Abstract: A hinge assembly for mounting to a jet propelled personal watercraft including a hinge and a wire bundle assembly. The hinge can include a hinge top portion for mounting to the personal watercraft hood pivotally coupled to a hinge bottom portion for mounting to the top deck. The hinge bottom portion can have a wireway aperture therethrough. The wire bundle assembly can include several wires disposed within a tube, in turn disposed within a seal formed about the tube. The tube seal can be at least partially received within the hinge bottom portion aperture. The tube seal is preferably forced downward by the hinge bottom portion against the top deck. The wire bundle assembly can be formed as an assembly at a site distinct from the site of final watercraft manufacture. The wire bundle assembly can be inserted through the top deck, and secured in place by the hinge being secured to the top deck, over the inserted wire bundle assembly.

Abstract: A dump box for a utility vehicle having a forward cab portion and a rearward bed portion. The dump box includes a dump box bed having a front end, first and second sides, and a rear end. A front panel is provided at the front end, the front panel dividing the cab portion of the utility vehicle from the bed portion of the utility vehicle. First and second side walls are provided that are adjustable between a first position along the sides and a second position along the front panel. A tailgate is provided at the rear end of the utility vehicle. The tailgate may be configured for rotation from both the upper and lower margin. Limiting structures may be used to limit the opening of the tailgate from the upper margin. Further, the tailgate may include a support for supporting the tailgate in an open, horizontal position.

Abstract: Protective helmet comprising a two piece shell, an electric motor and impeller useful for creating a positive environment in the head space, and a filter for removing particulates and other substances. The impeller introduces atmospheric air into an air channel defined by two detachably attached shell pieces. The air is pushed through a particulate filter in the air channel and then through at least one aperture into the head space. A heating element may be used to heat the air flow.

Abstract: A snowmobile comprising a frame defining a tunnel and a track rotatably supported by the frame is disclosed. An engine is connected to the frame and operatively coupled to the track by a drivetrain. The engine has a front side extending in a first direction from a cylinder bore axis of the engine and a back side extending in a second direction from the cylinder bore axis. Air enters a cylinder bore of the engine from the front side of the engine. Exhaust gases exit from the front side of the engine.

Abstract: Personal watercraft having ergonomically improved footwell designs. The footwells reside on either side of the personal watercraft straddle-type seat and can include higher outside footwell walls in preferred embodiments. The higher outside footwell walls can provide added protection to the driver's legs from unwanted contact from other boats and docks. Several improved footwells are provided, and include improved height to bottom width ratios and improved inner and outer wall angles. Footwells according to the present invention provide for more comfortable driver placement within the personal watercraft as well as easier egress from the watercraft and easier extraction of the driver's feet.

Abstract: A vehicle with a two-stroke engine includes a system for rapidly heating an exhaust pipe. The system may include a heating mode signal generator, a sensor, and a controller. Activation of the signal generator signals the controller, which, in turn, determines whether the engine RPM falls in a range such that the vehicle remains stationary. The controller may then set the engine ignition timing to a heating mode range that rapidly heats the exhaust pipe system. The ignition timing may be after top dead center in the heating mode. A method of rapidly heating an exhaust pipe is also disclosed.

Abstract: To provide a lens mounting mechanism, a mounting member used for the mechanism, and spectacles using the mechanism, based on a new idea completely different from the conventional art. There are provided: at least two extending members which have elasticity and extend so as to cross the front, and mounting members which are engaged to lenses and the extending members to fix them. It is preferable that the at least two extending members extend from the center front to the side rear and have ends connected to each other.

Abstract: An air ventilation system for a personal watercraft that includes a pair of pipes extending substantially side by side through the watercraft's hull from a first side to a second side where the pipes have an intake port located through the deck above the waterline of the watercraft and an outlet port that extends into the bottom third of the hull below the waterline.

Abstract: A vehicle with a continuously variable transmission (continuously variable transmission) includes a torque responsive clutch having a cam and at least one coupling. The cam has a plurality of projecting surfaces, and a plurality of slots being defined between the projecting surfaces. The slots of the cam are used to direct cam followers that move across the slot surfaces as the vehicle is driven forward or in reverse. As the vehicle adjusts from forward to reverse or vice versa, the cam followers may jump from one side of the slot to the other.

