Abstract: A passive occupant restraint belt system for a vehicle which includes a restraining belt and apparatus for moving the belt from an occupant restraint to an occupant releasing position in response to opening of a door of a vehicle. A belt transfer device engages the seat or shoulder belt for moving the belt between the restraining to releasing positions and is actuated by a motion transmission mechanism which transmits and amplifies opening motions of the door to the belt transfer device. The transmission includes a motion amplifier mounted on either the vehicle body or door, and a linkage having one end attached to the other of the body and door and its other end coupled to an input component of the motion amplifier. The linkage is coupled to the other of the vehicle body or door during normal door operation when the door is between closed and partway open to transmit door opening movement to the amplifier but released when the door is between partway open and fully open.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus (10) for mounting control members including tilt cylinders (12, 14), a brake pedal (16) and, optionally, a creeper pedal (88). Problems with prior devices include the space requirements and number of parts needed to mount or anchor these members. The invention solves these problems through the use of a supporting device (18, 20, 26, 34, 38, 40, 42, 66, 76) for both the tilt cylinders (12,14) and brake pedal (16) and apparatus (90, 92, 94, 98, 104, 106) for optically installing the creeper pedal (88) on the supporting device (18, 20, 26, 34, 38, 40, 42, 66, 76) for both the tilt cylinders (12,14) and brake pedal (16) and apparatus (90, 92, 94, 98, 104, 106) for optionally installing the creeper pedal (88) on the supporting device (18, 20, 26, 34, 38, 40, 42, 66, 76). The apparatus (10) can be used principally on fork lift trucks having either standard transmissions or an optional torque converter transmission with or without creeper control.

Abstract: A draft vehicle including a first rearwardly projecting supportive tow bar having a first upstanding opening therethrough is provided and a towed apparatus including a second forwardly projecting tow bar horizontally lapped over and supported from the first tow bar is also provided. A second opening is formed through the second tow bar and registered with the first opening and an upstanding hitch pin is passed through the openings coupling the first and second tow bars together. The hitch pin includes an upper end portion projecting above the second tow bar and abutment structure is mounted on the upper end portion of the pin for vertical shifting relative thereto above a lower limit position on the pin. Further, strong spring structure is operatively connected between the abutment structure and the pin for yieldingly biasing the abutment structure downwardly along the pin toward its lower limit position thereon.

Abstract: A flexible film sheet underlying a backing member bearing a load and directly overlying a planar, fixed support surface and partially defining a plenum chamber, and having perforations within the flexible film sheet facing the support surface, extends laterally beyond the load to form an extension of the air plenum chamber. Air inlet means opens to the plenum chamber extension portion, and a seal line extends diagonally inwardly from the juncture of the air inlet means and the plenum chmber extension portion to a point near or beneath the load to effectively jack the load from the air inlet means laterally and automatically balance the load on the air pallet during jacking, while reducing the possibility of rupture of the flexible film sheet in the vicinity of the air inlet.

Abstract: An improved folding gooseneck for a load carrying trailer is provided consisting of a forward gooseneck member and a linking assembly. The linking assembly, which pivotably attaches the forward gooseneck member to the frame of a trailer, consists of a combination of a sliding linkage and a non-sliding linkage in which such linkages are positioned so that they form a parallelogram configuration when the gooseneck is in a folded position and a non-parallelogram configuration when the gooseneck is in an unfolded position for use as a loading ramp.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus (10) for supporting in common loads including a brake pedal (14) and tilt cylinder (16), as well as for mounting a brake master cylinder (42). The invention overcomes problems in isolating one load from another and in conveniently mounting the master cylinder. The apparatus (10) includes a frame (12), a bifurcated bracket (20) having ears (24,26) and being coupled to the frame (12), an elongated sleeve (52 or 60 or 62) supported on the ears (24,26) and an elongated cross pin (32) rotatably supported in the ears (24,26). The brake pedal (14) is coupled to one end of the pin (32) and the cylinder (16) is coupled to the sleeve (52 or 60 or 62) between the ears (24,26), both inside an inboard side of the frame (12). The master cylinder (42) is mounted on an outboard side of the frame (12) and is coupled to the other end of the pin (32).

