Abstract: A collapsible wheelchair and a lift assembly which is permanently mountable in a vehicle and operable for moving the wheelchair and an occupant thereof between the interior and the exterior of the vehicle. The wheelchair includes a chair member and a pair of enlarged rear wheels on the chair member which are operable for movably supporting the rear portion of the chair member on a supporting surface when the chair member is in the erected position thereof. The wheelchair is movable to a collapsed position wherein one of the rear wheels is positioned behind the back portion of the chair member in substantially parallel relation therewith and the other rear wheel is positioned beneath the seat portion of the chair member in substantially parallel relation therewith. When the wheelchair is in the collapsed position, it has a reduced overall profile to enable the wheelchair and an occupant thereof to be effectively moved between the interior and the exterior of a vehicle with the lift assembly.

Abstract: A foldable trailer having a frame and platform which are laterally divided into a front, rear and central section, the axle of the trailer being secured to the central section. The central section is pivotally connected respectively to the front and rear sections so that the front and rear sections can fold up into storage positions normal to that of its central section. The front and rear sections are releasably lockable with the central section so that they are in the same plane as that of the central section during operative use of the trailer. An improved hinge is provided to permit tight fitting of the confronting surfaces of the sections when the sections are in position for operative use and to permit and unobstructed pivoting of the front and rear sections with respect to the central section when they are being folded into storage position. The trailer according to the present invention provides a sturdy platform during operative use, yet permits it to be collapsed for storage or transportation.

Abstract: A protective device for a driving chain stretched across a front gear and a rear gear of at a bicycle, which forms a guard body inserted below a driving side path of the chain at the driving side of the chain travelling from the rear gear to the front gear and having a chain guide surface for guiding axially outwardly part of the chain on the driving side path with respect to a rear bicycle wheel, the guard body is mounted on the bicycle frame through a mounting member, so that, even when the chain vibrates due to a bounce of the bicycle while running, the chain is prevented from contacting the rear wheel to be carried along with the rotation of the rear wheel.

Abstract: Front suspension device comprising a lateral arm, for supporting and steering a front wheel of a motorcycle, wherein the lateral arm is connected at its upper end to a suspension and/or shock absorbing block with telescopic cylinder of which the external movable rod is articulated at its end on an axis orthogonal to the median longitudinal plane of the motorcycle, the arm comprising in the lower part a ball and socket articulation support of which the center of pivoting is located substantially in the alignment of steering axis and cooperates with a connection arm rotationally mounted on an axle of the chassis perpendicular to the median plane of the motorcycle.

Abstract: A rear suspension includes a suspension arm for supporting an axle carrier. The suspension arm has a first arm portion disposed laterally of a car body and having an inner end pivotably connected to the car body through a first bushing and an outer end pivotably connected to the axle carrier and a second arm portion disposed longitudinally of the car body and having a front end pivotably connected to the car body through a second bushing and a rear end connected to the first arm portion. The second arm portion is formed to be undeformable vertically, deformable laterally of the car body and deformable by a torsional force.

Abstract: An adjustable mount for anchoring a safety belt on a vertical surface of a motor vehicle has a vertically elongated guide rail fixed to the surface and having an front face turned away from the surface and a rear face turned toward the surface. This rail is formed with a longitudinally extending throughgoing slot and generally along the full length of the slot with a vertical row of stops at the rear face and having upwardly and downwardly directed stop edges. A slider displaceable along the rail has a rear portion engageable forward with the rear face of the rail and having abutments engageable between the stops with the edges thereof, a front portion engageable rearward with the front face of the rail, and an intermediate connecting portion extending between and unitarily interconnecting the front and rear portions. A guide fixed to the rear portion extends forward therefrom through the slot and is formed with a forwardly open threaded bore into which a bolt is threaded.

Abstract: A steering force control apparatus for a power steering apparatus of a vehicle of the type having a reaction chamber responsive to fluid pressure applied thereto for producing a reaction force to counteract the steering force produced by a power cylinder. A main tubular spool is disposed in a valve case movably relative to the valve case and has an inner valve surface. A sub-spool is disposed in the main spool movably relative to the main spool and has an outer valve surface cooperative with the inner valve surface to define a variable throttle for selectively connecting a fluid pump to the reaction chamber and to the power cylinder according to the movement of the sub-spool relative to the main spool in response to the vehicle speed. The main spool is moved relative to the valve case and the sub-spool in response to the fluid pressure applied to the reaction chamber when the fluid pressure is above a certain value to enable the variable throttle to disconnect the fluid pump from the reaction chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for limiting the angular movement between the tractor and trailer wherein a fluid operated cylinder is mounted within a rigid frame, having a mounting bar attached to a forward member of the tractor, for moving an abutment means between a position extending downwardly within the longitudinal slot of the fifth wheel to a position wherein the abutment means is removed from the slot. Means are carried within the frame having fixed relation thereto for providing lateral support within the position of the slot.

Abstract: A dolly is disclosed which permits an automobile to be easily moved about a repair shop. In one embodiment, the length of the dolly is approximately equal the width of an automobile and is adapted to receive either the wheels of the automobile or a jackstand for supporting the automobile with one or more wheels removed. In a second embodiment, the length of the dolly is less than the width of an automobile and accessory cradles are attached to the dolly to receive the automobiles' wheels.

