Abstract: A reaction canister for a vehicle passive restraint system has a resilient, impact energy absorbing element joined adjacent the edge of its wall which is adjacent an automotive panel likely to be impacted by an occupant in the event of a low speed collision. The resulting softening serves to avoid injury to the occupant as a result of contact with the panel.

Abstract: A ski having a shell forming its upper surface and its lateral sides, a core, and a lower surface comprising longitudinal bars located on either side of a sliding base further includes at least one stiffener, located in contact with one of the internal surfaces of the two lateral sides of shell, and located at least in the central part or runner zone of the ski.

Abstract: An aircraft cabin divider is so constructed that its installation can easily be handled by one person taking advantage of the force of gravity. For this purpose the divider has a frame with a first plug-in section that cooperates with a second socket section in the cabin structure, for example, the cabin floor or the cabin seating structure. The plug-in and socket sections cooperate so that an automatic lock-in is accomplished or so that a slight turn will provide the required interlocking. At least two couplings each including a plug-in section and a socket section are provided.

Abstract: A double lead-pup trailer assembly for container transport has swivel bunks enabling the container to be carried on the articulated trailers. The rear swivel bunk slides rotatably within a slot extending to the rear of the pup trailer allowing the container to be directly unloaded. The coupling means between the trailers is adjustable between a highway articulated driving relationship, and a backing up aligned relationship. One advantage is the gross vehicle weight and payload are improved. Another advantage is that the container more closely tracks the tractor and trailer wheels on turns, thus providing more manoeuvrability and safety.

Abstract: The skate of the present invention includes a foot receiving boot having a substantially rigid shell and sole. A frame is fixedly attached to the sole and includes a forward frame portion and a rear frame portion. The frame portion, and thus the skate, is adapted to receive interchangeably a wheeled truck for in-line roller skating, a blade-carrying truck for ice skating, and a ski for use on snow. The ski assembly includes a ski member and an adapter wherein the adapter is releasably attached to the boot and the ski is releasably connected to the adapter. The adapter includes a bottom surface that facilitates walking when the ski is removed.

Abstract: A skate including a chassis formed by an upper horizontal plate solidly joined to the sole of a shoe by fasteners and a lower part running perpendicular to the plate and including at least one lateral flange on which the wheels are disposed by transverse axles solidly joined to the chassis, constituting a rolling train, each of the wheels having a hub in fixed rotation, which is disposed on the axle and which supports a bearing interpolated between the hub and a tire. The hub of the wheel is equipped with an arrangement which allows for its angular deflection relative to its median horizontal plane. The arrangement for angular deflection includes the transverse axle which is horizontally off-center in relation to the virtual center of the wheel which can cooperate by abutment with a fixed axle solidly joined to the chassis which passes through it, and which supports an elastic recoil device.

Abstract: A power assisted steering mechanism for a vehicle, the mechanism including electrically powered drive means for driving the steering mechanism, the drive means including a drive shaft having an input shaft portion drivingly connected to an output shaft portion by resilient means such that rotation of the input shaft portion causes relative rotational displacement between the input shaft portion and the output shaft portion in dependence on the load applied to the output shaft portion, sensor means arranged to produce signals in response to the direction and amount of relative displacement between the input and output shaft portions and an electric motor for driving said output shaft in response to the signals produced by the sensor means.

Abstract: Disclosed is a new collapsible boat trailer for low speed, short distance vehicle-towed transport, launching, and retrieval of lightweight boats which is quickly disassemblable without tools into small lightweight components for stowage. The collapsible boat trailer comprises a rigid frame which includes a tubular cross member with a forward extending towing bar coupling structure fixedly connected centrally intermediate the ends thereof. A wheel assembly extends downwardly from both ends of the cross member whereby the boat trailer may roll across the ground. The upper ends of the wheel assemblies are pivotally connected to the cross member such that they may be pivoted inwardly upwardly to lie adjacent the cross member for inoperable stowage. An elongated two-piece towing bar extends from the front of the towing bar coupling structure. The towing bar is separable from the frame, as are the two pieces of the towing bar separable from each other for inoperable stowage.

Abstract: A wheelchair with footrest supports having a pair of horizontal, parallel forwardly extending cylindrical rods comprising, a pair of blocks, each block having an upper bore positioned to receive and support an associated cylindrical rod of the wheelchair, each block having a horizontal lower bore perpendicular to the upper bore. A pair of foot supporting plates, each plate adjustably supported with respect to the block, each plate also having a pair of holes extending therethrough with bolts extending through the holes, each bolt having a complimentary nut.

Abstract: In an active vehicle suspension system employing a spring and a hydraulic actuator for supporting a wheel relative to a vehicle body, a control unit actuates the actuator so as to cancel the force applied by the spring force of the spring and a damping force applied by the hydraulic actuator. This damping force is typically produced by the flow resistance which the hydraulic oil encounters in the hydraulic circuit. This control action is carried out according to a signal obtained by processing an output of a displacement sensor between the wheel and the vehicle body with a first-order lead filter circuit. Thus, the control action is based on a readily available and highly responsive detection signal, an accurate and stable vibration control of the sprung mass of the vehicle or the vehicle body is made possible.

