Abstract: An all-terrain vehicle including centrally pivoted bogies on opposite sides of the vehicle body, a primary yoke mounted on the vehicle body and extending crosswise to the vehicle body for coupling the bogies to each other, a secondary yoke mounted on the vehicle body and connected to the vehicle body by hydraulic cylinders at opposite ends thereof, and a selectively actuatable clutch for coupling the secondary yoke to the primary yoke so as to cause the hydraulic cylinders to drive both yokes a desired amount to positively move the bogies to a desired position, and hydraulic circuitry coupled to the hydraulic cylinders for applying a pulsating action to the bogies which is transmitted to the vehicle wheels mounted on opposite ends of the bogies for increasing traction of the wheels on surfaces such as snow, ice, mud and sand.

Abstract: A variable-sized ball hitch assembly for connecting a vehicle with a trailer hitch. The variable-sized ball hitch assembly includes a body, with a first ball and a second ball that are connected together by a stem, each ball having a different diameter. Each ball has a respective outermost end surface. A central axis extends longitudinally through each ball and through the stem. The stem has a cross-sectional dimension which is somewhat less than the diameter of the first ball and the diameter of the second ball. The body has at least one elongate bore which is substantially concentric with the central axis of the body and extends inwardly from the respective outermost end surfaces of the first ball and the second ball. The body is selectively oriented upon the first end of an elongate shaft so as to present one of the two differently sized balls to the vehicle hitch. The second end of the elongate shaft is inserted into and affixed to the trailer hitch.

Abstract: In a vehicle steering apparatus having a variable gear ratio unit arranged midway along a steering transmission system for connecting a steering wheel and tires to change the transmission ratio, and an ECU for variably controlling the variable gear ratio unit in accordance with the state of a vehicle, the variable gear ratio unit includes a motor controlled by the ECU, and a reducing mechanism which has a transmission ratio for allowing to maintain the steering angle of the steering wheel with respect to an RF reverse input and transmits the rotation of the motor to the output side. Even if a reverse input acts from a tire side during traveling, the relationship between the steering amount of the steering wheel and the turning amount of the tire can be kept unchanged.

Abstract: A gas generator for an airbag system of a vehicle comprises a combustion chamber to accommodate a propellant which is able to be activated. The combustion chamber has outflow openings for a gas which is generated after the propellant has been activated. The outflow openings are covered inside the combustion chamber by a filtering device. The filtering device is arranged spaced apart from the outflow openings. The filtering device divides the combustion chamber in axial or radial direction into a combustion space for the propellant or into one or more expansion chambers for the gas which is generated. The filtering process of the filtering device becomes more reproducible in the region of the outflow openings and is therefore improved. There is a better utilization of the filtering material and a greater lifespan of the filtering device is likewise achieved.

Abstract: An air bag impact protection arrangement for vehicle occupants includes a trough-shaped housing in which an inflating device and the folded-together air bag are housed. The inflating device is formed by an elongated tube generator. The air bag is placed into a narrow elongated storage shape by bringing the air bag into its folded-together position by combined turning and rolling foldings. In its folded-together position, the air bag is held by a surrounding protective cover envelope.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle has a transmission coupled to the output shaft of an engine for transmitting an output power of the engine to drive wheels of the hybrid vehicle. A generator motor is coupled to the transmission for transmitting an assistive output power for assisting the output power of the engine through the transmission to the drive wheels. A battery stores electric energy regenerated by the generator motor, operating as an electric motor, from kinetic energy of the hybrid vehicle transmitted from the drive wheels through the transmission when the hybrid vehicle is decelerated. A transmission control unit establishes a speed reduction ratio for the transmission to achieve a predetermined regeneration efficiency for the generator motor when the hybrid vehicle is decelerated, and controls the transmission at the established speed reduction ratio.

Abstract: A shock-absorbing device for a gliding board. The gliding board includes two laterally spaced apart transmission rods; at least one fixed connection making it possible to rigidly connect the first ends of both rods to the gliding board; and at least one casing adapted to be connected rigidly to the board at a certain distance from the fixed connection, which has an opening for the introduction of an inserted portion of each rod, and at least one housing containing a viscoelastic material which is in contact with the longitudinal sliding surface along at least a certain length of the insertable portion of each rod in the housing, the material being biased in shearing during the displacement of each rod portion in the housing. An object of the invention is to provide a device that absorbs both the flexional and torsional forces of the portions of a gliding board that are the most exposed to these phenomena.

Abstract: A snowboard and the like with very low weight and high mechanical strength, comprising a core made of foamed plastics which is arranged between a lower layer and an upper layer of fabric impregnated with epoxy resins. The core can be shaped and rigidly coupled to the layers by molding in a heated mold. There is also provided a base with a corresponding lamina, associated with the lower layer, and a topskin element associated with the upper layer.

Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle includes a wheel carrier for rotatably supporting a wheel, an upper control link having a first end coupled to an upper end of the wheel carrier and a second end proximal to a vehicle body, a lower control link having a second end coupled to a lower end of the wheel carrier and a second end proximal to the vehicle body, a reciprocating hydraulic actuator disposed such that its reciprocating motion becomes perpendicular to a vertical direction of the vehicle body, a converter for converting the reciprocating motion of the reciprocating hydraulic actuator into an up-and-own motion of the upper and lower control links, and an electronic control part for controlling an operation of the reciprocating hydraulic actuator in accordance with a driving condition of the vehicle.

Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering system for a vehicle which provides force feedback to the hand-operated steering wheel to allow an operator of the vehicle to feel forced opposition to the steerable road wheels. The steering system includes a road wheel actuator for actuating an associated road wheel, and a position sensor for sensing angular position of the road wheel. The steering system also includes a hand-operated steering wheel for controlling directivity of the road wheel, a steering wheel sensor for sensing position of the steering wheel, and a steering wheel actuator for actuating the hand-operated steering wheel. A controller receives a sensed steering wheel position and sensed road wheel position and calculates the control signal as a function of the difference therebetween.

Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising steerable front wheels supporting the vehicle and rear wheels supporting the vehicle, at least one rear wheel of which is coupled, by means of an at least substantially horizontal axle journal extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, to a wheel suspension arm (1) extending at least substantially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The wheel suspension arm (1) is capable of pivoting movement with respect to the other part of the vehicle about a horizontal pivot axis extending at least substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, whereby said rear wheel is capable of pivoting movement against spring force about an upwardly extending pivot axis (8) with respect to said wheel suspension arm from the position intended for normal forward movement The upwardly extending pivot axis (8) is positioned behind the axle journal of the rear wheel, seen in the intended direction of forward movement.

Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag module for vehicles, particularly for installation in a seat of a vehicle. The airbag module has a support with components for fastening the total airbag system to the vehicle and for accommodating the gas generator as well.

Abstract: A security system of the type having a fixed terminal and a portable unit such as a remote control. The portable unit produces an activation signal based on active intervention by a user and a measurement signal based on the measurement of a biometrical signature of the user. A control signal is generated when the activation and measurement signals are both generated within a specified temporal window and the measured biometrical signature corresponds to that of an authorized user. Thus, there is a reduced chance of both the security system being disarmed by an ill-intentioned third party and of untimely or inadvertently disarming the system.

Abstract: An airbag device has an inflator to charge a small amount of gas into an airbag so as to inflate the airbag at a low internal pressure when an occupant is in proximity to the airbag device, and charges a large amount of gas into the airbag so as to inflate the airbag largely when the occupant is apart from the airbag device sufficiently. When an ignition signal is generated, a first igniter is fed currency first of all to generate a gas from a gas generating agent within a first compartment 6 and an airbag 1 begins to expand. When an occupant P is in proximity to the airbag device, the airbag 1 contacts with the occupant P immediately after starting to expand and a distance between a static pad 12 and an opposite pad 20 increases slowly. A static capacity detected in a static capacity detecting circuit 30 decreases slowly. When the static capacity exceeds a threshold value at a point when 10 millisecond have passed after an input of the ignition signal, a second igniter 9 is triggered.

Abstract: A traveling operation device for a vehicle, wherein a cruising control mechanism, which can artificially hold a speed changing instrument of a stepless transmission biased toward the neutral side in a desired speed change position and which is interlocked to be released by treading a master brake pedal, is disposed at one lateral side within a dashboard, and a parking locking mechanism, which can hold the master brake pedal in a treading position, is disposed at the other lateral side within the vehicle dashboard.

Abstract: Assembly of at least two wheelchairs, each provided with at least three wheels, a frame and a sitting support, wherein the wheelchairs are nestable, in such a manner that the wheelchairs in a nested condition occupy considerably less space than in unnested condition, while the wheelchairs upon being unnested are substantially directly ready for use, and an assembly wherein two wheelchairs in the assembly in nested condition occupy a floor area, preferably a floor area which is at most 90%, preferably less than 75% and in particular less than 60% of the floor surface occupied by the same two wheelchairs in unnested condition.

Abstract: An electrically driven automotive vehicle including an electric motor for driving the vehicle, an electric energy storage device for storing an electric energy for operating the electric motor, the storage device having a plurality of storage portions which can be charged and discharged independently of each other, and a fully discharging device for fully discharging at least one of the storage portions, when an amount of electric energy stored in at least one of the other of the storage portions is larger than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Skiing equipment includes an elastically deformable structure which can assume a variety of curved configurations as a function of the dynamic actions occurring in use. The equipment includes at least one deformable chamber filled with a damping fluid and disposed in such a way that the variations in configuration of the deformable structure cause corresponding variations in the form of at least a part of the deformable chamber.

Abstract: A converter dolly replaces the rear wheels of a truck trailer to provide the trailer with a steering ability about its rear wheels. The converter dolly is modified to include a hydraulic actuating system, including a piston, cylinder, and pump assembly, which act upon the tongue of the converter dolly to pivot the converter dolly about a king pin. The actuation of the hydraulic system is performed by the driver of the tractor towing the trailer through a control system mounted in the tractor cab.

Abstract: A freestyle bicycle is provided with removable foot peg bosses that allow a rider to selectively attach and detach foot pegs on the legs of a bicycle fork. By providing the foot peg bosses as removable structures, uncomfortable outwardly projecting protrusions in the form of unused peg bosses which are characteristic of conventional foot peg systems are eliminated. A bolt is utilized to clamp the transverse end wall of a foot peg against a corresponding bearing surface of a removable foot peg boss while concurrently attaching the foot peg boss to the distal end of a selected fork leg. The shank of the bolt is threadably engageable with and disengageable from a peg boss support barrel that is mounted transversely within the tubular structure of a bicycle fork leg.