages of machining (e.g. high-speed cutting) and particularly permit the production of sharp-edged contours. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a device for carrying out the method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a strip tape mounting device that stabilizes an upper portion of a bag that will be attached to a strip tape, while preventing the bag from being crushed. The strip tape mounting device of the present invention includes an attaching mechanism that attaches an attachment portion of a bag to the strip tape by compression, the bag being manufactured by a bag manufacturing unit that manufactures bags that are filled with articles. The strip tape mounting device also includes a transfer unit that holds the bag below the attachment portion of the bag and transports the bag to the attaching mechanism, and a retaining plate that supports the bag so that the bag is supported in a predetermined posture.

Abstract: An efficient heat diffusing structure comprising a power module having a mounting substrate that has a high thermal conduction efficiency. The mounting substrate is comprised of a mounting surface on which an electric power circuit for controlling electric power is mounted, and a heat dissipating surface that has a corrugated section formed thereon that serves to dissipate heat. This heat diffusing structure allows the size of the device to be reduced, and also allows costs to be reduced.

Abstract: A metallic seal is provided that concentrates the available load over a narrow band to produce a sealing dam over a sufficient width to minimize leakage on a molecular level. The metallic seal has a first annular end section with has a first annular sealing surface, a second annular end section with a second annular sealing surface and an annular center section extending between the first and second annular end sections to form a ring having a central passageway with a center longitudinal axis. The third annular section is frustoconical tube with the first and second annular end sections being contiguously arranged at opposite ends of the annular center section such that sealing loads applied substantially perpendicularly on the first and second annular sealing surfaces primarily deform due to torsional stress of the metallic seal.

Abstract: A vehicle steering system is provided with a primary steering system, a backup steering system and a control system that switches from the primary steering system to the backup steering system when a defect is determined in the primary steering system such as a defeat in a steering reaction force actuator. The vehicle steering system has a pair of clutches that mechanically disconnect the steering wheel from the steerable vehicle wheels in normal situations, and connect them when the steering reaction force actuator is determined to be defective. The control system has a steering malfunction detection section that detects a malfunction in the steering reaction force actuator, and a steering control limiting section that limits the control commands to the steering gear unit actuator from when the steering reaction force actuator is determined to be malfunctioning to when both the clutches are connected.

Abstract: A roof ditch molding fastener is provided that comprises a molding retaining portion and a base portion. The molding retaining portion is configured and arranged to releasably retain a roof ditch molding to a vehicle body. The base portion includes a first longitudinal contacting surface and a second longitudinal contacting surface. The second longitudinal contacting surface extends substantially parallel to the first longitudinal contacting surface, and is laterally spaced from the first longitudinal contacting surface to form an uninterrupted air space between the first and second longitudinal contacting surfaces. Thus, the roof ditch molding fastener is easily positioned in place with respect to the vehicle body by using the first and second longitudinal contacting surfaces. Moreover, since the uninterrupted space is formed between the first and second longitudinal surfaces, a corrosion of a portion between the roof ditch molding fastener and the vehicle body can be prevented.