Abstract: A truck cab suspension system provides improved durability of the truck cab structure by reducing twisting forces applied to the cab frame from the suspension system. The suspension system provides support to the rear sill of the truck by positioning two air springs on either side of the vehicle center line under the sill and two shock absorbers aligned along the vehicle center line between the air springs. The forces applied to the cab frame rear sill balance one another avoiding twisting.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an instrument panel having an instrument panel cover including a hidden deployment region integrally formed within an inner surface thereof by an ultrasonic embossing process is provided. More specifically, the deployment region comprises at least one and preferably a plurality of scores or cuts formed in the inner surface according to a predetermined pattern. The scores represent weakened portions of the instrument panel cover designed so that the force of an inflating air bag cushion causes the instrument panel cover to separate along the scores to thereby provide an opening for the inflating air bag cushion to deploy therethrough and be directed into the passenger compartment of a vehicle. The deployment region may be defined by any number of scores and therefore may have a variety of patterns, including but not limited to “H” pattern, “U” pattern, and “I” pattern.

Abstract: An all terrain vehicle comprises a frame supported by at least a left wheel and a right wheel. The left wheel and the right wheel being connected to said frame by a left suspension and a right suspension respectively. The independently suspended wheels preferably are drive wheels. The wheels are driven by an engine through a transmission. The transmission is connected to the left wheel by a left half shaft and to the right wheel by a right half shaft. Constant velocity couplings are used to coupling the half shafts to the respective wheels and to the transmission. The constant velocity couplings connecting the two half shafts to the transmission are joined in a single housing. The housing includes a body portion and a gear portion. The two portions can be integrally formed. A left cage and a right cage are mounted within a left axial bore and a right axial bore formed in the body portion. The cages are secured for rotation with the body portion but can move axially within the respective bores.

Abstract: A suspension system includes a damper assembly to provide an anti-roll capability to a vehicle torsion bar suspension system. The damper assembly is attached to each torsion bar. To selectively couple and decouple the rotational motion of the torsion bars. In one embodiment the damper assembly selectively links rotational motion of the torsion bar anchor arms to transfer an anti-roll force from one suspension link to the opposite suspension link.

Abstract: A safety belt arrangement for motor vehicles. The arrangement includes a safety belt and a belt roller from which the belt is retracted and withdrawn. The safety belt arrangement also includes a belt deflection apparatus that includes a deflection member. The belt is guided from the belt roller to the deflection member so that the belt can be deflected as it approaches the passenger. The deflection member moves away from the passenger in the case of an accident due to a force applied by a spring. Normally, the deflection member is retracted against the spring force by a retainer mechanism. The retainer mechanism releases the deflection member in the event of an accident. The resulting tensile force applied to the belt moves the passenger back into the normal seated position.

Abstract: To provide a small-sized vehicle in which a convenient pocket is provided in a single driver's seat portion. Furthermore, a brake master cylinder is disposed by making effective use of space without reduction of the capacity of the pocket, and the maintenance of a reservoir tank of the brake master cylinder thus disposed is ensured. A meter cover portion is disposed in a pocket of an inner panel at a position offset rightwardly from the center in the width direction of the vehicular body to form small and large capacity pocket parts on the right and left sides of the vehicle. A brake pedal is disposed on the right side of a steering column extending in an approximate center line in the width direction of the vehicular body, and a brake master cylinder connected to the brake pedal is disposed behind the meter cover portion. Such a layout is advantageous since it allows a driver to easily operate the pedals while ensuring the pocket capacity.

Abstract: An air bag deployment system for a vehicle having an air bag cushion having at least one pyrotechnic vent, an inflator in communication with the air bag cushion for inflating the air bag cushion, at least one sensor, and a restraint control module electrically connected to the pyrotechnic vent and the at least one sensor. The restraint control module being operative to receive and analyze a signal from the at least one sensor and to signal the pyrotechnic vent to deploy thereby allowing gas to vent from inside the air bag cushion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system, in particular a side gas bag module extending along a roof frame of the vehicle. The gas bag module comprises a gas bag and a housing with two separate side pieces which define an ejection channel for the gas bag. One of the side pieces is to be located close to the frame and the other of the side pieces is to be located close to an interior of the vehicle. The side pieces each have upper and lower ends constituting marginal sections. The side piece close to the interior is constructed to be so elastic and to have such a shape adapted to a shape of the side piece close to the frame, that the side piece close to the interior only rests against an outside of side piece close to the frame and embraces the latter in the manner of a clip.

Abstract: An enabling tractor arranged for small crop cultivation, even by those with some manual handicaps, has four wheels with two powered rear wheels and caster type steering controlled by hand an foot levers that move in unison and in sympathy with the steering movement of the front wheels. The chassis has an open center for direct access of the operator to carried tilling apparatus while the tractor continues forward under steering control. Power delivery to the drive wheels is optionally controlled by a clutch arrangement that minimizes maintenance problems.

Abstract: An airbag device can stabilize an impact absorbing action when an airbag deploys. In the airbag, a front surface portion is coupled with a rear surface portion by straps so that a deployed-shape of the airbag is restricted when the airbag expands. Each of the straps has a tearable portion having a sufficient length. When the internal pressure of the airbag exceeds a predetermined pressure, the tearable portions are torn so as to increase the lengths of the straps, whereby the restriction of the airbag is eased. The internal pressure of the airbag is sufficiently increased before an occupant plunges to the airbag to smoothly absorb an impact simultaneously with the plunge of the occupant, and thereafter, the impact is smoothly absorbed as well.

