Flying car

• US 6,745,977 B1
• Filed: 08/21/2003
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Larry D. Long, Terry L. Sturgeon
• Original Assignee: Larry D. Long, Terry L. Sturgeon
• Inventors: Long, Larry D., Sturgeon, Terry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): ELDRED, JOHN W
• Application Number:
  US10/644,636
• Time in Patent Office: 292 Days
• Field of Search: 244/2, 244/17.17, 244/17.23, 244/17.25, 244/23.A, 244/23.B, 244/221, 244/234
• US Class Current: 244/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60F 5/02 convertible into aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/08 with two or more rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/14 Direct drive between power plant and rotor hub
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/20 Rotorcraft characterised by having shrouded rotors, e.g. flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/56 characterised by the control initiating means, e.g. manually actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 37/00 Convertible aircraft

Abstract

A vehicle is in the general shape of a land vehicle, such as a car, but has a plurality of rotors so the vehicle is capable of flight in the manner of a VTOL or a helicopter. The vehicle has foot pedals and steering that can be operated in the manner similar to that of a car.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle comprising:

a) a main body that is in the shape of a land vehicle car and which has

(1) a front end,

(2) a rear end,

(3) a longitudinal axis extending between the front end and the rear end,

(4) a first side,

(5) a second side,

(6) a transverse axis extending between the first side and the second side,

(7) a top,

(8) a bottom,

(9) a height dimension extending between the top and the bottom,

(10) a front vent area located near the front end of said main body, and

(11) a rear vent area located near the rear end of said main body;

b) a front rotor mounted on said main body near the front end of said main body and oriented to rotate in a horizontal plane, said front rotor including at least one rotor blade that includes a longitudinal axis and is mounted to move in a roll motion about the longitudinal axis of the rotor blade of said front rotor;

c) a rear rotor mounted on said main body near the rear end of said main body and oriented to rotate in a horizontal plane, said rear rotor including at least one rotor blade that includes a longitudinal axis and is mounted to move in a roll motion about the longitudinal axis of the rotor blade of said rear rotor;

d) a power plant mounted on said main body between the front end of said main body and the rear end of said main body;

e) a front rotor connection system coupling said power plant to said front rotor;

f) a rear rotor connection system coupling said power plant to said rear rotor;

g) a tail rotor mounted on the rear end of said main body and oriented to rotate in a vertical plane and to provide thrust propulsion to said main body in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said main body, said tail rotor having at least one rotor blade that includes a longitudinal axis and is mounted to rotate in a roll direction about the longitudinal axis of the rotor blade of said tail rotor to have a positive pitch, a negative pitch and a neutral pitch;

h) a tail rotor connection system coupling said tail rotor to said power plant;

i) a driver'"'"'s seat mounted on said main body between said front rotor and said rear rotor;

j) a passenger seat mounted on said main body adjacent to said driver'"'"'s seat;

k) a steering mechanism mounted on said main body and including

(1) a compound steering wheel mounted on said main body adjacent to said driver'"'"'s seat, said compound steering wheel including an outer steering wheel and an inner steering wheel, the outer steering wheel and the inner steering wheel being rotatable, and

(2) a steering connection connecting the steering wheel to said tail rotor and connecting said outer steering wheel to said front rotor and connecting said inner steering wheel to said rear rotor,

(3) the steering wheel being movably mounted on said main body to be movable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said main body between a forward orientation and a rearward orientation;

l) a brake mechanism mounted on said main body in front of said driver'"'"'s seat and including

(1) a brake pedal located in front of said driver'"'"'s seat, and

(2) a brake connection connecting the brake pedal to the rotor blade of said tail rotor to move the rotor blade of said tail rotor in accordance with the position of the brake pedal between the positive pitch position, the negative pitch position and the neutral pitch position of the rotor blade of said tail rotor;

m) an accelerator mechanism mounted on said main body and including

(1) an accelerator pedal mounted on said main body adjacent to said driver'"'"'s seat, and

(2) an accelerator mechanism connecting the accelerator pedal to the rotor blade of said tail rotor to vary the pitch of the rotor blade of said tail rotor between the positive pitch, the negative pitch and the neutral pitch in accordance with the position of the accelerator pedal, the accelerator pedal being further connected to said forward rotor and to said rear rotor.