JP7541628B1 - Trike with roof - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a trike with a roof that covers the chassis frame of a three-wheeled bike with a body panel to prevent wind and rain from blowing into the vehicle interior, and has an interior space expansion means that utilizes part of the vehicle body to enable overnight stays in the vehicle. [Solution] The trike with a roof 10 of the present invention is a trike with a roof in which the chassis frame of a three-wheeled bike is covered with a body panel 11, and the body panel 11 has boarding and alighting openings 12 on both sides, and a partition wall 14 that is provided at the approximate center of the front-rear direction of the boarding and alighting opening 12 that separates the boarding and alighting opening 12 into a driver's seat side D and a rear seat side S with a center pillar frame 13 as a boundary and that divides the boarding and alighting opening 12 into three in the vertical direction, and the driver's seat side D of the boarding and alighting opening 12 is formed in a shape that is always open, and the rear seat side S is equipped with a rear side door 17 that can be opened and closed when boarding and alighting, and a flip-up tailgate 20 is provided behind the body panel 11. [Selected Figure] Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a trike with a roof that covers the chassis frame of a three-wheeled bike with a body panel to prevent wind and rain from entering the vehicle interior, and is equipped with a means for expanding the interior space using part of the vehicle body, making it possible to sleep overnight in the vehicle.

Conventional proposals for trikes, which are three-wheeled bikes covered with body panels, include the "Rollover Prevention Device for Motorbikes and Tricycles" (Patent Document 1), which prevents rollovers in the event of a side collision with a two- or three-wheeled vehicle without impairing normal driving performance.

Also, a "passenger protection device for motorcycles and tricycles" (Patent Document 2) has been proposed that does not normally obstruct the driver's forward visibility, but creates a protective space around the driver only when an impact force of a predetermined value or greater acts on the vehicle body, such as in the event of a rollover, head-on collision, side collision, or rear-end collision.

However, the proposals in the "Rollover Prevention Device for Motorbikes and Tricycles" (Patent Document 1) and the "Occupant Protection Device for Motorbikes and Tricycles" (Patent Document 2) provide a protective cover for the body of a motorbike or tricycle that is merely a protective cover for protecting the driver from the wind and rain, and are not like the present invention, which is a tricycle with a roof that covers the chassis frame of a three-wheeled bike with a body panel to prevent wind and rain from blowing into the vehicle, and is equipped with a means for expanding the interior space using part of the vehicle body, making it possible to sleep overnight in the vehicle.

In addition, a "motorcycle" (Patent Document 3) has been proposed that can carry larger luggage than a scooter-type motor three-wheeler, and is easy to get on and off despite having a means to hold the driver, making it highly convenient.

However, the proposed "motorcycle" is a "freight vehicle equipped with a straddle-type seat, a steering device with a bar-operated handle, and three wheels, with the driver's seat open on either side" as defined in the Automobile Inspection Work Implementation Guidelines, Chapter 1, 1-2 (1) as a two-wheeled vehicle with a sidecar. Although it meets the legal requirements for a current trike (three-wheeled motorcycle), it is not a roofed trike that uses part of the body to expand the interior space and allows passengers to sleep overnight, as in the present invention.

On the other hand, a wide variety of roofed trikes have been published on the Internet, but none of them are like the trike of this invention, which covers the chassis frame of a three-wheeled bike with a body panel to prevent wind and rain from blowing into the vehicle, and is equipped with a means to expand the interior space using part of the vehicle body, making it possible to sleep overnight in the vehicle.

The applicant has considered the above problems and envisaged providing a trike with a roof that, unlike the conventional roofed trikes, prevents wind and rain from blowing into the interior of the vehicle and allows passengers to sleep overnight. He developed a trike with a roof that prevents wind and rain from blowing into the interior of the vehicle by covering the chassis frame of a three-wheeled bike with a body panel and is equipped with a means for expanding the interior space using part of the vehicle body, allowing passengers to sleep overnight, which has led to the proposal of the "trike with a roof" in this invention.

JP 2003-160077 A JP 2003-182671 A JP 2008-296723 A

The present invention was made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a trike with a roof that covers the chassis frame of a three-wheeled bike with a body panel to prevent wind and rain from blowing into the interior of the vehicle, and is equipped with a means for expanding the interior space using part of the body, making it possible to sleep overnight in the vehicle.

The roofed trike of the present invention is a trike with a roof in which the chassis frame of a three-wheeled bike is covered with a body panel, and the body panel has boarding and alighting openings on both sides, and at approximately the center of the boarding and alighting openings in the fore-and-aft direction , a partition wall is provided which separates the boarding and alighting opening into a driver's seat side and a rear seat side, separated by a center pillar frame, and which divides the boarding and alighting opening into three in the vertical direction , and the boarding and alighting opening on the driver's seat side is formed in a shape that is always open, and on the rear seat side, a rear side door is provided that can be opened and closed when boarding and alighting, and a flip-up tailgate is provided behind the body panel.

In addition, the roof-equipped trike of the present invention is provided with a transparent side visor panel that can be flipped up both inside and outside on the driver's seat side of the boarding/alighting opening of the body panel, and a windbreak cowl is provided in front of the boarding /alighting opening to prevent wind and rain from entering from the front.

The roofed trike of the present invention also employs a means in which a front wheel tire house cover that covers the tire house portion of the front wheel of the body panel and a rear wheel tire house cover that covers the tire house portion of the rear wheel are detachably provided.

