Tilting wheeled vehicle
First Claim
1. A tilting three wheeled vehicle having:
- an elongate frame defining a frame plane extending substantially vertically along a longitudinal centerline of said frame, said frame tiltable from side-to-side defining a range of movement of said frame;
a tilting linkage operably secured to the frame, said tilting linkage operably securing a first wheel having a first hub and a second wheel having a second hub, said second wheel spaced apart from and aligned substantially parallel to said first wheel;
said first wheel pivotally secured to said linkage defining a first pivot axis and having a substantially vertical longitudinal centerline defining a first wheel plane that intersects said substantially vertical longitudinal centerline, said first pivot axis substantially intersecting said first wheel plane;
said second wheel pivotally secured to said linkage defining a second pivot axis and having a second substantially vertical longitudinal centerline defining a second wheel plane that intersects said second substantially vertical longitudinal centerline, said second pivot axis substantially intersecting said second wheel plane;
said first pivot axis and said second pivot axis aligned substantially parallel to said frame plane through said range of movement of said frame; and
,said tilting linkage is operably secured to said first wheel within said first hub and operably secured to said second wheel within said second hub.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tilting, preferably three-wheeled, vehicle is disclosed that has a tilting mechanism that allows the vehicle to have leaning characteristics substantially similar to those offered by an in-line two-wheeled vehicle, but that does not require complex linkages and/or control systems to operate effectively. A tilting linkage is operably secured to a frame to allow a pair of spaced apart wheels to remain substantially aligned with the plane of the vehicle throughout its range of movement while still allowing the steering axes of each wheel to intersect the substantially vertical centerline of each wheel. The linkage also allows the caster angle of each wheel'"'"'s pivot axis can be optimized independently of the angle of the vehicle'"'"'s handlebar steering shaft.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A tilting three wheeled vehicle having:
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an elongate frame defining a frame plane extending substantially vertically along a longitudinal centerline of said frame, said frame tiltable from side-to-side defining a range of movement of said frame; a tilting linkage operably secured to the frame, said tilting linkage operably securing a first wheel having a first hub and a second wheel having a second hub, said second wheel spaced apart from and aligned substantially parallel to said first wheel; said first wheel pivotally secured to said linkage defining a first pivot axis and having a substantially vertical longitudinal centerline defining a first wheel plane that intersects said substantially vertical longitudinal centerline, said first pivot axis substantially intersecting said first wheel plane; said second wheel pivotally secured to said linkage defining a second pivot axis and having a second substantially vertical longitudinal centerline defining a second wheel plane that intersects said second substantially vertical longitudinal centerline, said second pivot axis substantially intersecting said second wheel plane; said first pivot axis and said second pivot axis aligned substantially parallel to said frame plane through said range of movement of said frame; and
,said tilting linkage is operably secured to said first wheel within said first hub and operably secured to said second wheel within said second hub. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A linkage for use in a tilting three-wheeled vehicle having a handle bar rotatable about a steering shaft and a substantially elongate frame defining a longitudinal plane along the centerline of said vehicle, said linkage having:
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a substantially horizontal first pivot operably secured to the frame substantially near said longitudinal centerline; a substantially horizontal second pivot operably secured to the frame substantially near said longitudinal centerline; said first and second pivots spaced apart from each other with said first pivot positioned substantially vertically above said second pivot; an upper arm pivotally secured to said first pivot and having a first distal end; a lower arm pivotally secured to said second pivot and having a second distal end; a kingpin extending between said upper arm and said lower arm toward said first and second distal ends, said kingpin defining a first wheel steering axis aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal plane of the vehicle; a first wheel having an interior hub, said kingpin operably secured to said first wheel, operably positioned within said hub, and having a substantially vertical longitudinal centerline defining a first wheel plane; and
,said first wheel steering axis positioned substantially coincident with said first wheel plane. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification