Abstract: A table dolly apparatus for carrying a pedestal table (i.e. a table having a table top with an undersurface, a central pillar connected the table top and a base connected to the pillar) is disclosed wherein the dolly apparatus includes a frame having a handle portion; at least one wheel member rotatingly connected to the frame; two brackets disposed on the frame, wherein each bracket provides a fulcrum member for engaging an undersurface of a pedestal table; and a support member disposed on a front end of the frame, so that when an undersurface of a pedestal table engages each fulcrum member, the base of the pedestal table engages the support member so that the dolly apparatus carries the pedestal table. A method for moving pedestal tables is also described.

Abstract: A kick scooter includes a footplate, a handle unit pivoted to a front side of the footplate and holding a front wheel, a rear wheel, and a shock absorbing mechanism coupled between a rear side of the footplate and the rear wheel, wherein the shock absorbing mechanism includes a rear fork pivoted to the footplate and adapted to hold the rear wheel, a stop plate fixedly provided at the bottom side of the footplate, a springy member disposed at the front side of the stop plate, a threaded pull bar pivoted to the rear fork and inserted through a through hole on the stop plate and a center axial hole of the springy member, and a lock nut threaded onto the threaded pull bar and stopped at one side of the springy member against the stop plate for enabling the springy member to absorb shocks when the rear wheel is moved over an uneven road surface to vibrate the rear fork.

Abstract: A gas generating apparatus for outputting a gas is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus is an inflator having a propellant for supplying inflation gas(es) to an inflatable located in a vehicle. A confining member is located adjacent to the propellant. A number of spaced holes are provided in the confining member, either before or after activation of the propellant. Inflation gas is received through the spaced holes for subsequent passage to the inflatable. In that regard, the inflation gas first passes through a chamber defined in a timing member that has metering orifices. Such orifices regulate the flow of the inflation gas to the inflatable. The confining member is able to withstand significant pressures without rupturing. Each of the confining member and the timing member is preferably made of a non-metallic material. The propellant includes a fuel-rich material and an oxidizer material, preferably ammonium nitrate.

Abstract: A method for controlling an airbag system is provided. The airbag system includes an airbag module which may be deployed at different rates to optimize performance of the airbag module to a given impact. The airbag system includes a control module, an impact sensor, a seatbelt restraint sensor and an airbag module. The airbag module includes an inflator having two independent squibs, a first one of the squibs being coupled to a first charge and a second one of the squibs being coupled to a second charge. The method monitors various vehicle dynamics and controls the generation of first and second squib pulses which cause the deployment of the first and second charges so as to optimize the rate at which the airbag is deployed for an impact of a given magnitude. The method also monitors the integrity of each squib circuit and when a fault in a squib circuit is detected, the deployment algorithm is modified to ensure that the airbag will deploy.

Abstract: An occupant-propelled vehicle comprising a vehicle body and a first vehicle propulsion system that comprises a first drive wheel, a drum rotatably coupled to the vehicle frame and drivingly engaged with the drive wheel, a movable force receiver, an elongated and flexible motion conversion member drivably coupled with the force receiver with a first reference point spaced a given effective-travel distance from a second reference point and a body portion overlying the drum, and an actuator mechanism for actuating the motion conversion member between a slackened, disengaged state and a tensioned state wherein there is frictional engagement between the drum and the motion conversion member. The actuator mechanism may be automatic or manual.

Abstract: A wheelchair which enables the user on the wheelchair to remove or reinstall larger diameter wheels without jacking up the entire structure. The wheelchair includes a seat, legs supporting the seat, a caster having a holder and a smaller diameter wheel rotatably installed at a center of the bottom surface of each of the respective legs, axle supporting levers reclinably mounted on both sides of the seat and a wheel axle for the respective larger diameter wheel, one end of which is removably installed on one end of the respective axle supporting lever. The other end of the axle supporting lever functions as a handle for reclining the lever. The diameter of the larger diameter wheel is larger than the diameter of the smaller diameter wheel.

