Abstract: An object storage receptacle having two articulating arm members movably attached to opposite sides of a receptacle member at a point at or above the center of gravity of said receptacle member. The articulating arm members are attached to the receptacle member such that in a first position the arm members form a handle by which the storage receptacle may be carried, in a second position the arm members form a stand sufficiently stable to support the storage receptacle in a free-standing manner, and in a third position the arm members together may be disposed laterally relative to the storage receptacle. The arm members may be capable of free movement throughout a continuous circle about the receptacle and/or capable of telescoping into a first position where the arm members are fully extended for use and in a second position where the arm members are fully retracted for storage.

Abstract: A push luggage cart including a rigid load-bearing frame defining a longitudinal luggage-carrying surface inclined in a direction opposite to a forward movement direction of the cart, a front steering roller and two rear support rollers, two upright bars for supporting a push handle, and a front connection part and two rear connection parts, all having connection members for supporting the frame on the front and rear rollers, with the frame including hollow profile connection sections form-lockingly engaging the connection members of the front and rear connection parts.

Abstract: A roller skate shock absorber system in at least two double pivot mechanisms spaced longitudinally from front to back along a skate shoe; a truck device including a plurality of wheels interconnected with the double pivot mechanisms; each of the double pivot mechanisms including a first pivot mounted to the skate shoe, a pivot member rotatably connected to the first pivot and having a second pivot rotatably attached to the truck device; and at least one resilient member disposed between the skate shoe and the truck mechanism for biasing at least one of the pivot mechanisms with its first and second pivots generally vertically aligned to provide a firm push-off force.

Abstract: A carrier for transporting large game is provided having a bed formed from a smooth semi-circular cross-sectional shaped polymeric material which is mounted on a wheeled frame. A reversible handle allows the bed to be easily loaded and a rail is positioned beneath the bed for cooperatively engaging rail guides affixed to a vehicle support. The game carrier can be loaded, for example, in the woods and can then be pulled manually to a vehicle parking site. The wheels of the carrier can be removed and the carrier then urged along guides attached to the vehicle support which is retained by conventional vehicle trailer hitch apparatus. Locking pins maintain the carrier on the vehicle support, thus allowing a single hunter to easily transport and load heavy game without undue effort or inconvenience.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a framework for a wheelbarrow or the like in order to increase the load carrying capacity characterized by the use of hook-like adapters on the framework which allow perfect cooperation between the framework and the wheelbarrow or the like using tension connectors between like frameworks and an adjustment feature which allows for adjustment of the angular relationship of the framework or the like and the wheelbarrow or the like.

Abstract: A snowboard (10) is provided with front and rear foot mounts (12, 14). The front foot mount (12) is mounted for rotation or pivotable movement about an axis (22). It is lockable into a number of rider selected azimuthal positions on the snowboard (10). Foot rotation can be used to move it between some positions. In other positions, the front foot mount (12) is locked in position and cannot be moved to a new position without the rider first pulling on a pull line (112), to unlock the front foot mount (12) from the snowboard (10). The rear foot mount (14) is a step-in step-out mount. The rider can step in at a number of different azimuthal positions, selected by the rider. In each position, the rear foot mount (14) is moved by rotation into a position where it is locked to the snowboard (10). A pull line (160) is used to unlock the rear mount (114) front of the board, so that the rider can rotate his/her rear foot into a step-out position.

Abstract: A quick-attachable trailer step includes a planar step member, two U-shaped mounting brackets fixedly attached to the back end of the step member with the open ends of the mounting brackets being disposed downwardly relative to the top of the step member, and two braces connected to the step member and to the mounting brackets to strengthen the trailer step. Each of the mounting brackets has a first extended portion and a second extended portion spaced from each other and defining a frame-receiving slot between each other, which is adapted to receive the portion of the frame of the trailer. The closed end of the mounting brackets essentially rest upon a portion of the frame of the trailer with the step member being disposed essentially horizontally outwardly from the trailer.

Abstract: A cart includes a frame mounted on castors, at least two castors being provided at a first end of the cart on respective opposite sides of a mean longitudinal axis of the cart. Each castor at this first end includes a device for locking the castor against pivoting acting unidirectionally to allow the castor to pivot freely in one direction by a sufficient amount and to prevent it from pivoting in the opposite direction. The two castors at the first end of the cart on opposite sides of the mean longitudinal axis of the cart have opposite locking directions.

Abstract: Either the front wheels or the rear wheels of a front wheel- and rear wheel-drive vehicle are driven by an engine and the other thereof are driven by an electric motor. A .mu. detecting circuit detects a coefficient of friction on a road surface. A control circuit controls to operate the electric motor such that, when the vehicle is started in a condition in which a detected coefficient of friction is below a predetermined value, an output torque of the electric motor becomes a predetermined set value corresponding to the detected coefficient of friction.

Abstract: A passenger side airbag module is provided with walls for diverting the excess portion of the gas generated by an inflator during an above normal temperature deployment of the air bag cushion so that over-pressurization of the air bag cushion does not occur.

Abstract: A vehicle hood movement dampening mechanism is pivotably connected between the vehicle and hood to exert a two-way cushioning action. The mechanism includes a variable length strut and a link arranged so that an internal resilient force element opposes increases in the strut length as the hood approaches its open and closed positions. The link exerts a pulling action on the variable length strut during either direction of hood movement.

