Collapsible Or Knockdown For Storage Or Transport Patents (Class 180/208)
  • Patent number: 7647998
    Abstract: Advances in robotics have had a great influence in the design and performance of motorized assistive devices in the past two decades. Specifically, introduction of “intelligent” system technologies has enabled users of motorized assistive devices to better control their machines and avoid problematic situations. However, one area of assistive devices that has not reaped the benefits of advances in the state-of-the-art, is major weight reduction in the overall design of these devices. Bulky motorized assistive devices hinder the range and portability of these devices and impact the ability of the user to manually handle these devices without assistance of mechanical lifting devices or individuals. This ultralight, collapsible powered operated vehicle (POV) is lighter than those available today by approximately 80%. This device addresses this issue by the development of an ultralight, collapsible POV, which will replace the bulky and heavy motorized assistive devices currently being used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Inventor: Robert John Ein
  • Patent number: 7641217
    Abstract: A detachable mobile seat includes a first part connected to a motor; a second part attached to the seat; and two links, each connected to the first part, the second part, and a wheel. The links transfer movement of the first part to the wheels. The first part includes a shaft connected to the motor, and two nuts disposed around the shaft that have screw threads in opposite directions and move along the shaft in response to operation of the motor. Each link includes a first link connected to the second part and to the nut, and a second link connected to the nut and to the wheel. The end of each second link that is nearest the wheel is rotatably connected to a connecting arm that has a rotating bar that rotates the wheel in response to operation of the links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Yeon Sang Yoo, Ju Young Lee
  • Publication number: 20090308676
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a chassis body, a footrest member pivoted to a front end of the chassis body, a rear wheel assembly joined on the chassis body, a seat, a front wheel assembly in front of the footrest member, and a steering device; the seat is pivoted on an upper end of a supporting mechanism, which is pivoted on the chassis body, and can be moved between a raised in-use position and a lowered not-in-use one; the steering device includes a telescopic part, and is pivoted on a pivotal component protruding from an axle of the front wheel assembly to be movable between a raised in-use position and a lowered not-in-use one; an auxiliary wheel assembly is arranged in front of the footrest member and above the front wheel assembly so that the vehicle can be moved on the auxiliary wheel assembly when it is in a folded configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventor: Arthur Wang
  • Patent number: 7621358
    Abstract: An electric vehicle for personal transportation has an inflatable body that can be deflated and the electric vehicle collapsed to a storage or transport configuration that is compact and light-weight. At least one front wheel and one rear wheel are attached to the inflatable body. An electric motor is attached to a wheel and preferably there is an electric motor for each rear wheel to power and brake the vehicle. A battery pack provides vehicle propulsion and provides structural support. An electronic control unit controls the electric motor and also provides structural support. A steering assembly includes the front wheel that is structurally connected to a rear wheel by the inflatable body, a steering column, handle bars, and braking and speed controls operable by a person sitting on the inflatable body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Inventor: Yi Pang
  • Publication number: 20090255747
    Abstract: An electric vehicle with a modular frame that includes a main chassis with a rider platform (standing position), front fork/wheel assembly, handlebar assembly, and rear trailing arm assembly with left and right rear wheels. The front fork assembly bolts to the main chassis. The handlebar assembly fastens to the pivoting steer tube of the front fork assembly. The trailing arm assembly bolts to the main chassis and pivots to provide rear suspension for the vehicle. The trailing arm includes a stabilizer bar connecting the right and left trailing arms. Electronics enclosures are integral to the main chassis and are structural members of the vehicle. The battery pack can be installed or removed from the main chassis with a hand-activated latch. The electronics plate contains traction system electronics and is removable from the main chassis. The handle bar assembly includes a folding mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Edward Kasaba, Brian Robert Huff, Aaron James Lehnhardt
  • Publication number: 20090205893
