Abstract: A stationary blocking/tackling platform for football comprising up to seven parallel blocking/tackling padded dummies movable along a track and returnable to the original position. The sled is suitable for football player training ranging from junior high school to the professional ranks.

Abstract: A hybrid electric powertrain system is provided including a first engine system, a second engine system and an electric motor. During normal driving conditions, a single engine is utilized for providing driving torque to the drive wheels. During periods of operation where increased levels of torque are required, the electric motor is operated temporarily while the second engine is started and brought up to speed to assist the first engine in providing driving torque to the driving wheels of the vehicle.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is provided including an internal combustion engine mounted in a forward portion of the vehicle for driving engagement of a pair of wheels attached to a front axle. An electric motor is mounted in a rear portion of the vehicle for driving engagement of another pair of wheels through a rear axle. A set of batteries for powering the electric motor are stored in the trunk of the vehicle or beneath the trunk floor. A controller is used for controlling the driving engagement of the pair of axles by the electric motor and the internal combustion engine. More particularly, the electric motor is automatically operated to drive the rear wheels when increased horsepower is demanded such as during heavy acceleration or high speed cruising or when enhanced traction is required due to a slip condition.

Abstract: A starting assembly for an automotive vehicle is connected to the clutch pedal thereof. The pivoting of the clutch pedal (in a clockwise direction in FIG. 1) pulls a clutch connector. The clutch connector pivots a clutch lever (in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1) which, in turn, actuates a translator. The translator transforms and translates the pivoting movement of the clutch lever into a linear movement of a starter pinion gear to engage the starter ring gear. The hyper-pivoting of the clutch pedal forces the closure of a contact switch which provides power for an electric motor (not shown) to rotate the starter pinion gear and, therefore, start the internal combustion engine of the automotive vehicle.

Abstract: A headlamp mounting system for an automobile includes respective headlamp housings for holding monofilament headlamps. Also, respective bases are attached to the automobile and each base is pivotably engaged with a respective one of the headlamp housings. An activating shaft extends between the headlamp housings and is connected to each, and an activating rod is connected to a radially protruding ear of the activating shaft. The activating rod is coupled to an operating knob in the passenger compartment, and the knob can be pushed and pulled as desired by an occupant to cause the activating rod to reciprocate and, thus, to rotate the activating shaft and hence pivot the headlamp housings. Thereby, the elevation angle of the headlamp beams is selectively established, with a high angle establishing a high beam orientation and a low angle establishing a low beam orientation.

Abstract: A motor vehicle body which includes a left-hand outer body panel, a left-hand inner body panel, a right-hand inner body panel, and a right-hand outer body panel. The four body panels are capable of being easily secured together at the longitudinal midline of the motor vehicle body. In another aspect, a motor vehicle body includes a plurality of interconnectable body panels including a body panel having a generally-vertical side and a horizontal appendage extending from the vertical side. The horizontal appendage is tapered circumferentially from its proximal end to its distal end. In another aspects a motor vehicle body has a plurality of interconnectable body panels including a body panel having an integral door frame member and an integral front fender liner having an integral inner splash shield. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the motor vehicle body may have a body panel having an integral roof frame member and an integral front fender liner having an integral inner splash shield.

Abstract: An automobile includes a plastic body and a steel frame bonded to the plastic body. The front suspension system of the automobile includes a "v"-shaped control arm coupled to a front wheel. An arm shaft extends between the "v" of the control arm and is engaged with a rubber cartridge press-fit into a cartridge housing that is affixed to the frame. Thereby, motion of the control arm is attenuated. A horizontally-mounted transversely-oriented shock absorber further interconnects the control arm and frame. This shock absorber orientation avoids transferring suspension system loads to the plastic body.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes a vehicle frame having a pair of rails disposed in spaced relationship relative to each other and defining a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, a pair of axles disposed spaced from one another and extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis with each of the pair of axles including a pair of wheels operatively mounted thereto for rolling engagement with a surface, an internal combustion engine mounted for driving engagement of one of the pair of wheels through one of the axles and an electric motor mounted for driving engagement of the other pair of wheels through the other axle, and a set of batteries disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor for providing an electrical power source to the electric motor.

Abstract: A hybrid powertrain system for a motor vehicle includes a final drive unit for providing tractive power to wheels of a motor vehicle, a first motor/generator operatively connected in series to a heat engine of the motor vehicle, a second motor/generator operatively connected in series to the first motor/generator and the final drive unit, and an energy storage device operatively connected in parallel to the first motor/generator and the second motor/generator.

Abstract: An air conditioning unit for a motor vehicle is housed entirely inside a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. The air conditioning unit includes a power generator inside an enclosure which also houses the air conditioning unit. The power generator is a small internal combustion engine that combusts the same fuel as the primary internal combustion engine which provides the motive force for the motor vehicle. The enclosure has an inlet port which allows ambient air to flow into the enclosure and an outlet port which allows the ambient air to exit the enclosure and the motor vehicle after it has been heated. The thermal energy received by the ambient air is transmitted from the internal air inside the passenger compartment and transferred to the ambient air via a fluid (refrigerant) which flows therebetween. The use of the power generator eliminates a drain of power on the primary internal combustion engine when the air conditioning unit is being used.

