EP1292464A1

EP1292464A1 - A motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP1292464A1
Application number: EP00948429A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stefan Jansson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-06-14
Filing date: 2000-06-14
Publication date: 2003-03-19
Also published as: AU2000261911A1; MXPA02012397A; WO2001096143A1; CN1454168A

Abstract

A motor vehicle carried by at least three wheels (2, 3) and having a first seat surface (6) for a driver's seat and at least a second seat surface (8) for a passenger seat is so designed that the driver's seat (7) as well as the passenger seat (9) lack a roof covering them and are located in the front part of the vehicle. The vehicle has behind these seats with respect to the normal driving direction of the vehicle a casing unit (11) providing a sleeping space with floor, ceiling and walls.

Description

A motor vehicle

FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle carried by at least three wheels and having a first seat surface for a driver's seat and at least one second seat surface for a passenger seat.

Such vehicles having very different designs are already known, such as for example conventional private cars, sidecar motor cycles, lorries of different types, mobile homes and the like. These different such motor vehicles already known have each their advantages, but they are all connected with certain drawbacks when utilizing them under particular conditions.

When utilizing such a vehicle in warmer countries for smaller tours a sidecar motor vehicle has for example the advantage that it consumes a comparatively small amount of fuel and the driver and the passenger may sit outdoors during the ride and enjoy the pleasant climate. However, there are some problems to carry enough luggage along, such as for example tables and chairs for dining breaks in the open, and the vehicle does not offer any sleeping facilities, which acts restricting on the freedom of the users. Should instead a mobile home be used for this purpose, there are indeed sleeping places available, but the vehicle consumes instead a comparatively large amount of fuel and above all the driver and the passenger or passengers have to sit entirely or partially "indoors" during the ride, which makes the ride less nice than when driving by for example a motor cycle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle of the type defined in the introduction, which is particularly well suited for use under the conditions discussed above and in which the drawbacks mentioned above of the motor vehicles discussed and already known have been reduced to a large extent.

This object is according to the invention obtained by providing such a motor vehicle, in which the driver's seat as well as the passenger seat lack a roof covering them and are located in the front part of the vehicle, and the vehicle has in the normal driving direction behind these seats a casing unit with floor, ceiling and walls providing a sleeping space.

Accordingly, such a vehicle makes it possible for the driver and the passenger or the passengers to sit outdoors and enjoy the drive in a warm climate and yet be able to stop anywhere and have covered sleeping places carried along.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the vehicle has only one front wheel and a handle bar of motor cycle handle bar type associated therewith. By such a design of the vehicle the driver and the passenger are given a motor cycle feeling when driving the vehicle at the same time as the covered sleeping place is always there. This design of the vehicle makes it also possible to make the vehicle very light with respect to for example a private car or a mobile home, so that it consumes a small amount of fuel for a determined driving distance.

According to a further development of the embodiment last mentioned the vehicle has two consecutive parts, namely a front part with the character of the front part of a motor cycle and a rear part with the character of the rear part of a delivery van. A motor vehicle of this totally new type, which is a hybrid between a motor cycle and a delivery van and forms a type of "home motor cycle", is extraordinarily well suited for shorter tours primarily in warmer countries with possibility to stop when in the mood for it.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention said first seat surface for the driver's seat and said at least one second seat surface for the passenger seat are arranged behind each other along a central longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Such an arrangement of said seats or places makes the vehicle stable and minimizes the risk for partially or completely tilting the vehicle in case of one single front wheel and two rear wheels.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention said at least one second seat surface for the passenger seat is arranged behind and on a higher level than said first seat surface for the driver's seat, which means that the passenger, in spite of the fact that that person is sitting behind the driver, gets a good view, even if it is a child, and the ride will be more worth-while. This embodiment is particularly advantageous if the second seat surface for the passenger seat is arranged on such a level that said sleeping space may extend in the normal driving direction of the vehicle forwardly under the passenger seat, since the total length of the vehicle and thereby also material costs, weight and fuel consumption may in this way be reduced.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention said casing unit has a front wall with respect to the normal driving direction of the vehicle providing surfaces for forming a back rest for at least said passenger seat. By this double function of this part of the casing unit as both wall for delimiting the sleep- ing space and back rest for the passenger place the design of the vehicle is simplified and costs may be saved. This is also obtained by the feature of another preferred embodiment of the invention that a front wall of the casing unit with respect to the driving direction of the vehicle provides said first seat surface as well as said second seat surface.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the floor of the sleeping space of the casing unit is arranged to slope as seen in the normal driving direction when the vehicle stands with all wheels supported by a horizontal ground. It is hereby obtained that persons are discouraged to stay in the sleeping space during the ride, which is also from the road safety point of view condemned and against the law.

