Abstract: A disc brake assembly which includes a disc rotor, a mounting member having arm portions in which a pair of grooves extending toward the axial direction of the disc rotor are provided therein, a pair of brake pads disposed to both sides of the disc rotor, at least one of the brake pads having a pair of ear portions which are outwardly projected in the rotational direction of the disc rotor and which are fitted into the grooves of the mounting member so as to be slidably supported on the mounting member, a caliper member slidably supported on the mounting member so as to be movable in an axial direction of the disc rotor and pressing each of the brake pads against faces of the disc rotor, respectively and pad clips engaged with the arm portions of the mounting member so as to cover faces of the grooves and being provided with a first elastic member which is formed on the pad clip in a body and which always outwardly urges the brake pad with a low load in the diametrical direction of the disc rotor through the

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a system for launching barges from the deck of a ship, the system including: ramp means selectively positionable along the side of the ship such that a selected one of the barges may be placed on the ramp means and allowed to slide therealong by gravity into water in which the ship is floating.

Abstract: A double hull structure includes a controllably crushable stand-off struce for maintaining a separation between inner and outer hulls and may be retrofit onto existing hulls either in modular and/or break-away sections or as a complete "shoe" enclosing the existing hull. This retrofittable hull is preferably of a non-metallic composite material which reduces or eliminates corrosion of the existing hull, extending the usable lifetime thereof. The controllably crushable stand-off structure is designed to provide sequential failure, preferably by sequential energy absorbing brittle fractures with little elastic deformation, to provide protection of the existing hull during collisions and/or groundings and thus enhance cargo containment. The brittle fracture is preferably provided by the use of non-metallic composite material in beams of the stand-off structure and/or the inclusion of syntactic foams.

Abstract: A brake apparatus includes a plurality of brake plates mounted to lower end portions of gear shaft members to permit displacement and rotation of the brake plates from a first position orthogonally oriented relative to a stern plate of a sailboat to a second position in parallel relationship to the stern plate of the sailboat. A housing mounted to an interior surface of the sailboat adjacent an interior surface of the stern plate is arranged to house a control lever therewithin forwardly of a rudder control rod.

Abstract: A large floating platform assembly is assembled from a plurality of identical, relatively small modules each comprising a tubular member which is open at one end and has a flat head at the opposite end. The modules are secured together in a side-by-side arrangement at their headed ends to form a continuous flat platform of the desired area with the tubular members projecting downwardly from the platform into the water to receive water into their lower ends and form trapped pockets of compressed air beneath the entire area of the platform on which the platform is supported. The trapped air chambers may be interconnected to increase stabilization of the platform.

Abstract: A drop-in spring assembly unit and method of manufacture of furniture. The assembly unit includes a plurality of spring elements coupled together by unique individual grid inserts, a wire base that may be customized to customer specifications and a border wire surrounding the top perimeter of the unit. The grid inserts are assembled prior to assembly of the drop-in unit and are coupled to spring elements by cushion clips.

Abstract: An outboard motor comprising a propulsion unit including a propeller shaft, and an internal combustion engine drivingly connected to the propeller shaft and including a V-shaped cylinder block having first and second cylinder banks including respective first and second cylinders having respective first and second exhaust ports, and the cylinder block defining an exhaust chamber communicating with the exhaust ports, a cowling surrounding the engine and including an upper portion and a lower portion, a muffler located between the cylinder banks and including an inner cover portion which has therein an exhaust inlet communicating with the exhaust chamber and which engages the cylinder block, an outer cover portion, and a main cover portion which is located between the inner and outer cover portions and which defines an exhaust outlet and an expansion chamber communicating between the exhaust inlet and the exhaust outlet, and an exhaust conduit extending through the lower cowling portion and communicating between

