Abstract: Each wheel of an inline roller skate incorporates multiple tires, with a center tire allowing straight-ahead skating and the two side tires allowing maneuvering forces. Leaning the skate such that none of the tires makes good contact with the skating surface causes the skater to skid sideways. By increasing the roll angle, the skater engages more sideways friction of the side tires, and comes to a controlled stop. By modulating the roll angle, a skilled skater can control the rate of deceleration. An added nose wheel allows the skater to tilt toward the toe, like an ice skater, to reduce straight line contact with the skating surface, and enable curvilinear skating.

Abstract: A steering apparatus for an automotive vehicle having a steering mechanism arranged to steer a set of dirigible road wheels in accordance with a steering effort applied to a steering wheel, wherein the steering mechanism is designed to preliminarily bias the road wheels leftward or rightward in a condition where the steering wheel is placed in a neutral position for straight travel of the vehicle.

Abstract: A personal traction transportation vehicle which includes two pulley-motor-wheels which drive a connected chassis forward. The chassis is stabilized by a connection to a drag pole which is controlled by the operator. The vehicle is electrically driven by a removable battery pack. At least one drag pole of the two simulated ski poles is attached to the chassis through joints in a manner allowing the handles of the ski poles to be free to move in the plane normal to the direction of forward movement. The other drag pole can be connected through a universal joint. The vehicle is steered by differentially pulling on the drag poles. The user is not restricted in the typical operating range of vertical movement the stabilizing pole, since the chassis is able to rotate within broad constraints about the axis of the drive wheels.

Abstract: A vehicle towing arrangement for towing a vehicle with one end of the towed vehicle being secured to the towing vehicle or extension thereof and the other end of the towed vehicle supported by an independent support component which component has at least one wheel. The support component can be secured to the towed vehicle.

Abstract: An extension coupling releasably interconnects a trailer to a tow hitch on a tractor vehicle. The coupling includes a mount that is secured to the trailer. An elongated arm has a proximal end portion secured to the mount. A connector pin is disposed on a distal end portion of the arm in order to mate with the tow hitch, A retainer assembly is secured to the arm and engages the tow hitch when the trailer is interconnected to the tractor vehicle so as to resist rotation of the arm relative to the tow hitch. The mount includes a flat base plate and a pair of upwardly projecting side plates disposed on the base plate. This mount then engages the hitch connecting station on the trailer. The invention includes a trailer provided with the coupling where the trailer has a housing, a wheel set and the hitch connecting station.

Abstract: The present invention is an automated crawling robot system including a platform, a first leg assembly, a second leg assembly, first and second rails attached to the platform, and an onboard electronic computer controller. The first leg assembly has an intermittent coupling device and the second leg assembly has an intermittent coupling device for intermittently coupling the respective first and second leg assemblies to a particular object. The first and second leg assemblies are slidably coupled to the rail assembly and are slidably driven by motors to thereby allow linear movement. In addition, the first leg assembly is rotary driven by a rotary motor to thereby provide rotary motion relative to the platform. To effectuate motion, the intermittent coupling devices of the first and second leg assemblies alternately couple the respective first and second leg assemblies to an object.

Abstract: A wheelchair having a chassis formed of flat plate which is folded to define a lower chassis, a chassis back, and an upper chassis. The lower and the upper chassis each have a pair of elongated substantially parallel arms that extend from respective land portions of the chassis. The arms define openings in distal portions for receiving caster wheels. Drive wheels connect to axle mounts that are selectively positioned for track, camber, and height, which axle mounts connect to the chassis back. A seat support attaches to the chassis for supporting a person in the wheelchair and includes independently adjustable height, longitudinal position relative a seat back, and angle. A pair of push handles attach to the chassis back and pivotally connect to the seat support for selective positioning of the angle of the back.

Abstract: A transfer system for a four-wheel drive vehicle comprising: a transfer case for transferring driving modes; a transfer-operating part for activating and controlling said transfer; a button shifting assembly for selecting driving mode; a speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed; a neutral switch which switches on when a transmission mode is neutral; and an electronic control unit which controls the transfer-operating part regarding the vehicle speed, the transmission mode sensor and the button shifting assembly.

Abstract: A shock absorptive support structure in a coupler, improved in both economical efficiency and in practical usefulness, so that a shock due to relative displacement between a top plate and support brackets occurring in a vertical direction as well as in a back and forth direction can be effectively absorbed by the structure, driving comfort can be assured, wear of elastic members can be minimized, and a high measure of driving safety can be maintained for a long period of time with the structure of simplified construction enabling the manufacturing cost to be reduced. Shock absorbing members each include an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder and an elastic member disposed between these two cylinders and through which respective axle pins extend rotatably, and are tightly inserted into bearing holes of respective support brackets.

Abstract: This invention relates to a stand-on sulky device to be attached to the rear of a self-propelled power mower or other self-propelled vehicle. The sulky includes first, second, and third pivots to provide improved maneuverability of the two-wheeled sulky platform during operation. The first and third pivots are arranged substantially parallel to the ground during sulky operation and are vertically spaced from one another thereby resulting in improved sulky performance. According to certain embodiments, the sulky includes a design allowing for a more compact storage position wherein the platform is hung from the mower handle bars with the upper or foot receiving surface of the platform facing away from the mower and the first arm being received in an optional recess defined in the bottom of the mower so as to restrict swinging movement of the platform while in storage.

