Abstract: A powered wheeled carriage includes a patient support and a wheeled base. An auxiliary wheel mechanism includes an auxiliary wheel spring support for biasing an auxiliary wheel into contact with a floor. Operating a control apparatus moves the auxiliary wheel away from the floor. A drive handle pivots about a single axis to control a drive motor that powers the auxiliary wheel. The drive handle controls driving of the wheeled carriage in forward and rearward directions. A decision/drive circuit ramps the speed of the wheeled carriage for a few second after start-up to prevent a jerking motion. A display/control panel displays the condition of the carriage brake and the condition of the auxiliary wheel to assist an operator.

Abstract: A child's swaying bike includes a seat, two rear rollers, a center rod, two front rollers, and a handlebar. The bike can move forward by swaying of the center rod to the right and the left. The handlebar can be pivotally connected quickly with the center rod by inserting a pivot to simplify the structure of the child's swaying bike. The handlebar has an intermediate horizontal potion and two L-shaped side portions extending from the two ends of the intermediate horizontal portion. The two L-shaped side portions are symmetrically positioned to let a child ride and sway safely and stably on the seat, designed to conform to ergonomics.

Abstract: A transmission ratio of a rotational angle of an output shaft to a rotational angle of an input shaft is adjustable by a transmission ratio changing mechanism when a coupling member is in a unlocked position. A resilient member urges the coupling member toward the locked position. A solenoid holds the coupling member at the unlocked position against a resilient force of the resilient member. A solenoid drive control apparatus applies a drive voltage to the solenoid to hold the coupling member positioned at the unlocked position and reduces the drive voltage through a voltage attenuation process before the coupling member finally reaches the locked position. During the voltage attenuation process, the solenoid produces an electromagnetic force yielding to the resilient force of the resilient member and decreases a shifting speed of the coupling member on the way to the locked position.

Abstract: A vehicle steering system is provided with a primary steering system, a backup steering system and a control system that switches from the primary steering system to the backup steering system when a defect is determined in the primary steering system such as a defeat in a steering reaction force actuator. The vehicle steering system has a pair of clutches that mechanically disconnect the steering wheel from the steerable vehicle wheels in normal situations, and connect them when the steering reaction force actuator is determined to be defective. The control system has a steering malfunction detection section that detects a malfunction in the steering reaction force actuator, and a steering control limiting section that limits the control commands to the steering gear unit actuator from when the steering reaction force actuator is determined to be malfunctioning to when both the clutches are connected.

Abstract: A hitch for presenting different sized ball hitches for towing use. The hitch may include a first ball and pedestal extending in a first direction. A second ball and pedestal may extend in a second direction, distinct from the first direction. The first ball and pedestal and the second ball and pedestal may be homogenously formed of a single material to form a monolith. A stem may connect to the monolith to support and present the first ball and pedestal and the second ball and pedestal for towing use. The stem may extend away from the monolith in a third direction, distinct from both the first and second directions.

Abstract: A vehicle speed response type power steering system, wherein, when a vehicle is moving at a relatively slow speed, a relatively large auxiliary power is generated to enable a driver to easily adjust a steering of the vehicle with relatively little steering power, and when a vehicle is moving at a high speed, a relatively small auxiliary power is generated to prevent an abrupt turn in order to stabilize the steering operation of the vehicle, such that formation of appropriate auxiliary power in response to a vehicle speed allows a driver to carry out an easy and safe steering manipulation.

Abstract: A rear wheel is axially removable from a bicycle frame after a support arm is pivoted away from an initial position overlying the rear wheel. A bicycle drive mechanism is not removed together with the rear wheel, but instead, is left mounted on another support arm. Both support arms straddle the rear wheel during bicycle use and are pivotable to fold the bicycle for compact storage.

Abstract: An elect power steering apparatus includes a motor drive circuit for PWM-driving an electric motor to generate a steering assist torque corresponding to a steering torque. The motor drive circuit includes a bridge circuit formed by a plurality of FETs, and a predrive circuit for driving FETs at a positive potential. Series connected first and second voltage step-up circuits for stepping up a line voltage at two stages are provided in front of the predrive circuit so that the FETs are driven by the predrive circuit with an output voltage from the second voltage step-up circuit supplied to the predrive circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing a towing vehicle to a towed vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus includes a base, a mount movably secured to the base and one or more hitches attached to the mount. The mount may rotate, pivot, translate, or otherwise move in relation to the base in order to move the hitch between various positions including one or more towing positions and at least one stored or stowed position. The hitch, or hitches, may also be movably secured to the mount for additional flexibility in configuring the apparatus in the towing and stowed positions. Additionally, when multiple hitches are provided, each of the multiple hitches may be configured as different size or style of hitch such that a user may select one of the hitches depending on the intended use thereof.

Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle includes at least one wheel that pivots to define a steering angle, wherein the steering angle is defined, at least in part, by an input from the operator, and at least one sensor adapted to monitor the roll of a vehicle body and a height of the center of gravity of the vehicle. The steering system also includes a motor operatively connected to the wheel that supplements the input to the steering angle, and a controller in communication with the sensor and operatively connected to the motor, wherein the controller is adapted to adjust the supplementation of the input to the steering angle based upon the amount of roll of the vehicle body as monitored by the sensor, and adapted to supplement the steering angle when the amount of roll of the vehicle body as monitored by the sensor exceeds a maximum value.

