Abstract: A liquid election head includes a recording element substrate, an electrical wiring substrate configured to supply an electrical signal to the recording element substrate, a plurality of wires electrically connecting a plurality of electrode terminals on the recording element substrate with a plurality of connection terminals on the electrical wiring substrate, and a sealant sealing an electrical connection portion. The plurality of wires form a wire array. At least one of the plurality of wires positioned at one end of the wire array in a wire array direction is shorter than the other wires in the wire array.

Abstract: An inkjet printing head 1 includes an actuator substrate, having an ink flow passage that includes a pressure chamber, a movable film formation layer, including a movable film, disposed on the pressure chamber and defining a top surface portion of the pressure chamber, a piezoelectric element 9, formed on the movable film, and a protective substrate 4, bonded to the actuator substrate so as to cover the piezoelectric element 9, and the protective substrate 4 has an ink supply passage 53 in communication with the ink flow passage, and on a surface of the protective substrate 4 at an opposite side from the actuator substrate, an alignment mark 81 is formed in each of a plurality of small regions set by dividing an entire region of the surface.

Abstract: A piezoelectric thin film is manufactured by sequentially executing: a step of coating a substrate by applying a coating solution containing an organic solvent and a piezoelectric thin film precursor to form a coating layer; a step of evaporating the organic solvent from the coating layer in a windless environment to obtain a dried coating layer containing the piezoelectric thin film precursor; and a step of heating the dried coating layer to form a piezoelectric thin film from the dried coating layer containing the piezoelectric thin film precursor.

Abstract: An inkjet printing head includes a hydrogen barrier film, covering side surfaces of upper electrodes and piezoelectric films, a portion of an upper surface of each upper electrode, and a portion of an upper surface of a lower electrode, an insulating film, formed above the hydrogen barrier film, upper wiring, formed above the insulating film, connects the upper electrode to a drive circuit, and a lower wiring, formed above the insulating film, connects the lower electrode to the drive circuit. First contact holes, each exposing an upper electrode, and second contact holes, each exposing an extension portion, are formed in the hydrogen barrier film and the insulating film. The upper wirings are connected to the upper surfaces of the upper electrodes via the first contact holes and the lower wiring is connected to an upper surface of the extension portion via the second contact holes.

Abstract: A printhead includes an aperture plate having an array of nozzles therethrough. The printhead further includes an array of jets fluidly connected to an ink supply chamber, each jet comprising a body chamber having a length:width ratio of at least 3:1. The body chamber comprises a first end, and a second end opposite the first end, the first end and the second end defining a height. Ink flows into body chamber through an inlet, and an outlet on the first end is fluidly connected to a nozzle. A diaphragm is present adjacent the second end of each body chamber in the array of jets. The body chambers are angled relative to a row of nozzles.

Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes: a liquid discharge head; a nozzle array disposed on the head in a conveyance direction; a movement driver that moves the head to discharge liquid from the nozzle array in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction in a reciprocating manner; a discharge driver that causes the head to discharge the liquid; a conveyor that conveys an object; and a controller that acquires an amount of conveyance of the object by the conveyor over a period during which the head moves from a predetermined position to a position where the head is to discharge the liquid to a target pixel, and determines, on which reciprocating travelling of the head to discharge the liquid and from which nozzle in the nozzle array to discharge the liquid, based on the amount of conveyance.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a nozzle plate provided with nozzle openings; an actuator unit including a flow channel formation substrate in which pressure generation chambers are provided and piezoelectric actuators that cause a change in the pressure of the liquid within respective pressure generation chambers; a communication substrate in which communication channels that communicate between the pressure generation chambers and corresponding nozzle openings are provided; a first case member that is a frame member affixed to the communication substrate so that the actuator unit is disposed within the first case member and that, along with the actuator unit, forms a manifold that holds the liquid to be supplied to the pressure generation chambers; and a second case member that is affixed to the first case member and in which is formed an introduction channel that sends the liquid from the exterior to the manifold.

Abstract: In one example, a container for holding printing fluid includes a chamber to hold a printing fluid and an inelastic, expandable, and contractible bag occupying space in the chamber. The exterior of the bag is exposed to an interior of the chamber and an interior of the bag is sealed against the interior of the chamber and vented to the atmosphere.

