Abstract: The invention consists of a three-sided trailer for transporting flattened car bodies or other bulky cargo. The sides are constructed of steel H-beam uprights and expanded metal. Steel beams fastened to the floor of the trailer hold the load of flattened vehicles off the metal floor and enable easy pick up of the load by a forklift from the open side of the trailer.

Abstract: A system for the deploying and storing of an automobile cover. The system is provided with a roller assembly which can be made to be pivotally disposed about the axis of an axle. Attached to the roller at one end and the axle at another end is a spring means. The roller assembly has attached to it a full body automobile cover. The cover having one end adapted to covering and being secured to the end of the automobile opposite from the trunk, and the other end attached to the roller. The cover wound around the roller assembly and the roller assembly is stored in the trunk compartment of the automobile. The cover can be easily unwound from and wound back onto the roller with the assistance of the spring biased roller. The operator can quickly deploy the cover by pulling it from the back of the trunk over the trunk lid, and over the car, securing it to front bumper. The trunk can be closed after the cover is secured to the front bumper, thus securing the system inside the trunk.

Abstract: An extension member 12 is subassembled to a fender apron 3a, 3b by welding the rear end portion 26 of the extension member 12 to the front end portion 27 of the fender apron 3a, 3b, and the fender apron 3a, 3b is welded to a lamp support panel 2a, 2b in the condition where the interface P between the extension member 12 and the fender apron 3a, 3b is disposed substantially in the front and rear direction of the vehicle body, so that when a load in the front and rear direction is applied to the extension member 12, the load acts as a shearing force on the welded portion S.sub.4 of the extension member 12 and the fender apron 3a, 3b.

Abstract: A tonneau cover for an open bed of a pick-up truck having a front panel, a center panel and a rear panel. Each panel is retained in separate frames defined by first, second, third and fourth reinforcing members which are held in a rectangular shape by corner members. Corner members on a first side of the frame of the center panel retain fixed pins that extend into corresponding openings in a first side wall extending from the open bed and corner members on a second side of the frame retain retractable pins which after being released from retraction extend into corresponding openings in a second side wall extending from the open bed to fix the center panel with respect to the open bed. The front and rear panels are joined to the center panel by rubber hinges.

Abstract: A structure for use in attaching weather stripping to the body along the side of a roof of a vehicle body, and is especially useful around a door opening thereof. A molding that extends along the side of a roof for covering an outside surface of the weather strip is attached to the vehicle by securing a base portion of the molding to an outer part of the body wall defining the door opening. The weather strip has a bottom portion and a sealing portion. An outer part of the bottom portion is bonded to the base portion of the molding with a first double-sided adhesive tape, while an inner part of the bottom portion is bonded to the body wall defining the door opening with a second double-sided adhesive tape.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle door is provided including a first generally rigid outer structure having first and second ends; a second generally rigid inner structure with a major portion spaced from the first outer structure, the second inner structure having first and second ends generally positionally aligned with the first and second ends of the first outer structure, the second inner structure having an opening; a trim panel positioned generally adjacent the second inner structure; a target position in alignment with the opening of the second inner structure adjacent a first end of the second inner structure, the target also having a portion adjacent the first outer structure; and a beam having a first end generally fixed with respect to the second inner structure first end and a second end fixed with respect to the second inner structure second end, the beam crossing over the target and wherein an impact on the door first outer structure causes the target to move inwardly through the opening, contacting the be

Abstract: A wheel spinner nut adapter for a wheel assembly, the wheel assembly being of the type that utilizes a hub adapter, the hub adapter being of the type which has a first end for engaging a wheel and a wheel axle assembly, and a second end with external threads which are typically used for engagement with internal threads of a wheel spinner. The wheel spinner nut adapter of the present invention includes a first hollow end portion and a second end portion. The first hollow end portion includes a substantially smooth outer surface being tapered on at least a section thereof. The outer surface has a circular cross section. A threaded inner surface of the first hollow end portion has a circular cross section and substantially constant diameter. The threaded inner surface is for engagement with external threads on a second end of the hub adapter.

Abstract: An open-top vehicle rear cross car beam body support arrangement for an open-top vehicle having a passenger compartment defined in part by a front floor pan ending in an elevated rear floor pan together with right and left rear inner wheelhouse panels. The beam arrangement includes forming each wheelhouse panel upper inboard portion with a recessed step defining opposed upstanding riser portions each having a lower edge terminating in an inboard extending tread portion. An upper horizontal gusset panel of the beam is welded to upper portions of spaced apart front and rear downstanding gusset panels, while lower flanges of the front and rear gusset panels are welded to the rear floor pan forming a closed section cross beam. The outboard ends of the upper gusset panel terminate in connector portions, each formed with an upstanding shroud having a top panel defined by fore and aft downstanding side walls together with an inboard wall.

Abstract: A trim component for mounting to a structural member of an automotive vehicle presenting an edge including a body adapted to be fixedly mounted to the structural member and extending substantially along the length thereof. The body presents a primary surface facing the interior of the vehicle and a contoured mounting surface disposed opposite the primary surface and corresponding to the shape of the structural member. The contoured mounting surface includes a plate disposed adjacent the edge presented by the structural member when the trim component is mounted thereto.

Abstract: One embodiment is a bumper fascia support for supporting a motor vehicle bumper fascia wherein the bumper fascia generally has a C-shaped transverse cross-section with an upper skirt and a lower skirt. The bumper fascia support has a front side and a back side relative to its position on the motor vehicle and comprises an elongated platform and at least one base member connected to the elongated platform. The platform is adapted to be attached to the upper skirt of the C-shaped bumper fascia and has an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface being adapted for supporting the upper skirt of the C-shaped bumper fascia. The base member is adapted to be attached to the lower skirt of the C-shaped bumper fascia. A second embodiment is a bumper fascia support and reinforcement assembly for supporting and reinforcing a motor vehicle bumper fascia.

