FI95677B - Foldable vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a foldable vehicle adapted for disabled use, in particular an at least three-wheeled cycle or a corresponding motorised vehicle, which is intended to be transported when travelling by car or public means of transport. In the position of use, the vehicle comprises, an essentially central support 19 extending vertically, relative to which wheels 3, 32, 33 of the vehicle have been supported on a uniform level by way of bracing elements 14, 26; 15, 25; 7, 8, 24, in such a way that, when the vehicle is folded up, the said bracing elements extend virtually parallel to the centre support 19, in order to be able to bring the vehicle in a folded position both in its longitudinal and in its lateral direction. <IMAGE>

Description

95677

Folding vehicle - Hopvikbart fordon

The invention relates to a collapsible vehicle suitable for disabled use, in particular a bicycle with at least three wheels 5 or a similar motorized vehicle intended to be carried when traveling by car or public transport, the vehicle having a substantially vertically extending hub in the articulated position and articulated the pivoting wheels are supported by support members comprising a plurality of pivot arms and a plurality of upper supports such that said support members are arranged to extend approximately parallel to the center support when the vehicle is folded to bring the vehicle into a folded position in both its length and width.

Many disabled or elderly people are unable to walk long distances. Therefore, for longer journeys, they need a vehicle with a seat. A tricycle can be used as such a means of transport. Some disabled people are unable to use bicycle cubs. For them, the tricycle can be fitted with hand pedals or an auxiliary motor. However, tricycles are not collapsible. Therefore, they cannot be taken with you when traveling • by car or public transport.

However, it is known that a three-wheeled children's bicycle can be made collapsible as described in German patent applications 30 324 576 and 2 804 993. in other ways. In this case, the folding takes place only in the longitudinal direction of the wheel and the width of the wheel does not change during folding. If a bicycle suitable for an adult were made in this way, it would be too large when folded to fit in the trunk of a passenger car and too wide to easily fit in the doors of public transport.

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It is also known that most wheelchairs are either collapsible or can be disassembled for transport. However, the wheelchair is an aid for the severely disabled and its use may be perceived as stigmatizing. Many people with mild mobility impairments do not want to use a wheelchair but prefer to walk with difficulty with sticks. On the other hand, they also don’t need wheelchair comfort. A bicycle saddle would suffice for them.

The object of the invention is to develop a collapsible bicycle or moped suitable for disabled use, which can be taken with you when traveling by car or public transport.

15 This object is achieved by a vehicle characterized in that the upper support and the pivot arm are articulated to each other, the wheel is articulated to a fork, which in turn is articulated to the upper support, the fork is provided in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the joint. with a skate groove in which the end of the pin rigidly attached to the pivot arm is arranged to extend to prevent the fork from pivoting about the joint, and that in the folded position of the vehicle the pivot axis forms an angle α with the horizontal plane satisfying the condition a = arc tan (cos (γ / 2)) tan (0/2)), where γ is the angle between the hind legs as seen from above (Figure 2) 0 is the angle 30 between the left hind leg 14 and the vertical (Figure 6).

By means of the invention, the tricycle can be assembled simultaneously in both longitudinal and width directions with one hand movement, whereby the device can fit in a small space.

35 In addition, the rear wheels of the tricycle are designed to maintain their direction even when the wheel is folded, making it easy to move the machine folded on the rear wheels.

In the following, the invention will be explained in detail with the aid of drawings.

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Figure 1 shows a side view of a hand-operated tricycle in the open position.

Figure 2 shows a top view of a hand-operated tricycle in the open position.

Figure 3 shows a side view of a hand-operated tricycle half-folded.

15 Figure 4 shows a side view of a hand-operated tricycle folded.

Figure 5 shows a top view of a hand-operated tricycle folded.

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Figure 6 shows a rear rear fork in the open position using a pin-slide mechanism.

Figure 7 shows a side view of the left rear fork 25 using a pin-slide mechanism.

Figure 8 shows a rear view of the tricycle lower part and pin slide mechanism in the folded position.

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Figure 9 shows a side view of the left rear fork in a folded position using the pin-slide mechanism.

35 Figure 10 shows a top view of the left rear fork using the auxiliary pivot arm mechanism.

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Fig. 11 shows the left rear fork in the open position using an auxiliary pivot arm mechanism as viewed in the direction F-F of Fig. 10.

5 Figure 12 shows a top view of the left rear fork in a folded position using an auxiliary pivot arm mechanism.

Fig. 13 shows, in the folded position, the left rear leg-10 rack using the auxiliary pivot arm mechanism viewed in the direction of the line H-H in Fig. 12.

