Tilting vehicle with a non-tilting automobile-like body
First Claim
1. A vehicle having at least three wheels, comprising:
- a tilting frame rotatably connected to a suspension assembly at a first pivot;
a body rotatably connected to the tilting frame at a second pivot and to the suspension assembly, wherein the body is structured to cover the tilting frame and the second pivot being substantially coaxial with an axis of the first pivot; and
wherein the suspension assembly is structured and arranged to permit a pair of the wheels to tilt with the tilting frame, but not the body, as the tilting frame tilts.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tilting multi-wheeled vehicle includes a tilting frame supporting at least one seat; a body; and a suspension assembly, wherein the suspension assembly is structured and arranged to permit a transversely disposed pair of the wheels to tilt with the tilting frame. While the tilting frame tilts, the body remains in a controlled relationship with the tilting frame. In an embodiment, the controlled relationship with the tilting frame permits the body to remain substantially parallel to the road surface. Accordingly, the vehicle can support a wider automobile-like body which will not contact the road surface when the tilting frame tilts while navigating a turn. In another embodiment, the body can be allowed to remain substantially parallel to and equidistant from the road surface while navigating a turn.
67 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle having at least three wheels, comprising:
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a tilting frame rotatably connected to a suspension assembly at a first pivot; a body rotatably connected to the tilting frame at a second pivot and to the suspension assembly, wherein the body is structured to cover the tilting frame and the second pivot being substantially coaxial with an axis of the first pivot; and wherein the suspension assembly is structured and arranged to permit a pair of the wheels to tilt with the tilting frame, but not the body, as the tilting frame tilts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A vehicle having at least three wheels, comprising:
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a suspension assembly, including a parallelogram-based suspension assembly; a tilting frame supporting at least one seat, the tilting frame pivotally attached to the suspension assembly at a first pivot; and a body rotatably connected to the tilting frame at a second pivot and rigidly attached to a shock absorber support structure of the suspension assembly, wherein the body is structured to cover the tilting frame and the second pivot being substantially coaxial with an axis of the first pivot; wherein the suspension assembly is structured and arranged to permit a transversely dispose pair of the wheels to tilt with the tilting frame, but not the body, as the tilting frame tilts.
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19. A vehicle having at least three wheels, comprising:
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a suspension assembly; a tilting frame supporting at least one seat, the tilting frame pivotally attached to the suspension assembly at a first pivot; and a body rotatably connected to the tilting frame at a second pivot and moveably attached to the suspension assembly; wherein the body is structured to cover the tilting frame and the second pivot being coaxial with an axis of the first pivot; wherein the suspension assembly is structured and arranged to permit a transversely disposed pair of the wheels to tilt with the tilting frame, but not the body, as the tilting frame tilts. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification