Low slung small vehicle
AssigneeYamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorOsamu Hayata
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Abstract
A number of embodiments of low, stable, self-propelled vehicles adapted to carry disabled, infirmed or elderly persons. In each embodiment there is provided a load carrying floor that has its upper surface spaced below the axis of rotation of the rear wheels and which may be raised and lowered for facilitating entry onto the floor. In many embodiments, a wheelchair is adapted to be supported on the floor and a movable stop pivots upon movement of the floor between a raised and a lowered position. In each position, the stop functions to retain a wheelchair in place.
Claims7
In a vehicle having a pair of spaced apart rear wheels, at least one dirigible front wheel, a body, means suspending said body upon said wheels, said body defining a load carrying floor lying below an axis of rotation of said rear wheels and defined by upstanding sidewalls, an upstanding front wall and open at its rear for rear entry to said load carrying floor, said upstanding sidewalls and said upstanding front wall each being comprised of spaced apart upstanding sections joined at upper ends thereof by a generally horizontally extending section so as to define a hollow interior and generally inverted box like shape, a power means contained forwardly of said load carrying floor and within the hollow interior of said upstanding front wall between the opposing sections thereof, said power means comprising an engine and a differential driven by said engine, said differential driving a pair of chain transmission means for driving said rear wheels from said power means, each of said chain transmission means being positioned laterally outwardly of said load carrying floor and within the hollow interior of a respective one of said sidewalls for driving the rear wheel at a side thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.