Abstract: A system using a stored power unit, such as a battery pack, to supply electric current for driving an electric motor-driven generator, which in turn, drives a propulsion motor drive system. The propulsion motor drive system uses either one, two or several electric propulsion motors to propel a vehicle. The system has a control device that diverts power from the generator output to the stored power unit to recharge and maintain the stored power unit when operating conditions permit. Amorphous energy sources, such as a wind turbine that is mounted on the vehicles roof, for example, can also supply recharging power. By use of strict energy control, the vehicle may be operated over many miles without having to recharge the batteries from a utility power source.

Abstract: A lubricating structure for a wheel driving apparatus in which a wheel hub (7) is rotatably supported by a wheel mounting body (1). An output side of a hydraulic motor (31) is attached to the mounting body and is coupled to a drive shaft (6) which is engageably inserted into a shaft bore (50) of the wheel mounting body. The drive shaft is coupled to the wheel hub via a reduction gear mechanism (10) and a clutch mechanism (11), and a braking mechanism (37) is mounted between the wheel hub and the wheel mounting body. The lubricating structure is characterized in that an annular space (51), formed between the shaft bore and the drive shaft, communicates via individual lubricable portions with a lubricant oil inlet (103) and a peripheral port (55). Also, the lubricant oil is supplied from the lubricant oil inlet and is discharged from the port.

Abstract: The golf vehicle has steerable front wheels on a front portion of a frame together with a steering mechanism which includes an upstanding rearwardly inclined handle bar. A pair of drive wheels and a power source drivingly connected to the drive wheels are on a rear portion of the frame. A seat unit is mounted on the rear portion of the frame and has adjustment means for moving the seat rearwardly and forwardly along a plurality of longitudinal positions and for pivoting the seat 360.degree. in any of these longitudinal positions. The pivot axis of the seat is so located that when the seat is pivoted 180.degree. from a front operating position, the front edge of the seat will extend rearwardly beyond the rear end of the frame rear portion so as to readily enable an occupant of the vehicle to make golf shots while seated. In a modification, the seat is fixed on a seat frame which is pivotable and lockable in any of the pivoted positions.

Abstract: A start-assist system provided in a vehicle having two rear axles, one of which is a drive axle. A control device includes an air actuator attached to the drive axle; a level sensor for detecting loads applied to the axles; an air supply source for supplying compressed air to the air actuator; a first valve disposed in an air conduit for supplying air to the air actuator; a second valve for releasing air from the air actuator; and a controller for controlling the first valve and the second valve. The controller opens the first valve to introduce air to the air actuator when a signal from the level sensor indicates that the vehicle is stopped and is unladen, opens the second valve to release air from the air actuator when the signal from the level sensor indicates that the vehicle is stopped and is laden.

Abstract: An air bag module in a vehicle includes an inflator for generating gas to inflate an air bag. The air bag has a first portion adjacent the inflator and operatively connected to the inflator for receiving the inflator gas therein. The air bag has a second portion extending from the first portion and spaced apart from the inflator by the first portion. The second portion is unidirectionally rolled to define a rolled portion. Prior to air bag inflation, the first portion is stored atop the inflator and the rolled portion is stored atop the first portion. Preferably, the rolled second portion forms a pinch point between the first portion and the second portion such that the first portion partially inflates prior to unrolling of the second portion. Preferably, the first portion is folded in manner to inflate more readily than the rolled second portion such that the first portion inflates and forces the rolled second portion outwardly away from the inflator prior to unfolding of the rolled second portion.

Abstract: An air bag cover assembly includes a container having a substrate layer and an outer layer covering the substrate layer. The substrate layer includes a switch aperture extending therethrough. A membrane horn switch is positioned substantially within the switch aperture and adjacent the outer layer. A backing plate is mounted to the substrate layer and overlies the switch aperture such that the membrane horn switch is captured between the outer layer and the backing plate. Thus, the membrane horn switch is easily actuated only by the compression of the outer layer of the container without compression of the substrate layer.

Abstract: A pedestal for a TV, video, or cinematograph camera having a base mounted on steerable wheel units. The carrier comprises a counter-balanced arm mounted on the base for rotation about a vertical axis and tiltable about a horizontal axis, the steering mechanism is coupled to the arm and steerable wheel units so that rotation of the arm about the vertical axis causes a corresponding steering movement of the wheel units and the direction in which the steerable wheel units are steered is in alignment with the horizontal direction of the arm so that as the base is moved by an operator in a horizontal direction, the pedestal follows that direction.

Abstract: A in-line roller skate has spherical roller wheels with multi-directional turning ability. The skate has the ability of both forward and rearward movement, but can also slide sideways in lateral and angular directions, in a similar manner to a figure skating ice skate. The roller skate achieves the versatility of movement of figure skating ice skates. The skates include a single line of spherical shaped wheels, which substitute for the single axis wheels of a roller skate. The roller skate can slide sideways. In use, the roller skate provides a skater with multi-directional movement, such as forward and rearward movement by the rotation of roller wheels in any direction. Because of the multi-directional movement of the spherical roller wheels, the skater can rotate and spin about a vertical axis like an ice figure skater, as well as slide sideways.

Abstract: A truck bed pull out step system installed under the front of a passenger pickup truck bed on one or both sides gives the user the ability to enter the pickup bed area or retrieve items with ease. When not in use is concealed under pickup bed.