Abstract: The drive wheels of an electric automobile are driven by one or more D.C. drive motors which derive their power from a battery. The battery is charged by two separate D.C. generators. The first D.C. generator is powered by an internal combustion engine, and the second D.C. generator is powered by a steam engine. The steam engine uses waste heat from the internal combustion engine to boil its operating liquid.

Abstract: A supporting frame, particularly for aligned wheels of skates, which is shaped like a "U" on the wings of which there is a plurality of first and second holes having the same axis. These holes constitute seats for removable pivots for the wheels and are respectively partially closed and temporarily closeable at their opposite ends. A sliding bar, slideable in a groove, is used for blocking, at least temporarily, the pivots. The wheels are associable with the supporting frame without requiring screws and thus containing the assembly and general costs of the skate.

Abstract: A bicycle training aid which may be used as an aid in teaching an individual to ride a bicycle is disclosed. The aid is strapped onto the back of a novice cyclist. An instructor who walks alongside the cyclist is able to hold onto a rearwardly extending handle of the aid to assist the rider in maintaining balance while cycling.

Abstract: There is disclosed a shock absorber which is contained within the head tube of a bicycle. The shock absorber has an outer cylinder that is rotationally received within the head tube and secured at its upper end to a handlebar support member, such as a gooseneck. An inner cylinder is slidably received within the outer cylinder and secured at its lower end to the fork that supports the front wheel. Each of the cylinders has longitudinal grooves, the inner cylinder having longitudinal grooves on its outer surface which align with longitudinal grooves on the inside wall of the outer cylinder. A plurality of bearing balls are received in the tracks which are formed by the longitudinal grooves of the cylinders and a thin-wall bearing retainer is concentrically received between the inner and outer cylinders having a plurality of apertures at predetermined spacing which are aligned along the bearing tracks, each of the apertures capturing one of the bearing balls.

Abstract: A creeper for supporting the body of a worker and facilitating movement of the worker under and around an object such as an automobile. The creeper comprises a platform having a top surface and an underside, and four corner casters mounted on the underside of the platform for spacing the platform above a generally flat horizontal floor and for facilitating rolling of the platform on the floor. The casters are so spaced with respect to the platform that lines connecting adjacent casters define a quadrangle with a corresponding caster at each corner of the quadrangle. A fifth caster is mounted on the underside of said platform within said quadrangle.

Abstract: A versatile baby stroller according to the present invention provides the function of a baby crib, a stroller, a high chair for feeding and a bath pan can be placed on it for the convenience of bathing a baby. The height and the width of the assembly can be easily adjusted for different functions. Moreover, the resting portion and the wheel-frame portion can be detached and the resting portion can be clamped onto a table for convenience. The main structure of the versatile baby stroller comprises a resting portion and a wheel-frame portion. The resting portion comprises a frame body, a push handle, a supporting rod and a foot rest. The wheel-frame portion comprises a H-shaped frame and two legs with rollers and the wheel-frame assembly is located underneath the frame body of the resting portion. The push handle and the supporting rods are made to be inserted into the connecting ends of the frame body, they can be detached and extended laterally, forming with the frame body an activity center for the baby.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for converting two single rider bicycles into a tandem tricycle is provided through means of extending the rear axle of the front bicycle of the tandem by rear axle extenders. The rear axle extenders are in line with the rear axle and provide a bearing upon which a modified front fork of the rear bicycle is mounted. The bearing is positioned outboard on the rear axle extenders by a distance sufficient to allow the modified front fork of the rear bicycle to clear all gearing or transmissions provided on the rear axle of the front bicycle. The modified front fork of the rear bicycle is modified to provide a distance of separation between the tines of the fork to allow for this clearance. Front axle extenders are also provided to the front axle of the front wheel of the rear bicycle when the two bicycles are disassembled to allow them to be used once again as single rider bicycles.

Abstract: An elevator cart is arranged to include a first tubular frame mounting a second tubular frame thereto in a reciprocating relationship relative to the first tubular frame to permit selective lifting of a workpiece on the second tubular frame relative to the first tubular frame. To this end, a handle is pivotally mounted to the first tubular frame simultaneously displacing an actuator link that in turn is arranged to rotate simultaneously a plurality of cam rods, with each cam rod having a plurality of cam members in abutment with the second tubular frame to effect a lifting and lowering of the second tubular frame upon pivoting of the handle.

Abstract: A configuration for a splashguard as may be mounted rearwardly of at least one vehicle wheel to deflect and redirect water and other substances being sprayed rearwardly by a rotating tire. The splashguard comprises a rectangularly shaped body having a plurality of angularly disposed vanes or louvers which function to deflect and redirect water droplets and other materials downwardly upward the roadway surface rather than sidewardly or rearwardly into the paths of following traffic.

Abstract: A vehicle has a passenger compartment suspended between two wheels mounted at the ends of a single axle that is perpendicular to the direction of travel. The passenger compartment is mounted beneath the axle so as to allow the passenger compartment to repeatedly rotate in an unconstrained manner about the axle upon impact of the vehicle with another object so as to convert linear momentum of the vehicle into self-extinguishing angular momentum in order to dissipate energy and reduce injury to passengers in the passenger compartment.