Abstract: A steer axle assembly in accordance with the present invention includes an axle beam defining a first boss with a first bore. The assembly further includes a knuckle body that defines a second boss. The second boss is in the form of a unitary sleeve from which a tie rod arm and steering arm extend. The second boss includes a second bore. The assembly further includes a set of bearings disposed in one of the first and second bores. In one embodiment of the invention, the bearings are disposed in the axle beam bore. In another embodiment of the invention, the bearings are disposed in the bore defined by the knuckle body. The assembly finally includes a kingpin. The kingpin is rotatably received within the bore having the bearings and is rigidly coupled within the bore that does not include the bearings. The kingpin may be tightened to its required specification via the use of a washer and nut on one end of the kingpin.

Abstract: An air bag assembly for use in a vehicle at a location exterior to the passenger compartment. The air bag assembly includes an inflator for discharging inflation gas and a gas receiving expansible air bag cushion disposed in fluid communication with the inflator such that upon release of inflation gas from the inflator, the air bag cushion is deployed across a region immediately below the windshield of the vehicle as well as over the lower portion of the windshield and adjacent frame pillar elements surrounding the windshield. The extent of coverage over the windshield is such that the vehicle operator retains a degree of visibility over the deployed air bag cushion after deployment has taken place.

Abstract: An arrangement (10), for a vehicle (12) that has an actuatable occupant protection device (14), includes a vehicle seat (16) for a vehicle occupant (22). The arrangement (10) includes sensors (42 and 44) located within the seat (16) for sensing a characteristic that is indicative of a condition for which the protection device (14) is to be actuated. A controller (32) of the arrangement (10) is located within the seat (16) and processes sensory information from the sensors (42 and 44) to determine the occurrence of the condition for which the protection device (14) is to be actuated. A signal (36) indicative of the determination is output from the controller (32).

Abstract: A safety restraint anchoring device for use in a vehicle includes an anchor plate having an opening defined therethrough, the plate being adapted to have multiple portions thereof fixed to a support panel in a vehicle body, and a rigid rod member connected to the anchor plate. The rod member has a loop shaped portion extending through the opening and projecting away from said plate, and the loop shaped portion is adapted to securely receive a child restraint seat attachment tether. The rod member also has ends welded to a surface of the anchor plate and the loop shaped portion of the rod member extends through the opening in the plate. The anchor plate is adapted to be welded or otherwise fixed to a lower surface of the support panel and the loop shaped portion of the rod member extends through an opening defined in the support panel and projects away from the support panel when the anchor plate is fixed to the support panel.

Abstract: A rubber shear spring assembly for mounting between inner ends of adjacent leaf springs of a tandem axle including a hanger for mounting on a vehicle frame, hanger sides on the hanger, a rubber shear spring assembly between the hanger sides, the rubber shear spring assembly including a central plate and first and second rubber shear springs having inner sides mounted on opposite sides of the central plate and the rubber shear springs having outer sides mounted on the hanger sides, and connector members mounted at opposite ends of the central plate for connection to the inner ends of adjacent leaf springs.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of protecting a plurality of instruments on a control console from damage or vandalism. An instrument panel assembly is mounted in the control console and includes a housing and an inner mechanism rotatably mounted with the housing. The inner mechanism has an instrument panel portion wherein the plurality of instruments are attached and a security panel portion that has a substantially planar and blank surface. The inner mechanism is rotated by an operator (not shown) from an operating position wherein the instrument panel portion is accessible and the plurality of instruments are exposed to a secured position. In the secured position, the security panel portion is accessible and the instrument panel portion is not accessible so that the plurality of instruments are not exposed.

Abstract: A steering device for a car comprises an inner column for rotatably supporting one end of a steering shaft, an outer column for rotatably supporting the other end of the steering shaft, in which the inner column is slidably fitted, a couple of clamp portions formed integrally with the outer column and each having an embracing surface for embracing the inner column, and a fastening mechanism for making the couple of clamp portions embrace and thus fasten the inner column by moving the couple of clamp portions close to each other. The steering shaft is moved in the axial direction by releasing the fastening mechanism so that a telescopic position of the steering shaft is adjustable.

Abstract: A wheelchair (1) has a seat support (5) which has a pair of longitudinal bars (1) which extend downwardly at the front. The bars (10) are connected to a backrest support (6) which pivots via a triangular plate (25) to a collapsed position at which it overlies the seat support (5). The wheelchair (1) also has a lower leg support (7) which pivots about pivot joints (5) to fold up underneath the seat support (5) to collapse in a very compact and simple manner.

Abstract: A vehicle has a chassis with at least one front wheel pivotable about a first vertical axis to control the direction of the vehicle. A rigid swing arm is pivotally mounted on the rear end of the chassis for pivoting about a horizontal axis. On the rear end of the swing arm is a wheel mounting assembly including a hub and pivot means mounting the hub on the rear end of the swing arm for pivotal movement about a second vertical axis. The rear wheel is rotatably supported on the hub and naturally tracks the front wheel in a cooperating turning arc.

Abstract: A gear shift arrangement for an all terrain vehicle is provided. The all terrain vehicle comprises a frame defining an engine compartment. The frame is supported by two or more front wheels and two or more rear wheels. An engine is mounted in the engine compartment and is drivingly coupled to one or more of the wheels through a suitable drive train. A fender assembly is disposed above the front wheels and has a recess formed therein. A gear shift actuator is at least partially disposed in the recess. The recess can be disposed inboard of an inner surface of the front wheels and rearward of the rearmost surface of the front wheels. The actuator is sized and positioned to lie generally below an upper plane defined through either a front fender assembly, a carrying rack mounted to the front assembly, or both.