Abstract: There is provided a tank including a liquid inlet port, an atmosphere open port, a liquid outflow port, a first liquid chamber having a first atmosphere communication channel, a second liquid chamber being in communication with the first liquid chamber and having a second atmosphere communication channel, and a liquid channel. The liquid inside the liquid channel is movable along with a liquid consumption of a liquid consuming device connected to the tank. With the tank in a usage posture, when the liquid is stored in the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber, the liquid level of the liquid stored in the first liquid chamber is formed independently from the liquid level of the liquid stored in the second liquid chamber.

Abstract: A device (20) for measuring the flow rate of ink sent to a print head of an ink jet printer, comprising: a restriction (22) of the diameter of the flow of ink, arranged in the path thereof, sensors (26, 28) for measuring the pressure difference (Pin?Pout), between the pressure of fluid upstream of the restriction (Pin) and the pressure of ink downstream of the restriction (Pout).

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a liquid circulation module comprises a liquid ejection head for ejecting liquid, a storage section connected with the liquid ejection head to store the liquid, a circulation section configured to circulate the liquid in a predetermined circulation path passing through the liquid ejection head and the storage section, a pressure detection section configured to detect pressure in the storage section, a pressure adjusting section configured to adjust pressure in the storage section, and a module controller configured to control a circulation operation of the circulation section and a pressure adjusting operation of the pressure adjusting section independently from a host controller arranged separately from the liquid circulation module and when communicating with the host controller.

Abstract: Test patterns are printed by ink jet means for jetting ink containing a color material and transparent liquid jet means for jetting transparent liquid. In the test patterns, ink and transparent liquid are applied to different regions on the same medium and ink application regions and transparent liquid application regions are arranged adjacent to each other. A device for determining the amount of transparent liquid to be jetted includes information acquisition means for acquiring information representing the amount of medium deformation of a medium on which the test patterns are printed, and information processing means for determining the amount of transparent liquid to be jetted by the transparent liquid jet means for jetting the transparent liquid, from the information representing the amount of medium deformation acquired by the information acquisition means.

Abstract: A print unit prints by ejecting fluid droplets from a plurality of nozzles while moving in a primary scanning direction relative to a print medium. An ejection inspection unit inspects fluid droplet ejection by a group of target nozzles, which are part of an ejection nozzle subset obtained by dividing the nozzles according to the number of nozzles required to form the smallest printing width in the secondary scanning direction. A control unit controls the print unit and the ejection inspection unit, and selects the group of target nozzles in the ejection nozzle subset and performs the ejection inspection each time a specific amount of printing is completed.

Abstract: A system for forming a structure on a print medium 1 includes: a print unit (print device) 10 for printing an electromagnetic wave-heat conversion layer for converting electromagnetic waves into heat, on a medium including an expansion layer that expands by heating; an expansion unit (expansion device) 20 aligned laterally with the print unit 10, for expanding the expansion layer by irradiating the medium with electromagnetic waves; and a top plate 30 covering the print unit 10 and the expansion unit 20 from above.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a rotating polygon mirror, a light source that irradiates first and second light beams at one side of the rotating polygon mirror and irradiates third and fourth light beams at the other side thereof, a first optical element that reflects the first light beam and allows the second light beam to pass therethrough, a second optical element that reflects the second light beam, a third optical element that allows the third and fourth light beams to pass therethrough, and a fourth optical element that reflects the fourth light beam. The second light beam is a light beam corresponding to yellow, the first, the third, and the fourth light beams are light beams corresponding to three colors other than the yellow. Between the third and fourth optical elements, a scanning lens is arranged. Between the first and second optical elements, a scanning lens is not arranged.

Abstract: Systems and methods for concentric arrangement of web conditioning modules in a dryer of a printing system. In one embodiment a dryer includes a drum, first rollers positioned in an arc around the drum to define a web path between an entrance of the dryer and the drum, and second rollers positioned along the arc between the first rollers and the drum that reverse the web path between the drum and an exit of the dryer. The dryer further includes first web conditioners positioned along the arc and beyond the first rollers from the drum that direct energy toward a portion of the web path that is between the entrance of the dryer and the drum. The dryer further includes second web conditioners positioned along the arc between the second rollers and the drum that direct energy toward a portion of the web path that wraps around the drum.

