Abstract: A portable refreshment system with multiple compartments each having a lid, at least one of the compartments being insulated for providing storage of food goods and another of the compartments for providing storage for items other than food. The portable refreshment system includes a support at one end and a landing gear. The system may be shifted about the rotatable support between a substantially prone position and an elevated use position by the landing gear.

Abstract: A portable toy including a toy push cart frame and one toy attachment. The frame includes a base portion of a predetermined width and at least one projection upwardly extending from the base portion. The projection has a height which is greater than the width of the base portion. The frame interchangeably supports and is removeably coupled to one of a plurality of toy attachments. A toy utilitarian attachment includes a toy body configured for removable and interchangeable attachment to the universal push cart frame. The body is substantially suspended from the base portion of the body, the body formed as one of a shop cart basket, a doll stroller seat, a tool box, a work bench, a refuse container, a garden equipment container; a serving bin and a toddler activity center. A universal push cart system includes a push cart frame and at least two interchangeable attachments or bodies. An injection molded wheel and hub assembly for a toy vehicle. The wheel and hub assembly includes first and second disks.

Abstract: A stand up walker for supporting body weight in a standing position with a pair of upper lift arms pivotally mounted on a walker frame and having lift spring mounted on the walker frame. In the preferred embodiment a pair of lift springs comprise gas springs for asserting a lifting force to the body by a body seat and harness coupled to the upper lift arms. However, the upper lift arms may be provided with resilient handles that apply the lifting force under the armpits or a combination of lifting forces may be employed.

Abstract: The object of the present teachings is to provide an improved battery-operated towing tractor. A representative towing tractor is operated by means of battery and the battery may be installed to and removed from the battery storage chamber of the towing tractor by using an opening disposed at the side surface of the battery storage chamber. Because the battery is installed and removed through the side surface of the battery storage chamber, the tractor surface can be effectively used.

Abstract: A snowboard binding system includes a boot and a binding configured to be releasably coupled together. The snowboard binding includes a base member, a rear binding arrangement, and a front binding arrangement. The snowboard boot includes an upper portion, a sole portion, at least one rear catch and a front catch. The sole portion has a forward to rearward longitudinal axis extending between a toe section and a heel section. The rear catch is located at the heel section of the sole portion. The front catch is coupled to the toe section. The front catch has a pair of leg portions extending downwardly from the toe section and a tongue portion extending laterally between the leg portions. The tongue portion has a forward to rearward dimension that is larger than forward to rearward dimensions of the leg portions to longitudinally secure the boot relative to the binding.

Abstract: A ski stick includes an oblong shaft and a handle set on its upper end for the skiier's hand and a gripping part formed at its lower end. Below the handle the ski stick includes an elbow support. It is set in a sloping position on the upper part of the shaft and is set to receive the pressure of the skiier's forearm and to transmit it to the shaft.

Abstract: A vehicle air bag spring suspension system utilizing a swing arm as a member of a four-bar linkage subsystem wherein the suspension system with the airbag spring is compressed by the linkage opposite the swing arm's fulcral point relative the supported wheel. The air bag further serves as an inherently, partially dampened spring having a non-linear spring compression rate, so as to firmly keep the vehicle tires firmly planted to a rough surface. A second embodiment employs two actuator arms per wheel, wherein one inside actuator arm contacts a fixed air bag spring and cooperates with the other outside actuator arm and a rotating actuator shaft inside a frame tube to dampen wheel movement. A third embodiment employs the air spring supports directly connected to the bird cages or the housings for the bearings for both the front and rear axles.

Abstract: A snowboard binding system has a boot and a binding configured to be releasably coupled together. The boot has an upper potion, a sole portion, a front catch and at least one rear catch. The binding includes a base member, a rear binding arrangement and a front binding member. The base member has a front portion and a rear portion. The rear binding arrangement is coupled to the rear portion to selectively engage the rear catch. The front binding member includes a front claw and a release lever. The front claw is movably coupled to the front portion of the base member. The release lever is coupled to the front claw to move therewith between a release position and a latched position. An indexing mechanism is arranged to selectively retain the front claw and the release lever in the release position and the latched position.

Abstract: A radiator core support structure includes an upper elongate member made of metal, and a lower elongate member made of metal. Between the upper and lower elongate members, there extend mutually spaced pillar portions of integrally molded plastic. The connection between the pillar portions and each of the upper and lower elongate members is integrally carried out by injection molding.

Abstract: A reinforced structural assembly and a method of using the assembly for reinforcing components of an automotive vehicle. The assembly generally includes a first member and a second member with a reinforcement material intermediate the first and second member. According to the method, the assembly is placed in a cavity of an automotive vehicle and the reinforcement material is expanded to promote connection between the first member and a surface defining the cavity and to promote connection between the second member and another surface defining the cavity.

