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US 2014/0175769 A1Published application
Vehicle having a chassis that converts to a protective carrying case
AssigneeMDM Productivity, Inc.
InventorJon P. Moldestad
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The teachings provided herein are generally directed to compact, carry-on vehicles configured to shield a user from the drive mechanism. The vehicles are generally foldable, carry-on vehicles having a chassis that converts to a protective carry-on case for the vehicle. The vehicles are foldable with a drive mechanism that is (i) compact, (ii) at least substantially enclosed, (iii) clean, and (iv) generally shielded from contact by the user in the collapsed configuration.
Claims20
A carry-on vehicle having a chassis that converts to a protective carry-on casing, comprising:
- a folding chassis consisting essentially of (i) a rotatably-lockable front strut supporting a front wheel assembly having a front wheel, (ii) a rotatably-lockable rear strut supporting a rear wheel assembly having a rear wheel;
- and, (iii) a channel operably connected to the rotatably-lockable front strut and the rotatably-lockable rear strut;
- a steering assembly;
- and,
- a drive assembly;
- wherein,
- the front strut has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the front strut attaching to the channel at a rotatably-lockable front strut pivot;
- the rear strut has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the rear strut attaching to the channel at a rotatably-lockable rear strut pivot;
- and,
- the releasably-lockable front strut and the releasably-lockable rear strut each configured to fold into a complementary configuration with the channel in a collapsed state;
- the channel configured for at least substantially enclosing the drive assembly in the collapsed state for a carry-on vehicle, the drive assembly shielded from contact by a user.
8 more elements
A carry-on bicycle having a chassis that converts to a protective carry-on casing, comprising:
- a folding chassis having (i) a rotatably-lockable front strut supporting a front wheel assembly having a front wheel, (ii) a rotatably-lockable rear strut supporting a rear wheel assembly having a rear wheel;
- (iii) a channel operably connected to the rotatably-lockable front strut and the rotatably-lockable rear strut;
- and, (iv) a steering assembly;
- and,
- a drive assembly;
- wherein,
- the drive assembly including a pair of pedals attached to a pair of crankarms, the pair of crankarms attached to a crankshaft, the crankshaft having a crank axis that rotates in a fixed position in the chassis, the crankshaft in an operable communication with a drive member, the drive member in an operable communication with the front wheel or the rear wheel, the drive assembly transferring a power from the crankshaft to drive the front wheel or the rear wheel;
- wherein,
- the front strut has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the front strut attaching to the channel at a rotatably-lockable front strut pivot;
- the rear strut has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the rear strut attaching to the channel at a rotatably-lockable rear strut pivot;
- the channel configured for at least substantially enclosing the drive assembly;
- the releasably-lockable front strut and the releasably-lockable rear strut configured to fold into a complementary configuration with the channel in a collapsed state, the drive assembly shielded from contact by a user.
9 more elements
A carry-on bicycle having a chassis that converts to a protective carry-on casing, comprising:
- a folding chassis including (i) a rotatably-lockable front unifork supporting a front wheel assembly having a front wheel, (ii) a rotatably-lockable rear unifork supporting a rear wheel assembly having a rear wheel;
- (iii) a channel operably connected to the rotatably-lockable front unifork and the rotatably-lockable rear unifork;
- and, (iv) a steering assembly;
- and,
- a drive assembly;
- wherein,
- the drive assembly including a crankshaft, the crankshaft having a crank axis that rotates in a fixed position in the chassis, the crankshaft in an operable communication with a drive member, the drive member in an operable communication with the front wheel or the rear wheel, the drive assembly transferring a power from the crankshaft to drive the front wheel or the rear wheel;
- wherein,
- the front unifork has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the front unifork attaching to the channel at a rotatably-lockable front unifork pivot;
- the rear unifork has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the rear unifork attaching to the channel at a rotatably-lockable rear unifork pivot;
- the channel configured for at least substantially enclosing the drive assembly;
- the releasably-lockable front unifork and the releasably-lockable rear unifork configured to fold into a complementary configuration with the channel in a collapsed state, the drive assembly shielded from contact by a user;
- and,
- the rotation at the rotatably-lockable front unifork pivot is concentric with the rotation of the crank axis.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.