Abstract: The present invention relates to a ski binding that retains a boot to a ski in at least two independent operational states. One embodiment of a ski binding includes a toe receiving member and a releasable system. The toe receiving member is configured to engage the toe portion of the boot. The releasable system is configured to couple the toe receiving member to the ski in at least two independent operational states. A first state corresponds to a state in which the toe receiving member is allowed to freely rotate with respect to the ski. The first state is particularly useful in minimizing the necessary energy output for uphill travel. A second state corresponds to a state in which the toe receiving member is locked with respect to the ski. The second state is particularly useful in high performance downhill travel. The releasable system further includes an engagement mechanism and a switching mechanism.

Abstract: The invention relates to a child's vehicle with a folding frame, comprising at least one front shaft provided with at least one front wheel, a rear shaft provided with at least one rear wheel, and a pushing device cooperating with a guiding handle, wherein said frame includes at least one assembly of two pieces which can slide in relation to each other without a space therebetween. A first piece of said two pieces has at least one track and the second of said two pieces has at least one slider which slides in said track.

Abstract: A baby stroller for transporting an infant at speeds faster than normal walking is disclosed. This baby stroller can be folded to make it easier to stow and transport. The folding mechanism, a unique feature of the design is directed toward compactness, ease of use, reliability, and reduction in manufacturing costs.

Abstract: An airbag module has a rigid cushion with an integrated inflator. The cushion has a rear cushion panel and the inflator may have a front inflator plate attached to the rear cushion panel. A rear inflator plate is optionally provided and may be positioned within the cushion or outside the cushion. A pyrotechnic may be disposed within the space between the front inflator plate and the rear cushion panel and/or the rear inflator plate. An initiator may be seated in the rear inflator plate and/or the rear cushion panel to initiate combustion of the pyrotechnic. Instead of the front inflator plate, the inflator may have an expanse of tape that secures the pyrotechnic and/or the initiator to the interior of the cushion. The pyrotechnic may be sealed by the tape or by a foil pouch. The initiator may be secured by the tape or by a rear inflator plate.

Abstract: A curtain airbag includes an inflatable cell below a non-inflatable portion that resists being bent when the curtain airbag is inflated. The curtain airbag has a non-inflatable portion and a plurality of inflatable cells that are disposed in front of, behind, above, and below the non-inflatable portion. The lower-side inflatable cell is formed in a convex shape that projects downwardly. When the curtain airbag is inflated, a tensile force acting to pull up the lower-side inflatable cell is generated in the non-inflatable portion. However, as the inflatable cell is formed in a convex shape that projects downwardly, the inflatable cell resists being pulled up and is, therefore, prevented from being bent.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus according to the present invention includes a gas generator and an airbag. The airbag includes a panel sheet and a recess defined inwardly with respect to the airbag. The airbag is formed in a bag-like shape by folding the panel sheet in two and sewing the circumference of the panel sheet. The panel sheet has a first folding line and an inward folding portion including a line extending from the first folding line and arranged in a circumferential portion of the panel sheet. The inward folding portion includes a second folding line by which the inward folding portion is defined, a third folding line extending along the line extending from the first folding line, and an insertion opening through which the gas generator is inserted into the airbag.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems relating to automotive airbags. Embodiments of the disclosed invention include multiple inflatable chambers. The chambers may be configured to inflate sequentially such that one or more side chambers may inflate before a center chamber is inflated. Embodiments of the invention may employ separate inflators to inflate the side and center chambers such that the side chamber inflator is deployed prior to the center chamber inflator or, alternatively, a single inflator may be employed with vent openings between the side and center chambers to allow for fluid communication of the inflation gas therethrough.

Abstract: An airbag assembly includes an airbag and a system provided in contact with at least a portion of the airbag that includes a first member and a second member. The second member at least partially overlaps the first member and is held in contact during initial deployment of the airbag with the first member by a frictional force between the first member and the second member. The system is configured to cause the airbag to inflate laterally with respect to a vehicle occupant until the frictional force is overcome by inflation of the airbag.

Abstract: A gas bag (10) for a vehicle occupant restraint system includes a limiting strap (12) which is guided along a wall (14) of the gas bag (10), the limiting strap (12) being shortened in an initial state by at least one gathered section such that the gas bag (10) is constricted and is not able to deploy freely, the at least one gathered section being extendable after a predetermined limiting strap tensile force is exceeded, so that the gas bag (10) may be deployed completely.

