# US 12,179,840 B2 · Notches of frame rails of three-wheeled vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,840 B2 - Document ID: US12179840B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/307,250 - Filed: 2023-04-26 - Published: 2024-10-31 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2023-04-26 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Saied Nusier; Jamel E. Belwafa; Srinivasan Sundararajan; Rahul Arora - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179840B2 ## CPC - B62D 21/15: having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body (bumpers B60R19/02; shock absorbers in general F16F) - B62D 21/02: comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members - B62D 61/08: with single front wheel - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A vehicle includes a vehicle frame including a first frame rail, a second frame rail spaced cross-vehicle from the first frame rail, and a middle frame rail between the first frame rail and the second frame rail. The first frame rail and the second frame rail each have a vehicle-inboard side facing toward the middle frame rail. The vehicle-inboard sides each define a plurality of notches. The middle frame rail has a downward side facing downwardly and perpendicular to the vehicle-inboard sides. The downward side defining a plurality of notches. The vehicle frame has a rear cross-member and a front cross-member spaced vehicle-forward of the rear cross-member. The rear cross-member and the front cross-member are between the first frame rail and the second frame rail. The notches of the vehicle-inboard sides and the notches of the downward side are between the rear cross-member and the front cross-member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle comprising: a vehicle frame including a first frame rail, a second frame rail spaced cross-vehicle from the first frame rail, and a middle frame rail between the first frame rail and the second frame rail, the middle frame rail being on a longitudinal axis of the vehicle frame that is spaced equidistantly from the first frame rail and the second frame rail; the first frame rail and the second frame rail each having a vehicle-inboard side facing toward the middle frame rail, the vehicle-inboard sides each defining a plurality of notches; the middle frame rail having a downward side facing downwardly in a plane perpendicular to the vehicle-inboard sides, the downward side defining a plurality of notches; the vehicle frame having a rear cross-member and a front cross-member spaced vehicle-forward of the rear cross-member, the rear cross-member and the front cross-member are between the first frame rail and the second frame rail; and the notches of the vehicle-inboard sides and the notches of the downward side are between the rear cross-member and the front cross-member; and a front wheel vehicle-forward of the vehicle frame, the front wheel being on the longitudinal axis of the vehicle frame. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first frame rail, the second frame rail, and the middle frame rail are elongated along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle frame, the notches of the vehicle-inboard sides and the notches of the downward side are spaced equidistantly along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the front cross-member and the rear cross-member are elongated along a cross-vehicle axis, the notches of the downward side being elongated along the cross-vehicle axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle-inboard sides are elongated along a vertical axis, the notches of the vehicle-inboard sides being elongated along the vertical axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the notches of the vehicle-inboard sides face toward the middle frame rail. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first frame rail and the second frame rail include a vehicle-outboard side spaced vehicle-outboard from the vehicle-inboard side, a distance between the vehicle-inboard side and the vehicle-outboard side being larger between the notches than at the notches. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising: a second front cross-member spaced cross-vehicle from the front cross-member; the front cross-member extending from the first frame rail toward the middle frame rail and the second front cross-member extending from the second frame rail toward the middle frame rail; a second rear cross-member spaced cross-vehicle from the rear cross-member; and the rear cross-member extending from the first frame rail to the middle frame rail and the second rear cross-member extending from the second frame rail to the middle frame rail. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the notches of the first frame rail are spaced equidistantly from the front cross-member to the rear cross-member and the notches of the second frame rail are spaced equidistantly from the second front cross-member to the second rear cross-member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the middle frame rail is spaced vehicle-inboard from the first frame rail and the second frame rail. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the middle frame rail is elongated from the rear cross-member to a distal end, the notches of the downward side being spaced equidistantly between the rear cross-member and the distal end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first frame rail, the second frame rail, and the middle frame rail are designed to be deformable along the notches when a force is applied along the middle rail. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a seat positioned adjacent the rear cross-member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the notches of the vehicle-inboard side and the notches of the downward side are vehicle-forward of the seat. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the front cross-member is vehicle-forward of the seat. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first frame rail, the second frame rail, and the middle frame rail are designed to be deformable along the notches when a force is applied at the front wheel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising: a steering post connected to the front wheel to turn the front wheel; and a member extending upwardly from the middle frame rail to the steering post. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein vehicle-forward ends of the first frame rail and the second frame rail move upwardly and vehicle-inboard as the notches of the vehicle-inboard sides of the first and second frame rails deform, and a vehicle-forward end of the middle frame rail moves upwardly as the notches of the downward side of the middle frame rail deform.