Foldable cambering vehicle

• US 4,076,270 A
• Filed: 08/11/1976
• Issued: 02/28/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Winchell, Frank J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Application Number:
  US05/713,411
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 280/87 R, 280/87 B, 280/112 R, 280/112 A, 280/278, 280/287, 280/6 R, 280/6 H, 280/6.1, 280/6.11, 280/200, 280/210, 280/218, 280/220, 280/221, 280/224, 280/282 , 280/12 L, 280/12 H, 280/21 R, 280/21 A, 180/25 R, 180/26 R, 180/25 A, 180/41
• US Class Current: 280/220
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 13/12 with tilting or bending runners
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2205/00 Hand-propelled vehicles or sledges being foldable or dismountable when not in use
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 15/006 the frame being foldable
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2005/001 Suspension details for cycles with three or more main road wheels
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 1/00 Rider propulsion of wheeled vehicles rider propulsion with additional source of power B62M6/00; propulsion by ground-engaging rods B62M29/02
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 1/24 with reciprocating levers, e.g. foot levers levers with can be immobilised as foot rests B62M5/00

Abstract

A cambering vehicle employing a cambering device which interconnects the trailing arms for controlled pivotal movement and includes means for locking the trailing arms together and for allowing the vehicle to be folded into a compact configuration so as to facilitate stowage thereof.

Claims

1. In combination with a cambering vehicle having an upright frame provided with a pair of trailing arms the forward ends of which are pivotally connected to said frame and having a mechanical cambering device for interconnecting the trailing arms so they move in equal and opposite directions when the vehicle is leaned into a turn, means for locking said cambering device so as to cause said trailing arms to maintain fixed relative positions, and means connected to said cambering vehicle for causing said frame and trailing arms to fold towards each other and be locked in a collapsed position wherein said frame and trailing arms are positioned adjacent each other and extend in generally the same direction so as to provide a compact rigid package that can be stowed in a minimum of space.

2. In combination with a cambering vehicle having an upright frame provided with a pair of trailing arms the forward ends of which are pivotally connected to said frame and having a mechanical cambering device for interconnecting the trailing arms so they move in equal and opposite directions when the vehicle is leaned into a turn, means carried by said cambering device for locking said cambering device so as to cause said trailing arms to maintain fixed relative positions, and means operatively associated with said cambering device for causing said frame and trailing arms to fold towards each other and be locked in a collapsed position wherein said frame and trailing arms are positioned adjacent with each other and extend in generally the same direction so as to provide a compact rigid package that can be stowed in a minimum of space.

3. In combination with a cambering vehicle having a steering frame provided with a pair of trailing arms the forward ends of which are pivotally connected to said steering frame and having a cambering device including a bell crank member and a pair of links for interconnecting the trailing arms so they move in equal and opposite directions when the vehicle is leaned into a turn, a support member for said bell crank member mounted on said steering frame for sliding movement between a first position wherein said steering frame and trailing arms are located for normal vehicle operation and a second position wherein said vehicle assumes a low profile configuration, means carried by said bell crank member for locking said cambering device so as to cause said trailing arms to maintain fixed relative positions, and means connected to said support member for locking the latter in said first and second positions.

4. A three-point contact cambering vehicle comprising a steering frame, including an upright tubular column, an elongated steering shaft mounted for turning movement in said tubular column, a steerable front contact means operatively connected to one end of said steering shaft for engagement with a support surface, a manual steering device operatively connected to the other end of said steering shaft, a pair of elongated trailing arms extending rearwardly from said frame, laterally spaced rear contact means operatively connected to end portions of said trailing arms for engagement with the support surface, foot support means for an operator of the vehicle mounted on each of said trailing arms adjacent to each of said rear contact means, pivot means swingably mounting said trailing arms to said steering frame on an axis extending laterally thereof, a mechanical cambering device including a rotatable member carried by said steering frame and interconnecting said trailing arms to permit the latter to swing in separate planes allowing the operator to roll said vehicle with respect to its roll axis and cause said trailing arms to move through equal amounts in opposite directions, and means selectively engageable with said rotatable member for locking said cambering device so as to cause said trailing arms to maintain fixed relative positions when the vehicle is parked on a level surface or an inclined surface.

5. The cambering vehicle of claim 4 wherein said cambering device includes a bell crank member supported by said column and said means for locking said cambering device is rotatably carried by said bell crank member.

6. A cambering vehicle comprising an upright frame provided with a pair of trailing arms having forward ends thereof pivotally connected to opposite sides of the frame for rotation about substantially transverse axes, a mechanical cambering device interconnecting the trailing arms for movement in equal and opposite directions through substantially equal angles about their axes when the vehicle is leaned into a turn, a selectively operable locking device effective to lock the trailing arms at will to maintain fixed relative positions of the trailing arms about their axes, and means operatively associated with said locking device and constructed to permit the frame and the trailing arms selectively, to be folded at will towards each other about the said axes and to be locked in a collapsed position in which the frame and the trailing arms are positioned adjacent each other and extend in generally the same diection so as to provide a compact rigid package that can be stowed in a minimum of space.