Abstract: A window shield including a transparent projectile resistant panel mounted on the inside of a vehicle door frame covering the window opening, and a removable bracket support connected to the panel. An additional panel can be fastened by snaps to the bracket support to protect the lower portion of a driver's body if necessary.

Abstract: A tailgate barrier to be suspended between the sidewalls of a pickup truck includes a flexible barrier having stiffeners at the side edges. At least two connecting members attach the edge stiffeners to the truck sidewalls, allowing horizontal movement of the barrier. Biasing members attached to the connecting members force the edge stiffeners towards the respective sidewalls. The biasing members are preferably compression springs. The tailgate barrier eliminate out-of-plane sag. The tailgate barrier is also easily installed and removed without being subjected to wear.

Abstract: A front crossmember assembly for a motor vehicle. The crossmember assembly serves to support the vehicle radiator, and provides attachments for the front of the vehicle engine, the front recovery bracket, the front fascia and splash shield, along with providing torsional stability to the vehicle front end. The spot welded assembly itself is bolted into the vehicle body, along with the radiator and associated cooling module, built-up, charged and sealed before insertion into the vehicle body, thereby facilitating plant assembly and, where necessary, plant repair, reducing part complexity, vehicle weight, and potential service problems.

Abstract: A front hub assembly of a bicycle wheel having an improved cone nut locking mechanism includes a hub body having a bore therethrough and an axle extending through the bore having threaded ends. The axle includes first and second resistance portions formed adjacent respective threaded end to offer resistance to a cone nut being threaded onto the threaded end. The magnitude of the resistance of the first resistance portion is greater than the magnitude of resistance of the second resistance portion such that a first cone nut can be threaded onto the resistance portion a first predetermined distance and located and a second cone nut may subsequently be threaded onto the second resistance portion a second predetermined distance and locked without rotating the axle and further threading the first cone nut onto the first resistance portion.

Abstract: A passenger van tailgate hinged for swinging movement about a horizontal axis at its upper edge is forced upward to open by a pair of spring devices under the control of a powered actuator operating through cables. The actuator is mounted on the tailgate and includes an electric motor drivingly connected by a worm shaft and worm gear and additional reduction gearing to a pulley on which the cables are wound. The cables are secured at one end to the vehicle structure, extend along side the respective spring devices, and are wound at their other end in the same direction on the pulley. The tailgate is opened by operating the actuator motor to unwind the cables and allow the spring devices to open the tailgate at a rate determined by the speed of the motor. The tailgate is closed by operating the actuator motor in reverse to rewind the cables and compress the spring devices.

Abstract: A bullet-proofing panel for attachment to the exterior door surfaces of a police cruiser or the like comprising an outer polymeric skin having a contour corresponding to the contour of the sheet metal of the vehicle's doors. The polymeric skin member when affixed to the outer sheet metal panels of the vehicle's doors defines a predetermined space or pocket therebetween which contains a barrier member, preferably a woven KEVLAR.RTM. material, capable of stopping bullets from practically all handguns. Because the outer polymeric skin can be shaped to follow the contours of the original vehicle and painted to match, the bullet-proof panel does not detract from the overall ornamental appearance of the vehicle.

Abstract: In a motor vehicle seat with vertical and longitudinal adjustment, a holder (9) is guided by guide rods (7; 8) which can pivot in parallel and are pivotally connected to pivot points (5; 6) which are rigidly fixed to the car body. The holder (9) supports two short guide rods (21; 23), the other ends of which are, in each case, pivotally connected to two further long guide rods (13; 19). The upper ends (12; 25) of the long guide rods (13; 19) are, in turn, pivotally connected to the seat frame (3) and the bottom ends (15; 18) are directed in an upward direction. The short guide rods (21; 23) are pivotally connected between the ends of the long guide rods (13; 19).

Abstract: A tonneau cover for covering an opening in a structure, the opening having a periphery, the structure having a front shelf, side rails, and an end gate, and the cover including a fastening system for securing a frame to a flexible fabric web, the improvement wherein the frame employs a plurality of h-shaped rail members and L-shaped rail members connected by fastening members, for assembling an unlimited sized flexible fabric web to the frame.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a car-body window assembly with a peripheral frame embracing the window glass pane. The assembly is designed to allow balancing the relative positions of the pane and the frame before final assembly onto the sheetmetal of a car-body. Apertures and channels in the frame permit adhesive to be deposited after the frame and the glass have been initially aligned.

Abstract: A two-window closure for the rear opening of a van to obviate a spare tire obstruction in which one window is coextensive with the spare tire and remains in place unless the spare tire is traversed out of the way, but the other window being coextensive with the remainder of the window opening can be opened without traversing the spare tire and thus provides the user with access into the rear of the van.

Abstract: An adjusting device of brake rods for bicycles includes a connector, two rods and two receivers. The two rods each has first and second ends, the first end thereof rotatably engaged to the connector and the second end thereof having a threaded portion for engaged to the receiver which is pivotally engaged to a brake arm. A user adjusts the rod by rotating the rod corresponding to the receiver.

