Abstract: A track assembly and vehicle for omnidirectional travel. The track assembly includes a driving arrangement and two or more closed loop linking members connected to the driving arrangement. The track assembly also includes freely rotatable rollers for contacting a surface, the rollers supported on the closed loop linking members. The rollers travel a roller path defined by the motion of the closed loop linking members. An omnidirectional vehicle includes two or more track assemblies.

Abstract: A dolly is particularly adapted to lift, support and maneuver a four-wheel vehicle. The dolly comprises an adjustable, generally U-shaped frame assembly for each vehicle tire. The frame assembly has pairs of reciprocally opposed first and second frame members adapted to be positioned adjacent opposite sides of a tire and to lift the vehicle by way of the tires. A castering wheel assembly supports the vehicle on a ground surface. The frame assembly is pivotably mounted on a tractor.

Abstract: As typically embodied, the inventive ramp system for bridging between structures (e.g., marine vessels) includes a hydraulic elevator device and a ramp unit. The ramp unit includes three adjoining planar members, the ramp member (the main ramp body) being pivotably connected at each end to one of the two platform members. The hydraulic elevator device includes the coaxial combination of a cylinder and a piston, the piston being translatable along and pivotable about the axis. The cylinder-piston combination is secured, axis vertical, to a first structure, with one of the ramp unit's platform members attached atop the piston. In order to position the other (unattached) platform member upon a selected (e.g., horizontal) location of a second structure, the ramp unit is configurable in terms of the attached platform member's height, the ramp unit's horizontal rotation angle, and the respective vertical rotation angles of the ramp unit's two pivotable connections.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cargo transfer at sea, more particularly, a flow-through vessel and related method for the at-sea and underway launching and loading of air-cushion vehicles. The vessel includes a hull having a forward end and an aft end, a continuous deck extending from the forward end to the aft end of the hull, a forward ramp attached to the continuous deck at the forward end of the hull, and an aft ramp attached to the continuous deck at the aft end of the hull. At least a portion of the continuous deck is uncovered and accessible from above the deck.

Abstract: The present invention's vehicle, suitable for being hoisted while carrying people between destinations, is compactable and de-compactable. As typically embodied, the vehicle includes a box-shaped open frame, plural chairs, and a shock-absorbent base. The frame includes a rectangular floor panel, a rectangular ceiling panel, and four posts connecting the floor and ceiling panels. Each post is foldable via a medial hinge to half its unfolded length, and is attached in a hinged manner at its opposite ends to respective corner portions of the floor panel and the ceiling panel. Each chair is mounted on the floor panel and can be folded down to a position adjacent to the top surface of the floor panel using hinges variously connecting chair components including a seat, a chair back, two side safety restraints, and a chair support. The shock-absorbent base is solid or inflatable and is attached beneath the floor panel.

Abstract: A vertical damping system for a plurality of water vessels for diminishing the relative vertical movement between two or more water vessels moored in a skin-to-skin orientation. The vertical damping system may include one or more vertical damping devices, each device pivotally connected to a side portion of a first vessel and detachably connecting to a side portion of a second vessel. The vertical damping device may be a piston/cylinder arrangement and the damping system may involve more than two water vessels. The vertical damping system counteracts the effect of roll motion on water vessels, thereby enabling ship-to-ship functions such as cargo loading and the like.

Abstract: An exercise accessory device, kit and associated method of using the kit for assembling the device for attachment to an exercise machine is disclosed, in which the exercise machine having at least two upper pulleys connected to a resistive force element via a system of wire ropes. The device comprises a top and bottom brace, a pair of bolts and nuts, a pair of semicircular beams, a pair of track pulleys, a pair of handle grips, and a pair of cables. The top and bottom braces are attachable to a respective top and bottom portions of the exercise machine. The pair of semicircular beams is pivotally attached to the top and bottom braces in which the pair of semicircular beams defines a perimeter of an imaginary sphere between the top and bottom braces in which the semicircular beams are locked in place to the top and bottom braces with the pair of bolts and nuts. Each semicircular beam has an inside edge comprising a slide rail with a plurality of holes traversing into the inside edge of each semicircular beam.