Abstract: A method for determining the location of a mobile unit (MU) in a wireless communication system and presenting it to a remote party. The location of a remote MU is determined by comparing a snapshot of a predefined portion of the radio-frequency (RF) spectrum taken by the MU to a reference database containing multiple snapshots taken at various locations. The result of the comparison is used to determine if the MU is at a specific location. The comparison may be made in the MU, or at some other location situated remotely from the MU. In the latter case, sufficient information regarding the captured fingerprint is transmitted from the MU to the remote location. The database may be pre-compiled or generated on-line.

Abstract: Personal watercraft having extruded rigid rub rails that can be curved in vertical and horizontal dimensions to provide complex geometries in watercraft. One rub rail has a pair of resilient opposed converging wings extending outwardly from the rub rail to form an open channel along the rub rail length. A first bottom lip can extend inwardly to hug the downwardly facing surface of the top deck. A second lip can curve upward and inward beneath the first inwardly extending bottom lip. The second lip can provide an increased ability to hug sharp horizontally curved corners of the watercraft without wrinkling, for example, the rear corners of the watercraft. The rub rail can be both vertically and horizontally curved in the same region and be affixed to a vertical bond flange. In some personal watercraft, the rub rail is formed of a rigid material having a Shore A hardness of at least about 90.

Abstract: A method for determining the location of a mobile unit (MU) in a wireless communication system and presenting it to a remote party. The location of a remote MU is determined by comparing a snapshot of a predefined portion of the radio-frequency (RF) spectrum taken by the MU to a reference database containing multiple snapshots taken at various locations. The result of the comparison is used to determine if the MU is at a specific location. The comparison may be made in the MU, or at some other location situated remotely from the MU. In the latter case, sufficient information regarding the captured fingerprint is transmitted from the MU to the remote location. The database may be pre-compiled or generated on-line.

Abstract: A system and assembly for treating swimming pool water including an electrolytic chlorine generator assembly and a pass of ionization filter collectively mounted in a common cartridge replaceable disposed in the circulating system of the swimming pool and collectively disposed and structured in fluid communication with a path of water flow passing through the housing such that the water is sanitized prior to being returned to the swimming pool. The chlorine generator is structured to release chlorine from the pool water passing through the housing which has a predetermined concentration of salt added directly to the main body of water within the swimming pool.

Abstract: A personal watercraft having a shroud portion. The watercraft includes a hull formed from an upper portion secured over a bottom hull. The hull defines an engine compartment sized to contain an internal combustion engine for powering a jet propulsion unit. The jet propulsion unit includes a steerable water discharge nozzle. The upper portion includes a straddle-type seat, a top deck, and a shroud, where a portion of the sidewalls of the shroud curve inward to form pockets at a point generally aligned with the knees of an operator seated on the personal watercraft.

Abstract: An exhaust system for a personal watercraft that places components of the exhaust vehicle on one side of the watercraft, so that the exhaust system takes less space in the watercraft.

Abstract: Adjustable angle sponsons and personal watercraft having adjustable angle sponsons. The present invention provides sponsons having at least two adjustable angular settings downward of horizontal for the sponson. Sponsons include a fin or blade having an outward edge for penetrating beneath the surface of the water. The angle of the fin preferably can be set to a vertically straight down position, as well as other, more benign, outwardly extending angular positions. The vertically downward position provides for a responsive, aggressive handling boat, while the more outward positions provide a less aggressive, gentler riding personal watercraft. One adjustable angle sponson includes a fin secured to a longitudinal shaft having a key extending along the shaft length. A sponson housing can include a cavity for receiving the shaft longitudinally as well as at least two longitudinal keyways for receiving the key in different angular positions.

Abstract: A snowmobile providing an enhanced riding experience is disclosed. A snowmobile in accordance with the present invention may include a frame defining a tunnel and a track rotatably supported by the frame. The snowmobile may also include an engine connected to the frame and operatively coupled to the track by a drivetrain. A seat may be fixed to the frame for receiving a rider of the snowmobile. A pair of handle bars may be rotatably coupled to the frame and adapted to receive the hands of the rider. A pair of floor boards may be fixed to the frame and adapted to receive the feet of the rider. In some embodiments, the floor boards include toe stops which intersect the floor boards at an intersection.

Abstract: A method for determining the location of a mobile unit (MU) in a wireless communication system and presenting it to a remote party. The location of a remote MU is determined by comparing a snapshot of a predefined portion of the radio-frequency (RF) spectrum taken by the MU to a reference database containing multiple snapshots taken at various locations. The result of the comparison is used to determine if the MU is at a specific location. The comparison may be made in the MU, or at some other location situated remotely from the MU. In the latter case, sufficient information regarding the captured fingerprint is transmitted from the MU to the remote location. The database may be pre-compiled or generated on-line.