Abstract: An auxiliary seat (10) for use in motor vehicles is disclosed. The seat includes a seat base (12), a seat back (14), and a lid (16) hingedly connected to the seat base to form a console. The seat (10) further includes a pivoting armrest (22) and a seat belt (50). The auxiliary seat of this invention also includes a steel-like frame (40) to provide an exceptionally safe car seat.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for carrying a load with a motor vehicle (90). One embodiment of the apparatus, a rack (10), includes a fixable portion (12) which is preferably welded to the frame (100) of the vehicle (90) near the rear bumper (97) or end surface of the vehicle. A movable portion (14) is configured to slidably engage the fixable portion (12) and, once the portions (12) and (14) are engaged, they are locked together using, preferably, bolts (84) and (86) which engage holes in connecting struts (16) and (18) of the fixed portion (12) and engage holes in the movable portion (14). In one embodiment of the present invention, a motorcycle carrier (40) is attached to movable slides (32) and in another embodiment a substantially planar platform (100) makes up a movable portion (14') of a rack (10'). The platform (100) can be used for carrying various bulky and unwieldy items. The invention also includes a method for carrying a load with a motor vehicle (90).

Abstract: An air lift axle assembly (2) for stabilizing a vehicle (1) which is subjected to crosswinds. The assembly also increases the vehicle's ultimate load carrying capacity. The assembly includes a set of tires (3) which may be remotely lowered to engage the road surface (4) by means of an inflatable bladder (28) which presses against a spar (22), the spar being pivotably mounted to the vehicle by means of hollow bar (10). Springs (25) retract the assembly when not in use such that the deflated bladder (28) is housed within a canister (27), the canister (27) providing sufficient support to the inflated bladder (28) such that additional longitudinal stiffening of the bladder (28) is unnecessary.