Abstract: An air guiding system for a vehicle, particularly for a passenger car, is arranged in a rear area of the vehicle and has at least one central main air guiding element that can be displaced from a moved-in inoperative position into a moved-out operative position. Lateral auxiliary air guiding elements are displaceable together with each central main air guiding element. The lateral auxiliary air guiding elements can be rotated with respect to each central main air guiding element about a respective pivot fixed to the main air guiding element in order to change them from an also moved-in inoperative position into an also moved-out operative position.

Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder having an integral self-contained locking mechanism is described. A locking cylinder includes a housing that contains a screw shaft and a rod/piston assembly. A rod end of the rod/piston assembly can be connected to one load and the end cap, which is located opposite to the rod end, can be connected to another load. The two loads may be two levels of a car trailer. During an extension stroke the screw shaft is released from a locking mechanism inside the housing, allowing the screw shaft to rotate freely. The rod piston assembly, which is in threaded engagement with the screw shaft, moves freely along a longitudinal axis as a pressure is applied, and it unscrews from the screw shaft. When the assembly reaches a desired or maximum extension, the pressure is removed. The piston retracts slightly until the screw shaft re-engages with the locking mechanism.

Abstract: A hood overslam bumper for automobiles has an elastic member, which is mounted to a hood inner panel, and a spring-biased hollow cushion member which is mounted to the upper member of a chassis. The spring of the cushion member is selected from a compression coil spring, a pneumatic spring and a hydraulic spring. When a hood is slammed down, the hood is made to slowly close with the elastic member gradually compressing the spring-biased top wall of the hollow cushion member. Therefore, the hood overslam bumper of this invention effectively absorbs and reduces the slamming impact noises and vibrations occurring in the slamming of a hood, thus allowing a car to be almost completely free from such noises and vibrations.

Abstract: An overhead console for a vehicle or the like includes a housing defining a transmitter storage compartment for a garage door opener and an opening for permitting access to the storage compartment. A door is pivotally mounted to the housing for movement between a closed position for covering the opening and an open position for exposing the interior of the compartment through the lower opening. A hinge assembly for pivotally mounting the door to the housing includes a pair of spaced cams integrally molded to the door and a pair of spaced spring arms integrally molded to the housing. The spring arms are engageable with the cams as the door moves toward the open position from the closed position to arrest the movement of the door at an intermediate position between the closed and open positions. The spring arms are engageable and deflectable by the cam to provide frictional resistance to movement of the door only from the intermediate position to the open position.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel assembly includes a tire, a rim, an air valve and a relief valve. The relief valve can be installed in the rim, in the tire, or incorporated into the housing of the air valve to communicate directly with the interior of the tire; or as an adapter attachable to the outer end of the air valve. The relief valve includes an aperture normally covered by pre-stressed flexible belt which seals the aperture, but upon the presence of excessive pressure in the tire is deforming to vent the excessive pressure to the atmosphere. A second described variation relief valve includes a weakened portion of its housing which is automatically ruptured upon the presence of excessive pressure; this variation provides a one-time venting adapter.

Abstract: The invention provides a braking systems and methods for slowing or stopping a roller skate having a plurality of wheels. One exemplary system, at least one braking surface is spaced apart from the wheels. A means is provided between the braking surface and at least one of the wheels for slowing or stopping the wheel such that heat generated when slowing or stopping the wheel is created at the braking surface and is substantially prevented from reaching the wheel.

Abstract: A mail aperture assembly for a mail sorting system includes a long, narrow aperture mounted on a transport surface. The assembly includes at least two surfaces and a belt mounted juxtaposed to the aperture. A belt is in contact with at least two surfaces of the aperture. At least one surface is not in the same plane as the aperture, preferably in the direction of the belt.

Abstract: An escalator is provided with a curved path of travel from its entry to its exit landings. The path of travel of the escalator steps as seen in plan is a curve having a fixed center and a constant radius from landing to landing. In elevation, each landing portion will be disposed in vertically spaced horizontal planes, and there will be a medial constant slope ascending or descending portion. Interconnecting each landing portion with the constant slope portion will be entry and exit transitional curved portions of varying slope as seen in the elevational view. To enable the steps to traverse the curved path successfully, the effective length of at least one of the step chains is varied at different points along the path of travel of the escalator.