Abstract: The cab guard for pickup truck has a horizontal base member made of square hollow structural steel; an upright structure extending upward from the horizontal base member, and two anchor brackets for attachment to the sides of a pickup truck box. Each of the anchor brackets has a stem made of square hollow structural steel and an anchor plate extending at right angle from the stem. Each stem is telescopically engaged in one end of the horizontal base member. The cab guard also comprises a pair of J-shaped hooks extending through the anchor plates and having means for attachment to the stake pockets of a pickup truck box for retaining the anchor plates to the sides of the pickup truck box. The universal cab guard is mountable to the front stake pockets of a pickup truck box and is adjustable to match the width between the stake pockets.

Abstract: A ride-on turf mowing machine rollover protection assembly consisting of a mower chassis having left and right main rails and having a plurality of cross rails spanning between the left and right main rails; left and right upwardly opening quills; a first plurality of welds rigidly interconnecting the left main rail and the left upwardly opening quill; a second plurality of welds rigidly interconnecting the right main rail and the right upwardly opening quill; a roll bar having left and right legs, each leg having a lower end, the lower ends of the left and right legs being respectively closely fitted for nesting extension into the left and right upwardly opening quills; and a plurality of helically threaded bolt, nut, and double shear eye combinations removably mounting the lower ends of the left and right legs of the roll bar within the left and right upwardly opening quills.

Abstract: A postage sheet includes a face sheet adhesively bonded to a release liner. The face sheet includes a removable internet stamp having a diecut perimeter. A visible security indicium is disposed on the front side of the stamp and has a different color than the face sheet, and is not reproducible by photocopying.

Abstract: A flexible sheet which includes a substrate having at least one visually discernable surface and at least one electroluminescent lamp assembly positioned proximate to the surface and controlled by a suitable power source as well as means for isolating at least one electroluminescent lamp assembly from deleterious interaction with environment external to the flexible sheet. The flexible sheet can be employed in various applications including bound books, functional cards, locational orientation devices as well as in mechanisms for selectively indicating ingress or egress from architectural structures and other safety indicators. At least one component of the flexible sheet with the electroluminescent lamp assembly can be produced by drop ejection.

Abstract: A coupling device for a dishwasher pump with a synchronous motor and external stator, comprising a first tang connected to the delivery tube of the pump, a second tang connected to the suitable pipeline of a washing tank and a connection mean part. The connection mean part comprises a frustum of cone-shaped section, intermediate between said first and second tang and a flexible annular lip formed between said second tang and the smallest base of the frustum of cone-shaped section. Advantageously, the external part of the frustum of cone-shaped section is reinforced with annular ribs.

Abstract: A first fluid connector is provided for selective interconnection to and fluid transfer with a second fluid connector. The first connector comprises a fluid passageway, an internal member and an outer collar supportably disposed about the internal member for selective advancement and retraction relative thereto. At least a portion of the fluid passageway may extend through the internal member. The outer collar may be selectively retracted to facilitate cleaning of the internal member. In some embodiments, the outer collar and internal member may be disposed so that a distal portion of the internal member is substantially flush with or a distal portion of internal member projects beyond a distal end of the outer collar when the outer collar is in a retracted position relative thereto. To facilitate cleaning, a distal end or distal portion of the internal member may be substantially closed when the first and second connectors are disconnected.

Abstract: A sanitary connector apparatus includes first and second tubular members coaxially aligned such that a first member end of the first tubular member is positioned toward a second member end of the second tubular member. First and second sealing components radially extend from the first and second member ends, respectively. An annular groove is formed into the first end face of the first sealing component and a corresponding resilient rib is integrally formed with the second end face of the second sealing component. A clamp band, secured around the outer perimeter of the first and second sealing components, has two extension members that apply compressive force to the sealing components in a direction coaxial to the tubular members. The compressive force applied is sufficient to compress the resilient rib into the corresponding groove and position the first end face against the second end face.

