An apparatus for facilitating occupant safety in a vehicle having a vehicle frame includes a releasable occupant retainer for retaining at least one occupant, the retainer including an occupant seat, a retainer support, and at least one occupant retainer impact absorber coupled between the occupant seat and the retainer support. The apparatus includes a retainer mount configured to be coupled to the vehicle frame, the retainer mount including a mount support and at least one releasable connector coupled to the mount support and releasably coupled to the retainer support of the occupant retainer, the at least one releasable connector configured to release the retainer support upon a severe collision event.

An apparatus for facilitating occupant safety in a vehicle having a vehicle frame includes a releasable occupant retainer for retaining at least one occupant, the retainer including an occupant seat, a retainer support, and at least one occupant retainer impact absorber coupled between the occupant seat and the retainer support. The apparatus includes a retainer mount configured to be coupled to the vehicle frame, the retainer mount including a mount support and at least one releasable connector coupled to the mount support and releasably coupled to the retainer support of the occupant retainer, the at least one releasable connector configured to release the retainer support upon a severe collision event.

Drifting karts in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described that include a front wheel drive train and rear caster wheels that can be dynamically engaged to induce and control drift during a turn. One embodiment of the invention includes a chassis to which a steering column is mounted, where the steering column includes at least one front steerable wheel configured to be driven by an electric motor, a battery housing mounted to the chassis, where the battery housing contains a controller and at least one battery, wiring configured to provide power from the at least one battery to the electric motor, two caster wheels mounted to the chassis, where each caster wheel is configured to rotate around a rotational axis and swivel around a swivel axis, and a hand lever configured to dynamically engage the caster wheels to induce and control drift during a turn.

Drifting karts in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described that include a front wheel drive train and rear caster wheels that can be dynamically engaged to induce and control drift during a turn. One embodiment of the invention includes a chassis to which a steering column is mounted, where the steering column includes at least one front steerable wheel configured to be driven by an electric motor, a battery housing mounted to the chassis, where the battery housing contains a controller and at least one battery, wiring configured to provide power from the at least one battery to the electric motor, two caster wheels mounted to the chassis, where each caster wheel is configured to rotate around a rotational axis and swivel around a swivel axis, and a hand lever configured to dynamically engage the caster wheels to induce and control drift during a turn.

A self-propelled device includes a spherical housing and an internal drive system. The self-propelled device can further include an internal structure having a magnet holder that holds a first set of magnets and an external accessory comprising a second set of magnets to magnetically interact, through the spherical housing, with the first set magnets

A self-propelled device includes a spherical housing and an internal drive system. The self-propelled device can further include an internal structure having a magnet holder that holds a first set of magnets and an external accessory comprising a second set of magnets to magnetically interact, through the spherical housing, with the first set magnets

A new concept vehicle comprises six major components: Sedan body shell with back opening, Entity of movable roof, rear pillars, and liftable back window, Unit of foldable trunk top and tailgate, Rear side windows with glass panels, Auto track systems, and Affiliate parts. Based on a basic sedan body with rear trunk opening, the entity of movable roof, rear pillar and liftable back window moves backward or forward along the track systems, and the unit of foldable trunk top and tailgate that enclose the trunk and body back works together with rear side windows and other components to make two types of vehicle configurations of standard sedan and light SUV/station wagon (which concept can also be extended to application and configuration on a pickup truck).

A step assembly for a vehicle has first and second arms pivotably attached to brackets which are mountable on the chassis or body of a vehicle. The arms pivot about coaxial axes defined by the brackets. A tread is mounted on the arms. The tread is pivotable between an open position and a closed position. Respective biasing elements act between each arm and bracket to bias the tread into the closed position. When the step assembly is mounted on the vehicle adjacent to a compartment defined by the vehicle body the tread acts as a door when in the closed position and a step when in the open position.

A step assembly for a vehicle has first and second arms pivotably attached to brackets which are mountable on the chassis or body of a vehicle. The arms pivot about coaxial axes defined by the brackets. A tread is mounted on the arms. The tread is pivotable between an open position and a closed position. Respective biasing elements act between each arm and bracket to bias the tread into the closed position. When the step assembly is mounted on the vehicle adjacent to a compartment defined by the vehicle body the tread acts as a door when in the closed position and a step when in the open position.

Drifting karts in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described that include a front wheel drive train and rear caster wheels that can be dynamically engaged to induce and control drift during a turn. One embodiment of the invention includes a chassis to which a steering column is mounted, where the steering column includes at least one front steerable wheel configured to be driven by an electric motor, a battery housing mounted to the chassis, where the battery housing contains a controller and at least one battery, wiring configured to provide power from the at least one battery to the electric motor, two caster wheels mounted to the chassis, where each caster wheel is configured to rotate around a rotational axis and swivel around a swivel axis, and a hand lever configured to dynamically engage the caster wheels to induce and control drift during a turn.