Abstract: An air inlet is provided at the bottom of a vehicle to open downwardly. The air inlet is connected by a first tube to an air cooler for a PDU and a down converter. A fan for inputting the flow of air and turning its direction 90 degrees is connected at the downstream of the air cooler. The fan is further connected by a second tube to an exhaust outlet. The air inlet is located above a fuel tank thus to prevent any object jumping up from the road surface from straightforwardly entering the air inlet while the vehicle is running. The exhaust outlet is located above a silencer and can thus be prevented from being frozen in the winter. Using the above arrangement, the present invention embodies an air intaking and exhausting apparatus in an air cooling system for air cooling the PDU and the down converter at higher efficiency without the help of the air cooler mounted in the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A hand truck includes an automatic height adjusting load platform, or alternatively, a kit of components provides for adding an adjustable load platform to an existing hand truck. The load platform position is held in a raised position while under no load conditions. A user places an article including a package on the raised platform, which is configured to rest at approximately waist level. In response to the weight of the article, the platform lowers, but the downward motion of the platform is inhibited by a platform arrestor. Preferably, the platform arrestor is configured such that the distance the platform will drop due to the weight of the load is proportional to the height of the article placed upon the platform. Thus the top of the article first placed upon the load platform is now substantially at waist level. This process can continue until the platform is lowered to the bottom of the shaft that the platform is slidably mounted to.

Abstract: A retractable step which is adequately functional, and which virtually automatically shifts between its in-use and storage position. A side runner assembly having a dropping step for a vehicle includes: an elongate member having a front and rear portion, each of the front and rear portions rigidly attached to the frame by a lateral member; and, a dropping central step portion carried by a lateral member, one side portion of the lateral member rigidly attached to the central portion, and the other opposite side portion movably attached to the frame. A spring upwardly biases the central portion; and the central portion is restrained in horizontal alignment with the front and rear portion of the side rail assembly. The central step portion is normally maintained in alignment with the front and rear portions of the assembly and drops to an operative position when and only downward force is applied thereon.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes a power drive unit which is quickly stopped without increasing the load on a motor control apparatus should a short develop inside the power drive unit. The power drive unit contains a self-protection circuit, which shuts off the control signals to the switching elements for a given interval, when the temperature of the switching elements reaches a certain temperature value or when the current flowing in the power drive unit reaches a certain current value. The self-protection circuit outputs a shorting signal to indicate the state of the self-protection caused by the shut off. The motor control apparatus detects shorting signals from the self-protection circuit, and responds by stopping the output of control signals, when the self-protection state is reported, is greater than a predetermined number of times or the cumulative time in the self-protection state reaches a predetermined time.

Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a main battery mounted on a vehicle body and a sub-battery detachably connected to the vehicle body. The electric vehicle travels with the electric power of the main battery in the case where the traveling distance is not long. In the case where the traveling distance is long, a trailer with the sub-battery is coupled to the rear of the electric vehicle, so that both the electric powers of the two batteries are used to drive an electric motor to allow the electric vehicle to travel. At the time of driving of the motor, the electric power of the sub-battery is preferentially used. When the sub-battery becomes completely discharged, the trailer is disconnected from the electric vehicle. In this case, with the vehicle body weight reduced, the traveling of the electric vehicle with the electric power of the main battery can be continued, and therefore the total traveling distance is further increased.

Abstract: A convertible shoe that can be used for walking or for in-line skating having an extendable and retractable wheel mechanism. The convertible shoe has cavities in the sole of the shoe capable of storing and enclosing the retracted wheel mechanism. The wheel mechanism allows the wheels to be held perpendicular to the walking surface of the sole when the wheel mechanism is extended, and parallel to the walking surface of the sole when the wheel mechanism is retracted. With the wheel mechanism extended, the convertible shoe can be used for in-line skating. With the wheel mechanism retracted and stored in the sole, the convertible shoe can be used for walking.

Abstract: Folding structure for main handle of handle-controlled skate board, including a T-shaped fixing section integrally formed on upper side of front end of a body of the handle-controlled skate board. An upper side of front portion of a longitudinal section of the T-shaped fixing section is formed with a guiding inclination angle. A lower side of the guiding inclination angle is formed with an arch locating notch immediately adjacent to the guiding inclination angle. Two spring engaging bodies respectively laterally protrude from two sides of the middle of the longitudinal section of the T-shaped fixing section near the top face thereof. A rear section of the T-shaped fixing section is formed with a pivot hole near the center thereof. A supporting frame is welded on rear side of the stem. A lower side of front section of the supporting frame is formed with an arch escape recess. A middle portion of the escape recess is formed with a spring locating groove.

Abstract: In an electronic control for a hybrid vehicle which is driven either by an engine or an electric motor, or both, possible failures in an ignition system and a rotation sensor system are detected during a period in which the engine is rotated by the motor with no fuel supply. Only after no failure is found, the engine is started by supplying fuel and performing ignition. Thus, the fuel supplied to the engine is ignited without fail, and unburned gas release to the atmosphere is surely prevented. Also, good drivability is maintained. In case the invention is applied to a series hybrid vehicle which is driven solely by an electric motor powered by a battery which is charged by an electric generator driven by an engine, the ignition system is diagnosed when the engine is not rotating. After it is determined that there is no failure in the ignition system, the engine is started.

