JPH0231989A - Tricycle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To vary the handling characteristic by inserting the front end of the guide wheel axle structure of a cycle type skate board vehicle to the front receiving port of a frame lower installing plate, supporting the rear end through upper and lower elastic members, and changing the elastic member fastening force. CONSTITUTION: A cycle type skate board type vehicle has a wheel by a pedal crank provided on the rear part of a frame and a guide wheel provided on the front part. A mounting plate 60 is mounted through the flange plate 24 of a frame lower part 20b to provide an axle structure 62 for supporting the guide wheel. The fulcrum tip 62d of the axle structure 62 is inserted to a front receiving port 60d formed in the reverse side of the mounting plate 60, and the rear end 62f thereof is mounted through upper and lower elastic members 88, 92. The curving property is enhanced by decreasing the fastening force of the upper and lower elastic members 88, 92, and the straight advancing property is enhanced by increasing the fastening force, so that the handling characteristic can be varied.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Background of the Invention] The present invention relates to a tricycle, and more particularly, to a tricycle. A ring and
The present invention relates to a general type of tricycle that includes a sprocket and chain drive system for the drive wheels and a skateboard-type steering component mounted at the lower front end of the frame.

Skateboards of this general type are known, for example, from U.S. Pat.
is shown. This type of tricycle combines certain features of a traditional bicycle with certain features of a skateboard, resulting in complex and dramatic tricycle movements, especially due to the skateboard component at the front end of the frame. By using appropriate tilting or weight shifting movements, the rider located on the seat can perform complex maneuvers.

This common type of tricycle is challenging and interesting.
Although proven to be fun to ride, this type of tricycle design embodies certain disadvantages.

In particular, prior art designs sometimes cause inaccurate motion of the vehicle, or prior art designs prove difficult to tune to provide special operating characteristics, and prior art designs Specifies the structural failure modes that shorten the service life of tricycles.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention provides improvements of the type in which the movement of the tricycle in response to rider input information is accurate and reliable, the desired operating characteristics are easily adjustable, and the durability of the tricycle is improved with respect to prior art designs. The purpose is to provide tricycles that are equipped with

According to an important feature of the invention, the skateboard or steering gear component fixed to the front lower part of the frame is provided with a mounting plate adapted to be fixed to the front lower part of the frame. an axle structure including a pivot arm and a suspension arm for mounting the shaft for pivoting motion on the plate; and an opening in the suspension arm of the axle structure and extending downward through the mounting plate. Upper and lower silent members are positioned above and below the bolt and suspension arms of the axle structure and are secured to the lower open ends of the bolt and directed toward the upper and lower surfaces of the suspension arms of the axle. This particular construction of the steering gear component includes a suspension component that includes a nut that acts to tighten the suspension component toward the underside of the mounting plate using upper and lower silent members that are tightened by the suspension component. Allows for easy adjustment by simply loosening or tightening nuts that selectively adjust the operating characteristics of the tricycle.

According to a further feature of the invention, the upper silent member is made of a relatively soft material and the lower silent member is made of a relatively hard material. This particular arrangement and construction of the suspension components provides the tricycle with more predictable linear motion and more positive cornering. The silent member is made of a soft rubber material, and the lower sound deadening member is made of a polyurethane material.

According to a further feature of the invention, the mounting plate includes a socket opening in the upper surface of the mounting plate and a hole opening at the upper end at the bottom of the socket and opening at the lower end at the lower surface of the mounting plate, and the mounting plate includes a hole opening at the upper end at the bottom surface of the mounting plate and a hole opening at the lower end at the lower surface of the mounting plate. The head is positioned within the socket with the shaft of the bolt extending downwardly through the hole for cooperating with the silencer and the nut. The special mounting device of this bolt provides a simple and durable construction and further gives tricycle operating characteristics that are easily adjusted by simply loosening or tightening the nut cooperating with the lower end of the bolt. .

According to a further feature of the invention, the mounting plate includes a generally planar body portion defining a generally planar upper surface for securing to the lower front portion of the frame member and a rear heel portion extending below the lower surface of the body portion. , the socket opens at the upper surface of the second main body of the heel, and the hole extends downwardly through the heel and opens at the lower surface of the heel. This particular arrangement further increases the strength of the steering gear component and also facilitates rapid adjustment of the operating characteristics of the steering gear component.

According to a further feature of the invention, the body of the mounting plate is generally square and further extends below the lower surface of the body and along each opposite side edge of the lower surface outside the heel of the mounting plate. Includes a pair of extending reinforcing ribs. The rectangular construction of the body of the mounting plate eliminates a common failure mode in prior art steering gear components, and the reinforcing ribs further add strength and durability to the structure of the present invention.

