Three-wheeled vehicle with centrally positioned motor and driver's seat

• US 7,588,110 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2005
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marc G. Martino
• Original Assignee: Marc G. Martino
• Inventors: Martino, Marc Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freedman; Laura
• Application Number:
  US11/218,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20070045020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 180210-212, 180/311, 180/312, 180/908, 280/264, 280/267, 280/288.1, 280/88
• US Class Current: 180/210
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/06 with only three wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/027 Motorcycles with three wheels specially adapted for disabled riders B62K5/023
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/05 characterised by a single rear wheel

Abstract

Disclosed is a three-wheeled vehicle with centrally positioned motor and driver'"'"'s seat. An exemplary embodiment has a frame for supporting a driver and a multitude of mechanical devices. A pair of steerable front wheels are rotatably affixed to the front portion of the frame. A rear wheel is rotatably affixed along the frame'"'"'s centerline in the rear portion. A motor is affixed to the frame'"'"'s centerline. The driver'"'"'s seat is also affixed to the frame'"'"'s centerline behind the motor and ahead of the rear wheel, so the driver sitting in the driver seat is in both a recumbent and straddle position.

Claims

1. A three-wheeled vehicle comprising:

(a) a frame for supporting a driver and a plurality of mechanical devices, wherein the frame comprises a front portion, a rear portion, a vertical cross plane, a right portion, a left portion, and a vertical center plane, wherein the front portion is opposite the rear portion and is generally divided by the vertical cross plane, and wherein the right portion is opposite the left portion and is generally divided by the vertical center plane;

(b) a pair of steerable front wheels rotatably affixed to the frame positioned at opposite sides of the front portion generally equally separated by the vertical center plane, and wherein the pair of steerable front wheels rotate in both a pair of rolling axes and a pair of turning axes, wherein the pair of rolling axes allow the pair of steerable front wheels to roll upon a surface wherein the surface is substantially perpendicular to both the vertical center plane and the vertical cross plane, wherein the pair of rolling axes are substantially parallel with the surface, and wherein the pair of turning axes are substantially parallel to both the vertical center plane and the vertical cross plane, such that the driver can change direction of the pair of steerable front wheels relative to the orientation of the frame about the pair of turning axes through a driver steering input;

(c) a rear wheel rotatably affixed to the frame generally centered along the vertical center plane and positioned about the rear portion behind the vertical cross plane, wherein the rear wheel rotates in a rear rolling axis wherein the rear rolling axis is substantially parallel to the vertical cross plane and substantially perpendicular to the vertical center plane, such that the rear wheel can roll upon the surface;

(d) a motor affixed to the frame generally centered along the vertical center plane; and

(e) a driver seat affixed to the frame generally centered along the vertical center plane and behind the motor and ahead of the rear wheel, wherein the driver seat is in both a recumbent position and a straddle position wherein the motor separates support for the driver'"'"'s left and right feet, such that support is connected to the frame for the driver'"'"'s left foot to the left of the motor in a direction perpendicular to the vertical center plane towards the left portion and support is connected to the frame for the driver'"'"'s right foot to the right of the motor in a direction perpendicular to the vertical center plane towards the right portion.

2. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 1, wherein the driver seat comprises a seat bottom and a seat back, wherein the seat bottom is generally horizontal and the seat back is generally vertical.

3. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 2, wherein the motor is configured to power at least the rear wheel to provide propulsion.

4. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 3, wherein the motor is an internal combustion engine.

5. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 4, wherein the driver seat is generally positioned low within the frame.

6. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 5, wherein the driver seat further comprises a lateral support.

7. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 6, wherein the pair of steerable front wheels and the rear wheel are substantially cylindrically shaped.

8. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 7, further including a steering mechanism comprising a center handlebar portion connected to both a left handlebar portion and a right handlebar portion, wherein the steering mechanism is rotatably affixed to the frame generally centered along the vertical center plane and positioned generally ahead of the driver seat within reach of the driver, and wherein the steering mechanism rotates in a steering input axis that is substantially parallel to the vertical center plane, and wherein the steering mechanism is coupled to the pair of steerable front wheels, such that the pair of steerable front wheels can change direction relative to the orientation of the frame about the pair of turning axes through the driver steering input.

9. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 8, further including a transmission affixed to the frame and mechanically coupled to both the motor and at least the rear wheel, such that power can be transferred from the motor to at least the rear wheel.

10. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 9, wherein the right handlebar portion comprises a rotatable throttle-control assembly and a squeezable brake-control assembly, wherein the rotatable throttle-control assembly is coupled to the motor, and wherein the squeezable brake-control assembly is coupled to at least the pair of steerable front wheels, and wherein the left handlebar portion comprises a squeezable clutch-control assembly coupled to the transmission.

11. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 10, further including a left-foot shifter-control and a right-foot brake-control, wherein the left-foot shifter-control is affixed to the frame positioned approximately in the left portion generally ahead of the driver seat, wherein the left-foot shifter-control is coupled to the transmission, and wherein the right-foot brake-control is affixed to the frame positioned approximately in the right portion generally ahead of the driver seat, wherein the right-foot brake-control is coupled to at least the rear wheel.

12. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 11, further including a driver seat belt affixed to the frame, such that the driver seat belt can secure the driver to the three-wheeled vehicle.

13. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 12, further including a passenger seat affixed to the frame generally centered along the vertical center plane positioned behind the driver seat such that the driver seat and passenger seat are tandem, and wherein the passenger seat comprises a passenger seat bottom and a passenger seat back, wherein the passenger seat bottom is substantially horizontal and the passenger seat back is substantially vertical, and further including a passenger seat belt affixed to the frame, such that the passenger seat belt can secure a passenger to the three-wheeled vehicle.

14. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 9, wherein the right handlebar portion comprises a rotatable throttle-control assembly, wherein the rotatable throttle-control assembly is coupled to the motor such that the driver can accelerate the three-wheeled vehicle, and wherein the left handlebar portion comprises a squeezable clutch-control assembly coupled to the transmission such that the driver can engage and disengage a clutch that is part of the transmission.

15. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 14, further including a left-foot shifter-control and a right-foot brake-control, wherein the left-foot shifter-control is affixed to the frame positioned approximately in the left portion generally ahead of the driver seat, wherein the left-foot shifter-control is coupled to the transmission such that the driver can control a set of gears within the transmission, and wherein the right-foot brake-control is affixed to the frame positioned approximately in the right portion generally ahead of the driver seat, wherein the right-foot brake-control is coupled to at least the pair of steerable front wheels such that the driver can decelerate the three-wheeled vehicle.

16. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 8, wherein the right handlebar portion comprises a throttle-control assembly coupled to the motor such that the driver can accelerate the three-wheeled vehicle, and wherein the left handlebar portion comprises a brake control assembly coupled to at least the pair of steerable front wheels such that the driver can decelerate the three-wheeled vehicle.

17. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 7, further including a steering wheel rotatably affixed to the frame generally centered along the vertical center plane and located generally ahead of the driver seat within reach of the driver, wherein the steering wheel rotates in a steering input axis that is both generally parallel and aligned with the vertical center plane, and wherein the steering wheel is coupled to the pair of steerable front wheels, such that the pair of steerable front wheels can change direction relative to the orientation of the frame about the pair of turning axes through the driver steering input thus allowing the driver to steer the three-wheeled vehicle.

18. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 17, further including a throttle foot-peddle assembly affixed to the frame located in the right portion ahead of the driver seat and within reach of the driver, wherein the throttle foot-peddle assembly is coupled to the motor such that the driver can accelerate the three-wheeled vehicle, and further including a brake foot-peddle assembly affixed to the frame located on the left portion ahead of the driver seat, wherein the brake foot-peddle assembly is coupled to at least the pair of steerable front wheels such that the driver can decelerate the three-wheeled vehicle.

19. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 18, further including a transmission affixed to the frame and mechanically coupled to both the motor and at least the rear wheel, such that power can be transferred from the motor to at least the rear wheel.

20. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 19, further including a single-hand clutch-shifter control affixed to the frame and coupled to the transmission, wherein the driver can engage and disengage a clutch that is part of the transmission and wherein the driver can control a set of gears within the transmission.

21. A three-wheeled vehicle comprising:

(a) a frame for supporting a driver and a plurality of mechanical devices, wherein the frame comprises a front portion, a rear portion, a vertical cross plane, a right portion, a left portion, and a vertical center plane, wherein the front portion is opposite the rear portion and is generally divided by the vertical cross plane, and wherein the right portion is opposite the left portion and is generally divided by the vertical center plane;

(b) a pair of steerable front wheels rotatably affixed to the frame positioned at opposite sides of the front portion generally equally separated by the vertical center plane, and wherein the pair of steerable front wheels rotate in both a pair of rolling axes and a pair of turning axes, wherein the pair of rolling axes allow the pair of steerable front wheels to roll upon a surface wherein the surface is substantially perpendicular to both the vertical center plane and the vertical cross plane, wherein the pair of rolling axes are substantially parallel with the surface, and wherein the pair of turning axes are substantially parallel to both the vertical center plane and the vertical cross plane, such that the driver can change direction of the pair of steerable front wheels relative to the orientation of the frame about the pair of turning axes through a driver steering input, and wherein the pair of steerable front wheels are substantially cylindrically shaped;

(c) a rear wheel rotatably affixed to the frame generally centered along the vertical center plane and positioned about the rear portion behind the vertical cross plane, wherein the rear wheel rotates in a rear rolling axis wherein the rear rolling axis is substantially parallel to the vertical cross plane and substantially perpendicular to the vertical center plane, such that the rear wheel can roll upon the surface, and wherein the rear wheel is substantially cylindrically shaped;

(d) an internal combustion engine affixed to the frame generally centered along the vertical center plane wherein the internal combustion engine is configured to power at least the rear wheel to provide propulsion; and

(e) a driver seat affixed to the frame wherein the driver seat is generally positioned low within the frame, generally centered along the vertical center plane, behind the internal combustion engine and ahead of the rear wheel and wherein the driver seat is in both a recumbent position and a straddle position, wherein the motor separates support for the driver'"'"'s left and right feet, such that support is connected to the frame for the driver'"'"'s left foot to the left of the motor in a direction perpendicular to the vertical center plane towards the left portion and support is connected to the frame for the driver'"'"'s right foot to the right of the motor in a direction perpendicular to the vertical center plane towards the right portion, and wherein the driver seat further comprises a seat bottom, a seat back, and a means for laterally supporting the driver within the driver seat, wherein the seat bottom is substantially horizontal and the seat back is substantially vertical;

(f) a transmission affixed to the frame and mechanically coupled to both the internal combustion engine and at least the rear wheel, such that power can be transferred from the internal combustion engine to at least the rear wheel;

(g) a steering mechanism comprising a center handlebar portion connected to both a left handlebar portion and a right handlebar portion, wherein the steering mechanism is rotatably affixed to the frame generally centered along the vertical center plane and positioned generally ahead of the driver seat within reach of the driver, and wherein the steering mechanism rotates in a steering input axis that is substantially parallel to the vertical center plane, and wherein the steering mechanism is coupled to the pair of steerable front wheels, such that the pair of steerable front wheels can change direction relative to the orientation of the frame about the pair of turning axes through the driver steering input;

(h) a rotatable throttle-control assembly connected to the right handlebar portion wherein the rotatable throttle-control assembly is coupled to the internal combustion engine;

