Motor Vehicles With Short Wheelbase Patents (Class 180/908)
  • Patent number: 5718301
    Abstract: A self-propelled golf cart has a cart body which effectively defines a chamber in the rearward portion of the body; the chamber has first and second side walls generally opposed to each other; each of the side walls has a plurality of apertures formed therethrough which respectively communicate with tubular members which are within the chamber and generally between the side walls; and golf clubs are respectively inserted into and through the apertures as to result in the shafts of such clubs extending into respective ones of the tubular members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Paragon Classics, Inc.
    Inventor: Hansford R. Williams
  • Patent number: 5575352
    Abstract: Two embodiments of compact four-wheel vehicles adapted to accommodate a rider seated primarily in straddle-fashion on a seat that is disposed at least in part above the engine and the final drive for the rear wheel. The frame assembly is compact so as to permit placement of the engine and transmission for driving the wheels between the frame and for protecting the rider's legs therefrom. Both two-wheel and four-wheel drive embodiments are depicted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Suzuki, Eiji Kato
  • Patent number: 5531284
    Abstract: A wheelchair (20) including a wheelchair frame (22) and a seat assembly (24) carried by the wheelchair frame (22). A detachable power drive assembly (32) having power driven wheels (40, 40') is releasably coupled to the wheelchair frame (22) and is mounted for selective removal of the drive assembly (32) as a unit from the wheelchair frame (22). Wheel mounting ports (76, 76') are also provided in the wheelchair frame (22) for releasably receiving a pair of manually-operable drive wheels (34, 34'). An anti-tip suspension (80) is also provided and includes a suspension arm (84) which is mounted to resist rearward tipping of the wheelchair by a non-linear restoring force. A wheel lock (108) is mounted for movement between a deployed operable position and a stored inoperable position. In the deployed position, the wheel lock (108) extends laterally outwardly of the wheelchair frame (22) for engagement with and braking of manually operable drive wheels (34, 34').
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Quickie Designs Inc.
    Inventor: James Okamoto
  • Patent number: 5526889
    Abstract: A reversing drive or transmission is shown which is particularly useful for all-terrain vehicles. The drive includes a drive shaft and an intermediate axle spaced therefrom. The drive shaft and intermediate axle have respective pulley and drum assemblies mounted thereon in registration, with a V-belt coupling the drive and driven pulleys. A swing arm moves the intermediate axle toward and away from the drive shaft to tension the V-belt or alternatively engage the drive wheels for reverse rotation of the intermediate axle. An intermediate sprocket mounted on the intermediate axle drives a driven sprocket co-axially mounted on the pivot axis of the swing arm. The plane of rotation of the intermediate sprocket is transversely orientated with respect to the swing arm pivot axis, so that torsional forces on the intermediate sprocket tend to reinforce the engagement between the respective pulley and drum assemblies in the forward and reverse directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Inventor: J. Robert Neary
  • Patent number: 5495905
    Abstract: A front wheel drive motor vehicle is made having a strong, light weight, and attractive arrow-like body made with steel square tubing. Easily removable and replaceable plastic panel inserts complete the body. Vehicle entry is step in style by rolling back the top. The top is also easily removable to make it a convertible type vehicle. The vehicles front wheels are driven through a bevel gear drive which provides a narrow wheel track and drives both front wheels simultaneously. Suspension and steering along with drive support is through a pair of special U-shaped springs. The U-shaped springs also provide a semi-independent front suspension. The vehicle has a wide rear wheel track for stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Inventor: Anthony W. Fini, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5327989
    Abstract: In a four-wheeled buggy which has a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels and a seat arranged around the middle of the vehicle to enable the rider to operate the vehicle in a sitting posture thereon, a pair of right and left main frames are two-dimensionally bent upwardly at the forward sections thereof and adapted to support at the front ends thereof a front wheel axle so as to prevent a front wheel driving device from hitting ground. The rearward sections of the main frames extend horizontally rearwardly to define a lowermost height from ground and are adapted to support a power unit behind the seat close to the rear wheels so as to obtain mass concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Furuhashi, Akio Handa, Toru Iiizumi, Hisahiro Komori, Kozo Yamada, Hiroyuki Kido, Yutaka Murata, Tatsuo Masuda