    Abstract: An electric vehicle for personal transportation has an inflatable body that can be deflated and the electric vehicle collapsed to a storage or transport configuration that is compact and light-weight. At least one front wheel and one rear wheel are attached to the inflatable body. An electric motor is attached to a wheel and preferably there is an electric motor for each rear wheel to power and brake the vehicle. A battery pack provides vehicle propulsion and provides structural support. An electronic control unit controls the electric motor and also provides structural support. A steering assembly includes the front wheel that is structurally connected to a rear wheel by the inflatable body, a steering column, handle bars, and braking and speed controls operable by a person sitting on the inflatable body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventor: Yi Pang
  • Patent number: 7537076
    Abstract: A combined golf caddie and golf cart apparatus comprises a frame configured to support a golf bag, and a steering assembly which pivots with respect to the frame to adjust between a walk position and a ride position. A seat is removably mounted on the frame by support legs, wherein the support legs and the seat straddle a golf bag supported by the frame to maintain a very compact apparatus in the ride position and in the walk position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas L. Falkiner
  • Publication number: 20090020350
    Abstract: A folding electric scooter comprises a chassis. The front end of the chassis is disposed with a front wheel and a handlebar used to control the direction of the front wheel. The handlebar is a folding structure. The rear end of the chassis is pivotally coupled with a rear rack. The rear rack is disposed with a rear wheel, a motor and a battery. The motor and the battery are used to offer the power to the rear wheel. In addition, the rear rack is disposed with a folding four-bar linkage, which forms the seat. By such arrangements, when the folding electric scooter is not in use, the four-bar linkage can be folded to fold the seat, and the handlebar can be synchronously folded, thus minimizing the whole volume to facilitate the transportation and the storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventor: Donald P.H. WU
  • Patent number: 7464784
    Abstract: A rapid assembly structure for the scooter body of an electric scooter improves and modifies on some current devices of the scooter body to achieve a stable and rapid assembly structure, and thus facilitate to carry and store up the electric scooter. The assembly structure includes a front body and a rear body. A fastening means is provided between the front body and a rear body for fixing the front body and the rear body. A locking device is provided on the front body for enhancing the fixing effect between the front body and the rear body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Wu's Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien-Liang Chiu
  • Patent number: 7461715
    Abstract: A personal mobility vehicle includes a housing comprising an internal space, two front wheels, a rear mating member, and a rear telescopic T-shaped handle; a battery powered electric motor in the housing for rotating the front wheels; a control on the handle for controlling movement and steering of the vehicle; and a seat assembly comprising a front foot rest having a corresponding mating member adapted to releasably secure to the mating member, a rear base hingedly secured to the foot rest and including an upward projecting fastening member, at least one rear wheel, a seat, and a seat post extending downward from the seat to pivotably fasten in the fastening member. Detaching the corresponding mating member from the mating member, folding the foot rest toward the base, and folding the base toward the seat post will fold the seat assembly for disposing in the space of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Inventor: Fu-Hsun Tsai
  • Patent number: 7451848
    Abstract: A foldable personal mobility vehicle is disclosed comprising first and second units having first and second wheels being rotatable about first and second axles. A drive unit rotates the second wheel for moving the foldable personal mobility vehicle. A pivot disposed substantially parallel to the first and second axles pivotably connects the first unit to the second unit for folding the personal mobility vehicle. The foldable personal mobility vehicle may include a folding unit for automatically folding the foldable personal mobility vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Inventors: Michael J. Flowers, George G. Flowers, Stephen Jarema, III, Edward J. Dwyer, Jr., Lee Volpe, Alex He, Robert C. Hopely, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20080245592
    Abstract: An electric wheelchair comprises: a chair assembly and a wheel assembly. The wheel assembly is mounted at the bottom of the chair assembly. The chair assembly includes a seat, a first frame, a second frame, and a third frame, which are pivotally connected to form a four-bar linkage mechanism, so that the seat and the respective frames of the electric wheelchair will be folded synchronously in the same direction when the electric wheelchair is being folded, and the folding direction of the chair assembly is vertical to the axis of the drive wheels of the wheel assembly, thus allowing the disabled user to fold the chair assembly and to disassemble the wheel assembly quickly and effortlessly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: Donald P. H. Wu