Abstract: A support housing for a rotary end of a slackless drawbar adapted to be secured within an end of a center sill of a railroad car having an elongated cavity defined by a pair of side wall portions, a top wall portion and a back wall portion, said cavity being adapted to receive the rotary end portion of a rotary drawbar such that a shank portion of such rotary drawbar extends through an open front of the support housing, said cavity being further adapted to receive a buff load bearing block and a slack adjusting gravity wedge between the back wall portion and the rotary end of the rotary drawbar and having a specially configured surface therein adapted to receive a specially configured draft load bearing insert and a flange to retain the specially configured draft load bearing insert within the cavity and against the spherical draft load bearing surface on the rotary end of the rotary drawbar.

Abstract: In order to prevent a twin-type brake force regulator, having a control tappet and a beam of balance, from performing its pressure reduction function, an electromagnetic locking device that avoids high cost and great expenditure in material is provided. The locking device includes an electric coil, magnet armature and locking member. The locking member is attached to the magnet armature and positioned in a radial position relative to a control piston such that the locking member can be placed in positive engagement with the control tappet. In a preferred embodiment, the locking member has a U-shaped fork with an inner diameter conformed to the control tappet. An advanced position, that is the position in which the control tappet is locked by the locking member, is defined by the position of the magnet armature when the coil is energized. A retracted position of the locking member, in which the control tappet is released, results when the magnet armature is reset, with the coil deenergized.

Abstract: A roll-up covering for motor vehicles comprised of a rectangular main section 10 and side flaps 14 with antenna slits 18, 20 in either to accommodate antennas. A cylinder 16 is fixed perpendicular to the length of the main section and located between the main section and the top of the vehicle while in use. The side flaps 14 partially cover the side of the vehicle while in use and fold over the top of the main section for removal. Combined, the covering rolls around the cylinder for compact storage. Rear adjustable straps 26 anchor the covering in the rear compartment of the vehicle for theft prevention and as a means of changing the fit of the covering. Front elastic straps 11 and side elastic straps 12, in conjunction with the rear adjustable straps and the cylinder, tension the main section and side flaps to provide an airspace 34. The airspace between the covering material and the majority of the top vehicle surfaces provides for insulation and ventilation.

Abstract: A prop and latch rod mechanism is provided for use with a passenger seat carried forwardly of the cargo deck on a utility vehicle. The mechanism is particularly useful for securing a pivotable seat in a forwardly tilted transport position so that the cargo deck storage space can be enlarged. The preferred embodiment utilizes the mechanism with a vehicle adapted for emergency medical usage and permits the utility deck to be extended to accommodate a stretcher. The mechanism is comprised of a wire rod pivotally coupled at one end with the seat, having a track or channel that permits quick and easy movement of the seat between its operative and forwardly pivoted transport position and includes a latch structure that is releasably engageable with a latch rod carried on the vehicle.

Abstract: A low drag tailgate is shown which can be installed within a tailgate opening at the trailing end of the open top cargo compartment of a vehicle. A louver retaining frame is mounted as a portion of the conventional tailgate which has an outer extent mounted generally flush with the exterior sidewall of the tailgate and having an inner extent which provides an opening for the passage of air from the vehicle cargo compartment through the frame. Louvers are pivotally mounted within the louver retaining frame. At least selected ones of the louvers have a counterweight installed thereon which determines the position of the louver as the tailgate is raised and lowered.

Abstract: In a hydraulic mount the use of a diaphragm decoupler between the partition's upper and lower orifice plates substantially eliminates inertia track leakage and substantially eliminates chortle noise.

Abstract: A sleeve rubber spring for mounts in a motor vehicle, in which a rubber body is arranged between an inner tube and an outer tube and has at least two chambers, which are filled with a fluid damping agent and are connected to one another through at least one overflow channel. A shutoff structure is provided including an axially extending seal, which opens only in the case of a predetermined pressure difference in the chambers. This seal of the shutoff structure of the overflow channel includes at least two sealing lips, which are separated from one another, have a hook-type profile in their cross section with a radial undercut and are deformable radially to the central axis of the sleeve rubber spring.

Abstract: Improved support and adjustment of the frame on the boot are obtained by providing mounting brackets that extend transversely outwardly and beyond the underlying side walls between which the roller wheels are mounted and that contain transverse mounting slots whose transverse extents are at least as great as the spacing distance between the underlying side walls. Improved parallelism of the axles is obtained by providing diametrically opposed lobes in a mounting hole in one of the side walls at each wheel mount and by providing the corresponding axle head with a complementary shape fitting to that portion of the mounting hole containing the lobes. A tool for installing and removing the wheels from the frame is also disclosed.

Abstract: A brake lining wear indicator assembly includes a cable (9) having a wear sensor (8) adjacent one end thereof for attachment to a friction lining (7) of a vehicle brake, and a connector (11) at its other end for connecting the sensor, in use, to a wear sensing and indicating circuit. A cable support device (10) extends between the sensor and connector and carries at least a part of the cable, being adapted for cooperation with part of the brake body to support the assembly in an operative position relative to the brake. The support device serves to protect the cable carried thereby from deleterious conditions arising during braking, the assembly forming a self-contained unit for attachment to the brake.