The slope in question is according to a preferred embodiment of the invention between 5° and 15° with respect to a horizontal plane.

According to a preferred further development of the two embodiments of the invention last mentioned the vehicle has first members adapted to be brought to form support for the vehicle at the front part thereof for lifting a wheel or wheels located there from the ground in a parking position of the vehicle, so that the floor of the sleeping space gets aligned substantially in parallel with the ground on which the vehicle is parked. In spite of the slope of the floor during the ride a possibility to sleep or rest on the floor in a comfortable way when the vehicle has been parked is hereby obtained.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the floor of the casing unit has embedded portions for defining spaces for receiving objects in the floor, in which for example a cooling bag for food and/or beverage may in this way be hidden, so that it does not have to be removed or constitutes an obstacle when the sleeping space is used for resting therein. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention the total length of the vehicle is less than 3,5 meters, which makes the vehicle very easy to drive, park and the like where the space available is restricted, for example as a consequence of crowd- ing. This short length of a vehicle having a sleeping space is remarkable.

Further advantages as well as advantageous features of the invention appear from the following description and the other de- pendent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a spe- cific description of a preferred embodiment of the invention cited as an example.

In the drawings:

Fig 1 is a perspective view obliquely from the front of a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig 2 is a side-elevation view of the vehicle according to Fig 1 ,

Fig 3 is a side-elevation view of the rear part of the vehicle according to fig 1 in a parking position,

Fig 4 is a view from above of the vehicle according to Fig 1 , in which certain parts have been broken away for illustrating the construction of the sleeping space of the vehicle,

Fig 5 is a view corresponding to Fig 2 of the vehicle, in which a wall of a casing unit of the vehicle has been broken away for the sake of illustrating, and Fig 6 is a view corresponding to Fig 2 of the vehicle in a parking position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A motor vehicle 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Fig 1 and this is carried by three wheels, namely a front wheel 2 and two rear wheels 3 arranged on the same axle, and it has a front part 4 with the character of the front part of a motor cycle and a rear part 5 with the character of the rear part of a delivery van. The vehicle has in the front part a first seat surface 6 for a driver's seat or place 7 and a second seat surface 8 for a passenger seat or place 9 located therebehind on a higher level.

The seat surface 8 of the passenger seat is preferably arranged on a level being more than 20 cm higher than the level of the seat surface 6, so that the driver will not be in the way of the view of the passenger forwardly in a substantial degree even if the passenger is considerably shorter than the driver, such as for example a child. The driver's seat and the passenger seat are arranged behind each other along the central longitudinal axis of the vehicle for making this stable.

The front wheel 2 of the vehicle is associated with a handle bar 10 of motor cycle handle bar type, and the vehicle is intended to be driven in substantially the same way as a motor cycle is driven.

The vehicle has behind the driver's and passenger seats as seen in the normal driving direction of the vehicle a casing unit 1 1 providing a sleeping space with floor, ceiling and walls, which is preferably moulded of plastic in one single piece and also extends forwardly to the driver's seat and provides support surfaces for the passenger and the driver's seats as well as foot rests 12 for the driver and the passenger. It also provides lateral protection portions 13 for the legs of the passenger.