  • Patent number: 7401675
    Abstract: A vehicle body includes a front frame, a rear frame, a control unit, a fixing screw, a battery, and a locking unit. Thus, the rear frame is combined with and detached from the front frame easily and rapidly, thereby facilitating a user assembling and disassembling the vehicle body. In addition, the fixing hooks of the front frame are snapped onto the fixing stubs of the rear frame, and the locking hook of the control unit on the support post of the rear frame is locked in the locking hole of the front frame, thereby forming a three-point support structure by the fixing hooks, the fixing stubs and the locking hook, so that the rear frame is combined with the front frame rigidly and stably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Chienti Enteprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Feng-Chu Chang
  • Publication number: 20080135319
    Abstract: A detachable vehicle (100) is configured for quick disassembly so as to be conveniently towed or transported. A front fork assembly (103) is detachable from a chassis (101) and is stowable within the chassis (101). The front fork assembly (103) includes a pair of fork members (106,107) that are pivotally coupled to a steering member (108), which is pivotally coupled to a chassis connecting member (109). A handlebar assembly (104) is also detachable. When the front fork assembly (103) is detached from the vehicle (100) and stored within the chassis (101), the vehicle (100) may be towed by way of a hitch (705) or carried within the bed of a pick-up truck or van.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventor: Richard Clifford Lynn
  • Patent number: 7363998
    Abstract: A walk-substituting cart includes a front chassis, and a rear chassis; the front chassis has an upright tube, insulating plates on the rear, and an engaging plate, which is secured behind the upright tube, and has a hole; the rear chassis has an upright rod, insulating plates on the front, and a fixing mechanism positioned on top of the upright rod; the fixing mechanism has a spring-biased fixing rod, which will snap into the hole of the engaging plate when the front and the rear chassis are coupled; each insulating plate has a powerful magnet and contacting terminals secured thereon; when the front and the rear chassis are coupled, each of the magnets will attract the corresponding magnets, and each of the contacting terminals will closely touch the corresponding terminals so as to electrically connect the power supply unit to the actuating motor of the cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Inventor: Ju-Yu Fan
  • Patent number: 7278507
    Abstract: A collapsible personal transportation vehicle may be compacted and stowed in a mobile home, recreational vehicle, or the like, during periods of non-use and transport. Although the vehicle may be powered with a gasoline or electric power plant, a propane fueled engine is used due to its lighter weight and lack of fumes or leakage problems during transport. The vehicle may accommodate two riders, and achieve speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, or greater. To achieve sufficient collapsibility, the vehicle includes a seat assembly constructed from various pivoting members, whereby, during use, riders are seated above the motor, but during periods of non-use, the seat assembly folds down to fit into a space in front of the engine, with a height no greater than the engine and fuel tank(s). The preferred embodiment accommodates a roof structure as part of the collapsible seat assembly, which may be provided with a canopy and/or rear-view mirror, if so desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Inventor: Bruce Walworth
  • Patent number: 7275608
    Abstract: A motor-driven vehicle includes a vehicle frame and a driving device. The vehicle frame includes a main body and a retaining unit. The main body has a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion. The retaining unit includes a retaining plate disposed pivotally on the first connecting portion and having a free end rotatable to close and open a groove in the first connecting portion. The driving device includes a support frame that has a first engaging portion disposed within the groove, and a second engaging portion connected to the second connecting portion by a tongue and groove engagement. When the groove is closed, removal of the vehicle frame from the driving device is prevented. When the groove is opened, removal of the vehicle frame from the driving device is allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Giant Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kemble Lo
  • Patent number: 7267192
    Abstract: A motor-driven vehicle includes a first vehicle body with a sleeve tube, a second vehicle body with an insert rod disposed telescopically within the sleeve tube, and a locking device including a pull rod, a retaining block and a resilient member. The pull rod is movable on the first vehicle body between a locking position and a release position. When the pull rod is disposed at the locking position, the retaining block extends through a hole in the sleeve tube and engages a selected one of holes in the insert tube of the second vehicle body. When the pull rod is disposed at the release position, the retaining block is removed from the holes in the insert rod. The resilient member biases the pull rod to the locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Sunpex Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Po-Yi Lin, Samuel Lin
