Abstract: Surmounting obstacles in the path of a robot vehicle is accomplished by rotating the wheel forks of the vehicle about their transverse axes with respect to the vehicle body so as to shift most of the vehicle weight onto the rear wheels, and then driving the vehicle forward so as to drive the now lightly-loaded front wheels (only) over the obstacle. Then, after the front wheels have either surmounted or completely passed the obstacle (depending upon the length of the obstacle), the forks are again rotated about their transverse axes so as to shift most of the vehicle weight onto the front wheels. Then the vehicle is again driven forward so as to drive the now lightly-loaded rear wheels over the obstacle. Once the obstacle has been completely cleared and the vehicle is again on relatively level terrain, the forks are again rotated so as to uniformly distribute the vehicle weight between the front and rear wheels.

Abstract: An improved brake system for wheeled baby carriers, including baby strollers and baby carriages, whereby when the carrier is at rest and not being pushed by an attendant person, the wheels of the carrier are automatically locked so that accidental rolling movement thereof is inhibited. In accordance with the invention the push handle of the carrier has associated therewith a brake release handle or bar which is interconnected by a brake release cable to a brake shift bar mechanically connected to the brake levers associated with the rear wheels of the carrier. The brake shift bar is resiliently biased by one or more biasing elastic bands or springs to a position which causes the brake levers to normally lock the rear wheels against rotation.

Abstract: An instrument panel for an automotive vehicle includes a substructure that extends across the width of an automotive vehicle passenger compartment and is secured to side pillars of an automotive vehicle body. A pair of laterally spaced knee bolsters each include a retainer that has a rearwardly facing wall that is located at knee height, and a pair of integrally attached, vertically spaced struts that are attached to a lower channel of the substructure to form a first box structure for absorbing impact energy. A front channel is disposed in front of the lower channel and securely attached to the substructure of the instrument panel. The attached channels provide a cross car duct for wiring or air distribution and a second box structure for absorbing energy when the knee bolster is impacted in a vehicle collision.

Abstract: An airbag safety system for an automotive vehicle includes a housing having disposed therein a gas generator and a retainer which has a lower mounting flat surface for attaching an inflatable airbag tightly to the housing. The housing includes upper and lower members, the upper member being attached to the lower member and having a gas passage allowing gas to flow from the gas generator into the airbag, the lower member having an opening oriented towards the airbag. The upper member further includes an upper mounting flat surface which is formed on a peripheral portion of the gas passage and is contoured to the lower mounting flat surface of the retainer. With this arrangement, the entire circumferential edge portion of the airbag is interposed between the upper mounting flat surface of the upper member and the lower mounting flat surface of the retainer without any clearance for establishing an air-tight seal between the airbag and the housing.

Abstract: In a traction control system for a vehicle which controls the traction of the driven wheels according to the slip ratio of the driven wheels obtained as a relationship between the vehicle speed and the speed of the driven wheels, the vehicle speed is obtained from the speed of the non-driven wheels. Normally, the average value of the speeds of the non-driven wheels is used as the basis for computing the vehicle speed, but when one of the non-driven wheels is likely to be lifted from the road surface due to the turning maneuver of the vehicle, the speed of one of the non-driven wheels which is higher than that of the other non-driven wheel and is therefore likely to be in contact with the road surface is used for fining the vehicle speed. Thus, the vehicle speed is simply obtained from the speed of the non-driven wheels, but the traction control can be reliably carried out according to a correctly obtained vehicle speed.

Abstract: A ski control system incorporating carve control amplification to activate by deployment of auxiliary ski control surfaces, such as a probe assembly resiliently mounted on the ski at or near the center of pressure of the ski, and which functions when deployed to impose control forces on the ski in proportion to the degree of carve of the ski.

