Abstract: Inflation fluid (18) for an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as an air bag (12), is contained in a pressure vessel (30) at an elevated storage pressure. The pressure vessel (30) further contains ignitable material (18) which, when ignited, heats the inflation fluid (18). An ohmic heating element (92) is maintained in an ignitable heat transferring relationship with the ignitable material (18) under the influence of the storage pressure. When the vehicle experiences a predetermined collision-indicating condition, an actuating level of electric current is directed through the heating element (92) to ignite the ignitable material (18). The storage pressure is monitored by monitoring an electrical characteristic, such as the resistance, of the heating element (92) which has a predetermined relationship to the storage pressure.

Abstract: A steerable roller skate includes: a sole member of a skate boot or strap of roller skate having a pair of rear wheels transversely rotatably secured to a rear bottom portion of the sole member, a steering base steerably secured on a front bottom portion of the sole member, a pair of front wheels transversely rotatably secured on the steering base, a first magnet secured on a central bottom portion of the sole member, and a second magnet secured on the steering base adjacent to the first magnet having opposite magnetic polarities of the first and second magnets for normally attracting the second magnet to the first magnet for magnetically restoring the steering base and the front wheels for automatically resetting a straightforward orientation of the roller skate.

Abstract: An axle supporting member for a rear wheel is suspended to a suspension member by an upper link system which includes an A-arm and a side rod. The forward lower link member and the side rod are respectively arranged in front and rear of a vertical plane passing through a rotary axis of the rear wheel, while a suspension spring and a shock absorber are seated on the forward lower link member positioned in front of the above-mentioned vertical plane with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Accordingly, an initial load transmitted from the suspension spring is mainly borne by the front end part of the suspension member, so that an initial load exerted to the rear end part of the suspension member becomes smaller. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the resilient deformation of bushings in the front and rear parts of the suspension member upon application of a wind-up input force.

Abstract: A rollable child carrier structure comprising a rollable base and a multi-side enclosing frame, wherein said frame comprises tubing sections made of lightweight, high modulus fiber-reinforced plastic matrix composite tubing having a weight of 0.35 pounds or less per lineal foot, and wherein said plastic matrix is a thermoplastic resin or thermoset plastic resin with a minimum modulus of 250,000 psi; a minimum tensile strength of 6,000 psi; and a glass transition temperature of at least 50.degree. C. and wherein said high modulus fiber reinforcement is selected from the group consisting of carbon fibers, aramid fibers, glass fibers, polyolefin fibers, boron fibers, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A force limiter for vehicle safety belt systems which is inserted in the force flow path of the safety belt system by means of two fittings (26, 32), the distance between the fittings (26, 32) being able to be increased with a conversion of energy. In the context of such a force limiter the characteristic of the tensile force effective between the two fittings is to be rendered adjustable along the deformation displacement over a wide range. This is achieved since a first one (26) of such fittings is fixedly connected with the metal frame (20) having a deflection pin (22) arranged therein and a second one (32) of the fittings is fixedly connected with a first end of a metal strip (30), which is adapted to be drawn about the pin (22) along a positively set path. Owing to such configuration it is possible for the characteristic of the force limiter to be selected by the designer within a wide range independently of the threshold value as from which the force limiter takes effect.

Abstract: A pneumatic suspension assembly is provided with an air spring chamber that changes its volume as a function of suspension travel, as well as a pneumatically controlled shock absorber whose pneumatic control input can be connected with the air spring chamber and with a compressed air source or compressed air supply chamber. In this manner, increased damping during critical driving states can be ensured, in addition to a shock absorber control that is independent of the load.

Abstract: An air intake tube is provided for attempting to prevent, as much as possible, the entry of mud or water splashed by the front wheels of a vehicle having a structure with an engine, an air cleaner arranged adjacent to and at the back of the engine and a fuel tank positioned above the engine. The engine and other elements are mounted at an intermediate portion of a body frame having its front portion suspending the front wheels and its rear portion suspending the rear wheels. An air intake tube extends from the air cleaner toward the fuel tank. In the rear wall of the fuel tank, there is formed inwardly an accommodation recess extending backward, and the air intake tube has its open top end projecting into the accommodation recess.

Abstract: A snowboard binding includes a base plate, a high back member, a toe strap and an in-step strap. The high back member, toe strap and in-step strap are pivotally connected to the base plate so that the high back, toe strap and in-step strap each move between a first open position and a second closed position with respect to the base plate.

