Abstract: The invention relates to a folding vehicle top whose top cover, which can be stretched over a supporting top frame, has laterally unsecured border regions which are connected to an associated leg of a corner strut via tie means and are only pulled into a fixed tensioned position, via a relative swinging movement of the corner strut, during the closure of the top. In order to be able to fix top cover corners present in the corner region between the top support pillars and the material retaining hoop on the top support pillar by means of the tensioning advance of the tie means, a rearwardly offset intermediate deflection of the tie means on the associated leg of the material retaining hoop is provided.

Abstract: A slide-out visor assembly includes a mounting member shaped to be secured to a vehicle and includes a pair of spaced parallel guide tracks and a visor panel which is mounted to a pivot arm assembly having slides mounted to the guide tracks for sliding movement o the pivot arm assembly and visor panel with respect to the mounting member. The assembly further includes a stabilizing structure extending between the mounting member and the pivot arm assembly for stabilizing the motion of the pivot arm assembly and visor panel during movement between a stored position typically behind the headliner of a vehicle to a lowered use position extended from behind the vehicle headliner. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the stabilizing structure is at least one cord which extends between the mounting member and each of the slides for assuring that the slides move through substantially identical distances as the visor panel is moved.

Abstract: A cover for a gold cart which can readily be carried and put on and off the cart.

Abstract: A foot pad structure on a rug in an automobile, of which the prime features are that the part to be pedalled on the foot pad has rectangular hole, and a base plate being fixed under the rectangular hole; the base plate has several slots arranged in parallel, in which a corresponding number of Velcro strips or two-side adhesive tapes are to be mounted. There is a detachable pedal piece, of which the front side is to be pedalled by a driver, while the back side thereof is fixedly attached with a plurality of Velcro strips corresponding in number and position to the slots in the aforesaid base plate; by means of such a structure, the pedal piece can directly be fastened together as one piece with the base plate of the foot pad in an automobile. Whenever the pedal piece becomes worn and torn, it can be replaced with a new one without replacing the whole foot pad at a higher cost so as to improve the drawbacks of the conventional foot pad.

Abstract: A cover for the floor and walls of the cargo area of a vehicle including a substantially rectangular area for covering the floor, a forward extension having two sections, each one extending over one of the backs of the rear seats and sidewall extensions. Adjacent edges of the two forward sections may be joined by a zipper. The zipper may be open to permit the back of one rear seat to be vertically up and the other back horizontally down. Alternatively, when both backs are either up or down, the zipper may be closed providing additional protection to the underlying upholstery of the vehicle. The padded cover over the rear door is separate from the rest of the cover.

Abstract: A user-convenience assembly, mountable to an inside surface of a conventional pick-up truck tailgate, is usable with the tailgate placed in a substantially horizontal open position to provide at least one user with bottom and back support on separate cushions provided therefor. Speakers connectable to a sound system of the pick-up truck are disposed adjacent the back support to provide a user music and sound. An element to hold an ashtray and at least one food container can be mounted adjacent to the bottom support, and an umbrella holder adjacent the back support may be used to support the stem of a sun-shade umbrella. When the tailgate is in its upright closed position, a compartment holding the speakers, the back support and the umbrella holder closes to the inside surface of the upright tailgate and a pivotable cover element is locatable over a top of the compartment to exclude ambient dirt and moisture. This user-convenience assembly is readily mountable to most conventional pick-up truck tailgates.

Abstract: A support system for a flexible side wall for cargo carrying vehicles that allows greater access to the cargo area of the vehicle. A slidable door is attached to the flexible side wall which is supported by vertical support poles and the door and wall can be slid along the vehicle for access to the open side of the cargo vehicle. The slidable door is narrow to maximize the access and is supported by a separate track and roller assembly. The door may be supported by the roller assembly being positioned either at the roof or floor area of the cargo vehicle. The roller assembly has wheels at a predetermined spacing larger than the door width to accommodate any pushing force couple produced by the operator pushing or pulling on the door for opening and closing same. The vertical support poles are aligned by pilot blocks that have an interlocking feature which interconnect with the adjacent pilot blocks and align the flexible sidewall when it is being compacted.

Abstract: A roller shade assembly for motor vehicle applications. For covering an interior compartment area of a motor vehicle. The assembly of this invention is mounted in such a manner that the flexible shade panel is extended in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, or in the "cross-body" direction. This orientation eliminates the requirement that the roller tube assembly be removable from the vehicle to avoid obstructing the cargo compartment when large items are placed in it or when the cargo compartment is enlarged by folding forward a rear seat back. The configuration further enables the shade to be extended and retracted either from the rear vehicle cargo door or from within the vehicle.

Abstract: A body skeleton structure for a vehicle includes an outer panel arranged on the outside of a body, and an inner panel arranged on the inside of the body. The inner panel cooperates with the outer panel to define a closed cross-sectional space. A bracket is arranged between the outer panel and the inner panel. A thermally foaming rubber sheet is provided on a surface of the bracket. The thermally foaming rubber sheet is so heated and foamed as to be into close contact with the outer panel and/or the inner panel.

