NL2003040C2

NL2003040C2 - Vehicle.

Info

Publication number: NL2003040C2
Application number: NL2003040A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Maarten Johannes Bruijn
Original assignee: Vice Versa Holding B V
Priority date: 2009-06-18
Filing date: 2009-06-18
Publication date: 2010-12-21

Description

TITLE: Vehicle

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a vehicle.

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Document US5611555 discloses a vehicle having three wheels, one in front and two in the rear. The stability in the curves is obtained by enhancing the lateral tilting of the vehicle. For this, each rear wheel must allow an up or down motion; each of these 10 motions is opposite to the other but to the same extent. By means of "ball-and-socket" hinged joint, two connecting rods connect the balancer's rotation to an up-and-down motion.

The vehicle disclosed is aimed to be driven like a motorcycle, though with a higher level of safety and convenience. This results in a vehicle that is larger than a 15 motorcycle and that requires a same level of skills and in most jurisdictions the same permit compared to driving a motorcycle.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the invention is to provide an easy to use and compact vehicle that is 2 0 easy to manoeuvre. The invention provides a vehicle comprising a backbone, a first arm pivotally connected to a first side of a first end of the backbone at a first end of the first arm, a second arm pivotally connected to a second side of the first end of the backbone at a first end of the second arm, a first wheel connected to a second end of the first arm, a second wheel connected to a second 25 end of the second arm, a stem rotatably connected to a second end of the backbone and a third wheel connected to the stem, wherein the first arm and the second arm are pivotable over the same first axis, in use, the first arm and the second arm are pivotable in up- and downward direction, wherein the first and the second arm are connectable via a connecting unit causing the first arm and the second arm to pivot in 30 opposite directions and wherein the connecting unit can be arranged such to enable the first arm and the second arm to be pivoted independently or in the same direction.

By arranging the connecting unit such to enable the first arm and the second arm to be pivoted independently or in the same direction, the arms can be folded away from 35 the third wheel in use, providing a stable and easy for manoeuvre vehicle in use, and the arms can be folded towards the third wheel to provide the vehicle as a compact package for easy and comfortable transportation.

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In an embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the connecting unit comprises a first connecting member connectable to the first arm and a second connecting member connectable to the second arm, both connecting members being pivotable over the first axis and both connecting members being connected causing 5 the first connecting member and the second connecting member to move in opposite directions.

By providing separate connecting members to which the arms are to be connected, a manufacturer and/or designer embodying a vehicle according the invention has a significant amount of freedom on how to arrange the connecting unit to enable the 10 first arm and the second arm to be pivoted independently or in the same direction.

In a further embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the connecting unit connects the first arm and the second arm by means of a first plunger connected to the first arm, a second plunger connected to the second arm and a lever connecting the first plunger and the second plunger, a fixed point of the lever being connected to 15 the backbone.

This embodiment provides a connecting unit that has a relatively low cost in terms of bill of materials.

In another embodiment of the invention, the first arm and the second arm are facing away from the stem in use and the first arm and the second arm when disconnected 2 0 are pivotable towards the stem.

An advantage of this embodiment is that the vehicle can be made more compact, allowing convenient transportation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

2 5 The invention will now be further elucidated by means of figures, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a tricycle as embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a side view of the tricycle with a driver;

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the connecting unit for use in the vehicle according to the invention; 30 Figure 4 A shows a side view of the tricycle in a compacted way; and

Figure 4 B shows a side view of the tricycle in a further compacted way.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows a tricycle 100 as an embodiment of the vehicle according to the 35 invention. Tricycle 100 comprises a base frame 102 as a backbone, to which at a first end of the base frame 102 a first arm 122 and a second arm 124 are pivotally connected at first ends of each arm, respectively. The first arm and the second arm 3 pivot around the same axis, parallel to the axis of the wheels. The pivoting mechanism is equipped with roller bearings or sliding-contact bearings. Both arms are mounted in single shear to the side of the base frame 102.

The first arm 122 and the second arm 124 are connected causing them to pivot in 5 opposite directions, as will be disclosed later. A first wheel 126 and a second wheel 128 are connected to the arms at second ends of each arm, respectively. The wheels are mounted single-shear to the arms.