Figures 1 and 2 show a tricycle for disabled use with hand pedals. The front of the device 15, which includes the parts marked 1, 2, 3 and 4, is in principle similar to the front of a bicycle. The lower part of the front body 1 of the device has a plate structure in the figures. However, it may just as well be tubular. The upper tube 7 is pivotally attached to the lower part of the front body 1 by a bolt 6 at one end. The other end of the upper tube 7 is pivotally attached to the central body 9 by a bolt 11. The lower tube 8 is also pivotally attached to the lower part of the front body 1 by a bolt 5. with a bolt 10 so that the front body 25 1, the upper tube 7, the middle body 9 and the lower tube 8 form an orifice-shaped articulated square mechanism.

The left rear leg 14 is pivotally attached to the center frame 9 by a bolt 12. A left rear fork 31 is pivotally attached to the lower end 30 of the left rear leg 14 and the left rear wheel 32 is attached to the center frame 9. The right rear leg 15 is also pivotally attached to the center frame 9 by a bolt 13. the right rear fork 30 is pivotally attached to the lower end of the rear leg 15, to which the right rear wheel 35 33 is attached.

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The central body 9 has a vertical sliding bearing slide hole through which passes a central tube 19 with a saddle 16 attached to its upper end. A handle 17 is rigidly attached to the saddle 16. At the upper end of the central tube 19 above the central body 9 there is a shoulder 18 restricting downward movement of the central tube 19. Attached rigidly to the lower end of the central tube 19 is a shaft plate 20 to which a pivot arm 24 directed at one pivoting end is secured by a bolt 21, one end of which is pivotally secured to the lower tube 10 by a bolt 29. A left pivot arm 26 the head is pivotally attached to the left rear leg 14 by a bolt 28. The right pivot arm 25, 15 is also pivotally secured to the shaft plate 20 by a bolt 23 at one end, the other end of which is pivotally attached to the right rear leg 15 by a bolt 27.

The central body 9, the central tube 19, the shaft plate 20, the pivot arms 24, 25 and 26, and the lower tube 8 and the rear legs 14 and 15 are fixed to each other so as to together form an umbrella-like mechanism.

The folding of the bicycle according to the invention takes place in such a way that the handlebar 4 25 is gripped with one hand and the handle 17 (or saddle 16) with the other hand. Then. : the device is tilted so that at least one rear wheel rises into the air and the handle 17 is lifted forwards and upwards so that the center tube 19 begins to rise through the center frame 9 (Fig. 3) and the rear of the device collapses umbrella and moves vertically next to the front frame 1 (Figures 4 and 5) . When the folded wheel is opened, the grip is similar to the above, the device is tilted and the handle 17 is pushed back and down, whereby the device opens like an umbrella and the central tube 19 descends through the central body 9 down to 35 until the shoulder 18 catches the central body 9 and stops opening.

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If the rear wheels 32 and 33 of the tricycle are attached directly to the rear legs 14 and 15, then when folded they turn obliquely and do not roll in the direction of travel, as a result of which the folded wheel cannot be moved on the wheels 5 but must be carried. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1-5, the rear wheels 32 and 33 are pivotally attached to the rear legs 14 and 15 by means of a pin-slider mechanism which allows the rear wheels to remain vertical and roll in the driving direction even in a folded position, making it easy to move and narrower.

Figures 6-9 show a pin-slide mechanism applied to the left rear leg 14. The left rear wheel 32 is attached to the left rear fork 31, which in turn is pivotally attached to the lower end of the left rear leg 14 by a bolt 34. The direction of the bolt 34 is such that in the open position the bolt 34 is parallel to a vertical plane parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tricycle (parallel to the surface of Figure 7) and obliquely backwards and upwards so that the direction of the bolt 34 forms an angle with the horizontal. a sliding groove 37 running in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the bolt 34 on the side and above, in which the end of the pin 36 is placed. The pin 36 is rigidly attached 25 to the extension 35 of the left pivot arm 26 and serves to prevent the left rear fork 31 from pivoting around the bolt 34. The end of the pin 36 in the slide groove 37 is straight and in the open position parallel to a vertical plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tricycle (parallel to the surface 30 of Figure 7) and obliquely backwards and upwards so that the end of the pin 36 forms an angle B with the horizontal.

When the tricycle is folded, the end of the pin 36 moves from one end 38 of the slide groove 37 to the other end 39 and turns. left rear fork 31 around bolt 34 seen from behind, t iH i ϊ> | «i l t fc * I» 7 95677 clockwise (Figures 6 and 8). When the folded tricycle is opened, the end of the pin 36 moves in the skid groove 37 in the opposite direction and turns the left rear fork 31 counterclockwise from behind.

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In order for the left rear wheel 32 to roll in the direction of travel, even in the folded position, the condition a = arc tan (cos (γ / 2) tan (¢ / 2)) must be met by the angle a (Fig. 7), where 10 γ is the angle between the rear legs 2) ϋ is the angle between the left hind leg 14 and the vertical (Figure 6).

