Folding vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9440686-B2
Application number	US-201414299567-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2014
Priority date	Jun 11, 2013
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

A folding vehicle structure includes a frame having a plurality of members. A first member intersects a second member at a first pivot point. A third member, spaced from the first and second members, intersects a fourth member, which is also spaced from the first and second members, at a second pivot point. The frame includes a first cross-member extending between the first and second intersection points. The frame is collapsible.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A folding vehicle structure comprising:
a frame having a first member, a second member intersecting the first member at a first pivot point, a third member spaced from the first and second members, and a fourth member spaced from the first and second members, wherein the fourth member intersects the third member at a second pivot point;
a seat disposed on the frame,
wherein the frame includes a first cross-member extending from the first pivot point to the second pivot point and a second cross-member extending parallel to and spaced from the first cross-member,
wherein each of the first member, the second member, the third member, and the fourth member terminate at terminal pivot points, and wherein the terminal pivot points of the first member are coaxially aligned with the terminal pivot points of the third member and wherein the terminal pivot points of the second member are coaxially aligned with the terminal pivot points of the fourth member,
wherein the second cross-member extends between the terminal pivot points of the first member and the third member, and wherein the seat is at least partially disposed on the second cross-member.

2. The folding vehicle structure of claim 1 , wherein the first member and the second member are rotatable about the first pivot point and the third member and the fourth member are rotatable about the second pivot point to collapse or expand the frame.

3. The folding vehicle structure of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of wheels disposed on the frame, wherein the frame collapses by driving at least one wheel toward at least one other wheel.

4. The folding vehicle structure of claim 1 , wherein the first member, the second member, the third member, and the fourth member are substantially straight.

5. The folding vehicle structure of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first member, the second member, the third member, and the fourth member is curved.

6. The folding vehicle structure of claim 1 , wherein the seat is disposed on the first cross-member and the second cross-member.

7. The folding vehicle structure of claim 1 , wherein the seat is formed from a rigid material.

8. The folding vehicle structure of claim 1 , wherein the seat is formed from a flexible material.

9. The folding vehicle structure of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a front axle and a rear axle.

10. The folding vehicle structure of claim 9 , wherein the frame includes a suspension system operably connected to at least one of the front axle and the rear axle.

11. The folding vehicle structure of claim 9 , further comprising a steering system operably connected to at least one of the front axle and the rear axle.

12. The folding vehicle structure of claim 1 , further comprising a floor structure disposed on the frame.

13. The folding vehicle structure of claim 12 , wherein the floor structure is collapsible.

14. The folding vehicle structure of claim 12 , wherein the floor structure is slideable from a first position to a second position when the frame is collapsed.

15. The folding vehicle structure of claim 1 , further comprising a roof structure disposed on the frame.

16. The folding vehicle structure of claim 1 , wherein the roof structure is collapsible.

17. The folding vehicle structure of claim 16 , wherein the roof structure is slideable from a first position to a second position when the frame is collapsed.

18. The folding vehicle structure of claim 1 , wherein the first cross-member is coaxially aligned with the first pivot point and the second pivot point.

19. The folding vehicle structure of claim 18 , further comprising a third cross-member extending between the second member and the fourth member, wherein the third cross-member is coaxially aligned with one of the terminal pivot points of the second member and one of the terminal pivot points of the fourth member, and wherein the first cross-member, the second cross-member, and the third cross-member are parallel to one another.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc
• Theodore & Ass Llc
• Theodore & Ass Inc

Inventors

• Theodore Chris P
• Batty Christopher David
• Hanson Aaron Matthew
• Leu Stephen Paul
• Nagara Keith Albert
• Rusnak Tyler Gregory
• Vandervoord Gregory

Classifications

• B62D31/006 Primary

  foldable (droppable B60F5/006) · CPC title

• B62K13/06

  to a quadricycle, e.g. by coupling together two bicycles side by side · CPC title

• B62K15/006

  the frame being foldable · CPC title

• B60K15/00 Primary

  Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines {or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells}; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks · CPC title

• B62B1/12

  involving parts being adjustable, collapsible, attachable, detachable, or convertible · CPC title