Abstract: A reinforced structure is disclosed to comprise a plastic body, at least one elongate member within the plastic body, and a layer of resilient material mediate the plastic body and the elongate member. A method aspect of the invention comprises the steps of (A) putting a layer of resilient material on the exterior surface of an elongate member; (B) introducing first the elongate member and then plastic in a moldable condition into the cavity of a molding tool; (C) molding the plastic to at least partially envelop the elongate member; thereby sandwiching the resilient material between the plastic and the elongate member, and (D) removing the reinforced plastic structure from the molding tool cavity.

Abstract: A passenger vehicle body frame comprises a pair of opposed beam members defining a passenger compartment, with front and rear truss assemblies at opposite ends of the beam members spanning and rigidly interconnecting the beam members as their sole lateral reinforcement.

Abstract: An off-road vehicle includes an engine mounted on a rear portion of a vehicle frame and a recoil starter for starting the engine. The recoil starter has a pulley operatively coupled to the crankshaft of the engine, and a cord member wound around the pulley. The cord member has an outer end extending rearwardly from the recoil starter for allowing the cord member to be easily pulled from behind the vehicle frame.

Abstract: A hollow fiber reinforced structure having irregular cross-sections, curvatures, joints and twists is provided. A method of forming the structure includes placing fibrous material on the walls of an outer mold and placing a bladder internal to the fibrous material, which serves as an inner mold. When the mold is closed and the bladder expanded, resin is injected into the fibrous material. After curing, the solid reinforced structure is formed.

Abstract: A cooling device is mounted on an off-road vehicle including a vehicle frame having a pair of main pipe members spaced from each other transversely of the vehicle and extending longitudinally of the vehicle, the main pipe members having rear portions joined to each other, a central roll bar mounted on the main pipe members substantially centrally in their longitudinal direction, and a rear roll bar coupled between the rear ends of the main pipe members and the central roll bar, and an engine mounted on a lower portion of the vehicle frame rearwardly of the central roll bar. The cooling device includes a radiator positioned in a space surrounded by the main pipe members, the central roll bar, and the rear roll bar, and mounted on a support pipe extending and joined between the main pipe members. The cooling device also has a shroud attached to the rear surface of the radiator, and a fan motor fixedly accommodated in the shroud.

Abstract: A side sill longitudinally extending at each of laterally opposite sides of a lower portion of a vehicle body is provided with a substantially uniform box-like cross-section which is defined by a top and a bottom wall and a right and a left side wall. The side sill is implemented with a hollow molding of aluminum, plastics or like lightweight material which is produced by extrusion molding. To provide the side sill with sufficient rigidity, the top and bottom walls are each provided with a sufficiently greater thickness than the side walls.

Abstract: A saddle pillar member for cycles, comprising a cylindrical portion intended to be slidably inserted into a tube of the cycle frame and able to be locked in a selectively determined position within this tube by a clamping action exerted on the external surface of the cylindrical portion, and consisting of a metal core having peripheral parts which appear the external surface of the cylindrical portion, and a mass of plastics material applied to this core to complete the cylindrical portion.

Abstract: The front pillar as a vehicle body rigidity member is constructed with a first front pillar arranged on the front side of the vehicle body and a second front pillar arranged on the rear side thereof. This construction enables the front pillar to meet with requirements contrary to each other, that is, for an improvement in a rigidity, particularly a flexural rigidity and for widening the front field of vision.

Abstract: An off-road vehicle comprises a vehicle frame, a pair of front wheels rotatably supported on a front portion of the vehicle frame, a pair of rear wheels rotatably supported on a rear portion of the vehicle frame, and a framework on each of lateral sides of the vehicle frame and including upper and lower pipes inclined upwardly in a forward direction and substantially parallel to each other. Each of the front wheels is rotatably mounted on the framework by means of a front wheel suspension mechanism comprising knuckle arm supporting the front wheel, a V-shaped upper arm having a base pivotally mounted on an upper portion of the knuckle arm and front and rear ends pivotally attached to the upper pipe at front and rear positions thereon, and a V-shaped lower arm having a base pivotally mounted on a lower portion of the knuckle arm and front and rear ends pivotally attached to the lower pipe at front and rear positons thereon.

