IP Library Granted Patent US 10,150,528
Granted Patent B2
US 10,150,528 · App. 15/596,510 · Granted Dec 11, 2018

Folding vehicle

Inventor: Mitsutoshi Kano (Toyota, JP)
Assignee: TOYODA IRON WORKS CO., LTD.
B62K13/08A63C17/011B62K3/002B62K5/06B62K13/04B62K15/00B62K15/008
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,150,528
App. No.
15/596,510
Granted
Dec 11, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A saddle member is attached to at least one of an upper end portion of a first frame member and an upper end portion of a second frame member of a main frame mechanism and remains to be in a state of being attached to at least one of the upper end portion of the first frame member and the upper end portion of the second frame member in a folded mode, a seated driving mode, and a standing driving mode, with locking function of a third lock mechanism.

Claims (36)

1. A folding vehicle comprising:

a front frame including:

an upper end to which a handle is attached; and

a lower end to which a front wheel is attached;

a base frame that pivotally supports the front frame;

a main frame mechanism including:

a first frame member pivotally supported with respect to the base frame; and

a second frame member arranged in parallel with the first frame member, the first frame member and the second frame member forming a parallel link mechanism;

a board attached to the main frame mechanism;

a saddle member attached to at least one of an upper end portion of the first frame member and an upper end portion of the second frame member of the main frame mechanism; and

a swing arm including:

a first end pivotally supported by the main frame mechanism; and

a second end rotatably supporting a pair of rear wheels, wherein:

the folding vehicle being switchable among:

a first mode, in which the main frame mechanism is folded, the first mode being achieved by pivoting the main frame mechanism toward the front frame;

a second mode, in which driving while being seated on the saddle member is enabled, the second mode being achieved by pivoting the main frame mechanism in the first mode; and

a third mode, in which driving while standing on the board is enabled, the third mode being achieved by retracting the saddle member between the pair of rear wheels by pivoting the main frame mechanism in the second mode, and

the saddle member remains attached to at least one of the upper end portion of the first frame member and the upper end portion of the second frame member in the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode.

2. The folding vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first lock mechanism that is provided between the base frame and the first frame member, the first lock mechanism including:

a first striker member that is pivotally supported by the first frame member and provided with an engaged portion; and

a first hook member that is provided to the base frame, the first hook member being pivotally supported and provided with a hook portion configured to engage with the engaged portion of the first striker member; and

a second lock mechanism that is provided between the second frame member and the swing arm, the second lock mechanism including:

a rod member including:

a first end pivotally supported by the second frame member; and

a second end provided with a stopper engaging portion; and

a stopper member that is provided to the swing arm and to which the stopper engaging portion is engaged,

wherein the first lock mechanism and the second lock mechanism cooperate to maintain the second mode.

3. The folding vehicle according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a third lock mechanism including:

a second striker member that is pivotally supported at a portion near a rear end of the swing arm and provided with an engaged portion; and

a second hook member that is provided to the saddle member, the second hook member being provided with a hook portion configured to engage with the engaged portion of the second striker member, and the second hook member is pivotally supported,

wherein when the main frame mechanism is pivoted in the second mode, the first lock mechanism and the third lock mechanism cooperate to maintain the third mode.

4. The folding vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein, in the first mode, when the main frame mechanism is pivoted toward the front frame, the engaged portion of the second striker member in the third lock mechanism engages with the hook portion of the first hook member in the first lock mechanism to maintain the first mode.

5. The folding vehicle according to claim 2 , further comprising a first release lever that is attached to the first hook member, the first release lever being configured to release engagement between the hook portion of the first hook member and the engaged portion of the first striker member.

6. The folding vehicle according to claim 3 , further comprising a second release lever that is attached to the second hook member, the second release lever being configured to release engagement between the hook portion of the second hook member and the engaged portion of the second striker member.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2017
From: KANO, MITSUTOSHI
To: TOYODA IRON WORKS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 042394/0453 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2015-004093 · Jan 13, 2015 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2015074203 · Aug 27, 2015
Related Publication 20170247075A1 · Aug 31, 2017