COMPACT ELECTRIC VEHICLE

• US 20180338877A1
• Filed: 08/07/2018
• Published: 11/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accurate Systems, Inc., National Institute For Environmental Studies, Toyoda Iron Works Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Accurate Systems, Inc., National Institute For Environmental Studies, Toyoda Iron Works Company Limited
• Inventors: KANO, Mitsutoshi, KONDO, Yoshinori, YASU, Junichi
• Granted Patent: US 10,463,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/047 by a modular detachable drive system
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/10 Parts, details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1059 adjusting the height of the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 15/00 Collapsible or foldable cycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2202/00 Motorised scooters
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/025 power-driven
• CPC Class Codes: B62L 3/02 for control by a hand lever hand levers for control of cycles in general B62K23/06

Abstract

The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a small-sized electric vehicle that is capable of assisting power of a wheelchair coupled to the small-sized electric vehicle, and that is capable of traveling alone in a state of being detached from the wheelchair. A folding vehicle 1 is capable of making a wheelchair 101 coupled by a coupling member 61 move in a self-traveling manner using a battery 14 and an in-wheel motor M etc. Furthermore, the folding vehicle 1 is capable of self-traveling by using the battery 14 and the in-wheel motor M etc. while in an independent state of not being coupled to the wheelchair 101.

Claims

1. A small-sized electric vehicle comprising:

an electric mechanism that is capable of making the small-sized electric vehicle alone self-travel; and

a coupling member that is coupled a wheelchair to the small-sized electric vehicle.

2. The small-sized electric vehicle according to claim 1 comprising:

a mounting member that is mounted the wheelchair on the small-sized electric vehicle, as the coupling member.

3. The small-sized electric vehicle according to claim 2 comprising:

a receiving member that is provided with a recessed part on which a component member of the wheelchair is mounted, as the mounting member, wherein

when the component member of the wheelchair is mounted on the recessed part of the receiving member, rear wheels of the wheelchair are separated from a running surface.

4. The small-sized electric vehicle according to claim 3 comprising:

a main frame;

a board that is attached to the main frame;

a seat that is mounted on an upper end portion of the main frame; and

a swing arm, the swing arm including;

one end pivotally that is supported by the main frame; and

another end at which a pair of rear wheels is pivotally supported, wherein

the small-sized electric vehicle is switchable between a first seated driving mode, in which driving while being seated on the seat is enable and a standing driving mode, in which driving while standing on the board positioned nearly parallel to the running surface along with the seat is enable, achieved by pivoting the main frame toward the swing arm in the first seated driving mode, and wherein

when the first seated driving mode is switched to the standing driving mode, the receiving member is erected between the pair of rear wheels and the recessed part is positioned on an upper side of the receiving member.

5. The small-sized electric vehicle according to claim 4, wherein

the receiving member is provided in the swing arm.

6. The small-sized electric vehicle according to claim 4, wherein

the receiving member is provided in the seat.

7. The small-sized electric vehicle according to claim 1 comprising:

a handle that operates self-traveling of the small-sized electric vehicle by the electric mechanism; and

a joining member that fixes a push-handle of the wheelchair to the handle, as the coupling member.

8. The small sized electric vehicle according to claim 7 comprising:

a brake lever that is provided in the handle; and

an interlocking mechanism that moves a brake lever for care provided in the push-handle of the wheelchair when the brake lever is moved.

9. The small-sized electric vehicle according to claim 7 comprising:

a main frame;

a board that is attached to the main frame;

a seat that is mounted on an upper end portion of the main frame; and

a swing arm, the swing arm including;

one end that is pivotally supported by the main frame; and

another end at which a pair of rear wheels is pivotally supported, wherein

the small-sized electric vehicle is switchable between a first seated driving mode, in which driving while being seated on the seat is enable and a standing driving mode, in which driving while standing on the board positioned nearly parallel to a running surface along with the seat is enable, achieved by pivoting the main frame toward the swing atm in the first seated driving mode.

10. The small-sized electric vehicle according to claim 8 comprising:

a main frame;

a board that is attached to the main frame;

a seat that is mounted on an upper end portion of the main frame; and

a swing arm, the swing arm including;

one end that is pivotally supported by the main frame; and

another end at which a pair of rear wheels is pivotally supported, wherein

the small-sized electric vehicle is switchable between a first seated driving mode, in which driving while being seated on the seat is enable and a standing driving mode, in which driving while standing on the board positioned nearly parallel to a running surface along with the seat is enable, achieved by pivoting the main frame toward the swing arm in the first seated driving mode.

11. The small-sized electric vehicle according to claim 7 comprising:

a front frame that is included an upper end to which the handle is attached;

a base frame at which the front frame is pivotally supported;

a main frame that is pivotally supported with respect to the base frame; and

a seat that is mounted on an upper end portion of the main frame, wherein

the small-sized electric vehicle is switchable between a first seated driving mode, in which driving while being seated on the seat is enable and a second seated driving mode, in which the seat and the handle are close to each other, achieved by pivoting the main frame toward the front frame in the first seated driving mode.

12. The small-sized electric vehicle according to claim 8 comprising:

a front frame that is included an upper end to which the handle is attached;

a base frame at which the front frame is pivotally supported;

a main frame that is pivotally supported with respect to the base frame; and

a seat that is mounted on an upper end portion of the main frame, wherein

the small-sized electric vehicle is switchable between a first seated driving mode, in which driving while being seated on the seat is enable and a second seated driving mode, in which the seat and the handle are close to each other, achieved by pivoting the main frame toward the front frame in the first seated driving mode.