Abstract: A series of contoured pipe supports made primarily of foam are designed to support line pipe across land or water. The supports are configured to snap onto and self-retain to the line pipe, and further are configured to resist permanent deformation and to withstand weather conditions. The foam of the supports have sufficient physical and mechanical properties to support the line pipe, but the supports are surprisingly lightweight and can be easily installed over pipes for the purpose of supporting and protecting such pipe until the pipe is buried or submerged in the earth. The supports are sufficiently durable and have sufficient flotation to maintain a line pipe in a horizontal position necessary to prevent accidental puncture or leakage of the pipe during assembly and installation.

Abstract: A series of interconnectable foam-block ramps and platforms are provided that are cut from low density EPS foam but coated with durable exterior polyurea coating, and that include optional hard surfaces, and edge-and-corner treatments, and railing with hand grips. The components resist deformation and withstand extreme weather conditions, but are surprisingly lightweight and include integral hook connectors that securely engage. They can be easily assembled/installed to form a handicap ramp and/or arranged to form novel “terrains” for wheeled devices and/or arranged to form stages and platforms. The components are sufficiently durable to support high-stress wheeled devices such as a wheelchairs, trick bikes, skateboards, in-line skates and the like. A variety of optional components include a curb-simulating element, intersection-forming platforms, X-intersection connectors, double-decker platforms, steps, and railings.

Abstract: A pedal-supporting apparatus includes a bracket support configured to pivotally support a brake pedal subassembly and an accelerator pedal subassembly. The brake pedal subassembly includes an upper section, a lower section, and an adjustment mechanism adjustably connecting the two sections. The adjustment mechanism includes a track defining a channel, and a follower having a flange-supported bearing shoe that slidably engages the channel. The bearing shoe includes partially-compressed resilient portions and crush ribs that provide a consistent and stable connection that takes up slack to prevent a sloppy connection. The shoe also facilitates manufacture and assembly of the arrangement.

Abstract: A pedal-supporting apparatus includes a bracket support configured to pivotally support a brake pedal subassembly and an accelerator pedal subassembly. The brake pedal subassembly includes an upper section, a lower section, and an adjustment mechanism adjustably connecting the two sections. The adjustment mechanism includes a track defining a channel, and a follower having a flange-supported bearing shoe that slidably engages the channel. The bearing shoe includes partially-compressed resilient portions and crush ribs that provide a consistent and stable connection that takes up slack to prevent a sloppy connection. The shoe also facilitates manufacture and assembly of the arrangement.

Abstract: A pedal-supporting apparatus includes a bracket support configured to pivotally support a brake pedal subassembly and an accelerator pedal subassembly. The brake pedal subassembly includes an upper section, a lower section, and an adjustment mechanism adjustably connecting the two sections. The adjustment mechanism includes a track defining a channel, and a follower having a flange-supported bearing shoe that slidably engages the channel. The bearing shoe includes partially-compressed resilient portions and crush ribs that provide a consistent and stable connection that takes up slack to prevent a sloppy connection, but also that facilitates manufacture and assembly of the arrangement.

Abstract: A pedal construction includes an adjustable pedal subassembly having a lower pedal member adjustably supported on an upper pedal member by an adjustment device. The lower pedal member includes a pedal lever and a lever mount including abutting mounting sections forming a fixed joint. The mounting section of the lever mount has a channel with sharp edges and the mounting section of the lever has a ridge interference fit into the channel. The sharp edges shave marginal material from sides of the ridge when the ridge is forced into the channel, but the ridge has depressions adjacent its bottom that receive the shaved marginal material when the ridge is forced into the channel. Fasteners extend through the ridge and channel to hold the assembly together, with the ridge and channel interface forming a primary mechanical structure providing torsional strength to the joint.

Abstract: A pedal-supporting apparatus includes a bracket support configured to pivotally support a brake pedal subassembly and an accelerator pedal subassembly. The brake pedal subassembly includes a first upper portion and a brake pedal coupled to the first upper portion by an adjustment device comprising a vertically-elongated C-shaped track and follower. A rack on the track is engaged by a worm gear for adjusting the brake pedal location. The accelerator pedal subassembly is supported by an adjustment device like the brake pedal subassembly, and has a second rack on its track engaged by a worm gear for adjusting the accelerator pedal location. A reversible electric motor includes a rotatable shaft and a driving gear, and gear-driven cables engage the driving gear and extend to the worm gears so that the brake pedal and accelerator pedal are simultaneously and equally adjusted upon actuation of the motor. The tracks can be linear or arcuate.

Abstract: A pedal construction includes an adjustable pedal subassembly having a lower pedal member adjustably supported on an upper pedal member by an adjustment device. The lower pedal member includes a pedal lever and a lever mount including abutting mounting sections forming a fixed joint. The mounting section of the lever mount has a channel with sharp edges and the mounting section of the lever has a ridge interference fit into the channel. The sharp edges shave marginal material from sides of the ridge when the ridge is forced into the channel, but the ridge has depressions adjacent its bottom that receive the shaved marginal material when the ridge is forced into the channel. Fasteners extend through the ridge and channel to hold the assembly together, with the ridge and channel interface forming a primary mechanical structure providing torsional strength to the joint.