Abstract: A number of embodiments of small watercraft having a seat that affords at least two different seating positions in generally side by side fashion. A steering control is supported forwardly of the seat and is movable between two different positions, each in front of a respective one of the seating positions while maintaining the steering axis generally perpendicular to the seat and for varying the distance between the steering element and the seat in the respective positions. The support for the steering element is also pivotal about a transversely disposed horizontally extending axis to permit different height positioning for the steering control when it is in its steering position. A variety of seat arrangements and boarding facilitating devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device (100) is provided for inflating, more particularly, a container or a floating body of a piece of lifesaving equipment with pressure gas from a pressure gas container (11) sealed with a diaphragm (14). The pressure gas container, within the area of a container neck (12), has an external thread (13) which can be screwed into a receiving aperture (15) in a housing (10). The gas content of the container (11) is released by opening the diaphragm (14) with the aid of an opening striker (24) disposed in the housing which may possibly be movable by means of a hand lever and by the force of a spring element against the diaphragm (14). The spring element in a pretensioned position, is retained with the aid of an automatic element (35) that loses its solidity in water. The pressure gas container (11) can be screwed into the receiving aperture (15) of the housing while simultaneously pretensioning the spring element.

Abstract: A border support spring has a pair of complementary torsion wires for providing increased resilient border support to a mattress spring assembly. Each torsion wire of the present invention is bent to have an elongated center section having a pair of spaced ends from which extend divergently projecting transverse arms. Each transverse arm terminates in an end portion which is adapted to be secured to the top or bottom border wire of the mattress spring assembly. The end portions and center sections are each generally orthogonal to the orientation of the transverse arms. The center sections of the pair of torsion wires journal together to prevent relative translational movement, but permit pivotal relative movement between the transverse arms. A helical laced wire is used to journal the center sections of the torsion wires together and extends substantially the entire length of the center sections.

Abstract: A spray skirt (A) is disclosed for covering the cockpit opening (14) of a kayak (10). The spray skirt includes a fabric cover (24) for spanning the opening which includes an elastic band (B) secured around the perimeter of the cover for retaining the spray skirt about a rim (16) of the opening. The retaining band includes outer and inner elastic bands (30, 32) joined by a compressible bulbous retention element (34, 40). The inner band 32 is of sufficient width to prevent contact of the interior fabric (24b) of the cover from being abraded by lip contact. The preformed outer band (30) includes a first outer band (30a) extending from the bulbous element upwardly and outwardly terminating at a bend (35), and a second outer band (30b) extending from the bend upwardly and inwardly.

Abstract: A shock absorbing seat is provided in a personal watercraft or boat. The seat has an elongated configuration and is mounted at the front end thereof to the hull or other structural member of the watercraft for limited pivoting motion relative to the hull or structural member. A shock absorber assembly which includes a fluid filled cylinder, a piston therein, and a coil spring externally mounted to the cylinder piston combination, or an elastic envelope filled with pressurized air, is mounted for limited motion relative to the hull or other structural member of the watercraft, and to the seat so as to support at least a substantial portion of the weight of the seat and occupant thereof, and to absorb forces generated between the hull and the seat while the watercraft is in motion.

Abstract: A pulsating impeller system is provided for moving a body through a fluid medium. The pulsating impeller includes an enclosure mounted on a vessel or other body. The enclosure is provided with an inlet-outlet aperture to facilitate the flow of the fluid medium into and out of the enclosure. An expansible membrane is positioned in the enclosure. The volume of the expansible membrane is inflated and deflated on a regular cycle by a compressed air or other similar system in the vessel. When the enclosure is placed in a fluid, such as water, and the expansible membrane inside the enclosure is inflated, the volume of the membrane is increased, which results in the water being forced through the outlet hole in the enclosure to propel the vessel. This force will generate a reactive force which will thrust the enclosure and vessel in the opposite direction. The vessel may be provided with a plurality of enclosures, and each enclosure may have one or more expansible membranes.

Abstract: A buoyancy compensator that includes an air cylinder holder, a buoyancy compensating bag, a waist belt and a shoulder strap, these components being able to be detachably attached to the air cylinder holder, wherein the waist belt and the shoulder strap can be attached to the air cylinder holder adjustably at desired positions in the height-direction of the air cylinder holder.

