Electric motor vehicle

• US 6,631,774 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2001
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Hayashi, Kunihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISCHMANN, BRYAN R
• Application Number:
  US09/887,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20020003052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 297/188.17, 297/188.16, 297/188.14, 248/153, 296/37.1, 296/153, 280/DIG.5, 180/65.1, 180/68.5, 180/907
• US Class Current: 180/65.1
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 1/28 Other additional equipment, e.g. back-rests for children
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/16 on motorcycles or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/23 dismounted when charging
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2204/00 Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor for driving electrically assisted bicycles B62M6/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/007 power-driven

Abstract

An electric motor vehicle with a battery mounted for supplying electric energy to the motor for driving the wheels has a pair of armrest bodies arranged on both sides of the seat, each armrest body having a battery storage compartment in which the battery can be detachably set and having an armrest cushion on the top thereof which serves as a lid that can open and close the battery storage compartment.

Claims

1. An electric motor vehicle comprising:

a drive unit disposed under a seat having an electric motor as a drive source;

a U-shaped body comprising a flat floor located at a lower portion of said U-shaped body and in front of said seat and a rising portion forming a front of said body;

a plurality of armrests, wherein each said armrest is arranged on each lateral side of the seat;

a battery for supplying electric energy to the electric motor, wherein the front-to-rear dimension of said armrest is longer than the width of said armrest and each armrest has a hollow compartment for battery storage in which the battery can be inserted or removed from the top thereof and has an armrest cushion on the top thereof which serves as a lid that can open and close the battery storage compartment; and

the armrest cushion is hinged at the top end of the armrest body so as to open and close the battery storage compartment, at least a front-side piping of an armrest frame is exposed to the interior of the battery storage compartment so as to guide the battery by fitting the piping to a depressed portion formed at least on the front side of the battery.

2. The electric motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a stuff box having the same outside dimensions as the battery and formed with a depressed portion on the front side is set in either one of a left and right battery storage compartments of an armrest body.

3. The electric motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an armrest body and armrest cushion are inclined forwards so that the battery set in the battery storage compartment can be accommodated in close contact with the armrest frame.

4. The electric motor vehicle according to claim 3, wherein a stuff box having the same outside dimensions as the battery and formed with a depressed portion on the front side is set in either one of a left and right battery storage compartments of an armrest body.

5. The electric motor vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the battery including a handle on the top thereof, the handle projects out above the battery storage compartment when the battery is set in the battery storage compartment and can be covered and urged downward by the armrest cushion when the armrest cushion is closed.

6. The electric motor vehicle according to claim 5, wherein a stuff box having the same outside dimensions as the battery and formed with a depressed portion on the front side is set in either one of a left and right battery storage compartments of an armrest body.

7. The electric motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the battery includes a handle on the top thereof, the handle projects out above the battery storage compartment when the battery is set in the battery storage compartment and can be covered and urged downward by the armrest cushion when the armrest cushion is closed.

8. The electric motor vehicle according to claim 7, wherein a stuff box having the same outside dimensions as the battery and formed with a depressed portion on the front side is set in either one of a left and right battery storage compartment of an armrest body.