Abstract: A position control apparatus for an adjustable motor vehicle steering column including a friction clamp, a control shaft rotatable between locked and unlocked positions, a hollow rectangular frame moveable relative to the control shaft when the steering column is adjusted, a first toothed pawl a second toothed pawl, and an elastic bushing resiliently supporting the first and second toothed pawls on the control shaft inside of the rectangular frame. When the control shaft is rotated to its locked position the friction clamp frictionally captures the adjusted position of the steering column. The pawls have gear sectors thereon which are relatively angularly offset by one-half tooth pitch. When the control shaft is rotated to its locked position, the one-half tooth pitch offset assures that at least one of the gear sectors will mesh with a rack gear on the rectangular frame even if the other engages the rack gear peak-to-peak.

Abstract: In order to allow for at least two different rates of air bag inflation a gas generator is provided with a single pyrotechnic charge which is disposed in a chamber in which argon or a similar type of non-toxic inert gas is stored under pressure. The chamber is closed off by two or more burst discs, only one of which is not exposed to a selectively ignitable squib. The non-exposed burst disc is arranged to breach when the pyrotechnic charge is ignited and increases the gas pressure in the chamber to a predetermined pressure. Each other disc is arranged to withstand the predetermined pressure and requires weakening by exposure to the heat from an associated squib before breaching will occur. The hybrid compressed gas/pyrotechnic pressure generation is such that the rate of air bag inflation varies essentially in proportion to the area of the exit port or ports which are opened by the breach of the burst disc or discs.

Abstract: An apparatus for noncontact transmission of signals between a steering wheel and a steering column includes an airbag triggering device and a diagnostic device on the steering wheel side. The diagnostic device monitors the function of the airbag triggering device and transmits its diagnostic signal via a rotary transfer unit to a control device located on the steering column side. A simulation circuit, which can be set as a function of the diagnostic signal to the diagnosed resistance of the triggering device, precedes the control device on the steering column side.

Abstract: An electric wheelchair has two front wheels and two rear wheels and is thus four-wheeled. The wheelchair has a tread between the rear wheels, which is smaller than a tread between the front wheels. It also has a floor disposed between the front wheels and rear wheels and having side ends positioned externally of outer surfaces of the rear wheels. Thus, a crew can drive the wheelchair using the front body width of the wheelchair as a reference while paying little attention backward. A motor and a reduction gear as components of a rear wheel driving mechanism are laid compactly on a rear wheel axle one over the other. This reduces the body length and enables down-sizing of the wheelchair.

Abstract: A supporting frame structure including two supporting frames bilaterally connected between a bracket on a main rod member of a golf cart and two wheel holder frames, which each hold a wheel, each supporting frame formed of a first frame bar and a second frame bar pivotably connected in parallel between the bracket and one wheel holder frame, wherein the first frame of each supporting frame has a beveled peripheral side wall, the second frame bar of each supporting frame has a beveled peripheral side wall facing the beveled peripheral side wall of the corresponding first frame bar and spaced from the beveled peripheral side wall of the corresponding first frame bar by a gap; the beveled peripheral side walls of the first frame bars of the supporting frames are forced downwards into close contact with the beveled peripheral side walls of the respective second frame bars to support the golf cart on the wheels stably.

Abstract: An air bag module and steering wheel assembly having an air bag module including a horn switch and a circuit for grounding the switch through a steering wheel in which it is assembled. The air bag module includes a base plate upon which an air bag is mountable, and a plurality of cylindrical mounting members and a membrane horn switch. The base plate is affixed to the steering wheel insert by the cylindrical mounting members which are received in apertures in the steering wheel insert. The horn switch is electrically connected to a power source and the base plate. A conical spring surrounds at least one of the mounting members and engages both the base plate and the steering wheel insert to provide a ground path between them, eliminating the need for a ground wire directly between the air bag module and the steering wheel insert.

Abstract: A snowboard binder for removably securing a boot onto a snowboard. The snowboard binder includes a bail mounted on a bottom surface of a boot having a set of locking rods on its both ends, a base disposed on the snowboard having a set of loop-type hooks formed to respectively receive each of locking rods on both ends of thereof, and a latch device for removably securing one of the locking rods within a set of bracket extended upward from the base spaced apart from each other in the proximity of one of the loop-type hooks. An angle adjust device for conveniently controlling the angle of the base is also provided.