  • Patent number: 7267347
    Abstract: A structural assembly for electric scooter includes a seat mount and a treadboard support. The structural assembly utilizes hook portions on a connecting plate of the treadboard support to hook onto a stud shaft below a joining plate of the seat mount, and further utilizes embed pieces with compression springs disposed therein to be configured in the connecting plate to embed within fixing holes defined in the joining plate of the seat mount, and thereby complete rapid assemblage of the scooter. Furthermore, a triangular notch is defined in a push plate, and inclined sides of the triangular notch are so configured to function in coordination with inclined edges of wedge-shaped slots formed in upper portion of embed pieces, and thus control of extension or retraction of the embed pieces is effectuated by means of sliding coordination of the inclined sides and the inclined edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Chien Ti Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ferretti Chang
  • Patent number: 7252168
    Abstract: A modular type motor-driven vehicle includes a front half module, a rear half module and a retainer unit. The front half module includes a front vehicle frame, a front vehicle body shell disposed fixedly on the front vehicle frame, and a seat disposed fixedly on the front vehicle body shell. The rear half module includes a rear vehicle frame, a rear vehicle body shell disposed fixedly on the rear vehicle frame, and a driving unit disposed between the rear vehicle frame and the rear vehicle body shell. The retainer unit includes an engaging member connected fixedly to the front half module, a handle unit disposed on the rear half module, a hook member biased to engage the engaging member so as to retain the front half module on the rear half module. The handle unit is operable so as to disengage the hook member from the engaging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Kwang Yang Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Tsang-Mao Lin, Jui-Tien Chen
  • Patent number: 7234557
    Abstract: An electric vehicle with partitionable frame includes a chassis assembly, a head tube, a front wheel, left and right rear wheels, and a seat. The front wheel is assembled at the base of the head tube through a fork, and the bottom part of the head tube is pivoted and located in the shaft sleeve lying on the front end of the oblique bracket. The seat is assembled on a vertical seat tube lying on the rear section of the chassis assembly. The chassis assembly includes front and rear assemblies that are partitionable. Connecting ends of the two assemblies are set with at least two groups of opposite jacks and opposite punch pins, which appear to be horizontally opposite and mutually embedded and mounted when assemblies are aligned. At least one set of positioning pieces controls the fixed or partitioned state of the two assemblies after they are aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Inventor: Yung Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 7207407
    Abstract: A collapsible three wheeled vehicle for personal transportation which has a removable support bracket that secures the distal ends of two independent foldable side rails at either end of the support bracket. The support bracket also provides a mounting base for a passenger seat. The rear support bracket, when removed, allows the side rails to fold together with the steering column for convenient storage. A removable front wheel, a removable seat, and removable steering handles allow the vehicle to further reduce the required amount of space for storage and transport. The vehicle uses a battery operated electric drive motor. A second optional battery power supply may be attached to the vehicle to extend its range. A storage bag is provided to hold the components of the vehicle when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Inventor: Hartmut Huber
  • Patent number: 7174983
    Abstract: A motor-driven vehicle includes: a chassis; a post extending upwardly from the chassis and having an upright engaging wall formed with an engaging hole; a battery housing seated on the chassis adjacent to the post and including a mounting wall disposed adjacent to the engaging wall; a coupling device including an engaging rod having a pivot portion pivoted to the mounting wall of the battery housing, and an engaging portion extending from the pivot portion, the engaging rod being pivotable relative to the battery housing between an engaging position, where the engaging portion extends into the engaging hole, and a disengaging position, where the engaging portion is disengaged from the engaging hole; and a biasing member for urging the engaging rod to the engaging position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Sunpex Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chen-Chi Hsiao
  • Patent number: 7165642
