US 7,255,191 B2Granted

Composite construction vehicle frame

AssigneeVectrix Corporation

InventorsJames Daniel Baldwin, Steven R. Cox, Peter S. Hughes

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Abstract

A vehicle frame that includes first and second frame portions. The first frame portion has a plurality of struts associated with each other to form a first framework. The second frame portion is associable with the first frame portion in a stiffening association for significantly increasing the stiffness of the first frame portion. The associated first and second frame portions are configured to support a rider sitting on the vehicle frame. The associated frame portions also define an interior cavity dimension for housing a component of the propulsion system for propelling the vehicle. The associated frame portions also comprise attachments for supportedly connecting two wheels of the vehicle, a seat disposed on the frame, and other vehicle accessories and systems.

Claims31

Dependent claims

An electric vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle frame, comprising:
a lower frame portion that comprises a plurality of struts, each strut having first and second ends that are attached to at least an end of another one of the struts to form a lower strut-framework and a skin member covering openings between the first and second ends of the struts, and
an upper frame portion comprising a skin member associable with the lower framework in a stiffening association for significantly increasing the stiffness of the lower framework,
wherein the associated lower framework and upper frame portion cooperatively define and substantially enclose an interior cavity therebetween, the struts comprising:
a first group of struts disposed to one lateral side and defining a lateral portion of the cavity, and
a second group of struts disposed to an opposite lateral side of the cavity from the first group and defining another lateral portion of the cavity;
a seat supportedly mounted on the upper frame portion above the cavity;
a plurality of wheels supportively associated with the lower framework;
an electrical energy source housed in the interior cavity;
and
a electric motor connected to the energy source for receiving propulsive energy therefrom, and connected to at least one of the wheels for propelling the vehicle using the propulsive energy.

8 more elements

A vehicle frame, comprising:

a first frame portion having a first frame portion stiffness and being configured for connecting to at least one vehicle wheel;
a second frame portion having a second frame portion stiffness and being configured for supporting a rider seat, the second frame portion being separably associable with the first frame portion in a stiffening association to cooperatively provide an assembled frame that has a frame stiffness that is significantly greater than a first and second stiffnesses independently;
wherein the assembled frame is configured such that the second frame portion is supported by the first frame portion;
wherein the first and second frame portions of the assembled frame cooperatively:
define and substantially enclose an interior cavity dimensioned for housing an electrical energy-source for providing propulsive energy to a propulsion system for propelling the vehicle, and
include a strut framework that comprises a plurality of supportive struts, which struts each have first and second ends that are each attached to at least one of the ends of another one of the struts, such that the framework provides a major portion of the support of the rider on the wheel;
wherein the struts include first and second lateral groups of the struts disposed on and defining opposite lateral side of the cavity.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/697,871Filed 31 Oct 2003
Published: US 2005/0092538 A15 May 2005
Granted: 14 Aug 2007
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

B62K 19/16
Characterised by material or cross-section of frame members: the material being wholly or mainly of plastics
B60L 50/64
Using power supplied by batteries: constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
B60L 50/66
Using power supplied by batteries: arrangements of batteries
B60L 58/26
For controlling the temperature of batteries: by cooling