Abstract: A The airbag suspension system of the invention replaces the stock coil-over shock. The system provides (i) an airbag disposed in essentially the same location as the stock coil-over shock being held in place by an upper airbag mount that attaches to the rear of the motorcycle main frame and a lower airbag mount that attaches to the swingarm; (ii) a shock absorber mounted to the upper airbag mount and to the swingarm via a progressive relay arm linkage similar to the linkage used in modern sportbike suspension; and (iii) an onboard air compressor and switching unit that allows the motorcycle operator to adjust the pressure to the air bag suspension system while the motorcycle is stationary or in motion.

Abstract: A fifth wheel trailer hitch adaptor system for providing a safer and more stable way to tow a fifth wheel trailer. The fifth wheel trailer hitch adaptor system includes a vehicle. A receiver is secured to the vehicle. The receiver has an aperture extending through the receiver. A fifth wheel trailer hitch member has a base portion. A connection bar is secured to the base portion. The connection bar has a distal portion extending outwardly from the base portion. The distal portion is insertable through the aperture in the receiver. The distal portion has a hole extending through the distal portion. A pin member is couplable to the distal portion through the hole whereby the connection bar is secured to the receiver.

Abstract: A safety brake for use on a wheelchair, specifically for the purpose of preventing the wheelchair from rolling rearward when the occupant attempts to exit or enter the wheelchair. The safety brake allows forward movement but prevents rearward movement unless the occupant pulls back on the spring loaded brake handles. Upon release of the brake handles the rearward movement is prevented. The assembly replaces existing brake assemblies on wheelchairs and is designed specifically for the cognitively impaired and invalids to enable safe disembarkation from the wheelchair.

Abstract: A vehicle steering mechanism to compensate for instabilities including a vehicle frame, a front axle coupled to the vehicle frame, the front axle further coupled to two front wheels, a rear axle coupled to the vehicle frame, the rear axle further coupled to two rear wheels, an actuator for changing the direction and angle of the two rear wheels, a trailer hitch coupled to the frame, at least one sensor for measuring instability in the trailer hitch, a controller processing the measured instability, and where the controller controls the actuator and the direction and angle of the two rear wheels to compensate for the measured instability.

Abstract: A drive assembly is provided that includes a roller frame, a motor located on the roller frame, and a drive system located on the roller frame. The drive assembly may also include an endless track configured to be driven by the drive system and adaptable to provide locomotion to the track-type machine. The motor may have a longitudinal axis substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the roller frame. The drive system may be driveably engaged with the motor. The endless track may be configured to be driven by the drive system and is adaptable to provide locomotion to a track-type machine. A track-type machine having the disclosed drive assembly and method of driving such a track-type machine is also provided.

Abstract: Transport apparatus for use and propulsion by an individual includes a receptacle and a support board pivotally attached to the receptacle. A pair of spaced rear receptacle wheels and a front receptacle wheel are connected to the bottom of the receptacle, the front receptacle wheel being swivel mounted. The front end of the support board is connected by a swivel to the receptacle and a support board wheel is located at the other end of the support board.

Abstract: A snowmobile (20) having an engine (34) with an air charging system (70). The air charging system (70) is connected to an intercooler assembly (57), which includes a heat exchanger (56) mounted adjacent to an intercooler opening (48) in the track tunnel (36). A snow retention area (54) is located above the heat exchanger (56) allowing for snow/ice to be thrown from a snowmobile drive track (38) and build up on top of the heat exchanger (56), allowing the snow/ice to absorb heat from intercooler assembly (57).

Abstract: Two front and rear helmets are to be contained in a container box without increasing the height of a seat. In a two-wheeled motor vehicle, a container box extending in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle body is disposed above a rear wheel, and a seat is disposed above the container box. A bottom plate of the container box is formed in an approximately inverse-V shape when viewed from the side. The container box includes a forward downwardly slanting face and a rearward downwardly slanting face. Two helmets Hf and Hr can be received in front and rear positions within the container box, by placing them on the forward downwardly slanting face and a rearward downwardly slanting, respectively.