  • Patent number: 5307890
    Abstract: An improved structure for a child-driven electric car which can be safely remotely controlled. A propulsion mechanism driven by a motor is disposed at the rear of the electric car, and a base board is welded under the rear end of the car frame for mounting a seat. An arch base is disposed under a central portion of the car frame. Pedals on the car have a starting switch and a brake switch step, while an operating switch control box is located on a central portion of the car frame. The child can easily drive the car, while the adults can use the remote controller to control the safety controller on the electric car for controlling the moving direction of the electric car so as to prevent the electric car from going into any dangerous area and thus avoid injury of the child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Inventor: Kuo-Chang Huang
  • Patent number: 5123805
    Abstract: A frame structure for connecting working implements to a vehicle body having right and left main frames extending parallel to each other longitudinally of the vehicle body. The main frames are divided into upper front frames and lower rear frames which are interconnected through an intermediate connecting section. The front and rear frames have different heights to lower the center of gravity of the rear section of the vehicle body for promoting stability of vehicle control without impairing the steering function of front wheels. A cross support member is connected to bottom surfaces of the main frames in the region of the intermediate connecting section. This support member has opposite ends thereof extending laterally outwardly of the main frames. Outward extension of the cross support member include connecting elements for working implements. These connecting elements and the front frames are used as supporting connections for connecting working implements such as a front loader and a mower unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Shoso Ishimori, Taichi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 5094313
    Abstract: A small, three wheeled utility vehicle has a front steering wheel and two rear drive wheels driven by an automotive engine and transaxle unit. The vehicle has a frame composed of tubular steel parts welded together to provide a complete cage around the passenger compartment and an engine and cargo area behind the passenger compartment. The body of the vehicle is composed of body panels mounted within the tubular frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Inventor: Laurence J. Mauws
  • Patent number: 4986387
    Abstract: A fork-lift truck supported by two front wheels and a rear wheel carried by a dolly assembly. The dolly assembly is pivoted for movement about a vertical axis and a rack and pinion unit is provided to control the pivoting for steering with the rear dolly wheel. Hub units are provided in each wheel that include a hydraulic motor and an axially aligned torque hub to obtain the desired traction for each wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: Teledyne Princeton, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas K. Thompson, Jack R. Mauck
  • Patent number: 4946193
    Abstract: Utility vehicles having four wheels, one or more seats, a steering column and a forward mounting power unit. The devices are shown to be either two of four wheel drive. Extending from behind the rear wheels to a position behind the steering column, a flat floor provides substantial storage area. When two seats are employed, the driver seat is displaced to one side of the vehicle and racks extend fore-and-aft in the same plane. The passenger's seat back may be lowered to further define that plane. The engine is mounted directly between the front wheels for compactness and protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshio Oka
  • Patent number: 4924959
    Abstract: An off-road vehicle includes an engine mounted on a rear portion of a vehicle frame and a recoil starter for starting the engine. The recoil starter has a pulley operatively coupled to the crankshaft of the engine, and a cord member wound around the pulley. The cord member has an outer end extending rearwardly from the recoil starter for allowing the cord member to be easily pulled from behind the vehicle frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akio Handa, Eiji Hosoya, Makoto Ishiwatari, Yoshihiro Kimura, Seiji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 4909525
    Abstract: A personal mobility vehicle comprises front and rear frame sections which can be disassembled and assembled. The frame sections are secured together by a pivotable detachable connection such that the rear frame section is lockingly received in the rear portion of the front frame section and the length of the assembled frame is substantially the same as the length of the front frame section itself. An auxiliary frame section is also provided which can be readily attached to the powered rear frame section to provide improved mobility in those situations in which space for turning is limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Inventor: Michael Flowers
