Abstract: A vehicle lock box with a weather-proof compartment and a license plate holder that mounts to the license plate bracket. An outer frame is comprised of a pair of hinged, rigid panels that is secured closed by the locking mechanism. Each panel has a raised lip that forms a hollow in the panel. The rear panel includes holes for mounting to the license plate bracket. The license plate is placed inside the front panel adjacent to a cutout that exposes the license plate face. The weather-proof compartment is composed of a pair of mirror image, resilient, water-impermeable sheets, each of which fits within the hollow of one of the panels. Both sheets have a raised rim that forms a depression in the sheet. The sheet in the front panel holds the license plate against the cutout. When the frame is closed, the sheet rims abut, forming a weather-tight compartment.

Abstract: An improved construction for a grip, such as a golf club grip, employs interchangeable placards that may be utilized upon identical sockets formed in a first mold. The placards are constructed with at least one, and preferably a plurality, of raised displays, such as display symbols in the form of letters, numbers, geometric designs, and other display figures. Any number of different placards may alternatively be mounted upon a socket to produce a grip according to the present invention. The socket and placard are positioned by means of positioning pegs on the underside of the mounting base of the placard. The positioning pegs are inserted into corresponding locator openings in the wall of the socket. The socket, together with the placard mounted thereon, is positioned in a second mold having a mold cavity larger than the mold cavity of the first mold in which the socket is produced.

Abstract: An electrically powered resistance heating handgrip includes a control circuit located within a hollow core that fits coaxially within the open end of a handlebar of a motorcycle or snowmobile. The control circuit is mounted on a thin, narrow, elongated printed circuit board and includes a microprocessor that is programmed to contain a lookup table of temperatures. A thermistor provides feedback signals to the microprocessor which compares temperature sensor feedback signals to a target temperature. The target temperature is established by a dial. The dial operates the wiper of a variable potentiometer to establish the target temperature. Heat is uniformly distributed by wrapping the heating element wire thereof about a thermally conductive sheet of aluminum, and encasing the wire within a temperature resistant dielectric sheathing.

Abstract: An electrically powered resistance heating handgrip is provided for a vehicle that employs an electrical storage battery. A control circuit to regulate the amount of power provided to the resistance elements in the grip is provided and preferably located within a hollow core that fits coaxially within the open end of a handlebar of a motorcycle or snowmobile, for example. The control circuit is mounted on a thin, narrow, elongated printed circuit board and includes a microprocessor that is programmed to contain a lookup table of temperatures. A thermistor is embedded in the casing of the handgrip proximate the heating element thereof. The thermistor provides feedback signals to the microprocessor which compares the temperature sensor feedback signals to a target temperature and provides or interrupts electrical power to the electrical heating element depending upon whether the temperature indicated by the thermistor is lower than the target temperature.

Abstract: A strap fastener for a motorcycle helmet is constructed of a unitary jacket that defines a hollow shell and latch tripping lever arms. A latching fork has a pair of resilient, generally parallel legs and can be slipped through a fabric loop which is attached to one side of the helmet. A fabric strap, secured to the other side of the helmet, is threaded through slots in a catch. The fork and catch are inserted into the jacket shell from opposite longitudinal directions. As the catch approaches the tips of the legs of the fork within the enclosure of the shell, it deflects feet defined upon the legs, overcoming the spring bias of the legs. When the catch is fully inserted, the feet of the fork legs spring back and engage hooks on the catch. The fork and the catch can be disengaged by depression of the lever arms on the jacket. The lever arms act through transverse apertures in the jacket.