Cambering vehicle

Abstract

A three-wheeled cambering vehicle having a platform for supporting the vehicle operator and having a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels mounted thereon. The vehicle has a centralized tubular frame with a front leg member that supports a steerable front fork and wheel assembly and a rearward seat for the vehicle operator. A lower leg of the frame is supported for turning movement with respect to a longitudinal roll axis by the platform which permits the frame and front fork and wheel assembly to be cambered by the vehicle operator as the platform remains in a predetermined plane with respect to the support surface.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A cambering vehicle for transporting a vehicle operator along a support surface, said vehicle comprising a centralized main frame having an upwardly extending forward frame member and a lower tubular frame member extending along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle rearwardly from the lower end of said forward frame member to the rear of said vehicle, steerable front wheel means supported by said forward frame member for contacting said support surface, manual steering means operatively connected to said steerable front wheel means, a seat for a vehicle operator attached to said lower frame member, a one-piece support platform extending to the rear of said vehicle from said forward frame member and laterally across said lower frame member for receiving the feet of the vehicle operator, bearing means operatively connecting said lower frame member to said platform for supporting said frame on said platform for free cambering movement about a longitudinal roll axis coplanar with the longitudinal axis of said platform, transverse axle means rotatably supporting the central frame secured to said platform, rear wheel means underlying said seat means and supported on opposite outboard ends of said axle means for contacting said support surface to support said platform in fixed angular relationship with respect to said support surface while allowing the operator when seated to impart balancing moments through his feet while cambering said central frame and said front wheel means. 
     
     
       2. A cambering vehicle for transporting a vehicle operator along a support surface, said vehicle comprising a central tubular frame having an upwardly extending forward frame member and a lower frame member extending along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle rearwardly from the lower end of said forward frame member to the end of said vehicle, steerable front wheel means supported by said forward frame member for contacting said support surface, manual steering means operatively connected to said steerable front wheel means, a shell-like support platform having a centralized longitudinal axis extending to the rear of said vehicle from said forward frame member and laterally across said lower frame member for receiving the feet of the vehicle operator, bearing means pivotally connecting said lower frame member to said platform for supporting said frame on said platform for substantially unrestrained clockwise and counterclockwise pivotal movement about a longitudinal roll axis coplanar with the longitudinal axis of said vehicle, transverse rear axle means secured to said platform, rear wheel means supported on opposite outboard ends of said axle means for contacting said support surface to support said platform in fixed angular relationship with respect to said support surface while allowing said operator to stand in a natural upright manner on said platform and straddle said longitudinal roll axis to impart balancing moments while simultaneously cambering said frame and said front wheel means. 
     
     
       3. A cambering vehicle for transporting a vehicle operator along a support surface, said vehicle comprising a centralized main cambering frame having an upwardly extending forward frame member and a tubular lower frame member extending along the longitudinal axis of said vehicle and rearwardly from the lower end of said forward frame member, a seat for the vehicle operator, an upright for said seat extending upwardly from the trailing end portion of said lower frame member for cambering movement therewith, steerable front wheel means supported by said forward frame member for contacting said support surface, manual steering means operatively connected to said steerable front wheel means, an operator support platform extending rearwardly from said forward frame member to said upright and extending laterally across said lower frame member for receiving the feet of the vehicle operator, bearing means operatively connecting said lower frame member to said platform for supporting said cambering frame on said platform for unrestrained cambering moments about a longitudinal roll axis coplanar with the longitudinal axis of said vehicle, transverse rear axle means secured to said platform, rear wheel means supported on opposite outboard ends of said axle means for contacting said support surface to support said platform in a predetermined angular relationship with respect to said support surface while allowing said operator to sit on said seat and straddle the longitudinal roll axis to impart balancing moments while cambering said seat with said main frame and said front wheel means. .Iadd. 
     
     
       4.  In a cambering vehicle having an engine for vehicle propulsion, a cambering steering fork assembly at the front of the vehicle mounting a road wheel at the lower end thereof and manual steering means at the upper end thereof, a pair of laterally spaced rear road wheels supporting a non-cambering support platform for the feet of the vehicle operator, a cambering main frame having a forward portion operatively mounting the steering fork assembly and a cambering seat support at the rear of the vehicle for the vehicle operator connected to the main frame for cambering movement therewith about a camber axis to allow the operator to freely lean into turns while standing or seated and while cambering the vehicle with his feet on the support platform characterized in that the engine is mounted on the steering fork assembly and is drivingly connected to the front wheel of the steering fork assembly and that the support platform extends between the forward portion of the main frame and the seat support and is substantially unobstructed to facilitate operator entry and egress and operator stabilization of the vehicle during powered cambering maneuvers through foot impressed loads to the platform in the event an unbalanced condition occurs..Iaddend. .Iadd.5. A cambering vehicle according to claim 4 characterized in that the seat support overlies a rearward end portion of the support platform and the rear wheels carried thereby. .Iaddend. .Iadd.6. A cambering vehicle according to claim 4 characterized in that the main frame includes a tubular and longitudinally extending member that is coextensive with and is pivoted to the support 
     
     
        platform. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7.  A cambering vehicle according to claim 6 characterized in that the support platform is a unitized shell which supports and covers the rear wheels adjacent to the rearward end thereof and which houses bearing means for said tubular member of said main frame..Iaddend. .Iadd.8. A cambering vehicle according to claim 7 characterized in that the main frame extends along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle from rigid connection with the seat support at the rear of the vehicle into pivotal connection with the steering fork assembly and that the tubular member of the main frame is a lower leg portion that encompasses the cambering axis of the steering fork assembly and main frame. .Iaddend.