  • Patent number: 4836324
    Abstract: A saddle type vehicle for running on an uneven ground includes a swing type engine unit whose pivot is positioned before a center of the wheel base of the vehicle. The vehicle includes a lower member disposed opposite to a lower surface of the engine unit and includes a frame connected by coupling the lower member and an upper member by a bridge member surrounding a main portion of the engine unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Morita, Masao Ishihara, Mitsuru Tachikawa
  • Patent number: 4798400
    Abstract: A vehicle frame for a four wheeled buggy having a steering wheel operated by a driver seated, comprises a main frame having a narrower front portion, a support frame for supporting a steering apparatus, a flat floor support portion, a pair of step frames, a seat frame, an engine supporting frame, an oblique frame supporting the engine supporting frame, and an accommodating space for accommodating a driving apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideyoshi Kosuge
  • Patent number: 4773675
    Abstract: A supporting frame for a driving apparatus of a four wheeled buggy having a steering wheel and operated by a seated driver, comprises an oblique frame, an engine supporting frame, a removable rear frame, a removable lower frame, and to enclose an accommodating space for a driving apparatus. The driving apparatus accommodated in accommodating space is prevented from being damaged even when the buggy runs on a severely irregular land and the driving apparatus can be removed from the buggy to facilitate maintenance of the driving apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideyoshi Kosuge
  • Patent number: 4749211
    Abstract: A supporting structure for a shift-control apparatus of a four wheeled buggy having a main frame and a steering wheel operated by a driver from a sitting posture, comprising a lower pipe, a pair of suspension pipes, an upper pipe, a pair of steering column pipes, a bracket supporting pipe, and brackets for supporting a shift-control apparatus, whereby the shift-control apparatus can be arranged in a central position of the main frame to facilitate the driver's manipulation with respect to a shift lever of the shift-control apparatus and to facilitate and simplify the wiring operation of a operation cable for a control system and electric wires for an electric system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideyoshi Kosuge
  • Patent number: 4682668
    Abstract: A motor-driven miniature vehicle having a wheel base less than or equal to its track, a pair of steerable front wheels and a pair of rear wheels, at least one of which is driven. The vehicle has positive camber and sufficient torsional stiffness and wheel radial spring rate so that the inside rear wheel is lifted completely off the ground in a turning maneuver. The vehicle being further provided with an engine drive train and mounting system which employs two centrifugal clutches, one having a low abrupt engagement and disengagement and the other having a gradual higher speed engagement and disengagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Inventors: Michael E. Salmon, Paul W. Hunkele
  • Patent number: 4629023
    Abstract: A special `kart`-type vehicle is disclosed having independent suspension on all four wheels, featuring a rigid central structure which cradles the driver seat, and incorporating interchangeable and adjustable mechanical features designed to give adaptability to different conditions of use, and to the physical stature of a given rider. The special kind of adjustable, accessory-orientated design is such as to recommend the vehicle for dirt track, rough terrain and general off-highway use as well as for running on metalled road surfaces; likewise, a vehicle of the type might be used either for utility purposes or simply for sports or liesure activities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: GO PRO S.r.l.
    Inventors: Carlo Carpanelli, Stefano Serenari
  • Patent number: 4506756
    Abstract: A farm tractor or the like including an engine situated at a forward end of the tractor substantially above the front wheel axle and a gear box situated at a rearward end of the tractor. A fuel tank is fitted between the engine and the gearbox, the fuel tank comprising an elongate box-beam shaped member constituting a load carrying part of the supporting frame assembly of the tractor and extending over a substantial part of the length thereof. The fuel tank includes a body forming wall defining a substantially single curved surface generated by a generatrix which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of movement of the tractor. The body forming wall is constituted by a formed sheet of metallic material and a pair of substantially planar end members are fixed to the ends of the fuel tank body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Assignee: Valmet Oy
    Inventor: Rauno Bergous