〔Example〕

The tricycle of the present invention generally includes a frame 10, a seat 1
2, including a drive wheel 14, a sprocket/pedal component 16, and a steering device component 18.

The frame 10 is made of steel and includes a main tubular member 20 and a arm 22 branched at the rear.

The main body tubular member 20 includes an upper vertical column portion 20a and a lower portion 20b extending downward and forward and joined to the upper column upper portion 20H by a curved knee portion 20C. A generally square shaped flange plate 24 is welded to the lower front end of the lower tubular section 20b.

The arm 22 includes a pair of U-shaped arm members 26 having a constant interval, each of which is fixed by welding at one end 26a to a columnar portion 20a of the frame and at the other end 26b to a lower frame 20b.
including. Each member 26 is located on opposite sides of the frame member 20 and is laterally spaced in a known manner to accommodate the drive wheels 14. An arm plate 28 extending downward and mounting the wheels is welded to each arm member 26, and the arm plate 28 includes an adjustment groove 28a opening downward and forward.

The seat portion 12 includes a saddle 30 and a pillar portion 20a having a known structure.
a saddle post 3 telescopically housed in a known manner at the upper end;
2 and a handle 34 projecting forward from the saddle 30 to be grasped by the rider's hands. An adjustment ring 36 at the upper end of the post 20a provides height adjustment of the seat 12 in a known manner.

Rear wheel 14 includes pneumatic tire 38, wheel 40, and axle 42.

Tire 38 is of known type and includes a valve stem 44 .

The wheel 40 is preferably a molded plastic product made of urethane, for example, and has a plurality of wheels terminating in a central hub portion (not shown) that surrounds the axle 42 concentrically with a rim portion 40a on which the tire 38 is mounted. Collective spoke part 40b
including. The axle 42 is inserted into the adjustment groove 2 of the armrest 28 in a known manner.
installed in the ga.

The pedal component 16 includes a pedal sprocket 44, a wheel sprocket 46, a pedal portion 48, and a chain. Pedal sprocket 44 is of known construction and rotatably mounted on foot 20 in known manner by a sprocket tube (not shown) welded to the upper surface of frame lower portion 20b. The wheel sprocket 46 is electrically coupled to the wheel 40 in a known manner via a coaster brake.

Each pedal component 48 has an open or outer end that is connected to the pedal 5.
It includes a pedal crank 52 that supports 4. The chain 50 is looped around the pedal sprocket 44 and the wheel sprocket 46 so that the rear wheel 38 interconnects the wheel sprocket 46 and the wheel 40 allowing free movement of the rear wheel without pedal movement in a known manner. The coaster brake is driven in response to the pedal depressing action of the rider sitting on the seat 30.

The steering device component 18 includes a mounting plate 60, an axle structure 62, a suspension component 64, and wheels 66.

Mounting plate 60 is preferably formed as a steel casting and includes a body portion 60a having a rectangular profile that generally corresponds in size and shape to flange plate 24 of the frame structure;
a rear heel portion 60b that extends downward from the bottom surface 60C of the main body portion 60a and defines a bottom surface 60d that is angled upwardly and forwardly with respect to the bottom surface 60C; The bottom surface is angled at 60f.
a central reinforcing rib portion 60g that interconnects the heel portion 60b and the toe portion 60e;
e, a pair of vertically rigid rib portions 5Qh extending along the side edges of the bottom surface 60C, and mounting plate holes 60i at each corner of the mounting plate. The heel portion 60b, rib 60g and toe portion 60e extend in a single fashion from back to front of the mounting plate as a single central reinforcement for the mounting plate.

A square bolt socket 60j is provided in the mounting plate generally above the heel portion 60b, and the axle pivot socket 60 is provided in the toe portion 60e.

The socket 60j opens at the upper surface 601 of the mounting plate and defines a bottom wall 60m that is generally parallel to the heel bottom surface 60d. Bottom of heel 6
The hole 5Qn, which has a center axis that is normally perpendicular to 0d, opens at the upper end at the outer wall 60m of the bolt socket 60j, and the heel portion 60
The lower end is opened at the bottom surface 60d of b.

The axle pivot socket 60, which opens at the lower end at the bottom surface 60f of the toe section, is sized to receive a cup-shaped elastic material eyelet 70 centered on an axis normally perpendicular to the bottom surface 60f of the toe section. . The upper surface 601 of the body portion 60a presents a flat, rectangular mounting surface for the mounting operation in cooperation with the mounting flange plate 24.

