Abstract: A mounting mechanism for an inflatable restraint system includes a spring housing having a spring cavity and a plurality of first apertures extending therethrough. The spring housing is adapted to be disposed adjacent and connected to a support structure and aligned with a plurality of second apertures extending through the support structure. The mounting mechanism also includes a spring disposed in the spring cavity and extending across the first apertures and adapted to retain a plurality of mounting members of an inflatable restraint module extending through the first apertures and the second apertures to the support structure. The spring includes at least one torsion coil to reduce a bending moment of the spring when deflected by the mounting members of the inflatable restraint module.

Abstract: An engine compartment (10) of an automotive vehicle houses an internal combustion engine (12) having an air intake system (14). The engine compartment also contains a electrical system storage battery (24). A tray (28) has a bottom wall (32) and upright walls (38, 40) forming side-by-side compartments (34, 36) that are open at the top. Fasteners (58) fastening the tray bottom wall at a first (34) of the compartments in a hard mounting to underlying structure of the vehicle that is spaced from the engine. The battery is disposed on the bottom wall in the first compartment. A cap (46) closes the open top of a second (36) of the compartments that adjoins the first compartment and cooperates with the second compartment to form an air box (16). The hard mounting of the battery compartment to the underlying vehicle structure and the cantilevering of the air box to one side attenuates transmission of objectionable air intake noise and vibration frequencies through the vehicle structure.

Abstract: The invention provides a new automotive tractor unit for use with a new semi-trailer unit to form a rigidly-coupled tractor/semi-trailer combination. The tractor has a long wheel base and has its fifth wheel assembly mounted for extended longitudinal movement between a receiving position at its rear end and a mounting position close to the driver's cab. The tractor and semi-trailer chassis frames cooperate with one another to permit pitching between them while preventing yaw between them. The semi-trailer has a retractable landing gear movable beneath the chassis between a forward position close to the king pin to support the semi-trailer front end in the absence of the tractor, and a rear position close to the running wheels so that the semi-trailer can rest on the tractor and be rigidly coupled thereto. Preferably the tractor wheel base is of length from 6.8 meters (22 feet) to 8.5 meters (28 feet), while the fifth wheel assembly is mounted for a longitudinal movement of from 4.8 meters (16 feet) to 6.

Abstract: Three independent functions are controlled from a single control lever. The lever is mounted on a universal joint having a slip yoke, a flanged yoke and a cross member extending between the two yokes and defining a first transverse pivot axis and a second transverse pivot axis. The slip yoke is provided with first and second ball joints located in the same plane as the cross member. The first function is controlled by the fore-and-aft movement of the control lever pivoting the slip yoke about the first transverse pivot axis moving the first ball joint up and down. The first ball joint is coupled to a first link that moves the first hydraulic control valve. The second function is controlled by the side-to-side movement of the control lever. Such a side-to-side movement pivots the slip yoke about the second transverse pivot axis moving the second ball joint and second link positioning the second hydraulic control valve. The third function is controlled by the twisting movement of the control lever.

Abstract: A mobile carrier for an augmentative communication device or laptop computer contains a supporting tray enabling a user to slidably adjust the height of the tray for optimum usage. The mobile carrier is easily pushed or pulled to accommodate a user's needs by the use of four wheels, the front two of which are smaller and pivot, and the rear two of which are larger for ease in movement over obstacles. The handle of the mobile carrier is adjustable, and preferably T-shaped, to enable a person to rest on the same when needed, or to pull or push the carrier from either side, when needed. After removal of a pin, the carrier is easily folded into a compressed position, and various elements thereof may be easily removed for ease in storage or transportation thereof.

Abstract: A mower having a cruise control system is provided. The mower includes a frame, a plurality of wheels including at least a first drive wheel operatively supported by the frame, an engine operatively mounted to the frame, a mower deck operatively connected to the frame, and a drive system for use in transferring power from the engine to the at least first drive wheel. The drive system includes an accelerator pedal fixedly connected to an accelerator rod. The cruise control system mechanically locks the accelerator pedal and accelerator rod in place. This permits the operator to release all pressure from the accelerator pedal (resting the foot of the operator) while maintaining the accelerator pedal in any predetermined position.

Abstract: A skateboard stirrup is comprised of a pair of hollow end caps for cupping over the front and rear ends of a skateboard, and a resilient band connected between the end caps. When the rider's feet are on top of the band, it is yielding enough to allow the feet to make full contact with the top of the board. When the rider's feet are inserted under the band, it is taut enough to lift the skateboard for airborne maneuvers when the feet are lifted.

Abstract: In a passenger airbag, a loose portion is provided on a windshield side when an airbag is accommodated into an airbag case. In addition, a tip portion of the airbag is folded or rolled up on the counter-windshield side. As a result, a gas first flows into the loose portion during the deployment of the airbag. Therefore, the airbag starts to deploy from a part on the windshield side, and a portion of the airbag, which has already been inflated with its folded portion being unfolded, comes to contact with the windshield, thereby reducing the pressure applied onto the windshield. The airbag can provide suitable deployment to securely restrain an occupant, and is improved in smooth deployment. The air bag prevents undesirable pressure on the windshield without increasing the cost.

Abstract: A hitch pin retainer assembly that prevents unintended displacement of a shear pin from a trailer hitch includes a hitch plate assembly having a base plate formed with an aperture adapted to receive the shear pin assembly and having a retainer ledge. The hitch plate assembly also includes a latch plate that carries a latch assembly that incorporates a receptacle projecting from the latch plate that captures a spring biased, slidable latch pin that is sized to extend, when in an extended position, above the shear pin. The latch pin is also formed with a handle at one end. The hitch pin retainer assembly can be either bolted or welded to an existing trailer hitch and also includes a tether that can be attached to the shear pin to prevent accidental loss.

Abstract: A trailer hitch includes a cylindrical receiver perpendicularly mounted on a horizontal laterally extending tube attached to a vehicle. The receiver carries a slider movable between a first, retracted position substantially entirely disposed beneath the vehicle bumper and a second, extended position wherein the slider projects rearwardly of the vehicle bumper and carries a hitch ball for attachment to a towed object. A cam slot and cam follower are cooperatingly formed on the slider and the receiver, with the cam slot having angularly disposed ends for rotation of the slider between first and second angularly disposed position simultaneous with translation of the slider between first and second retracted and extended positions. A decorative cover overlays the exposed portions of the horizontal tube and the slider when the slider is in the retracted position.

Abstract: A watercraft trailer support skid protection assembly includes a protective sleeve sized and shaped to fit the contoured free end of an existing watercraft support skid. The assembly includes a securing device to hold the sleeve in place on the proximal end of the support skid. The protective sleeve has a low coefficient of friction and cooperates with the main support portion of the support skid. The assembly ensures that a watercraft will be securely held in place during transit, while promoting ease of loading and unloading, when appropriate. In an alternate embodiment of the assembly, the protective sleeve is used as a capping member to protect the contact faces of support bunks associated with a watercraft lifting device.

Abstract: A battery box with a lid and a tray assembly for batteries for a hybrid electric vehicle. The lid and tray assembly are made of steel with an internal and external spray coating of an elastomer with high electrical resistance properties. Batteries are mounted in the tray assembly and enclosed by the lid. The elastomer coating on the tray assembly and the lid provides a non-electrically conductive interior and exterior surface for increased service safety. The steel base material of the tray assembly and the lid provides shielding from electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference associated with the high voltages required to operate electric motors in hybrid electric vehicles. Additionally, the tray assembly has vents designed to optimize cooling of the batteries.

Abstract: A loader includes a vehicle body with a canopy and a seat, a hydraulically operated working implement and a hydraulic control valve unit for controlling flow of working fluid to and from the working implement. Mounted to the canopy of the vehicle body is a seat bar for swinging movement between a lowered position in which an operator is secured to the seat and a raised position in which the operator is released from the seat. A pedal with a dog plate is operatively associated with the control valve unit and tiltable about a horizontal axis between an operative position wherein the control valve unit allows the fluid to be fed to the working implement and a neutral position wherein the control valve unit inhibits delivery of the fluid to the working implement.