Abstract: A snowboard binding system has a boot and a binding configured to be releasably coupled together. The boot has an upper potion, a sole portion, a front catch and at least one rear catch. The binding includes a base member, a rear binding arrangement and a front binding member. The base member has a front portion and a rear portion. The rear binding arrangement is coupled to the rear portion to selectively engage at least one rear catch. The rear catch has a concave abutment surface. The rear binding arrangement has a movable tooth portion with a convexly shaped latching surface designed to selectively engage the abutment surface to couple the boot to the binding. The abutment surface and the latching surface are configured to reduce flexing of the binding when the boot is deflected relative to the binding.

Abstract: A ski boot binding for snowboards includes a base (4) to which a back piece (10) is pivotally mounted. The back piece (10) extends upward from the base and supports the user's ankle. The degree to which the back piece flexes affects an amount of support which it provides to the user's ankle. A reinforcement (22) is mounted on a central part of a rear face (19) of the back piece. The reinforcement is adjustably mounted for vertical movement relative to the back piece to adjust the flexibility of the back piece, hence the amount of rearward ankle support.

Abstract: A multi-diameter container dolly includes an outer ring and a pair of support members, substantially perpendicular to each other that diametrically span the outer ring. The support members are configured to provide a series of nested support surfaces for containers of varying diameters. Each support member has a series of steps yielding support surfaces of progressively smaller diameters relative to the center of the outer ring. Casters are provided at the end of each support member for ease in maneuvering the dolly. A tow strap is also provided for moving the dolly.

Abstract: An engine motion restrictor for limiting movements of a vehicle engine relative to a vehicle structure, the engine motion restrictor including a first strength member connected to an intermediate member through an elastomer mount, and a flexible cable which connects the intermediate member to a second strength member.

Abstract: A motor generator has a rotor directly coupled to a crankshaft and a stator disposed around the rotor. A shield plate is disposed between coils of the stator and an internal combustion engine. A first partition and a second partition are disposed between the coils and a flywheel positioned adjacent to a clutch mechanism.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a recreational sled that is configured to selectively enable a user to carry a sliding mechanism up an incline and/or to support the user on the mechanism and allow the user to travel a distance down the incline. A seat is coupled to at least one of a winter sliding mechanism and a non-winter sliding mechanism. A user selectively uses at least one of the sliding mechanisms to slide down a snowy/icy incline or to slide down a non-snowy/non-icy incline.

Abstract: A mud flap is provided for a vehicle which comprises a panel member of rubber having a top mounting end for securement within the wheel well of a vehicle, a bottom free end having a metallic accent plate supported thereon and respective inner and outer sides extending between the ends of the panel member. Means are provided to protect the metallic accent plate from being dented by rocks thrown onto the mud flap from between a pair of dual wheels for which the mud flap is intended to be used. In one embodiment, stiffener members are provided to prevent denting of an accent plate which extends fully across the panel member. In another embodiment, the accent plate is protected from denting by providing a flexible central portion in the mud flap in alignment with the mating surfaces of the dual wheels to allow the mud flap and accent plates supported thereon to return to an unflexed and unbent position after a rock has been thrown against the mud flap.

Abstract: A device for detecting a tensile force of a seat belt composed of an elastic plate having a strain gauge mounted thereon and a protecting plate overlapped on the elastic plate is installed in a seat belt. Under a normal situation, seat belt tensile force is applied only to the elastic plate which is deformable according to the tensile force. The elastic plate is broken when a high tensile force exceeding a predetermined level is applied thereto, while the protecting plate remains unbroken by such a high tensile force. The seat belt tensile force under the normal situation is precisely detected by the strain gauge mounted on the elastic plate, and the seat belt function to protect a passenger is maintained by the protecting plate when the high tensile force is generated by an accidental collision or the like.

Abstract: An automobile has a head protection device including a curtain-type airbag, wherein a distribution pipe inside the airbag does not interfere with any of projecting members on a peripheral side portion of a vehicle ceiling so that the airbag can be easily installed. The head protection device further includes an inflator for spouting gas into the pipe along a side rail of a vehicle body. The airbag are positioned not to interfere with a belt anchor stalk and a striker mounting bracket. To correspond this, the pipe inserted in the airbag is provided with a curved portion.

Abstract: A brake assembly for applying a braking force to one or more wheels of a wheel supported device, such as an inline skate. The brake assembly has a rotating brake member held by one or more wheels, which is preferably a disk shaped brake, partially embedded on one or both sides of a wheel. A fixed brake member is held so that it does not turn with respect to the wheel frame. The fixed brake member has a friction surface positioned adjacent the braking surface of the rotating member. The fixed brake member can be bent so that its friction surface contacts the rotating brake member to apply a braking force to the rotation of the wheel. Preferably, the fixed brake member is bent by a cam surface and the cam surface is contacted by a movable brake arm held by the frame.