Abstract: A four-wheel drive vehicle has a permanently driven axle. A planetary gear set and viscous clutch are located in the power train leading to the second axle. The annular gear of the planetary gear set is mounted rotatably and can be stopped by a brake band. When the brake band is tensioned, the four-wheel drive, which is running via the viscous clutch, is in the state of readiness, while it is ineffective when the brake band is released.

Abstract: A wheeled skate board is modified for skiing purposes by replacing the two sets of wheels with two pivotally attached skis.

Abstract: A safety device for maintaining in place a pin connecting the drawbar of a tractor to the tow bar or tongue of a towed piece of equipment. The safety device is mounted on the drawbar and is slideable along the drawbar. An arm extends outwardly from the device, and the device is moved so that the arm is over the top of the drawbar pin when the pin is in place thereby preventing it from becoming disengaged from the drawbar and tongue. A locking pin prevents the safety device from sliding along the drawbar so as to keep it in its pin retaining position.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for relieving friction during adjustment of a sliding tandem trailer's rear wheel assembly with respect to the trailer bed includes a plurality of bed lift devices mounted in the vicinity of the rear wheel assembly. Each of the devices are pivotally mounted to a sliding frame member of the rear wheel assembly for engagement with a respective fixed frame member of the trailer bed. By moving a roller, supported upon a pin which is rotatably mounted to a hydraulically-actuated piston contained within the device, into and out of engagement with the fixed frame member, the relative position of the rear wheel assembly may be suitably adjusted with a minimum of friction to a desired position which properly distributes, relative to the axles of the rear wheel assembly and the axles of the cab, the load upon the trailer bed.

Abstract: A motor-driven power steering system for front and rear road wheels which is capable of preventing uncontrolled steering resulting from abnormal movement of the rear road wheels in case of a failure in various sensors and/or an electric motor or breakage in the wiring, and enabling vehicle to continuously travel in a safe manner by means of front wheel steering alone after occurrence of such troubles.

Abstract: A suspension for motored and unmotored wheels of vehicles, having independent movements of bouncing/hoisting and rotation/steering, made up of a shaped bracket member coupled, at the rear, in a rigid way, with a vertical axle on which the vehicle structure runs, by means of the interposition of at least two bushes, and, at the top, in the front position, with the coupling axis being as close as possible to the reaction axis of the wheel with the ground, with the vehicle structure, such coupling being realized by means of an elastic and hoisting member and at least one damping member, said bracket member being also provided at a position intermediated between said axle and the wheel with a first ball joint and with a bearing as well as with a second ball joint and a second bearing, all arranged along an axis sloping at 3.degree.-10.degree.

Abstract: A two-wheel/four-wheel automatic change-over device in an automobile transfer apparatus is disclosed. In the transfer apparatus in which driving forces are transmitted directly from a transmission to front two wheels or rear two wheels and also transmitted through a wet-type multiple disc clutch to the other two wheels, the two-wheel/four-wheel change-over device has a change-over control unit for changing over from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive. This unit automatically effects an engagement and a release of a wet-type multiple disc clutch in response to a signal of high speed travelling, a signal of slope travelling, a signal of quick acceleration travelling, a slip signal obtained from a relation between a real car speed and rotation of the wheels and a signal of a selector switch. In such a constitution, the wet-type multiple disc clutch is usually hydraulic-controlled so that it is differentiable in time of the four-wheel travelling.

Abstract: A collapsible trolley adapted for transporting and launching dinghies and like-sized boats comprises a rear axle having endwise disposed wheels and a Y-frame comprising a forward spine and trailing frame members pivotted thereto and deployable between a stowing position alongside the spine and an operational position in which the ends of the frame members remote from their spine pivot ends are releasably attachable to the axle near the ends thereof.

Abstract: A fender apparatus for use with a saddle type vehicle having a vehicle body, an internal combustion engine mounted on the vehicle body, a driver's seat mounted on the vehicle body and a pair of rear wheels mounted on the vehicle body. The fender apparatus comprises a rear fender having a downwardly bent front wall located to the inside of the position of the rear wheel on each side of the vehicle body, such that air flows rearward past the engine and through the through openings to dissipate heat generated by the engine.

Abstract: A four-wheel steering system for an automotive vehicle includes a front wheel steering mechanism operable in response to a steering effort applied thereto to steer a pair of dirigible front road wheels, a rear wheel steering mechanism including an axially displaceable operation rod operatively connected at the opposite ends thereof with a pair of dirigible rear road wheels to steer the rear road wheels, and a connecting mechanism assembled in combination with the rear wheel steering mechanism and being drivingly connected to the front wheel steering mechanism for effecting axial displacement of the operation rod in response to operation of the front wheel steering mechanism and for controlling the steering angle ratio and direction of the rear road wheels relative to the front road wheels.

Abstract: In a steering system in which both front and rear wheels are steerable, the rear road wheels are adapted to be turned in the direction opposite to the direction of turning of the front road wheels only when a steering wheel is turned with a torque or effort larger than a predetermined value.