Abstract: A four-wheel mobile vehicle including provision for controlling the steering position of each of the four (4) wheels so that every wheel's rolling axis will intersect at a common point around which the vehicle will turn. The control is provided by a pair of cables, one on each side of the vehicle which interconnect a pair of front and back wheels to turn each pair through similar angles in the opposite direction.The variance in angular turning between wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle is caused by wrapping the cables on each side around an identical cam pulley, one on each side, both of which are mounted on a common shaft so that their angular rotation is always identical while their winding radius is changing.

Abstract: A latch for slidable window panels of a vehicle. The latch includes a rotatable handle carried by one window panel and a cam part carried by the other window panel. The handle engages the cam part as the handle is rotated to draw the slidable window panels together. The handle defines a narrowing channel which engages the cam part as the window handle is rotated from an open position to a locked position. The narrowing channel, formed by a thickening outer side wall of the handle, draws the cam and its connected window toward the handle. Detents are provided to impart a positive snap feel to the handle when rotated into either its opened or closed positions.

Abstract: A hollow beam is disclosed for a vehicle door assembly which is configured to collapse upon a transverse impact to absorb impact energy, thus reducing the impact forces experienced by a vehicle occupant during a collison. The energy absorbing beam is configured as a parallelogram in cross-section so as to enable the beam to act as a four-bar linkage during collapse. The energy absorbing beam is preferably disposed in the door assembly at the vehicle beltline which is often impacted by the occupant's head or torso during a vehicle collision. Various features can be added to the provide localized stiffening of the beam as necessary depending upon the particular beam application.

Abstract: A vehicle door construction which includes a door frame which defines integral longitudinal screw grooves for seating fasteners used to mount cross braces to which the window regulator assembly is mounted. The frame may also include a lower recess to collect debris and an outer channel to allow fasteners mounting a window guide brace to be countersunk for easier mounting of the door frame in the vehicle. The frame may also include a removable insert which defines the window slide channel to allow rapid replacement of a broken window.

Abstract: A 4-wheel mobile vehicle including provision for controlling the steering position of each of the four (4) wheels so that every wheel's rolling axis will intersect at a common central point around which the vehicle will turn. The control is provided by a pair of cables which can interconnect each of the pair of wheels on each side of the vehicle to turn through similar turns in the opposite direction, and wherein the linear position of the cables are provided by a pair of specially cut cams which are positioned by the steering column. Each pair of wheels is further characterized by a support system which provides for vertical deviation of the front and back wheels without substantially causing the vehicle carriage itself to be vertically deviated by a substantial amount.

Abstract: A rotary type lawn mower and mulcher for mounting a tractor characterized by an open-bottom housing with a discharge opening having two or more cutting blades rotatably journaled in the housing and moving in a common cutting plane, a plurality of high speed mulching blades mounted on a single spindle at various heights positioned in the downstream paths of the cutting blades, the individual cutting blades having a longitudinal cutting edge therealong with lateral corrugations throughout the cutting length thereby increasing the cutting plane depth of each blade whereby the vertical height within the housing above the cutting blades is substantially filled with the cutting planes of the mulching blades whereby the grass clippings from the cutting blades are finely cut and discharged at increased velocities through a discharge opening and a deflection chute positioned downstream thereof with a variable height dam extending into the discharge path of the mulching blades whereby the finely-cut clippings are defle

Abstract: A vehicle window assembly which includes first and second separate window glazing panels. The first window is fixed while the second may be pivoted between open and closed positions by a hand crank connected to a peripheral linkage system by a shaft, with the linkage connected to the second window. The hand crank is located at the center of the shaft and the shaft includes stop means for preventing overturning of the hand crank past the full open position of the window.

Abstract: A method of removing a gasket seal from a window glazing panel which includes immersing the panel and seal in non-volatile fluid. The glass and/or fluid is heated to soften the seal prior to removing the seal from the panel.

Abstract: A lawn edger attachment for a tractor including a boom universally pivoted at its inner end to the tractor for both horizontal and vertical movement of its outer end, and normally angling acutely outwardly from the tractor, a circular cutting blade mounted beneath the outer end of the boom for rotation both about its own horizontal axis and about a vertical axis relative to the boom, a manually operable mechanism for pivoting the boom to position the blade above and in the plane of the division line between grassy and paved ground areas, and to lower it into ground engagement at the division line, the mechanism having a novel arrangement reducing the apparent weight of the boom and blade to the tractor operator, and a manual operating mechanism for pressing the blade into penetrating relation to the ground, the mechanism providing a great mechanical advantage in multiplying the manual force applicable by the operator of the tractor.

Abstract: A combination lock and latch mechanism for an access panel. The latch mechanism includes a biased latch part which is located behind the panel and accessible through the panel.