The roofed trike of the present invention also has a dual headlight mounted in front of the body panel, and one of the headlights is illuminated in the same direction as the steering direction of the operating handle via a directional transmission mechanism.

The roof-equipped trike of the present invention also has an entrance cover sheet that is attached from the inside of the entrance of the body panel, and also has an interior space expansion means that uses the tailgate to expand the interior space.

The roofed trike of the present invention also employs a means for connecting a trailer cabin to the rear of the body panel via a connecting towing device.

The roofed trike of the present invention also employs a removable half side door at the driver's seat side entrance of the body panel.

The roofed trike of the present invention also employs a means for providing a removable windbreak sheet or windbreak side panel from the middle to lower sections of the driver's seat side boarding/alighting opening of the body panel.

The roofed trike of the present invention offers the following excellent advantages in terms of maintenance costs: optional insurance premiums and automobile taxes are cheaper than those of a light four-wheeled vehicle, vehicle inspections and garage certification are not required, and vehicle purchase costs, parking fees, and gasoline fuel consumption are cheaper.

The roofed trike of the present invention also has the excellent effect of making it easy to drive on narrow alleys in shopping districts, while also allowing driving on highways during long-distance road trips.

The roofed trike of the present invention has the excellent effect of being able to be driven with a standard driver's license (automatic transmission permitted), being lightweight and compact, so that even people with inexperienced driving skills, such as women and housewives, can easily drive it, and it can also be easily driven for daily shopping or to take children to and from work as if it were a quick ride.

The roofed trike of the present invention has the excellent effect of being able to be sold for personal hobbies such as golf, fishing, mountain climbing, camping, surfing, shopping, commuting to work or school, or for business use to automobile manufacturers, new car dealerships, used car dealerships, auto repair shops, agricultural cooperatives, gas stations, car shops, motorcycle shops, campervan dealerships, home improvement centers, rental car companies, delivery companies, pizza, sushi restaurants, soba restaurant and other food delivery companies, department stores, housing exhibition centers, building and condominium sales companies, hotel and inn shuttle vehicles, golf courses, shared leasing companies, agricultural work vehicles, postal delivery vehicles, delivery companies, mobile sales companies, large leisure parks, nursing care shuttle companies, taxi companies, tourist information agencies, railway companies, local governments, police stations, security companies, official vehicles, door-to-door sales vehicles, lactobacillus drink delivery vehicles, newspaper delivery companies, etc.

In addition, the roofed trike of the present invention has the excellent effect of providing a roofed trike with an exterior body design that has never been seen before by completely covering the tire housings of the three wheels with a tire cover.

In addition, the roofed trike of the present invention has two headlights attached to the front of the body panel, one of which is illuminated in the direction of travel of the vehicle body, while the other is illuminated in accordance with the movement of the steering handle of the front tire, providing the excellent effect of allowing safe nighttime driving when going around corners, on rough roads, or in mountainous areas.

The roofed trike of the present invention also has an interior space expansion means that utilizes the tailgate of the body panel to expand the interior space, making it possible for up to three people to sleep in the vehicle when camping, and allowing it to be used as a study or hobby room during everyday life, providing excellent benefits.

In addition, with the roofed trike of the present invention, by adopting a means of connecting a trailer cabin to the rear of the body panel via a connecting towing device, accommodation space is secured in the roofed trike and the trailer cabin, providing the excellent effect of allowing up to three people to enjoy a night trip in the vehicle.

In addition, the roof-equipped trike of the present invention has a removable half-side door at the driver's side entrance of the body panel, which provides the excellent effect of preventing wind and rain from blowing into the vehicle while driving and allowing passengers to easily get in and out of the vehicle.

In addition, with the roof-equipped trike of the present invention, the boarding and alighting doors can all be locked using the snap lock buttons on the boarding and alighting door cover sheet, as well as the rear side doors and tailgate, completely locking the interior space of the vehicle, providing the excellent effect of preventing theft of personal belongings and preventing unauthorized entry while the passenger is sleeping.

In addition, the roof-equipped trike of the present invention has a removable windbreak sheet or a plug-in windbreak side panel that is provided from the middle to lower sections of the driver's side entrance of the body panel, which provides the excellent effect of preventing wind and rain from blowing into the vehicle while driving, and allowing it to be stored compactly inside the vehicle when not in use.

The roofed trike of the present invention also has the excellent effect of allowing the rear seat to be fitted with a refrigerated vehicle or used as a commercial delivery vehicle with cargo delivery specifications.

The roofed trike of the present invention also has the excellent effect of providing a completely separate rear seat that is protected from noise and wind and rain by the rear side door, partition wall, body panel, and tailgate.

The roof-equipped trike of the present invention also has the excellent effect of providing complete privacy by attaching a shielding film to the rear seat window glass.

In addition, the roofed trike of the present invention has the excellent effect of being able to provide a roofed trike at an extremely low price range that has never been seen before, by using used cars such as second-hand cars, immobile cars, scrap cars, discarded cars, and wrecked cars as the base for the three-wheeled bike.

In addition, the roofed trike of the present invention has the excellent effect of making effective use of scrapped vehicle resources by using used cars with reduced vehicle value, such as second-hand cars, immobile cars, scrapped cars, and wrecked cars, as the base vehicle for the rear cabin.