Abstract: A printing device has a print unit that prints on roll paper; a storage compartment that holds roll paper; a paper guide that limits the position of the roll paper in the storage compartment; a paper guide sensor that outputs different detection values according to the status of the paper guide; a memory unit that stores the paper width of the roll paper; and a control unit that causes the print unit to print based on the paper width stored by the memory unit, detects the status of the paper guide based on the detection value of the paper guide sensor when triggered by a specific event, changes the paper width setting to a value indicating 58 mm if the paper guide is installed, and to a value indicating 80 mm if the paper guide is not installed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for selectively powering multiple microwave energy sources in a dryer of a printing system. One embodiment is a microwave dryer that includes microwave energy sources configured to generate electromagnetic energy to dry a wet colorant applied to a continuous-form print media by a printer. The microwave dryer also includes waveguides configured to transport the electromagnetic energy. The waveguides include a passageway to pass the print media through the waveguides as the print media travels along a media path. A long axis of each the waveguides are positioned in a direction along the media path, and each waveguide is coupled to a different microwave source to section the electromagnetic energy into regions that are distinct from one another in a direction across the media path. The microwave dryer further includes a controller configured to regulate a power output for each of the microwave energy sources.

Abstract: A printer includes a first controller to cause a primer discharge head to discharge, from its nozzle, primer onto a recording medium and then cause a first ultraviolet light applicator to apply ultraviolet light to the primer, thus forming a first primer layer on the recording medium; a second controller to cause the primer discharge head to discharge, from its nozzle, the primer onto the first primer layer and the recording medium and then cause a second ultraviolet light applicator to apply ultraviolet light to the primer, thus forming a second primer layer on the first primer layer and the recording medium; and a third controller to cause an ink discharge head to discharge, from its nozzle, image-forming ink onto the second primer layer and then cause the first ultraviolet light applicator to apply ultraviolet light to the image-forming ink, thus forming an ink layer on the second primer layer.

Abstract: A printer includes a print head; a platen roller; a frame, to which the print head or the platen roller is attached, that includes a frame body, a sidewall that is perpendicularly bent from the frame body with respect to a longitudinal direction of the platen roller, and a back surface member that is bent from the frame body in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the platen roller, the back surface member including an end portion and a support portion provided to support the sidewall from an inner side and an outer side of the sidewall, respectively, the sidewall being supported by the back surface member while being interposed between the end portion the support portion of the back surface member.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a feeding unit configured to feed a printing sheet, a conveyance unit configured to convey the printing sheet fed by the feeding unit, a printing unit configured to print the printing sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit, and a control unit configured to control conveyance of a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet fed after the preceding sheet. The control unit makes a leading edge of the succeeding sheet overlap the preceding sheet and the control unit decides an overlapping amount of the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet such that the overlapping amount, in a case when an ink amount discharged on at least one of the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet is greater than a threshold, is less than the overlapping amount in a case when the ink amount is less than the threshold.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printhead on a movable carriage; an operating unit operating by a driving force of a driving source; a transmitting unit being displaced by the driving force between a position where the transmitting unit transmits the driving force to the operating unit and a non-transmitting position; a movable member arranged on a moving path of the carriage; a restricting member being displaced, in coordination with a displacement of the movable member, between a position where the displacement of the transmitting unit is restricted and a non-restricting position; and a selecting member provided between the movable member and the restricting member. The selecting member is displaced between a position where the movable member and the restricting member are coordinated with each other by the selecting member and a non-coordinating position.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus, comprising: a recording device; a cassette; a discharge tray; a conveying path; a conveyor; an electrical power supply; a cooling air flow path; an air blower configured to apply a wind-force to air so as to cause the air to flow through the cooling air flow path; and a casing, wherein: the electrical power supply and the cooling air flow path are arranged in a lower region in a vertical direction with respect to the cassette, the conveying path and the recording device; the recording device is located, in regard to the vertical direction, at a position higher than or equal to the cassette; and the electrical power supply and the cassette overlap each other in the vertical direction.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to counterfeit detection and deterrence using advanced signal processing technology including steganographic embedding and digital watermarking. Digital watermark can be used on consumer products, labels, logos, hang tags, stickers and other objects to provide counterfeit detection mechanisms.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for sublimating images onto two or more products substantially simultaneously are disclosed. Software components are configured to receive input of a desired number of products to sublimate, and then determine a spatial arrangement of the printed images to sublimate the desired number of products substantially simultaneously. The apparatus is configured to print the images according to the spatial arrangement. The apparatus is configured, using a control, to sublimate multiple products substantially simultaneously in a single thermal cycle.

