Abstract: A ski having a sole equipped with discontinuous serrations including a central flat gliding zone and on one side, at least, a lateral curved gliding zone bordering the central zone. The surface of the rear portion at least, of the central zone between the rear contact line and the center line of the boot of the ski is equipped with a pronounced structuring such that the measured values of the significant roughness parameters Rtm and Rku are greater than the values measured on the surface of the lateral curved gliding zone. The invention is more specifically related to an alpine ski whose ability to pivot and to glide are thus improved.

Abstract: A snowboard binding assembly with an adjustable backplate that can be quickly and easily positioned at a desired angle of inclination while on the slopes and without any tools. The binding assembly has a baseplate attachable to the snowboard with a forward end, a rearward end, and a heel brace toward the rearward end shaped to conform to a heel of a rider's boot. A backplate is pivotally mounted to the baseplate to adjust the desired angle of inclination between the backplate and baseplate. A plurality of teeth are positioned on the rear face to form a rack of teeth arranged on the rear face along a longitudinal axis of the backplate, and a movable block is attached to the rear face of the backplate along at least a portion of the rack of teeth so that the block can move along the longitudinal axis of backplate.

Abstract: A ski having a tip region, a heel region, and a central zone, is provided with a running sole having longitudinal sides and a longitudinal axis, an edge formed on each of the sides of the running sole, and an upper face including at least two side faces being non-parallel to the running sole. The at least two side faces intersect each other above the running sole to create a ridge extending longitudinally over at least part of the ski. The ridge is asymmetrical with respect to a longitudinal mid-plane through the longitudinal axis of the running sole.

Abstract: A ski having a sole equipped with discontinuous serrations comprising a smooth or lightly structured front portion and a strongly structured rear portion. The rear portion extends towards the rear in the direction of rear contact line from a transverse line located between the boot center line and a transverse line located at a distance (d) from the boot center line, equal to 0.4 times the distance (D) separating the line from forward contact line. The invention is more specifically related to an alpine ski whose ability to glide is thus improved.

Abstract: A snowboard binding for securing a boot to a board, comprising a base, a first engagement member that is supported by the base and adapted to engage a first lateral side of the boot, and a second engagement member, pivotally mounted to the base, that is adapted to engage a second lateral side of the boot opposite the first lateral side of the boot.

Abstract: A drive unit for use with an electric vehicle comprising a planetary gear arrangement. The planetary arrangement includes a reduction portion and a differential portion and provides a large reduction of rotational speed between the motor and the differential portion while delivering differentiated power to the drive wheels. The planetary arrangement includes, in its preferred embodiment, a first ring gear grounded to the transmission housing, a first pinion carrier having a first set of pinions, a first sun gear formed on an input shaft, a second carrier mated with a first output shaft, the second carrier having a second set of pinions, a compound ring-sun gear operatively situated between the first and second sets of pinions, and a second sun gear formed on a second output shaft, the second sun gear being operatively mated with the second set of pinions.

Abstract: A stroller for precluding motion of the stroller absent an attendant walking therebehind. The inventive device includes a stroller having a plurality of wheels. A brake handle is movably mounted to the push handle of the stroller for being grasped during manual propulsion of the stroller. Brake assemblies are mechanically coupled to the brake handle for precluding rotation of the wheels during an absence of an attendant gripping the brake handle to preclude unintentional rolling of the stroller.

Abstract: A failsafe stabilizer for an aircraft loader includes a pair of stabilizers extending from the loader which have a ground engaging plate which is actuated by a piston cylinder combination hydraulically. The cylinder is pivotally mounted to the chassis of the loader and normally maintained in its vertical position by a locking pin which engages a plate extending from the piston. If there is an emergency power failure in the hydraulic system, the pin may be withdrawn and when the loader is towed away, the cylinder and ground engaging plate pivot to remove any load from the plate to allow the loader to be easily moved on its wheels. To insure that the locking pin may be easily removed an offset pivot mounting is provided for the cylinder in the chassis relative to the center line of the cylinder so that there is minimal force on the locking pin even when the stabilizer is extended to contact the ground in its operating position.

Abstract: A conventionally constructed baby walker 5 having a lower support member 6 to which are attached front wheels 10 and rear wheels 12 in contact with floor surface 14 has further optically activated brake assemblies 21a and 21b both moveably attached to support member 6, the bottom surface of each is rollably in contact with floor surface 14. Brake assemblies 21a and 21b each contain an infrared emitter and photodiode disposed above surface 14 and connected to a control circuit. An optically encoded arc shaped strip 15 having a pattern of alternating reflective and non reflective bands is further attached to floor surface 14 using conventional screws 19. Preferably strip 15 is placed in front of a descending staircase 20 or other level drop such as may be encountered with a patio or porch. As walker 5 is propelled across surface 14 and over strip 15, the optically encoded pattern is detected by the infrared emitter--photodiode combination of braking assembly 21a.

Abstract: A telescopic pull lever structure for a luggage case, which can be adjusted up and down according to the size of the luggage case so as to snugly receive the luggage case. The pull lever structure includes a pull lever receiving board having a pair of handle pull levers and a pair of telescopic pull levers and a base seat. Any specific luggage case can be snugly received between the upper locking end of the receiving board and the base seat.

Abstract: A mobile base for supporting a camera crane arm includes a chassis having front and rear pairs of wheels. Front and rear steering angle compensators are linked respectively to the front and rear wheel pairs. The compensators are pivotally mounted to the chassis. Ground wheels and bogey track wheels are mounted on a kingpin/axle housing at each corner of the mobile base. Kingpins threaded into the kingpins/axle housings act as jacking posts. The mobile base may be steered by one or two operators in various steering modes.