In addition, with the roofed trike of the present invention, the width lights, turn signals, stop lamps, interior lights, license plate lights, hazard lights, batteries, locking keys, automatic door lock devices, door glass lifting devices, anti-theft warning devices, radios, sugar lighters, etc., provided by existing car manufacturers can be reused from existing used cars, resulting in the excellent effect of providing a roofed trike with excellent crime prevention and convenience.

In addition, the roofed trike of the present invention has the excellent effect of providing a roofed trike with excellent vehicle design performance, such as compactness, light weight, drivability, exterior design, versatility, robustness, waterproofness, soundproofing, durability, weather resistance, safety, convenience, and ease of procurement of repair parts, because the body panels use the vehicle exterior design (vehicle body design) of existing vehicle manufacturers.

In addition, with the roofed trike of the present invention, the manufacturing process for the chassis frame and body panels of the three-wheeled bike requires only processing a portion of an existing used car, which has the excellent effect of significantly reducing the manufacturing cost, number of days and processes required for manufacturing compared to conventional handmade roofed trikes.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a roofed tricycle of the present invention (Example 1). FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the roofed trike of the present invention (Example 2). FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the roofed trike of the present invention (Embodiment 3). FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the roofed trike of the present invention (Example 4). FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the roofed trike of the present invention (Example 5). FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the roofed trike of the present invention (Example 6). FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the roofed trike of the present invention (Example 7). FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the roofed trike of the present invention (Embodiment 8).

The greatest feature of the roofed trike 10 of the present invention is that the chassis frame of the three-wheeled bike is covered with a body panel 11 to prevent wind and rain from entering the vehicle interior, and the vehicle interior space expansion means 24 is provided using part of the vehicle body, making it possible to sleep overnight in the vehicle. The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

Furthermore, the roofed trike 10 of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention, i.e., within the range of shapes and dimensions that can achieve the same functional effects.
In addition, the contents of the present invention are described based on an engine-powered trike with a roof, but an EV-powered trike with a roof is basically the same except for the power transmission structure.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a roofed trike of the present invention.
FIG. 1(a) is an overall perspective view of a roofed trike 10 according to the present invention.
FIG. 1(b) is a side view of the roofed trike 10 of the present invention.
The roofed trike 10 of the present invention is a trike with a roof in which the chassis frame of a three-wheeled bike is covered with a body panel 11, and the body panel 11 has boarding and alighting openings 12 on both sides of the body panel 11, and at approximately the center of the front-to-rear direction of the boarding and alighting opening 12, a partition wall 14 is provided which separates the opening into a driver's seat side D and a rear seat side S, separated by a center pillar frame 13, and which is divided into three in the vertical direction . The boarding and alighting opening 12 on the driver's seat side D is formed in a shape that is always open, and on the rear seat side S, a rear side door 17 is provided that can be opened and closed when getting on and off, and a flip-up tailgate 20 is provided behind the body panel 11.

In terms of vehicle dimensions, Article 2, Schedule 1 of the Road Transport Vehicle Law stipulates that light motorbikes are classified as light motor vehicles, and that they are manufactured with a length of 2.5m or less, width of 1.3m or less, height of 2.0cm or less, and total engine displacement of 250cc or less, according to the Enforcement Regulations for Two-Wheeled Motor Vehicles (including two-wheeled motor vehicles with sidecars).

The roofed trike 10 of the present invention is manufactured in standard size with a total length of 2.2 m, total width of 1.0 m, total height of 1.65 m, and total displacement of 125 cc, while the long size is manufactured in total length of 2.5 m or less, total width of 1.3 m or less, total height of 2.0 m or less, and total displacement of 250 cc or less.

In terms of vehicle structure, two-wheeled vehicles with sidecars (commonly known as trikes) are manufactured according to the specifications of "a vehicle equipped with a straddle-type seat, a steering device with a bar-operated handle, three wheels, and with the sides of the driver's seat open" as specified in the Automobile Inspection Work Implementation Guidelines, Chapter 1, 1-2 (1).

The body panel 11 has access doors 12 on both sides of the vehicle, and at approximately the center of the vehicle in the fore-and-aft direction, a partition wall 14 is provided which separates the access door 12 into a driver's seat side D and a rear seat side S, separated by a center pillar frame 13, and which is divided into three parts in the vertical direction. The access door 12 on the driver's seat side D is always open, and on the rear seat side S, a rear side door 17 is provided which can be opened and closed when getting in and out of the vehicle, and a flip-up tailgate 20 is provided behind the body panel 11.

In addition, a roof carrier, roof shade, or sunroof can be attached to the upper part of the body panel 11, and an end carrier, etc. can be attached to the rear part.

The dashboard panel 11a houses the three-wheeled trike's operating handle, as well as anti-reflective gauges and new operating switches related to trike driving, and also houses a drink holder, glove box, and auxiliary battery.

The engine cover panel 11b is provided on the chassis frame located in the center of the trike body and is formed in a shape that covers the drive structure of the three-wheeled bike. A driver's seat 15 is provided above the engine cover panel 11b, and the driver sits astride the engine cover panel 11b.
Furthermore, outside air is taken in through an air intake 43 provided in front of the body panel 11, and a passage for the outside air is secured around the engine part of the driver's seat 15, thereby forming a structure that blocks engine heat, noise, gasoline smell, etc. from getting into the driver's seat side D.

The entrance/exit doors 12 are provided on both sides of the body panel 11, the driver's seat side D is formed in a shape that is always open, and the rear seat side S is formed with a rear side door 17 that can be opened and closed when getting on and off.

