Abstract: A highway trailer hitch having a trailer connector secured to one end of a cable with the other end of the cable extending through a guide and support sleeve and mounted on a cable drum. A crank powers the cable drum to reel in cable and the attached trailer connector to provide a coupling assist for connecting a trailing vehicle to a towing vehicle.

Abstract: An improved bicycle headset is disclosed having ball bearing races sealed by O-rings against contamination by dust, dirt, moisture and the like. This bicycle headset includes a lower assembly comprising a lower cup fitted to the lower end of a head tube, a crown cone upon which the shoulder of a front fork bears, a lower ball bearing race positioned between the lower cup and the crown cone, and a lower O-ring seal mounted on the crown cone to isolate the lower ball bearing race from the external environment. Also included, is an upper headset assembly comprising an upper stationary cone fitted to the upper end of the head tube and an upper cup threadedly attached to the upper end of a fork tube. A weatherproof lock nut is tightened down against the top portion of said upper cup so as to lock the position of the upper cup on the fork tube about a handlebar stem, and seal the upper part thereof.

Abstract: In an articulated vehicle adapted for street or off-road use, the forward section manufactured on a first A-frame is pivotably coupled by means of a ball and socket to an aft section manufactured on a second A-frame so as to provide pivotable movement between said forward and aft sections about both horizontal and verticle axes. A first shaft is fixedly coupled to the forward section and extends behind the ball and socket and below a second shaft in said aft section. A coil spring suspension system is coupled between the first and second shafts and is adjustable along the lengths thereof so as to vary the degree of softness with which the vehicle will ride.

Abstract: A tractor seat-operated hydraulic valve control including a power tractor and a hydraulically powered implement connected with the tractor. A hydraulic valve on the tractor is controlled by a manual lever connected therewith and by a mechanical connection between a pivotally mounted operator's seat and the valve. When the operator is off the seat the control moves the valve to the neutral position.

Abstract: An oscillation lock for an articulated mining vehicle having a front frame and rear frame with pivot means therebetween which prevents oscillation and possible tipping of the vehicle when hauling heavy front-mounted loads. The device includes a mounting plate attached to one of said frames cross-wise of the pivot link between the frames and a lock plate assembly including a pair of depending stop blocks which blocks and plates in assembled position straddle the pivot link and restrict oscillatory movement between the frames.

Abstract: A boat launching dolly includes a horizontal support frame having spaced apart steerable wheels with a V-shape adjustable height cradle for engaging the bottom of a boat adjacent the bow for supporting the front of a boat and including a forwardly upwardly curved central elongated frame member extending forwardly and upwardly to connect to a prow eye.

Abstract: A drivable, steerable platform for a lawnmower and the like is disclosed in which a frame member is generally disposed in a frame member plane parallel to the terrain upon which the platform is to travel. Mounted on the frame member are at least three wheel assemblies. Each wheel assembly includes support structure rotatably connected to the frame member such that the support structure may endlessly rotate through an angle of 360.degree. about an axis substantially perpendicular to the frame member plane. A wheel member is rotatably mounted on each support structure such that the wheel members are disposed substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the frame member plane. First drive structure is included to drive the wheel members. First steering structure is included to rotate the support structures, the wheel members being endlessly steerable through an angle of 360.degree..

Abstract: A power transmission unit for a motorcycle is disclosed which includes a power unit case consisting of a crankcase and a transmission case both of which are integrally formed with one another. A bevel gear case incorporating therein a bevel gear assembly is detachably secured to the power unit case at a recessed section of the latter. The recessed section is located rearwardly of a generator which is disposed at the outermost part of the power unit case. The bevel gear assembly comprises a driving bevel gear connected with a countershaft in the power unit case, and a driven bevel gear connected with a final shaft which is in turn connected to a rear wheel.

Abstract: A retainer device for use in combination with a boat trailer. The device includes a platform member having a slot formed therein which receives the bow eyelet of a boat. A hook is attached to the platform member and may secure the bow eyelet within the slot.

Abstract: A motorcycle of such a type that a vehicle body frame is provided thereon with an internal combustion engine 4 in front and a transmission 5 in rear. An intermediate driving shaft 18 is interposed between a crankshaft 8 of the engine 4 and an input shaft 13 of the transmission 5. The driving shaft 18 is provided at its both end portions with an A.C. generator 19 and a control member 20 for an ignition circuit, for instance, a pulse generator or a contact breaker. According to this arrangement, even in the case where the engine is of a multiple cylinder type and the crankshaft is comparatively large in length, the motorcycle is prevented from becoming remarkably large in width locally at its crankshaft portion.

Abstract: A device for propelling a bicycle or the like comprising in combination, a frame having wheels and an overlying cargo carrier instrumentality, a power pack disposed thereon adapted to drive said wheels, hitching instrumentalities connecting said frame to the bicycle rearwardly thereof, and suspension instrumentalities disposed between said wheels and said frame whereby road irregularities and the like are absorbed by said suspension instrumentalities and in part by said hitching instrumentalities, said hitching instrumentalities providing the bicycle a complete normal range of motion.

