WO2005105561A1

WO2005105561A1 - Vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2005105561A1
Application number: PCT/NL2005/000307
Authority: WO
Inventors: Franciscus Guillaume Peter Sools; Johannes Petrus Joseph Maria Heemskerk; Arnoldus Hendricus Heugten Van
Original assignee: Jefke Holding B.V.
Priority date: 2004-04-29
Filing date: 2005-04-25
Publication date: 2005-11-10
Also published as: NL1026081C1

Abstract

The invention comprises a vehicle (4) having a front wheel (13) and a rear wheel (14), wherein the front wheel has been connected to the rear wheel via a supporting structure (10). The vehicle further comprises a supporting surface (12) for supporting a person. When the vehicle stands on the wheels, the supporting structure extends from the front wheel over the driver to the rear wheel and the supporting structure is the only bearing construction between the front wheel and the rear wheel. This construction, also called along-the-top-construction, makes a conventional mechanical mounting that connects the front wheel to the rear wheel in a straight line, superfluous. A benefit to the driver is that he can move freely between the front wheel and the rear wheel and of can conveniently taking a seat in the vehicle. The vehicle can be driven by manpower or by means of a motor.

Description

VEHICLE.

The invention relates to a vehicle having a front wheel and a rear wheel connected to the front wheel via a supporting structure, the vehicle further comprising a supporting surface for supporting a person.

The patent application DE 196 29 879 describes a vehicle having a step- through opening and preferably two wheels. The vehicle comprises a supporting frame that extends from behind the driver, under, toward the front of the driver. In addition, the vehicle comprises a protection device for the driver connected to the supporting frame. The protection device extends in front of, over and behind the driver. The driver is enclosed by the vehicle at the rear, bottom, front and upper side and is able to take a seat in the vehicle by stepping from the side over the supporting frame. The supporting frame has been constructed such that the vehicle can be used both with and without the protection device. A drawback of the construction of the vehicle as described above is that the stepping in for the driver is complicated.

In is an object of the invention to provide a construction of a vehicle, which simplifies the stepping in. The object is achieved with a vehicle as described in claim 1. The vehicle according to claim 1 comprises a supporting structure, wherein a bearing construction between the front wheel and the rear wheel is exclusively formed via the supporting structure. Moreover, the supporting structure extends along the supporting surface, at a distance opposite the supporting surface. Because of this, room is created to allow a person between the supporting surface and the supporting structure. In the common position of the vehicle the supporting structure, which is also referred to as along-the-top-construction in the remainder of this document, extends from the front wheel over the driver to the rear wheel. Because the supporting structure is the only bearing construction between the front wheel and the rear wheel, it makes a conventional mechanical mounting which connects the front wheel to the rear wheel in a straight line, superfluous. The advantage is that the driver is able to move freely between the front wheel and the rear wheel and is able to comfortably take a seat in the vehicle. Therefore, the comfort for the driver during stepping in is enhanced. Next to a simplified stepping in, the vehicle having the described along-the-top- construction offers more safety to the driver, because the driver is enclosed by the supporting structure at the front, top and back. In the known vehicle the driver has to step over the supporting frame to take a seat in the vehicle, due to the combination of the supporting frame and the protection device. Because the along-the-top-construction according to the invention defines the only bearing construction between the front wheel and the rear wheel, there is no obstruction for the driver to step in comfortably and conveniently. The invention is also based on the recognition that the supporting structure is enabled by applying materials like aluminum, titanium, carbon or self reinforced polypropylene in such a construction,. These materials not only provide a light and strong supporting structure, but also provide the right combination of stiffness and resilience required to realize such a supporting structure. Moreover, these materials are well processable. For example, the supporting structure can consist of a tube construction or, for example, of composite materials, for example, arranged in a honeycomb structure. Processing and applying of these materials does not deviate from what is already known by the skilled person and therefore is assumed to be known. The vehicle may comprise two wheels in the front and/or two wheels at the rear. Preferably the axles of the two wheels in the front and/or the axles of the two wheels at the rear are in line. An advantage of these embodiments is that the vehicle, while standing still, remains stable on its wheels. The vehicle may comprise a second supporting surface. The along-the-top- construction can then also extend opposite the second supporting surface, for possibly also creating room for allowing a second person to access the second supporting surface. The second supporting surface may also be located outside the room enclosed by the along-the-top-construction. In an embodiment of the vehicle according to claim 2, the vehicle comprises a resilient element between the supporting structure and the front wheel and/or the rear wheel. This resilient element can be a cylindrical shock absorber arranged between the supporting structure and the front wheel and/or the rear wheel. The addition of a resilient element to the along-the-top-construction will further enhance the comfort for the driver. In a embodiment of the vehicle according to claim 3, the vehicle comprises a along-the-top-construction being shaped near the front wheel and/or the rear wheel that the resilient function is provided by the supporting structure itself. This is achieved by providing a C-shaped curve in the supporting structure near the front wheel and/or the rear wheel or a mirror image thereof, which is also referred to as C-shaped curve in this document. In a preferred embodiment of the vehicle the C-shaped curves near the front wheel and/or the rear wheel are arranged such that the distance between the wheels is reduced. Next to the extra comfort due to the resilient function of the supporting structure, the reduction of the distance between the front wheel and the rear wheel introduces an additional advantage of reducing the turning circle of the vehicle. In an embodiment of the vehicle according to claim 4, the vehicle comprises an S-shaped resilient element. This S-shaped element is created by applying two C- shaped curves in series, creating an enhanced resilient construction. In an embodiment of the vehicle according to claim 5, the vehicle comprises an along-the-top-construction comprising at least two parts which converge toward each other which extending along the supporting surface. In a preferred embodiment the two parts symmetrically converge toward each other mirror with respect to a vertical plane defined by the center of the supporting surface and by the steering shaft, while the vehicle stands on its wheels. This converging toward each other of the two extending parts causes the along-the-top-construction to be broader near the rear wheel than near the front wheel or causes the along-the-top-construction to be broader near the front wheel than near the rear wheel. In another preferred embodiment the two parts converges toward each other within the plane defined by the center of the supporting surface and by the steering shaft, while the vehicle stands on its wheels. These embodiments enhance the stiffness of the bearing construction. In an embodiment of the vehicle according to claim 6, the vehicle comprises an along-the-top-construction comprising at least two parts which extend substantially parallel to each other along the supporting surface. Analogous to claim 5 in a preferred embodiment the two parts extend parallel and symmetrically with respect to a vertical plane defined by the center of the supporting surface and the steering shaft, while the vehicle stands on its wheels,. In another preferred embodiment the two parts extend within the plane defined by the center of the supporting surface and the steering shaft, while the vehicle stands on its wheels. Also these embodiments enhance the stiffness of the bearing construction. In an embodiment of the vehicle according to claim 7, the supporting structure comprises a cover. Preferably the cover is fully integrated in the supporting structure and may be part of the supporting structure and will protect the driver against wind and rain. The cover keeps the driver umbrella-dry. In an embodiment of the vehicle according to claim 8, the vehicle comprises a supporting structure arranged for supporting a cover. In this embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention the cover is added to the supporting structure, but does not contribute to the sturdiness of the vehicle. The vehicle will preserve its sturdiness and will also function without this cover. Also now, the added cover will protect the driver against wind and rain. In a preferred embodiment this cover is detachable.

These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from and will be elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. Figures 1A, 1 B, 1C and 1 D show simplified cross sections of an embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention. Figures 2A and 2B show simplified representations of an embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, wherein the two identically shaped parts of the extending supporting structure converge toward each other. Figures 3A and 3B show simplified representations of an embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, wherein the two identically shaped parts of the extending supporting structure are arranged substantially parallel to each other.