Abstract: A walker is provided with a non-rotatable glide assembly that easily slides over the ground surface when a walker is lifted and advanced forwardly. As soon as a predetermined downward force is exerted on the walker legs, the glides retract and non-slip crutch tips engage the ground surface. Moreover, an individual glide may be easily removed and substituted by a wheel that provides rolling contact with the ground surface. The remainder of the mounting structure is used so that the walker may be easily converted from a glide to wheeled arrangement.

Abstract: A collapsible wheeled luggage carrier having a collapsible center structure, a handle, a pair of luggage support wings, wheels, and a kickstand. The luggage support wings when in the extended position are in the same plane on each side of the center structure and including a plurality of wing members lying perpendicular to and pivotally secured at one end to the center structure, and pivotally secured at the other end to wing end members. Foldable diagonal locking members are pivotally connected to the wing members on the center structure to hold the wings in the open position. A kickstand is pivotally attached to the center structure and having a cross brace communicating between the center structure and the kickstand. A carrying collar adjustably secured to the center structure including a strap the luggage is suspended from and supported in place by the luggage support wings. The collapsible luggage carrier is foldable to a small size and storable in a pouch which is carryable in the fold of a garment bag.

Abstract: A plastic molded, air bag cover mountable in a snap-on fashion onto a retaining member or rim fixedly secured within an automotive seat is provided. The snap-on air bag cover includes a front cover panel including an outer peripheral portion adapted to overlie an air bag container and a close-out ring sewn to an outer fabric of the seat. Resilient clip members extend from the outer peripheral portion toward the retaining member. Each clip member has an extending snap-on groove defined therein adapted to cooperate with the retaining member for affixing the air bag cover to the automotive seat. The clip members are connected to the outer peripheral portion such that the resilient clip members are permitted to pivotably travel away from each other in opposite directions allowing the retaining member to enter and abuttingly engage the snap-on groove thereby retaining the air bag cover on the automotive seat.

Abstract: An air bag (12) utilizing only two pieces (10a,b) of joined-together material having a front face (43c), two sides (43a, 43b), a neck (48) and a hollow tether (45).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) includes a tubular body (30). Fluid may flow through a plurality of discharge openings (54) in the tubular body (30). An ignitable material (64) is located within the tubular body (30) for producing, when ignited, combustion products including gas for inflating the protective device (12). A filter (70) is located within the tubular body (30) and around the ignitable material (64). A plenum chamber (100) is located between the filter (70) and the tubular body (30) for combustion products to enter after flowing from the filter. A flow directing member (80) is attached to the filter (70) and is located in the plenum chamber (100).

Abstract: A set of high speed, light weight wheels are provided for in-line roller skates. The high performance wheels each have a single large, light weight bearing, a special hub with a light weight fiber-reinforced core, and a high strength tire.

Abstract: High speed, light weight wheels are provided for in-line roller skates. The high performance wheels each have at least one bearing, a special hub with a light weight fiber-reinforced core, and a high performance tire. The core can comprise symmetrical core sections and can have an array of spokes which connect a hub and an inner rim. Desirably, the light weight core can have a hollow shell upon which the tire is secured.

Abstract: A canister endwall for use as part of a reaction canister of an airbag module for securing an airbag inflator. The airbag inflator has a cylindrical inflator sidewall of a predetermined diameter that ends in a tapered portion of the inflator sidewall that tapers radially inwardly to one end of the airbag inflator having an inflator flange. The inflator flange extends radially outwardly from the tapered portion of the inflator sidewall but has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the inflator sidewall. The canister endwall has an inner edge defining an airbag inflator mounting hole and a truncated conical array of a plurality of resilient fingers extending from the inner edge.

Abstract: A break-away fastener system for an air bag deployment door designed for normally closing a panel opening in the vehicle adjacent the open end of a housing containing an air bag in a folded-up, non-deployed condition in readiness for rapid inflation in an emergency to protect persons in the vehicle. The fastening system includes one or more spaced apart fastener assemblies, each including a male element and a female element extending between a portion of the door overlapping an edge flange of the vehicle panel around the opening used for air bag deployment. The male element comprises a bayonet-like member having an enlarged free end adapted to snap into a female element including a receiving spring clip, which clip permanently retains the male element even after air bag deployment occurs. A base portion of each male element is secured to the door at a central portion of a frangible section of reduced cross-section designed to fracture along a path extending around the base of the male element.

Abstract: A ski board device includes a beam having two hubs disposed on the two ends. A pair of ski boards each includes a shaft extended upward and engaged upward through the hubs so as to allow free rotation in the hubs. A pair of foot supports secured on top of the shafts and rotated in concert with the shafts such that the foot suports are freely rotatable for changing the moving direction of the ski board device. Each of the foot supports includes an upwardly arched toe stirrup and a rearwardly arched heel stop for engagement with a foot of a user.