    Abstract: A vehicle chassis includes: first and second chassis parts; a locking unit including a first engaging part that is pivoted to the first chassis part and that is formed with first and second engaging recesses, a second engaging part mounted on the second chassis part and formed with a tongue such that the tongue pushes the first engaging part to rotate from an unlocking position to a locking position and slides into the first recess during coupling of the first and second chassis parts; and a retaining unit including a retaining part that is pivoted to the first chassis part and that has an engaging end which extends into the second recess when the retaining part is disposed at a retaining position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Giant Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Min-Chang Chen
  • Patent number: 7159681
    Abstract: A four-wheel personal transporter having a collapsible shell and a seat mounted on at least one shaft disposed at the rear end of the device, such shaft(s) movable approximately 90 degrees rearward from an upright position to a storage position and maneuvered into a receipt slot defined in the top portion of the rear shell, and a steering column disposed at the front end of the personal transporter in an upright position for use and rotatable approximately 90 degrees downward to a storage position against the top of the shell when such shell is in its collapsed storage mode, such steering column having a handle usable to pull the device on its front wheels in its storage mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Inventor: Dennis N. Sauve
  • Patent number: 7140629
    Abstract: A foldable bicycle has a frame unit and a positioning unit. The frame unit includes a front wheel unit disposed on a front frame rod, a rear wheel unit disposed on a rear frame rod and aligned with the front wheel unit along a longitudinal direction of the bicycle, and a horizontal pivot pin interconnecting the front and rear frame rods rotatably such that the pivot pin and rotating axes of the front and rear wheel units forming generally an isosceles triangle. The positioning unit positions the rear frame rod behind the front frame rod, and is operable to allow for rotation of the front and rear frame rods about the pivot pin so as to dispose the bicycle at a folded position, where the front and rear wheel units are aligned with each other along a transverse direction of the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Giant Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Min-Chang Chen
  • Patent number: 7124849
    Abstract: A tricycle includes a body with a handlebar stand pivotally connected to a front portion of the body to steer a front wheel rotatably mounted on a front wheel bracket which is mounted to a front side of the body, two rear wheels rotatably and oppositely mounted on a rear side of the body and respectively driven by a motor, two side plates respectively formed on the body to be opposite to each other for supporting a user's feet, a seat pivotally mounted on top of the body and a backrest frame pivotally mounted on top of the body and detachably connected to the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignees: Taiwan An I Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shun-Tai Huang
  • Patent number: 7083018
    Abstract: An electric motor includes a chassis having a front tube to rotatably support a handle, two arms each having one end pivotally attached to the chassis to support two front wheels on the outer ends. A cushioning device may be used to cushion the front wheels and the arms relative to the chassis. A carrier is pivotally attached to the rear portion of the chassis, and includes a spindle to support two rear wheels. An electric motor device is attached to the carrier to drive the rear wheels. Another cushioning device may be used to cushion the rear wheels and the carrier relative to the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Ding Li Metal Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tai Yang Luh
  • Patent number: 7077229
    Abstract: A folding and portable electric scooter assembled from structural members including a body member, a cover member, a seat frame and handles. When the electric scooter is not in use, a user needs only employ three simple actions to facilitate rapid folding away of a portable electric scooter, namely to fold down handles into the cover member, and fold away the cover member and the seat frame into the body member, whereupon, the user can pull a pull rod configured atop the cover member to easily pull along the electric scooter by means of auxiliary wheels connected to the body member, similar to the pulling of a baggage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Inventor: Shuei-Yuan Lee
  • Patent number: 7070198
    Abstract: A cart has a folding support for handlebars, which includes a lower rod secured on a front part of a frame, a pivotal rod pivoted to an upper end of the lower rod, and an upper tube positioned in a linearly displaceable manner around the pivotal rod from a lower end; the pivotal rod has a lengthways extending slot; the upper tube has two opposing holes; handlebars of the cart are connected to an upper end of the upper tube; a connecting element is passed through the opposing holes and the slot such that the upper tube will prevent the pivotal rod from moving relative to the lower rod when it is around the pivotal rod and the lower rod, and such that the support can be folded with the pivotal rod pivoting on the lower rod when the upper tube is apart from the lower rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Sunpex Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Samuel Lin
