Electrical-type Motor Patents (Class 180/216)
  • Patent number: 4846295
    Abstract: A steerable, electrically powered, three wheeled vehicle has a frame with a front end extending upwardly at a restricted angle. Laterally spaced apart rear wheels supporting the rear end, a steerable front wheel, journaled by the said front end for steerability, supports said front end. An elevated seat is supported on said rear end and a steering post connected to said front wheel extends upwardly at an angle at which it can be readily grasped by a seat occupant. Rechargeable batteries are carried in a well in a rear casing and the well and batteries have resilient contacts and terminals which automatically engage when the batteries are slipped into position in the well. An electric motor and drive mechanism is connected to drive said rear wheels, and demountable auxiliary wheels are detent secured to be driven with the rear wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Amigo Sales, Inc.
    Inventors: Melvin E. Shepard, Allen L. Bussinger
  • Patent number: 4802547
    Abstract: A golf cart having: a front wheel including a low pressure tire of which the tread is provided with a plurality of circumferentially extending grooves; and a rear wheel including a low pressure tire of which the tread is substantially smooth but provided with a plurality of spikes, and the low pressure tire is inflated to a low air pressure of 0.1 to 1.0 kg/cm.sup.2. The golf cart is characterized by the grooves extending substantially straight in the circumferential direction of the tire; the tire of the front wheel comprising a carcass of a bias construction; and the tire of the rear wheel comprising a carcass of a radial construction without a belt for stiff reinforcement beneath the tread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Nakasaki
  • Patent number: 4776416
    Abstract: A control assembly for an electric powered wheelchair having a forward steering column (13) on which a handle bar (14) and a control lever (119) are mounted, said control lever adapted when pressed forward to move the chair forwardly, and when pressed rearward to move the chair rearwardly, a second control lever (120) mounted on an idler shaft (130) and operatively engaged with said first control lever (119) whereby pressing either lever forward or rearward will cause the chair to move in the desired direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Inventor: John F. Morse
  • Patent number: 4648650
    Abstract: A vehicle body adapted for use in a two-wheeled or three-wheeled vehicle, such as a scooter, in which a front body, with an edge frame portion of inverted vertical U-shape, for covering the front surface of a main body and is formed of synthetic resin formed integrally with a front bumper extending horizontally with a U-shaped cross section and is integrally coupled with the main body formed of a framework of a metal material such as steel material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Fujii, Masayoshi Baba
  • Patent number: 4613151
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved wheelchair adapted to provide enhanced mobility for the occupant together with making ground level activities available. The wheelchair comprises a main frame together with an extension frame telescopically secured to said main frame. A seat is operably secured to the extension frame so that when the extension frame is moved away from the main frame, the seat is lowered, and when said extension frame is brought back to said main frame, the seat is raised. Means are provided for further enhancing stability in the form of a mechanism to selectively move the drive wheels apart for wider wheel tracking. A rear wheel castered to the extension frame is provided with a selectively operable torsion limiter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Inventor: William J. Kielczewski
  • Patent number: 4573549
    Abstract: A golf car apparatus (10) is disclosed. The golf car apparatus (10) includes a frame (12) supported off the surface of the ground by at least three wheels (14, 18), two of the wheels (14) being positioned near the back end of the frame (12) and being interconnected by an axle (16). DC batteries (22) interconnected to an electrical motor (24) are utilized to power golf car apparatus (10). A drive mechanism is interconnected to the electrical motor (24) and a differential mechanism (32) positioned near the center of the axle (16) interconnecting the two rear wheels (14). Foot support means is defined by said frame (12) on either side of said differential mechanism (32) and extend under the axle (16) for positioning of a user's feet such that when the user is standing on the golf car apparatus (10) the user's feet extend at least partially under the axle (16) so as to provide the golf car apparatus (10) with a low center of gravity and a center of gravity distributed between the front and rear wheels (18, 14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1986
    Inventor: Arnold A. Pankow
  • Patent number: 4570739
    Abstract: A personal mobility vehicle includes a floor pan with a rear drive unit at one end and a steerable front wheel at the other end. The drive unit is separable from the floor pan and includes spaced apart, differentially connected rear wheels, an electric motor, and belts and pulleys drivingly connecting the motor to a differential unit. The front wheel is steered by a tiller. A seat with a folding back is removably connected to the floor pan toward the pan rear end to concentrate the weight of the driver over the rear wheels to aid in traction. A brake is provided on the front wheel and is lockable for parking purposes. Each of the drive unit, seat unit, a battery, and a floor pan unit weighs less than thirty pounds such that the separated components can be easily lifted and manipulated for transportation of the vehicle between sites of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1986
    Assignee: Burke, Inc.