Abstract: A bicycle is disclosed with a rhombus-like (preferably 60.degree.-120 .degree.), with circularly curved apexes, drive sprocket gear and a circular driven sprocket on the ear driven wheel. This gear arrangement varies the overall power input from the drive sprocket to the driven gear. The shape of the drive sprocket and the location of the drive pedal changes the gear ratio so that a low gear ratio is utilized during the horizontal portion of movement of the cyclist's legs and a high gear ratio is utilized during the vertical movement of the legs. The gear ratio with the rhomboidal gear is relatively constant during horizontal movement and abruptly changes at the approach to and during vertical movement of the cyclist's legs. While the rhombus-like, with circularly curved apexes, gear is shown primarily for bicycles it may be used in other systems for converting reciprocal to rotary movement with a change in gear ratio.

Abstract: A ball hitch apparatus comprises a ball portion having a ball connected to a shaft, an aperture longitudinally defined therethrough and a slot communicating with the aperture. A rod is disposed in the aperture and biased toward the ball and a pin is attached to the rod and movable within the slot. A socket portion has a central bore for receiving the shaft and a keyway communicating with the central bore for receiving the pin. The ball portion and socket portion are releasably secured in both a first locking position characterized by the rod extending beyond the ball and a second locking position characterized by the rod positioned substantially flush with the top of the ball.

Abstract: An improved unicycle is disclosed. The unicycle has a forked stem with a pair of tines. A wheel is rotatable mounted on the tines and a seat is connected to the stem. The stem has a first rod extending rearwardly from the stem and a second rod at the end of the first rod opposite the stem. The second rod extends in a direction transverse to the wheel direction of travel and generally parallel to the axle of the unicycle. The second rod has handle at each of the first and second ends.

Abstract: A three wheeled stroller which is adapted for use in transporting an infant. The stroller includes a collapsible frame structure and a seat which is adapted to be secured thereto. This frame structure is both laterally collapsible and foldable to facilitate the storage and transportation of the stroller. Both the collapsing and the folding can be initiated by way of an upper lock assembly positioned adjacent the handles of the frame.

Abstract: A kind of improved bicycle shock absorption structure, specifically referring to a kind of improved bicycle shock absorption structure featuring a unitary configuration of the bicycle crankset with rider's saddle of the seat cluster that, furthermore, provides direct elastic characteristics upward and downward during operation. Utilizing the force of human physical weight and pedaling power, whenever the wheels are subjected to impact, the unified structure automatically responds by absorbing the shock by elastically rising and falling, the obvious shock absorption effects of which are not only immediately apparent to the rider while seated or standing, but the bicycle does not lose speed, the bicycle frame does not flex and forceful brake application does not adversely affect the effective performance of the shock absorption structure.

Abstract: A wheel chair has a rear swing axle pivotally connected to the seat frame and a spring shock absorber controls the relative movement therebetween. A front suspension is connected to the seat frame separately from the rear suspension and includes a floating beam carrying the front castor wheels and pivotally connected to the seat frame by four link control arms. Three shock absorbers acting between the front of the seat frame and the floating beam allow controlled vertical movement of the floating beam. A second embodiment has the rear wheels each connected by a separate swing arm pivotallty connected to the seat frame at their front end and each swing also connected to the rear of the seat frame by a pair of control arms and a shock absorber.

Abstract: A springer fork assembly is provided for use on a motorcycle having handlebars. The springer fork assembly includes a springer fork and a gauge mount. The springer fork includes a non-moving portion that does not move relative to the handlebars and a moving portion that moves relative to the handlebars. The gauge mount is coupled to the moving portion of the springer fork for movement relative to the handlebars.

Abstract: A snowmobile hitch has a U-shaped mounting bracket for mounting to the tunnel and grab bar of a snowmobile using existing bolt holes in the grab bar. The mounting bracket aerodynamically and aesthetically fits the snowmobile and does not protrude from the snowmobile except when a hitch is attached. A ball mount hitch is slidably received within a ball mount receiver of the mounting bracket, and may be readily attached and removed therefrom.

Abstract: An auxiliary wheel conversion assembly for a motorcycle comprises a quick connect and disconnect structure, including a generally U-shaped frame having side frame members on opposite sides of a receiving pocket to receive the rear drive wheel of the motorcycle when connected thereto, a cross-bar across the rear between the two side frame members, an auxiliary wheel mounted along and to the outside of each side frame member, such wheels being of the same size as the rear drive wheel and substantially in axial alignment therewith when the conversion assembly is connected to the motorcycle.

Abstract: The invention changes over to another steering ratio automatically and very safely on the transition from servo to emergency operation. In the steering system, only a few of the lines (13) link the metering pump (10) to one of the cylinder connections (7, 8) and in each of the other lines (13') there is a changeover unit (16) which also links the lines (13) to the cylinder connections (7, 8) or the delivery connection (6) depending on the method of operation. These steering systems are used in mobile systems, especially slow-moving vehicles.