  • Patent number: 7059441
    Abstract: A mount frame includes a first frame unit having a first rear frame portion which is provided with an anchoring member and a gripped member. A second frame unit has a second front frame portion provided with a seat post, an anchored member which is disposed to be journalled on the anchoring member about a rotational axis. Thus, the second frame unit is rotatable relative to the axis to facilitate assembly of the first rear frame portion and the second front frame portion. A gripping member is disposed on the second front frame portion to confront the gripped member. A tightening unit is disposed to push the gripping member to abut tightly against the gripped member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Kwang Yang Motor Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Jui-Tien Chen
  • Patent number: 7044249
    Abstract: Front and rear parts of a frame of a three-wheeled cart can be joined together with a rearmost transverse rod of the front part being fitted in front trench-formed fitting portions of the rear part, a rear upright rod of the front part being fitted in a fitting portion of the rear part plus with a locking unit on rear part being engaged with an engaging hole of the front part to secure the front part to the rear part; a support rod is pivoted to the rear part; in assembling the frame, the support rod is positioned upright for holding the rear part steady together with two rear wheels such that one can use two hands instead of only one to effectively prevent the front part, only supported with a wheel, from tilting to one lateral side while moving the same to connect the same to the rear part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Inventor: Ju-Yu Fan
  • Patent number: 7028799
    Abstract: A frame of an electric cart includes a front part, and a rear part separable from the front part; the front part has a locating member secured on a rear end thereof; the rear part has a connecting member secured on a front end thereof for engaging the locating member, which connecting member has a spring-loaded engaging pin passed through it; the pin is made such as to be capable of engaging the locating member automatically while the rear part is being moved so as to fit the connecting member onto the locating member, thus securely joining the rear part to the front part; the engaging pin will be disengaged from the fitting portion when it is pressed at a first end, thus allowing the rear part to be separated from the front part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Sunpex Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Samuel Lin
  • Patent number: 7017691
    Abstract: A foldable cart includes a base with two side wheels driven by a motor and a steering wheel located a front end of the base. An upright frame is pivotably connected to the base by two folding assembly and a handle is pivotably connected to the upright frame by another folding assembly. Each folding assembly includes a first member to which a first part of the cart is connected, a second part of the cart is pivotably connected, and a second member mounted to the second part of the cart. The handle is pivoted relative to the upright frame which is pivoted relative to the base so as to fold the cart into a compact folded assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Inventor: Sheng-Kuai Lu
  • Patent number: 7007975
    Abstract: A foldable electric powered child riding vehicle includes a front module pivotally connected to a rear module. In a riding configuration, the modules are secured together in a stretched (i.e., deployed) position. An electric drive of the vehicle may be enabled only after the modules have been secured in the stretched position. In a storage/transportation configuration, the modules are disengaged and rotationally folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Inventors: Loren T. Taylor, Brian Walker
  • Patent number: 6997274
    Abstract: A golf bag that essentially comprises a ready-to-go, bag-type container with carrying handle that accommodates the clubs and at least one further insertable accessory. The clubs are disposed in recesses that are distributed across the circumference of the container, thereby forming a center cavity. The golf bag also comprises a trolley on wheels and a towing bar with a handle and an electronic control. The aim of the invention is to provide a golf bag that can be used for many purposes. To this end, the recesses for the clubs are configured as chambers subdivided by internal partitions between an inner tube and an outer tube, several chambers forming together a flap across the length of the container that can be opened or closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Inventor: Ewald Metten
  • Patent number: 6929083