FIG. 1(c) is a side cross-sectional view of the roofed trike 10 of the present invention.
The center pillar frame 13 is located approximately in the center of the body panel 11 and serves the purpose of acting as a roll bar to increase the rigidity of the vehicle body in the event of a collision, and also as a mounting support for a partition wall 14 that separates the driver's seat side D from the rear seat side S.

The partition wall 14 is formed in a skeleton shape using the center pillar frame 13 provided at the entrance 12 as a support to separate the driver's seat side D from the rear seat side S, and is made up of a flip-up type upper partition wall board 14a, and wall-mounted types of middle partition wall board 14b and lower partition wall board 14c.

The upper partition board 14a is a partition board made of a transparent resin panel to ensure forward visibility for passengers in the rear seats S. When driving, it is attached to the partition board 14 to ensure forward visibility, and when sleeping, it is flipped up via a hinge attached to the center pillar frame 13 to ensure sleeping space 30 in the upper space when sleeping.

The middle partition wall board 14b and the lower partition wall board 14c are wall-mounted partition wall boards equipped with bench cushion members that separate the driver's seat side D and the rear seat side S, and are formed in a shape that covers the boarding and alighting step portions 45 on both sides of the driver's seat 15 when sleeping, thereby ensuring a sleeping space 30 (see Figure 5 (a)).
In addition, when a portable air conditioner or heater is provided on both sides of the driver's seat 15, the lower partition board 14c is formed with a structure having air outlets on both sides.

The grip 14d is part of the partition wall 14 that is formed in a skeleton shape with the center pillar frame 13 provided in the center of the entrance/exit 12 as a support and separates the driver's seat side D from the rear seat side S. It is used as a handle for passengers sitting in the rear seat side S, and when sleeping, it is slid upward to secure the sleeping space 30 in the upper space.

The driver's seat 15 is disposed above the engine cover panel 11b, and the seat is a rotatable reclining seat that is shaped to straddle the structure of the three-wheeled bike.
In addition, on both sides of the partition wall 14 provided behind the driver's seat 15, there are provided storage boxes (not shown) with small compartments for storing portable air conditioners and heaters for cooling and heating the rear seat side S.

The rear seat 16 is secured as a separate compartment by a rear side door 17 that opens and closes to the side, a partition wall 14 located in front, and a tailgate 20 provided behind the body panel 11, and is shaped so that a removable back seat 16a is positioned behind the rear seat 16.

The rear side door 17 is an opening and closing door for getting in and out of the vehicle that is attached to the rear seat side S and has a built-in liftable glass door. The rear side door 17 is attached to the rear seat side S to facilitate getting in and out of the vehicle and to prevent wind and rain from blowing into the interior of the rear seat side S.
In addition, by locking the rear side door 17 and the tailgate 20, the rear seat side S becomes a completely private compartment, thereby preventing theft of personal belongings.

The tailgate 20 is a hatchback-style door that is provided at the rear of the body panel 11. It is used as an interior space expansion means 24, which will be described later.

The air intake 43 is located in front of the body panel 11 and is intended to draw air into the vehicle while driving and release engine heat, noise, and gasoline odor outside the vehicle without allowing them to remain inside the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 1(c), the air flow from the ventilation intake 43 hits the wall of the front tire cover and is discharged outside the vehicle through the gap between the inside of the engine cover panel 11b and the engine section, thereby allowing engine heat, noise, and gasoline odor to be released outside the vehicle without remaining inside the vehicle.

The roofed trike 10 of the present invention, configured as described above, has excellent vehicle design performance such as compactness, light weight, and maneuverability, and furthermore, it is possible to provide a roofed trike that can prevent wind and rain from blowing into the interior of the vehicle by covering the chassis frame of the three-wheeled bike with the body panel 11.

The manufacturing procedure for the roofed trike 10 of the present invention when used as a used car will be described.
(1) Cut and remove the front vehicle body from the center pillar of an existing hatchback vehicle (used car), leaving only the rear vehicle body frame.
(2) The width of an existing hatchback car (used car) is reduced to 1.0 to 1.3 m by cutting it and welding the two parts together.
(3) Furthermore, the height of hatchback vehicles (used cars) is increased to 1.65 m to 2.0 m and fixed by welding.
(4) Separate the driver's seat, structural frame (including the engine section), and operating handlebar section of the motorcycle, and remove the driver's seat and rear wheel tire section.
(5) Weld the new front body panel to the chassis frame of the trike.
(6) The operating handlebars and instruments of the two-wheeled bike are attached and wired inside the dashboard panel 11a of the trike body.
(7) Install a new driver's seat onto the engine cover panel 11b of the trike body.
(8) The drive transmission mechanism of the two-wheeled motorcycle is connected to the rear wheel shaft of the trike body.
(9) A partition wall 14 is provided on the center pillar frame 13 at the boarding/alighting entrance 12 of the trike body.
(10) Completion

