Abstract: A passive seat belt system includes a seat belt; a slide anchor connected to one end of the belt and reciprocally movable from a fasten end at which a person on a vehicle is bound to a release end at which the person on the vehicle is released, in response to opening and closing of a door; a winder connected to the other end of the seat belt having an emergency lock mechanism for blocking the feed of the seat belt in an emergency case and a forcible release device for unlocking the emergency lock mechanism; and a controller for moving said slide anchor to the release end when said forcible release device is actuated to unlock said emergency lock mechanism.

Abstract: A vehicle fluid suspension circuit comprising fluid sources provided to the front and rear sides of a vehicle, front and rear side paths connecting the front and rear side fluid sources and fluid suspensions of right and left wheels of the respective sides and providing valves between the resepective fluid sources and fluid suspensions of respective wheels and a front-to-rear path having an effective sectional area which is smaller than the effective sectional areas of the front side path and rear side path, respectively, and connecting the front side fluid source with the rear side fluid source.

Abstract: A safety steering wheel having an impact protector mounted on the hub of the steering wheel and which consists of a collapsed gas bag and a housing which contains a propellant for inflating the gas bag. The impact protector is covered by a cover hood, which is made of soft elastic plastic and reinforced by a reinforcing layer. In order to prevent a bulging of the cover hood by the forces which are exerted by the collapsed gas bag, a frame is provided, which is secured to the carrier for the housing which contains the propellant. The frame surrounds the housing and the gas bag and comprises at least one retaining member, which is integrally joined to the frame and attached to that edge of the frame which faces the driver's compartment. The retaining member when in a rest position extends in front of the collapsed gas bag and in the case of an impact is adapted to be bent up toward the driver's compartment along a straight line.

Abstract: The invention relates to bracing of vehicle body structures that are deformed with absorption of energy upon collision wherein a resiliently front mounted engine of a motor vehicle has connected thereto a longitudinally extending tension band fastened to the vehicle body structure laterally adjacent to the engine which tension band is extended upon collision and wherein the bracing function of the front engine is largely independent of the course of deformation of the car front in the case of a frontal collision, and wherein the tension band is constructed as a flexible traction cable at least along a part of its length and wherein along its length it is provided with a stress absorbing means for the absorption of forces after an intended partial deformation of the vehicle body structure associated with it.

Abstract: In a rear suspension comprising left and right trailing arms which are pivoted on the vehicle body at the front ends for vertical swinging motion by way of rubber bushings, and a torsion beam connecting the trailing arms, nonlinear toe characteristics of the outer rear wheel are obtained by mounting the trailing arms so that the pivotal axes thereof intersect on the front side of the line joining the rubber bushings on the front ends thereof, and selecting the elastic characteristics of the rubber bushings in the direction perpendicular to the pivotal axis of the corresponding trailing arm in the horizontal plane including the pivotal axis.

Abstract: The application relates to a fastening means for a gas cushion unit associated with a passenger seat in a motor car, where the gas cushion unit exhibits a housing which is slidable into a frame formed by fixed parts of the vehicle and is anchorable there by the cooperation of a central screw ehich penetrates frame and housing at their upper side and lower side. In order to achieve absolutely reliable anchorage for a minimum assembly outlay, it is provided according to the invention that a channel closed radially at least in sections and serving for the passage of the central screw is provided on the rear side of the housing at least on a part of its vertical extension.

Abstract: A rear suspension for a vehicle including a trailing arm and a link. The trailing arm has inner and outer connections spaced from each other widthwise of a car body and is connected to the car body by a bolt extending through each of bushings disposed in the respective connections. The link has two ends, one end thereof being connected to the car body through a first ball joint having the rotary center thereof disposed on a swinging axis of the trailing arm. The other end of the link is connected to the trailing arm through a second ball joint.

