Abstract: A ground support vehicle has a rear drive track. Cleats extending transversely of the outer surface of the track are outwardly curved to facilitate leaning of the vehicle and its rider as the vehicle travels around a curve. In a preferred embodiment the vehicle includes a ski mounted on front forks so that the vehicle can be used for recreational purposes in snow or directly on unpaved ground and tracks. A wheel can be fitted in place of the ski if desired.

Abstract: A monocoque bicycle frame having a body defined by right and left side panels, top and bottom panels, and a bifurcated rearward portion defined by such panels and also by a rear wheel well insert. The body panels and insert completely enclose a continuous internal space which is compression loaded or tensile prestressed with a rigid foam plastic for increased torsional rigidity and resistance to impact distortion. The pedal sprocket and chain are both external of the hollow frame so as to not interrupt the continuity of the body cavity and its compression loading, and also enabling the body to have minimal weight and an optimum aerodynamic configuration. The frame is diamond-shaped in side profile enabling the monocoque to be constructed as a pair of triangles connected back-to-back for optimum strength, both torsionally and against vertical loading.

Abstract: A vehicle such as an agricultural tractor comprises drivable ground wheels, each front wheel steerable about its king pin's axis. A drive shaft assembly in each king pin comprises two parts axially relatively displaceable so that loads supported by the wheel are transmitted not through the drive shaft assembly but through its housing. The housing is supported on a thrust bearing for steering movement. The thrust bearing has a greater diameter than bearings which support the shaft assembly and comprises a disc surrounded, above and below, by two flat rings, one of which is a two-part ring. In one embodiment, bevel gears under the wheel shaft turn the wheel shaft and the king pin is inclined to the underlying surface and largely contained within the wheel's rim. In the other embodiment the king pin is substantially vertical and received between a pair of wheels, an axle for such wheel pair driven by meshed bevel gears, one on the axle and the other above the axle.

Abstract: This invention relates to a collapsible vehicle particularly of the two-wheeled type, which comprises a main frame supporting at least one rear wheel and a steering column pivotally connected to the cited frame ans supporting at least one front wheel. The peculiarity of the invention is that it comprises a saddle holder which encloses said frame laterally and is connected to the frame. The holder can be tilted toward the cited frame to bring the saddle forward of the frame. The upper section of the column is connected to the column to permit tilting toward said frame and handle bar sections are connected to the upper column section for tilting against the upper column section.

Abstract: A steering and suspension mechanism for a wheeled vehicle incorporating bump steer control. The mechanism comprises a pair of spaced apart universal joints one of which is fixedly located and the other positionably supporting the wheel axle. A spacer member positions the universal joints at a selected spaced relationship. A rotatable steering shaft is connected to one side of the fixed in position universal joint. The center of the opposite side of the fixed in position universal joint is pivotally connected to one end of the spacer. The other end of the spacer is connected to the center of one side of the wheel axle supporting universal joint. The opposite side of the wheel supporting universal joint is connected to the wheel supporting axle. In one embodiment a tie rod is pivotally connected off center and adjacent to the spacer member on each universal joint through a ball connection. An attachment between the wheel axle and frame provides additional support thereto.

Abstract: A water-cooled internal combustion engine powering the vehicle is mounted in an engine compartment comprising a sound-insulating capsule. Independent of and additionally to any possible blower ventilation of the capsule at least one separate inlet opening into the capsule is connected to an intake opening situated in an area which is exposed to dynamic pressure when the vehicle is in motion. The front cross-member may be provided with an intake opening open in the direction of motion as well as with a sound-absorbing lining, and the inflowing cooling air may be fed into the capsule via the adjacent longitudinal beams of the vehicle frame.

Abstract: A dual bevel gear differential transaxle assembly for a front transverse engine vehicle with front and rear pairs of road wheels providing a part time on-demand four-wheel drive system. Interaxle and front wheel bevel gear differentials are aligned on a transverse axis. The differentials are connected by a side gear shaft and inner and outer side gear sleeves concentric about the side gear shaft. The interaxle differential achieves front axle to rear axle differentiation while the front wheel differential provides differentiation for the front pair of road wheels. The dual differential transaxle assembly includes viscous fluid clutch means providing an automatic limited slip condition of the interaxle differential when there is a predetermined difference in speed or rpm between the front and rear pair of road wheels.