Abstract: A frame structure for a low-floor type, small-sized vehicle. The frame structure comprises a pair of right and left plate members extending substantially fore to aft of the vehicle and having the thickness dimension thereof extending in a substantially transverse direction and the width dimension thereof extending in a substantially vertical direction and each being provided along at least one of the upper and lower edges thereof with an outwardly bent flange portion. The structure further includes a plurality of cross members which rigidly connect the plate members with each other.The frame members of the structure are easy to manufacture and at the same time are reduced in the wall thickness thereof, and consequently are reduced in weight, without impairing the strength and rigidity thereof.

Abstract: A towed vehicle includes a frame, front and rear ground-engaged wheel assemblies mounted along said frame in such a manner that the center of gravity of said vehicle is situated between said front and rear wheel assemblies, and a gooseneck secured to said frame and projecting therefrom. A fluid pressure suspension cylinder is secured to the gooseneck adjacent the free outer end thereof and has a plunger reciprocally mounted therein and projecting downwardly therefrom. A plate with a king pin is secured to the plunger for coupling with the saddle of a fifth wheel on a towing vehicle. The plunger in the cylinder acts in conjunction with a compressible medium, to cushion loads between said gooseneck and towing vehicle. The fifth wheel by way of linkages from a collar rotatably mounted on the cylinder, steer steerable wheels on the towed vehicle.

Abstract: An all-terrain and amphibious automotive vehicle is provided by simple modification of an existing automotive vehicle. Supplemental axles have independent wheels which can be raised when not needed. An endless track is trained over the wheels on each side of the vehicle. Inflatable members (11-13) are secured to the chassis along its longitudinal edges and at the front and the rear of the chassis, and a further inflatable element (10) beneath the chassis serves as a float for the vehicle. The power-driven wheels (6') are interconnected with the other wheels (6) by means of sprockets (16) and transmission chains (17) as well as by a clutch (18) on the driven axle (1). It is possible to brake at least one of the power-driven wheels (6') to steer the vehicle by driving.

Abstract: The invention comprises an engine-driven auxiliary system for a motor vehicle. At least two auxiliaries are coupled in rotation with the crankshaft of the vehicle engine by transmission means. These auxiliaries include auxiliaries which constitute a hierarchic group with an order of operational priority in which at least one of the auxiliaries takes precedence over at least one other of the auxiliaries. The state of an economizer element varies concomitantly with the working conditions of the auxiliary having the higher priority, and is adapted to put the auxiliary with the lower priority at least partly out of action when the working conditions of the higher priority auxiliary exceed a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A foot retainer is disclosed herein supporting a passenger's feet on a motorcycle having a support roller pivotally attached to the motorcycle frame and a guide roller rotatably carried on the support roller defining an access space therebetween for accommodating the passenger's feet. Limit stops are operably carried on the support roller cooperating with a connecting bar for permitting rotation of the guide roller without a preselected arcuate angle.

Abstract: A front fender and fork assembly for a two-wheeled motor vehicle includes a front fender disposed over the front wheel, and a pair of leg comprising the front fork provided one on each side of the wheel, and is characterized by a pair of gently curved lateral projections formed on either side of the fender intermediate the ends thereof, and covering the front side of the legs in close proximity thereto.

Abstract: A power steering apparatus includes a power steering fluid supply pump which is driven through a clutch. A sensor detects changes in vehicle speed and effects operation of the clutch to decrease the rate at which the pump is driven in response to an increase in vehicle speed. When the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined speed, the clutch is disengaged and the pump is not driven. When the clutch is disengaged, the steerable vehicle wheels are turned without power assist.

Abstract: A four-wheel drive system for a vehicle, comprising an engine having an output shaft rotatable about an axis in a lateral direction of the vehicle; a transmission gear unit including input and output shafts each having an axis of rotation parallel with the axis of rotation of the output shaft; a first wheel drive gear unit comprising power splitting gear means to split driving power from the transmission output shaft into two driving power components, and a first differential gear assembly for a pair of road wheels, the power splitting gear means and the first differential gear assembly being aligned with the transmission output shaft; and a second wheel drive gear unit comprising a second differential gear assembly for another pair of road wheels; the first wheel drive gear unit further comprising final reduction gear means positioned between the power splitting gear means and the first differential gear assembly, and power transfer gear means intervening between the power splitting gear means and the second

Abstract: A device for the adjustment of the axis of the footrest in motorcycles is described, which device comprises a pair of movable discs (2,2'). The position of the discs is fixed with respect to plate (3) fixed in the frame of the motorcycle, after the position of the footrest is adjusted within the scope of a circumference which has as center the center of the discs and as radius, the eccentricity of the footrest (1) with respect to the same center, as shown in FIG. 1.