At a second end of the base frame 102 a stem 140 is rotably connected. The stem 140 is part of a steering fork 106. The steering fork 106 as disclosed in Figure 1 will 10 look familiar to a person skilled in the art as being generally used on motorcycles. However, also other types of steering forks can be used, for example the type generally used on bicycles. At a first side of the steering fork 106 a steering frame 110 and a handle bar 112 is connected for steering the tricycle. For improved controllability and user convenience, the handle bar is provided with a first handle 15 118 and a second handle 120.

At a second side of the steering fork 106 a third wheel 104 is provided. The third wheel is connected to the steering fork 106 by means of an in-hub electric motor 108. The electric motor is powered by means of a battery pack 130 which is provided in the base frame 102. In a further embodiment, the battery pack 130 is attached to the 20 outside of the base frame 102. An advantage of the latter embodiment is that the battery pack 130 can be easily removed for indoor charging.

The electric motor 108 is to be controlled by means of a first control lever 114 and/or a second control lever 116.

The control levers are configured to act as brake and throttle. Alternatively, both 25 control levers act a braking controls and an additional control mechanism (not shown) is provided to control the throttle. Such control is provided as a rotating grip around the handle bar 112, the first handle 118 or the second handle 120.

Though the tricycle 100 is convenient to drive and easiest to be built with the in-hub electric motor 108, the invention may also be embodied using other driving means 30 like a combustion engine or by driving the vehicle by means of human power. In addition, the third wheel does not necessarily need to be driven directly by a driving unit; the mechanical power may also be transfer from the driving unit to the third wheel by means of gears or a driving belt or chain.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the tricycle 100 and a driver 200 standing on the 35 tricycle. The driver 200 is intended to stand on the first arm 122 and the second arm 124. Alternatively, the base frame 102 is provided with a platform on which the driver 4 200 can stand. In other embodiments, the platform is provided with a seat or a seat is connected to the base frame 102 for improved driver comfort.

In addition to a platform and/or seat, the tricycle 100 can be equipped with further equipment like a postbag, a golf bag or other storage means, communication and/or 5 surveillance equipment and other equipment that can be of use to the driver 200, depending on the function executed by the driver.

In addition, the tricycle 100 can be fit with a tow eye for towing one or more carts. Furthermore, if the tricycle 100 is to be used on rough terrain, it can be equipped with tyres that are more robust than one would generally use for road or indoor use.

10 If the tricycle 100 steers either left or right, the tricycle 100 tilt at the same angle, including all three wheels. In particular if the driver 200 stands on the first arm 122 and the second arm 124, the driver will be in a steady position, with no major need to compensate for a centripetal force. This is because the first arm 122 and the second arm 124 pivot in opposite directions. Combined with the single-shear assembly of the 15 first wheel 126 and the second wheel 128, respectively, this results in the tilting of the wheels in the tricycle 100 taking turns.

Figure 3 shows a more detailed view of the first arm 122 and the second arm 124. The first arm 122 and the second arm 124 pivot around the same axis and in particular around an axle 320. Figure 3 further discloses a rocking wheel 302. The 2 0 rocking wheel 302 is connected to the first arm 122 via a first ball joint 312, a first plunger 304 and a third ball joint 316. The rocking wheel 302 is connected to the second arm 124 via a second ball joint 314, a second plunger 306 and a fourth ball joint 318.

When, while taking a left turn, the tricycle 100 tilts to the left. This results in the first 25 arm 122 moving down in the direction of the white arrow and the second arm moving up in the direction of the white arrow as well. It is important to understand that this is only possible if the first arm 122 and the second arm 124 are connected via a connecting unit which is in this embodiment formed by the ball joints, the plungers and the rocking wheel 302.

30 This is because the first arm 122 and the second arm 124 are enabled to pivot freely over the axle 320. In case the first arm 122 and the second arm 124 would not be connected, they would both move up, resulting in the first end of the base frame 102 touching the ground. This would mean that the tricycle 100 would not be able to be properly driven. The connecting unit firstly arranges the first arm 122 and the second 35 arm 124 to be substantially levelled to the ground, keeping a distance between the first end of the base frame 102 and the ground.

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The connecting unit secondly arranges proper movement of the first arm 122 and the second arm 124 while taking turns.

