One-seat motor vehicle

• US 6,374,934 B1
• Filed: 03/23/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Beck, Peter, Wojatschek, Jürgen, Langbein, Reinhold
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISCHMANN, BRYAN R
• Application Number:
  US09/463,742
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 180/209, 180/210, 180/213, 180/242, 180/237, 180/245, 180/65.1, 180/65.5, 180/89.13, 180/906, 180/8.2, 180/7.1, 180/345, 180/208, 180/907, 180/908, 180/21, 180/8.7, 180/901, 280/647
• US Class Current: 180/65.51
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/40 Variable track or wheelbase vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 63/02 Motor vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/908 Motor vehicles with short wheelbase

Abstract

A single-seater motor vehicle includes (1) a support body having a plurality of supporting arms that are mounted in a horizontally and vertically displaceable manner; (2) a vehicle seat arranged on a support body; (3) a control device; and (4) a plurality of wheels, wherein each of said wheels is arranged adjustably or pivotably on a supporting arm. The support body the supporting arms can be set in at least three positions by automatic or manual adjustment of the vehicle seat height.

Claims

1. A single-seater motor vehicle, comprising:

a support body comprising a plurality of supporting arms that are mounted in a horizontally and vertically displaceable manner;

a vehicle seat arranged on the support body;

a control device; and

a plurality of wheels arranged adjustably or pivotably on the support body, wherein each of said wheels is mounted on a supporting arm, wherein at least two of the wheels each comprise a drive for at least two driving speeds;

wherein the support body and the supporting arms can be set in at least three positions by automatic adjustment of the vehicle seat height,

wherein said at least three positions comprise;

a first position for high-speed driving, wherein at least a rear track width and a wheel base are greater than in a second position and a third position;

a second position for low-speed driving having a smaller wheel base and a smaller track width than in the first position and wherein the vehicle seat height is greater than the first position and the third position; and

a third position wherein the supporting arms and the support body are folded up and nested in one another.

2. A motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of supporting arms comprise:

two front supporting arms protruding from the support body in a direction of travel, and

two rear supporting arms protruding from the support body in a direction opposite the front supporting arms, wherein at least the rear supporting arms comprise wheels with drives.

3. A motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the drive comprise electric motors that are arranged in the vicinity of wheel hubs.

4. A motor vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the electric motors are integrated into the wheel hubs.

5. A motor vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a battery arranged in the support body.

6. A motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the supporting arms are extendable and foldable.

7. A motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the front supporting arms are mounted on a sliding rail of the support body.

8. A motor vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the sliding rail is mounted at a side of the support body and is inclined forward at an angle to the vehicle seat surface.

9. A motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the rear supporting arms are articulated arms that can be folded.

10. A motor vehicle according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the articulated arms is a triple lever.

11. A motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the triple lever is articulated on a rotatable swivel head on the support body at an angle perpendicularly and longitudinally to the direction of travel.

12. A motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the swivel head is coupled to an articulated lever of the front supporting arms.

13. A motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein at least the rear supporting arms can be pivoted about a vertically extending axis to change the track width.

14. A motor vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising at least one of a steering assembly, a control motor, or an adjusting drive.