Vehicle

• US 7,717,210 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2006
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Benjamin Mark Glossop, Gordon James Tobin, Graham John Mahy
• Original Assignee: Benjamin Mark Glossop, Gordon James Tobin, Graham John Mahy
• Inventors: Glossop, Benjamin Mark, Tobin, Gordon James, Mahy, Graham John
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US11/911,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20080190682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,498 Days
• Field of Search: 180/209, 180/210, 180/213, 180/237, 180/245, 180/65.1, 180/65.5, 180/89.13, 180906-908, 180/8.2, 180/8.7, 180/7.1, 180/345, 180/208, 180/21, 180/901, 280/647
• US Class Current: 180/209
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/046 at least three driven wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1051 Arrangements for steering
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1059 adjusting the height of the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/003 Steerable axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/007 for mounting suspension elements to axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/1063 automatically dependent on operational state of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/1072 by transversally movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/015 the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements B60G17/002, B60G17/005 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/44 steerable
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/24 Wheelchairs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/40 Variable track or wheelbase vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/20 all arms being rigid
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/84 Wheelchairs

Abstract

A vehicle for transporting a person has a chassis (103) and four wheels (105a, 105b, 150c, 105d) supporting the chassis above a ground surface. The wheels enable the vehicle to move along the ground surface. Each of the four wheels is adjustable in position to enable the wheelbase length and track width of the vehicle to be changed. Each of the wheels is steerable to enable the changes in the wheelbase length and the track width to be effected whether the vehicle is substantially stationary or in motion.

Claims

1. A vehicle for transporting a person, comprising:

a chassis; and

four wheels supporting the chassis above a ground surface and which enable the vehicle to move along the ground surface, the vehicle having a wheelbase length and a track width with the wheelbase length and track width each having a respective minimum size and a respective maximum size, each of the four wheels being adjustable in position to enable the wheelbase length and the track width of the vehicle to be changed, and each of the four wheels being steerable to enable the changes in the wheelbase length and track width to be effected when the vehicle is occupied, whether the vehicle is substantially stationary or in motion, and wherein the vehicle is adjustable between a first configuration of the chassis in which the wheelbase length and track width are both their respective minimum size and a second configuration of the chassis in which the wheelbase length and track width are both their respective maximum size.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the wheels is independently drivable.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, configured such that the wheelbase length and track width of the vehicle are adjusted concurrently.

4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chassis is fully functional in any configuration between the first and second configurations.

5. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheels are steered such that they move between a configuration in which all wheels are directed outwardly such that portions of the wheels distal a central portion of the chassis aim outwardly from the chassis in the first configuration of the chassis and a configuration in which the wheels are generally parallel in the second configuration of the chassis, to minimise damage to the ground surface and stress or damage to the chassis components if the chassis is adjusted between the first and second configuration when the vehicle is substantially stationary.

6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the wheels located toward one end of the vehicle are driven in an opposite direction to the wheels located toward the other end of the vehicle, as the chassis is adjusted between the first and second configuration.

7. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheels can adopt a configuration in which all wheels are directed inwardly such that portions of the wheels distal a central portion of the chassis aim inwardly, such that the vehicle can be turned with little or no linear movement of the vehicle.

8. A vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein each wheel is driven in the same rotational direction when viewed from outside the respective wheel, to turn the vehicle.

9. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheels can adopt a configuration in which the wheels located toward one end of the vehicle both aim in one direction, and the wheels located toward the other end of the vehicle both aim in the opposite direction, to enable the vehicle to negotiate relatively sharp turns.

10. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheels can adopt a configuration in which the wheels located toward one end of the vehicle both aim in one direction, and the wheels located toward the other end of the vehicle both aim in the same direction as the other wheels, to enable the vehicle to achieve a translational movement.

11. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheels located toward one end of the vehicle are supported by respective arms that are operatively connected to a first support block, and the wheels located toward the other end of the vehicle are supported by respective arms that are operatively connected to a second support block, and the support blocks are slidable along part of the chassis such that when the support blocks are in their most spaced apart positions the wheelbase length and track width are both their respective maximum size and when the support blocks are in their most close together positions the wheelbase length and track width are both their respective minimum size.

12. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, comprising a drive motor associated with each of the wheels and configured such that each of the wheels can be independently driven by its respective drive motor.

13. A vehicle as claimed in claim 12, wherein the drive motors are electric motors.

14. A vehicle as claimed in claim 12, wherein each drive motor and thereby each wheel can be driven in a forward or rearward direction.

15. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a vertical position of each wheel relative to a central portion of the chassis is adjustable and the vehicle comprises a control system configured to automatically adjust the vertical position of any one or more of the wheels relative to the central portion of the chassis to maintain the centre of gravity towards the centre of the vehicle and substantially maintain the occupant'"'"'s orientation.

16. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, configured such that the centre of gravity of an occupant of the vehicle is lower in the second configuration of the chassis than in the first configuration of the chassis.

17. A vehicle as claimed in claim 16, wherein a seat for supporting the occupant of the vehicle is lower to the chassis in the second configuration of the chassis than in the first configuration of the chassis.

18. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, which comprises a seat for supporting an occupant, and comprising a mounting arrangement which mounts the seat to the chassis, wherein the mounting arrangement is configured such that the seat can be moved from a first in-use position wherein it is generally centrally disposed over the chassis to a second loading/unloading position which is forward of the first in-use position, with the second position raised and forward of the first position.

19. A vehicle as claimed in claim 18, wherein the seat has an intermediate position between the first in-use position and the second loading/unloading position, which is forward and raised from the first in-use position, and the second loading/unloading position is forward and raised from the intermediate position, and wherein the seat is fully functional in the intermediate position.

20. A vehicle as claimed in claim 19, wherein the mounting arrangement comprises a four bar linkage configured such that the seat automatically raises as it moves forward from the first position to the second position.

21. A vehicle as claimed in claim 18, wherein the seat remains at a substantially constant angle throughout the movement.

22. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle is adapted for indoor and outdoor use.

23. A vehicle as claimed in claim 22, comprising at least one battery powered electric motor arranged to drive at least one of the wheels of the vehicle in an indoor environment, and an internal combustion motor arranged to drive at least one of the wheels of the vehicle via a motor-generator in an outdoor environment and to charge the batteries of the electric motor(s) during the outdoor operation.

24. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a personal mobility vehicle.