The installation flange 60 is connected to the hole 2 of the installation flange 24.
4a and the corresponding hole 60j of the mounting plate 60, and between the mounting plate 60 and the flange plate 240 ([1] a rectangular shape inserted between them in a sand-inch manner as an absorbent material, and installed together with an elastic cushioning member 76). The plate 60 is secured to the bottom surface of the flange plate 24 through the use of a plurality of bolts 72 that cooperate with nuts 74 to tighten the plate 60 to the mounting flange 24.

The axle structure 62 is preferably formed as a steel casting and includes a body portion 62a having a generally circular cross-sectional shape;
a pair of shaft portions 62b extending from opposite ends of the main body portion 62a coaxially with the main body portion 62a; a pivot arm portion 62G extending radially from the center of the main body portion 62a and terminating at a fulcrum tip 62d; and the main body portion 62a and the pivot arm portion 62c. It includes a triangular reinforcing flange structure 62e that reinforces the space between the two, and a suspension arm 62f that extends radially from the center of the main body 62a.

The suspension arm portion 62f has a generally circular shape and the rim portion 62
The upper socket 62g defined by h, the lower socket 62i defined by the rim part 62'', and the center of the suspension arm 62f are penetrated, the upper end is opened at the bottom 621 of the upper socket 62g, and the lower socket 62i A center hole 62k is defined at the top wall 62m of which opens at the lower end. The triangular reinforcing portion 62n interconnects the main body portion 62a and the suspension arm portion 62f to reinforce the space between the two.

The suspension component 64 includes a hex bolt 80, an upper silent member 82, a lower silent member 84, and a nut 86.

The bolt 80 has a hexagonal head 80a large enough to be loose but not rotated within the installation temporary retainer 6Qj, and a screw large enough to loosely pass through the installation plate hex 60n and the hole 62k in the axle structure. It includes a truncated shaft portion 80b.

The upper silent member 82 includes a circular annular member 88 and a metal cap 90 that is press fit onto the upper end of the annular member 8B. Member 88 is formed from a resilient member and preferably has a thickness of approximately 50 ha.
]) It is formed from a relatively soft rubber material with a hardness rate of .

The lower silent member 84 includes a circular annular member 92 and a metal cap 94 press-fitted to the lower end of the annular member 92. The annular member 92 is formed of a relatively hard, inelastic material such as polyurethane having a hardness modulus of approximately 65-75 Shore.

The wheels 66 are steerable casters made of rubber or polyurethane, for example.

As will be appreciated, the diameter of wheel 66 constitutes a very small percentage of the diameter of drive wheel 14.

In the assembled relationship of the steering gear components, the eyelet 70 is press-fitted into the socket 60k in the mounting plate 60, and the fulcrum 62d of the axle structure 62 pivots into the eyelet 7.
0 and the bolt 80 has a hexagonal head 8 of the bolt non-rotatably positioned within the bolt socket 60j.
0a and hole 5Qn and along an axis generally perpendicular to the plane of the lower heel surface 60d.
is installed on the installation plate 60 by a bolt shaft 80b protruding below the lower surface 60d, and the upper silent member 88 is seated on the cap 90 seated against the lower heel surface 60d and the socket 62g of the axle structure 62. The lower silent member 92 is positioned around the bolt shaft 80b by the lower end of the silent member 88, and the lower silent member 92 is positioned at the lower end of the bolt shaft 80b by one end of the silent member 92 seated in the socket 62i of the IF shaft structure. , the nut 86 connects the upper silent member 88 to the suspension arm 62f of the axle and the mounting plate heel 6.
0b and between the lower surface 60d of the lower silent member 92 and the lower surface of the suspension arm 62f of the axle structure and the nut 86.
When seated and engaged with the cap 94 for tightening, the lower end of the bolt shaft 80b is screwed through, and the wheel 66 is appropriately supported on the shaft 62b and held in position by the nut 1 (14). .

It will be appreciated that the tricycle of the present invention, and in particular the tricycle steering arrangement of the present invention, provides a number of important advantages compared to prior art structures. For example, a suspension component as previously described with a bolt non-rotatably positioned within a socket in a mounting plate and extending downwardly through the silent member to cooperate with a lower nut can be used by simply tightening or loosening the nut. Allows operating characteristics of the steering gear components to be easily and easily adjusted.

In this regard, tightening the suspension components is
It will be appreciated that providing more linear motion, loosening the suspension components allows for easier, sharper cornering or change of direction motion.