Abstract: A passive seat belt system includes a timer and a control means. The timer is capable of reaching a time-up state upon an elapsed time of a predetermined interval of time after closure of an associated door and releasing the time-up state upon opening of the door. The control means allows a retractor to lock a webbing after the timer has reached the time-up state.

Abstract: An auxiliary anchorage for a shoulder belt is comprised of an anchor ring which is mounted on a structural member of the vehicle body by an anchor belt which passes through an opening in the seat back cushion. The anchor ring is C-shaped and has an entry opening smaller than the width of the shoulder belt. The shoulder belt is removably inserted into the opening in the C-shaped ring. As the belt unfolds the belt obstructs the opening of the C-shaped ring. The C-shaped ring is mounted at a height lower than the shoulder belt retractor so that the C-shaped ring effectively lowers the height of the shoulder belt anchorage whereby the shoulder belt dwells at an adjusted angle of repose. The anchor belt may be stiffened by a plastic sheath so that the C-shaped ring is held at a readily accessible presence relative the opening in the seat back cushion and may be swung into a stored position in the opening in readiness for subsequent withdrawal from the opening to enable the insertion of the shoulder belt therein.

Abstract: A two or three-wheeled vehicle, motorized or not, in which the handle-bar and the front fork are hinged to the steering hub so that they can be upset from their normal operative position to a contracted vehicle position reduced in overall dimensions, in which the front wheel center is put underneath the frame front part and the handle-bar is upset in an essentially horizontal way, so reducing the vehicle overall dimensions in length and in its front part height.

Abstract: A rear suspension for motor vehicles comprising two longitudinal arms carrying the rear wheels of the motor vehicle at their rear ends, compression springs and a subframe. The front ends of the longitudinal arms are articulated to the subframe which is fixed to the body of the vehicle. The compression springs are interposed between each arm and the subframe so that the whole suspension can be assembled on the sub-frame before the latter is mounted on to the body. The subframe includes two sheet-metal box-section lateral supports provided with attachments for connecting the subframe to the body and for the articulation of the longitudinal arms. A sheet-metal cross member is rigidly connected at its ends to the two lateral supports. Each compression spring is interposed between and connected to a respective lateral support of the sub-frame.

Abstract: A bag of an air bag assembly is fixed at a base portion thereof to a gas generator in such a manner as to enclose openings which are formed in the latter, the bag being inflated by gas which jets out through the openings perpendicularly to a direction intending toward an occupant. A self-sustained reinforcing member is mounted on the base portion of the bag and provided with a surface which faces the openings of the gas generator. Gas rushing out through the openings is intercepted and redirected toward the occupant by the surface of the reinforcing member. A space for heat insulation is defined between the outer periphery of the reinforcing member and the inner periphery of the bag.

Abstract: A stabilizer system for racing cars includes a fluid dampener installed between the chassis and wheel axle either at the left rear or right front of the car and has an outer spring member on the dampener which is pre-loaded by threadedly adjustable stop members at either or both ends of the spring; and an outer concentric cylinder in surrounding relation to the dampener has an annular piston extending through one end of the cylinder and bears against one of the adjustable stop members, there being a remote control fluid flow device accessible to the driver to regulate the fluid under pressure applied to the outer concentric cylinder so as to permit adjustment in loading of the spring when the car is in motion.

Abstract: In the dish-shaped hub body of a steering wheel between two concentric cylindrical walls and a bottom wall connecting them an annular cavity is formed into which the propellent charge of a gas generator is introduced. This cavity is sealed by an outwardly arched closure plate provided with gas passage openings. An inflatable gas bag in the form of a hose ring is secured with its opening edges to a support plate which is secured at its peripheral edge to the steering wheel body. A separate gas generator housing can be dispensed with.