The roofed trike 10 of the present invention manufactured by the above procedure utilizes used cars such as second-hand cars, immobile cars, scrap cars, discarded cars, and wrecked cars as the base for the trike's chassis frame, and by utilizing the exterior designs (vehicle designs) of existing car manufacturers for some of the body panels, it is possible to provide a roofed trike that has excellent vehicle design performance, such as compactness, light weight, drivability, exterior design, versatility, robustness, waterproofness, soundproofing, durability, weather resistance, safety, convenience, and ease of procurement of repair parts.
Also, during manufacturing, the chassis frame and some of the body panels of the three-wheeled bike can be made by simply modifying parts of existing used cars, which significantly reduces production costs, production time, and production processes compared to conventional handmade roofed trikes.
Furthermore, since the equipment and accessories installed in existing used cars, such as width lights, direction indicators, stop lights, interior lights, license plate lights, hazard lights, batteries, locking keys, automatic door lock devices, door glass lifting devices, anti-theft warning devices, radios, sugar lighters, etc., can be reused, it is possible to provide a trike with a roof that is both highly crime-resistant and convenient.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of a roofed trike of the present invention.
FIG. 2(a) is an overall perspective view of the roofed trike 10 of the present invention.
FIG. 2(b) is a side view of the roofed trike 10 of the present invention.
The roofed trike 10 of the present invention is provided with a transparent side visor panel 18 that can be flipped up both inside and outside on the driver's seat side D of the boarding/alighting entrance 12 of the body panel 11, and a windbreak cowl 19 for preventing wind and rain from getting in from the front is provided in front of the boarding/alighting entrance 12.

The entrance/exit doors 12 are provided on both sides of the body panel 11, and the driver's side D is always open. A side visor panel 18 is provided at the top to prevent wind and rain from blowing in from the side, and a windbreak cowl 19 is provided at the front to prevent wind and rain from getting around from the front.

The side visor panel 18 is provided above the entrance 12 on the driver's side D of the body panel 11, and is made of a transparent resin panel that can be flipped up on both the inside and outside by a hinge, ensuring visibility on both the left and right sides and preventing wind and rain from blowing in from the side. When flipped up inward, it is flipped up and stored near the inside ceiling of the driver's side D. When flipped up outward, the vehicle is driven with it flipped up diagonally upwards to a degree that does not interfere with the windshield cowl 19.

The windshield cowl 19 serves to prevent wind and rain from getting in from the front of the body panel 11, and is a wind and rain cowl that is either integrated with the body or attached later, extending above and forward of the boarding/alighting entrance 12. If the windshield cowl 19 is attached later, it should be installed so that it fits within the vehicle width.

The roofed trike 10 of the present invention, configured as described above, is provided with a side visor panel 18 and a windbreak cowl 19 at the boarding entrance 12 on the driver's side D of the body panel 11, which prevents wind and rain from blowing into the vehicle from the side without obstructing visibility while driving.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of a roofed trike according to the present invention.
FIG. 3(a) is an overall perspective view of the roofed trike 10 of the present invention.
FIG. 3(b) is a side view of the roofed trike 10 of the present invention.
The roofed trike 10 of the present invention employs a means for enhancing the design of the exterior vehicle body by providing a front wheel tire house cover 21 for covering the tire house portion of the front wheel of the body panel 11 and a rear wheel tire house cover 22 for covering the tire house portion of the rear wheel in a removable manner.

The front tire house cover 21 is a house cover that covers the front tire in a semi-cup shape. By covering the front tire in a semi-cup shape, the front tire fits inside the body panel 11 even when the steering wheel is operated to the left or right, ensuring a novel vehicle design from an external perspective.

The rear tire house cover 22 is a house cover formed to fit the body shape, and by covering the rear tire to fit the body shape, the rear tire fits within the body panel 11, ensuring an innovative vehicle design from an external perspective.

The roofed trike 10 of the present invention can be customized to various specifications to suit the user's preferences.
For example, by increasing the tread width and inch width of the rear tire, and installing air intakes, integrated over fenders, high roofs, high roof windows, folding rearview mirrors, roof carriers, rear carriers, sun visors, aero parts, driver's footrest step, air suspension, navigation, ETC, USB terminals, airbags, front and rear three-point seat belts, air conditioning and heating boxes, front and rear bumpers, sports mufflers, rear monitors, speed sensors, drive recorders, solar panels, etc., it is possible to provide a roofed trike with unprecedented vehicle equipment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of a roofed trike of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the direction transmission mechanism 41. As shown in FIG.
The roof-equipped trike 10 of the present invention is provided with a dual-lamp headlight 40 mounted in front of the body panel 11, and a means is adopted in which the illumination direction of one of the headlights 40 is set to the same direction as the steering direction of the operating handle via a directional transmission mechanism 41.

The direction transmission mechanism 41 is composed of, for example, a mechanical direction transmission mechanism made up of pulleys and a V-belt, and a direction transmission mechanism controlled by an electrical circuit and a hydraulic circuit.

In the roofed trike 10 of the present invention configured as described above, when the headlights 40 mounted on the front of the body panel 11 are of the dual-lamp type, one headlight 40 is illuminated in the direction of travel of the vehicle body, and the direction of illumination of the other headlight 40 is illuminated in accordance with the movement of the operating handle of the front tire, making it possible to provide a roofed trike that can be safely driven around corners, on rough roads, or at night in mountainous areas.
Also, the auxiliary headlight 40 may be directly attached to the mudguard fender of the front tire.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of a roofed trike of the present invention.
FIG. 5(a) is a side cross-sectional view of the roof-equipped trike 10 of the present invention with the interior space expanding means 24 attached when the rider is sleeping.
The roofed trike 10 of the present invention is equipped with an entrance cover sheet 23 that is attached from the inside of the entrance 12 of the body panel 11, and is also equipped with an interior space expansion means 24 that utilizes the tailgate 20 to expand the interior space, making it possible to sleep in the vehicle.