Abstract: A vehicle comprising a body having a front end and a rear end, front wheels carried by a front axle mounted to the body proximate the front end of the vehicle, rear wheels carried by a rear axle mounted to the body proximate the rear end of the vehicle, a cargo body mounted to the body for carrying a load, a framework having an inner end pivotally mounted to the rear end of the vehicle and having an outer end, wheels mounted for rotation to a trailing axle, the trailing axle mounted to the outer end of the framework for transverse pivotal movement relative the cargo body, the trailing axle movable between an extended orientation wherein the trailing axle is located generally outboard of the outer end of the framework and a retracted orientation wherein the trailing axle is located generally inboard of the outer end of the framework, and a pair of lifting arms for moving the framework relative the cargo body of the vehicle from an operative position wherein the trailing axle is positionable in the extended ori

Abstract: A power-assisted wheelchair (1) having an electric motor (32), a potentiometer (27) as means for detecting human power applied to wheels (2), and a controller (31) as means for controlling the electric motor (32) according to the detected human power so as to set the time-attenuation rate of the assist power to be greater as the human power is smaller, and to be smaller as the human power is greater. Therefore, the coasting amount of the wheelchair (1) for small indoor movements for example is restricted to a small value. As a result, small indoor movements with a small turning radius are made possible, a sufficient coasting amount is secured for an outdoor running. Therefore, along with the possibility of a comfortable running on a level road, a steep uphill running is made easy, and the physical effort of the rider is alleviated.

Abstract: Drive system, especially for a motor vehicle, with a drive assembly, especially an internal combustion engine (1), an electric machine (4) and an antislip control, in which the (one) electric machine (4) is designed such that it can produce a reduction of drive slip, in particular by braking action and/or—when the electric machine (4) is acting as a coupling—by clutch slip action.

Abstract: A convertible trailer and stroller having, a pair of frame blocks mount to a frame member of a jogging stroller, each proximate the two rear wheels of the jogging stroller. The frame blocks are each attached to a wheel block at a wheel pivot that interconnect the frame blocks to their respective wheel blocks. A pair of wheels having hub axle ends are received into a wheel bearing within each of the wheel blocks, and the wheel blocks are rotatable about the respective block pivots to selectably raise or lower each wheel relative to the block pivots. In the lowered wheel, or stroller configuration, a high ground clearance for all terrain operation is provided, while in the raised wheel or trailer configuration, a low and stable center of gravity is provided. The convertible trailer and stroller can also include an upper bar that attaches to the wheel blocks.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a snowboard boot and a binding interface including an interface feature that is adapted to releasably engage with a snowboard binding. The binding interface is movably mounted to the boot so that the boot can flex in a side-to-side direction through an angle relative to the binding interface to provide side-to-side flexibility. In one embodiment, the binding interface is mounted to the boot at a pair of laterally spaced attachment points with a pair of strapless fasteners. In another embodiment, the binding interface is mounted to at least one attachment point and a portion of the boot is flexible between the attachment point and a side. In other embodiments, at least a portion of the interface feature does not protrude below the bottom surface of the boot, and the interface feature does not protrude beyond the sides of the boot.

Abstract: An assembly (10) for use in a vehicle comprises a webbing guide (30) for guiding movement of seat belt webbing (14) in the vehicle and a fastener (70) for mounting the webbing guide (30) in position in the vehicle. The fastener (70) has a head portion (76). The assembly (10) further has a resilient cover member (80) that includes a cover portion (82) covering the head portion (76) of the fastener (70) and at least a portion (32) of the webbing guide (30). The resilient cover member (80) further includes a first rib portion (100) projecting from the cover portion (82) toward the head portion (76) of the fastener (70) and a second rib portion (110) projecting from the cover portion (82) toward the webbing guide (30). The first and second rib portions (100, 110) are resiliently crushable to absorb energy in response to an impact of a vehicle occupant's head against the cover portion (82).

Abstract: An adjustable flex ski for snowmobiles and similar vehicles. This is molded in one piece entirely of ultra high molecular weight plastic or similar materials. The adjustable flex ski is made up of a ski body, which forms the majority of the invention and provides the base to which the other components are attached. The front portion of this ski is given a pre-load function by bending the forward most portion of the ski body in an upward fashion. It is then held in this position by the use of the gas pre-load shock or dampener, which extends pivotally rearward from the tip of the ski to a ski saddle located on the upper center surface of the ski body. This saddle provides various attachment points for the gas pre-load shock and thus, can vary the amount of pre-load on the ski. The adjustability of the ski body can also be enhanced by the use of internally adjustable gas shocks commonly found on the market today. These shocks may be adjustable on the body of the shock or by a remote mechanism.

Abstract: A complete mattress moving system which includes a horizontal strap with two detachable, rotating and adjustable handles, a pair of vertical straps each with an expandable, detachable and position adjustable castered platform. The horizontal strap wraps around and is secured to the mattress lengthwise while the handles are positioned on opposite mattress end edges, the vertical straps extend from the horizontal strap on opposite sides of the mattress and wrap halfway around the mattress widthwise, while the castered platforms are positioned on the mattress side edges and slidably attached to each vertical strap. Quick-release buckles allow the horizontal and vertical straps to be adjusted to fit any size mattress, box springs or other similarly shaped object to be moved. The system allows a mattress to be moved by a single worker, helps prevent injuries, and provides a quick and easy device for handling and moving a mattress.