Abstract: A shifter is provided for shifting a vehicle transmission between a plurality of different gear positions. The shifter includes a base, and a shift lever pivoted to the base for movement between shift lever positions corresponding to the different gear positions. The shift lever includes a flange with an arcuate slot with a first enlarged pocket corresponding to a first one of the different gear positions and a second enlarged pocket corresponding to a second one of the different gear positions. An electromechanical device is provided having an extendable pin that is configured to engage the first enlarged pocket and lock the shift lever in the first one gear position until first predetermined vehicle conditions are met, and further that is configured to engage the second enlarged pocket and lock the shift lever in the second one gear position until second predetermined vehicle conditions are met.

Abstract: A shifter is provided for shifting a vehicle transmission between a plurality of different gear positions. The shifter includes a base, and a shift lever pivoted to the base for movement between shift lever positions corresponding to the different gear positions. The shift lever includes a flange with an arcuate slot with a first enlarged pocket corresponding to a first one of the different gear positions and a second enlarged pocket corresponding to a second one of the different gear positions. An electromechanical device is provided having an extendable pin that is configured to engage the first enlarged pocket and lock the shift lever in the first one gear position until first predetermined vehicle conditions are met, and further that is configured to engage the second enlarged pocket and lock the shift lever in the second one gear position until second predetermined vehicle conditions are met.

Abstract: A shifter is provided for shifting a vehicle transmission between an automatic shifting mode that includes the automatically shifting gear positions of park, reverse, neutral, drive, and low drive, and a manual-shifting mode including upshift and downshift gear positions. The shifter includes a base, a lever carrier pivoted to the base for movement along a center shift path and side shift paths, and a shift lever pivoted to the lever carrier for movement between the different shift paths. The lever carrier has notches corresponding to the gear positions, and the shift lever has a pawl operably engaging the notches to control movement of the shift lever between the automatically shifting gear positions on the center shift path. The pawl is disengaged when the shift lever is moved into the side-located shift paths.

Abstract: A pedal-supporting apparatus includes a bracket support configured to pivotally support a brake pedal subassembly and an accelerator pedal subassembly. The brake pedal subassembly includes a first upper portion and a brake pedal coupled to the first upper portion by an adjustment device comprising a vertically-elongated C-shaped track and follower. A rack on the track is engaged by a worm gear for adjusting the brake pedal location. The accelerator pedal subassembly is supported by an adjustment device like the brake pedal subassembly, and has a second rack on its track engaged by a worm gear for adjusting the accelerator pedal location. A reversible electric motor includes a rotatable shaft and a driving gear, and gear-driven cables engage the driving gear and extend to the worm gears so that the brake pedal and accelerator pedal are simultaneously and equally adjusted upon actuation of the motor. The tracks can be linear or arcuate.

Abstract: A pedal-supporting apparatus includes a bracket support configured to pivotally support a brake pedal subassembly and an accelerator pedal subassembly. The brake pedal subassembly includes an upper section, a lower section, and an adjustment mechanism adjustably connecting the two sections. The adjustment mechanism includes a track defining a channel, and a follower having a flange-supported bearing shoe that slidably engages the channel. The bearing shoe includes partially-compressed resilient portions and crush ribs that provide a consistent and stable connection that takes up slack to prevent a sloppy connection, but also that facilitates manufacture and assembly of the arrangement.

Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting the space or gap between a rigid, spherical boot and the periphery of an opening in a console trim plate through which the shift lever of the shifting mechanism extends. The mechanism provides both radial adjustment for providing a uniform gap and also allows for the assembly to be easily adjusted up or down with respect to the opening in the console trim plate.

Abstract: A modular shifter and method of assembly is provided with components assembleable in a common direction to facilitate assembly. The shifter includes a multi-piece base adapted to attach to a vehicle, the base including a first side member and a separate second side member. Cross support pins are insert molded into one of the side members so that they extend laterally for connecting to the other side member and to space the side members apart. A lever subassembly is pivotally mounted between the side members on a pivot pin, the pivot pin being supported by the side members between the side members. A cable bracket and a detent plate are connected to the side members by the cross support pins, the cable bracket including a stabilizing flange that abuts and is welded to the detent plate to stabilize same. The lever subassembly includes pawl for engaging the detent plate and further includes cable connector for operably connecting to a shift cable.

Abstract: A shift lever assembly for a vehicle is provided. The shift lever assembly ncludes a vertically oriented detent plate having a Z-shaped slot defining a 2-wheel-drive (2H) position, a 4-wheel-drive (4H) position, a neutral (N) position, and a 4-wheel-drive low-speed (4L) position. An actuator pivotally mounts to the detent plate and transfer case, the actuator including a first arm including a connector adapted to connect to a shift mechanism on a vehicle transfer case, and a second arm. A lever subassembly pivotally mounts to the actuator second arm and includes a detent pin adapted for movement in the Z-shaped slot. The lever subassembly is biased so that the detent pin engages the Z-shaped slot. As the lever subassembly is moved along a first path, it drives the connector on the actuator along a corresponding second path to shift the shifting mechanism.