Abstract: An impact activated automotive safety system relying upon relative movement between a drive unit and a chassis of an automobile and comprising a plurality of cables attached, at one of their ends, to the chassis on opposite sides, and slung around a rear portion, of the drive unit and respectively attached by their other ends to a plurality of safety features such as, for instance, a collapsible steering column, seatbelt coiling devices, and seat-lifting mechanisms, all of which would be activated substantially simultaneously in case of a frontal collision by forces transmitted to them by the cables.

Abstract: A device for automatically adjusting the height of the deflection fitting of a safety belt in vehicles having an anchoring element which carries the deflection fitting and is vertically displaceable in a guide rail firmly attached to the vehicle which includes an adjusting mechanism for displacing and holding the anchoring element in the vertical position set and has a locking device which is effective in the case of extreme vehicle deceleration to be connected to a vehicle deceleration sensor for locking the anchoring element in the guide rail by transverse displacement of a locking element, coupled to the anchoring element, due to the downward movement of the anchoring element caused by the deflection fitting.

Abstract: A king pin member in the form of a plate portion adapted to index to a spindle knuckle, and a king pin stub extending from the plate portion in one of several positions offset from the indexing member, and thus from the nominal location of the king pin stub, such that the king pin member may be positioned in the spindle knuckle and engage an axle terminus to rotate the spindle knuckle to a desired orientation relative to the axle terminus to adjust and correct the camber relationship of a wheel journalled to the spindle knuckle. The offset king pin stub may be rotatable relative to the plate portion to provide variable offsets. By first measuring the camber maladjustment and selecting the king pin member with an appropriate offset king pin stub, camber corrections can be made. In particular applications, two corrective king pin members may be desirable to maintain the spindle knuckle and axle terminus geometry.

Abstract: A mounting for an inflatable safety bag having an opening in communication with the discharge of a gas generator to inflate the bag in an emergency condition in which the bag is clamped between a base retainer and an annular retainer and the peripheral region of the bag surrounding the opening has a chain-stitched stitch in the bag around the opening and adjacent the inner face of one of the retainers, so that upon inflation of the bag the forces which tend to pull the clamped peripheral region of the bag from the retainers will be resisted by the engagement of the chain-stitched stitch with the inner face.

Abstract: An independent rear suspension includes a knuckle having a spindle for supporting a wheel, the spindle having a central axis, a trailing arm coupled to the knuckle, a pair of spaced lower arms pivotally mounted on the knuckle, a knuckle arm extending substantially upwardly from the knuckle, an upper arm pivotally mounted on the knuckle arm, and a damper having a lower end coupled to the knuckle at a position below the central axis of the spindle, the damper having a lower portion disposed between the spaced lower arms and in the vicinity of the central axis of the spindle.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a member driven by a motive power source of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a seat belt retractor having a spool supported for rotation in belt retraction and belt withdrawal directions. The spool is connected with the driven member to rotate the spool in the belt retraction direction in response to the vehicle decelerating at a rate above a predetermined rate.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is an arrangement for holding, when a seat belt is not in use, a buckle-mounted anchor band of the seat belt on a given portion of a seat back of a seat. The arrangement comprises a holder tightly connected to the seat back and having a first engaging portion projected from the seat back, and a plastic cover covering and connected to the buckle of the anchor band and having a second engaging portion which is detachably engageable with the first engaging portion of the holder. One of the first and second engaging portions has a flexible portion which is resiliently flexed to cancel the engagement between the first and second engaging portions when an abnormally big force is applied thereto in a direction to increase the degree of the engagement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a belt guide fitting for guiding a safety belt of three-point type at its upper anchor point. The guide fitting comprises a plate with a through slot for the belt. The plate is pivotally mounted on a pin which lies forward, relative to the vehicle, of the mid-point of the slot when the fitting is mounted in a vehicle body. In order to prevent the belt in a collision from sliding laterally in the through slot and bunching at the end of the slot, the plate in accordance with the invention cooperates with structure limiting the pivotal movement of the plate, this structure being designed, when the belt is subjected to a collision load, to fix the plate in a predetermined angular position for collision.

Abstract: A device for pivoting a rigid axle driven by a universal shaft to the frame of an automotive vehicle by means of linkage elements one end of each of which has a frame-side support on an imaginary transverse axis which is common to all supports and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and in connection with which the transverse axis intersects the universal shaft perpendicularly at the midway point between the universal joints of the transmission shaft and the rigid axle. The rigid axle is connected by spring elements to the supported part of the vehicle. Four links are provided, two of which, one individual link 1 and 2, on each side of the vehicle are pivoted in the region close to the wheel at their other end to the axle housing 11 of the rigid axle.

Abstract: A passive seat belt system is equipped with a guide rail, a slide anchor movable along the length of the guide rail and connected to one end of an occupant restraining webbing, and a drive means for causing the slide anchor to move along the length of the guide rail between an occupant restraining position and an occupant releasing position. Both end faces of the slide anchor as viewed in both running directions of the slide anchor flare out form the side of the webbing toward the side of the guide rail in the respective running directions.

