Abstract: A safety device for the passenger compartment of a passenger car comprises a cushion plate, which is mounted in the front part of the vehicle on the knee level and is displaceable by drive means toward the knees of the passenger. In a simple embodiment the drive means comprise a fixed leaf spring, which is prestressed in a state of rest and is releasable to move opposite to the direction of travel of the vehicle.

Abstract: Featured for use with a hybrid air bag inflator containing inert stored gas under high pressure is a liquid fueled construction which combines the functions of an initiator, gas generator, and differential low pressure switch into a single device. Instead of being filled with a mixture of combustible gases, the device is filled with a combination of gases and liquids. Alternatively, it makes use of a hybrid squib in conjunction with different combinations of gases and liquids. A pyrotechnic material is used to ignite the mixture regardless of the combination of fuel and oxidant used in the device. A ceramic body is used to house the device. Upon combustion of the mixture, the ceramic body ruptures violently, permitting efficient transfer of the explosive energy to the inert stored gas in the hybrid inflator.

Abstract: A radiator and condenser bridge the front of an engine bay of an automotive vehicle. An electric motor powered ducted fan is disposed directly behind and in enclosing relation to the radiator and condenser to draw air through the radiator and condenser and convey the hot effluent to a location outside the engine bay. While the bay is intended to be ventilated by ram air, any hot spots that may occur in or adjacent the bay, due to an insufficiency or complete lack of ram air, may be ventilated by providing an ejector in association with the ducted fan system. Effluent from the ducted fan is conveyed through the ejector, which by means of venturi effect, creates a relatively low pressure zone. A relatively higher pressure zone at a hot spot is connected by means of a ventilating conduit to the relatively lower pressure zone of the ejector. A ventilating flow is induced through the ventilating conduit and entrained with the effluent for ensuing discharge to a location outside the bay.

Abstract: A particulate impingement device is carried by the air bag and has an impingement surface overlying the vent hole at a spaced relationship away from the vent hole so that the inflation gas exiting the air bag through the vent hole impinges on the impingement surface to deposit particulate by-products within the inflation gas upon the impingement surface.

Abstract: A cup holder mounted to a transversely extending handle of a shopping cart includes a holding member and an adjusting member. The holding member is mounted fixedly to the handle so as to project from the handle. The adjusting member is mounted to the handle so as to be pivotable between an operative position and an inoperative position. The adjusting member has a distal edge facing toward a concave edge of the holding member in the operative position of the adjusting member and away from the concave edge thereof in the inoperative position of the adjusting member. A cup having a frusto-conical wall can be supported between the concave edge of the holding member and the distal edge of the adjusting member with the adjusting member in the operative position or between the concave edge of the holding member and a near portion of the handle with the adjusting member in the inoperative position.

Abstract: A watercraft powered by a pair of jet propulsion units each having reverse thrust buckets that are controlled by pedals positioned in the operator's compartment. The pedal control is such that both reverse thrust buckets can be operated by a single foot of the operator for reverse thrust operation and braking or so that each pedal may be operated independently for abrupt turning maneuvers. An interlock system is provided so that the engines for the jet propulsion units cannot be started unless the reverse thrust buckets are in their neutral positions and a detent mechanism is provided for holding the pedals and the reverse thrust bucket in this neutral condition.

Abstract: A storage and display device for use in combination with a shopping cart for the storage of small items and articles, the display of advertising copy or material and retention of coupons comprising a rigid outer open receptacle having a similarly configured flexible inner open receptacle at least partially disposed therein and a coupon retainer.

Abstract: An insertable unit for a wheel bearing has an integrated constant velocity universal joint, which is axially insertable into the wheel carrier from the outside and which permits easy dismantling and re-assembly. The outer joint part at the wheel end can be inserted through the through-bore of the wheel carrier. The outer bearing ring is inserted into the through-bore and is secured against axial displacement. The inner diameter of the two-part inner bearing ring is smaller than the outer diameter of the outer joint part. The outer joint part and the wheel hub are welded to one another in the region of the axially inner end of the two-part inner bearing ring, with the outer joint part being supported on the inner bearing ring by a planar face.

Abstract: A power steering control valve including relatively rotatable inner and outer valve members. A power steering resistance control system resists relative rotation between the inner and outer valve members with a force which varies as a function of variations in vehicle speed and steering demand. The power steering resistance control system includes a force transmitting member which is disposed adjacent to one end of an outer valve member. A spring force is applied against the force transmitting member urging it in a first direction along the axis of rotation of the valve member. Fluid pressure is applied against the force transmitting member to urge it in the first direction. In a first embodiment, a speed responsive valve is operable to vary the fluid pressure applied against the force transmitting member as a function of variations in vehicle speed. A hydraulic pressure responsive valve is operable to vary the fluid pressure applied against the force transmitting member as a function of steering demand.

Abstract: A truck bed ballast apparatus includes a container assembly and a foot assembly adapted for connection to a truck bed. An inlet aperture is located on a wall of the container assembly. A quantity of sand can be added to the container assembly through the inlet aperture. A cover assembly covers the inlet aperture for retaining the sand inside the container assembly. The container assembly is adapted to be juxtaposed to a fender well projecting upward from the truck bed adjacent to a side wall of the truck bed. The foot assembly includes a plurality of apertures adapted to receive connectors for connecting the container assembly to the truck bed. In one embodiment, the container assembly includes a fender-well shaped outer portion adapted to fit over a fender well.