Abstract: A pipe coupling (11) comprises a tubular casing (12) and a sealing gasket (13), which fit over the ends of the pipes to be coupled. The casing (12) is formed from a strip of rolled steel into a cylindrical shape, with a longitudinal gap (14). The free ends of the strip, which forms the casing, are bent outwardly to form radially projecting flange (15) along opposite edges of the longitudinal gap (14). The outer ends of the flanges (15) are bent back at right angles to form stiffening flanges (16) along the longitudinal outer edges of the flanges (15). A bridging member (18) fits inside the casing so as to span the longitudinal gap. Tensioning screw bolts (25) pass through reinforcing plate's (20) and the flange (15). A hexagonal nut (34) is threaded onto the end of each screw bolt. The nuts fit into the channel but are prevented from turning. The heads (35) of the bolts have a hexagonal recess to take an Allen key so that they can be tightened to clamp the coupling around the pipe ends.

Abstract: An adaptor for a window locking mechanism wherein the locking mechanism includes a keeper on a window sash and a cam roller on a window frame, the adaptor comprising a body portion having first and second sides with a recess being formed in the body portion, the recess being sized to receive a portion of the cam roller, the body portion further having at least one ramped portion extending from an edge of the recess to the first side. The adaptor can be used with conventional cam roller windows and provides an improved surface engagement and a greater displacement span.

Abstract: A security strike plate comprising a strike plate portion adapted to receive a locking bolt and a security member. The security member includes a ceiling having an outer surface and an inner surface, an outer side wall extending downwardly from the ceiling, and a floor extending inwardly from the outer side wall. The ceiling is located in the same plane as the strike plate portion and is an extension thereof. The ceiling and the floor are substantially parallel. An inner side wall can extend upwardly from the floor substantially parallel to the outer side wall, the inner side wall having an outer end that abuts against the inner surface of the ceiling. The ceiling and floor having openings therein adapted to receive an elongated anchor member therethrough.

Abstract: A gate lock is composed of a lock base, a lock core with a slot defined therein, a latch member and a bolt assembly. A gate is mounted in a frame, which can be mounted in a doorway. The gate lock is mounted on the gate and the bolt assembly of the gate lock is mounted on the frame. When the gate is closed, the bolt is engaged in the slot in the lock core. The lock core is then rotated 90 degrees. The bolt will not slide out of the slot, and the gate is locked. To unlock the gate, the lock core is rotated 90 degrees in the opposite direction. The gate is then lifted upward allowing the bolt to slide out of the slot, thus enabling the gate to swing open.

Abstract: A lifting magnet having a housing, a rotary magnet unit, and a stationary magnet unit. The lifting magnet also includes a pinion, a socket moving up and down, a slider rotating the pinion to set the magnetization and demagnetization states at top and bottom dead points, respectively, a locking part provided in one of the socket and the slider, a locking unit provided in the other, including a locker, and moving both the socket and the slider up and down while the locker is locked to the locking part, and a locking unit driver alternately driving the locking unit to make the locker released from and locked to the locking part at first and second moving operations, respectively. With this configuration, the lifting magnet can stably keep on and off states of an attractive magnetic force and conveniently performs lifting and carrying operations.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a frame, a counterweight connected to the frame, a load attachment member connected to the frame, a movable pick point mounted on the frame, and a pick point position adjuster for moving the pick point to balance a load supported by the load attachment member.

Abstract: The invention concerns an angular pneumatic gripper structure having a body (11) formed of two symmetric and identical elements or shells (15) realized and finished individually using a forming process and then associated and attached face to face to form together a housing chamber of an alternating piston (12) and a structure for receiving and guiding an intermediate drive (13) transversely and some grips (14) so as to turn driven by the piston through the drive. The elements or shells forming the body are made using die-casting, sintering or forging processes with material suitable for these forming techniques.

Abstract: A pipe pulling device secures to the end of a pipe, with wedge action, for pulling by equipment. The device has a shaft, a housing upon the shaft, one or more wedges, a cone, nuts, eye nuts, O rings, and a sleeve, all arranged coaxially. First the nut is placed upon the shaft, then the housing is oriented forward. The forward end of the housing has a beveled edge to assist in passage through soil. The contractor then places a wedge of three vanes upon the shaft within the housing. A hollow cone upon the shaft contacts the wedge. An eye nut then secures the assembled parts upon the shaft. In use, a contractor tightens the nut rearward thus pulling the cone forward and expanding the wedge. The Is wedge expands to grasp the pipe between the housing and the wedge. The contractor can then pull the pipe through soil.