Figures 1A, 1 B, 1C and 1 D show simplified cross sections of the vehicle 1 , 2, 3, 4 according to the invention. These figures comprise several shapes of the supporting structure 10. The bearing construction between the front wheel 13 and the rear wheel 14 is exclusively formed via this supporting structure. This supporting structure 10, also referred to as along-the-top-construction 10, extends along the supporting surface 12 at a distance opposite the supporting surface 12, for creating room for receiving a person at the supporting surface 12. The vehicle 1 , 2, 3, 4 comprises a steering shaft 11 connected to the front wheel 13. The vehicle 1 , 2, 3, 4 can be driven by manpower or by means of a motor, wherein the propulsion occurs at the front wheel 13 or at the rear wheel 14. These methods of propulsion are comparable with the methods of propulsion of a bicycle, reclining bicycle, moped, motorbike and motorcycle and are well known to the person skilled in the art. Unique in the shown embodiments of the vehicle 1 , 2, 3, 4, according to the invention is the fact that the supporting structure 10 defines the only bearing construction between the front wheel 13 and the rear wheel 14. This supporting structure 10 has such a form that it extends from the front wheel 13, over the driver to the rear wheel 14. Therefore, a conventional mechanical construction, that connects the front wheel 13 to the rear wheel 14 in a straight line, is superfluous and no obstruction remain for the driver between the front wheel 13 and the rear wheel 14. Because of this the driver is able to step in comfortably and conveniently. The vehicle 1 of figure 1A comprises an attachment element 15 by which the supporting surface 12 has been mounted to the along-the-top-construction 10. Many different attachment elements 15 are possible to mount a supporting surface 12 to a supporting structure 10, for example a resilient attachment element. These potential attachment elements 15 are assumed to be known by those skilled in the art and are not further illustrated. In the remaining figures, the attachment elements 15 have been omitted to keep the drawings clearly structured. However, similar attachment elements 15 must be present to mount the supporting surface 12 to the supporting structure 10. Moreover, the vehicle 1 of figure 1A comprises a second supporting surface 16, which can be used to transport a second person or luggage. This second supporting surface 16 mounted according to a similar attachment element 15 to the supporting structure 10 can be arranged inside and outside the room enclosed by the supporting structure 10 (see also figure 1C). Resilient elements 17, 18, 19 can be applied to further improve the comfort of the driver, as shown in the figures 1 B, 1C and 1 D. The vehicle 2 of figure 1 B comprises a cylindrical shock absorber 17 forming the connection between the rear wheel 14 and the supporting structure 10. In addition, the supporting structure 10 comprises near the front wheel 13 a C-shaped curve 18 creating a resilient element in this part of the supporting structure 10. The resilience of this part of the construction is dependent on the chosen materials and on the C-shaped curve 18 formed in the supporting structure 10. An additional advantage of the C-shaped curve 18 is that the distance between the front wheel 13 and the rear wheel 14 in the vehicle 2 of figure 1 B is reduced compared to the distance between the front wheel 13 and the rear wheel 14 of the vehicle 1 of figure 1A. Because of this, the turning circle of the vehicle 2 is reduced, and the vehicle 2 is more maneuverable. In the schematic representation of this embodiment attachment element 15 that mounts the supporting surface 12 to the supporting structure 10, has been omitted. The vehicle 3 of figure 1C comprises an additional C-shaped curve 18 near the rear wheel 14, next to a C-shaped curve 18 near the front wheel 13. In this way more room is created underneath the supporting structure 10 while maintaining the distance between the front wheel 13 and the rear wheel 14. This could be used for a second supporting surface 16 which in the outlined embodiment is enclosed by the supporting structure 10. In the schematic representation of this embodiment the attachment element 15 which mounts the supporting surface 12 to the supporting structure 10, has been omitted. However, a similar attachment element 15 will be required to mount the second supporting surface 16 to the supporting structure 10. These mounting constructions 15 are assumed to be known by those skilled in the art and are not further illustrated. The C-shaped curve 18 near the rear wheel 14 can also be used to further reduce the distance between the front wheel 13 and the rear wheel 14. The vehicle 4 of figure 1 D comprises an S-shaped curve 19 near the rear wheel

14 in addition to a C-shaped curve 18 near the front wheel 13. Also this S-shaped curve 19 near the rear wheel 14 forms a resilient element wherein the resilience dependents on the chosen materials and on the shape of the S-shaped curve 19. The vehicle 4 of figure 1 D comprises a steering shaft 11 which in the schematic representation is connected is connected to the front wheel 13. However, it is also possible that the embodiment as shown in figure 1D has a steering shaft 11 connected to the rear wheel 14. Moreover, this S-shaped curve gives the vehicle 4 a characteristic and identifiable appearance. The figures 2A and 2B and the figures 3A and 3B show alternative embodiments of the vehicle 4 of figure 1 D. Figures 2A and 2B show simplified perspective drawings of a vehicle 5, 6 according to the invention, in which the extending supporting structure 21 comprises at least two substantially identically shaped parts 22, 23 converging toward each other along the supporting surface 12. This supporting structure 21 enhances the stiffness of the bearing construction. In the room created between the two identically shaped parts 22, 23 of the supporting structure 21 a cover can be integrated protecting the driver against wind and rain. The embodiments shown comprise two front wheels or two rear wheels, because of which the shown vehicles 5, 6 stand stable on the wheels while not moving. A similar attachment element 15 as shown in figure 1A is required to mount the supporting surface 12 to the supporting structure 21. Potential attachment elements