Abstract: A three-wheeled vehicle steering and suspension system includes two support assemblies for two opposed front steerable wheels, the support assemblies each having a tubular housing welded to the vehicle frame, a cylindrical tube rotatably supported within the housing and a cylindrical rod slidably supported within the rotatable tube. Each rotatable tube is affixed at its outer end to the upright support assembly for one of the vehicle wheels and at its inner end to a shock-absorbing member for biasing the wheels into road contact and permitting independent movements thereof to adapt to road undulations. Each sliding rod is affixed at its outer end to the vertical turning shaft of the upright support assembly of one of the wheels and at its inner end to a reciprocal steering linkage for actuating synchronous turning movements of the wheels.

Abstract: A wheelchair system comprises a substantially rigid seat adapted to be mounted on at least two alternative types of carriages having different drive arrangements each comprising a pair of molded plastic side frames which are interconnected by a bracing mechanism to permit the side frames to be folded together for collapsing the chair or spread apart for erecting the chair. A connecting system including locators which allow the seat to be placed on an approximately fully spread carriage and then to locate the side frames at the correct spacing from one another in order to ensure complete spreading of the carriage, and additionally retainers which allow the seat to be moved into a position in which it cannot be lifted from the thus spread carriage, the retainers allow positive engagement of the seat with the chair with the ability to spread the carriage solely by downward pressure on the seat, thereby enabling a disabled user of the wheelchair to be able to place the seat on the carriage ready for use.

Abstract: A trailer caravan allows a motor home owner to tow a small automobile and boat in tandem relationship without exceeding overall length limitations. The tongue of a boat trailer is secured to the automobile trailer ahead of it by a pivot pin and a coacting tongue tie-down bar carrying two tongue radius adjusting bolts in opposing relationship to the opposite sides of the boat trailer tongue. Two tension springs are connected between the opposite sides of the boat trailer tongue and automobile trailer to assure proper tracking of the boat trailer while enabling the caravan to negotiate curves with safety.

Abstract: A power steering system which includes an engine-driven pump, a fluid motor for supplementing manual steering torque, a fluid control valve for distributing fluid to the fluid motor, and a reaction device for applying hydraulic reaction or feeling to a steering wheel. A first flow control valve is utilized to deliver first fluid flow to a fluid control valve from the pump and to lead excess flow to a bypass passage. A second flow control valve is connected between the bypass passage and the reaction device to deliver second fluid flow to the reaction device and to lead excess flow to a reservoir. A magnetic pressure control valve is connected to the reaction device to control fluid pressure applied thereto in accordance with a predetermined vehicle operating condition, such as vehicle speed.

Abstract: The ski comprises a basic self-supporting ski structure, the front and rear portions whereof are provided with mounts made rigid therewith and retaining at least a replaceable small thickness rectangular batten or insert mechanically affecting the flexure and torsional characteristics of the ski in such a way as to cause the ski stiffness to be varied.

Abstract: A portable bicycle stand for supporting a bicycle in an upright position is designed to permit its removal from the bicycle when not in use. The bicycle stand includes an elongated support leg having at a first end a cooperating finger and thumb adapted to detachably mount the support leg to the bicycle frame in a first support position wherein a second opposite end of the support leg engages the ground to support the bicycle in a generally upright orientation. Intermediate its first and second ends, the support leg further has a pair of aligned arms which, in cooperation with the support leg itself, are adapted to detachably mount the support leg on the bicycle frame in a second storage position.

Abstract: A bicycle has an auxiliary engine, a wheel, and a clutch mechanism disposed between the auxiliary engine and the wheel for enabling and disabling power transmission between the auxiliary engine and the wheel to select one of a pedal-propelled drive mode and an engine-propelled drive mode of the bicycle. The bicycle includes a clutch lever for connecting and disconnecting the clutch mechanism, a throttle lever for controlling a throttle valve of the engine, a switching mechanism for connecting the clutch mechanism in coaction with the throttle lever when the clutch mechanism is disconnected, and an engine starting circuit closable and openable in response to connection and disconnection of the clutch mechanism. The clutch mechanism can be connected in response to operation of the throttle lever, the engine can be started when the clutch mechanism is connected, and the engine can be rendered inoperative in response to operation of the clutch lever.

