Motorized chariot

• US 6,889,784 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2003
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald E. Troll
• Original Assignee: Donald E. Troll
• Inventors: Troll, Donald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US10/350,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20040144586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 180/13, 180/16, 180/208, 180/209, 180/213, 180/214, 180/211, 180/252, 180/65.5, 180/65.6, 280/442, 280/443, 280/492, 280/62, 188/5
• US Class Current: 180/13
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 51/02 the driver standing in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/08 with single front wheel

Abstract

A vehicle incorporating a power unit having a front portion, a rear portion and a power source. A drive wheel, disposed in the front of the power unit, is connected to the power source. A brake pad is connected to the power unit beneath the power source and a handle bar extends back from the power unit. The vehicle includes a trailer unit, disposed behind the power unit, having two trailer wheels, disposed on opposite sides of the trailer unit. A connecting joint, connecting the power unit to the trailer unit, allows the power unit and trailer unit to move with respect to one another about the horizontal pitch axis and/or vertical yaw axis.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a power unit having a drive wheel connected to a power source and a ground-engaging brake pad connected to the power unit beneath the power source and behind the drive wheel;

a trailer unit having at least one trailer wheel; and

a connecting joint, connecting the power unit to the trailer unit, allowing the power unit and trailer unit to move with respect to one another about at least one axis to allow the ground-engaging brake pad to engage the ground and be lifted off of the ground.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the power source is an internal combustion engine.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the power source is an electric motor.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the at least one axis is a substantially vertical yaw axis.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the at least one axis is substantially horizontal.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the power source is connected to the drive wheel through a flexible power-transmission element.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the ground-engaging brake pad is rigidly attached to an anterior portion of the power unit.

8. A vehicle comprising:

a power unit having a front portion, a rear portion, a power source, a drive wheel, disposed in the front portion of the power unit and connected to the power source, and a handle bar extending back from the power unit;

a trailer unit, having two or more trailer wheels, disposed behind the power unit; and

a pitch/yaw joint to allow pitch and yaw motion of the power unit with respect to the trailer unit comprising spaced-apart members mounted on the power unit, and a member defining a yaw axle and a pitch axle, the pitch axle being operably connected to the spaced-apart members mounted on the power unit and allowing the power unit and trailer unit to move with respect to one another about two axes.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the power source is an internal combustion engine.

10. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the power source is an electric motor.

11. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein at least one of the two axes is a substantially vertical yaw axis.

12. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein at least one of the two axes is substantially horizontal.

13. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the power source is connected to the drive wheel through a flexible power-transmission element.

14. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the power unit is supported on a single wheel.

15. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the yaw axle is operably connected to a yaw housing connected to the trailer unit.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein the yaw housing is connected to a tongue of the trailer unit.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the yaw housing includes a tail shaft operable to be connected to the tongue in a selected working position.

18. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the connection between the yaw housing and the tongue includes a pin to prevent rolling motion of the trailer unit relative to the power unit.

19. A vehicle comprising:

a power unit having a front portion, a rear portion, a power source, a drive wheel disposed in the front portion of the power unit and connected to the power source, a ground-engaging brake pad connected to the power unit beneath the power source and behind the drive wheel and a handle bar extending back from the power unit;

a trailer unit, disposed behind the power unit, having two trailer wheels, disposed on opposite sides of the trailer unit; and

a connecting joint, connecting the power unit to the trailer unit, allowing the power unit and trailer unit to move with respect to one another about a horizontal pitch axis and a vertical yaw axis to allow the ground-engaging brake pad to engage the ground and be lifted off of the ground.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the power source is an internal combustion engine.

21. The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the power source is an electric motor.

22. The vehicle of claim 21 wherein the electric motor is a direct current motor.

23. The vehicle of claim 21 wherein the power unit further comprises a battery and a control module connecting the battery to the electric motor.

24. The vehicle of claim 23 wherein the control module modulates the voltage to the electric motor.

25. The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the ground-engaging brake pad is rigidly attached to the front portion of the power unit.