초록 ▼

A vehicle with a collapsible body. With this construction a one-person's vehicle can be folded together to a very compact size with the dimensions of an average suitcase. The body comprises two halves: a front and back part. Each of these parts contains a lower and upper hollow section. Each upper h

A vehicle with a collapsible body. With this construction a one-person's vehicle can be folded together to a very compact size with the dimensions of an average suitcase. The body comprises two halves: a front and back part. Each of these parts contains a lower and upper hollow section. Each upper hollow section can slide telescopically in and out the lower hollow section, thus enlarging or reducing the length of the corresponding part. In the collapsed state both parts with all their sections are nested into each other. A further reduction of the volume of the collapsed vehicle can be achieved by using a chassis with two retractable slidable frame parts.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A collapsible vehicle comprising: a chassis;at least two wheels connected to the chassis; anda collapsible body including: a first half having a first main portion with a first pair of longitudinal edges and a first curved sidewall extending between the first longitudinal edges, wherein a lower e

1. A collapsible vehicle comprising: a chassis;at least two wheels connected to the chassis; anda collapsible body including: a first half having a first main portion with a first pair of longitudinal edges and a first curved sidewall extending between the first longitudinal edges, wherein a lower end of the first main portion is hingedly connected to a first portion of the chassis, anda second half having a second main portion with a second pair of longitudinal edges and a second curved sidewall extending between the second longitudinal edges, wherein a lower end of the second main portion is hingedly connected to a second portion of the chassis that is spaced apart from the first portion; whereinthe collapsible body includes a driving configuration in which the first and second halves are pivoted to a generally upright position with each of the first longitudinal edges being adjacent to a corresponding one of the second longitudinal edges to define a passenger cabin,the body includes a folded configuration in which the first half is folded over the chassis and the second half is folded over the first half such that the first curved sidewall is nested within the second curved sidewall with the first and second curved sidewalls overlapping to collapse the passenger cabin for storage of the vehicle, andthe first half further includes an upper segment and a lower segment telescopically connected and slidable relative to each other between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the upper and lower segments are in the extended position when the body is in the driving configuration and are in the retracted position when the body is in the folded configuration. 2. The collapsible vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first half further includes a cover connected to the first curved sidewall, and the second half further includes a cover connected to the second curved sidewall, wherein the covers cooperate to form a roof of the passenger cabin when the body is in the driving configuration. 3. The collapsible vehicle of claim 1, wherein the second curved sidewall completely overlaps the first curved sidewall when the body is in the folded configuration. 4. The collapsible vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first half further includes a pair of guides each located on one of the first longitudinal edges and connected between the upper and lower segments. 5. The collapsible vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a pedal mechanism mounted to the chassis and drivingly connected to at least one of the at least two wheels enabling an occupant of the vehicle to propel the vehicle. 6. The collapsible vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least two wheels is three wheels. 7. A collapsible vehicle comprising: a chassis;at least two wheels connected to the chassis;first and second body pieces each having a curved sidewall;a first hinge connected to a lower end of the first body piece and to a first portion of the chassis;a second hinge connected to a lower end of the second body piece and to a second portion of the chassis that is spaced apart from the first portion; anda cover attached to an upper end of the first body piece and projecting outwardly from the curved sidewall of the first body piece; wherein in a driving configuration of the vehicle, the first and second body pieces are pivoted about the first and second hinges, respectively, to a generally upright position in which the curved sidewalls are adjacent to each other to form sides of a vehicle body and in which the cover forms a roof of the vehicle body that cooperates with the sides to define a substantially cylindrical enclosure,in a storage configuration of the vehicle, the first and second body pieces are pivoted downwardly about the first and second hinges, respectively, such that the first and second pieces are folded over each other to collapse the vehicle body, and in the storage configuration, the first body piece is nested within the second body piece with the second body piece completely overlapping the first body piece. 8. The collapsible vehicle of claim 7 further comprising a second cover attached to an upper end of the second body piece and projecting outwardly from the curved sidewall of the second body piece, wherein the second cover cooperates with the cover to form the roof when in the driving configuration. 9. The collapsible vehicle of claim 7, wherein the first body piece further includes a lower section connected to the first hinge and an upper section telescopically connected to the lower section. 10. The collapsible vehicle of claim 9, wherein the second body piece further includes a lower section connected to the second hinge and an upper section telescopically connected to the lower section of the second body piece. 11. The collapsible vehicle of claim 7 further comprising an electric motor that propels one of the at least two wheels. 12. The collapsible vehicle of claim 7, wherein one of the at least two wheels is a front wheel that is connected to a steering mechanism operable to move the front wheel. 13. A collapsible vehicle comprising: a chassis;at least a front wheel and a back wheel connected to the chassis;a steering mechanism connected to the front wheel; anda collapsible body including: a front component having a generally semi-circular or U-shaped cross section, anda back component having a lower end pivotally attached to a rear portion of the chassis and having a first section and a second section that each have a generally U-shaped or semi-circular cross section, wherein the front component and the back component are rotatable relative to each other, about a common axis, between an open position in which the front component is nested within the back component, and an encircled position in which the front and back components define an enclosure; whereinthe collapsible body includes a driving configuration in which the front and back components are folded to a substantially upright position and the front and back components are rotated to the encircled position,the collapsible body includes a collapsed configuration in which the back component is folded over the chassis with the front and back components in the open position, andthe first section and the second section are telescopically connected and slidable relative to each other between an extended position and a retracted position, and the first and second sections are in the extended position when the body is in the driving configuration and are in the retracted position when the body is in the collapsed configuration. 14. The collapsible vehicle of claim 13, wherein each of the first and second sections has a curved sidewall. 15. The collapsible vehicle of claim 13, wherein a diameter of the second section is less than a diameter of the first section allowing the second section to nest within the first section when in the open position. 16. The collapsible vehicle of claim 13 further comprising an electric motor that propels one of the wheels. 17. The collapsible vehicle of claim 13 further comprising a pedal mechanism mounted to the chassis and drivingly connected to at least one of the wheels enabling an occupant of the vehicle to propel the vehicle.