Abstract: A paging device allows a user to flip a stack of papers very swiftly. The paging device integrates a rubberized tip and an ergonomic handle with gel rests in stress points. The paging device further includes a set of accessories such as a detachable highlighter and a detachable magnifier. The highlighter is in the form of a wheel. Either of the highlighter and magnifier is housed with a cap.

Abstract: Installable and removable inserts for pocket folders and their method of manufacturer are shown and described. Inserts have spaced part divider panels which are anchored to a base plate or form a base plate. In one embodiment, a single plate divider also forms the base and one upright divider while another element with two dividers is bonded to the base. In another embodiment two separate upright dividers are bonded together at a common upright wall and the pair is then bonded to a base. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A binding component includes ring back portions, first ring arm portions, second ring arm portions and a back part to which the ring back portions are connected. Each ring back portion, each first ring arm portion and each second ring arm portion forms an annular ring part. Each ring part includes fitting portions at places where the ring back portion and the first and second ring arm portions are connected. The fitting portions are configured to be fitted by an operation of opening and closing the first and second ring arm portions with hinge portions of the ring back portion. Each fitting portion includes at least one first fitting convex portion, at least one first fitting concave portion to engage with the first fitting convex portion, at least one second fitting convex portion and a second fitting concave portion to engage with the second fitting convex portion.

Abstract: A folder and method of making a panel with a plurality of foldable tab extensions. The extensions include first and second regions extending away from the panel, and having scored fold lines therebetween. The uppermost tab region has a releasable adhesive as does a portion of the panel. The panel has a releasable coating or surface such when the tab extensions are folded, either at the first or second region along the fold lines, adhesive on the second region will mate with surface on the panel. To reduce memory effect at the fold, the score lines can be triple scored by parallel two or three parallel score lines. The central score line can be shallower than the parallel scores on either side thereof.

Abstract: An erasable, polymeric paged writing book for small children, with textured, flexible, bordered pages and an internal spine to spread the book flat. The pages have rounded corners. The book closes by hook-and-loop tab. The pages have a smaller profile than the covers, for resistance to wear and distortion. A fold-away pocket holds chalk and grease pencils. Optionally, a pleated storage compartment is on one of the covers. The pages have a smaller profile than the covers, for resistance to wear and distortion.

Abstract: The embodied invention is to add coatings to a base board that will create three dimensional liquid art when a suitable liquid (such as water) is added to the board surface. In a preferred embodiment, a super hydrophobic coating is applied to the base board and then a hydrophilic coating in the shape of art is applied. A liquid will naturally collect into the hydrophilic areas of the board to form defined artistic shapes and is repelled by super hydrophobic areas. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the board can be selected with a natural super hydrophobic surface or a natural hydrophilic surface, and then a hydrophilic coating or a super hydrophobic coating, respectively, is applied in an art shape.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a system and method for shaping and energizing fluids that can generate luminous fluid sculptures. The method comprises sculpting the pattern and/or shape of a plurality of fluids using nonvisible forces such as mechanically generated turbulence, controlled movement through a shaped chamber, magnetic fields, vibration, gravity, or other forces; energizing the sculpted fluids so that they emit visible light using sources of nonvisible energy such as chemicals, heat, electrical currents, electromagnetic radiation, or other sources; and controlling the color of the emitted light using chemical additives, selected wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, layering of selected chemicals, or other methods.

Abstract: A cycle wheel having a rim adapted to receive a tire. The wheel is equipped with a fairing attached on the rim. The fairing is at least partially made from a material having a density less than 120 kg/m3 and a compression set at 25% compression of less than 14%. The material can be an expanded polypropylene foam, for example.

Abstract: An electrically motorized driving wheel for vehicles such as bicycles is provided. The electrically motorized wheel can include a wheel rim, a housing disposed inside and connected to the wheel rim, wherein the housing defines an installation space inside the housing, a driving force generating mechanism disposed in the installation space, and a driving force transfer mechanism connected to the driving force generating mechanism and configured to transfer a driving force generated from the driving force generating mechanism to the housing.

Abstract: A bicycle component includes a hub shell for a wheel of an at least partially muscle-powered bicycle, wherein the hub shell is rotatably supported by at least one bearing device. An adapter unit is disposed on one end of the hub shell. The adapter unit includes an inner stopper having an inner stop face for transferring a clamping force to the bearing device and an outer stopper with an outer stop face transmitting at least part of the clamping force. The adapter unit includes a first and a second stopper component transmitting the clamping force.