Abstract: Use of a double-sided adhesive tape with a carrier layer made of PE foam, the PE foam having a compressive strength of less than 300 kPa under a compressive strain of 50% (measured in accordance with ISO 844), for fastening structured and/or profiled flat cables preferably in the interior of passenger cars.

Abstract: A pedestal console for a motor vehicle includes a housing stationarily mounted within the vehicle beneath and transverse to a bench seat of the vehicle. The console includes an air duct defined by structural features extending the length of the console. This allows air from a forward ventilation system to be provided, through the air duct, to an aft portion of the vehicle. The structural features extend between the bottom surface and the top surface of the console and are dimensioned to allow the console to accept passenger floor loads. To reduce cost and parts count, the entire console is formed of a one piece construction. Finally, an interior opening may be provided to route wiring of the vehicle's electrical system to the aft portion of the vehicle.

Abstract: A rear seat assembly is for use in an automotive vehicle having a package shelf includes a generally horizontal seat cushion, a seat back and a flap. The seat cushion is fixedly secured to the vehicle. The seat back is pivotally coupled to the vehicle for movement between a plurality of seating positions relative to the seat cushion. The seat back has a rear surface spaced apart from the package shelf to define a gap therebetween. The flap is fixedly secured to the rear surface of the seat back. The flap has a front wall adapted to be fixedly secured to the rear surface of the seat back. The front wall has an upper edge. An upper wall extends outwardly from the upper edge of the front wall for substantially concealing the gap while the seat back is in any one of the seating positions.

Abstract: A collapsible enclosure is appended to a vehicle, such as a cargo type trailer, for example, for the purpose of providing living space in association with the vehicle. The vehicle includes a ramp that offers ingress to and egress from the interior of the vehicle through an access opening in the body of the vehicle for loading and unloading the vehicle, and the collapsible enclosure is appended to the vehicle at the access door opening and the ramp. Access to the interior of the collapsible enclosure can be had from the interior of the vehicle through the access opening. The size of the collapsible enclosure is adjustable so that the enclosure may be used with vehicles having ramps and access openings of different sizes. The ramp, which can be supported in a position substantially parallel to the surface on which the vehicle rests, serves as the floor of the additional living space that is created within the collapsible enclosure.

Abstract: A seat for a motor vehicle includes a seat and a backrest, the seat including inner and outer lateral supporting legs, the legs being placed on either side of the seat and being designed to be joined to the motor vehicle. The seat also has a beam for joining the seat to the inner and outer supporting legs. The beam extends laterally between the supporting legs and is joined to the seat and legs. The joining beam is arranged so as to transmit the energy of a side crash from the outer lateral supporting leg to the inner lateral supporting leg. The inner supporting leg has a structure arranged so as to deform and absorb at least a part of the energy from the side crash.

Abstract: In various embodiments of the present disclosure, a cargo bed pivoting panel assembly is provided. The assembly includes a panel having a pair of studs extending from corresponding opposing ends of the panel adjacent a bottom of the panel. The assembly additionally includes a main body having a first deck portion and a pair of opposing sidewalls extending substantially perpendicular from the first deck portion. Each sidewall includes an elongated receptacle for receiving, and slideably and pivotally retaining, a respective one of the studs. Accordingly, the panel can be moved between a stowed position and a deployed position by sliding the studs between first ends of the elongated receptacles and second ends of the elongated receptacles while simultaneously rotating the panel about a centerline of studs.

Abstract: A rear window roller blind for motor vehicles which has a pull rod assembly with a contoured plate. The contoured plate is used to close the segmented residual gap between the straight pull rod assembly and the curved top edge of the rear window. In order for the contoured plate to lie flush with a rear shelf below the rear window when the roller blind is in a retracted position, it is pivotable about a longitudinal axis of the pull rod assembly during movement of the pull rod between its retracted and extended positions. Such rotational movement is controlled by the contour of guide rails within which the pull rod is guided during such pull out movement.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a door to a passenger vehicle body having a lift arm and a hinge assembly. The lift arm rotatably connects the door to the vehicle body. The lift arm imparts upward rotational movement to the door relative to the vehicle body as upward pressure is applied to the arm. The hinge assembly allows the door to open horizontally about a pair of hinges connected to the hinge assembly. A stop pin assembly dictates whether the door can be opened vertically or horizontally.