Abstract: A door opening of an operator cab for a construction machine is enlarged so that protrusion of the door beyond a turning radius can be avoided when the door is fully opened and so that the operator cab can have a wide indoor space. Therefore, a side wall (2a) of the operator cab (2) at an opposite side to a boom of a working-machine installed on a swivel base (1) is formed to have an outer convex surface, including the door; rails (4, 5 and 6) are provided on the side wall (2a) of the operator cab (2); the door (3) is provided with rollers (7, 8 and 9) which are always engaged with the rails to slide the door for easy opening and closing operation, and the position of the door (3) when the door is locked fully open is set to be within a range of turning radius (R) of the swivel base (1) along the outer surface of side wall (2a) of the operator cab (2).

Abstract: A side structure of a floor of an automobile can improve the balance of the stiffness and prevent generation of noise in a room of the automobile. A rear floor side member 26 is disposed along an inner panel 24 of a side sill 21 and a rear floor cross member 27 is disposed along a depending wall 23a of a rear floor panel 23. Both end portions of the rear floor cross member go over the rear floor side member 26 and are fixed to the side sill inner panel 24.

Abstract: A fastening device for a decorative or cover strip for gaps in motor vehicle bodies, has a holding body which can be inserted and wedged into the gap and which holds the decorative or covering strip. The holding body made of several parts includes lateral bracing elements, which can be braced against lateral walls of the gap via a spreading element. The spreading element is provided between the bracing elements and is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the gap. The decorative or cover strip can be fixed on the spreading element. In this manner, the decorative or cover strip can always be fastened centered, regardless of tolerance-related fluctuations of the gap width.

Abstract: An automobile sun shield including an elongated, substantially rectangularly shaped shield member and first and second clip members secured to the shield member and utilized to secure the sun shield to the existing visor of an automobile. One of the clip members is positioned with respect to a shorter side edge of the shield member at a distance within at least twenty percent of the length of one of the longer side edges. The other clip member is positioned with respect to the same side edge a distance therefrom of between twenty-two and thirty-seven percent of the length of one of the longer side edges.

Abstract: A hub of a bicycle includes a hub shell with two ends and an axle which rotatably extends through the hub shell, a dust cap threadedly engaged to each end of said hub shell, a bearing rotatably disposed between the axle and each of the dust caps, a tubular element mounted to the axle and located between two first flanges each of which extends radially and outwardly from the axle, the tubular element having a fourth groove defined in an outer periphery of at least one end thereof so as to form a first shoulder and a second shoulder wherein the first shoulder is located near a distal end of the tubular element and is received in the third groove of the corresponding dust cap, the second shoulder having a second flange extending inwardly and radially therefrom for contacting against the corresponding first flange of the axle.

Abstract: A composite laminate beam for an automotive body construction has an outer structural portion an an inner tube portion separated by a thin layer of structural foam. The beam may take the form of a radiator support structure, a windshield pillar, a rocker assembly or a drive shaft or similar structures. A method of making the beam is also disclosed.

Abstract: A low profile parallel railcar discharge adaptor is designed for connection between a discharge gate of a center discharge railroad hopper car and a pneumatic conveyor for unloading pulverulent and granular material, such as sugar and the like, from the car. The adaptor includes low profile, parallel double airlocks in a single housing mounted on a frame with an attached pair of main wheels, each of which is attached to a hydraulic jack. The frame includes members which perform the dual function of support and air passage, thus helping to minimize the profile height of the adaptor. A handle is connected to the adaptor frame, extending therefrom upward at an angle and terminating in a comfortable operating position. A pair of drive motors and a corresponding pair of gear housings are attached to the handle, with each drive motor and gear driving a respective one of the rotary airlocks via an angled universal joint. A control for the hydraulic jacks is located on the handle proximate a handle grip.

Abstract: An improved vehicle bed assembly, and process of manufacture, which involves formation of the floor pan (31) by roll forming, with the floor pan (31) having strengthening ribs (34) extending longitudinally throughout the entire length of the floor pan so as to terminate at the front and rear free edges thereof. The rear free edge (36) of the floor pan (31) cooperates with a rear sill member (32, 32') which has rib-end defining projections (47, 99) formed thereon and cooperating with the ends of the ribs (34) on the floor pan (31) for closing off the ribs and creating a transition to a flat horizontal surface defined on the rear sill member. The rib ends of the rear sill member preferably have guide portions (49, 102) which nest into and are fixedly secured, as by spot welding, to the rearward ends of the ribs defined on the floor pan.

Abstract: A utility vehicle with emergency response modules. The emergency response vehicle consists of one of a number of small utility vehicles capable of traversing areas and facilities inaccessable to ordinary street vehicles, and one of a number of modules. A major feature of the invention is the manner in which emergency equipment has been provided in separate modules suited for response to particular emergencies such as fire, ambulance, rescue, or tactical operations by law enforcement personnel. A further feature is the interchangeability of one module for another. Another feature is that the modules may be installed on a number of appropriate small utility vehicles.

Abstract: A children's riding vehicle includes a compartment-enclosing member which may be pivotably opened and closed, and pinch relief structure thereon for preventing a child from pinching a finger when the enclosing member is closed. The structure includes an arm joined to the enclosing member adjacent an edge thereof so that it is movable therewith when the enclosing member is opened and closed. A slot in the vehicle receives the arm and permits it to move when the enclosing member is opened and closed, and further allows the arm and the enclosing member to be selectively moved, together as a unit and relative to the vehicle, for defining a space between the edge of the enclosing member to which the arm is joined and the vehicle, for preventing a child from pinching a finger when the member is closed.