Continuing on taking a left turn, the first arm 122 moving down causes the second arm 124 to move up and vice versa. While moving down, the first arm 122 performs a 5 leverage action around the axle 320, resulting in the first plunger 304 to move up. This results in the rocking wheel 302 turning left (as viewed in Figure 3) over an axis 330, in the direction of the white arrow. In turn, this results in the second plunger 306 moving down via the second ball joint 120. Via the fourth ball joint 318, the second plunger forces the second arm 124 up while performing a leverage action on the 10 short side of the second arm 124 over the axle 320.

Taking a right turn results in equivalent actions in the directions of the solid arrows.

It will be appreciated that the rocking wheel 302 can be replaced by a substantially elongated member acting as a lever, which also would pivot over the axis 330.

The rocking wheel 302, or a lever or another element performing same functionality, 15 is preferably placed at the front side of the base frame 102. This may enhance the compactness of the tricycle 100, in particular when folded, as will be disclosed later on in the description of the preferred embodiments. In addition, when placed on the front of the base frame 102, the risk of the rocking wheel 302 and or the first plunger 304 and the second plunger 306 with the driver 200 (Figure 2) is significantly less 2 0 than when placed at the back of the base frame 102.

Besides a leverage action by either a rocking wheel or a lever, the first arm 122 and the second arm 124 can also be connected in other ways to enable them to move in opposite directions while taking turns. In one embodiment, the first arm 122 and the second arm 124 pivot around the same axis, but are not connected and in particular 25 not fixed on the same axle. Instead, the arms are connected on separate axles that are operatively connected by means of gears, for example by means of a differential gear box.

Advantageously, the tilting mechanism, comprising the two arms and the connecting unit, or the connecting unit alone can be locked to ensure that the tricycle 100 is 3 o steady when not moving and for example parked.

Figure 4 A shows an advantageous embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, being the tricycle 100 that can be folded to make it more compact for transportation or storage. The steering frame 110 can be folded down by pivoting it over a steer axis 402. It will be appreciated that for improved compactness, the 35 steering frame 110 has a shape similar to that of the base from 102 so both fit together when the steering frame 110 is pivoted downwards.

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Additionally, as shown by Figure 4 B, the first arm 122 and the second arm 124 are pivoted over an angle of approximately 180°, towards the stem 140 and the fork 106, alongside the third wheel 104. In this way, the tricycle 100 can be folded even more compacter. In order to pivot both arms as shown by Figure 4 B, the first arm 122 and 5 the second arm 124 are disconnected from the connecting unit. Referring to Figure 3, this can be achieved by releasing the first arm 122 from the third ball joint 316 and by releasing the second arm 124 from the fourth ball joint 318. It should be noted that also other options are available for disconnecting the connecting unit. Advantageously, a locking system is provided to keep both arms in the folded 10 position as shown by Figure 4 B.

Figure 5 shows a front view of the connecting unit that may be used to embody the invention. In the embodiment as shown by Figure 4 B, the arms can be folded in a forward position to make the vehicle more compact. However, the rocking wheel 302 (also Figure 3) needs to be firmly connected to the base frame 102 (Figure 1) as well 15 as to the first arm 122 and the second arm 124. This means that for easily folding the tricycle 100, a connection between the base frame 102, the first arm 122 and the second arm 124 and the connecting unit should be provided that is one hand easy to disconnect and on the other hand is robust.

Figure 5 discloses, in addition to Figure 3 a first disc 502 to which the third ball joint 20 316 is connected. The first disc is pivotable over the axle 320. For reasons of clarity, the axle 320 has been omitted in Figure 5 and the axis of the axle 320 is indicated by means of a dotted line 530. The first disc is connected to the first arm 122 by a locking member embodied by a first pin 506 that is inserted in through holes in the first disc 502 and the first arm 122. The first pin 506 is push in the direction of the first 25 disc by means of a first spring 510.

The first pin 506 can be pulled out of the through hole in the first disc 502 by pulling a first knob 514, thus disconnecting a fixed connection between the first arm 122 and the first disc 502. Both the first disc 502 and the first arm are still connected over the axle 320. Disconnecting the fixed connection means that the first arm 122 is freely 30 rotatable over the axle 320, without being connected to the connecting unit. In this way, the first arm 122 can be rotated to an angle of approximately 180°, as shown in Figure 4 B. To lock the first arm 122 in the folded position, the first disc 122 preferably comprises a second through hole, with an offset of approximately 180° to the first through hole in which the first pin 506 can be inserted, thus preventing further 35 free rotation of the first arm 122 with respect to the first disc 502 and in that way preventing further free rotation of the first arm 122 with respect to the connecting unit and the base frame 102.