The entrance cover sheet 23 secures a sleeping space 30 in the vehicle by locking and closing the entire area open from the inside of the entrance 12 with a snap lock button 29 or the like when sleeping in the vehicle.
In addition, by providing a zipper opening on the side, it is possible to make it possible for passengers to freely enter and exit from the side even when the boarding/alighting opening 12 is blocked by the boarding/alighting opening cover sheet 23.
In addition, by locking the boarding/alighting entrance 12 with the snap lock button 29 of the boarding/alighting entrance cover sheet 23 and the rear side door 17, the interior space of the vehicle is completely locked, preventing theft of personal belongings and preventing unauthorized entry while the passenger is sleeping.

The vehicle interior space expansion means 24 is composed of a tailgate 20, an expansion tent 25, a hook-and-loop connection means 27, and an extension floor panel 26 equipped with a horizontal suspension means 28.

The expandable tent 25 consists of a roughly vertical rectangular tent sheet that is open at the front and bottom, and its upper end is fixed to the edge of the tailgate 20 by a clip, its middle part is secured by a snap lock button 29 (not shown) provided on the side edge of the extended floor panel 26, and its lower end is provided with a peg driven into a through hole as a means to prevent the expandable tent 25 from flapping on soft ground or in strong winds.
In addition, a zippered entrance/exit can be provided on the rear side to allow passengers to get in and out from the rear.

The extension floor panel 26 is formed of a tread-like rectangular panel plate with reinforcing ribs, and is formed with a row of snap lock buttons 29 (not shown) on the periphery of the sides to prevent the expansion tent 25 from flapping. It is provided with a hook connection means 27 at the front, and is formed on both sides in a shape that fits into the tailgate opening step, and is made of metal or resin with the required length, width and thickness with increased rigidity due to the rib structure.
In addition, by making it foldable via hinges or the like, it can be folded compactly and stored under the rear seat 16 of the trike body.

The hook-and-loop connection means 27 is formed, for example, by at least two hooks provided on the front side of the extension floor panel 26, and is hooked and connected to a number of grommet holes provided at the floor level of the tailgate opening step.

The horizontal suspension means 28 are provided on both sides of the approximately midway point in the length direction of the extension floor panel 26, and are connected to the grommet holes on both sides of the tailgate opening step by chains, belts, etc. with hook connection means 27 at the ends so that the horizontal state is maintained.

The sleeping space 30 is secured within the trike body by making the floor surface F flat with an extended floor panel space 31, a rear seat space 32, a rear seat back seat space 33, a driver's seat space 34, a middle partition wall board space 35, and a lower partition wall board space 36.
In addition, in the footrest space located below the floor surface F on the driver's seat side D and the rear seat side S, an underfloor storage space 46 can be provided.

The procedure for providing a sleeping space 30 inside the roof-equipped trike 10 of the present invention will be described.
(1) After rotating the driver's seat 15, the back seat is pushed forward.
(2) The left side boarding/alighting door cover sheet 23 is locked from the inside of the left side boarding/alighting door 12 using the snap lock button 29 to close the left side boarding/alighting door 12.
(3) The flip-up type upper isolation wall board 14a of the isolation wall 14 is flipped upward, and then the grip handle 14d is slid upward and fixed in place.
(4) Remove the wall-mounted middle partition board 14b of the partition 14 and install it on the boarding/alighting step portion 45 of the driver's seat 15 to match the height of the driver's seat 15.
(5) The right-side boarding/alighting door cover sheet 23 is locked from the inside of the right-side boarding/alighting door 12 using the snap lock button 29 to close the right-side boarding/alighting door 12.
(6) Remove the wall-mounted lower partition board 14c of the partition 14 and install it on the boarding/alighting step portion 45 of the driver's seat 15 to match the height of the driver's seat 15.
(7) The rear seat 16a is installed in the footrest space of the rear seat 16 at the same height as the driver's seat 15.
(8) The tailgate 20 of the body panel 11 is raised to a horizontal position.
(9) The extension floor panel 26 is connected by inserting the hook connecting means 27 into the grommet holes on both sides of the tailgate opening step so that the horizontal position is maintained.
(10) Cover the tailgate 20 with the extension tent 25 while keeping it horizontal.
(11) The peripheral edges of the extension tent 25 and the tailgate 20 are secured together with clips.
(12) The extension tent 25 and the tailgate opening step are secured together with clips.
(13) The floor surface F is made flat by the extended floor panel space 31, the rear seat 16 space, the rear seat back seat space 32, the driver's seat space 34, the middle partition wall board space 35, and the lower partition wall board space 36, thereby providing a sleeping space 30 inside the trike body.

The roofed trike 10 of the present invention configured as described above provides an interior space above the sleeping space 30 where the user can sleep, lounge, rest, watch television, etc.
Furthermore, by providing an underfloor storage opening in the center of the extended floor panel 26, a utility space that also serves as an underfloor storage space where a person can cook or work while standing can be secured.

FIG. 5B is a side cross-sectional view of the roof-equipped trike 10 of the present invention with a part of the interior space expanding means 24 attached, when the trike is at rest.
By removing the extension tent 25 from the tailgate 20 with the extension floor panel space 31 set, it can be used as an outdoor terrace deck during rest, and the interior space and the outdoor space can be used separately according to the camper's purpose.
In addition, in the footrest space located below the floor surface F on the driver's seat side D and the rear seat side S, an underfloor storage space 46 can be provided.

