Abstract: A roll-up door for a container body of a van or the like is provided with a winch which is located in a compartment formed in the header of the door. The winch is connected by flexible winding straps to the upper door panel and the lower door panel so that it is operable to drive the door between the open and closed position. The door panels are hingedly connected by hinges in which the hinge pin is located at the inner face of the door. Flexible sealing members are connected to each jamb and bear against a marginal edge portion of the outer face of the door when the door is in the closed position. A control system for controlling the direction of rotation of the reversible D.C. motor is provided which includes a master control circuit and a slave control circuit which is selectively operable.

Abstract: A self propelled vehicle which provides a trailer compartment for transporting horses and other animals and living quarters for humans. A cab has a frame which is connected with the trailer frame by a special connection system that enhances the strength and rigidity of the frame. The cab body and trailer body are welded together with flat steel plates. The vehicle provides a low elevation for the trailer floor to facilitate loading and unloading of animals. Front wheel drive propulsion eliminates the need for a drive line to the rear wheels which would interfere with the low to the ground floor.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for the moving of an air guide arrangement provided at a motor vehicle from a retracted rest position into an extended operating position and vice versa which includes a toothed segment rotatably supported about an axis that is operatively connected with an adjusting lever of the air guide arrangement. In order to be able to compensate for error sources in the drive mechanism such as over-travel of the electric motor or out-of-adjustment limit switches, the toothed segment and the adjusting lever are supported separate from one another on the axis and are held in a predetermined position relative to one another by way of a spring element disposed therebetween.

Abstract: A locking arrangement for securing roof bow members of a trailer unit wherein several bow members are mounted at one side wall of the trailer for vertical pivoting and are simultaneously latched at an opposing side wall to prevent vertical movement thereof. The latching mechanism consists of a plurality of locking bar levers which are each pivoted on the opposing side wall to have one end overlie a retaining ring on one end of the bow members. A common actuator rests on top of the opposing wall and is pivotally attached to each of the locking bar levers at their non-overlying end. A shaft is connected by a pivot arm to the actuator and extends vertically downward adjacent the floor of the trailer where it is attached to a pivot handle to cause the locking bar levers to be positioned in either an overlying or non-overlying position with respect to their individual retaining rings.

Abstract: A carrying rack mountable on a vehicle, such as a pickup, for carrying bulky and oversized objects. The rack is characterized by including a frame mountable to the bed of the vehicle and including a forward rack member. The frame also includes a pair of support members extending rearwardly of the front rack member, these support members including a pivotal connection carrying a rear rack section. The rear rack section is movable between a forward, folded position and a rearward, extended position for carrying large objects thereupon. The foldable nature of the rack permits easier access into the bed of the truck when the rack is not in use, while providing an aesthestically pleasing configuration, such as that of a roll bar. Optional winch means, lighting, and reflectors may also be incorporated in the unit.

Abstract: A reinforcing latching means for maintaining the integrity of the upper tailgate-sidewall joint closure in a refuse carrier with a vertically hinged tailgate assembly including a handle disposed along the bottom of the tailgate which mechanically rotates a vertically oriented control shaft and is operatively connected to at least one horizontally disposed latching rod means horizontally moveably along the tailgate for controlling the engaging and disengaging of said at least one latching rod means with a latching plate means disposed along the exterior lateral surface of the sidewall.

Abstract: A suspended monorail track system has a box-shaped cross section with flanges extending inward and upward from the bottom edges of the side walls to form an acute angle between each flange and its attached side wall. An opening remains between the flanges extending along the bottom of the track. An intermediate horizontal wall may be added below the top wall to form an enclosed channel for power and signal cables within the track. A number of power and signal conductors extend along the interior surfaces of the track to provide electrical contact with vehicles moving along the track. Signal conductors are used to prevent collision between vehicles. Each vehicle is suspended from the track by a bogie assembly extending through the opening along the bottom of the track. The bogie assembly is supported by load-bearing wheels riding on the upper surfaces of the flanges, and stabilized by a second set of wheels rolling along the bottom surfaces of the flanges.

Abstract: A deflector shield for a motor vehicle is characterized by having a molded, wrap-around shield assembly along the horizontal and vertical side edges of the hood portion directly behind the grille which is secured in place by elongated flexible, shock mounting strips at spaced intervals along the horizontal edge and vertical sides of the hood portion, and a molded wrap-around cover plate in overlapping relation to the horizontal edge and opposite vertical side edges of the shield; and molded guard members are dispoed in overlying relation to a surrounding portion of the front grille of the vehicle together with front fender guard members which conform to and are disposed in overlying relation to the front fender and headlight portions of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle convertible top side rail linkage assembly (46,46') is disclosed for providing foldable interconnection of front and intermediate rail members (40,42) of a convertible top side rail (28). The linkage assembly (46,46') includes: a hinge link (80) having opposite ends respectively pivoted to the front and intermediate rail members (40,42); an operating linkage (62) including first and second operating links (64,66) having first ends respectively pivoted to the front and intermediate rail members (40,42) and having second ends connected to each other; a connecting link (80) that interconnects the hinge link (52) and the operating linkage (62); and an actuating member (90) connected to the side rail (28) and to the operating linkage (62) to actuate folding and unfolding movement of the front and intermediate rail members (40,42) as the convertible top frame is moved between use and storage positions.

Abstract: A front body structure of a cab-over type motorcar includes a front cross member extending transversely in the fore end of the car body, a pair of side sills longitudinally arranged along the side ends of the floor and a pair of front pillars extending vertically at the front side portions of the body. The lower portion of each front pillar is bifurcated into a fore branch connected at its lower end to the front cross member and a rear branch connected at its lower end to the side sill. Each of a pair of front tires is disposed between the fore and rear branches of the front pillar. With this construction, the front body of the structure has an increased rigidity and a large strength against shock imparted thereto.