Abstract: A suspension system for an in-line roller skate in which the suspension system independently controls each wheel of the skate. The suspension system components for each wheel includes a swing arm that is pivotally mounted to a frame attached to a boot of the skate. The wheel is rotatably mounted on a rotation axle between opposing legs of the swing arm. Two C-shaped spring stays are secured to opposing side rails of the frame where one leg of each spring stay travels through a stand-off rigidly secured to one of the opposing legs of the swing arm. A helical spring surrounds the leg of each spring stay between the stand-off and the frame. When the wheel encounters a bump in the ground terrain, the swing arm pivots up and the helical springs are compressed between the stand-off and the frame providing shock absorption. A rebound stop prevents the swing arm from pivoting too far downward. A jounce stop prevents the swing arm from pivoting too far upward.

Abstract: A frame beaming reduction assembly for use with a motor vehicle to eliminate or reduce the amplitude of frame beaming oscillations in a vehicle's frame caused by vibratory forces exerted on a motor vehicle. The assembly includes a frame having a beaming frequency in a first range of frequencies, and an engine is attached to the frame wherein the engine generates engine vibration that has a second range of frequencies that is different than the first range of frequencies. A spring is positioned between a cross member of the frame and a forward engine mount of the engine. A damper formed by a pair of shock absorbers is positioned between the frame and a second forward engine mount substantially parallel to the spring such that the combination of the damper, the spring, and the engine has an offsetting frequency that is substantially equal to the frame's beaming frequency and that offsets the beaming frequency.

Abstract: A utility cart for facilitating patient care and supporting patient care material is described. The cart includes a frame, plural wheels on the frame, and plural walls mounted on the frame forming two spaced vertical support members defining at least one storage area which may be accessed via a hingedly mounted wall. At least one shelf is mounted between the support members and is bi-directionally extendable on either side of the cart. A bi-directionally extendable drawer, is similarly mounted adjacent the shelves. A sink is provided on the frame, and a console on the cart adjacent the sink includes plural faucets operatively connected to storage tanks for supplying water, soap, and/or moisturizer. Photo-sensitive switches on the console adjacent the faucets enable no-contact dispensing of various liquids. The console also includes plural information-conveying gauges.

Abstract: A mobile cart having particular utility when used as a grocery, or shopping cart. The cart comprises a frame, a basket operable for receiving articles and attached to an upper platform portion of the frame, and a rack vertically spaced from the basket and attached to a lower base portion of the frame. The cart further includes a plurality of swiveling, wheeled casters mounted on the lower base portion thereby permitting the cart to be easily propelled in any direction by the cart operator. The frame is configured to dispose the basket at a comfortable working height for the cart operator and to provide the operator with easy access to the rack. The frame is constructed of hollow metallic tubing so as to provide the required structural rigidity while minimizing weight.

Abstract: A double line roller skate (10) comprising a plurality of dual rollers (12). A structure (14) is for retaining the dual rollers (12) rotatively in longitudinal alignment, one behind the other. A facility (16) is for holding the retaining structure (14) onto a foot of a skater (18).

Abstract: A vehicle bonnet assembly has a bonnet hinged to the vehicle body by means of a hinge assembly including a first link pivoted intermediate of its extremities to the vehicle body and second and third links pivoted at one end, each to a different end of the first link, and at their other ends to the bonnet, the links being arranged such that when the bonnet is closed, the bonnet will move rearwardly upon an impact above a predetermined magnitude being applied to the leading edge of the bonnet, the links pivoting to lift the trailing edge of the bonnet, the bonnet pivoting between an open and closed position about the pivotal connection of the first link to the vehicle body.

Abstract: A ski or other snow board, has an injected core extending at least up to the tip. Along a neutral fiber there is placed either a metal plate which is coated with rubber on its two faces, or a simple band of rubber or visco-elastic material. Resilience to shear forces is thus obtained, and the risk of breaking the tip is thereby reduced. The same structure may also be provided at the heel of the ski.

Abstract: A vehicle which can execute both vehicle-speed based auto-cruising control and vehicle-interval distance based auto-cruising control has a single operation knob having a SET switch, a RESUME switch, and a COAST switch. In order to allow the single operation knob to set both a target vehicle speed and a target vehicle-interval distance, when the SET switch is operated during the vehicle-speed based auto-cruising control, a vehicle speed at the time of the operation or at the end of the switch operation is set to be the target vehicle speed; when the SET switch is operated during vehicle-interval distance based auto-cruising control, a vehicle-interval distance at the time of the operation or at the end of the switch operation is set to be the target vehicle-interval distance.

Abstract: A vehicle for transporting a child (stroller, carriage or buggy) with a safety side handle pivotally connected to the vehicle frame. The pivot point for the side handle is located forward of the rear of the vehicle by a distance equal to at least about one-quarter of the front-to-back dimension of the vehicle. Better results are obtained if the distance mentioned is about one-third of the front-to-back dimension of the vehicle, and a distance of about one-half that dimension is preferred. The handle pivots from an inoperative position alongside the vehicle to a laterally extending, operative position, where it can be pushed to move the vehicle forward. The preferred form includes a collapsible tray table attached to the rear of the vehicle. The side handle may be attached indirectly to the vehicle frame through a pivotable attachment to the outer end of the side handle support frame that is in turn directly and pivotally attached to the vehicle frame.