Abstract: A removable truck deck for use as part of a roll-off truck deck system. In one embodiment, the removable truck deck comprises a replaceable and interchangeable side fitting that may be locked at a desired position along the length of the removable truck deck. The side fitting may be used to provide a plurality of interchangeable attachments on the truck deck. One such attachment may include a pontoon permitting the truck deck to float when removed from the truck. A plurality of floating truck decks in abutting longitudinal series may be used to create a floating bridge. Other attachments include, wheels, cranes, winches, transverse partitions, tailgates, sidewalls, etc.

Abstract: A loader has an operator's station, comprising a cab with an operator's seat that is mounted on a pivot at the forward portions of the operator's station. An actuator is mounted between the operator's station and a loader frame to tilt the operator's station about the pivot a limited number of degrees when operating accessories mounted on a forward portion of the loader frame. The accessory is shown as a backhoe, and the forward tilting of the operator's station permits increased the downward field of view for an operator to observe the lower end of a digging arm of a backhoe at greater depths than with a fixed position operator's station.

Abstract: A vehicle door pillar decorative panel is primarily composed of a base board having a recession in which a panel is adhered. A protruding block is fastened to the panel to form a decorative panel. And, by way of various surface treatments, the decorative panel may have a frosted or mirror surface to accomplish a high quality visual effect. Besides, by way of the design of the protrusions, the decorative panel may further provide a three-dimensional feeling, which is extremely applicable to the vehicle door pillar for decoration purposes.

Abstract: A side panel for a motor vehicle includes a bottom sill member, a roof panel portion, and a plurality of pillars extending between the sill member and the roof panel portion. The sill member forms with the pillars and the roof panel portion a single-piece structure from a sheet metal blank made of high-strength steel and has at least one region which is partly hardened and subject to increased load in the event of a crash of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A moon chair is configured to collapse in a single movement in which a seat frame is folded while the legs approximate each other. Contemplated moon chairs particularly include those that can be collapsed without separating the seat portion form the leg portion.

Abstract: This invention is related to a recliner chair having a footrest mechanism and a recliner mechanism. The recliner chair includes a footrest, a seat, back, and a pair of spaced apart armrests. The recliner mechanism, in one aspect, broadly includes a base plate, a seat mount plate, a recline link, a seat lift link, a control linkage, and a back linkage. The carrier link couples the base plate to the back linkage while the full recline link couples the carrier link to the base plate. The control linkage is coupled to the base plate, the back linkage, and the footrest extension linkage and cooperates therewith to move the footrest mechanism between the open and closed positions. Further, the control linkage cooperates with the back linkage to move the backrest between the upright position and the fully reclined position.

Abstract: A rear seat is foldable by moving downward a seat cushion and folding forward a seat back. A power source unit is disposed below a rear floor to the rear of the rear seat. When the rear seat is in an unfolded state, cooling air can be introduced from inside a vehicle compartment, through a space between a lower surface of the seat cushion and an upper surface of an underseat floor, into a cooling-air introduction port in the power source unit. When the rear seat is in a folded state, the cooling air is introduced from inside the vehicle compartment, through cooling-air introduction passages, into the cooling-air introduction port. Thus, the power source unit can be cooled irrespective of whether the rear seat is in the folded state, without reducing the foldability of the rear seat.

Abstract: A chair with a firm structure for overlapping has a body which includes a chair frame and at least one supporting frame; the chair frame having a base, a seat frame and a back frame for supporting the body; the supporting frame being at an outer side of the chair frame; wherein the seat frame has a seat; and the back frame has a cushion; the supporting frame has a handle; supporting frame is combined with a combining unit. The combining unit serves for combining the supporting frame and the chair frame; the chair frame has a front casing and a rear casing; each of the front casing and the rear casing has a clamping surface; the front casing is coupled to the rear casing; each of two sides of the clamping surface has a positioning groove for limiting the chair frame and the supporting frame in the combining unit.