Abstract: A device is provided for controlling the forward momentum of the front surface of an automotive air bag cushion during deployment thereof. A diffuser is installed inside the air bag cushion near the gets inlet and substantially perpendicular to the flow of gas from the inflator. The diffuser results in reduced forward momentum of the front part of the air bag cushion thus permitting the lower portion of the air bag cushion to deploy toward the occupant of the vehicle so that initial contact of the air bag is made with the lower torso of an occupant. The cushion is thereby moved into a lower position in front of the occupant's torso more quickly than an air bag cushion equipped without a diffuser. The diffuser of this invention also provides secondary filtration of particulate matter from the gas stream.

Abstract: A towing apparatus for releasable securement between a wheel, or wheel gear, or wheel support structure, of an object-to-be-towed and a towing vehicle. A hitch connection is releasably secured to an elongated, resiliently bendable draft member at one end, and to an adjustable torque engaging member at the other end. A breakaway sleeve is secured to the bendable draft member in proximity to the torque engaging member. A breakaway support member having upper and lower bracing bars is pivotally secured to the breakaway sleeve, to provide arcuate travel of the bendable draft member. Limit stops extend between braces, to limit the arcuate travel of the bendable draft member to not more than 30 degrees. An expandable yoke is secured to the upper and lower bracing bars to provide an apparatus to releasably secure the towing apparatus to the object-to-be-towed.

Abstract: Airbag apparatus mounted, in a first embodiment, in the vehicle arm rest and having the capability of deploying front and side airbags at or prior to a collision. In a second embodiment, the vehicle arm rest is furnished only with a front airbag. In a third embodiment, an airbag system is mounted to the vehicle arm rest positioned between the driver and passenger seats. In a fourth embodiment, the airbag is positioned in the bottom of the vehicle seat and in a fifth embodiment, the airbag system is mounted in the cover for the vehicle recliner mechanism.

Abstract: An improved air cushion restraint system utilizes a gas flow-regulating valve having an inner membrane, an outer membrane, a pucker formed therebetween, and a flow passage from the air bag inflation chamber to the pucker for expulsion through an outer membrane aperture. The inner membrane is extensible in response to occupant impact with the air bag which exceeds a threshold value such that the inner membrane extends in response to such load where it is brought into nested engagement with the outer membrane pucker which flow restricts the aperture and stiffens the air bag.

Abstract: An operating method for a hybrid vehicle which has an electric motor for driving the vehicle and an internal combustion engine for power generation. Upon completion of the activation of a catalyst, the engine is operated in warm-up mode with a small throttle valve opening, and when the output of a water temperature gauge thereafter reaches a predetermined value and the warm-up operation has completed, the engine is operated with a large throttle valve opening for the power generation. Thus, the hybrid vehicle can enjoy improved exhaust gas characteristics and increased cruising range and power performances.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for igniting a body (60) of ignitable gas generating material which generates gas for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12). The method includes the step of igniting a body (202) of pyrotechnic material which, when ignited, emits combustion products. The method further includes the step of igniting the body (60) of gas generating material by dispersing the combustion products over an ignitable surface portion (116) of the body (60) of gas generating material. The combustion products are dispersed by moving the body (202) of pyrotechnic material from a first location to a second location when the body (202) of pyrotechnic material is burning. The first and second locations are spaced from each other across the ignitable surface portion (116) of the body (60) of gas generating material.

Abstract: A method and system for folding an air bag for a supplemental inflatable restraint system for use in a vehicle wherein the air bag includes a front face, a rear face, upper and lower edges, an inflation opening located on the front face, and an upper portion defined between the upper edge and the inflation opening and a lower portion defined between the lower edge and the inflation opening. The air bag is initially placed in a flattened position and the lower portion is provided with a series of unidirectional folds to define a rolled portion of the air bag. Subsequently, the upper portion is folded over the rolled portion. During deployment, the upper portion is initially deployed and the lower portion subsequently unrolls generally downwardly and across the lap of an occupant in the vehicle.

Abstract: A belt assembly is arranged on a back side of a backrest of a baby carriage, so that the angle of inclination of the backrest may be changed by adjusting of the length of the belt assembly. The belt assembly includes a first belt, a second belt, and a buckle which is attached to an end of the first belt and which has the second belt passing therethrough. The second belt has on its first major surface a plurality of engaging cavities. The buckle holds an operating member, which is cross-directionally or laterally movable across the second belt, and which is urged by a spring to move downwardly. The operating member is provided with engaging projections, which can selectively engage the engaging cavities. The length of the belt assembly is fixed when the engaging projections engage the engaging cavities, while the length of the belt assembly is rendered changeable when the former disengage from the latter.

Abstract: A pair of air inlet openings and a pair of air introduction paths are formed in a leftwardly and rightwardly symmetrical relationship on left and right side portions of a windshield. The air introduction paths are each formed as a smooth continuous curved face in a transverse direction, and a body center side curved face of the air introduction path is formed more moderate relative to an outer side curved face. When surface air flows along the surface of the front face flow on the air introduction paths since the body center side curved faces are moderate, exfoliation occurs less likely, and the external air admission efficiency of the air inlet openings is raised.

Abstract: A bar storage apparatus comprises: a shelf frame (19) provided with a plurality of pallet accommodating shelves (17) each for movably accommodating a pallet (15) on which a plurality of bars are mounted; an elevator device (23) disposed on one side of the shelf frame so as to be movable up and down and provided with a traverser (21) for moving each pallet into and from each of the pallet accommodating shelves; and a bar supplying device (25) for supplying a bar, mounted on the pallet moved from the pallet accommodating shelf and further located at a predetermined position by the elevator device, to a bar processing machine (3). The bar storage apparatus can store a great number of bars of various kinds and various dimensions, select any required bars from a great number of bars, and supply the selected bars to a bar processing machine easily and quickly.