Abstract: A wheeled vehicle includes a front steered wheel, a rear driven wheel, and a support member that supports a rider. A main structural tube is disposed substantially horizontally along a longitudinal axis for supporting the front steered wheel at a forward end of the main structural tube, for supporting the rear driven wheel at a rear end of the main structural tube, and for supporting a rider who controls and steers the wheeled vehicle. An improved torsion acting shock absorbing mount is disclosed for the cantilevered shock absorbing support of at least one of the vehicle wheels from the frame. The torsion acting shock absorber includes a square sectioned metal tube, a correspondingly square sectioned metal shaft, and confined compressible resilient compound rods acting there between. The torsion acting shock absorber is attached at right angles to the main structural tube.

Abstract: An improved motor mount adjustably tensions the chain in a chain and sprocket driven vehicle. The vehicle has a frame, at least one driven wheel rotating from a wheel rotation point on the frame, a driven sprocket driving the driven wheel. A motor is mounted to the frame and has a driving sprocket at a motor sprocket rotation point on the motor. The driving sprocket is disposed in a plane including the driven sprocket, and powers a chain. An improved mount for mounting the motor from the frame relative to the driven sprocket includes a motor mount for fastening to the engine for disposing the driving sprocket from the engine overlying the driven sprocket powering the driven wheel. A motor mount pivot is provided on the motor mount for pivoting the driving sprocket along the plane including the chain and driven sprocket. A keeper slot is configured within the motor mount, the keeper slot being coaxial about the pivot to enable a keeper to slide relative to the keeper slot during pivot of the motor mount.

Abstract: A motor powered scooter for supporting a standing rider has an improved torsion acting shock absorbing mount for the cantilevered shock absorbing support of at least one of the scooter wheels from the frame. At least one torsion acting shock absorber is utilized. In a preferred embodiment, the torsion acting shock absorber includes a square sectioned metal tube, a correspondingly square sectioned metal shaft, and confined compressible rubber rods acting there between. The torsion acting shock absorber is attached at right angles to the main structural tube and protrudes at an end to one side of the main structural tube. A cantilevered wheel support is mounted offset from the main structural tube at the end of the shock absorber remote from the main structural tube. A shock absorbing suspension is disclosed for both the front steered wheel and the rear driven wheel.

Abstract: An improved motor mount adjustably tensions the chain in a chain and sprocket driven vehicle. The vehicle has a frame, at least one driven wheel rotating from a wheel rotation point on the frame, a driven sprocket driving the driven wheel. A motor is mounted to the frame and has a driving sprocket at a motor sprocket rotation point on the motor. The driving sprocket is disposed in a plane including the driven sprocket, and powers a chain. An improved mount for mounting the motor from the frame relative to the driven sprocket includes a motor mount for fastening to the engine for disposing the driving sprocket from the engine overlying the driven sprocket powering the driven wheel. A motor mount pivot is provided on the motor mount for pivoting the driving sprocket along the plane including the chain and driven sprocket. A keeper slot is configured within the motor mount, the keeper slot being coaxial about the pivot to enable a keeper to slide relative to the keeper slot during pivot of the motor mount.

Abstract: A motor powered scooter for supporting a standing rider has an improved torsion acting shock absorbing mount for the cantilevered shock absorbing support of at least one of the scooter wheels from the frame. At least one torsion acting shock absorber is utilized. In a preferred embodiment, the torsion acting shock absorber includes a square sectioned metal tube, a correspondingly square sectioned metal shaft, and confined compressible rubber rods acting there between. The torsion acting shock absorber is attached at right angles to the main structural tube and protrudes at an end to one side of the main structural tube. A cantilevered wheel support is mounted offset from the main structural tube at the end of the shock absorber remote from the main structural tube. A shock absorbing suspension is disclosed for both the front steered wheel and the rear driven wheel.

Abstract: A small, motor-driven vehicle has at least one steered wheel and at least one motor-driven wheel with the rider supported between the wheels. The rider directs the steered wheel while applying motor power through a throttle mechanism to the driven wheel. The throttle mechanism includes a driven shaft from the motor contacting the periphery of the driven wheel. This driven shaft has an adjustable diameter. When the driven shaft is adjusted to have a small diameter, the small, motor-driven vehicle is propelled at low speed and high torque with optimum power transmission for proceeding either uphill or over terrain presenting higher resistance to vehicle passage. When the driven shaft is adjusted to have a larger diameter, the small, motor-driven vehicle is propelled at higher speed and lower torque, on the level, downhill or over terrain presenting lower resistance to vehicle passage.