FIG. 5(c) is a cross-sectional view (reduced view) showing the roof-equipped trike 10 of the present invention in a sleeping state.
By locking the boarding/alighting entrance 12 with the snap lock button 29 of the boarding/alighting entrance cover sheet 23, as well as the rear side door 17 and the tailgate 20, the floor surface F can be made flat by the rear seat space 32 excluding the extended floor panel space 31, the rear seat back seat space 33, the driver's seat space 34, the middle partition wall board space 35 and the lower partition wall board space 36, thereby securing a sleeping space 30 within the trike body.
In addition, in the footrest space located below the floor surface F on the driver's seat side D and the rear seat side S, an underfloor storage space 46 can be provided.

FIG. 5(d) is a side view (reduced view) of the boarding/alighting entrance cover sheet 23 attached to the boarding/alighting entrance 12 of the roof-equipped trike 10 of the present invention.
By locking the entrance 12 with a snap lock button 29 of the entrance cover sheet 23, the rear side door 17 and the tailgate 20, the interior space of the vehicle is completely locked, preventing theft of personal belongings and preventing unauthorized entry while the driver is sleeping.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of a roofed trike of the present invention.
FIG. 6(a) is a side view showing the trailer cabin 42 connected.
The roof-equipped trike 10 of the present invention has a trailer cabin 42 connected to the rear of its body panel 11 via a connecting towing device 37.

The towing device 37, also known as a hitch member, is connected to a ball mount at the lower center of the rear of the roofed trike 10 of the present invention, and to the lower center of the front of the trailer cabin 42 and a receiver. It is equipped with a trailer jack with travel support tires, a parking brake, a safety connecting chain, a wiring connector, an air duct hose, etc.

Since the running wheels of the trailer cabin 42 are located at the rear, the ball mount and receiver section of the coupling towing device 37 are subjected to an overload when the trailer is traveling. Therefore, the coupling towing device 37 can be equipped with a shock absorber having a suspension function or a spring function.
In addition, since the roofed trike 10 of the present invention and the trailer cabin 42 can be connected or disconnected at will at the travel destination, it is possible to enjoy various activities according to the purpose at the tourist spot.
Furthermore, although not shown, as another structure of the coupling towing device 37, a center-bending type towing device towed by a motorcycle can also be used.

FIG. 6(b) is a top view of the roof-equipped trike 10 with the trailer cabin 42 connected thereto.
The vehicle body width dimension W of the trailer cabin 42 is limited by the Road Transport Vehicle Act, the Road Act, and the Road Traffic Act, and is formed within the range of 650 to 1480 mm.

FIG. 6(c) is a side view of the roofed trike 10 and the trailer cabin 42 installed facing each other. By facing the interior space expansion means 24 attached to the roofed trike 10 and the interior space expansion means 24 attached to the trailer cabin 42 and providing an entrance/exit fastener (not shown) on the rear side of the expansion tent 25 to connect them, an unprecedented large-capacity living space can be secured.
In addition, the boarding/alighting door 12 can be locked with a snap lock button 29 on the boarding/alighting door cover sheet 23, and further, the rear side door 17 can be locked to provide a measure against the intrusion of suspicious persons that is safe for women as well.

The roofed trike 10 of the present invention, configured as described above, can be connected to a trailer cabin 42 to provide a roofed trike 10 that can be used as a second-life car for elderly couples or for middle-aged or single men traveling overnight in their cars.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of a roofed trike of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the roof-equipped trike 10 of the present invention, in which a removable half side door 44 is provided at the boarding/alighting entrance 12.
The roof-equipped trike 10 of the present invention employs a means in which a half side door 44 having a detachable hinge portion is provided at the entrance 12 on the driver's seat side D of the body panel 11.

The half side door 44 is a side door that is attached to the lower area of the entrance 12 on the driver's seat side D so as to be openable, closable, and detachable.
When it rains, the cover is installed to prevent wind and rain from blowing into the boarding step portion 45 of the boarding/alighting door 12 on the driver's side D, and to prevent baggage inside the vehicle from flying out of the vehicle.
In addition, when opening and closing the half side door 44, the windshield cowl 19 interferes with the half side door 44, so it is necessary to either cut the windshield cowl 19 at the height of the half side door 44 or to limit the opening and closing angle of the half side door 44.

The specifications of the half side door 44 described above are formed in accordance with the Enforcement Regulations for "vehicles with open sides to the driver's seat" for two-wheeled vehicles with sidecars (commonly known as trikes) in Chapter 1, 1-2(1) of the Guidelines for Vehicle Inspection Work, etc.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of a roofed trike of the present invention.
The roof-equipped trike 10 of the present invention employs a means comprising a detachable windbreak sheet 38 or windbreak side panel 39 extending from the middle to lower levels of the boarding/alighting entrance 12 on the driver's seat side D of the body panel 11.