15 are assumed to be known by those skilled in the art and are not further illustrated. The vehicle 5 in figure 2A comprises two rear wheels 14 wherein each of the two identically shaped parts 22, 23 of the supporting structure 21 have been connected near a wheel 14. The supporting structure 21 , also referred to as along-the-top- construction 21, exclusively forms a bearing construction between the rear wheels 14 and the front wheel 13. The two identically shaped parts 22, 23 of the supporting structure 21 converge toward each other while extending from the rear wheels 14 along the supporting surface 12 to the front wheel 13. The two identically shaped parts 22, 23 of the supporting structure 21 join together near the front wheel 13 or connect near to each other to the front wheel 13. One or more connecting parts 24 have been applied between the two identically shaped parts 22, 23 of the supporting structure 21 determining the distance between the two identically shaped parts 22, 23 while extending from the rear wheels 14 to the front wheel 13 and providing additional sturdiness to the construction. Consequently, the lengths of the several connecting parts 24 are not equal, but are adapted to the convergence of the two extending identically shaped parts 22, 23. Moreover, the vehicle 5 comprises a steering shaft 11 connected to the front wheel 13. The vehicle 6 in figure 2B comprises two front wheels 13, wherein each of the two identically shaped parts 22, 23 of the supporting structure 21 have been connected near a front wheel 13. The two identically shaped parts 22, 23 of the supporting structure 21 converge toward each other while extending from the front wheels 13 along the supporting surface 12 to the rear wheel 14. The two identically shaped parts 22, 23 of the supporting structure 21 will join near the rear wheel 14 or connect near to each other to the rear wheel 14. In the supporting structure 21 as shown in figure 2B again one or more connecting parts 24 have been applied between the two identically shaped parts 22, 23 of the supporting structure 21 determining the distance between the two identically shaped parts 22, 23 while extending from the front wheels 13 to the rear wheel 14. The vehicle 6 in figure 2B comprises a steering shaft 11 mounted to the rear wheel 14. Figures 3A and 3B show simplified perspective drawings of a vehicle 7, 8 according to the invention, wherein the two substantially identically shaped parts 32, 33 of the extending supporting structure 31 have been arranged substantially parallel to each other. This shape of the supporting structure 31 gives an enhanced stiffness of the bearing construction. Between the two identically shaped parts 32, 33 one or more connecting parts 34 have been applied determining the distance between the two identically shaped parts 32, 33. The lengths of the connecting parts 34 are substantially equal so that the two in shape identical extending parts 32, 33 have been arranged substantially parallel to each other. In the room created between the two identically shaped parts 32, 33 of the supporting structure 31 a cover can be integrated protecting the driver against wind and rain. A similar attachment element 15 as shown in figure 1A is required to mount the supporting surface 12 to the supporting structure 31. Potential attachment elements 15 are assumed to be known by those skilled in the art and are not further illustrated. The outlined embodiments comprise one front wheel 13 and one rear wheel 14 (figure 3A) or two front wheels 13 and two rear wheels 14 (figure 3B). However, it is also possibly that a similar vehicle 7, 8 has been provided with two front wheels 13 and one rear wheel 14 or provided with one front wheel 13 and two rear wheels 14. 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 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 or step does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements or steps. 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 claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

Claims.

1. A vehicle (1 ; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8) having a front wheel (13) and a rear wheel (14) connected to the front wheel (13) via a supporting structure (10; 21; 31), the vehicle (1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8) further comprising a supporting surface (12) for supporting a person, characterised in that a bearing construction between the front wheel (13) and the rear wheel (14) is exclusively formed via the supporting structure (10; 21; 31) wherein the supporting structure (10; 21; 31) extends along the supporting surface (12) at a distance opposite the supporting surface (12), for creating room for receiving the person between the supporting surface (12) and the supporting structure (10; 21 ; 31).

2. A vehicle (2) according to claim 1 , characterised in that the vehicle comprises a resilient element (17) between the supporting structure (10; 21; 31) and the front wheel (13) and/or the rear wheel (14).

3. A vehicle (2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8) according to claim 1 , characterised in that a part of the supporting structure (10; 21 ; 31) near the front wheel (13) and/or the rear wheel (14) is shaped to form a resilient element. (18, 19)

4. A vehicle (4; 5; 6; 7; 8) according to claim 3, characterised in that the resilient element comprises an S-shape (19).

5. A vehicle (5; 6) according to any of the claims 1 , 2, 3 or 4 characterised in that the extending supporting structure (21) comprises at least two parts (22, 23) converging toward each other.

6. A vehicle (7; 8) according to any of the claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 characterised in that the extending supporting structure (31) comprises at least two parts (32, 33) arranged substantially parallel to each other.

7. A vehicle (1 ; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8) according to any of the claims 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, characterised in that the supporting structure (10; 21; 31) comprises a cover.

8. A vehicle (1 ; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8) according to any of the claims 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, characterised in that the supporting structure (10; 21 ; 31) is further arranged for supporting a cover.

9. A vehicle (1 ; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8) according to any of the claims 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, characterised in that the supporting structure (10; 21; 31) further comprises an attachment element (15) for supporting the supporting surface (12).

10. A vehicle (1 ; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8) according to any of the claims 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, characterised in that the vehicle (1 ; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8) is arranged for being driven by manpower and/or by a motor.