Abstract: A vehicle frame for a four wheeled buggy having a steering wheel operated by a driver seated, comprises a main frame having a narrower front portion, a support frame for supporting a steering apparatus, a flat floor support portion, a pair of step frames, a seat frame, an engine supporting frame, an oblique frame supporting the engine supporting frame, and an accommodating space for accommodating a driving apparatus.

Abstract: A light-weight vehicle frame structure formed by plural tubular structural members which each have a tubular body and a flange integral with the tubular body and extending along the entire length thereof and outwardly of the tubular body, and a plate connected to the flanges of one or more of tubular structural members to reinforce and join them. The tubular body may be round, square or any other shape and the flange may extend radially or tangentially in various embodiments. The plate is bent, cut and formed for the edges to be coplanar with the flanges to which they are attached.

Abstract: A child's ridable vehicle is disclosed which includes generally first and second body portions with proximal ends overlapped and secured at alignment apertures to a frame of the vehicle. The second body portion overlaps the first body portion at sill portions of each which are inverted U-shaped sections overlapped on the frame. The second body portion has a unitary post bushing passing through the alignment aperture in the first body portion and into an aperture in the frame to be secured by a threaded fastener and this locates both body portions relative to each other and to the frame. The two body portions may be assembled by placing them at a wide angle V and nesting them together then straightening out the two parts to be in common plane and mating them with the frame with a threaded fastener inserted through the frame and securing the two overlapped body portions to the frame.

Abstract: Improvements in the body of a lightweight railway car are disclosed with one improved portion being a side sill formed from a metal plate having a plurality of short tubes welded thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom. A channel is welded to the plate and has a plurality of holes formed therein which are aligned with the tubes, with the metal removed to form the holes being substantially equal in weight to that of the tubes. The tubes are welded to the channel near the periphery of the holes. The side sills cooperate with body bolsters and container-engaging feet for handling a double tier of a variety of different sizes of containers.

Abstract: There is provided a remotely constructible, three dimensional space frame for a motor vehicle which comprises a plurality of elongated, metal structural members with outer surfaces and having axially uniform cross sections and a plurality of thin walled, interconnecting metal castings of at least first and second types. These metal castings each have (a) a saddle portion with a contour matching a portion of the cross section for one of the structural members and are laterally engageable with that one structure for axial movement of the casting along the structure and (b) a receptacle with an elongated tubular portion having a cross section matching the cross section of another structural member and intersecting with the saddle portion of the casting at a given angle so that the thin walled metal casting can be moved axially along one of the structural members and will receive a second structural member by movement of that second member into the casting.

Abstract: A special `kart`-type vehicle is disclosed having independent suspension on all four wheels, featuring a rigid central structure which cradles the driver seat, and incorporating interchangeable and adjustable mechanical features designed to give adaptability to different conditions of use, and to the physical stature of a given rider. The special kind of adjustable, accessory-orientated design is such as to recommend the vehicle for dirt track, rough terrain and general off-highway use as well as for running on metalled road surfaces; likewise, a vehicle of the type might be used either for utility purposes or simply for sports or liesure activities.

Abstract: A ski scooter designed particularly to be used on snow which utilizes an arcuate frame assembly defining an elongated bottom wall from which extends a forward wall in an upward direction at the forward end of the bottom wall. Attached to the upper end of the forward wall is a handle assembly. The handle assembly is capable of movement in respect to the remaining arcuate frame through a shock absorbing assembly. A ski runner is attached at the bottom surface of the bottom wall and is capable of a limited longitudinal adjustment in respect thereto.

Abstract: An actuating device for protective roll bar fastened to a side hoop installed in a motor vehicle comprises, in combination, a slidable tubular sleeve, a coil spring cooperating therewith and a releasable latching means. The device permits an easy and rapid exit or access to the vehicle. The roll bar combined with the device offers increased safety for a passenger in the vehicle in case of an accident.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a three-piece, skeletal framework for an automotive vehicle, especially of the racing type, made up of front-end, intermediate and rear-end units disposed in fore-and-aft, end-to-end relationship and rigidly but readily disconnectably united so as to enable quick and inexpensive replacement of the front and rear units, each of which end units is constructed if lightweight, low-cost materials as compared to the heavier and stronger structure of the intermediate unit, which serves as a protective cage for a driver while the front and rear units can yield to collision impacts and thus serve to cushion the intermediate unit. The welding incompatibility of the structural members as among the front and rear and intermediate units lends itself to separable connections rather than welding and thus adds to the economy and structural integrity of the frame as a whole.