Abstract: A drive train suspension system for a manure and compost treating vehicle wherein a linkage assembly is connected between the vehicle drive train assembly and the vehicle frame, on each side of the vehicle frame, so that the vehicle frame is articulately connected to a vehicle drive train assembly on each side. Fluid motors are connected between the vehicle frame and each drive train assembly so that the position of the vehicle frame relative to the drive train assembly can be selectively varied to thereby minimize potential damaging stress imparted to the drive train assembly by the lateral movement of the drive train relative to the vehicle frame, and to raise the vehicle frame to a selected elevation above the ground and/or maintain the vehicle frame substantially level.

Abstract: A servo control is disclosed especially for a power steering for motor vehicles. A shaft serves as an actuating member and is subdivided axially into a primary shaft and a secondary shaft. The two shaft parts are coupled elastically to one another via a torsion bar and a prestressed leg spring acting parallel thereto. Accordingly, a relative rotation adjusting a servo-valve arrangement can occur between the two shaft parts only when the shaft is loaded by a torque which exceeds the prestress of the leg spring.

Abstract: A power driven personal walker for the infirm and handicapped comprising laterally spaced uprights for grasping by a user in a walking position, a horizontal base frame supporting the uprights in use position rearwardly open to the legs and feet of the user and having a transverse front portion, a wheel assembly, and means to drive the wheels including a motor coupled to said axle means in wheel driving relation.

Abstract: An arrangement and method is described of forming an air bag deployment opening in an interior trim piece having an vinyl skin overlying a rigid substrate so as to be invisible prior to operation of the air bag system, comprising an energy generating linear cutting element arranged in a door pattern beneath the skin acting to degrade or cut the skin when activated. The element is mounted either in an outwardly facing channel formed in door sections of the substrate or on a separate membrane interposed between the skin and substrate.

Abstract: An inflatable restraint system for providing protection to an occupant in a moving vehicle including a module disposed adjacent to the chest area of the vehicle occupant, the module having an airbag and an high pressure gas generator for exerting a controlled force against the occupant in a direction opposite the direction of motion of the occupant caused by rapid deceleration of the vehicle while simultaneously inflating the airbag adjacent to the occupant. A second embodiment is disclosed which includes an ancillary module disposed adjacent to the rear base of the occupant's neck, providing an airbag for inflation behind the occupant's head while simultaneously exerting a force opposite the direction of motion of the occupant's head, as caused by the backlash forces acting against the occupant following initial impact of the occupant with a forward airbag. A third embodiment is disclosed wherein an airbag is in incorporated into a child safety seat providing protection from frontal and lateral impact.

Abstract: A new and improved kick stand apparatus for a two-wheeled vehicle, such as motorcycle, includes respective independently operable, first and second leg assemblies, each respective leg assembly being connected to the vehicle and capable of being placed in a lowered position or in a retracted position by an operator's foot. The kick stand apparatus is for preventing the motorcycle from falling onto one side or the other when the motorcycle is parked. When both the first leg assembly and the second leg assembly are in a lowered position, together they are capable of maintaining the parked motorcycle in an upright orientation. In employing the apparatus, a leg member of the first leg assembly is lowered from a retracted position. The motorcycle is leaned toward the lowered leg member of the first leg assembly, and the motorcycle is permitted to rest in a first rest position upon a foot of the first leg assembly. Then, a leg member of the second leg assembly is lowered from a retracted position.

Abstract: A vehicle air bag module is designed to be simply and efficiently assembled, without the use of fasteners such as bolts or rivets. The module is formed by a housing member and a retainer member. Each of the housing member and the retainer member includes integral structure enabling them to be coupled together without the use of additional fasteners such as bolts or rivets. When coupled together, the housing member and the retainer member are adapted to (i) capture and align an inflator in the housing member and (ii) capture and retain the mouth of an air bag in the housing member. Moreover, the air bag module is designed with additional connecting structure which enables the module to be coupled with a vehicle.

Abstract: An automatic transmission control device which is provided with shift pattern setting member for setting a shift pattern, on the basis of shift pattern mode for an automatic transmission which is selected by shift pattern mode selecting member and also on the basis of damping force of a suspension which is set by suspension setting member. Automatic transmission control member controls the shift operation of an automatic transmission on the basis of this set shift pattern.

Abstract: The inflatable safety cushion for a vehicle comprises an electric arming device (19) which is capable of detecting a dangerous situation and of very rapidly actuating a pyrotechnic gas generator for triggering said safety cushion, and which is powered by a cell (12). It also comprises an arming device (20, 21) for detecting that the vehicle is being used in order automatically to arm the device (19) as soon as it is detected that the vehicle is being used, and a device (21a) for interrupting the armed state as soon as, for a predetermined length of time, no use of the vehicle has been detected.

Abstract: A vehicle having a suspension fitting structure that includes a cross member which extends between left and right side frame members and supports the suspension device on each end thereof, and a plurality fitting brackets secured to the side frame member for fitting both of the cross member and a suspension arm to the side frame member. The fitting brackets are arranged in the lengthwise direction at appropriate separations in such a way that the fitting brackets are formed lower in structural rigidity in order front to rear and/or that a forward one of the fitting brackets is formed smaller in size than a rearward one.