Three wheel vehicle

• US 4,787,470 A
• Filed: 06/30/1986
• Issued: 11/29/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John G. Limbocher, Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Badsey, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Love, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weaver, Ross
• Application Number:
  US06/880,554
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 180/210, 180/215, 280/269, 280/282
• US Class Current: 180/210
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/065 with single rear wheel
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2027/026 Snow mobiles characterised by the suspension means

Abstract

An improved powered off the road three wheel vehicle comprised of a pair of front wheels and a single rear wheel carried by a frame that supports the saddle type seat adapted to seat a single rider. The track of the front wheels is equal to the wheel base between the front and rear wheels and a wider tire is carried by the rear wheel. The rear wheel has a footprint with the surface that is equal to the sum of the footprints of the front wheels. The rider is positioned midway between the front and rear wheels and is seated in such a way that he may shift his weight to aid in the maneuverability of the vehicle. In addition, the rear wheel, even though it is wide, is sized so that it will pass between the legs of a rider if he desires to permit the vehicle to ride out from beneath him.

Claims

1. A single rider three wheel vehicle having a frame a pair of front wheels dirigibly supported by said frame at the forward end thereof, a single rear wheel supported at the rear end of said frame, suspension means for suspending each of said wheels for independent movement to said frame about respective pivot area fixed relative to said frame, power means carried by said frame for driving said rear wheel, and a single saddle type seat carried by said frame midway between said front and rear wheels on a longitudinal centerplane passing through said frame, said front and rear wheels carrying tires, the effective area of contact of the rear wheel mounted tire with the ground being equal to the sum of the contact areas of the front wheel carried tires with the ground, the wheel base between said front and rear wheels equally the tread between said front wheels.

2. A single rider three wheel vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the front wheel suspension includes at least one A arm for each wheel pivotally supported at its inner end about an axis fixed in proximity to the longitudinal center line of the frame.

3. A single rider three wheel vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rear wheel suspension includes a trailing arm pivotally supported at its forward end on the frame.

4. A single rider three wheel vehicle as set forth in claim 3 wherein the front wheel suspension includes at least one A arm for each wheel pivotally supported at its inner end about an axis fixed in proximity to the longitudinal center line of the frame.

5. A single rider three wheel vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the power means comprises a reciprocating engine having its cylinders inclined to the vertical toward the horizontal.

6. A single rider three wheel vehicle as set forth in claim 5 further inculding handlebar means for steering the front wheels and carried by the frame.

7. A single rider three wheel vehicle as set forth in claim 1 further including foot support means carried by the frame in proximity to the seat, the rear wheel having a width that is sized so as to pass between the legs of a rider if the rider stands on the ground to permit the vehicle to ride out from underneath him.