Abstract: A solar-thermal powered generator has an absorber assembly which includes a gas permeable body of light absorbing material operative to absorb incident light and convert the absorbed light into heat. The gas permeable body of light absorbing material is supported in a spaced-apart relationship with a subjacent surface to define a volume which is bounded by the body of light absorbing material and the subjacent surface. A gas flow channel establishes fluid communication between the volume and the ambient atmosphere, and a turbine is disposed so as to intercept the gas flowing between the ambient atmosphere and the interior volume and extract kinetic energy therefrom. Also disclosed is a method for power generation using the disclosed generators.

Abstract: A compact, elliptical exercise device includes a pair of primary foot links, and a pair of corresponding auxiliary foot links. A first end of each primary foot link is coupled to a pivot axis so as to move in an arcuate path. A second end of each primary foot link is connected to a guide assembly, which constrains it to travel in a reciprocal path of motion. A first end of each auxiliary foot link is coupled to the guide assembly at a connection point spaced from an engagement point at which its respective primary link is connected. Each auxiliary link is slidably supported by a respective one of its primary foot links so that a second end of each auxiliary foot link will travel in a reciprocal path along the primary foot link.

Abstract: A control system is operable to selectably activate shock damping devices associated with a bicycle so as to eliminate bobbing encountered under extreme pedaling conditions. The system includes a crank axle torque detector which operates to detect a level of torque applied to a crank axle and provide a control signal corresponding to the level of torque. A shock damping device is coupled to the frame of the cycle, and functions to absorb and dampen mechanical shocks communicated to the frame. The shock damping device includes an activator for controlling its damping function. The activator is operable to receive the control signal from the crank axle torque detector and control the shock damping device in response thereto. The control signal may be an electrical or a mechanical signal.

Abstract: A compact, elliptical exercise device includes a pair of primary foot links, and a pair of corresponding auxiliary foot links. A first end of each primary foot link is coupled to a pivot axis so as to move in an arcuate path. A second end of each primary foot link is connected to a guide assembly, which constrains it to travel in a reciprocal path of motion. A first end of each auxiliary foot link is coupled to the guide assembly at a connection point spaced from an engagement point at which its respective primary link is connected. Each auxiliary link is slidably supported by a respective one of its primary foot links so that a second end of each auxiliary foot link will travel in a reciprocal path along the primary foot link.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus providing high level signals by summing partial signal currents and magnetomotive forces. In one embodiment, an isolation transformer having a 1:1 turns ratio and a plurality of separate primary windings is utilized. A plurality of independently controlled current generators are coupled to each separate primary winding with appropriate terminations such that the data communications circuit is impedance matched across the entire system. The isolation transformer sums the partial currents and magnetomotive forces in each separate primary winding such that a higher level high quality signal is produced in the secondary winding. As such, high quality high level data communications signals are produced with the described data communications circuit from low voltage level signals.

Abstract: A non-steerable shock absorber includes a steer-sensitive valve assembly placed in the lower working chamber of an inner cylinder in series with a compression valve. A linkage is provided between a turnable steering knuckle and the steer-sensitive valve assembly to vary the damping characteristics of the shock absorber based on a steering motion of a vehicle's wheels.

Abstract: A method for varying the damping force of a hydraulic damper in a vehicular suspension system includes rotatably fixing a reciprocable piston slidably mounted in a fluid-filled cylinder to the vehicular body and rotatably fixing the cylinder to a steerable wheel assembly. A variable flow fluid bypass is provided between upper and lower chambers of the cylinder. As the wheel assembly is steered, the bypass is opened and closed to vary fluid flow between the chambers and thus vary the damping force of the damper.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper for use with a vehicular suspension system includes a reciprocating piston rod and piston in an inner cylinder. A piston valving means is carried by the piston and controls the flow of fluid between upper and lower chambers of the inner cylinder. A base valving assembly controls the flow of fluid from the inner cylinder to a reservoir. A slotted control plate is rotationally fixed with resepct to the piston in the lower chamber adjacent the base valving assembly. As the vehicle is steered, rotation of the inner cylinder and base valve assembly selectively aligns the slotted control plate to vary flow between the control plate and the base valve assembly, thereby providing steer-sensitive damping.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper for use with a vehicular suspension system includes a reciprocating piston rod and piston in an inner cylinder. A piston valving is carried by the piston and controls the flow of fluid between upper and lower chambers of the inner cylinder. A base valving assembly controls the flow of fluid from the inner cylinder to a reservoir. A plurality of circumferentially-spaced slits are provided in the inner cylinder adjacent the base valve assembly. A control wheel having a plurality of openings corresponding to the slits is mounted inside the inner cylinder and rotatably fixed to the piston. As the vehicle is steered, rotation of the inner cylinder with respect to the control wheel selectively aligns the slits with the openings to permit fluid flow from the lower chamber to the reservoir, thereby providing steer-sensitive variable damping.