Abstract: A seat structure is comprised of a support frame having an elastic fabric sheet secured to the frame along opposed lateral sides of the frame and extends across a top seating portion or front part of a backrest thereof. In one embodiment of the invention one or two extensor members are displaceably positioned between the frame and the elastic fabric sheet to a permanent tensioning position where the elastic fabric sheet undergoes an upward displacement and stretching sufficient to support an intended load, herein a user person, thereon or thereagainst in a flexible suspension in the seating or backrest portion and free from contact with any hard surfaces.

Abstract: A musician's chair that enhances the musician's posture when performing vocal or wind instruments. The music posture chair includes a seat and back that are mounted on a frame with respect to a floor to not only enhance diaphragmatic breathing of the musician but also to enhance the comfort of the musician.

Abstract: A back includes an integrated articulating back frame and a back support. The back frame has a lower segment pivoted to a chair control, an upper segment for thoracic support, and links forming a four-bar linkage with the upper and lower segments, with a joint being formed at the lumbar region. The back support is stretchable in limited directions to accommodate shape change in the articulating back frame but to provide adequate support to a seated user. Upon receiving a rearward pressure on the lumbar joint, the back frame itself changes shape. The pivot locations in the four bar linkage create a mechanism that simultaneously controls rotational and translational movement of the upper segment during flexure of the lumbar. The back frame is close to the back support to provide significant design flexibility, but permit substantial lumbar flexure. Various back supports are contemplated that accommodate articulation of the back frame.

Abstract: The invention describes a chair comprising a base structure, a seat having a seat surface and a backrest, a seat carrier for carrying the seat on the base structure, and a tilt mechanism which is arranged between the seat carrier and the base structure and which to improve the ergonomic properties of the chair is of such an arrangement and configuration that it permits inclination of the seat surface of the seat with respect to the horizontal both in a forward/rearward direction of the seat surface and also in a right/left direction of the seat surface. The tilt mechanism includes a pressure plate with a first conicity in the forward/rearward direction of the seat surface, by way of which the seat can be inclined in the forward/rearward direction, and a second conicity in the right/left direction of the seat surface, by way of which the seat can be inclined in the right/left direction.

Abstract: A chair control mechanism has a rotatable shaft with a radially extending member abutting an actuating finger of a gas control cylinder. A slider may push a second radially extending member of the rotatable shaft in order to rotate the shaft. The slider has a tab extending into the mouth of the head of a further shaft which is rotated by a user operated handle. Thus, when the user operates the handle, the head of the further shaft causes the slider to slide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to task chairs that support the body of the user in healthy positions while the user performs various tasks over extended sitting periods and that provide independent and independently adjustable support to the lower and the upper back.

Abstract: A body support system for providing support to a user is provided. In certain embodiments, a body support system comprises a single leg having a first end and a second end; a seat attached to the first end of the single leg; a base attached to the second end of the single leg, the base having a curved surface capable of securely engaging a ground surface at a range of angles; and a strap having a first end and a second end wherein the first end of the strap is attached to the single-legged body support system and wherein the second end of the strap is capable of attaching to a user.

Abstract: An aircraft seat fixing apparatus includes at least one insertion region and at least one retaining element, both of which are provided for fixing a shell half to a bracket. The insertion region comprises a recess for enabling the retaining element to be inserted into the insertion region by means of an insertion movement which has a component perpendicular to a main direction of the extent of the retaining element.

Abstract: An apparatus for degrading a paved surface includes two or more pavement degradation tools, each rotating about an axis. The pavement degradation tools are adapted to degrade a paved surface substantially normal to their axes of rotation. A linking mechanism links the rotation of the pavement degradation tools such that rotation of one causes the rotation of the other. In selected embodiments, this linking mechanism includes gears operably connected to the pavement degradation tools that rotate with the pavement degradation tool about their axes of rotation. These gears directly engage one another causing the gears, and their corresponding pavement degradation tools, to rotate in opposite directions.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a pick comprises a shank attached to a base of a steel body, a cemented metal carbide core press fit into the steel body opposite the shank, and an impact tip bonded to a first end of the core opposite the shank. The impact tip comprises a superhard material opposite the core, and the core comprises a second end and a largest diameter. A distance through the body from the shank to the second end of the core is less than the largest diameter of the core.