Abstract: A movable base for a baby walker includes a looped base frame, a number of casters, a corresponding number of compression spring members and a plurality of suction cup units. The base frame has a horizontal ring portion with an outer peripheral edge and a surrounding wall which extends downwardly from the outer peripheral edge. Each of the spring members has a first end connected to the ring portion and a second end connected to a respective one of the casters. The spring members are compressible so as to permit movement of the base frame between a first position, wherein the lowermost edge of the surrounding wall is located above the casters, and a second position, wherein the lowermost edge of the surrounding wall is in contact with the floor. Each of the suction cup units includes a shank portion that has a first end connected to the ring portion and a second end that is provided with a suction cup.

Abstract: A collapsible frame assembly which may be used as a stroller frame. The frame includes a base, an upper support, a lower support attached to the base, an upper brace attached to the lower support, and a lower brace attached to the base. Hinges connect the upper and lower support, and the upper and lower brace, to permit the transformation between collapsed and upright positions. The frame collapses in height and length, and is transformed between a collapsed position and an upright position by pulling the upper support upwardly and rearwardly from the lower support.

Abstract: A carrier for supporting flexible couplings interconnected between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle such as safety cables, safety chains and electrical cable. The carrier is mounted on the hitch of the towing vehicle with configured formations extending laterally from the hitch. The formations support and carry the flexible couplings at a distance from the union of the hitches of the towing and towed vehicle. The carrier prevents the flexible couplings from damage by preventing the flexible couplings from becoming entrapped between the hitch bottom and the ground and by maintaining the flexible couplings at a distance from the union of the hitches of the towing and towed vehicle.

Abstract: A baby stroller includes a pair of front legs, two handles and two rear legs pivotally coupled together, each of the supports has a member fixed on the upper end of the front leg and pivotally coupled to the lower end of the handle, a sleeve slidably engaged on the lower end of the handle, a knob pivotally secured to the lower end of the handle for engaging with the sleeve, and a protrusion extended from the member for engaging with the knob. The protrusion is retained in place by the knob when the sleeve is biased toward the knob and is disengaged from the knob when the knob is rotated such that the handle is rotatable relative to the front legs.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in combination with a snowboard to allow release of the snowboard binding straps from a location spaced from the snowboard. The release mechanism employed to delatch latch members connected to the binding straps may be either electrically or manually operated.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a seamless gutter as it is being formed has a frame with two clamps longitudinally spaced apart in the direction of travel of the gutter and two ground engagement wheels longitudinally positioned between the clamps and laterally positioned on opposite sides of the gutter so as to support the gutter on the ground as the apparatus travels with the gutter being formed. Preferably, the apparatus is foldable to a collapsed storage position.

Abstract: A brace shaped and dimensioned to receive the tip of a snowboard-riding boot is swivelingly mounted on the top surface of a snowboard to facilitate the carrying of the board while riding a ski-lift with one foot fully engaged in one of the boot-binding fixture and the other foot engaged into the brace.

Abstract: A mudguard is provided for a bicycle of the type with a brake reinforcing plate which is mounted to a seat stay of the bicycle by a fixing device. The mudguard includes an elongate shell which is arc-shaped in section and has a front end and a rear end. A recess is formed along a longitudinal direction of an underside of the shell. A slot is formed along a transverse direction of the front end of the shell and defines a first panel and a second panel which are parallel to each other. The first panel and the second panel are engaged on the brake reinforcing plate with the brake reinforcing plate at least partially received in the slot. A pair of grooves are formed in a mediate portion of the second panel and extend downwardly, and thus define a flexible snap fastener which has a hook end in a distal end thereof for engaging with an underside of the brake reinforcing plate and for securing the mudguard to the brake reinforcing plate.

Abstract: An adjustable trailer hitch for hitching a trailer to a vehicle. The trailer hitch includes a first plate attached to the trailer and a second plate attached to a ball coupler. The first plate includes a slot, and the second plate includes two holes through which bolts may be inserted whereby unlimited adjustment between the plates can be achieved within a predefined range. The trailer hitch also includes a tongue having a coupler plate attached to one side. A pivot plate is pinned to the coupler plate and a latch pin is inserted through the tongue, coupler plate and pivot plate for latching the pivot plate. The latch pin and pivot plate are free to move when the trailer is being hitched to the vehicle.

Abstract: A low lift pallet truck so configured, in its lowered and unladen mode, that entry into and exit from double-faced pallets is made without contact of its fork wheels and the pallet's bottom boards. In this mode, support wheel assemblies fixedly mounted on each side of the truck fork frame, position the forks above their normal lowered height. Lift linkage rod assembly springs retract the fork wheels upward into the fork structure clear of the floor. Therefore with the truck's drive wheel and support wheels bearing its weight, the truck can be moved with its forks positioned above the pallet bottom boards free of interference. When the forks are properly positioned in the pallet, operator actuation of the lift function causes the truck fork frame to rise and move the lift linkage to drop the fork wheels to floor contact. Simultaneously the support wheels move upward with the fork frame and no longer carry the truck's fork end weight loadings. Lifting is stopped when the pallet is clear of the floor.