Folding vehicle

• US 10,150,528 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2017
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Iron Works Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Iron Works Company Limited
• Inventors: Kano, Mitsutoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II, James A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cassidy, Brian L
• Application Number:
  US15/596,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20170247075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 280 8705, 280 87041
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/011 with steering mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 13/04 to a tricycle
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 13/08 Frames
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 15/00 Collapsible or foldable cycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 15/008 foldable about 2 or more axes
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 3/002 without a seat, i.e. the rider operating the vehicle in a standing position, e.g. non-motorized scooters; non-motorized scooters with skis or runners
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/06 Frames for tricycles

Abstract

A saddle member is attached to at least one of an upper end portion of a first frame member and an upper end portion of a second frame member of a main frame mechanism and remains to be in a state of being attached to at least one of the upper end portion of the first frame member and the upper end portion of the second frame member in a folded mode, a seated driving mode, and a standing driving mode, with locking function of a third lock mechanism.

Claims

1. A folding vehicle comprising:

a front frame including;

an upper end to which a handle is attached; and

a lower end to which a front wheel is attached;

a base frame that pivotally supports the front frame;

a main frame mechanism including;

a first frame member pivotally supported with respect to the base frame; and

a second frame member arranged in parallel with the first frame member, the first frame member and the second frame member forming a parallel link mechanism;

a board attached to the main frame mechanism;

a saddle member attached to at least one of an upper end portion of the first frame member and an upper end portion of the second frame member of the main frame mechanism; and

a swing arm including;

a first end pivotally supported by the main frame mechanism; and

a second end rotatably supporting a pair of rear wheels, wherein;

the folding vehicle being switchable among;

a first mode, in which the main frame mechanism is folded, the first mode being achieved by pivoting the main frame mechanism toward the front frame;

a second mode, in which driving while being seated on the saddle member is enabled, the second mode being achieved by pivoting the main frame mechanism in the first mode; and

a third mode, in which driving while standing on the board is enabled, the third mode being achieved by retracting the saddle member between the pair of rear wheels by pivoting the main frame mechanism in the second mode, and

the saddle member remains attached to at least one of the upper end portion of the first frame member and the upper end portion of the second frame member in the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode.

2. The folding vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first lock mechanism that is provided between the base frame and the first frame member, the first lock mechanism including;

a first striker member that is pivotally supported by the first frame member and provided with an engaged portion; and

a first hook member that is provided to the base frame, the first hook member being pivotally supported and provided with a hook portion configured to engage with the engaged portion of the first striker member; and

a second lock mechanism that is provided between the second frame member and the swing arm, the second lock mechanism including;

a rod member including;

a first end pivotally supported by the second frame member; and

a second end provided with a stopper engaging portion; and

a stopper member that is provided to the swing arm and to which the stopper engaging portion is engaged,

wherein the first lock mechanism and the second lock mechanism cooperate to maintain the second mode.

3. The folding vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising:

a third lock mechanism including;

a second striker member that is pivotally supported at a portion near a rear end of the swing arm and provided with an engaged portion; and

a second hook member that is provided to the saddle member, the second hook member being provided with a hook portion configured to engage with the engaged portion of the second striker member, and the second hook member is pivotally supported,

wherein when the main frame mechanism is pivoted in the second mode, the first lock mechanism and the third lock mechanism cooperate to maintain the third mode.

4. The folding vehicle according to claim 3, wherein, in the first mode, when the main frame mechanism is pivoted toward the front frame, the engaged portion of the second striker member in the third lock mechanism engages with the hook portion of the first hook member in the first lock mechanism to maintain the first mode.

5. The folding vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising a first release lever that is attached to the first hook member, the first release lever being configured to release engagement between the hook portion of the first hook member and the engaged portion of the first striker member.

6. The folding vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising a second release lever that is attached to the second hook member, the second release lever being configured to release engagement between the hook portion of the second hook member and the engaged portion of the second striker member.