| CPC B62M 17/00 (2013.01) [B62K 5/027 (2013.01); B62M 7/02 (2013.01); B62M 9/02 (2013.01)] | 11 Claims |
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1. A three-wheeled vehicle, comprising:
a frame configured for supporting a driver and a plurality of mechanical devices, wherein the frame is defined as having a front portion, a rear portion, a vertical cross plane, a right portion, a left portion, and a vertical center plane, wherein the front portion is opposite the rear portion and is generally divided by the vertical cross plane, and wherein the right portion is opposite the left portion and is generally divided by the vertical center plane;
a pair of steerable front wheels rotatably connected to the frame each through a respective front upper control arm and a front lower control arm, where the pair of steerable front wheels are positioned at opposite sides of the front portion generally equally separated by the vertical center plane, and wherein the pair of steerable front wheels rotate in both a pair of rolling axes and a pair of turning axes, wherein the pair of rolling axes allow the pair of steerable front wheels to roll upon a surface wherein the surface is substantially perpendicular to both the vertical center plane and the vertical cross plane, wherein the pair of rolling axes are substantially parallel with the surface, and wherein the pair of turning axes are substantially parallel to both the vertical center plane and the vertical cross plane, wherein the direction of the pair of steerable front wheels can be changed relative to the orientation of the frame about the pair of turning axes through a steering input;
a single rear wheel rotatably affixed to a rear spindle which is pivotably attached to the frame through a rear upper control arm and a rear lower control arm, the rear wheel generally centered along the vertical center plane and positioned about the rear portion behind the vertical cross plane, wherein the rear wheel rotates in a rear rolling axis wherein the rear rolling axis is substantially parallel to the vertical cross plane and substantially perpendicular to the vertical center plane, wherein the rear wheel can roll upon the surface;
a front lever arm pivotably affixed to the frame disposed along the front portion and pivotable about a front lever arm pivot axis, the front lever arm pivot axis being substantially parallel to the vertical center plane and/or surface;
a slider translatably attached to the front lever arm;
a first pushrod pivotably connected at a first end to the slider and pivotably connected at a second end to at least one of the front upper control arm or the front lower control arm of the pair of steerable front wheels;
a rear lever arm pivotably affixed to the frame disposed along the rear portion and pivotable about a rear lever arm pivot axis, the rear lever arm extending to a rear lever arm distal end, wherein the rear lever arm pivot axis is substantially parallel to the vertical center plane and/or surface;
a drive shaft rod connected at a first end to the front lever arm at the front lever arm pivot axis and connected at a second end to the rear lever arm at the rear lever arm pivot axis, wherein the drive shaft rod pivotably connects the front lever arm to the rear lever arm to pivot together;
wherein a first pivotable end of either the rear upper control arm or the rear lower control arm is pivotably connected to the rear lever arm distal end, and a second pivotable end of the respective rear upper control arm or the rear lower control arm is pivotably connected to the rear spindle.
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