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At the left side of Figure 5, equivalent components are disclosed the function of locking and unlocking the second arm 124 with respect to the connecting system in an equivalent way, namely a second disc 504, a second pin 508, a second spring 512 and a second knob 516. So in this embodiment, the connecting unit is extended 5 with the two discs, as compared to the embodiment of the connecting unit disclosed in Figure 3.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that besides the discs, also other shapes or structures may be used as connecting members.

In another embodiment of the invention, the two arms are enabled to be folded 10 forwards by disconnecting the rocking wheel 302 from the base frame 102. Subsequently, the rocking wheel 302 may be fixed to the other side of the base frame 102, opposite to the side where the rocking wheel 302 is to be fixed when the tricycle 100 is in use. In this way, the both arms are still connected, but not anymore in a way that when one arm moves in one direction, the other arm moves in an 15 opposite direction.

Preferably, the rocking wheel 302 can be disconnected from the backbone without undue burden, which means without specific engineering knowledge, tools or actions but by means of a simple twisting or turning action or by merely pushing or pressing a button.

2 0 Optionally, a further locking mechanism is provided to prevent the rocking wheel 302 from turning to prevent the two arms from pivoting when the are folded to the front of the tricycle 100. Such further locking system can be used as well to lock the two arms when the two arms are in backward direction, suitable for use. This is in particular advantageous when the tricycle 100 is standing still, for example when parked or 2 5 when waiting for traffic lights.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as 30 limiting the claim. Use of the verb "comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The word "axle" is used to represent a physical member; the word "axis" is used to indicate an imaginary line, unless explicitly stated otherwise or readily 35 apparent from the description. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent 8 claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Throughout the Figures, similar or corresponding features are indicated by same reference numerals or labels.

Claims

A vehicle comprising: a frame; a first arm at a first end of the first arm pivotally connected to a first side at a first end of the frame; a second arm at a first end of the second arm pivotally connected to a second side at the first end of the frame; a first wheel connected to a second end of the first arm; a second wheel connected to a second end of the second arm; 10. a control pin rotatably connected to a second end of the frame; and a third wheel connected to the control pin; The first arm and the second arm are pivotable about the same first axis; 15. in use, the first arm and the two arm are pivotable in a substantially upward and downward direction; the first and second arm can be connected via a connecting unit, whereby the first arm and the second arm pivot in the opposite direction; and 20. the connecting unit can be arranged such that the first arm and the second arm can be hinged independently or in the same direction.

2. Vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting unit comprises a first connecting element and a second connecting element, both connecting elements are hinged about the first axle and wherein both connecting elements are connected such that the first connecting element and the second connecting element pivot in the opposite direction.

3. Vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first arm can be connected to the first connecting element by means of a first locking element, whereby the first arm pivots through the same angle and over the first axis as the first set of connecting element and wherein the second arm is connectable with the second connecting element by means of a second locking element, whereby the second arm pivots through the same angle and over the first axis as the second connecting element.

A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the connecting unit connects the first arm and the second arm by means of a first rod connected to the first arm, a second rod connected to the second arm and a lever connecting the first rod and the second rod wherein a fixed point of the lever is connected to the frame.

The vehicle of claim 4, wherein in use the first arm and the second arm extend to a first side of the frame and wherein the lever is connected to the frame near the first end on a second side of the frame which second sides opposite the first side.

The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the lever is detachable from the frame.

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the connecting unit connects the first arm and the second arm through a second shaft connected to the second arm, a third shaft connected to the second arm and the second shaft and the third shaft are connected by gears.

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the steering pin is connected to a steering rod.

The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the steering position is foldable toward the frame.

Vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein in use a driver is intended to stand with 2. a first foot on the first arm and with a second foot on the second arm.

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is further provided with a platform connected to the frame and the platform is provided to carry a user of the vehicle.

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the third wheel is provided with a drive unit.