A motor vehicle has a combustion engine as a primary drive source, generating an engine torque (302) which is transmitted along a power train containing an input shaft (320), a main clutch (308), a gear-shifting transmission (310) with gears (316, 318, 324, 326), shift clutches (328, 330), and an output shaft (322). The power train includes a superimposed additional transmission (312) with a planetary gear device (314), and a secondary drive source in the form of an electric motor/generator with...

A combination trailer crank and locking mechanism. The device includes a crank portion having a handle portion separated from a coupler portion by a generally S-shaped body portion. When the coupler portion of the device is coupled with a rotatable shaft of a retractable leg assembly of a trailer, the crank portion facilitates the raising and lowering of the trailer's legs. The device also includes a locking portion which is connected to the crank portion in a transverse orientation. When the de...

A tow bar apparatus, that allows a towing vehicle to tow a towed vehicle, has a hitch member, a pair of tow bars, and a pair of socket members. The hitch member is adapted to engage a tow bar receiver of the towing vehicle. The pair of socket members are adapted to be attached to the towed vehicle. Each of the pair of tow bars includes a plate ball member at a first end for pivotally engaging one of the pair of socket members. Each of the pair of tow bars further includes a second end, the secon...

A system for enabling a person to enter an enclosed vehicle such as an automobile and to load a personal vehicle such as a wheelchair into the enclosed vehicle. A force sensing handle facilitates control of the personal vehicle by the subject who is no longer supported by the personal vehicle or by another person. In some embodiments of the invention, a transfer mechanism is provided from within the enclosed vehicle for transferring the subject to a seat of the enclosed vehicle.

A gliding board has a core structure (11) constructed by bonding flat plates (14, 15) to top and bottom surfaces of a core member (13) of the shape of a rectangular or trapezoidal waveform waving forwardly and rearwardly in the longitudinal direction of the board. The gliding board has a similar longitudinal bending rigidity compared to those of the conventional gliding boards, a relatively small longitudinal torsional/bending rigidity ratio and a high lateral bending rigidity.

A pneumatic propulsion system includes pneumatic powered motors coupled to a rotatable tubular inner drive member of an axle assembly. The rotatable tubular drive member, for example when installed in a ground traversing vehicle, will be coupled to drive wheels of the vehicle. The pneumatic propulsion system of the invention further includes a plurality of radial compressor units mounted upon the axle assembly, and rotated and driven by the tubular drive member. A controlled release of pressuriz...

A pushcart comprises two wheels attached to a fixed rear transverse member and two wheels attached to a pivotal front transverse member. The rear and front transverse members connect to a slanted longitudinal member. The wheels are affixed via a fork assembly to the ends of the respective members. The placement and slanting of the longitudinal member, as well as an almost upright steering column, enables an operator to achieve a lower center of gravity, for greater maneuverability and control du...

A safety device housed in a motor vehicle and used in the field of automobile safety has an impervious inflatable metal bag fixed to a support, a pyrotechnic charge, and an ignition device intended to be connected to a source of electrical current. The bag includes a first metal sheet which has a central orifice, an intermediate fixing zone attached to the support and a peripheral fixing zone and a solid domed second metal sheet which has a peripheral fixing zone. The two metal sheets are fixed ...

A selectively configurable storage container for storing and transporting items through various environments includes a housing having at least one surrounding sidewall and a bottom which defines an enclosure. The storage container also includes a motor with at least one drive assembly. The drive assembly is selectively engagable with a first member, e.g., a wheel, and is configured to move the housing relative to a first terrain, e.g., a floor. The drive assembly is also interchangeable with at...

A steering assembly for a work vehicle having a supporting frame is disclosed wherein the steering assembly includes a steerable front axle having an axle defined longitudinally by end portions rocking about respective substantially vertical axes. Each end portion supports a rotatable wheel. The front axle further has a box body connected rigidly to the axle to connect it to the frame in freely rotating manner via the interposition of a first spherical joint. A connecting unit connects the front...