Abstract: A folding hard panel tonneau cover for a pickup truck cargo box having a pair of rails for mounting the tonneau cover to the side walls of a pickup truck cargo box. The rails carry a seal member having a pair of deflectable walls forming a receiving pocket extending the length of the rails. The panels of the tonneau cover have frame members along their side edges which include a downwardly projecting tongue which is insertable into the receiving pocket by deflection of the seal member walls. The receiving pocket and tongue thus serve as a latch means for attaching the panels to the cargo box side wall and also provide a water tight seal to prevent water from entering into the cargo box. Identically shaped frame members at the front and rear edges of the tonneau cover carry rubber seals for engagement with the front wall and tailgate of the cargo box. Continuous gear hinges are used to pivotally join the panels together to fold in an accordion-style fashion.

Abstract: A vehicular storage compartment is provided for mounting in an opening in a floor of a vehicle. The vehicular storage compartment includes a tub-shaped container having a plurality of side walls and a base portion interconnecting the plurality of side walls at a bottom portion thereof. The plurality of side walls of the tub-shaped container define an open end at a top portion thereof wherein an outwardly extending flange portion is disposed around a circumference of the open end. A lid is attached to the open end of the tub-shaped container. The tub-shaped container is adapted to be inserted in the opening in the floor of the vehicle such that the flange portion rests above the floor of the vehicle adjacent to the opening.

Abstract: A drive system for a caterpillar track (30) comprises a drive wheel (1) with rubber-mounted drive bodies (10) fixed thereto, the drive bodies (10) engaging the guide tooth root (65) of the chain link member (52). The flank (51) of the guide tooth (32) is of a particular geometrical configuration in order to provide a long operating life for the rubber mounting means (21) of the drive body (10) by virtue of a small angle of rotational movement of the rubber casing (21).

Abstract: To attach a wheel cover to a vehicle wheel, mounting brackets are provided which are attached to the lug nuts which retain the wheel to the vehicle hub. Each bracket includes a threaded bore for receiving a screw extended through the wheel cover to retain the cover to the bracket.

Abstract: A knockdown telescopically expandable elevated utility rack for pickup trucks is formed by forward and rearward H-shaped stanchions and stanchion post receiving brackets overlying pickup bed side walls. A forward stanchion panel and a rearward stanchion bottom rail forms a horizontal load support adjacent the upper limit of pickup bed side walls and a side rail assembly overlying the upper limit of the stanchions and the pickup cab forms an elevated load supporting platform.

Abstract: An impact bumper apparatus and method for absorbing an impact delivered to a vehicle comprising a pair of contiguous, generally hollow longitudinal tubular members adapted to absorbing an impact by crumpling, interconnected by at least one spacer, at least one trapezoidal shaped guide assembly, and at least one support assembly. The guide assembly absorbs impact and effects an upward change in the direction of the impact, and the support assembly absorbs impact and effects a downward change in the direction of the impact.

Abstract: A drop down bumper suitable for attachment to a frame of a transportable container or to a truck. The drop down bumper is equipped with loading rollers and is movable between a folded position and an extended position. When the drop down bumper is in the extended position it serves as a conventional rear bumper to help prevent cars and other small vehicles from riding under the rear of the truck, or container loaded on a truck. When the drop down bumper is in the folded position it allows access to the rear portions of the truck, and provides rolling support for the transportable container when the transportable container is being loaded and unloaded. The drop down bumper comprises an impact protection bar, attached loading rollers, and a foldable linkage connecting the impact protection bar with the frame.

Abstract: A hinge fastening structure and method of creating a hinge to box-section pillar joint which includes a fastener extending from the pillar outer panel to the pillar inner panel wherein the fastener includes first and second threaded portions of substantially identical pitch but different diameters adjacent to the head and the tip thereof respectively. The fastening structure and method may also be applicable for attaching other forms of hardware to box-section structures.

Abstract: A sheet of opaque material, fixed to a support arm which is extendable from a housing unit clipped onto a conventional visor of a car, to provide a car driver with protection from glare coming around the rear mirror area.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel has a rotatively mounted rim and a pneumatic tire detachably arranged thereon. The tire has a body with a torus-shaped cross section, an approximately cylindrical running surface and two radial side walls. Two tire seats reinforced by traction-resistant core rings for fastening the tire between horns arranged at the ends of the rim are located at the ends of the tire which face the rim. At least one of the horns of the rim has a greater radial length and extends at least up to the middle area of the respective side wall of the tire. The side walls of the tire are flexible in the whole area between the tire seats and the tire shoulders.

Abstract: A trailer having a slideout mechanism for moving an extensible cabin between a retracted position wherein the cabin is substantially inside the trailer and an extended position wherein the cabin is substantially outside the trailer. The slideout mechanism comprising an extension means for positioning the cabin between the retracted and extended positions and a leveling means for vertically positioning the cabin floor between a raised position wherein the cabin floor is substantially above the trailer floor and a lowered position wherein the cabin floor is substantially level with the trailer floor. In one embodiment, the leveling means comprises a frame member having a predetermined profile for controlling the vertical movement of the outboard end of the cabin floor as the cabin is positioned between the retracted and extended positions. In other embodiments, the leveling means comprises a cam assembly or a riser assembly for controlling the vertical position of the cabin floor.