    Abstract: A utility vehicle is provided with a wishbone-shaped frame having a forwardly extending stem terminating rearwardly of the front axle of the vehicle to permit the orientation of the vehicle in a shipping envelope that is significantly smaller in length than the corresponding operating envelope. The floor panel in the operator station is hinged to pivot upwardly, thereby permitting, upon the disconnection of the front axle from the frame, a rearward positioning of the front hood and front axle against the seats of the operator station. A method of configuring the utility vehicle into a compact shipping envelope is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventor: Joseph C. Hurlburt
  • Patent number: 6896084
    Abstract: A wheeled vehicle includes a main frame, and a rear frame detachably mounted on the main frame. The main frame includes a transverse bar and an upright bar. The rear frame includes a crossbar detachably mounted on the transverse bar of the main frame, and a shock-absorber detachably mounted on the upright bar of the main frame. Thus, the rear frame is mounted on and detached from the main frame easily and conveniently, thereby facilitating the user assembling and dismantling the rear frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Inventor: Chiu Hsiang Lo
  • Patent number: 6889784
    Abstract: A vehicle incorporating a power unit having a front portion, a rear portion and a power source. A drive wheel, disposed in the front of the power unit, is connected to the power source. A brake pad is connected to the power unit beneath the power source and a handle bar extends back from the power unit. The vehicle includes a trailer unit, disposed behind the power unit, having two trailer wheels, disposed on opposite sides of the trailer unit. A connecting joint, connecting the power unit to the trailer unit, allows the power unit and trailer unit to move with respect to one another about the horizontal pitch axis and/or vertical yaw axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Inventor: Donald E. Troll
  • Patent number: 6866109
    Abstract: A mobility vehicle (10) is formed by attaching a pair of scooter (S) bases (16) to a platform (14). Each scooter base includes two wheels (18, 20) and one of the wheels is drivingly connected to a battery (14) operated motor (12) to drive the vehicle. The battery and motor both comprise part of a scooter. A yoke (70) extends between the scooter wheels (18) at the front of the vehicle and a steering column (23) attaches to the yoke for steering for the vehicle as the column is turned. The steering column includes handlebars (24a, 24b) with associated handgrips (25a, 25b) for controlling vehicle speed and braking the vehicle to stop it. A seat (44) mounts on the platform for the operator of the vehicle to sit down while driving it. The seat and steering column are both removable for storing the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Inventor: Thomas Roach
  • Patent number: 6854551
    Abstract: A collapsible vehicle having a frame, a non-steerable wheel assembly and a steerable wheel assembly. The frame includes a longitudinal member, a transverse member, an upright member proximal to one end of the longitudinal member, and a steering member proximal to another end of the longitudinal member. The longitudinal member and the transverse member define a base plane. The non-steerable wheel assembly which preferably includes two non-steerable wheels pivotable about an inclined axes between a storage position within the periphery of the frame to a deployed position outside the periphery of the frame and extending below the base plane. The steerable wheel assembly includes a steerable wheel pivotable about an inclined steering axis between a storage position within the periphery of the frame to a deployed position outside the periphery of the frame and extending below the base plane. A method of collapsing and extending the collapsible vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Inventor: Warren R. Wisecarver
  • Patent number: 6851498
    Abstract: A four-wheel scooter having a collapsible shell and a seat mounted on a shaft disposed at the rear end of the scooter, such shaft movable approximately 90 degrees forward from an upright position to a storage position into a receipt slot defined in the top portion of the shell and a steering column disposed at the front end of the scooter in an upright position for use and rotatable approximately 275 degrees to a storage position against the bottom of the unit when such shell is in its collapsed storage mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Inventor: Dennis N. Sauve
  • Patent number: 6793248
    Abstract: An electric cart chassis includes a front unit and a rear unit. The front unit is fastened to a front wheel assembly and is formed of at least two support rods and a locating rod. The rear unit is fastened to a rear wheel assembly and is formed of at least two sleeves and a locating sleeve. The front unit is adjustably fastened to the rear unit such that the two support rods are adjustably fastened to the two sleeves, and such that the locating rod is adjustably fastened to the locating sleeve in conjunction with a locating bolt which is put through a locating hole of the locating sleeve and one of a series of locating holes of the locating rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Genemax Medical Products Industry Corp.