Abstract: A chain and sprocket transmission system for small all-terrain vehicles couples a high-speed, low-horsepower motor to a small diameter ground-engaging vehicle driving wheel. The chain and sprocket transmission system includes a small driving sprocket directly driven by the high-speed, low-horsepower motor. A large driven sprocket coaxially rotates with the small-diameter ground-engaging wheel. An endless chain has links for encircling in a loop the small driving sprocket and the large driven sprocket for powering the small-diameter ground-engaging wheel. A chain keeper pivots over the small driving sprocket. This chain keeper has a chain-contacting tongue elastically biased with respect to the keeper toward the inside of the chain loop. The chain-contacting tongue contacts and tensions the chain at the idle chain linkage between the small driving sprocket and the large driven sprocket.

Abstract: A motor powered scooter for supporting a standing rider has a front steered wheel, a rear driven wheel, and a platform therebetween that supports a standing rider on the scooter. A shock absorber having first and second relatively moving ends for energy absorbing movement is fastened in fixed relation to the underside of the platform with one of the relatively moving ends disposed to and toward the rear driven wheel. The shock absorber can be protectively encased and held within the main structural tube underlying and supporting the platform. A rear frame for supporting the rear driven wheel is connected at a rotation point to the platform. A linkage has a first connection to the rear frame offset from the rotation point. This linkage connects at a second connection at the relatively moving end of the shock absorber. The rotation of the driving wheel supporting frame relative to the platform causes energy absorbing shock absorber movement.

Abstract: A motor powered scooter for supporting a standing rider has a front steered wheel, a rear driven wheel, and a platform therebetween that supports a standing rider on the scooter. A shock absorber having first and second relatively moving ends for energy absorbing movement is fastened in fixed relation to the underside of the platform with one of the relatively moving ends disposed to and toward the rear driven wheel. The shock absorber can be protectively encased and held within the main structural tube underlying and supporting the platform. A rear frame for supporting the rear driven wheel is connected at a rotation point to the platform. A linkage has a first connection to the rear frame offset from the rotation point. This linkage connects at a second connection at the relatively moving end of the shock absorber. The rotation of the driving wheel supporting frame relative to the platform causes energy absorbing shock absorber movement.

Abstract: A catalytic converter is especially adapted for placement to a motorized scooter. The scooter includes a front steered wheel, a rear driven wheel, and a structural tube extending between the wheels. A motor driving the rear driven wheel has an exhaust emission line. An exhaust tube having first and second open ends is provided. The exhaust tube is mounted through a sidewall of the main structural tube with a first end disposed exterior of the main structural tube and a second end discharging interiorly of the main structural tube. The exhaust tube has a catalytic converter preferably at the second end thereof. A flexible connection is provided between the exhaust emission of the motor and the first end of the exhaust tube. In operation, exhaust flows to heat the catalytic converter concentrically of the main structural tube and the converter operates exothermically at high temperature at the second end of the exhaust tube.

Abstract: The present invention is an electric scooter having batteries concealed below the standing platform in a multipurpose battery pan, an anti-lock brake, a dual suspension, a stow and carry feature, integrated electronics including brake control, throttle control, safety measures and theft protection. The dual suspension scooter includes a chassis; a steering column; a front wheel rotatably mounted on a front axle assembly; a rear wheel rotatably mounted on a rear axle assembly; a front cantilevered suspension mechanism mounted between the steering column and the front axle assembly; and a rear suspension mechanism mounted between the rear end of the chassis and the rear axle assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is an electric scooter having batteries concealed below the standing platform in a multipurpose battery pan, an anti-lock brake, a dual suspension, a stow and carry feature, integrated electronics including brake control, throttle control, safety measures and theft protection. The dual suspension scooter includes a chassis; a steering column; a front wheel rotatably mounted on a front axle assembly; a rear wheel rotatably mounted on a rear axle assembly; a front cantilevered suspension mechanism mounted between the steering column and the front axle assembly; and a rear suspension mechanism mounted between the rear end of the chassis and the rear axle assembly.

