초록 ▼

A personal mobility vehicle (PMV) is provided having suspension assemblies located on lateral sides thereof. The suspension assemblies each include a main pivot arm having first and second main-arm-ends, an intermediate portion, and a first wheel connected to the first main-arm-end. The intermediate

A personal mobility vehicle (PMV) is provided having suspension assemblies located on lateral sides thereof. The suspension assemblies each include a main pivot arm having first and second main-arm-ends, an intermediate portion, and a first wheel connected to the first main-arm-end. The intermediate portion is pivotally connected to one of the lateral sides, with the first main-arm-end and first wheel extending in a first direction from the vehicle frame. A center drive wheel is located on the second main-arm-end of the main pivot arm. A wheel support arm having first and second support-arm-ends and a second wheel connected to the second support arm end is pivotally connected to one of the lateral sides. The first support-arm-end is slidably engaged with the main pivot arm, and the second support-arm-end and the second wheel extend in a second direction, generally opposite the first direction.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A personal mobility vehicle (PMV) comprising: a vehicle frame having spaced apart lateral sides; at least two suspension assemblies, one located on each of the lateral sides and further comprising: a main pivot arm having first and second main-arm-ends, an intermediate portio

What is claimed is: 1. A personal mobility vehicle (PMV) comprising: a vehicle frame having spaced apart lateral sides; at least two suspension assemblies, one located on each of the lateral sides and further comprising: a main pivot arm having first and second main-arm-ends, an intermediate portion, and a first wheel connected to the first main-arm-end, the intermediate portion pivotally connected to a respective one of the lateral sides, with the first main-arm-end and first wheel extending in a first direction from the vehicle frame; a center drive wheel located on the second main-arm-end of the main pivot arm for generally vertical movement relative to the vehicle frame; and a wheel support arm having first and second support-arm-ends and a second wheel connected to the second support arm end, the wheel support arm pivotally connected to the respective one of the lateral sides, the first support-arm-end being slidably engaged with the main pivot arm, the second support-arm-end and the second wheel extending in a second direction, generally opposite the first direction, from the vehicle frame. 2. The PMV of claim 1, wherein the center drive wheel is positioned by the main pivot arm in a spaced apart relation from and generally medially along the one lateral side of the vehicle frame. 3. The PMV of claim 1, further comprising a drive motor for actuating the center drive wheel attached to the main pivot arm. 4. The PMV of claim 3, further comprising a battery mounted on the vehicle frame and electrically connected to the drive motor. 5. The PMV of claim 1, wherein a portion of the wheel support arm located between the first and second support-arm-ends is pivotally attached to the vehicle frame. 6. The PMV of claim 5, wherein the first support-arm-end of the wheel support arm is both slidably and pivotably engaged with a slot in the main pivot arm. 7. The PMV of claim 1, further comprising a first a caster assembly which comprises the first wheel and a second caster assembly which comprises the second wheel. 8. The PMV of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first and second caster assemblies includes a compensation device. 9. The PMV of claim 8, wherein the compensation device includes a spring that creates a frictional force to prevent rotation of the at least one of the first and second caster assemblies. 10. The PMV of claim 1, further comprising a first a caster assembly which comprises the first wheel and a second caster assembly which comprises the second wheel, and wherein the wheel support arm is configured so that, when the PMV is on a level horizontal surface, a point of engagement between the wheel support arm and the main pivot arm and a point of engagement between the wheel support arm and the second caster assembly is further away from the surface than a pivot point between the wheel support arm and the vehicle frame. 11. The PMV of claim 1, further comprising a first a caster assembly which comprises the first wheel and a second caster assembly which comprises the second wheel, and wherein the main pivot arm is configured so that, when the PMV is on a level horizontal surface, a point of engagement between the wheel support arm and the main pivot arm and a point of engagement between the main pivot arm and the first caster assembly are further away from the surface than a point of engagement between the main pivot arm and the vehicle frame. 12. The PMV of claim 1, further comprising a first a caster assembly which comprises the first wheel and a second caster assembly which comprises the second wheel, wherein when the PMV is on a level horizontal surface, an axis of rotation of the center drive wheel is closer to the surface than a point of engagement between the wheel support arm and the main pivot arm, than a point of engagement between the wheel support arm and the second caster assembly, and than a point of engagement between the main pivot arm and a first caster assembly. 13. The PMV of claim 1, wherein the suspension assemblies are configured so that the first and second wheels move together generally upwardly or generally downwardly relative to the vehicle frame, and the center drive wheel moves generally vertically relative to the vehicle frame in a direction generally opposite to the motion of the first and second wheels. 14. The PMV of claim 1, wherein the suspension assemblies allow generally vertical movement of the first and second wheels and the center drive wheel in a coordinated manner for each of the suspension assemblies is provided to compensate for irregularities in the surface during transport thereover, the first and second wheels and the center drive wheel all being urged into a surface engaging position. 15. A PMV comprising: a vehicle frame having spaced apart lateral sides; at least two suspension assemblies, one being disposed on each of the lateral sides and further comprising: a main pivot arm having a main-arm-pivot-point intermediate first and second main-arm-ends, the main-arm-pivot-point being pivotally connected to a respective one of the lateral sides, the first main-arm-end extending generally rearwardly from the vehicle frame and being connected to a rear caster wheel having a rear-wheel-axis-of-rotation, a first distance being defined between the main-arm-pivot point and the rear-wheel-axis-of-rotation; a center drive wheel located on the second main-arm-end of the main pivot arm for vertical movement relative to the vehicle frame; a front wheel support arm having a support-arm-pivot-point intermediate first and second support-arm-ends, the support-arm-pivot-point being pivotally attached to the respective one of the lateral sides, a connector located on the first support-arm-end being slidably engaged with the main pivot arm, a second distance being defined between the support-arm-pivot-point and the connector, the second end of the front wheel support arm extending generally forwardly from the vehicle frame and being connected to a front caster wheel having a front-wheel-axis-of-rotation, a third distance being defined between the support-arm-pivot-point and the front-wheel-axis-of-rotation. 16. The PMV of claim 15, wherein the main pivot arm includes a slot having first and second slot ends, the slot being slidably engaged with the connector, a fourth distance being defined between the second slot end and the main-arm-pivot-point, a fifth distance being defined between the first slot end and the main-arm-pivot-point. 17. The PMV of claim 16 wherein the ratio of the sum of the first and third distances to the sum of the second distance and the average of the fourth and fifth distances is between approximately one to two (1:2) and approximately one to one (1:1). 18. The PMV of claim 17, wherein the ratio of the sum of the first and third distances to the sum of the second distance and the average of the fourth and fifth distances is between approximately one to one point one (1:1.1) and approximately one to one point four (1:1.4). 19. The PMV of claim 16, wherein the ratio of the second distance to the average of the fourth and fifth distances is between approximately one to two (1:2) and approximately two to one (2:1). 20. The PMV of claim 19, wherein the ratio of the second distance to the average of the fourth and fifth distances is approximately one to one (1:1). 21. The PMV of claim 15, wherein the ratio of the third distance to the second distance is between approximately one to one (1:1) and approximately one to three (1:3). 22. The PMV of claim 15, wherein the ratio of the third distance to the second distance is between approximately one to one point five (1:1.5) and approximately one to two (1:2). 23. The PMV of claim 15, wherein the ratio of the third distance to the first distance is between approximately two to one (2:1) and approximately one to two (1:2). 24. The PMV of claim 23, wherein the ratio of the third distance to the first distance is between approximately one to one point six (1:1.6) and approximately one to one point nine (1:1.9).