US 11,834,130 B2Granted

Three-wheeled tilting vehicle

AssigneeSway Motorsports LLC

InventorsKyle Jonathan Doerksen, Joseph Wilcox

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A tiltable vehicle has a pair of front wheels coupled to a tiltable chassis by a tilt linkage, such that the pair of front wheels and the chassis are configured to tilt in unison with respect to a roll axis of the chassis. The tilt linkage includes a four-bar linkage having a pair of upper bar segments coupled to the chassis at spaced-apart respective inboard joints. In some examples, the inboard joints of the upper bar segments are each disposed outboard of a central chassis joint of a lower bar of the tilt linkage. An orientation sensor is configured to detect directional information regarding a net force vector applied to the chassis, and a tilt actuator operatively coupled to the chassis and configured to selectively tilt the chassis. A controller is configured to selectively control the tilt actuator based on the directional information from the orientation sensor.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A method for operating a three-wheeled vehicle, the method comprising:

controlling a tilt actuator using a controller to selectively tilt a chassis of a vehicle having a pair of front wheels coupled to the chassis by a tilt linkage, wherein the tilt linkage comprises a pair of upper bar segments coupled to the chassis, wherein respective inboard joints of the upper bar segments are each disposed outboard of a central chassis joint of a lower bar of the tilt linkage, wherein a single rear wheel is coupled to the chassis, the rear wheel comprising a hub motor configured to drive the rear wheel to propel the vehicle, based on directional information regarding a net force vector applied to the chassis;
steering the vehicle in response to rider input, in a first mode in which the vehicle is configured to support a rider;
automatically converting the vehicle from the first mode to a second mode in response to a handlebar assembly of the vehicle being pivoted rearward toward a seat of the vehicle, wherein the second mode is configured to prevent a rider from mounting the vehicle;
steering the vehicle automatically in response to entering the second mode, using the controller.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/159,024Filed 24 Jan 2023 · continuation
Priority: 22 Feb 2019
Published: US 2023/0234672 A127 Jul 2023
Granted: 5 Dec 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification24 codes

B62M 6/50
Control or actuating devices therefor: characterised by detectors or sensors, or arrangement thereof
B62H 1/02
Supports or stands forming part of or attached to cycles: articulated stands, e.g. in the shape of hinged arms
B62J 9/00
Containers specially adapted for cycles
B62J 43/13
For propulsion: on rider-propelled cycles with additional electric propulsion

Family

Application62/809,482Us provisional application · filed 22 Feb 2019
Application62/812,921Us provisional application · filed 1 Mar 2019
Application16/799,800Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 24 Feb 2020
Application16/807,120Parent of this continuation · filed 2 Mar 2020
US 11,052,942 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 6 Jul 2021
Application17/386,308Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Jul 2021
US 11,072,389 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Jul 2021
US 2023/0234672 A1Pre-grant publication · published 27 Jul 2023
US 11,560,198 B2Parent of this continuation
Application16/807,120Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2020/0269916 A1Published application
US 2020/0283092 A1Published application
US 2021/0354781 A1Published application
US 11,834,130 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.