The construction of a relatively stiff upper quiet member combined with a relatively stiff lower quiet member structure also provides better handling and more security compared to prior art structures that utilize upper and lower silent members. Provide cornering movement.

The mounting plate of the steering gear component of the present invention has a square structure that matches the square structure of the flange plate on the frame and has rigid ribs extending along both sides of the underside of the plate outside the heel and toe areas. Provides a very strong and durable structure compared to technology structures.

Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail,
It will be apparent that various modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a three-wheeled vehicle according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a steering device component used in the tricycle of the present invention,
The figure is a perspective view of the mounting plate constituting the steering gear component of FIG. 2 with the bottom side reversed for illustration; FIG.
The plan view of the installation plate in Figure PJ3, Figure 5 is 5- in Figure 4.
5 is a sectional view taken along line 5, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the axle structure constituting the steering device configuration diagram in FIG. 2, and FIG.
8 is a bottom view of the axle structure shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and FIG. 9 is an exploded parts arrangement of the suspension component that constitutes the steering device component in FIG. 2. FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 1O-1O in FIG. 1. Figure 2 Section 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 8

Claims (20)

[Claims] (1) A frame including an upper column, a rear branched arm, and a front lower part, a seat installed in the column of the frame, and a wheel sprocket installed in the rear branch of the frame. a drive wheel; a drive sprocket mounted on the frame in front of the drive wheel; a chain routed around the drive sprocket and the wheel sprocket; rotating the drive sprocket, thereby causing the chain to rotate; pedal means for driving said drive wheel via; a mounting plate adapted to be fixed to the front lower part of said frame; a pivot arm for mounting an axle structure for pivot movement on said mounting plate; an axle structure including a suspension arm; a bolt passing downwardly through an opening in the suspension arm of the axle structure and the mounting plate; and a bolt extending above and below the suspension arm of the axle structure; upper and lower silent members are engaged with the lower open ends of the bolts, and the upper and lower silent members are tightened toward the upper and lower surfaces of the suspension arms of the axle structure, and at the same time A tricycle comprising a suspension component including a nut that acts to tighten the suspension component toward a lower surface of the mounting plate. (2) The tricycle according to claim 1, wherein the upper noiseless member is formed from a relatively soft material, and the lower noiseless member is formed from a relatively hard material. (3) The tricycle according to claim 2, wherein the upper silent member is made of a rubber material, and the lower silent member is made of a urethane material. (4) A generally square flange plate is rigidly secured to the lower end of the forward portion of the frame, and the mounting plate is square and has a size that generally matches the size of the flange plate. (1
) Tricycles listed. (5) a generally planar, rectangular body portion defining a generally flat upper surface for said mounting plate to be secured to said flange plate; and a rear heel portion extending below a lower surface of said body portion for mounting said bolt; The tricycle according to claim 4, further comprising a front toe portion extending downwardly from a lower surface of the main body portion and mounting the pivot arm portion of the axle structure. (6) The mounting plate further includes a pair of reinforcing ribs extending downwardly from the lower surface of the main body and along each opposing side edge of the lower surface outside the heel and toe regions. The tricycle according to claim (5). (7) The mounting plate includes a socket opening on the top surface of the mounting plate, and a hole opening at the top end at the bottom of the socket and opening at the bottom end at the bottom surface of the mounting plate, and the head of the bolt is Tricycle according to claim 1, characterized in that it is positioned in the socket with the shaft of the bolt passing downwardly through the hole for co-operating with the noise-quieting member and the nut. (8) the mounting plate includes a generally planar body portion defining a generally flat upper surface for securing to the flange plate; and a rear heel portion extending downwardly from a lower portion of the body portion; The tricycle according to claim 7, wherein the hole is opened at the upper surface of the main body above the heel, and the hole extends downward through the heel and opens at the lower surface of the heel. . (9) A frame including an upper column, a rear branched arm, and a front lower part, a seat installed in the column of the frame, and a wheel sprocket installed in the rear branched arm of the frame. a drive wheel; a drive sprocket mounted on the frame in front of the drive wheel; a chain routed around the drive sprocket and the wheel sprocket; rotating the drive sprocket, thereby causing the chain to rotate; pedal means for driving said drive wheel via; a mounting plate adapted to be fixed to the front lower part of said frame; a pivot arm for mounting an axle structure for pivot movement on said mounting plate; an axle structure including a suspension arm of the axle structure; a bolt extending downwardly through an opening in the suspension arm of the axle structure and the mounting plate; and positioned on the bolt above the suspension arm of the axle structure. an upper quieting member of a relatively soft