Abstract: A pocket stake holder is disclosed having a pocket adapted for mounting an elongated stake of substantially square or circular cross-section to a frame. The pocket stake holder includes a homing having a front member and a pair of side members that have front and back edges. The front member and side members are interconnected along the front edges of the side members to define a U-channel of substantially square cross-section to form the pocket and which includes an open back side, an upper channel opening and a lower channel opening. A pair of flanges are disposed along the back edges of the side members and include a mechanism to enable removable mounting of the flanges and the housing against a surface in order to close the open back side. Finally, a device is disposed at the lower channel opening to prevent passage of a stake therethrough while permitting fluid flow through the channel.

Abstract: A liner for a vehicle is provided between the vehicle's floor and frame and protects the underside of the floor from moisture coming from underneath the vehicle. The liner also has a drainage feature which allows for liquids trapped between it and the floor to drain therethrough. The vehicle liner is made up of a pair of strips of a waterproof material disposed adjacent to each other with a gap provided between them and a third strip of a waterproof material covering the gap. The three strips effectively remove liquids from underneath the vehicle floor and yet form a moisture barrier for preventing moisture arising from underneath the vehicle from contacting with the vehicle floor.

Abstract: A structure of a frame connecting portion capable of firmly connecting a floor frame member to a side frame member in an automobile is provided. An end portion of the floor frame member provided on the floor panel, having an approximately U-shaped cross section and reinforced by the frame stiffener, is connected to an end portion of the side frame member having an approximately U-shaped cross section. At the connecting portion, the frame stiffener, floor frame member and side frame member are stacked on each other and tied integrally by tightening means penetrating them.

Abstract: A modular endless track assembly which bolts to the wheel of a wheeled vehicle (e.g. pickup truck or ATV). The assembly includes a wheel retainer plate, drive drum, track frame and plurality of idler wheels, track tension adjuster, and vehicle support bracket. The drive drum and idler wheels cooperate with lugs and channels at the track. The support bracket includes an anti-torque coupler mounted between the vehicle and track frame. The coupler centers the track to an equilibrium position and prevents over rotation. The mounting position of the coupler and mounting brackets is varied at the track frame to accommodate front and rear wheel track assemblies. A recurring, W-shaped groove pattern at the track cooperates with the idler wheels to self-clean the track and maintain controlled vehicle steering.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle extendable window glass stabilizer for laterally stabilizing a window glass with a body of an automotive vehicle is provided including a support generally extending from the automotive body laterally toward the window glass, a fabric mat mounted on a support extending toward the window glass, and a plastic button surrounded by the fabric mat. The button has a head providing a bottoming-out contact surface for the window glass when the glass more fully compresses the fabric mat.

Abstract: A vehicle shade and vehicle window combination comprises a vehicle side panel having a window recess and a window which may be lowered into such window recess and raised therefrom to a window closed position, a window opening in the vehicle side panel having a window opening bottom wall, window opening top wall, and window opening side walls, the window recess opening to the window opening bottom wall, a window shade recess between the window recess and inner wall of the vehicle side panel also opening to the window opening bottom wall, a wind-up roller secured in the window shade recess, one end of a flexible sheet shade member secured to the wind-up roller, its other free end being liftable to the window opening upper wall and having one or more eyelets to receive corresponding hook members on a rib member secured to the upper edge of the vehicle window. The shade when so connected to the upper edge of the vehicle window can be raised and lowered by raising and lowering the vehicle window.

Abstract: A non-corrosive, small particle resistant wheel axle-bearing assembly for a free wheeling hand carry device is provided which includes a wheel, an axle spindle and an annular bearing. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wheel includes a central bore, an inwardly facing-surface, and an outwardly facing surface. The inwardly facing surface includes a centrally disposed retainer between the wheel and the body of the device. The outwardly facing surface includes a cylindrical recess for receiving a thrust flange. The axle spindle is integral with the body of the free wheeling device and includes a plurality of longitudinal channels which terminate in slots on the device's body. The annular bearing has a flange at its outer end, a plurality of locking projections at its inner end, and an inner cylindrical wall defining a central bore and an outer bearing surface.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle door is provided having a first generally rigid outer structure; a second generally rigid inner structure spaced from the outer structure, the second inner structure having a guide opening; an interior trim panel connected to the second generally rigid inner structure; and a target having a first section generally adjacent the outer structure. A second section substantially smaller than the first section extends from the first section and has a cross-sectional area small enough for passage through the guide opening. Therefore, an impact on the outer door panel causes the target section to protrude inwardly through the inner structure opening, causing the trim panel to protrude inwardly.

Abstract: A first, fork-shaped component accommodates a second component, in which case an articulated connection between the two components takes place by means of an inserted pin. In order to establish a rattle-free connection between the two components with a good functioning and a simple mounting and a small space requirement in the longitudinal direction of the pin, it is provided that one sleeve respectively, which receives the pin, is inserted into bores of the first fork-shaped component, on the side facing the second component, each sleeve having an outwardly directed, elastic ring segment which, under prestress, is supported on the two components. In addition, on the side facing away from the ring segment, inwardly directed elastic noses are molded to the sleeves and reach behind the slid-in pin without a head and secure it against a falling-out.