# US 2014/0191485 A1 · Conversion of two wheeled motorcycle to a three wheeled trike configuration > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0191485 A1 - Document ID: US20140191485A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/135,974 - Filed: 2013-12-20 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-31 - Assignees: Yelvington Trikes, LLC - Applicants: Yelvington Trikes, LLC - Inventors: Richard Daniel Yelvington - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191485A1 ## CPC - B62K 11/02: Frames (motorcycles or cycles with auxiliary engines characterised by position of engine B62M) - B60K 17/165: {provided between independent half axles (B60K17/18, B60K17/20 take precedence)} - B62K 11/00: Motorcycles, engine-assisted cycles or motor scooters with one or two wheels (fairings or streamlining parts not forming part of the frame B62J; transmission of drive from engines to wheels B62M) - B62K 13/04: to a tricycle - B62M 9/02: of unchangeable ratio - F16H 48/06: with gears having orbital motion - Y10T 29/49622: Vehicular structural member making - Y10T 29/49718: Repairing - B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B62M: RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR {SINGLE-TRACK} CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of transmissions in vehicles in general B60K; transmission elements per se F16) - F16H: GEARING - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A kit and method of motorcycle to trike conversion using a mono-coupe style overlay plate on both sides of the rear swing arm and a non-straddle differential design incorporating hollow metal tube axles and high thrust load maximum surface area bearings, the having a differential assembly comprising a non-straddle differential, a frame, and an axle assembly comprising an axle, wherein the non-straddle differential is supported by the axle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A kit for converting a two-wheeled motorcycle into a three-wheeled motorcycle, comprising: a differential assembly comprising a non-straddle differential; a frame; and an axle assembly comprising an axle, wherein the non-straddle differential is supported by the axle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the differential assembly further comprises a bearing located proximal to or at an access hole through which the axle extends, whereby non-straddle differential runs directly on the axle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The kit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bearing is constructed and located such that engine output load is distributed across the bearing and the non-straddle differential is reduced in size, whereby the differential assembly is of a reduced size and is placed between an opening left when a stock rear tire of the two-wheeled motorcycle is removed and replaced with the kit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The kit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a drive sprocket attached to the differential assembly, a planetary gear attached to the axle, and a sun gear attached within the differential assembly and operatively connected to the planetary gear, whereby rotation of the sprocket causes the rotation of the differential assembly, rotation of the differential assembly cause movement of the sun gear, movement of the sun gear causes rotation of the planetary gear, and rotation of the planetary gear causes rotation of the axle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame comprises at least two side plates and at least one supporting cross bar connecting the at least two side plates together, whereby the differential assembly is located between the at least two side plates, whereby the frame is placed between an opening left when a stock rear tire of the two-wheeled motorcycle is removed and replaced with the kit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The kit as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a drive sprocket attached to the differential assembly, whereby the differential assembly including the drive sprocket is located between the at least two side plates, whereby the frame is placed between an opening left when a stock rear tire of the two-wheeled motorcycle is removed and replaced with the kit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The kit as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a brake attached to the differential assembly, whereby the differential assembly including the drive sprocket and the brake is located between the at least two side plates, whereby the frame is placed between an opening left when a stock rear tire of the two-wheeled motorcycle is removed and replaced with the kit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The kit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the brake is attached to the differential assembly in such a manner that actuation of the brake acts on the differential assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The kit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the axle assembly further comprises an axle support tube attached to the frame, wherein the axle passes through the axle support tube and is rotatably supported in the axle support tube by a bearing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The kit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the axle is hollow. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The kit as claimed in claim 10, further comprising an axle stub for connecting the axle to the planetary gear, whereby the axle stub fits the hollow axle and within an access hole in the planetary gear. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The kit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the axle or the axle stub is replaceable with a component selected from the group consisting of a longer axle, a shorter axle, a longer axle stub, an a shorter axle stub, whereby the differential assembly can be located at different locations between the at least two side plates based on the selected component. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) The kit as claimed in claim 5, further comprising two axles and two axle support tubes, wherein: a first of the two axle support tubes is attached to a first external side of the frame; a second of the two axle support tubes is attached to a second external side of the frame opposite the first external side of the frame; the differential assembly is located within the frame between the first axle support tube and the second axle support tube; a first of the two axles passes through the first of the two axle support tubes and is attached to the non-straddle differential through a first side of the differential assembly; a second of the two axles passes through the second of the two axle support tubes and is attached to the non-straddle differential through a second side of the differential assembly opposite the first side of the differential assembly, wherein the two axle support tubes and the two axles are all coaxial with each other. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The kit as claimed in claim 13, wherein the differential assembly further comprises a bearing located proximal to or at an access hole through which the axle extends, whereby non-straddle differential runs directly on the axle, wherein the bearing is constructed and located such that engine output load is distributed across the bearing and the non-straddle differential is reduced in size, whereby the differential assembly is of a reduced size and is placed between an opening left when a stock rear tire of the two-wheeled motorcycle is removed and replaced with the kit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The kit as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a drive sprocket attached to the differential assembly, a planetary gear attached to the axle, and a sun gear attached within the differential assembly and operatively connected to the planetary gear, whereby rotation of the sprocket causes the rotation of the differential assembly, rotation of the differential assembly cause movement of the sun gear, movement of the sun gear causes rotation of the planetary gear, and rotation of the planetary gear causes rotation of the axle, and wherein the drive sprocket is attached to the differential assembly, whereby the differential assembly including the drive sprocket is located between the at least two side plates, whereby the frame is placed between an opening left when a stock rear tire of the two-wheeled motorcycle is removed and replaced with the kit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The kit as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a brake attached to the differential assembly, whereby the differential assembly including the drive sprocket and the brake is located between the at least two side plates, whereby the frame is placed between an opening left when a stock rear tire of the two-wheeled motorcycle is removed and replaced with the kit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The kit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the brake is attached to the differential assembly in such a manner that actuation of the brake acts on the differential assembly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The kit as claimed in claim 17, wherein the axle assembly further comprises an axle support tube attached to the frame, wherein the axle passes through the axle support tube and is rotatably supported in the axle support tube by a bearing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The kit as claimed in claim 18, wherein the axle is hollow, and further comprising an axle stub for connecting the axle to the planetary gear, whereby the axle stub fits the hollow axle and within an access hole in the planetary gear. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The kit as claimed in claim 19, wherein the axle or the axle stub is replaceable with a component selected from the group consisting of a longer axle, a shorter axle, a longer axle stub, an a shorter axle stub, whereby the differential assembly can be located at different locations between the at least two side plates based on the selected component. ### Claim 21 A method for converting a two-wheeled motorcycle into a three-wheeled motorcycle, comprising: a) providing a conversion kit comprising: a differential assembly comprising a non-straddle differential; a frame; and an axle assembly comprising an axle, wherein the non-straddle differential is supported by the axle, and wherein the frame comprises at least two side plates and at least one supporting cross bar connecting the at least two side plates together; b) removing the rear wheel assembly of the two-wheeled motorcycle; and c) attaching the conversion kit to the two-wheeled motorcycle, whereby the differential assembly is located between the at least two side plates, whereby the frame is placed between an opening left when the rear wheel assembly of the two-wheeled motorcycle is removed and replaced with the kit.