Abstract: A lawn edger attachment for tractors consisting of a base member adapted to be mounted at the side of a tractor, a boom universally pivoted to the base and angling laterally outwardly from the base, and a generally vertical rolling circular blade mounted beneath the outer end of the boom for rotation both on its own axis and about a generally vertical axis. A single manual operating handle operates to pivot the boom horizontally to position the blade directly above a division line between the grass of a lawn and an adjacent paved area, as the tractor is driven in a direction parallel to the division line, and to pivot the boom vertically, as may be necessary to rest the blade on the ground surface at the division line, and a foot pedal then supplies a mechanically multiplied force to press the blade downwardly to penetrate the ground.

Abstract: A door assembly for installation in a vehicle wall opening which includes a frame and a door hingedly mounted in the frame. The frame is divided into first and second sections. Each section has a flange which abuts the vehicle wall when the sections are connected to mount the door in the vehicle wall opening. Each frame section flange carries a seal which makes sealing contact with the vehicle wall, and the door carries a continuous, peripheral seal which makes sealing contact with the frame when the door is in a closed position to prevent moisture from entering the vehicle.

Abstract: A lawn mower in conjunction with a small tractor, and including a main mower deck disposed forwardly of the tractor and a pair of laterally extending wing mower decks disposed at respectively opposite sides of the tractor, all of the decks carrying mower blades, and a single power source operable to drive all of the blades of all of the decks. The wing decks may each be raised to an inoperative position closely adjacent the sides of the tractor, and in so doing the power drive to the blades of that wing is disconnected, so that the mower may be used with only the main deck in operation if so desired.

Abstract: A storage box for the clippings of a lawnmower consisting of a normally covered box adapted to be mounted on the mower vehicle and to receive grass cuttings and the like of the mower until it is full, and a power mechanism operable when actuated to first raise the box until its pouring lip is higher than the receiving box of a disposal vehicle, such as the bed of a pick-up truck, and transport it horizontally until its pouring lip is over the truck bed, and then to uncover the box and tilt it to pour its contents over its lip into the truck bed.

Abstract: An improved vehicle ventilating window assembly which includes a non-circular pivot rod fitted within a circular opening in the window frame. A washer having spaced projections thereon is provided to fill the spaces created within the opening when the rod is inserted, thereby allowing a snug fit of the window within the frame with little or no transverse movement of the window with respect to the frame.

Abstract: A window assembly used in vehicles including a resilient frame about the peripheral edge of a glazing panel and formed to permit securement of the panel within a window opening without the use of separate attachment devices.

Abstract: A tractor having a frame supported by ground-engaging drive wheels, a tool bar carried by the tractor and on which various implements may be mounted, the tool bar being universally mounted on the frame whereby the implement may be raised above or lowered to the ground, and can follow the contour of the ground, a power unit also mounted on the tool bar so as to have a direct driving connection to the implement not affected by the universal "floating" movement of the implement and tool bar, and a driving connection between the power unit and the drive wheels, of a type not affected by the relative movability of the tool bar and tractor frame, in order that both the implement and the tractor may be driven by a single power unit. Mechanism is also provided for pivoting the tool bar to elevate the implement above the ground when desired, for supporting the tool bar while implements are changed, and for holding the implement firmly against the ground when required.

Abstract: A lawnmower deck of inverted dish shape having three generally circular, laterally spaced but interconnected open-bottomed compartments in each of which is mounted a horizontally extending blade rotatable on a vertical axis and operable to impel cuttings from one compartment to the next toward one side of the deck, the deck having an outlet opening at that side and at the rearward portion of at least certain of the compartments, there being controllable gates at each of the outlet openings and between each successive pair of compartments, to the end that by opening or closing the gates in the proper combinations, the cuttings may be selectively discharged to the side or to a grass collector, or discharged to the rear, or finely mulched for rapid decomposition to enrich the soil.

Abstract: A soil aerating device consisting of a spindle inclined from vertical but power driven to rotate about a vertical axis, and an arm rotatably mounted at its midpoint on the spindle, having a downwardly projecting tubular tine mounted at each end thereof, and being disposed just above ground level, the gyrating movement of the spindle as it rotates about a vertical axis imparting to the arm a movement having a vertical rocking component in a plane longitudinal thereto, so that said tines are alternately inserted into and withdrawn from the ground to form holes therein, and an axial rocking component around the axis of the arm, so that the arm is caused to "walk" rotatively around the vertical axis of rotation.

Abstract: A lawn edger attachment for power driven vehicles consisting of a rolling coulter blade carried for rotation on a horizontal axis transverse to the line of travel of the vehicle at one end of an arm pivoted at its opposite end to the vehicle on a parallel axis. Power means are provided for pivoting the arm. The blade is cup-shaped in order that earth pressure thereagainst will force it to follow the edge of a paved surface. The blade may be reversed so that the vehicle may operate either on the grass or on the pavement. The arm may be extended either forwardly or rearwardly from its pivot, for convenience in various situations. The arm is a horizontal parallelogram linkage, so that the blade can follow the pavement edge even if the vehicle is not steered precisely parallel to this edge.