Abstract: An improved powered off the road three wheel vehicle comprised of a pair of front wheels and a single rear wheel carried by a frame that supports the saddle type seat adapted to seat a single rider. The track of the front wheels is equal to the wheel base between the front and rear wheels and a wider tire is carried by the rear wheel. The rear wheel has a footprint with the surface that is equal to the sum of the footprints of the front wheels. The rider is positioned midway between the front and rear wheels and is seated in such a way that he may shift his weight to aid in the maneuverability of the vehicle. In addition, the rear wheel, even though it is wide, is sized so that it will pass between the legs of a rider if he desires to permit the vehicle to ride out from beneath him.

Abstract: A passive seat belt apparatus including a lap belt retractor mounted inside of the door of a vehicle, a lap belt extending between the retractor and an engaging member in the interior of the vehicle adjacent the center line thereof, a through ring attached to a lower portion of the door having an oval opening through which the lap belt extends downwardly around a lower surface thereof, and a bar-shaped guide member attached to the door above and inside of the through ring with respect to the interior of the vehicle. The lap belt passes over the guide member.

Abstract: A saddle type four-wheel vehicle or buggy car for running on the unleveled ground in which a driver sits astriding on a saddle-type seat, and front and rear wheels are each provided with a tire of low pressure and wide width. The right and left front wheels driven by an engine are suspended on a vehicle body independently through an arm. Between the arm and the vehicle body, a shock absorber is disposed in such a posture as to direct in the generally horizontal direction. A drive gear case connected with the engine is placed at a forward location of a front axle. The drive gear case and the front axle are interconnected through a drive shaft having a universal joint at each end thereof. Otherwise, the front and rear wheels are suspended on the vehicle body through a front fork and a rear fork respectively, and the front wheels are driven by the engine through a drive shaft while the rear wheels are driven by the engine through a chain.

Abstract: A seat belt buckling system has a switch mechanism in the seat belt anchor plate which prevents starting of the engine until the seat belt has been buckled. The switch mechanism includes a switch controlling actuation of the starter which is only closed by insertion of the anchor plate on the belt into the buckle locking system. Means are provided to lock the plate into the buckle locking mechanism when it has been inserted sufficiently to permit starting of the engine. A rockable latch member within the locking system is actuated by a manually manipulable key plate which plate, when pressed downwardly, will permit the anchor plate to be released without interrupting the ignition after the engine has been started.

Abstract: A decorative bar arrangement for attachment to the bed of a pick-up truck or like vehicle to resemble a professionally installed roll bar is disclosed. The decorative bar arrangement includes an upright U-shaped tubular assembly having a bight portion with vertically extending leg portions depending therefrom and a kicker U-shaped tubular assembly having a bight portion with angled leg portions depending therefrom. A hinge-fastening clamp is provided for positively securing, in a pinned manner and without deformation, the bight portions of the upright and kicker assemblies while permitting, prior to fastening, rotation of the leg portions of the kicker assembly into their desired positions. Additionally, a locking, universal swivel end clamp is provided for securing the kicker leg portions to the pick-up truck bed, and a telescoping clamp permits portions of the U-shaped tubular assembly to be dimensionally adjustable.

Abstract: A suspension for motored and unmotored wheels of vehicles, having independent movements of bouncing/hoisting and rotation/steering, made up of a shaped bracket member coupled, at the rear, in a rigid way, with a vertical axle on which the vehicle structure runs, by means of the interposition of at least two bushes, and, at the top, in the front position, with the coupling axis being as close as possible to the reaction axis of the wheel with the ground, with the vehicle structure, such coupling being realized by means of an elastic and hoisting member and at least one damping member, said bracket member being also provided at a position intermediated between said axle and the wheel with a first ball joint and with a bearing as well as with a second ball joint and a second bearing, all arranged along an axis sloping at 3.degree.-10.degree.

Abstract: A frame unit for a vehicle having a main frame unit adapted to support the main body of the vehicle comprising a pair of structural side members and a structural cross-piece member defining an integral extension unit having an H-shaped configuration, such extension unit including means disposed at the intersections of the side members and the cross-piece member and on rearwardly disposed sections of the side members for securing the extension unit to the main frame unit of the vehicle whereby sections of the side members extend forwardly to the main frame unit and are disposed in a crumple zone of the vehicle.

Abstract: An arrangement for the switching of devices in motor vehicles, particularly for the changing of switching thresholds in driving or braking control systems or for the limiting of the steering angle of rear axle steering systems, as a function of snow chains that are in place on at least one wheel or the wheels of one axle that are detected by at least one sensor having an amplifier, an evaluating circuit and a threshold value switch that are connected behind it.

Abstract: Vehicle strut type suspensions are improved against deleterious side loadings and excessive friction in the telescopic strut portions by use of a couple counterbalance secondary spring which imposes a counter-moment on the strut-connected wheel support knuckle.

Abstract: A motor vehicle suspension comprising a leaf spring (24) of composite material extending transversely of the vehicle, pivotally supported at two spaced positions (25, 26) between its ends and connected at its ends to wheel carriers, wherein the spring is resiliently supported, at a central region thereof between its pivotal supports, by resilient support means (31, 32, 33, 34) and the bending stiffness of the spring decreases from its pivotal support positions to the central region. The spring is enclosed in a housing (29) between the support positions (25, 26).