Abstract: A tensioning arrangement for a top cover of a motor vehicle includes a tensioning device arranged in loop-shaped longitudinal edges of the top cover which, on the one hand, is connected with a forward, transversely extending frame part and on the other with a pivotal support of the foldable top. In order to be able to compensate relatively great length changes of the top cover conditioned on weather and/or manufacture, the tensioning device of the tensioning arrangement cooperates at its one end with a tensioning spring and at its other end with a spring-loaded pivot lever, whereby a clamping bolt arranged at the pivot lever is supported in a closing position of the foldable top at a free end of a lateral longitudinal girder of the foldable top and tensions the tension spring by way of the tensioning device.

Abstract: A sun screen for placement inside an automobile or truck windshield to reflect sunlight defines a triangular central panel and a pair of wing panels foldable into the vehicle. The sun screen can be folded into a storage configuration with only four folds. A large display area is provided in the storage configuration. A tear away coupon is provided at the location at which the rear view mirror may interfere with the sun screen.

Abstract: The invention relates to a motor-vehicle sun visor installation. The installation includes visor panels (10) which are configured in a manner to provide a complete screen across the upper part of the vehicle windscreen in combination with a box (13) located around the rear view mirror (2) of the vehicle. The outer edge surfaces (19) of respective visor panels are inclined to conform with the inclination of the windscreen posts (20). The visor panels are mounted for lateral movement, so as to enable the panels to be raised fully against the ceiling of the vehicle.

Abstract: A front floor panel has at a lateral end thereof a first flange for joining with a body side assembly. A floor panel has a second flange for joining with the body side assembly of a modular vehicle body. The first and seond flanges are formed with first and second recesses, respectively. A patch plate is fitted in the first and second recesses to form a smooth continuous joining surface which is joined with the corresponding flange of the body side assembly by interposing therebetween sealant adhesive. The rear floor panel is nearly rectangular and has a continuous upstanding flange extending upwardly from the laterally opposed ends and the rear end thereof for joining with the body side assembly and another body side assembly and a rear end assemby of the modular vehicle body.

Abstract: An adjustable windshield for mounting on the front of a motorcycle, or the like, has a clamp late for locking the windshield in its adjusted position with respect to the motorcycle body. A releasable latching mechanism for operating the clamp plate is so disposed on the motorcycle body that it is accessible to the rider while seated astride the vehicle. Consequently, the windshield can be adjusted and locked in its adjusted position by the rider while astride the vehicle.

Abstract: A latching system for securing the header of a convertible top frame to the windshield frame top piece including a pair of laterally spaced latching mechanisms operated by a central rotary handle, each mechanism having a striker bar reciprocated between a locking and release position by a crank actuated pull bar actuating the striker bar. The striker bar is received into a recess formed in a striker block fixed to the windshield frame top piece when the striker blade is moved to the locking position and these elements coact to draw the header down to be securely latched. As the striker bars are advanced, downwardly inclined guide tangs are inserted in an inclined pocket in the striker block. As the top frame is positioned atop the windshield frame, the tangs draw the header forward into proper forward alignment with the windshield frame top piece.

Abstract: A body protection apparatus for a behicle such as an automobile is provided for protecting the body from nicks and scratches. The apparatus has a telescoping elongate bar assembly for adjusting the length of the apparatus for overcoming the problem of mounting the apparatus on any size of automobile. The bar assembly has longitudinally slidable suction cups for connecting the bar assembly to a plurality of automobile side panels. The bar assembly is connected to the lower end of an elongate reinforced rubber strap. An upper end of the elongate rubber strap has a bar type member attached to the strap which is locked inside the automobile. The bar type member bears against the window and center post on the inner sides thereof.

Abstract: A visor control comprises a U-shaped spring clamp with inwardly converging sides terminating in inwardly projecting rounded tips which circumscribe a portion of the visor rod in all positions of adjustment. The sides of the clamp include alternately staggered slots which cooperate with alternately staggered lobes and flats disposed along the longitudinal axis of the visor pivot rod for selectively camming the visor into a snap-up raised stored position and spreading the sides to frictionally hold the visor rod therebetween when the visor is lowered to a use position. A tang extends from a portion of at least one of the sides of the U-shaped clamp and extends into a recess in the body of the visor to hold the clamp against rotation.

Abstract: Hollow chamber seal for sealing an edge gap between an edge of a fixed roof section and a movable cover of a vehicle roof in which both a deformation of the hollow chamber and an additional deformation of the seal are possible to compensate for the gap tolerances. In accordance with preferred embodiments, to produce the additional deformation, at least one hollow chamber part is connected to a sealing body for pivotal movement around a bending axis that extends substantially parallel to the major surfaces of the cover in a direction parallel to the edge of the cover.

Abstract: A wheel structure, such as for a motorcycle, having a wheel provided with an annular rim which surrounds and is joined to a central support hub through a plurality of radial spokes, which spokes have the outer ends projecting through the rim and rigidly anchored thereto. The rim has a shallow annular groove externally formed in surrounding relationship thereto, which groove includes the region of the rim through which the spokes project. An annular elastic band is positioned within the shallow groove and sealingly engages the bottom wall of the groove. A tubeless inflatable tire can be mounted on the rim, and the interior of the tire is isolated from the spokes and any openings associated therewith due to the elastic band which sealingly surrounds the rim.