Abstract: An electrical bicycle comprises a frame body, a battery and a rotation controller. Characterized in that a driving mechanism is disposed at the rear triangle supporter and one side of the spindle. The transmission collar and fly-wheel are disposed at both ends of the spindle respectively. The transmission collar is rotated by means of the DC motor, the first and second bevel pinions. The output of the DC motor is reduced by the combination of the first and second bevel pinions. No chain is needed, consequently the defects inherited thereof are omitted. This electrical bicycle is free from noise and pollutant emissions. The driving mechanism can be switched on easily as necessary.

Abstract: An infant-restraining protective seat having an inflatable seat belt, in which the protective seat has an infant seat belt (6) and a chest-contact pad (7). The infant seat belt (6) has a pair of bag-shaped shoulder belts (6a) and a bag-shaped chest belt (6b). A tongue (5) is connected to the distal end of the chest belt (6). The chest-contact pad 7 is made with a chest-contact portion 7a having a comparatively large areas, and a cylindrical portion (7b) formed at the distal end of the chest-contact portion (7a). The chest belt (6b) is retained by retaining portions (7c), (7d) of the chest-contact portion (7a), thereby attaching the chest-contact pad (7) to the infant seat belt (6). The retaining portions (7c), (7d) are formed to have grooves (7e), (7f). The chest-contact portion (7a) breaks from the grooves (7e), (7f) under the expansion force of the chest belt (6b) when the gas is introduced.

Abstract: An elevator cart is arranged to include a first tubular frame mounting a second tubular frame thereto in a reciprocating relationship relative to the first tubular frame to permit selective lifting of a workpiece on the second tubular frame relative to the first tubular frame. To this end, a handle is pivotally mounted to the first tubular frame simultaneously displacing an actuator link that in turn is arranged to rotate simultaneously a plurality of cam rods, with each cam rod having a plurality of cam members in abutment with the second tubular frame to effect a lifting and lowering of the second tubular frame upon pivoting of the handle.

Abstract: A collapsible child seat assembly for a shopping cart has a plastic seat panel and a plastic leg opening cover, both of which are pivotally mounted on a horizontal hinge wire that itself is fixedly mounted on a swingable rear gate of the cart. The forward edge of the seat panel is slidably mounted to a seat back pivotally attached to the rear gate. The rear edges of the seat panel and leg opening cover have interdigitated hinge extensions forming slots that accept therein the horizontal hinge wire for pivotal motion thereon. The hinge wire has protuberances corresponding to the locations of the hinge extensions of the leg opening cover. These protuberances cooperate with cantilevered leaf springs extending into the slots of the hinge extensions of the leg opening cover to frictionally retain the leg opening cover in its upright position covering the leg openings until it is manually folded against the seat panel.

Abstract: An air bag device is provided including an air bag 1, an inflator 5, and a casing 7 including an upper case member and a lower case member, surrounding the air bag and the inflator. The lower case member 16 and auxiliary plates 18 form fitting recesses 17 at the connecting portion 16a of the lower case member which open upwardly. Tongue pieces 10 are formed at the connecting portion 9a of the upper case member near the gas jetting outlets 6 of the inflator in such a manner that they are extended downwardly from the upper case member. The tongue pieces 10 are inserted into the fitting recesses 17 to form the casing. The auxiliary plates 18 are pushed against the tongue pieces 10 by the pressure of gas jetted from the gas jetting outlets 6.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a braking system for an axle driving system for a working vehicle. The braking system comprises disc brake units which are disposed in recesses provided at the right and left sides of a transmission case, and a brake pedal and/or a hand-brake lever which can operate the disc brake units simultaneously. The construction of the present invention results in increased durability and braking capacity. The present invention allows the vehicle to travel in a straight line while stopping, notwithstanding the presence of a differential gear. In addition, the braking device is easily assembled and results in increased support rigidity for the axles.