Thus, a front wall 14 of the casing unit provides surfaces for forming back rests 15, 16 for the passenger as well as the driver and also said two seat surfaces 6, 8. It also appears that a handle 17, which the passenger may grip, is arranged in the casing. This has also a small roof window 18.

The casing unit provides a sleeping space 19, which appears from for example Figs 4 and 5. It is intended that two persons shall be able to sleep on a mattress 21 arranged on the floor 20 of this space. It appears from Fig 5 that the sleeping space may thanks to the higher level of the seat surface 8 of the passenger seat than the seat surface of the driver's seat extend under the second seat surface 8 and the length of the vehicle may hereby be shortened.

It appears from Fig 4 that the casing unit has embedded por- tions for defining spaces for receiving objects in the floor, more exactly a space 22 for a cooling bag for food and/or beverage, a space 23 for the battery of the vehicle and a space 24 for a spare wheel. The cushion forming the seat surface 6 may also be removed for exposing a space arranged thereunder for trav- elling food, cameras, maps and the like. Furthermore, a lid 25 is arranged in the floor, which may be lifted away for inspection and carrying out repair works on the engine of the vehicle located under the casing unit and not shown, which for the rest also enables reversing of the vehicle by actuating a member not shown.

It appears from Fig 5 that the floor of the sleeping space of the casing unit is arranged to slope as seen in the normal driving direction when the vehicle stands with all the wheels supported by a horizontal ground, in which the slope with respect to a horizontal plane is preferably between 5° and 15°. This means that it will be uncomfortable to stay in the sleeping space during the drive, which also may be really dangerous. For making it possible for the vehicle to assume a parking position suited for sleeping in the sleeping space this has a first member 26 pivo- tally arranged at the front part of the casing close to the front wheel and adapted to be moved for forming a support for the vehicle at the front part thereof for lifting the front wheel 2 located there above the ground, so that the floor of the sleeping space gets aligned substantially in parallel with the ground on which the vehicle is parked. The vehicle has also a second support member 27, which is pivotally arranged at the rear part of the vehicle and adapted to be moved to the position shown in Fig 6 in the parking position of the vehicle, in which it at least assists the rear wheel of the vehicle to support the vehicle at the rear. The vehicle gets more stable through the support member last mentioned, and the vehicle stands stable irrespectively of the movements carried out by the person or persons inside the sleeping space. The two support members 26, 27 are interconnected through a transmission element in the form of a steel wire 28, so that these movements are made dependent upon each other, and it is in the practice the intention that the rear support member 29 is pressed downwardly from the position according to Fig 5 to the one according to Fig 6 when there is a wish to park and the first support member 26 is thereby also pivoted downwardly to the parking position.

It is shown in Fig 3 that a rear lid 29 of the casing unit may be pivoted upwardly to a position, in which a lamp 30 arranged on the inner side thereof may illuminate a dining place provided thereunder. A foldable table 31 may then be hung on a rod or the like in the rear region of the casing unit, and this table 31 as well as foldable chairs 32 are after folding together advantageously securable to the inner side of the rear lid 29 through holding members not shown. The function of the vehicle according to the invention appears without any doubt from the description above.

The casing unit may be as light as about 45 kg and the entire vehicle may have a weight in the order of 200 kg, which makes it possible to provided the vehicle with an engine having a power being as low as 3 horse powers. Typical dimensions of the embodiment shown in the Figures are a total length of the vehicle of about 3.1 m, a distance between the two wheel axles of 2.15 m and a width of the vehicle defined by the outer sides of the respective rear wheels of 1 .24 m.

The invention is of course not in any way restricted to embodiment described above, but many possibilities to modifications thereof will be apparent to a person with ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the basic idea of the invention as defined in the claims.

It would for example be well possible to provide the vehicle with more than one, such as two, passenger seats, although the case of one single passenger seat is especially preferred. The two passenger seats would then preferably be arranged on both sides of the central longitudinal axis of the vehicle mentioned above with the possibility to sit therebetween when only one passenger is travelling.