Abstract: A four wheel steer vehicle is provided with a suspension control system for controlling at least one suspension characteristic, one or more sensors for sensing a change in suspension characteristics by sensing a condition of the suspension control system, and a controlling element for varying a ratio of a rear wheel steer angle to a steering wheel angle in accordance with the suspension characteristic. Examples of the suspension characteristics are spring constants of front and rear suspensions, heights of the front and rear suspensions, damping forces of the front and rear suspensions, roll stiffnesses of the front and rear suspensions, and front wheel alignment angles such as camber and toe-in.

Abstract: For better handling and improved riding comfort of a vehicle, there is provided a compound suspension system comprising a plurality of hydraulic shock absorbers each having a front chamber and a back chamber defined in front of and behind a piston member, respectively, received in a cylinder member, and a valve structure provided in each of the shock absorbers for selectively communicating the chambers to a conduit which is common to at least one other shock absorber, wherein: the valve structure comprises a valve element provided with a first part for varying a degree of communication between the front chamber and the common conduit and a second part for varying a degree of communication between the front chamber and the back chamber.

Abstract: An adjustable mount for anchoring a safety belt on a vertical surface of a motor vehicle has a vertically elongated guide rail fixed to the surface and having an front face turned away from the surface and a rear face turned toward the surface. This rail is formed with a longitudinally extending throughgoing slot and generally along the full length of the slot with a vertical row of stops at the rear face and having upwardly and downwardly directed stop edges. A slider displaceable along the rail has a rear portion engageable forward with the rear face of the rail and having abutments engageable between the stops with the edges thereof, a front portion engageable rearward with the front face of the rail, and an intermediate connecting portion extending between and unitarily interconnecting the front and rear portions. A guide fixed to the rear portion extends forward therefrom through the slot and is formed with a forwardly open threaded bore into which a bolt is threaded.

Abstract: A transmission for a tractor comprising a power takeoff line change speed gear mechanism, propelling line change speed gear mechanisms and a backward and forward drive switching mechanism. The propelling line change speed gear mechanisms include a main change speed mechanism, an auxiliary change speed mechanism and a front wheel change speed mechanism. The power takeoff line change speed mechanism, and the main and auxiliary change speed mechanisms somewhat encircle a longitudinal center line transversely of the transmission. The backward and forward drive switching mechanism and the front wheel change speed mechansim are juxtaposed in a region immediately forwardly of the change speed machanisms B, C and E.

Abstract: A collapsible vehicular trailer 10 using a standard towing dolly 1 as its wheel base. The collapsible vehicular trailer 10 is connected to a tow vehicle by a collapsible V-shaped trailer tongue 11. The collapsible trailer tongue 11 is connected to the tow vehicle by a hitch-ball coupler 15 and at its other end to a pair of base platforms 18 which detachably straddle the axles of towing dolly 1. Base platforms 18 each have a ramp retaining lip 20 located at their trailing edges for detachably engaging ramps 45. A pivot support platform 23 also straddles the two axles of towing dolly 1 and is centered between base platforms 18. Pivot support platform 23 provides a pivotal connecting point for the pivot frame 30 which has opposing wheel cradles 36 and 37 attached to the ends of main pivot frame members 31. The opposing wheel cradles 36 and 37 have a stop plate 41 and wheel retaining chain 39 for securely attaching a pair of wheels on the vehicle to be towed.

Abstract: An improved light-weight, highly portable motor scooter having an elongated tubular frame which serves as muffler for a gasoline engine, a rear wheel secured to the frame at the rearward end thereof, a generally vertical, tubular support member secured to the frame at the forward end, a generally vertical strut member rotatably received within the tubular support member and having a yoke on the lower end thereof below the tubular support member, the yoke receiving a front wheel, a horizontal platform mounted on the frame, an engine secured to the frame adjacent the rearward end having a converter for coupling the engine to the rear wheel, an elongated handle member pivotally affixed at its lower end to the upper end of the strut member, the handle member being pivoted in a forward direction to pull the scooter and in a rearward direction to lie adjacent and parallel the frame whereby the scooter can be carried and extendable in an axially aligned position relative to the strut member permitting the user to gu