Helicar

• US 5,203,520 A
• Filed: 10/28/1991
• Issued: 04/20/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George Spector, Jozef Przygodzki
• Original Assignee: George Spector, Jozef Przygodzki
• Inventors: Przygodzki, Jozef, Spector, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen
• Assistant Examiner(s): BIDWELL, ANNE
• Application Number:
  US07/783,574
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 244/2, 244/7 R, 244/7 A, 244/7 C, 244/17.19, 244/17.21
• US Class Current: 244/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60F 5/02 convertible into aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 37/00 Convertible aircraft

Abstract

A helicar is provided which consists of a body being in the shape of an automobile, a plurality of wheels depending from the body for supporting the body on the ground, a top rotor assembly operatively secured to the body, a rear rotor assembly operatively secured to the body and a mechanism for operating the top rotor assembly and the rear rotor assembly in a helicopter mode for travel through the air and for operating the wheels in an automobile mode for travel on the ground.

Claims

1. A helicar which comprises:

a) a body with a longitudinal axis in the shape of an automobile;

b) a plurality of wheels on an axle rotating on a second axis perpendicular to the first said axis depending from said body for supporting said body on the ground;

c) a top rotor assembly operatively secured to said body about a third axis perpendicular to the first two said axes;

d) a rear rotor assembly operatively secured to said body;

e) means for operating said top rotor assembly and said rear rotor assembly in a helicopter mode for travel through the air and for operating said wheels in an automobile mode for travel on the ground;

said means comprising a drive shaft parallel to said longitudinal axis, said top rotor assembly includes;

f) a vertical rotor shaft having a first end extending upwardly through the roof of said body and a second end connected to said operating means; and

g) a par of main rotor blades operatively connected to the first end of said vertical rotor shaft, so that said main rotor blades can collapse towards said vertical rotor shaft when said helicar goes into the automobile mode and said main rotor blades can extend away from said vertical rotor shaft when said helicar goes into the helicopter mode.

2. A helicar as recited in claim 1, wherein said rear rotor assembly includes:

a) a horizontal collapsible rotor shaft having a first end extending outwardly through a rear portion of said body and a second end connected to said operating means;

b) a pair of adjustable tail rotor blades operatively connected to said first end of said horizontal rotor shaft, so that said tail rotor blades can collapse towards said horizontal rotor shaft, while said horizontal rotor shaft can collapse inwardly through the rear portion of said body when said helicar goes into the automobile mode and said horizontal rotor shaft can extend outwardly through the rear portion of said body while said tail rotor blades can extend away from said horizontal rotor shaft when said helicar goes into the helicopter mode; and

c) a rear wheel shaft connected at one end to said operating means and at another end connected to said axle.

3. A helicar as recited in claim 2, wherein said operating means includes a drive gear train assembly with a gear shift lever, said drive gear train assembly is connected to;

a drive shaft from an engine;

said rear wheel shaft to a differential connected to said axle of said rear wheels;

said second end of said vertical rotor shaft of said top rotor assembly; and

said second end of said rear rotor assembly, so that when said gear shift lever is shifted to a first position which is in the automobile mode, said drive gear train assembly will operate the differential and when said gear shift lever is shifted to a second position which is in the helicopter mode, said drive gear train assembly will operate said top rotor assembly and said rear rotor assembly;

wherein said rear wheel shaft is parallel to said horizontal rotor shaft.

4. A helicar as recited in claim 3, further including an adjustable air deflector pivotally mounted within a recess in the roof forward of aid top rotor assembly for deflecting air above said top rotor assembly to reduce air resistance when in the automobile mode.