Abstract: A wheel securing structure for trucks is provided. The securing structure generally includes iron screwshaft liners installed in keyholes of mounting parts of aluminum wheels. The bolts of an assembling part correspondingly penetrate the holes of respective screwshaft liners. A first folded edge and a second folded edge are formed on two terminals of each screwshaft liner to respectively insert into conical pits formed on the mounting part of a wheel. The nuts screw onto the bolts of the assembling part to secure the wheel onto the assembling part. When the trucks pass bumpy roads, relative motion caused by vibrations occurs between the wheels and the assembling part, and friction is generated between various parts. The screwshaft liner protects the soft aluminum wheel from being directly rubbed by the bolts, nuts, and the assembling part. Accordingly, the aluminum wheel is made suitable for trucks and other heavy vehicles.

Abstract: An assembly (200) for loosening or tightening mechanical nuts includes a socket arm (40) defining a socket (42) at its distal end for engaging a mechanical nut (102); a crank (30) connected or connectable at its first end transversely to a proximate end of the socket arm (40); a sliding hammer (20) connected or connectable to a second end of the crank (30), thereby being operable to impart a rotational impact on the socket arm (40) via the crank (30); and a support structure (250) connected or connectable at its proximate end to one of the socket arm (40), crank (30), or sliding hammer (20) and defining at its remote end a support surface (260) operable to bear against an external structure (100) thereby to support the assembly (200) in use.

Abstract: An axle assembly having a planetary gear set and an internal brake assembly. The brake assembly may have a piston that may be disposed between a disc pack and the planetary gear set. Rotation of a sun gear of the planetary gear set may be inhibited when the piston urges the disc pack against a flange of an axle housing.

Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire. A profile line (PL1) of a center land portion (X) protrudes further outward in the tire radial direction than a standard profile line (PL0). Profile lines (PL2, PL3) of sub-center land portions (Y1, Y2) and shoulder land portions (Z1, Z2) defined outward of center main grooves (14a, 14b) in the tire width direction protrude outward in the tire radial direction further than the standard profile line (PL0). The shoulder land portions (Z1, Z2) are defined further outward than the sub-center land portions (Y1, Y2). Further, the profile lines (PL2, PL3) of the sub-center land portions (Y1, Y2) and the shoulder land portions (Z1, Z2) each include an outermost point (A2, A4) of the corresponding center main groove (14a, 14b) in the tire width direction and both end points (A5, A6, A7, A8) of the corresponding shoulder main groove (14c, 14d) in the tire width direction.

Abstract: A tire includes knob sets having leading edge bevels connected by a ramp. The leading edge bevels may be offset in their positions or angles. Each knob set includes a first knob attached to a second knob. The knobs in each set may differ in lengths or in the angles of the leading edge bevels. Each knob set shares a common base and includes a pair of elongate outermost surfaces divided by an optional axial channel. Each knob set includes a lateral edge, medial edge and a trailing edge. Transverse rows of two or more knob sets may vary in lateral spacing between knob sets to provide narrow and wide rows in an alternating pattern. Knob sets may also be included on sidewalls of the tire.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel includes a rim, an inflatable tire, a grounding tire, and a safety unit. The rim includes two tire engagement portions spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction. The inflatable tire is mounted around the rim and includes an inner annular bottom wall and two inner annular sidewalls respectively on left and right sides of the inner annular bottom wall. Each inner annular sidewall includes an inner side having a lip pressing against one of the tire engagement portions of the rim. The grounding tire is mounted around the inflatable tire and includes an outer annular bottom wall capable of rolling contact with the ground. The safety unit is sandwiched between the inflatable tire and the grounding tire to couple the inflatable tire and the grounding tire together, permitting synchronously rotation of the inflatable tire and the grounding tire while increasing the anti-slipping effect.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for driving a processor of an electronic box mounted on a vehicle wheel, transmitting operating parameters of the wheel for implementation of a specific application by a central unit. This includes defining, for each specific application, the physical quantities liable to affect the relevance of the operating parameters, and ranges of measured values corresponding to conditions for obtaining relevant values of the operating parameters. Also included is a procedure for acquiring and transmitting the operating parameters consisting of a succession of transmission windows, during each of which the physical quantities selected for the application are measured, it is checked whether the conditions for obtaining relevant values of the operating parameters are met. If so, at least one value of each parameter is acquired and transmitted, while assigning to this value a datum attesting to the relevance of the latter, and then the transmission window is closed.