Abstract: A front fork shock-absorbing damper for use in between an upper front fork tube and a lower front fork tube of a vehicle's front fork for producing a damping effect upon movement of the upper front fork tube relative to the lower front fork tube includes a control rod movable by an external force between a top locking position where the front fork shock-absorbing damper does no work, and a bottom unlocking position where the front fork shock-absorbing damper is functioning.

Abstract: An engine guard for a motorcycle is made so that it will mount onto a motorcycle frame and has horizontally extending rail sections on opposite sides of the frame. Foot pegs are mounted at the outer ends of the horizontally extending sections. The foot pegs are positioned on opposite sides of the motorcycle and will pivot about a generally horizontal axis from a deployed position where they extend outwardly from the horizontal rail sections to a stowed position wherein the foot pegs are nested into a recess provided in the top of the respective horizontal rail section. The foot pegs include anti-slip surfaces. The stowed position moves the foot pegs inwardly, and provides a surface for supporting the feet of a rider. When the pegs are extended outwardly, the feet on the pegs are spaced at a greater distance from the center plane of the motorcycle than when the foot pegs are in the stowed position.

Abstract: A snowmobile is provided that includes a frame, an engine, an endless belt drive system, and an air intake system for the engine. The frame has a forward portion and an aft portion. The engine is mounted to the forward portion and the belt drive system is mounted to the aft portion and is operatively connected to the engine. The engine is a turbocharged four-stroke type engine.

Abstract: A torque transfer mechanism is provided for controlling the magnitude of a clutch engagement force exerted on a multi-plate clutch assembly that is operably disposed between a first rotary and a second rotary member. The torque transfer mechanism includes a clutch actuator for generating and applying a clutch engagement force on the clutch assembly.

Abstract: An assist device that applies an auxiliary driving force to a joint in parallel with a driving force of a joint actuator between a thigh portion and a crus portion, which are a pair of link members of a leg. The assist device generates the auxiliary driving force by use of spring device, such as a solid spring or an air spring. A member supporting a rod member connected to the spring device is provided with a device for transmitting a bending and stretching motion of the leg at the joint (a relative displacement motion between the thigh portion and the crus portion) to the spring device to generate an elastic force of the spring device, and for discontinuing the transmission of the bending and stretching motion to the spring device. This transmitting device is controlled in accordance with a gait of a robot. Thus, a burden on the joint actuator is reduced where necessary and favorable utilization efficiency of energy can be stably ensured.

Abstract: A security device used with trailers comprising first and second attached security chambers, the first chamber providing a security bolt orifice allowing insertion of a security bolt. A security pin orifice bored through one side of the chamber allows insertion of a security pin. The second chamber provides security bolt orifices to also allow insertion of the security bolt. A lock is inserted into the first chamber, with a lock body portion dimensioned to fit within the proximal interior portion of the first chamber, and a non-linear shackle portion dimensioned to fit within the distal interior portion of the first chamber. A security bar having a security bolt orifice bored therethrough permits traversing of the bar by the security bolt. The security bar is dimensioned to allow its insertion within the second chamber and unimpeded passage of the security bolt through the bar's bolt orifice.

Abstract: A ball hitch is disclosed for connecting a drawbar of an agricultural vehicle to a coupling pin of a trailer. The ball hitch comprises a ball element having a part-spherical outer surface and a cylindrical bore for receiving the coupling pin of the trailer. The socket element is constructed as a sleeve that is removably mountable in the drawbar and has a part-spherical inner surface within which the ball element is received to allow the coupling pin to swivel about mutually orthogonal axes relative to the drawbar.

Abstract: An ambulatory device comprising a frame having support rails, two large rear wheels containing hand grips, two small front wheels for steering, a foldable seat allowing the user to sit when desirable, and a height-adjustable support frame having a vertical and horizontal section rising from the frame. A body halter holding the user is rotatably supported by a swivel support which is connected by connector ropes or cables to a support bar. The support bar is connected by connector ropes or cables to a winch which lifts and lowers the user. An optional scale may be present so that the amount of weight of the user supported by the device may be measured and controlled.

Abstract: In a steering angle detection device for an electric power steering apparatus, a steering wheel shaft rotation angle is derived by calculating a rotation angle signal which corresponds to a rotation angle of a steering wheel shaft within a single rotation, based upon detection signals of first and second resolvers which detect the rotation angle of the steering wheel shaft and which have different pole pair numbers. A third resolver detects, as a motor rotation angle, a rotation angle of an output shaft of an electric motor that imparts assistance force to an output member of a steering gear having a reduction ratio that varies in accordance with a steering angle of the steering wheel from a straight ahead position.

Abstract: A shock-absorbing frame for a bicycle includes a first body, a middle body, a shock-absorbing device, a second body, and two holders. Thus, the middle body and the second body are rotated on the opposite directions, and the drive chain wheel and the driven chain wheel are moved upward and forward simultaneously, so that the distance between the drive chain wheel and the driven chain wheel is kept at a constant, thereby preventing the chain mounted between the drive chain wheel and the driven chain wheel from becoming loosened or detached, so that the chain is mounted between the drive chain wheel and the driven chain wheel rigidly and stably without detachment so as to protect the rider's safety.