    Inventor: Chung-Che Sung
  • Patent number: 6749039
    Abstract: A modular go-kart assembly includes an acceleration assembly cooperatively working with a braking assembly for powering and stopping the go-kart assembly. The go-kart assembly further includes a central body, a front drive assembly, a rear drive assembly, and a protective cage assembly, each of which are modular for easy construction and disassembly. The go-kart assembly includes a motor having multiple power take off shafts to provide simple connections to an acceleration assembly and a braking assembly. Both the acceleration assembly and the braking assembly are controlled by one control pedal, so as to provide a safety measure for the operator, which is typically a child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Inventor: Ric Uphaus
  • Patent number: 6729647
    Abstract: An arrangement is provided for folding and stowing of a steering assembly in combination with virtually any nature of wheeled devices which include at least one “steerable” wheel, so that a more thin, stowed profile is achieved. All components of the steering assembly/dashboard are integrated into a generally parallel plane and profile without use of a separate “steering column,” so that the assembly, when folded, is conveniently stowed within the side elevational profile of the wheeled device. The folding steering assembly embodiments may be adapted to any steerable wheeled devices, with fixed or stowable wheels, whether user occupied, or remote controlled, and including wheeled devices specially equipped with implements (e.g., material handling, imaging, scientific or measurement, agricultural, landscaping, lawn-mowing as but a few examples).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Inventors: Richard N. Shapiro, Philip A. Gurecki
  • Publication number: 20040079572
    Abstract: A utility vehicle is provided with a wishbone-shaped frame having a forwardly extending stem terminating rearwardly of the front axle of the vehicle to permit the orientation of the vehicle in a shipping envelope that is significantly smaller in length than the corresponding operating envelope. The floor panel in the operator station is hinged to pivot upwardly, thereby permitting, upon the disconnection of the front axle from the frame, a rearward positioning of the front hood and front axle against the seats of the operator station. A method of configuring the utility vehicle into a compact shipping envelope is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventor: Joseph C. Hurlburt
  • Patent number: 6699616
    Abstract: A battery housing for medical scooter includes a movable base provided with at least two battery compartments for each receiving a battery therein, an electrode contact provided at the bottom of each battery compartment to electrically connect to a positive or a negative electrode of the battery in the same compartment, and an electricity chamber for accommodating a charger and a power cord that could be easily pulled out to connect to an external AC power source for the charger to recharge the batteries. Two elastic conductive plates are provided below the battery compartments to contact with the electrode contacts, so that power could be supplied from the batteries to positive and negative power supply wires of the cart connected to the conductive plates. Drain holes are provided below the elastic conductive plates to protect the battery housing from damage due to accumulated water on the medical scooter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: Donald P. H. Wu
  • Patent number: 6672606
    Abstract: An improved suspension system is disclosed for a personal mobility vehicle comprising an arm assembly pivotably mounted to a fame section. A wheel assembly is connected to the arm assembly. A spring is interposed between the arm assembly and the second frame section for resiliently suspending the wheel assembly relative to the frame section. In one example of the invention, the frame section comprises a rigid frame section of the personal mobility vehicle. In another example of the invention, the frame section comprises a resilient leaf spring resiliently suspending the assembly of the personal mobility vehicle. In another example of the invention, a resilient coil spring interposed between the arm assembly the resilient leaf spring for providing a multiple resilient suspension for the wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Electric Mobility Corporation
    Inventors: Edward Joseph Dwyer, Jr., Stephen John Jarema
  • Publication number: 20030070855
    Abstract: A method of loading a two-wheeled vehicle onto a vehicle, e.g., within a trunk space of the accommodating vehicle. The required trunk space can be minimized without relying upon folding of the two-wheeled vehicle. A seat post of the two-wheeled vehicle loaded onto and rearward of a rearmost seat of a four-wheeled vehicle is pulled up forward around a predetermined shaft of pivotal motion. A seat of the two-wheeled vehicle functions integrally as a backrest of a rear seat of the four-wheeled vehicle and a seat back of the two-wheeled vehicle integrally functions as a headrest of the seat of the four-wheeled vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Horii, Yukinori Kurakawa, Satoshi Kazama, Hidetoshi Kabayama, Dai Higashida, Tomohiro Komori, Shoji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6530446
    Abstract: A frame for an electric scooter has a front half-frame, a rear half-frame and at least one locking device. The rear half-frame is detachably connected to the front half-frame with at least one locking device. Each locking device has a locking plate, an arm and a pin. The locking plate is secured to one of the frame halves, and the arm and the pin are mounted on the other half-frame. The pin is retractably mounted the half-frame and has one end inserted into a bore defined in the locking plate. The arm is pivotally attached to the half-frame to pull the pin to disengage from the bore when the arm pivots relative to the half-frame. Accordingly, the front half-frame can be detached from the rear half-frame. To package, store or transport the electric scooter with the separable frame is more convenient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Inventor: Samuel Lin