Claims

1 . A motor vehicle carried by at least three wheels (2, 3) and having a first seat surface (6) for a driver's seat and at least one second seat surface (8) for a passenger seat, characterized in that the driver's seat (7) as well as the passenger seat (8) lack a roof covering them and are located in the front part of the vehicle, and that the vehicle has in the normal driving direction behind these seats a casing unit (1 1 ) with floor, ceiling and walls providing a sleeping space (19).

2. A vehicle according to claim 1 , characterized in that it has only one front wheel (2) and a handle bar (10) of motor cycle handle bar type associated therewith.

3. A vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that it has two consecutive parts, namely a front part (4) with the character of the front part of a motor cycle and a rear part (5) with the character of the rear part of a delivery van.

4. A vehicle according to any of claims 1 -3, characterized in that it has three said wheels (2, 3).

5. A vehicle according to any of claims 1 -4, characterized in that said first seat surface (6) for the drivers seat (7) and said at least one second seat surface (8) for the passenger seat (9) are arranged after each other along a central longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

6. A vehicle according to any of claims 1 -5, characterized in that it has only one passenger seat (9).

7. A vehicle according to any of claims 1 -6, characterized in that said at least one second seat surface (8) for the passenger seat (9) is arranged behind and on a higher level than said first seat surface (6) for the driver's seat (7).

8. A vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that the second seat surface (8) for the passenger seat is arranged on such a level that said sleeping space (19) may extend in the normal driving direction of the vehicle forwardly under the passenger seat (9).

9. A vehicle according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that said second seat surface (8) is located on a level being more than 20 cm higher than said first seat surface (6).

10. A vehicle according to any of claims 1 -9, characterized in that said casing unit (1 1 ) has a front wall (14) with respect to the normal driving direction of the vehicle providing surfaces for forming a back rest (15) for at least said passenger seat.

1 1. A vehicle according to any of claims 1 -10, characterized in that a front wall (14) of the casing unit (1 1 ) with respect to the driving direction of the vehicle provides said first seat surface (6) as well as said second seat surface (8).

12. A vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that it has a third surface (16) interconnecting said first seat surface (6) and said second seat surface (8) and adapted to form a back rest for the driver's seat.

13. A vehicle according to any of claims 1 -12, characterized in that the floor (20) of the sleeping space (19) of the casing unit is arranged to slope in the normal driving direction when the ve- hide stands with all wheels (2, 3) supported by a horizontal ground.

14. A vehicle according to claim 13, characterized in that said slope is between 5° and 15° with respect to the horizontal plane.

15. A vehicle according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that it has first members (26) adapted to be moved for forming support for the vehicle at the front part thereof for lifting a wheel or wheels (2) located there from the ground in a parking position of the vehicle, so that the floor (20) of the sleeping space (19) gets aligned substantially in parallel with the ground on which the vehicle is parked.

16. A vehicle according to claim 15, characterized in that it has also second support members (27) arranged at the rear part of the vehicle and to be moved in the parking position of the vehicle into a position in which they at least assist the rear wheels (3) of the vehicle to support the vehicle at the rear.

17. A vehicle according to claim 16, characterized in that the first (26) and second (27) support members are interconnected through a transmission element (28) adapted to make the movements thereof dependent upon each other, so that influencing one of them to go to said parking position means that the other one is automatically moved into this position.

18. A vehicle according to any of claims 1 -17, characterized in that the floor (20) of said casing unit (1 1 ) has embedded portions for defining spaces (22-24) for receiving objects in the floor.

19. A vehicle according to claim 18, characterized in that one said space (22) is adapted to receive a cooling bag for food and/or beverage.

20. A vehicle according to any of claims 1 -19, characterized in that the total length thereof is less than 4 meters.

21 . A vehicle according to any of claims 1 -20, characterized in that the total length thereof is less than 3.5 meters.