material located on the bolt below the suspension arm of the axle structure; The suspension component includes means for tightening the suspension component toward the lower surface of the mounting plate at the same time as the upper and lower silent members are tightened toward the upper and lower surfaces of the mounting plate. Features a tricycle. (10) The tricycle according to claim 9, wherein the upper silent member is made of a rubber material and the lower silent member is made of a urethane material. (11) a generally square flange plate is rigidly secured to a lower end of a forward portion of the frame, the mounting plate having a generally planar body portion defining a generally flat upper surface for securing to the flange plate; , a rear heel portion extending downward from the lower surface of the main body portion and into which the bolt is installed; a socket opening at the top surface of the main body portion; and an upper end opening at the bottom of the socket and penetrating the heel portion downward. death,
a hole opening at a lower end on a lower surface of the heel, the head of the bolt being inserted into the socket with the shaft of the bolt passing downwardly through the hole for cooperating with the noise-quieting member and the nut; The tricycle according to claim 9, characterized in that the tricycle is located in a position. (12) a frame including an upper column, a rear branched arm, and a forward lower portion terminating in a generally square flange plate; a seat mounted on the column of said frame; and a rearward branched arm of said frame; a drive wheel installed within the unit and including a wheel sprocket; a drive sprocket installed on the frame in front of the drive wheel; a chain wrapped around the drive sprocket and the wheel sprocket; pedal means for rotating and thereby driving the drive wheel through the chain; and adapted to be secured to the underside of the flange plate and sized to generally match the size and shape of the flange plate. an axle structure including a generally square mounting plate having a shape and a pivot arm and a suspension arm for mounting the axle structure for pivot movement on the mounting plate;
A tricycle comprising a steering device component including a suspension component installed on a lower surface of the mounting plate and engaging a suspension arm of the axle structure. (13) a generally planar, rectangular body portion defining a generally flat upper surface for the mounting plate to be secured to the flange plate; and a rear heel portion extending below the lower surface of the body portion for mounting the bolt; a forward toe portion extending downwardly from the lower surface of the body portion and mounting the pivot arm of the axle structure; and a front toe portion further extending downwardly from the lower surface of the body portion and disposed on the outside of the heel and toe portions. 13. The tricycle according to claim 12, further comprising a pair of reinforcing ribs extending along each opposing side edge of the lower surface. (14) a frame, a seat installed on the upper part of the frame, a drive wheel installed in a branched arm tree at the rear of the frame, a sprocket, pedal and chain means for driving the drive wheel, and a front part of the frame. A steering gear arrangement for use in a tricycle of the type comprising a downwardly facing mounting surface defined at the lower end of the frame, a mounting plate adapted to be secured to the mounting surface of the frame, and a pivot movement on said mounting plate. an axle structure including a pivot arm and a suspension arm on which the axle structure is installed; an opening in the suspension arm of the axle structure; a bolt passing downward through a mounting plate; and a suspension of the axle structure. upper and lower silent members positioned on the bolt above and below the arm; A steering device component comprising a nut that acts to tighten the suspension component toward a lower surface of the mounting plate at the same time as the noise-quieting member is tightened. (15) The steering device component according to claim (14), wherein the upper silent member is made of a relatively soft material, and the lower silent member is made of a relatively hard material. (16) The steering device component according to claim (15), wherein the upper silent member is made of a rubber material and the lower silent member is made of a urethane material. (17) a generally planar, rectangular body portion defining a generally planar upper surface for securing the mounting plate to a mounting surface of the frame; and a rear heel extending below a lower surface of the body portion for mounting the bolt; 15. A steering gear structure as claimed in claim 14, including a forward toe extending downwardly from a lower surface of the main body and mounting the pivot arm of the axle structure. (18) The mounting plate further includes a pair of reinforcing ribs extending downwardly from the lower surface of the main body and along each opposing side edge of the lower surface outside the heel and toe sections. A steering device structure according to claim (17). (19) The installation plate includes a socket that opens on the top surface of the installation plate, and a hole that opens at the top end at the bottom of the socket and opens at the bottom end at the bottom surface of the installation plate, and the bolt head is located in the socket with the shaft of the bolt passing downwardly through the hole for co-operating with the noise-quieting member and the nut.
) Steering device structure described. (20) the mounting plate includes a generally planar body portion defining a generally flat upper surface for being secured to the flange plate; and a rear heel portion extending downwardly from a lower portion of the body portion; The steering wheel according to claim 19, wherein the hole is opened at the upper surface of the main body above the heel, and the hole extends downward through the heel and opens at the lower surface of the heel. Equipment structure.