In this case, also in the folded position, the bolt 34 is parallel to a vertical plane parallel to one of the longitudinal axes of the three-wheel wheels (parallel to the surface of Fig. 9) but now obliquely backwards and downwards and forms an angle a with the horizontal so that the end of the pin 36 is as perpendicular as 37 passes, 20 the angle β should satisfy the condition β = arc tan (cos (y / 2) tan (<p / 2)), where γ is the angle between the hind legs seen from above (Fig. 2) Φ is the angle between the left pivot arm 26 and the vertical 25 angle (Fig. 6) -I · Also in the folded position, the end of the pin 36 in the slide groove 37 is parallel to a vertical plane parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tricycle (perpendicular to the surface of Fig. 9), but is now inclined backwards and downwards to form an angle β . It is necessary to know the angles α and β so that the end points 38 and 39 of the skate groove 37 can be dimensioned so that the left rear fork 31 and the left rear wheel 32 are vertically rearward 35 in both the open and closed positions (Figures 6 and 8). The pin skate mechanism is applied to the right rear leg 15 at the same time. in the same way as the left rear leg 14, but the parts of the right • · 8 95677 mechanism are mirror-shaped with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tricycle (Fig. 8).

Figures 10-13 show another mechanism by which the rear wheels of the three-wheel 5 are kept vertical and roll in the direction of travel also in the folded position. This "auxiliary pivot arm mechanism" is simpler compared to the pin-slide mechanism. It can be seen from the figures that a left rear fork 45 is pivotally attached to the lower end of the left rear leg 14 by a bolt 44, to which the left rear wheel 32 is attached (Figures 10 and 11). The arrow drawn in Figure 10 shows the direction of travel. Above the bolt 44, a short pivot arm 42 is pivotally attached to the left rear fork 45 by a bolt 43, the other end of which is pivotally attached to the extension 40 of the left pivot arm 26 by a bolt 41. The short pivot arm 42 prevents the rear fork 45 from pivoting around the bolt 44. When the tricycle is folded, the rear leg 14 pivots counterclockwise around the bolt 12 attached to the center frame 9 as shown in Fig. 11 and at the same time the left pivot arm extension 40 pivots counterclockwise around the bolt 28 and forces the left rear fork 45 to pivot 0 the pivoting movements of the left hind leg 14 and the left rear fork 45 cancel each other out and the position of the left rear 25 fork 45 does not change when folded (Figure 13).

When the folded tricycle is opened, these pivoting movements take place in opposite directions, but otherwise in the same way. The auxiliary pivot arm mechanism of the right rear leg 15 is mirror-shaped with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tricycle 30.

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Claims (3)

1. A collapsible vehicle adapted for use in disability, in particular at least a three-wheeled bicycle or a corresponding motorized vehicle, intended to be carried when traveling by car or public transport, comprising a vehicle in use substantially comprising a center support (19) with vertical extension, relative to which the rotatable wheels (3) of the vehicle and non-rotatable wheels (32, 33) have been leveled by means of support means formed by a group of pivoting arms (24, 25, 26) and a group of supports (14, 15, 7). (8) say that, in folding the vehicle, said support means is arranged to be able to extend almost parallel to the center support (19) to bring the vehicle into a folded position both in its longitudinal and width directions, characterized in that the support ( 14, 15. and the pivot arm (25, 26) leveled by means of a hinge (27, 28) is attached to each other, that the wheel (32, 33) is attached to a fork (31), which in turn by means of the level (34) leveled has been attached to the exercise the extension (14, 15), that the fork (31) is provided with the direction of the axis of a relative hinge (34) in a vertically extending slide bar (37) in which a rigid head (36) is fixed to the pivot arm (25, 26). has been arranged to extend, in order to avoid the rotation of the fork (31) around the joint (34), and that in the folded position of the vehicle 25, the axis (34) of the vehicle forms at an horizontal plane an angle α, which fulfills the condition a = arc tan (cos (γ / 2) tan (γ / 2)), in which γ is the winkkein between the hind legs seen from above (fig. 2) 0 is the angle between the left hind leg 14 and the vertical direction (Fig. 6). 2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that one end of the pivot arms (24, 25, 26) is leveled at the lower of the center tube (19). one end and the upper end of the support (14, 15, 35, 8) is levelly attached to a movable central body (9) axially supported by the center support (19), and that the swinging arms 1 · 95677 12 and the other end of the support are connected to the wheels (3). , 32, 33) bar organ. 3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support of the pivoting wheel (3) is formed by two supports (7, 8), the end points (5, 6, 10, 11) of which are selected as ends. , that they form a parallelogram-shaped hinge tragedy mechanism's corner points. >: Kili i.i i.Jil ,. in