Abstract: An electric scooter having batteries concealed below the standing platform in a multipurpose battery pan, an anti-lock brake, a dual suspension, a stow and carry feature, integrated electronics including brake control, throttle control, safety measures and theft protection. The dual suspension scooter includes a chassis; a steering column; a front wheel rotatably mounted on a front axle assembly; a rear wheel rotatably mounted on a rear axle assembly; a front cantilevered suspension mechanism mounted between the steering column and the front axle assembly; and a rear suspension mechanism mounted between the rear end of the chassis and the rear axle assembly.

Abstract: A small utility vehicle, such as a motorized scooter, has an attached vehicle supporting wheel. This wheel includes a solid rubber or plastic tire removeably mounted to a central hub. The tire when mounted to the hub rolls on the ground at a peripheral ground contact surface and defines on opposite sidewall surfaces with the solid mass of the tire there between. Each sidewall surface has periodically spaced grooves. A vehicle attached brake of the compression caliper type having two flat opposing brake shoe surfaces bears on the tire sidewalls to effect braking. During braking, one flat opposing brake shoe surface of the compression caliper bears on one sidewall surface and the remaining flat opposing brake shoe surface of the compression caliper bears on the remaining sidewall surface squeezing the solid mass of the tire there between.

Abstract: An "all terrain" scooter is provided with a large central tubular chassis having two central brackets supporting a platform. At the front, the tubular chassis bends upward through a notch in the platform upwardly above the front wheel to support a steering head tube. The steering head tube supports a cantilevered steering wheel support. This cantilevered wheel support includes a shaft mounting stub and includes mounted disc brake calipers. A removable axle shaft keys to the cantilevered steering wheel support at one end, supports the wheel medially of its cantilevered end, and fastens through the wheel bearings on a wheel bearing retention bolt to firmly hold the steered wheel in place. Facilitated wheel mounting is disclosed by placing steering wheel into position with the attached brake disc in the brake calipers, inserting the axle member through the axle support stub shaft and fastening the steered front wheel in place with the wheel shaft retention bolt.

Abstract: An electric powered scooter having a tubular frame extending between a front steerable wheel and a rear electrically powered wheel. The tubular frame extends below the wheel centers parallel to the surface of the ground between the front and rear wheels. A platform for the standing support of the scooter rider is mounted from frame mounted brackets so as to define between the upper portion of the tubular frame and the lower portion of the platform a spatial interval. Four batteries--with two on each side of the central frame member--are mounted to the underside of the platform which each battery supported by a case enclosing the battery at the bottom and mounting the battery flush to the underside of the platform at the top. An enclosed wiring channel is formed with the tubular frame at the bottom, the batteries on either side, and the bottom of the platform at the top.

Abstract: A fluid coupling is combined with a one way clutch for the direct drive of a wheel from a small engine. The fluid coupling is mounted in cantilevered support or two ended bearing support from a small engine and has a small diameter inner driven shaft and a larger diameter out wheel driving shaft for contacting and directly driving a wheel. The inner driven shaft connects to a pump having a relatively larger outer diameter than either the driven or driving shaft. This pump is mounted on the opposite side of the driven wheel from the engine. The one way clutch is mounted between the inner and outer driven shafts and engages with only one direction of relative rotation between the wheel and engine. At any time that the speed of the engine is less than the current rotating speed of the wheel, the clutch engages.

Abstract: A fluid coupling directly-drive a wheel from a small engine. The fluid coupling is mounted in cantilevered support or two ended bearing support from a small engine and has a small diameter inner driven shaft and a larger diameter out wheel driving shaft for contacting and directly driving a wheel. The inner driven shaft connects to a pump having a relatively larger outer diameter than either the driven or driving shaft. This pump is mounted on the opposite side of the driven wheel from the engine and preferably includes rotating vanes within one half a toroidal path having an attached eccentrically mounted toroidal plug for causing helical rotation of fluid about the plug. A turbine mates to the pump and includes rotating vanes within the other half of the toroidal path, these vanes being shaped around the toroidal plug of the pump.