Abstract: A layered system for a ship deck including two kinds of elements, namely a deck element and an installation plank. According to the system, at least two opposite edges of the deck element are equipped with a protruding lower part, whereby two of such deck elements can be brought next to each other in a manner that both deck elements have a protruding lower part facing a corresponding part of the other deck element. At least two opposite edges of the installation plank are equipped with a protruding upper part which cover substantially the protruding lower parts of the deck elements when the installation plank is placed between the deck elements which have been placed next to each other in a manner that the protruding lower parts are facing each other. The installation plank is equipped with elements to fasten the deck element system to the deck base.

Abstract: A water exercise device to be worn by a person who is desirous of acquiring increased buoyancy while exercising in water. The device includes a waist-encircling band of flexible buoyant material such as elastomeric foam through which is intertwined a flexible and inextensible belt to be strapped around the user's wait. The buoyant band extends circumferentially behind the wearer from just forward of each hip where it terminates in an enlarged lobe portion. Thus the stomach and general body area in front of the wearer are free from interference and the buoyancy of the two lobe portions and interconnecting back band tend to raise the wearer to a vertical position as opposed to a naturally occurring forward face to the water position.

Abstract: A wheelchair brake includes a pressing lever having a free end which pivots bout a first axis to make braking contact with a wheelchair wheel. The pressing lever is normally urged into a neutral position away from the wheel by an elastic, spring-like member, such as a rubber band or O-ring. A first brake lever for operating the brake by a companion is connected via a Bowden wire to the free end of the pressing lever, so that depression of the first brake lever causes the pressing lever to pivot into braking contact with the wheel. A manually releasable safety catch automatically engages the first braking lever when the lever is depressed, thereby locking the lever in its braking position. A second brake lever is also provided for use by the wheelchair user. The second lever pivots about a second axis causing a pressure part to bear against the same pressing lever causing a braking contact with the wheel. Further pivoting of the second lever also causes the mechanism to lock in a braking position.

Abstract: An outboard marine drive (10) has a powerhead (20) including an internal combustion engine (22), an adaptor plate (24) mounted to the engine, and a lower gearcase (26) including a torpedo housing (28) rotatably mounting a propeller (30), wherein the lower gearcase is directly mounted to the adaptor plate without a driveshaft housing therebetween. An enclosing cowl (68) has left and right sidewalls (72 and 74), a back wall (76), and a top wall (78), and is open to the bottom (80) and open to the front (82) facing the boat. The adaptor plate is mounted to the bottom of the engine and closes the open bottom of the cowl in a horizontal plane, and the engine has left and right sides (84 and 86) closing the open front of the cowl in a vertical plane.

Abstract: A propulsion system for a submerged vehicle which operates at a relatively low RPM includes a pair of coaxial drive shafts for producing counterrotating torques. A first propeller unit is attached for rotation with one of the drive shafts and a second propeller units is attached for rotation with the other drive shaft. Each propeller unit includes a plurality of arcuate propeller blades which are deployed upon rotation of their respective drive shaft. Specifically, this deployment is from a first configuration wherein the blades are disposed along the surface of the vehicle and into a second configuration wherein the blades are extended from the surface of the vehicle.

Abstract: Friction material pads for use in a brake system with an aluminum-metal matrix composite rotor wherein a brake application can create operational temperatures that approach 450C. The formulation of the composition for the friction pads is generically a basic non-asbestos organic formula modified to include a high abrasive content, solid lubricant package, and a porous copper powder. The porous copper powder which makes up from 2-18 percent by weight the friction pads has a nominal diameter of 0.20 mm. The porous copper powder proportionally responds to temperature and mechanical forces generated during a brake application by deforming and smearing to aid in the formation of a glaze between the engaging surfaces of the friction pads and aluminum-metal matrix composite rotor. This glaze prevents scoring of the aluminum-based rotor while at the same time maintaining a substantial stable coefficient of friction of approximately 0.4 during brake applications over a wide range of speeds and deceleration rates.