Abstract: A single wiper mounted to a conventionally located, non-center wiper post is adapted to wipe a generally rectangular windshield. A primary arm and wiper blade are long enough to cover a main wipe pattern that covers most of the driver side of the windshield. A secondary arm and blade pivoted to the tip of the primary arm are continously pivoted by a drag link over a supplemental wipe pattern that covers the residual area on the passenger side. The width of the supplemental pattern remains relatively great until the secondary blade comes close to the windshield upper edge, where it is retracted to avoid collision.

Abstract: A hydraulic strut for use with a vehicle suspension system includes a reciprocating piston rod and piston in an inner cylinder. A piston valving assembly is carried by the piston and controls the flow of fluid between upper and lower chambers of the inner cylinder. A base valving assembly controls the flow of fluid from the inner cylinder to a reservoir. A bypass valving assembly, selectively dependent upon a rotation movement input when the vehicle is steered, permits fluid flow to travel between the upper and lower chambers of the inner cylinder without traveling through the piston valving assembly.

Abstract: A self contained interior rearview mirror unit for a vehicle provides a head-up display image of vehicle information at a distance in front of the vehicle operator.

Abstract: A leveling device for stabilizing furniture positioned adjacent a wall and resting on carpeting comprising an insert in the form of a plate with a nose forming an angle having a jack embedded in the vertical nose of the angle. The jack comprises U-shaped legs that puncture carpeting and padding and rest on the floor.

Abstract: A door assembly with a frameless window has a window regulator mechanism for raising and lowering the window and which includes a guide arrangement for stabilizing the window in all directions when being raised and lowered and which causes the upper end of the window to be moved away from its associated seal and the lower end thereof to be moved toward the inner door panel about a belt line pivot point upon being lowered while simultaneously causing the window to be moved longitudinally of the door, and vice versa, upon the window being lowered and raised, respectively.

Abstract: According to the invention, the roof rail mounted track for a shoulder belt carriage extends down along the windshield pillar. A belt supporting hook is pivotally mounted on the body at the juncture between the roof rail and the windshield pillar and has a spring means acting to urge the hook to a normal position extending into the path of movement of the carriage along the track. The spring yields upon engagement of the carriage with the hook to temporarily pivot the hook away from the belt to permit movement of the carriage past the hook. Then, the spring returns the hook into the path of movement so that the hook supports the belt at the juncture of the roof rail and the windshield pillar during the further forward and downward movement of the carriage along the track.

Abstract: A window guide arrangement for a door assembly of an automotive vehicle has a pair of one piece guide tracks and a pair of guides having spaced guide pins secured to a movable window and cooperatively received on the tracks and in which the guide tracks and guides are constructed and arranged such that they guide the window so that its inner side engages a seal and so that its top and lower ends are moved inwardly against the seal and outwardly of the door, respectively, when the window approaches its closed position so that its exterior is substantially flush at all sides with the adjacent exterior surfaces of the vehicle and door assembly.

Abstract: An improved belt system for the front seat of a coupe vehicle having a front seat back forwardly pivotable to enable occupant access to the rear seat through the door opening. The seat belt has a lap belt end anchored on the floor outboard the seat and a shoulder belt end anchored on the body rearward the door opening. A lap belt positioning sleeve is associated with the lap belt end and pivotally mounted on the body for movement between a forward position routing the belt across the occupant lap and a rearward position storing the belt horizontally along the floor. The shoulder belt positioning sleeve is associated with the shoulder belt end and pivotally mounted on the body rearwardly the door opening for movement between a forward position routing the belt across the upper torso and a rearward position disposing the shoulder belt vertically along the pillar rearwardly of the door opening.

Abstract: An improved and simplified pill dispenser for patients required to take medication comprising a plurality of compartments (A, B, C, and D of FIG. 1) each containing one or more different kinds of pills but all of such pills falling into a class of pills having the same daily morning start-up time and the same time interval between the taking of each pill, a real time clock (RTC) (28), a control panel (FIG. 2) unique to each compartment and comprising, first and second indicators (19 and 20 of FIG. 2) for indicating, respectively, the morning start-up time and the time interval between taking pills, and a time readout indicator (18 of FIG. 2) indicating when the next pill is to be taken. Also provided are a comparator (170 of FIG. 6) for comparing the RTC time with the contents of the readout indicators, an alarm (203 of FIG.

Abstract: A sun visor includes a pivot link which is mounted generally vertically on the pillar and has a plurality of pivot means vertically spaced along the length thereof. A plurality of generally rectangular sunshade links, each with a width not greater than the width of the pillar, have first ends which are connected to the pivot means on the pivot link. The plurality of sunshade links also have second ends which are pivotally connected to an end connector link by plurality of pivot means spaced along the length of the end connector link. The sun visor has a use position in which the plurality of sunshade links extend horizontally parallel with the windshield header and in parallel side-by-side relationship with another to provide a sun visor of substantial dimension to shield the occupant's eyes.

Abstract: A centrifugal-type air blower for a vehicle occupant compartment that operates in a housing and during a defrost mode to deliver heated air to defrost the vehicle's windshield is provided with an automatic bleed-off valve arrangement that automatically exhausts from the blower housing to outside the vehicle any airborne particles such as snow and water centrifugally discharged by the blower in the defrost mode when the outside air temperature falls below a predetermined sub-freezing water temperature.