Abstract: A knee protection device is provided for a person sitting on a seat situated inside a motor vehicle, in case of an accident-related deformation of the leg space. The knee protection device has an air bag module allocated to the leg space with at least one first gas bag (1), into which a gas generator allocated to it introduces gas instantaneously upon a trigger signal, and which is provided with a load distribution plate (2) connected to it on the side facing towards the vehicle interior. The load distribution plate is displaced in the vehicle interior in the direction towards the knee area of the person during the filling operation of the gas bag (1). The load distribution plate is provided with a damping pad (3), on the side facing towards the vehicle interior. The damping pad is preferably formed from a second gas bag (4), which is inflated to its size prior to the first gas bag (1).

Abstract: A tow bar for towing a trailing bicycle by a leading bicycle. The tow bar includes a leading portion for extending rearwardly from the leading bicycle, a trailing portion for extending forwardly from the trailing bicycle, and first apparatus for connecting the leading portion to the trailing portion. The leading portion includes a U-shaped bar for straddling the rear wheel of the leading bicycle and has a pair of free ends for replaceably attaching to the rear fork of the leading bicycle and second apparatus for replaceably attaching the leading portion to the rear fork of the leading bicycle. The trailing portion includes a U-shaped bar for straddling the front wheel of the trailing bicycle and has a pair of free ends for replaceably attaching to the front fork of the trailing bicycle and third apparatus for replaceably attaching the trailing portion to the front fork of the trailing bicycle.

Abstract: Each end of the axle of the front wheel of a bicycle is connected with a pivot to a support arm. These two support arms are substantially parallel to each other and substantially extend from the front wheel axle area to a distance behind the front wheel. Behind the front wheel, a cross bar connects the support arms together utilizing pivots in the connections. Behind the first cross bar, a second cross bar connects the support arms together utilizing pivots in the connections. The center of both of these cross bars is connected to the frame of the bicycle through a pivot. The two cross bars and the axle of the front wheel are substantially parallel to each other. The axial axis of the pivots are all substantially parallel to each other, with the axial axis of the pivots being reclined nominally 20 degrees in the rearward direction from vertical. The pivots used in the connections permit the angle to vary between a support arm and the axle of the front wheel.

Abstract: A rear structure of a motor vehicle increases the packaging flexibility within the body structure area above a differential unit (36) such that a third row seat (110) may readily be incorporated therein. The rear structure includes a floor pan (14) and a pair of spaced apart rear side frame members (22,24) having middle portions (70, 72) with first and second apertures (90,92) therein. The differential unit includes first and second axle members (34,36) which extend through the first and second apertures.

Abstract: A tracked vehicle includes an engine driven variable displacement steering pump which drives hydraulic steering motor. The steering motor drives a differential drive mechanism which drives left and right track drive wheels. A steering control system senses the position of a non-spring centered steering wheel, vehicle speed, engine speed, steering motor speed, whether or not the transmission is in gear or in neutral, and whether the clutch is engaged or disengaged. In order to prevent a self-perpetuating turn situation, the control system gradually decreases the steering motor speed if the transmission is in neutral or the clutch is not engaged, and the steering motor speed divided by the vehicle speed is greater than a threshold, and the vehicle speed is less than a reference level.

Abstract: A motor vehicle comprising a first vehicle having a vehicle body defining a first inner space and a first drive for driving the first vehicle, and a second vehicle having a second vehicle body defining a second inner space and having a second drive for driving the second vehicle, the vehicles being substantially identical with one another, and elements for connecting the vehicles with one another, the first and second vehicle bodies having openable and closeable parts which close the first and second inner spaces of the first and second vehicles correspondingly and are formed such that the parts can be closed, the connecting elements disconnected and the vehicles can be used separately, and also the parts can be opened so as to communicate the first inner space with the second inner space, the connecting parts connect the first and the second vehicles with one another, so that the first and second vehicles form a joint motor vehicle for joint driving.

Abstract: A recreational chair converter is disclosed. The chair converter will convert a folding chair with a U shaped rear support leg from its normal use as a chair to a transport cart. The chair converter is provided with a pair of wheels mounted on an axle and has a pair of elongated segments attached to each other by means of living hinges and bolts. Each segment has two lengthwise grooves so that the pair of segments, when attached together, will form two parallel cylindrical openings which receive and hold the axle equipped with wheels and the rear support leg of a recreational chair. The pair of segments are securely attached to and are completely around the rear tubular leg of a recreational chair. There is also provided a tension strap and buckle which holds the chair securely to said pair of segments and allows the converter device to be used as a transport cart when it is desired.