Abstract: A method for monitoring an air pressure in at least one tire of a motor vehicle, wherein at least one air pressure in the tire is detected by at least one measuring electronics unit present in the tire and data is transmitted by the measuring electronics unit to a control unit. Depending on the data, the control unit activates components of the motor vehicle to generate optical and/or acoustic signals. The control unit is switched into an after-running mode for a defined period of time when an ignition of the motor vehicle is shut off, in which mode the control unit can continue to receive data from the measuring electronics unit and may activate components of the motor vehicle to generate optical and/or acoustic signals.

Abstract: A tire valve registration system including: a plurality of tire valves that are respectively installed on a plurality of tires and on a spare tire and that each transmit a radio signal that includes a valve ID and data on tire air pressure; and a receiver that is provided to a vehicle body and that is capable of receiving the radio signal from each of the plurality of tire valves. The system includes: a spare tire ID collecting unit that collects, as at least one spare tire candidate ID, the valve ID of at least one radio signal received by the receiver; and a spare tire ID confirming unit that confirms the ID of the spare tire.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a device for assembling-disassembling a tired wheel (TW) comprising a support component, an extension or stem component connected to the support component, a working tool articulated to the extension or stem component and actuation means intended to drive the sliding of the extension or stem component with respect to the support component.

Abstract: An inflation work station for inflating a tire-wheel assembly including a tire mounted to a wheel is disclosed. The inflation work station includes at least one inflation probe including a female portion and a male portion. The male portion is arrangeable with respect to the female portion in one of a non-mated orientation such that the at least one inflation probe is arranged in an offline orientation and a mated orientation such that the at least one inflation probe is arranged in an online orientation. The inflation work station further includes a working device including a controller, at least one movement actuator connected to the controller and the at least one inflation probe. The at least one movement actuator imparts movement to the male portion to result in the online/offline orientation of the at least one inflation probe. The inflation work station includes at least one valve connected to the controller and the at least one inflation probe.

Abstract: Systems and methods for stimulation of neurological tissue and generation stimulation trains with temporal patterns of stimulation, in which the interval between electrical pulses (the inter-pulse intervals) changes or varies over time. The features of the stimulation trains may be selected and arranged algorithmically to by clinical trial. These stimulation trains are generated to target a specific neurological disorder, by arranging sets of features which reduce symptoms of that neurological disorder into a pattern which is effective at reducing those symptoms while maintaining or reducing power consumption versus regular stimulation signals. Compared to conventional continuous, high rate pulse trains having regular (i.e., constant) inter-pulse intervals, the non-regular (i.e., not constant) pulse patterns or trains that embody features of the invention provide increased efficacy and/or a lower than average frequency.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes an articulated coupler for attachment between a towed vehicle and a towing vehicle. The articulated coupler includes a first attachment member for attachment to the towing vehicle and a second attachment member for attachment to the towed vehicle. A ball joint member extends between the first and second attachment member. The ball joint member includes a ball at a proximal end and an elongated portion at a distal end such that the elongate portion is attachable to the first attachment member and the ball is attached to the second attachment member. The ball is retained to the second attachment member with a collar. The collar may have an aperture with an elliptical shape and a surface with a concave shape for defining a pivotal range of motion. The ball joint member may be pivotal relative to the first attachment member and may be rotatable and pivotal relative to the second attachment member.

Abstract: A universal hitch system includes a vehicle that has a frame and the frame has a front end. A hitch is removably coupled to the frame and the hitch is positioned on the front end. The hitch may have an implement removably coupled thereto. Thus, the vehicle may tow the implement. The hitch comprises a central member and a pair of end members. The central member has an adjustable width such that the central member accommodates a variety of frame widths. Each of the end members is removably coupled to the central member. Each of the end members is removably coupled to the frame.

Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch adapted for receiving a hitch ball. The fifth wheel hitch has a frame that is mountable to a towing vehicle surface. The frame has an outer sleeve that is fixed with respect to the frame and a receiver is telescopingly received inside the outer sleeve. The receiver is moveable longitudinally with respect to the outer sleeve. The receiver has an upper end, a lower end, and a support wall within the receiver that is located between the upper and lower ends. The receiver is selectively lockable with respect to the outer sleeve. The selective locking is done with a combination of a pin driven through aligned holes in the outer sleeve and receiver and threaded fasteners drive through the outer that impinge on the receiver to prevent rattling.