Abstract: A compact suspension system for a wheeled vehicle and method for its manufacture. The suspension includes a tapered, vertically mounted elongated arm having an integral eye at one end. The integral eye rotatably connects the elongated arm to the vehicle while the other end connects to an air spring attached to the vehicle. The axle connects to the arm near the air spring. The arm is tapered between the axle and the integral eye so that the amount of arm material, and thus weight, is reduced. A second arm is placed adjacent to, and parallel with, the first arm to back up the first arm if the first arm fails, or vice versa. A shock absorber is mounted near the axle on the opposite side of the axle as the air spring. The method of manufacture includes plasma cutting a blank elongated arm from spring steel, heat-treating the arm, machining to final form, and then shot peening the arm.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for tensioning safety belt webbing (16) during sudden vehicle deceleration includes a buckle (22), a telescoping frame (26) and an actuator drive (28). The telescoping frame (26) includes first and second frame segments (40) and (42). The buckle (22) is attached to the first frame segment (40). The second frame segment (42) is anchored to the vehicle. The frame segments (40, 42) have a common axis (20) and are slidable relative to each other along the axis (20) to reduce the overall length of the telescoping frame (26). The actuator drive (28) is axially aligned with the telescoping frame (26) and includes a cylinder (138) and a piston (140). The cylinder (138) and piston (140) are movable relative to each other to lengthen the actuator drive (28). The actuator drive (28) is interconnected with the telescoping frame (26) such that lengthening of the actuator drive (28) causes shortening of the telescoping frame (26) to move the buckle 22 and tension the safety belt webbing 16.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device having an originator and a receiver unit (10, 11) and a signal-processing device (17) for detecting different steering angles. The device delivers switch signals, for instance, for actuating differential locks. For identifying discrete steering angles the originator unit (10) operates in conjunction with two sensors (12, 13). The proposed steering-angle sensory analysis is preferably used in axles of tractors and construction machines.

Abstract: A collapsible frame assembly which may be used as a stroller frame. The frame includes a base, an upper support, a lower support attached to the base, an upper brace attached to the lower support, and a lower brace attached to the base. Hinges connect the upper and lower support, and the upper and lower brace, to permit the transformation between collapsed and upright positions. The frame collapses in height and length, and is transformed between a collapsed position and an upright position by pulling the upper support upwardly and rearwardly from the lower support.

Abstract: An air bag device includes: a retainer having an inflator mounting opening formed in the central portion of its main plate; an inflater having its leading end mounted in the opening of the retainer and formed with a plurality of gas injection ports in its side periphery; an air bag fitted on the retainer and folded such that it can be extended by the gas injected from the inflator; and a module cover covering the air bag and capable of being torn by the air bag when the air bag is extended. The air bag is folded at first in a first direction along the main plate of the retainer and then in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The inflator injects the gas in the second direction, immediately after being activated, and then in the first direction.

Abstract: In a shopping cart comprising a main basket and a transverse handle mounted behind the main basket, two bars are mounted fixedly to the handle so as to extend forwardly from the handle. Also, a cupholder formed of wire is mounted slidably to the bars so as to permit the cupholder to slide forwardly to a storage position and backwardly to a usage position within a limited range of movement of the cupholder relative to the bars. In the usage position, the cupholder is capable of holding a large cup and a small cup. Each of the bars is wrapped around the handle and has a lower portion, to which one of the end portions of the cupholder is mounted slidably, and an upper portion, on which a coupon tray formed of wire is mounted fixedly.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension of simple design which provides selectable axle heights with reference to the vehicle chassis with minimal component change. The simple but rugged design provides maximum transverse stability by spring form and bushing design and by reducing shock absorber stroke length extends shock absorber life.

Abstract: A torsion bar rear suspension has many advantages over standard motorcycle suspensions. They include lowering the center of gravity, lowering total weight, and many others. The torsion bar rear suspension is located underneath the motorcycle's swing arm (9). A linkage system consisting of a linkage strut (8) and torque arm (7) transmits the torque from the swing arm to the torsion spring. The torsion spring is a combination of a torsion bar (5) and a thin walled torsion tube (6). The torsion spring exerts a force depending on the position of the swing arm (9). A damper (12) is mounted on the swing arm (9). The damper is compressed as the swing arm rotates about the swing arm pivot (15). The damper (12) exerts a force according to the speed the damper is compressed.