US 8,388,014 B2Granted

Foldable motorized vehicle with frame connecting and frame locking mechanisms

AssigneeChichun Wu

InventorsChichun Wu, Zhao Zhang

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Abstract

A foldable motorized vehicle includes a frame connecting mechanism and a frame locking mechanism. The frame connecting mechanism comprises: a pair of first slide rails, a pair of second slide rails, a pair of first connecting members, and a pair of second connecting members. The front end portions of the first slide rails are fixedly connected to a front frame, the rear end portion of the second slide rails are fixedly connected to a rear frame. The front end portions of the second slide rails are supported on the rear end portions of the first slide rails, creating a slidable connection between the first slide rails and the second slide rails with the first connecting members and the second connecting members. The frame locking mechanism comprises a handle, a cable tube, a cable, a mounting base, a compression spring, and a stopper.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A frame connecting mechanism for connecting a front frame and a rear frame of a foldable motorized vehicle, comprising:

(a) a pair of first slide rails, each having a front end portion and a rear end portion;
(b) a pair of second slide rails, each having a front end portion and a rear end portion;
(c) a pair of first connecting members, each having a first end and a second end;
and
(d) a pair of second connecting members, each having a first end and a second end,
wherein the front end portions of the pair of the first slide rails are fixedly connected to the front frame, the rear end portion of the second slide rails are fixedly connected to the rear frame, the front end portions of the second slide rails are supported on the rear end portions of the first slide rails, the first ends of the first connecting members are fixedly connected respectively to the corresponding rear end portions of the pair of the first slide rails, the second ends of the first connecting members are slideably connected respectively to the pair of the second slide rails, a first end of the second connecting members are fixedly connected to the front end portions of the pair of the second slide rails, and the second ends of the second connecting members are slideably connected respectively to the pair of the first slide rails, to form a slidable connection between the pair of the first slide rails and the pair of the second slide rails with the pair of the first connecting members and the pair of the second connecting members.

3 more elements

A frame locking mechanism for locking a first slide rail and a second slide rail of a foldable motorized vehicle, comprising:

(a) a handle;
(b) a cable tube;
(c) a cable installed inside of the cable tube, wherein a first end of the cable is connected to the handle, and a second end of the cable includes a cylindrical metal bar;
(d) a mounting base having a upper and lower clamping pieces that respectively extend from upper and lower ends of the mounting base, and an upper through hole and a lower though hole each with an opening;
(e) a compression spring;
and
(f) a stopper having a rounded tip locking pillar, a stopping flange along the perimeter of the stopper, a sleeve pillar with a accommodation cavity and an accommodation slot,
wherein in use the cable tube is mounted on the first slide rail of the foldable motorized vehicle, the second slide rail is slidably connected to the first slide rail, the mounting base is mounted on the first slide rail, the second slide rail includes a plurality of locking holes, the rounded tip of the stopper passes through the upper through hole of the mounting base and extends into the locking hole of the second slide rail, the stopping protrusion of the stopper urges against an upper end of the compression spring, a lower end of the compression spring urges against the lower clamping piece, the cylindrical metal bar of the second end of the cable is fitted in the round hole and through the opening slot of the stopper, and the first end of the cable passes through the compression spring and the cable tube and is connected to the handle, and wherein when the handle is pulled, the stopper is driven by the handle to exit the locking hole.

5 more elements

A foldable motorized vehicle, comprising:

(a) a front frame;
(b) a rear frame;
(c) a frame connecting mechanism for connecting the front frame and the rear frame, comprising:
a pair of first slide rails, each having a front end portion and a rear end portion;
a pair of second slide rails, each having a front end portion and a rear end portion;
a pair of first connecting members, each having a first end and a second end;
and
a pair of second connecting members, each having a first end and a second end,
wherein the front end portions of the pair of the first slide rails are fixedly connected to the front frame, the rear end portion of the second slide rails are fixedly connected to the rear frame, the front end portions of the second slide rails are supported on the rear end portions of the first slide rails, the first ends of the first connecting members are fixedly connected respectively to the rear end portions of the pair of the first slide rails, the second ends of the first connecting members are slideably connected respectively to the pair of the second slide rails, the first ends of the second connecting members are fixedly connected respectively to the front end portions of the pair of the second slide rails, the second ends of the second connecting members are slideably connected respectively to the pair of the first slide rails, to form a slidable connection between the pair of the first slide rails and the pair of the second slide rails with the pair of the first connecting members and the pair of the second connecting members;
and
(d) a frame locking mechanism for locking the pair of the first slide rails and the pair of the second slide rails, respectively, comprising:
a handle;
a cable tube;
a cable installed inside of the cable tube, wherein a first end of the cable is connected to the handle, and a second end of the cable includes a cylindrical metal bar;
a mounting base having a upper and lower clamping pieces that respectively extend from upper and lower ends of the mounting base, and an upper through hole and a lower though hole each with an opening;
a compression spring;
and
a stopper having a rounded tip locking pillar, a stopping flange along the perimeter of the stopper, a sleeve pillar with a accommodation cavity and an accommodation slot,
wherein in use the cable tube is mounted on the first slide rail of the foldable motorized vehicle, the second slide rail is slidably connected to the first slide rail, the mounting base is mounted on the first slide rail, the second slide rail includes a plurality of locking holes, the rounded tip of the stopper passes through the upper through hole of the mounting base and extends into the locking hole of the second slide rail, the stopping protrusion of the stopper urges against an upper end of the compression spring, a lower end of the compression spring urges against the lower clamping piece, the cylindrical metal bar of the second end of the cable is fitted in the round hole and through the opening slot of the stopper, and the first end of the cable passes through the compression spring and the cable tube and is connected to the handle, and wherein when the handle is pulled, the stopper is driven by the handle to exit the locking hole.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/233,999Filed 15 Sep 2011
Priority: CN 2011 2 0029857 U28 Jan 2011
Published: US 2012/0193891 A12 Aug 2012
Granted: 5 Mar 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B62D 21/14
Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted: of adjustable length or width
B62D 31/006
Compact cars, e.g. city cars: foldable
B62K 5/007
Cycles with four or more wheels, specially adapted for disabled riders, e.g. personal mobility type vehicles with four wheels: power-driven
B62K 15/008
The frame being foldable: foldable about 2 or more axes