Light-duty vehicle with adjustable wheelbase

• US 20120012413A1
• Filed: 07/16/2010
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cycling & Health Tech Industry R&D Center
• Original Assignee: Cycling & Health Tech Industry R&D Center
• Inventors: Tsai, Kun-Lung, Huang, Wei-Jean, Huang, Shen-Fu, Huang, Yu-Che
• Application Number:
  US12/804,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20120012413A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/209
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 13/00 Cycles convertible to, or transformable into, other types of cycles or land vehicle cycle supports or stands equipped with additional wheels for ride stabilisation B62H1/12
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 3/005 Recumbent-type bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/025 power-driven

Abstract

A light-duty vehicle with an adjustable wheelbase includes a linkage assembly composed of at least one main rod, a movable support, at least one movable rod and at least one adjusting rod, at least one power source connected in the linkage assembly, a seat mounted on a connecting rod having one end pivotally connected to the movable rod, and a driving wheel set composed of at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel. The rear wheel is rotatably connected to the adjusting rod, while an opposite end of the main rod is connected to a fixed rod, which is coupled to a front fork above the front wheel. Thereby, when the power source modifies the linkage assembly in posture, the wheelbase between the front wheel and the rear wheel is changed so that the seat is adjusted in posture and altitude.

Claims

1. A light-duty vehicle with an adjustable wheelbase, comprising:

a linkage assembly having;

at least one main rod;

a movable support having one end pivotally connected to an end of the main rod and having an opposite end formed with a first pivotal portion;

at least one movable rod having one end pivotally connected to a middle portion of the main rod, and having an opposite end formed with a second pivotal portion; and

at least one adjusting rod pivotally connected between the first pivotal portion and the second pivotal portion;

at least one power source connected between the main rod and the second pivotal portion;

a seat having therebeneath at least one connecting rod, which has one end coupled to the second pivotal portion through; and

a driving wheel set including at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel between which the wheelbase is defined, wherein the rear wheel is rotatably connected to the adjusting rod, while an opposite end of the main rod is connected to a fixed rod, which is coupled to a front fork above the front wheel,

whereby operation of the power source moves the main rod and the second pivotal portion and in turn changes a position of the linkage assembly, so as to modify the wheelbase in length and the seat in altitude and posture.

2. The light-duty vehicle of claim 1, wherein a fixing seat is provided on the main rod for pivotally receiving the movable rod.

3. The light-duty vehicle of claim 1, wherein the main rod is substantially of a U shape enclosing therein a horizontal rod, and the power source has one end pivotally connected to the horizontal rod while having an opposite end together with the adjusting rod coaxially, pivotally connected to the second pivotal portion.

4. The light-duty vehicle of claim 1, wherein the adjusting rod is substantially of a U shape enclosing therein a holding bar for pivotally holding the movable support at the end opposite to the main rod.

5. The light-duty vehicle of claim 1, wherein the connecting rod is pivotally connected to the second pivotal portion, and the main rod is pivotally flanked by a pair of supporting rods that are pivotally connected to an opposite end of the connecting rod opposite to the second pivotal portion, so that the supporting rods support the seat and contribute to positional control of the seat through the connecting rod.

6. The light-duty vehicle of claim 1, wherein a moveable joint is provided at an end of the fixed rod opposite to the front fork for receiving a handle support, and an angle shifting rod is pivotally connected between the handle support and the movable rod for contributing to positional control of the handle support.

7. The light-duty vehicle of claim 1, wherein the power source is a linear actuator which has an extendable shaft for pushing or drawing the second pivotal portion with respect to the main rod, and in turn changing the position of the linkage assembly.

8. The light-duty vehicle of claim 1, wherein the power source is electrically connected to a control switch.

9. The light-duty vehicle of claim 1, wherein the light-duty vehicle is a tricycle having two said rear wheels rotatably connected to the adjusting rod.

10. The light-duty vehicle of claim 1, wherein a motor device is provided on the front wheel for driving the front wheel and the rear wheel to rotate.