ELECTRICAL VEHICLE

• US 3,554,311 A
• Filed: 08/02/1968
• Issued: 01/12/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jack M. Thompson, Michael J. Thompson
• Original Assignee: Jack M. Thompson, Michael J. Thompson
• Inventors: Thompson, Jack M., Thompson, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US04/749,695
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• US Class Current: 180/220
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/00 Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/12 Motorcycles, Trikes; Quads; Scooters
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/16 on motorcycles or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/20 characterised by the mounting
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/04 characterised by the engine being between front and rear wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2204/00 Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor for driving electrically assisted bicycles B62M6/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 7/00 Motorcycles characterised by position of motor or engine rider propulsion with addition source of power, e.g. auxiliary combustion engine or electric motor B62M6/00; frames characterised by position of engine B62K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 7/02 with engine between front and rear wheels

Abstract

A two-wheeled electrically powered vehicle has a body formed of tubular members and a unitary panel assembly which encloses the mechanisms therewithin. An elevatable footrest carries a groundengaging support which lowers upon raising the footrest.

Claims

1. A power vehicle comprising a frame, only a pair of wheels supporting the frame, one of said wheels being a steering wheel and another of said wheels being a drive wheel, and electric storage battery supported on the frame, an electric motor, means for electrically connecting the motor to the battery, a drive train interconnecting the motor and the drive wheel;

said drive train including a jackshaft carrying a pair of jackshaft sprockets, a chain connecting one of the jackshaft sprockets to the sprocket on the motor, and another chain connecting the other jackshaft sprocket to the sprocket on the drive wheel;

said frame having a pair of longitudinally extending vertical assemblies formed of structural members, said assemblies being horizontally spaced apart a distance greater than the corresponding horizontal dimension of the battery, means rigidly interconnecting said vertical assemblies, said battery being located between the vertical assemblies with its bottom surface lying at the approximate elevation of the lowermost portions of the assemblies.

2. A power vehicle comprising a frame, only a pair of wheels supporting the frame, one of said wheels being a steering wheel and another of said wheels being a drive wheel, an electric storage battery supported on the frame, an electric motor, means for electrically connecting the motor to the battery, a drive train interconnecting the motor and the drive wheel, said frame having a pair of longitudinally extending vertical assemblies formed of structural members, said assemblies being horizontally spaced apart a distance greater than the corresponding horizontal dimension of the battery, means rigidly interconnecting said vertical assemblies, said battery being located between the vertical assemblies with its bottom surface lying at the approximate elevation of the lowermost portions of the assemblies, a footrest attached to the frame and being movable from a generally horizontal foOt-supporting position to an inoperative position, and a ground-contacting support leg attached to the footrest for movement therewith, said support leg being movable from a raised inoperative position when the footrest is in its foot-supporting position to a lowered ground-contacting position when the footrest is in its inoperative position.

3. A vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the footrest is pivoted on the frame about a horizontal axis which extends longitudinally of the vehicle.

4. A power vehicle comprising a frame and wheels supporting the frame in a manner permitting the inclination of the frame about its longitudinal axis, a footrest attached to the frame and being movable from a generally horizontal foot-supporting position to an inoperative position, and a ground-contacting support leg attached to the footrest for movement therewith, said support leg being movable from a raised inoperative position when the footrest is in its foot-supporting position to a lowered ground-contacting position when the footrest is in its inoperative position.

5. A vehicle according to claim 4 wherein the footrest is pivoted on the frame about a horizontal axis which extends longitudinally of the vehicle.

6. A vehicle according to claim 4 wherein the footrest is arranged to lie at an intermediate position which lies between the foot-supporting position and the raised inoperative position when no external weight is supported thereon, and an electrical switch associated with the footrest and arranged to open when the footrest is in its intermediate position and to close when the footrest is moved to its foot-supporting position when weight is applied to the footrest, a battery and an electric motor being electrically connectable to propel the vehicle, said switch being a portion of an electric circuit between the motor and the battery, thereby preventing energization of the motor when no weight is supported by the footrest.

7. A power vehicle comprising a frame, wheels including a drive wheel for supporting the frame, an electric motor, a drive train interconnecting the motor and the drive wheel, a battery, circuit connecting the battery to the motor, a footrest, an electrical switch forming a portion of said circuit, said switch being associated with the footrest and arranged to close only when an external weight is applied to the footrest, thereby preventing energization of the motor when no external weight is supported by the footrest.