Abstract: A lift type tailgate on a passenger van type vehicle body is operated by an electric motor powered actuator with an electronic control circuit utilizing a microprocessor operating under program control to respond to user-initiated opening and closing signals to move the tailgate in the selected direction. In the control circuit, feedback information to the microprocessor indicative of tailgate position is provided by a potentiometer coupled with the actuator motor and the microprocessor is programmed to operate with this information to stop the tailgate at a wide open position, a partially closed position and a fully closed position. Obstruction detection is performed by the microprocessor using an obstruction detection circuit and additionally by monitoring the position signal input from the potentiometer to stop the tailgate on encountering an obstacle.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle body has a side opening that is opened and closed by a sliding door. The door is operated with a power drive mechanism that is pivotally mounted thereon and extends through the side opening. The power drive mechanism includes a reversible electric motor driven friction drive wheel and is spring biased to forcibly engage this wheel with a drive/guide track that is located beneath the vehicle floor and attached to the vehicle body. The friction drive wheel rides on the drive/guide track to open and close the door and also helps guide and stabilize its sliding movement. The spring load on the friction drive wheel is limited so as to provide sliding door operation with the motor under normal conditions and allow slippage at the friction drive wheel to cease door movement when the door encounters a physical object in the door opening.

Abstract: A personal use, low cost, portable speech prompter which is light in weight and small in size. The speech prompter includes a support frame on which is mounted a light box with a horizontal translucent top wall. A transparent film with a speech printed thereon is slidably mounted, upside down, on the light box top wall. An image of the speech printed on the transparent film is reflected upwardly to a see-through view screen which reflects the speech image rearwardly along a line of sight between a speaker and the see-through view screen.

Abstract: An instrument panel projection apparatus is mounted on a pivotable steering column or the ceiling of the vehicle. A small steering wheel, preferably no more than twelve inches in diameter, is also mounted on the steering column. The instrument panel image is projected onto a reflection plate. The steering wheel, reflection plate and the instrument panel cluster are positioned so that the driver's sight line for viewing the image of the instrument panel cluster is over the steering wheel. Further, when the steering column is pivoted or telescoped, the steering wheel and the instrument panel cluster are also pivoted and telescoped, so as to continue to provide a sight line for viewing the instrument cluster over the steering wheel. The projection apparatus may include a lens system with a magnifying lens to increase the size of the projected image.

Abstract: A tailgate is hinged to a passenger van type vehicle body above a substantially vertical rear access opening for swinging movement about a horizontal hinge axis. The tailgate is counterbalanced through its range of movement by spring devices and is opened and closed by a powered actuator mounted on a rear vehicle body pillar. The actuator includes a reversible electric motor driving a worm shaft that drives a worm gear to pivot a crankarm about an axis parallel to the hinge axis. A roller mounted on the crankarm is received in a guide channel that is fixed to the tailgate and extends at right angles to the hinge axis with the pivoting movement of the crankarm thereby translated into swinging tailgate opening and closing movement. The motor is connected with torque sensing circuitry that detects an excessive motor torque demand when the tailgate encounters an obstacle and stops the motor.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a utility/camper multiple purpose shell integrated with a pick-up truck frame and cab. The shell is adaptable (1) to being fully opened at the rear, (2) to having the roof thereof pivotally raised to permit standing room for a user, (3) to having flexible walls attached to the raised roof suitable for camping therein, and (4) to having the roof thereof lifted off of the front and side walls. The shell components are formed of light weight materials and bonded together.

Abstract: A frame and underbody floor pan mounting arrangement for a motor vehicle, including a frame having oppositely disposed side rails and a plurality of longitudinally spaced bushing assemblies mounted through openings in each of the side rails. An underbody floor cross pan has oppositely disposed inverted U-shaped ribs formed thereon adapted to being mounted over the side rails and secured to opposite ends of the plurality of bushing assemblies, providing a low pan height and an isolated mounting of the vehicle body to the frame.

Abstract: A tailgate is hinged to a passenger van type vehicle body above a substantially vertical rear access opening for swinging movement about a horizontal hinge axis. The tailgate is counterbalanced through its range of movement by spring devices and is opened and closed by a powered actuator mounted on a rear vehicle body pillar. The actuator includes a reversible electric motor driving a worm shaft that drives a worm gear to pivot a crankarm about an axis parallel to the hinge axis. A roller mounted on the crankarm is received in a guide channel that is fixed to the tailgate and extends at right angles to the hinge axis with the pivoting movement of the crankarm thereby translated into swinging tailgate opening and closing movement. The motor is connected with torque sensing circuitry that detects an excessive motor torque demand when the tailgate encounters an obstacle and stops the motor.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle body has a side opening that is opened and closed by a sliding door. The door is operated with a power drive mechanism that is pivotally mounted thereon and extends through the side opening. The power drive mechanism includes a reversible electric motor driven friction drive wheel and is spring biased to forcibly engage this wheel with a drive/guide track that is located beneath the vehicle floor and attached to the vehicle body. The friction drive wheel rides on the drive/guide track to open and close the door and also helps guide and stabilize its sliding movement. The spring load on the friction drive wheel is limited so as to provide sliding door operation with the motor under normal conditions and allow slippage at the friction drive wheel to cease door movement when the door encounters a physical object in the door opening.