Power assisting device for a manually operating vehicle

In combination with a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, a frame connecting said wheels, said wheels comprising a leading wheel and a trailing wheel, a power assisting assembly for said vehicle comprising:

• a motor;
• a driving wheel rotatably driven by said motor, said driving wheel being longitudinally spaced rearwardly of said trailing wheel, said driving wheel connected to a linkage assembly, said linkage assembly being connected to said frame, said linkage assembly including first means for limited lateral adjustment of said driving wheel in respect to said frame during turning movements of said vehicle, and second means connected to said linkage assembly for retarding said lateral adjustment;
• said leading wheel and said trailing wheel being rotatably operable within the same plane with said vehicle moving in a straight direction, said driving wheel being rotatably driven within said same plane;
• said linkage assembly includes a first pair of elongated members extending from said driving wheel, a second pair of members interconnecting the free end of said first pair of members and said frame of said vehicle;
• the connection of said second pair of members with said frame of said vehicle including disconnection means for partially disconnecting said second pair of members from said frame upon either said vehicle or said power assisting assembly incurring an unanticipated force which could potentially damage either said vehicle or said power assisting assembly, said disconnection means being pressed in tight contact with said frame during normal operation of said power assisting assembly, upon said power assisting assembly encountering said unanticipated force of sufficient magnitude the said disconnecting means moves relative to said frame becoming separate and spaced from said frame.

In combination with a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, a frame connecting said wheels, said wheels comprising a leading wheel and a trailing wheel, a power assisting assembly for said vehicle comprising:

• a motor;
• a driving wheel rotatably driven by said motor, said driving wheel being longitudinally spaced rearwardly of said trailing wheel, said driving wheel connected to a linkage assembly, said linkage assembly being connected to said frame, said linkage assembly including first means for limited lateral adjustment of said driving wheel in respect to said frame during turning movements of said vehicle, and second means connected to said linkage assembly for retarding said lateral adjustment;
• assisting assembly for said vehicle comprising:
• a motor;
• a driving wheel rotatably driven by said motor, said driving wheel being longitudinally spaced rearwardly of said trailing wheel, said driving wheel connected to a linkage assembly, said linkage assembly being connected to said frame, said linkage assembly including first means for limited lateral adjustment of said driving wheel in respect to said frame during turning movements of said vehicle, and second means connected to said linkage assembly for retarding said lateral adjustment;
• said leading wheel and said trailing wheel being rotatably operable within the same plane with said vehicle moving in a straight direction, said driving wheel being rotatably driven within said same plane;
• said linkage assembly includes a first pair of elongated members extending from said driving wheel, a second pair of members interconnecting the free end of said first pair of members and said frame of said vehicle;
• the connection of said second pair of members with said frame of said vehicle including disconnection means for partially disconnecting said second pair of members from said frame upon either said vehicle or said power assisting assembly incurring an unanticipated force which could potentially damage either said vehicle or said power assisting assembly;
• and
• said first means being located at the connection between said first pair of members and said second pair of members, said first means including a pin capable of limited longitudinal adjustment within an elongated slot with there being a separate said pin and slot for each pair of interconnected said first member and said second member, whereby said separate pin and slot arrangement causes said driving wheel to be centered behind said trailing wheel if the said power assisting device encounters a slippery or loose surface.

In combination with a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, a frame connecting said wheels, said wheels comprising a leading wheel and a trailing wheel, a power assisting assembly for said vehicle comprising:

• a motor;
• a driving wheel rotatably driven by said motor, said driving wheel being longitudinally spaced rearwardly of said trailing wheel, said driving wheel connected to a linkage assembly, said linkage assembly being connected to said frame, said linkage assembly including first means for limited lateral adjustment of said driving wheel in respect to said frame during turning movements of said vehicle, and second means connected to said linkage assembly for retarding said lateral adjustment;
• said leading wheel and said trailing wheel being rotatably operable within the same plane with said vehicle moving in a straight direction, said driving wheel being rotatably driven within said same plane;
• said linkage assembly includes a first pair of elongated members extending from said driving wheel, a second pair of members interconnecting the free end of said first pair of members and said frame of said vehicle;
• the connection of said second pair of members with said frame of said vehicle including disconnection means for partially disconnecting said second pair of members from said frame upon either said vehicle or said power assisting assembly incurring an unanticipated force which could potentially damage either said vehicle or said power assisting assembly;
• and
• said first means being located at the connection between said first pair of members and said second pair of members, said first means including a pin capable of limited longitudinal adjustment within an elongated slot with there being a separate said pin and slot for each pair of inerconnected said first member and said second member, whereby said separate pin and slot arrangement causes said driving wheel to be centered behind said trailing wheel if the said power assisting device encounters a slippery or loose surface.