Abstract: A combination tailgate and ramp assembly 10 formed of a pair of ramps 14 and 20, which when fastened together with fastener brackets 32 and 72 form a conventional tailgate hinged and rotatable about a transverse sliderail 30. Swing pin hinge 68 supports the lower left corner of ramp 14 and swing pin hinge 70 supports the lower right hand corner of right ramp 22 and provides three dimensional rotational ability. When unfastened, ramps 14 and 22 can be rotated down, out and over to form a loading ramp.

Abstract: Tarpaulin support bows are provided on a vehicle trailer or bed for supporting the tarpaulin which covers the material being hauled on the vehicle. The support bows are hingedly mounted so they are able to move when they are contacted by a material loading bucket or compacted material. The movement of the support bows reduces the opportunity for damage or breakage of the bows or the vehicle sideboards to which the bows are mounted.

Abstract: A curvilinear visor panel is coupled to a mounting member by a pair of spaced guide members which extend through angled slots formed in one of the visor panels or mounting members such that the visor panel is extended for use by withdrawing the panel with the guide members moving along the slot for controlled movement of the visor. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the guide members include a thrust washer and a lubricious floating slide member which provide a controlled engaging force between the visor panel and mounting member. In a preferred embodiment of the invention also, the guide member includes a cap with a collar extending though the angled slots with the caps engaging the slots on a side opposite the slide members.

Abstract: A top opening apparatus for vehicles and vehicle enclosures such as pickup truck bed tops, which apparatus includes a pair of folding top panels longitudinally hinged to the vehicle or top for closing at a fold line which defines the top centerline of the vehicle or top. In open configuration the top panels pivot on the hinges into a substantially vertical, open configuration to facilitate loading and hauling of cargo which is taller or larger than the normal internal height of the vehicle or top. In a preferred embodiment the rear window assembly of the top opening apparatus is removable from the vehicle or top when the top panels are opened, to better facilitate loading and unloading of the cargo.

Abstract: A windshield device for an automobile is in the form of a glass sheet having an S-shaped vertical cross section. The windshield device comprises an automobile body having a window frame, and a windshield fixed to the window frame. The windshield has vertical cross sections having profile lines represented by curves, except at opposite sides of the windshield. Each of the curves has a minimal point in an orthogonal coordinate system having a horizontal axis represented by a straight line connecting upper and lower ends of the windshield in the vertical cross section thereof. The minimal point is positioned in a visual area in which a portion of the automobile body is seen through the windshield from a driver's eye point in the automobile.

Abstract: A vehicle VDU workstation is matched to specific safety requirements in a motor vehicle and essentially comprises, as physical elements of a working unit, a keyboard and a flat screen which can be folded onto the latter. A sliding guide allows those parts, on one hand, to be stowed in the glove compartment of the vehicle in a space-saving manner and, on the other hand, also placed in a use position on the folded-out glove compartment door. In the stowed position, the working unit is located behind the glove compartment door. Special mounting elements, some of which at least can be stowed in the glove compartment, allow the VDU workstation also to be used in other seats in the vehicle by being suspended behind backrests of vehicle seats from headrest supports and, to this extent, placed there in a use position. Vibrations of the working unit are weakened by damping elements.

Abstract: For the purpose of achieving more efficient control of the interior temperature of front half of a passenger vehicle, this invention discloses an attachable and detachable transparent partition mounted on rear side window panes across the mid section behind front seats. One version of the embodiment is applicable to two door vehicles with fixed rear side window panes. Another version applicable to four door vehicles does not interfere with opening and closing operations of rear doors.

Abstract: A folding top for a passenger car with a folding roof (convertible) includes flexible roofing which is accommodated between opposite pairs of rod linkage legs of a folding rod linkage. With the swivelling motion of the folding rod linkage in a plane parallel to the longitudinal center plane of the vehicle, the folding top can be brought from a closed position held in a windshield region into an essentially superimposed folded position of the rod linkage legs in the rear region of the vehicle. In order to achieve improved handling and a secured covering of the folding top, the region of the top formed in the closed position between the front rod linkage legs is constructted as a shell for the top, which in itself is stiff and dimensionally stable, and is connected flush with the flexible roofing and can be fixed in the folded position in the rear region over the folded top in a covering position.

Abstract: A cover assembly for use on the bed of a pickup truck includes a rigid cover and a plurality of folding arms each attached to the pickup truck bed for raising and lowering the cover. A desk is attached to the underside of the cover. The desk is movable between a first folding storage position and a second unfolded extended position.

Abstract: An automobile has a body 1 and a hood 2. In the body 1seats 1B and 1C are arranged, and four sides (left, right, rear and upper) around the seats 1B and 1C are open. The hood 2 is separate from the body 1 and is integrally formed. The hood 2 is formed by a transparent member, and is mounted (or dismounted) freely on the body 1. The hood 2, when mounted, encloses the four sides of the seats. Preferably, the hood 2 is formed from polycarbonate resin.

Abstract: A flexible automobile grille which accommodates the movement of an impact-absorbing bumper. The grille is capable of deflecting with the stroke of the impact-absorbing bumper during impact without the need for the grille to be either pivotable about an anchor point or to be mechanically displaceable with special hardware. The material of the grille is selected to have a yield strength which is adequate to sustain a predetermined degree of yielding corresponding to the amount of deflection required with the bumper's stroke. The grille includes a generally elongated body portion having an upper edge and a lower edge which extend horizontally adjacent the engine hood and the bumper, respectively. Both the upper and lower edges may be configured to attach to the automobile.