Platform oriented transportation vehicle

A vehicle, comprising;

• three ground engaging wheels, two of said wheels being rotatably on a first horizontal axis of rotation, and said third wheel being rotatable on a second horizontal axis of rotation that is spaced from and parallel to said first axis of rotation,
• a platform having means for suspending said wheels therefrom and having a flat surface portion for supporting a vehicle operator,
• a plurality of latch elements arrayed around the outer edge of said platform and on said flat surface portion for receiving mating elements of accessories for removably securing said accessories to the vehicle,
• a control pedestal extending from said platform in generally perpendicular relation from the plane of said flat surface portion and having vehicle function control means thereon,
• means for locating and securing said control pedestal between a generally vertical position for use by the operator and a generally horizontal position wherein said pedestal extends closely adjacent to and substantially parallel with said flat surface portion, and
• power source means mounted to said platform in proximity to said first axis of wheel rotation, and coupled for driving at least one of said wheels,
• the center of gravity of the vehicle, when empty, being located in proximity to said first axis of wheel rotation, whereby the vehicle is vertically storable when said pedestal is pivoted into said horizontal position and said platform is pivoted to a generally vertical position as said platform rotates about said first axis of wheel rotation.

In a vehicle which has a platform having a generally flat surface portion with the platform mounting a pair of ground engaging wheels and a power source for driving one or more of the wheels, a control pedestal comprising:

• a pair of arms each formed of first and second segments with said first segment including means manually grippable by an operator on the platform,
• linkage means coupling said second arm segments to respective ones of the wheels for providing turning control of the vehicle in response to pivoting movement of a said second arm segment, and
• first and second means in proximity to the platform for selectively securing said segments relative to one another between a first position wherein said segments are manually pivotable as a unit for permitting the vehicle operator to turn the vehicle and a second position wherein said first segment is secured in a position generally parallel to the platform flat surface,
• whereby the vehicle is storable with minimum volume when said segments are in said second position.

A canopy removably attachable to a vehicle platform which has vehicle operating controls and a plurality of latch elements arrayed thereon comprising:

• a pair of elongated frame elements,
• means retaining said frame elements in parallel relation to one another for defining a rectangularly shaped box having four elongated faces and two end faces with at least part of one elongated face enclosed,
• first attachment means in proximity to one of said end faces for removable securement to the platform in a first position with the length of said frame elements generally perpendicular to the platform in enclosing relation to the operator controls, and
• second attachment means in association with the said elongated face opposite said enclosed elongated face for removable securement to the platform in a second position with the length of said frame elements generally parallel to the platform,
• whereby securement of said frame elements in said first position provides a windscreen for the operator whereas securement in said second position provides a cargo cover.

A three wheeled vehicle, comprising:

• a unitary platform member having a vertically raised cavity portion forming the front, generally vertical front surface of said vehicle, and extending from side to side of said platform member, said platform member having a substantially flat, horizontal, passenger/cargo supporting floor portion extending rearward from said raised cavity,
• motive means including two side-aligned front wheels and wheel drive means mounted generally in the interior of said cavity portion,
• a single rear wheel supported at the rear of said platform member, at a position substantially equidistant between said front wheels, and
• steering means connected to said front wheels, said steering means including a first portion mounted within said cavity portion, and a manual actuator portion extending generally vertically upward from said cavity portion, said actuator portion being foldable to a generally horizontal position, adjacent said floor portion,
• the center of gravity of said vehicle, when empty, thereby being located substantially in proximity to said front wheels, to thereby facilitate parking/storage of the vehicle by manually lifting the rear of said vehicle while said manual actuator portion is in said folded position, and
• the presence of an operator, passengers and/or cargo on said horizontal floor portion, and while said manual actuator portion is in said generally vertical position, operating to move the vehicle's center of gravity toward said rear wheel during operation of said vehicle.

A low cost, low powered motor vehicle for use by a human operator in hauling cargo, comprising

• a unitized platform member having a drive portion upon which motor means are mounted, and a generally horizontal, flat, floor portion for support of the operator and cargo,
• a plurality of ground engaging wheels mounted generally under said platform member, at least one of said wheels being connected to said motor means so as to be driven thereby,
• a plurality of first fastener means mounted at spaced locations around the periphery of said platform member,
• a plurality of second fastener means mounted at spaced locations within the cargo carrying area of said platform member, and
• attachment means for enhancing the cargo carrying ability of said vehicle, selected from the group
• (i) a substantially solid, continuous wall member having an open top, a bottom surface that conforms to the periphery of said platform member, and fastener means located to mate with the first fastener means of said platform member,
• (ii) a rigid rail that is raised from and encircles said platform member at a distance that is spaced outward from the periphery of said platform member, so as to horizontally and vertically expand the load carrying area of said platform member, a plurality of downward and inward extending support arms connected to said rail, and fastener means on the lower end of at least some of said support arms, said fastener means being located to mate with the first fastener means of said platform member,
• (iii) a plurality of individual extender arms, each of which includes fastener means on the lower end thereof, thereby enabling an individual one of said arms to be located to mate with an individual one of the first fastener means of said platform member, said individual arms being selectively rotatable between generally vertical and horizontal positions, and
• (iv) at least one generally U-shaped wall member having spaced apart downwardly extending legs, each leg having fastening means on the end thereof adapted to cooperate with the second fastening means of said platform member.