FIG. 8(a) is a side view of the roof-equipped trike 10 of the present invention with a removable roll-up windbreak sheet 38 attached to the boarding/alighting entrance 12.
The windbreak sheet 38 is a wide, roll-up windbreak sheet that can be attached and detached from any middle to lower section (the illustration shows multiple sections attached from the middle to lower sections) of the boarding/alighting entrance 12 on the driver's side D of the body panel 11, and is made of a material, for example, canvas or seat belt material.When it rains, the windbreak sheet is attached to prevent wind and rain from blowing into the boarding/alighting step section 45 of the boarding/alighting entrance 12 on the driver's side D, as well as to prevent luggage inside the vehicle from flying out of the vehicle.
Furthermore, the windbreak sheet 38 does not completely block the boarding/alighting door 12 on the driver's side D, but is structured so that a gap is always formed between the windbreak sheet 38 and the side visor panel 18 to prevent fogging of the window glass on the driver's side D.

FIG. 8(b) is a side view of the roof-equipped trike 10 of the present invention with a removable insert-type windbreak side panel 39 attached to the boarding/alighting entrance 12.
The windbreak side panel 39 is a plug-in windbreak panel that has at least the width dimension of the boarding/alighting entrance 12 on the driver's side D and is detachably attached to any middle to lower section (the illustration shows it attached to only the lower section) of the boarding/alighting entrance 12 on the driver's side D of the body panel 11, and is made of a material, for example, a reinforced plastic plate or a lightweight reinforced steel plate, and is attached to prevent wind and rain from blowing into the boarding/alighting step section 45 of the boarding/alighting entrance 12 on the driver's side D during rainfall, as well as to prevent luggage inside the vehicle from flying out of the vehicle.
Furthermore, the windbreak side panel 39 does not completely close the entrance/exit 12 on the driver's side D, but is designed to always leave a gap between it and the side visor panel 18 to prevent fogging of the window glass on the driver's side D.

The specifications of the windbreak sheet 38 and windbreak side panel 39 described above are formed in accordance with the Enforcement Regulations for "vehicles with open sides to the driver's seat" for two-wheeled motor vehicles with sidecars (commonly known as trikes) in Chapter 1, 1-2(1) of the Guidelines for Car Inspection Work, etc.

The roofed trike of the present invention is a trike with a three-wheeled bike chassis frame covered with a body panel, so that it can be manufactured at a low cost by utilizing existing used cars. It also has excellent vehicle design performance such as compactness, light weight, drivability, exterior design, versatility, robustness, waterproofness, soundproofing, durability, weather resistance, safety, convenience, and ease of procurement of repair parts. Furthermore, the three-wheeled bike chassis frame is covered with a body panel to prevent wind and rain from blowing into the vehicle, and it is equipped with a means for expanding the interior space using part of the vehicle body, making it possible to sleep overnight. This "roofed trike" is believed to have great industrial applicability.

10. Trike with roof (trike body)
11 Body panel 11a Dashboard panel 11b Engine cover panel 12 Doorway 13 Center pillar frame 14 Partition wall 14a Upper partition wall board 14b Middle partition wall board 14c Lower partition wall board 14d Grab handle 15 Driver's seat 16 Rear seat 16a Rear seat sheet 17 Rear side door 18 Side visor panel 19 Windbreak cowl 20 Tailgate 21 Front wheel tire house cover 22 Rear wheel tire house cover 23 Doorway cover sheet 24 Interior space expansion means 25 Expansion tent 26 Extension floor panel 27 Hook-and-loop connection means 28 Horizontal suspension means 29 Snap lock button 30 Sleeping space 31 Extension floor panel space 32 Rear seat space 33 Rear seat rear seat space 34 Driver's seat space 35 Middle partition wall board space 36 Lower partition wall board space 37 Linking towing device 38 Windbreak sheet 39 Windbreak side panel 40 Headlight 41 Directional transmission mechanism 42 Trailer cabin 43 Air intake 44 Half side door 45 Boarding and alighting step section 46 Underfloor storage space D Driver's seat side S Rear seat side F Floor surface W Vehicle width dimension

Claims (8)

A tricycle with a roof that covers the chassis frame of a three-wheeled motorcycle with a body panel,
The body panel is provided with entrances on both sides of the body panel, and a partition wall is provided at a substantially central position of the entrances in the front-rear direction , the partition wall being divided into a driver's seat side and a rear seat side by a center pillar frame and being divided into three in the vertical direction ,
The entrance /exit opening is formed in a shape that is always open on the driver's seat side, and is provided with a rear side door that can be opened and closed when getting on and off the vehicle on the rear seat side,
A trike with a roof, characterized in that a flip-up tailgate is provided behind the body panel. The trike with roof described in claim 1 is characterized in that a transparent side visor panel that can be flipped up both inside and outside is attached to the driver's seat side of the boarding/alighting door of the body panel, and a windbreak cowl is provided in front of the boarding/alighting door to prevent wind and rain from getting in from the front. The trike with roof according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a front wheel tire house cover that covers the tire house portion of the front wheel of the body panel and a rear wheel tire house cover that covers the tire house portion of the rear wheel are provided so as to be freely detachable. The trike with roof according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the headlights provided in front of the body panel are of a dual-lamp type, and the illumination direction of one of the headlights is set to the same direction as the steering direction of the operating handle via a direction transmission mechanism. The trike with roof according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is provided with an entrance cover sheet that is attached from the inside of the entrance of the body panel, and also has an interior space expansion means that utilizes a tailgate to expand the interior space. The roofed trike according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a trailer cabin is connected to the rear of the body panel via a connecting towing device. The trike with a roof according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a removable half side door is provided at the driver's seat side entrance of the body panel. 3. The trike with a roof according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a detachable windbreak sheet or windbreak side panel is provided from the middle to lower sections of the driver's seat side entrance of the body panel.

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