Abstract: Bar steps of a small-sized vehicle provided in association with underframes of a small-sized vehicle of the type that a rider rides the vehicle by straddling a vehicle body frame and a seat (motorcycle, motor tricycle), characterized in that each of the bar steps is formed of a step main body and a cover member covering the step main body, the step main body is supported from the underframe, the cover member includes an elastic piece as a part thereof and as swingably supported directly or indirectly from a support member provided in association with the underframe or from the step main body, and the cover member can take an attitude for covering the step main body and an erected attitude deviated toward the vehicle body frame owing to its swing motion.

Abstract: A trailing unit is pivotally supported by a tractor or leading unit at the front and a sub-chassis at the rear. Pivoting of the sub-chassis is controlled in accordance with turning of the leading unit so that the angle between sub-chassis and trailing unit is equal and opposite to the angle between leading unit and trailing unit. Power is communicated between leading unit and sub-chassis by a front shaft on the leading unit, a rear shaft on the sub-chassis, and an intermediate shaft connected to them by universal joints at positions equidistant from the pivot axes of the leading unit and sub-chassis.

Abstract: A dual bevel gear differential transaxle assembly for a front transverse engine vehicle with front and rear pairs of road wheels providing a constant four wheel drive system. A first interaxle bevel gear differential and a second front wheel bevel gear differential are aligned on a transverse axis. The differentials are connected by a side gear shaft and inner and outer side gear sleeves concentric about the side gear shaft. The first differential achieves front axle to rear axle differentiation while the second differential provides differentiation for the front pair of road wheels. The dual differential transaxle assembly includes clutch means providing selective lock-out of the first differential. With the clutch means disengaged the first differential is in its unlocked mode whereby the transaxle assembly provides differentiation between the front and rear axles.

Abstract: A lightweight rear-wheel suspension for a bicycle which includes a triangulated main frame, a rear wheel support frame such as a rear fork rotatably supporting a rear wheel and mounted to the main frame so that it pivots about the foot crank rotational axis, providing upward and downward movement relative to the main frame, a spring-loaded hydraulic shock absorber for damping the relative movement of the rear wheel, said shock absorber having its outer housing incorporated as a rigid structural element of said triangulated main frame, its sliding piston assembly connected to said rear wheel support frame via a linkage system which converts the arcuate motion of said rear wheel support frame into linear motion in line with the linear motion of said sliding piston assembly, and incorporating a rider-controlled valve for hydraulically locking and unlocking said shock absorber, allowing the rear suspension to function both in a suspended mode and a rigid mode.

Abstract: A foldable and convertible creeper device is disclosed having two portions hinged together such that one portion may be folded over onto the other portion. In its folded position, the creeper device is compact and easy to transport. In its extended condition, in which the two portions are adjacent each other, the device provides support for a person in a generally horizontal position. Casters attached to the undersides of the portions allow the device to be readily moved by the user. A foldable seat may be attached to the underside of one of the portions, the seat being movable between folded and extended positions to enable the device to be used as a movable stool. When the device is used as a creeper, the seat is folded beneath one of the portions. When the device is to be utilized as a movable stool, the portions are folded over such that the seat is on the upper surface and then it may be placed in its extended position to support the user.

Abstract: A laterally yieldable or "bendable" hitch pole is provided for the steering mechanism of a trailing vehicle to minimize or prevent breakage of the hitch pole during sharp turns negotiated by the draft vehicle, especially during backing of the trailer. The invention is especially applicable to trailers having steering mechanisms of the Ackerman type. The hitch pole is typically swingable between right and left stops and breakage or other damage occurs when the pole encounters one or the other of the stops and turning forces are still applied. The invention provides a two-piece hitch pole having its end-to-end parts connected in such manner as to enable "bending" of the hitch pole in those situations with subsequent recovery of the pole to its normal attitude.