(i) a squeezable brake-control assembly connected to the right handlebar portion wherein the squeezable brake-control assembly is coupled to at least the pair of steerable front wheels;

(j) a squeezable clutch-control assembly affixed to the left handlebar portion wherein the squeezable clutch-control assembly is coupled to the transmission;

(k) a left-foot shifter-control affixed to the frame positioned approximately in the left portion generally ahead of the driver seat, wherein the left-foot shifter-control is coupled to the transmission;

(l) a right-foot brake-control affixed to the frame positioned approximately in the right portion generally ahead of the driver seat, wherein the right-foot brake-control is coupled to at least the rear wheel; and

(m) a driver seat belt affixed to the frame, such that the driver seat belt can secure the driver to the three-wheeled vehicle.

22. A three-wheeled vehicle frame for transportation of a driver comprising:

(a) a structural frame having a skeletal integrity sufficient to support the driver and a multitude of mechanical devices, wherein the structural frame comprises a front portion, a rear portion, a vertical cross plane, a right portion, a left portion, and a vertical center plane, wherein the front portion is opposite the rear portion and is generally divided by the vertical cross plane, and wherein the right portion is opposite the left portion and is generally divided by the vertical center plane;

(b) a pair of steerable front wheel mounting locations affixed to the structural frame located in the front portion, wherein the pair of steerable front wheel mounting locations are positioned opposite each other and are generally equally separated by the vertical center plane, and wherein the pair of steerable front wheel mounting locations allow a pair of steerable front wheels to mount to the pair of steerable front wheel mounting locations and to rotate in both a pair of rolling axes and a pair of turning axes, wherein the pair of rolling axes allow the pair of steerable front wheels to roll upon a surface wherein the surface is substantially perpendicular to both the vertical center plane and the vertical cross plane, and wherein the pair of rolling axes are substantially parallel with the surface, and wherein the pair of turning axes are substantially parallel to both the vertical center plane and the vertical cross plane, such that the pair of steerable front wheels can change direction relative to the orientation of the structural frame about the pair of turning axes through a driver steering input;

(c) a rear wheel mounting location affixed to the structural frame generally centered along the vertical center plane and located in the rear portion behind the vertical cross plane, wherein the rear wheel mounting location allows a rear wheel to be mounted to the rear wheel mounting location and to rotate in a rear rolling axis, wherein the rear rolling axis is defined as being substantially parallel to the vertical cross plane and substantially perpendicular to the vertical center plane, such that the rear wheel can roll upon the surface;

(d) an internal combustion engine mounting location affixed to the structural frame generally centered along the vertical center plane, wherein the internal combustion engine mounting location is configured to mount an internal combustion engine to power at least the rear wheel to provide propulsion;

(e) a driver seat mounting location affixed to the structural frame centered along the vertical center plane, behind the internal combustion engine mounting location, and ahead of the rear wheel mounting location, wherein the driver seat mounting location allows for the mounting of a driver seat to the driver seat mounting location, and wherein the driver seat mounting location is positioned low within the structural frame, such that the driver will be in both a recumbent position and a straddle position;

(f) a steering assembly mounting location affixed to the structural frame generally centered along the vertical center plane and positioned generally ahead of the driver seat mounting location, wherein the steering assembly mounting location allows for the mounting of a steering assembly within reach of the driver that rotates along a steering input axis, wherein the steering input axis is both substantially parallel and aligned with the vertical center plane, such that the steering assembly can be coupled to the pair of steerable front wheels;

(g) a left-foot control mounting location affixed to the structural frame positioned approximately in the left portion generally ahead of the driver seat mounting location in a direction to the left of the internal combustion engine mounting location; and

(h) a right-foot control mounting location affixed to the structural frame positioned approximately in the right portion generally ahead of the driver seat mounting location in a direction to the right of the internal combustion engine mounting location, wherein the internal combustion engine mounting location separates the left-foot control mounting location and the right-foot control mounting location.