Abstract: A suspension and auxiliary power system for a vehicle having a frame, a power consuming load on said frame, and at least one supporting wheel which is adapted to move vertically relative to the frame. The system includes a fluid pump connected between the frame and the wheel and including a piston which is reciprocated in response to relative movement between the frame and wheel to contract or expand a fluid chamber. A fluid circuit connected to the pump includes a uni-directional fluid motor which drives a power consuming load. The fluid circuit is connected to the fluid chamber of the pump and includes a check valve for permitting fluid to flow only from the chamber directly to the motor. A second check valve in the circuit regulates flow so that fluid is directed only from a source of fluid to the chamber. The fluid pump acts as a hydraulic suspension system supporting at least a part of the vehicle weight whereby loading of the motor causes the motor to serve as a shock absorber for the pump.

Abstract: A telescopic shock absorber (14) disposed between a front wheel (19) and frame (12) of a motorcycle (11) is formed with first and second fluid chambers (38), (39), hydraulic fluid flowing from the first chamber (38) to the second chamber (39) upon compression of the shock absorber (14) for shock absorption. A normally closed check valve (57) is disposed between the first and second chambers (38), (39) and urged to open by fluid pressure in the first chamber (38). The shock absorber (14) is urged to compress in response to inertial forces acting on the motorcycle (11) resulting from application of braking force applied to the motorcycle (11) by a front wheel brake (23) causing the pressure in the first chamber (38) to increase by a corresponding amount. An actuator (63) responsive to the degree of braking force increases the pressure required to open the valve (57) in such a manner as to be equal to the pressure in the first chamber (38) resulting from application of the braking force.

Abstract: A seatbelt system including a lap webbing wound up by a retractor and turned back through a lap slip anchor swingably installed on the floor of the vehicle. Furthermore, the seatbelt is of such an arrangement that a center of the retractor and a center of the lap slip anchor are displaced relative to each other and the rotating range of the lap slip anchor is controlled whereby the wind out angle and wind up angle of the lap webbing relative to the retractor is controlled.

Abstract: A device for preventing turn-around motions of free trolleys in a power-and-free conveyor having a power rail and a free rail is provided. The device includes a connecting link interconnecting the free trolleys and having holes as well as turn-preventing members on the opposite ends thereof. Each of the trolleys is provided with a downwardly directed rod from the trolley, the rod rotatably passing through a hole of the connecting link and having a stopper at its lower end. The stoppers receive the connecting link when the free trolleys are on the free rail. Each of the turn-preventing members has an engaging portion which extends upward. Each of the engaging portions engages with the lower portion of a free trolley when the free trolley is taken off from the free rail. Thus, the turn-around motions of the free trolleys are prevented and the free trolleys are in the position where their directions are the same as that in which the connecting link extends.

Abstract: The core of a ski includes a layer of viscoelastic material positioned at the neutral axis thereof at every point therealong. An upper constraining layer is positioned above the viscoelastic material, and a lower constraining layer is positioned below the viscoelastic material. The core also includes an upper layer of low modulus of elasticity material placed above the upper constraining layer and a lower layer of low modulus of elasticity material placed below the lower constraining layer. A torsion box member constructed of high modulus of elasticity material surrounds the core to serve as the primary load carrying structural member of the ski. A cosmetic top layer is disposed above the box member while a bottom or running surface is disposed below the box member.

Abstract: A power steering device for vehicles having a main hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor type vehicle speed sensor, the number of rotation of which is regulated to be proportional to vehicle speed. In order to make a power steering system safe even when the main pump breaks down, and to warn the driver of trouble in the power steering system by the increase of resistance to the steering operation, an emergency switchover device is provided to alter a hydraulic motor functioning as the vehicle speed sensor to a substitute hydraulic power source when a main power source breaks down.

Abstract: A lightweight vehicle which utilizes a single large wheel in the rear that carries most of the weight with a single small wheel in front for guidance. The driver's seat is normally positioned immediately in front of the large wheel and the engine is positioned immediately to the rear of the large wheel, with the center of mass of the vehicle being below and forward of the axle of the large wheel. The passenger seat is connected to a frame extending between the two wheels by a parallelogram type linkage which connects to a bumper extending in front of the vehicle. The linkage is arranged such that on impact of the bumper, the parallelogram linkage causes the seat to move upwardly and tilt backwardly over the top of the large wheel to help protect the driver in the event of a crash.

Abstract: A multi-purpose four-wheel drive vehicle having four-wheel steering. The vehicle according to the present invention incorporates a number of features, some of which are individually known in the prior art but which, when combined in a single vehicle, constitute a vehicle having several advantages over conventional vehicles presently employed for various uses. The applicant's multi-purpose vehicle is of light-weight construction, is relatively inexpensive to manufacture in comparison with vehicles presently employed for the same jobs as those accomplished by the present vehicle, and has substantially less initial and operating costs. The applicant's vehicle incorporates a relatively high ground clearance which is achieved by employing four vertical axles and wheels situated at the four corners of a main frame body of the vehicle.

Abstract: An entirely mechanical air bag device for cars wherein a frangible lid seals a container having gas under pressure therein. The frangible lid is supported by a pressing lid in contact with a link mechanism. During a crash, an impact detecting assembly releases the link mechanism which in turn releases the pressing lid which permits the frangible lid to be fractured by the high pressure gas to inflate the bag.

Abstract: A seat belt system includes a control arm with one end pivoted to an upper sash of a door and with the other end portion mounted to a roof side of a vehicle body for slidable movement. A seat belt extends from an anchor mounted to the roof side to a retractor mounted to the roof of the vehicle body adjacent the inboard side of a seat. A portion of the seat belt passes through the other end portion of the control arm. A spring is mounted so that when the door is closed, the other end portion of the control arm is urged to displace rearwardly till the control arm extends along the roof side to allow the seat belt to fasten around a passenger on the seat. As the door is opened, opening movement of the door will pull the one end of the control arm outwardly of the vehicle body, thus displacing the other end portion forwardly to extend the seat belt forwardly of the passenger for easy ingress or egress.

Abstract: A wheel for a skating apparatus is operably carried on a truck so as to selectively rotate in a given direction or in both directions. A bearing assembly rotatably mounts the wheel on one end of an axle outwardly projecting from a skate truck. The bearing assembly includes a pair of races between which bearings are rollably disposed. An adjustable bearing assembly is operably coupled between the opposing surfaces of the truck and the inside of the wheel. Bearings in this latter assembly are rollable in a circular cage having the bearing surfaces engagable with a flat raceway carried on the truck wherein the wheel rotates in a first direction when the bearing engages with a circular portion of an eccentric and ceases rotation when the bearing engages with a flattened ramp portion of the eccentric. In an alternate embodiment the first mentioned bearing assembly includes the eccentric raceway on one side of the cage holding the bearings and the flat surface race on the opposite side.

Abstract: A bolt-on kit for converting conventional two-wheel motorcycles to three wheel form. The kit comprises an elongated axle assembly which is adapted to be coupled to the motorcycle and which receives the original equipment drive gear for rotation, a pair of spaced apart mounting plates coupled to the axle, support means for rigidly coupling the mounting plates to the motorcycle frame, a pair of drive hubs for mounting drive wheels at opposite ends of the axle assembly, and unique stabilizer means. The stabilizer includes a vertically, upwardly extending brace which is yieldably, slideably received within appropriate bearing structure to allow vertical suspension displacement while preventing damage to the motorcycle frame from torsional or twisting forces.

Abstract: A snowmobile support dolly has a pair of two-wheeled H-frame ski dollies and a caster wheeled H-frame track dolly for supporting the steering skis and drive track, respectively, of a snowmobile. The ski dollies clamp to the bottom of the steering skis, and the track dolly has spaced transverse members which hold it in place between the transverse ribs of the track, so that the snowmobile is easily wheeled about.

Abstract: The invention provides a trailer including a wheeled chassis which is connected to a load support frame by an articulated linkage whereby the frame can be moved vertically in relation to the chassis. A manually actuated lever enables the frame to be vertically moved between a lowered, unloading position and an upper, traveling position. The linkage enables the loading frame to be angled forwardly and downwardly in the traveling position whereby a catamaran or other load mounted thereon provides a stabilizing aero-foil effect during forward movement of the trailer.