Abstract: A hitch guide for use in guiding a gooseneck trailer hitch into alignment with a hitch ball mounted in the bed of a truck with the gooseneck trailer hitch including a substantially vertically disposed post having a substantially horizontally disposed plate secured to the lower end thereof which has an opening formed therein for receiving the hitch ball. The hitch guide is pivotally secured to the support plate at the lower end of the post and is funnel-shaped to assist in aligning the trailer hitch with the hitch ball.

Abstract: A structural riser system and organization for use in, and adjacent the front of, a motorcycle, to translate a steering force, which is applied to a handlebar structure, directly to the two fork legs in a front fork assembly in the motorcycle. Elongated risers in the system are anchored to the top of a triple-tree structure, and extend therefrom generally upwardly in axial alignment with the fork legs (on a one-to-one basis) to receive a motorcycle handlebar. The invented organization also provides an equipment mounting region sized to receive selected equipment. The equipment mounting region is bounded laterally by the risers, and vertically by the handlebar and triple-tree structure.

Abstract: An air belt device which, after an air belt is deployed in a collision, can gradually discharge gas outside, thereby reducing the impact applied to the body of the occupant which is pushed against the air belt. Once an inflator 58 is actuated in the state that a tongue 14 is engaged with a buckle 16, seal members 61, 41 are opened by gas pressure so that gas is supplied through a first gas path 51 of the buckle 16 and a first guide path 21 of the tongue 14 to an air belt 2B so as to inflate the air belt 2B. After that, the gas pressure is applied to seal members 42, 62 so as to open the seal member 42, 62 so that the gas in the air belt 2B is discharged through a second gas path 52.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes an initiator (14) having a casing (42) containing a charge of pyrotechnic material (44). An end wall (58) of the casing (42) has score lines (72) delineating petal shaped sections (74) of the end wall (58). The petal shaped sections (74) of the end wall (58) are configured to diverge by deflecting pivotally upon rupturing of the end wall (58) along the score lines (72) under the influence of the pyrotechnic material (44). The apparatus (10) further includes a petal retainer structure (50) having a retainer surface (80). The retainer surface (80) is configured to receive the petal shaped sections (74) of the end wall (58) so as to limit pivotal deflection of the petal shaped sections (74) to amounts less than 90 degrees. The petal retainer structure (50) is thus configured to inhibit fragmentation of the end wall (58) that might otherwise occur upon greater pivotal deflection of the petal shaped sections (74).

Abstract: In an occupant protecting device including an expandable bag housed within a belt for holding back an occupant upon collision of a vehicle, an outlet opening 331 in a buckle-side duct 28 and an inlet opening 183 in a tongue-side duct 18 are opposed to each other through a gap &agr;, and a seal member 35 made of a rubber and integrally provided with an outer lip portion 352 and an inner breakable portion 353 is mounted to the outlet opening 331. When a gas generated by an inflater upon collision of the vehicle is supplied to the buckle-side duct, the breakable portion 353 of the seal member 35 is broken to bring the lip portion 352 into close contact with the inlet opening 183, so that the gas is supplied from the buckle-side duct 28 through the tongue-side duct 18 to a shoulder belt, thereby expanding a bag housed in the shoulder belt. Thus, it is possible to easily and reliably perform the sealing of a gas passage in a connection between a buckle 31 and a tongue 19.

Abstract: A turn wheel locking device for use with shopping carts having at least one turn wheel. The locking device functions to automatically disable the cart when it is removed from a prescribed area by locking the turn wheel in a turned configuration so that the cart can travel only along a generally circular path.

Abstract: A hitch assembly for use with a vehicle, where the hitch assembly incorporates a tow loop adapted to be easily coupled to a claw, hook or other like implement of a towing chain or alternatively to a towing strap or rope. The hitch assembly comprises a receiver and a hitch member. The hitch member includes a base portion which slides into the receiver such that only a tow loop of the hitch member is exposed. When not needed, the hitch member can be easily removed from the receiver and a different hitch implement attached to the receiver.