Abstract: A small car body comprises a lower half part which is integrally molded of a synthetic resin, and a front panel, a roof panel and a roll bar panel which are jointed to the lower half part. The small car body includes a chassis frame in the lower half part which is provided with a front wheel suspension arrangement. The lower half part has a central indented area for accommodating seats and outwardly extending skirts for accommodating the chassis frame.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle frame including a main frame consisting of a pair of elongated frame members extending longitudinally of the vehicle, outrigger frame members secured to the main frame members and extending laterally outwardly thereof, a fiberglass passenger compartment pan secured relative to the frame members and positioned in predetermined relationship thereto, and fenders, a cowling, a rear deck, a firewall, and a rear passenger compartment wall secured relative to the passenger compartment pan and to the frame members.

Abstract: A small, lightweight, three-wheel two-passenger automotive vehicle has a rigid, open main box frame of tubular steel formed by two spaced side rails joined by front and rear rails, with a motor mount frame extending forwardly from the main frame; a unitary, one-piece tub of molded, glass fiber reinforced resin fills most of the main frame opening and peripheral flanges on the tub are resiliently mounted on the side rails of the main frame. The bottom of the tub extends below the side rails of the main frame, affording a support floor and side walls for a passenger compartment encompassed by the main frame and also providing a cover or support, or both, for such vehicle components as a hand brake lever, gear shift lever, fuel tank, transmission, etc. A unitary, one-piece body shell of molded, glass fiber reinforced resin is resiliently mounted on the tub and covers the exterior of the main frame; a unitary one-piece fiber glass hood is provided to complete the vehicle body.

Abstract: A vehicle body is formed of a plurality of straight structural tubular members welded together to form the vehicle frame and a plurality of plastic panels secured to the structural members to provide the exterior surface of the body. Selected plastic panels have channel-forming projections molded on the inner face thereof which straddle the adjacent structural member. These panels are attached to the structural members by securing plastic adaptors to the inner edges of the channels so that the metal structural frame members are completely enclosed in plastic. The adaptors are secured to the panels by means of self-plugging, blind rivets from the inner side of the body. The interior lining of the vehicle is applied to the inner surfaces of the plastic panels.

Abstract: A skeletal load-bearing structure for a motor vehicle includes a plurality of tubular girders joined together by connectors. Each girder and each connector is composed of at least two shell elements of thin sheet metal provided with longitudinal flanges by means of which the shell elements are joined together. Each connector shell element has a plurality of smoothly merging arm portions which together with corresponding portions of the other shell elements of the same connector form a plurality of tubular connection stubs to which respective ones of said girders are connected.

Abstract: An apparatus of torsionally resilient sidecar structure and resilient structure for connecting it to any type of a two-wheel land vehicle, be it pedal-powered, motor-driven or any combination of propulsion; the sidecar operatively attachable to the two-wheel vehicle by a plurality of torsionally resilient connecting members, each of them bent to form a longer mid-portion and two shorter end-portions, the longer mid-portions positioned substantially horizontally and transversely between the frame of the two-wheel vehicle and the sidecar, thus determining the overall width of the combined vehicle, and their shorter end-portions operatively attached on one side to the structural members of the two-wheel vehicle and on the other side to the structural members of the sidecar assembly.

Abstract: A four-wheeled motor vehicle constructed by operatively coupling two exclusively configured left and right longitudinal side structures by plural, transversely positioned connecting and bracing members. Each side structure operatively supported by its own front wheel adapted for steering and rear wheel adapted for propelling the vehicle. Each of the connecting members comprising a longer mid-portion positioned transversely between the two longitudinal sides, and two shorter end-portions which are secured to correspondingly positioned structurally rigid sections of them. Steering system operatively couples the two front wheels of the two sides for steering thus coupled vehicle. A propulsion plant propels at least one of the wheels. All operating controls are configured for safe and legal operation of the vehicle by its driver. The longer mid-portions of said connecting members support body panels positioned intermediate the two side structures, vehicle floor and seats.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle frame comprising at least two closed, planar, continuously non-concave, at least generally oval, centrally open structural members positioned transversely to the axis of a vehicle, inclined towards each other, and joined into a triangular truss. Additional whole or partial structural members of this type may be added to increase the length of the vehicles in cellular fashion.