Abstract: A method for coupling a wheelchair to an exercise device includes the step of receiving a first wheel of the wheelchair in a first wheel stop to limit forward motion relative to the exercise device. A pin is inserted through the wheel stop and behind the inner periphery of the wheel to limit backward motion of the wheelchair. If necessary, a leg of the exercise device is longitudinally adjusted to adjust a distance between components of the exercise device and the user. A second wheel may be similarly pinned to limit both translation and rotation of the wheelchair relative to the exercise device. The user may then perform the desired exercise routines. Upon completion, the user can disengage from the exercise device by removing the pins.

Abstract: A front wheel for a vehicle for children provides a wheel frame having a slot through which a crank extends. A locking plate is securely mounted to the crank to turn therewith. A switch member is attached to the wheel frame and includes a guide groove. When an end of a pin is in an end of the guide groove of the switch member, the other end of the pin is in a locking position engaged with a positioning notch of the locking plate, thereby allowing joint rotation of the wheel frame and the crank. When the end of the pin is in a second end of the guide groove of the switch member, the other end of the pin is in an unlocking position disengaged from the positioning notch of the locking plate, thereby allowing independent rotations of the crank and the wheel frame.

Abstract: A trailer hitch stinger assembly for a towing vehicle, wherein the tow vehicle has a frame, a stinger and a trailer hitch, comprising: a trailer hitch stinger having a hitch, and a retainer wherein the retainer is slidably mounted around the trailer hitch stinger and further comprises a central slot is adapted to engage the trailer hitch stinger, a right slot adapted to receive a first chain from a trailer, and a left slot adapted to receive a second chain from the trailer.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved structure for a rack drive assembly adapted for use in a vehicle electric power steering assembly. The electric power steering assembly includes a steering member (32), a one piece integral ball nut and pulley member (70), a lone bearing unit (90), and an electric motor (60). The steering member (32) is disposed in a rack housing (30) and includes a rack portion (34) operatively connected to a vehicle steering wheel (12) and a screw portion (40). The one piece integral ball nut and pulley member (70) is operatively connected to the screw portion (40) of the rack portion (34) of the steering member (32) for effecting axial movement of the steering member (32) upon rotation of the vehicle steering wheel (12). The ball nut and pulley member (70) includes a ball nut portion (72) and a pulley portion (76). The lone bearing unit (90) is carried by the ball nut and pulley member (70) for rotatably supporting the ball nut portion (72) relative to the steering member (32).

Abstract: The severity of a crash is discriminated from a measure of relative motion of first and second elements of a vehicle, wherein an initial time is recorded when a variable point in the associated phase space of relative velocity and relative displacement crosses a first threshold boundary, and a safety restraint actuator is actuated if a subsequent time when the variable point crosses a second threshold boundary is within threshold period following the initial time. In accordance with another aspect, a type of impacting object is discriminated from a first measure of relative motion at a first location, and a crash severity is discriminated from a second measure of relative motion at a second location, wherein the relative motion at the first location is unipolar for one type of crash and bipolar for another, and the relative motion at the second location is unipolar for both types of crashes.

Abstract: A transaxle assembly having at least two transaxle housings for a zero turn or similar vehicle, where both housings mount separate hydrostatic transmissions. A mounting plate is provided to secure to the bottom of both of the housings to mount the housings to a vehicle frame and if required to seal openings formed in the bottom of both of the housings. The connection plate may include tabs or other structure to secure it to the vehicle frame to increase the ease of assembly of the transaxle unit in the vehicle.

Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling an electric power steering mechanism including an abnormal detecting unit for detecting abnormality or normality of the electric power steering mechanism for each sampling time; and a failure deciding unit for detecting failure of the electric power steering mechanism when an abnormal counter is incremented at every detection of abnormality detected by the abnormal detecting unit, and when the abnormality counter reaches a failure deciding value, wherein, the failure deciding unit returns the abnormal counter from its held value to zero when the abnormal detecting unit sequentially detects normality during a predetermined sampling times, even if the abnormal detecting unit once detects abnormality, whereby it can be surely determined whether or not the electric power steering mechanism has failed.

Abstract: The support body engaged with the interior side of the tooth body provided at the worm wheel of the electric power steering apparatus comprises: a corrugates cylinder part-press-formed to have a plurality of concavities on the exterior side thereof and convexities to the interior formed by the concavities which are arranged in a peripheral direction; and a plate part an exterior edge of which is united with an end of the corrugated cylinder part, wherein the tooth body is engaged with the exterior side of the corrugated cylinder part. With the method of manufacturing the gear, synthetic resin of the tooth body can be deposited uniformly on the support body made of metal engaged with the interior of the tooth body, costs can be reduced, and the support body can be engaged with the tooth body without generating voids and weld marks.

Abstract: A variable length crank arm assembly (10) is disclosed which is mounted to a bicycle (11). The crank arm assembly (10) has a pair of oppositely disposed crank arms (25) each having a boss (26) from which extends a forked, crank arm member (27). Each crank arm member (27) has a first portion (28) that extends to a second portion (29). The second portion (29) has a proximal stop (31) and a distal stop plate (32). The crank arm assembly (10) also includes a slide (34) slideably mounted upon the second portion (29). A pair of proximal springs (37) are mounted upon the arm member second portion (29) which bias the slide (34) toward distal stop plate (32). A pair of distal springs (38) are mounted upon the second portion (29) which bias the slide (34) toward the proximal stops (31). A pedal assembly (41) is rotatably mounted to the slide (34). The pedal assembly (41) includes a shaft (42) extending from slide (34) and a conventional pedal (43) rotatably mounted to shaft (42).

Abstract: A structural layout of a motorcycle concerning a fuel tank, a fuel cock, a carburetor, and an engine in relation to a frame is provided. A downward projecting portion is provided on a bottom of the fuel tank towards the rear. The projecting portion extends in a space defined behind a cylinder head and a cylinder head cover of the engine and in front of a rear cross member of the frame. The downward projection is juxtaposed with a carburetor across a motorcycle body. The fuel cock is manually accessible from beneath the one of right or left main frames of the frame.

Abstract: The invention provides a driving apparatus for use in vehicles of the type wherein both the front and rear wheels are driven. The apparatus effectively prevents the steerable wheels from skidding while transmitting power to the steerable wheels when turning the vehicle. The apparatus comprises a transmission unit 13 for receiving a rotational output from a main HST 50, a steerable wheel drive shaft 6 and a nonsteerable wheel drive shaft 5 for receiving the rotational output from the transmission unit and delivering the output respectively to an axle for driving the steerable wheels and an axle for driving the nonsteerable wheels, and a differential unit for rotating the drive shaft 6 at an increased speed and the drive shaft 5 at a decreased speed.

Abstract: A miniaturized motor vehicle includes a frame, a rear axle supporting a pair of rear wheels including a drive wheel, a motor mounted to the frame and coupled to the rear axle, and a front axle supporting a pair of front wheels. A steering assembly is rotatably mounted to the frame for steering the front wheels. The steering column assembly is readily removable. A seat is mounted to the frame and is adjustable in height to accommodate drivers of various sizes. The seat assembly is readily removable. A pair of footrests is mounted to the frame to provide a platform on which the driver can rest his feet and to more easily shift his weight. The motor is coupled to the rear axle, the rear axle is a live axle, and the rear axle is rigidly fixed to one of the rear wheels and is rotatably mounted to the other of the rear wheels. The steering assembly includes a steering bar and a steering column that is rotatably coupled to the frame at a point between the steering bar and the seat.