    Inventor: DuWayne E. Kramer
  • Patent number: 4538695
    Abstract: A self propelled two speed vehicle suitable for use as a golf cart, in which the frame is arranged to carry one or two golfers and/or their golf clubs over short distances such as are encountered in golf course use. The cart is provided with a low level flat rearwardly directed riding platform applied between the two rear wheels of the vehicle which enables one or two persons to ride the scooter by standing on the platform, in side by side relation where two persons are to ride the vehicle, with the vehicle frame and platform being arranged for ease of mounting and dismounting same by stepping up or stepping down from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle has a single foot actuated control lever for actuating or stopping the vehicle, and a steering wheel for steering the vehicle front wheel, which control lever and steering wheel are centered so that a rider standing in either the right or left side positions on the riding platform can operate the scooter vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1985
    Inventor: Grodon E. Bradt
  • Patent number: 4527648
    Abstract: A vehicle having the driver's seat between two large diameter wheels, each having a series of circumferentially spaced cables under tension between a rigid circumferential ring, which carries a tire, and the opposite ends of a central hub. A driver's seat is located between the wheels and batteries and separate electric motors and speed reduction drives for the wheels are below this seat. Control handles on opposite sides of the driver's seat have switches for controlling the speed of each wheel. Each wheel has a caliper-type bicycle brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Inventors: Thomas E. Sines, Yvette L. Chermey
  • Patent number: 4484649
    Abstract: A motor and pedal driven tricycle includes a system for coupling the motor to the rear wheels of the tricycle, which system automatically decouples the motor from the rear wheels when the motor is deactivated, thereby permitting free rotation of the rear wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1984
    Assignee: Nagel, Kennedy, Arad & Associates
    Inventors: Melvin Kennedy, Dietmar Nagel, Avi Arad
  • Patent number: 4399883
    Abstract: A toy vehicle for children featuring a mechanism whereby the movement of the vehicle by the motive force of a motor and the movement by the human force can be switched at will by a simple lever operation. When the power circuit to the motor is cut off by operating a switch lever, the gear adapted to transmit the motive force of the motor is disengaged from the follower gear secured to the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Inventor: Masatoshi Todokoro
  • Patent number: 4325448
    Abstract: A three-wheeled, motor-driven, pedal-started vehicle which comprises a tubular frame supporting the wheels in triangular relationship. A seat is provided on the frame covering a trunk or receptacle relative to which the seat is pivotable in order to uncover the trunk or receptacle. A motor and pedal arrangement is provided on the frame for driving one of the wheels. A kickstand is provided to elevate this wheel selectively from the ground to facilitate the starting of the vehicle without the need for driving the weight of the same. A demountable canopy is detachably connected to the tubular frame and provides a transparent shield for the driver of the vehicle. The seat is such as to be able to accommodate the driver and at least one passenger in side by side relationship. A steering arrangement is provided having a jog therein to accommodate the offset relationship of the driver to the central axis of the vehicle when a passenger is accommodated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1982
    Assignee: American Microcar Incorporated
    Inventor: Stuart Pivar
  • Patent number: 4313517
    Abstract: A three-wheeled vehicle is provided to operate from a source of power constituted by two batteries which constitute approximately one-third of the weight of the unloaded vehicle. The batteries are so positioned as to locate the center of gravity of the vehicle relatively low. The vehicle is provided with a superstructure which is relatively light so that the center of the gravity is not greatly affected thereby. The superstructure provides protection for the passenger or passengers who are sheltered thereby. The passengers are seated at a relatively high position relative to the ground traversed so that they obtain a feeling of security and confidence and can readily see because their relatively high position with respect to other vehicles or obstacles in the vicinity. The additional weight of the batteries is accommodated by the provision of a compound braking system consisting of mechanical and electro-magnetic braking elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1982
    Assignee: American Microcar, Inc.
    Inventor: Stuart Pivar
  • Patent number: 4280581
    Abstract: An electrically assisted bicycle is disclosed, including a modified elongated frame, such that the storage battery and motor may be mounted at a low level between the pedals and the rear wheel for a more stable and smooth ride and to lessen the likelihood of wheel hop, and to make the vehicle easier to hold upright at rest. The motor and pedals are efficiently coupled so that either or both simultaneously may power the driven wheel; and either power source can remain stationary, causing no drag, while the other propels the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1981
    Inventor: Lawrence A. Rudwick
  • Patent number: 4183418
    Abstract: A tricycle apparatus utilizes a chassis having a housing disposed surrounding the midregions of the rear axle of the tricycle. Each rear wheel is provided having a child carrying seat secured to a fender-like covering therefor. The rear axle is provided having two portions concentrically aligned with one another and each being locked to each other utilizing a removeable locking pin therefor. In a manual mode of operation, both portions of the rear axle, when locked together, are caused to rotate, operating the rear wheels by the conventional pair of bicycle pedals journaled to the tricycle frame. A double output shafted gear head motor, utilizing a pair of slip clutches is coupled individually to each portion of the rear axle so as to enable a battery, carried by the housing, to operate the motor, provided operating power for the tricycle when such motor, slip clutches and battery are added to a mounting within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1980
    Inventor: Herminia Dudas