Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A three-wheel vehicle having one front wheel (9) (209) and two rear wheels (20) (220), and separate front and rear body frame portions (2,3) (202,203) that are relatively swingable; characterised in that the vehicle is provided with a parking apparatus comprising a locking mechanism (31,41) (131,141) (231,251/252) provided between the front and rear body frame portions (2,3) (202, 203) for locking these portions against relative swinging, a parking brake mechanism (46) (145,148) (246,254) operable to brake the vehicle, and an operating means (24) (224) adapted for operating both the locking mechanism and the parking brake mechanism.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A three-wheel vehicle having one front wheel (9) (209) and two rear wheels (20) (220), and separate front and rear body frame portions (2,3) (202,203) that are relatively swingable; characterised in that the vehicle is provided with a parking apparatus comprising a locking mechanism (31,41) (131,141) (231,251/252) provided between the front and rear body frame portions (2,3) (202, 203) for locking these portions against relative swinging, a parking brake mechanism (46) (145,148) (246,254) operable to brake the vehicle, and an operating means (24) (224) adapted for operating both the locking mechanism and the parking brake mechanism.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
128 words
A three-wheeled vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front body frame portion (2) is swingable relative to the rear body frame portion (3) about a stationary shaft (15) secured in the rear body frame portion; and wherein the locking mechanism comprises a lock plate (31) secured to the shaft, a case (26) surrounding the shaft, a pawl member (41) provided in the case and normally urged into an inoperative position, and a linkage (34,43) adapted for bringing the pawl member into operative engagement with the lock plate; wherein there are brake cables (45,46) connected to the linkage; and wherein the linkage is rotatable by the operating means (24) into its operative position to move the pawl member and the brake cables into their respective operative positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A three-wheeled vehicle,as claimed in claim 2 and further including a release mechanism (39) disposed between the pawl member and the linkage for urging the pawl member into its operative position upon rotation of the linkage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
A three-wheeled vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the brake cables comprise a first cable (45) connected to a brake operating member (44), and a second cable (46) connected to a brake unit; and wherein the linkage comprises an operating link (34) which is rotatable for bringing the pawl member (41) into its operative position, and a brake operating link (43) having one end connected rotatably to the operating link (34) and another end restrained against movement in one direction, the other end being connected to the first cable (45) and a mid-portion of the brake operating link being connected to the second cable (46).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
158 words
A three-wheeled vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating means (24) actuates a first link (134a) and a second link (134b) which are supported on a shaft (133) in generally L-shaped form for pivotting together, the first link (134a) being connected to the operating means (24) and the second link (134b) being connected to an intermediate portion of a brake cable (145/146) so as to be un-operated during braking operation effected other than by actuation of said operating means (24), and so as to effect parking brake operation upon actuation of the operating means (24); and wherein the locking means includes a restraining means (131) in the rear body frame portion (3), and a locking arm (141) operatively connected with the first link (134a) for engagement with the restraining means (131) to lock the front body frame portion (2) against swinging relative to the rear body frame portion (3) upon actuation of the operating means (24).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A three-wheeled vehicle as claimed in claim 5 and including a spring (142) by which the first link (134a) and the locking arm (141) are connected with each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A three-wheeled vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating means (24) is provided under a driver's seat (13).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
A three-wheeled vehicle as claimed in claim . 7 as appendant to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the operating means (24) is provided uner the driver's seat (13), and is connected to the locking mechanism by a linear element (25) (125) which" is pulled or pushed by the operating means to bring the locking mechanism into its operative position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
117 words
A three-wheeled vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a lock plate (231) secured in one of the front and rear body frame portions (202,203) in the vicinity of the area where the front body frame portion is swingably connected to the rear body frame portion, and a pair of calipers (251, 252) rotatably supported in the other of the front and rear body frame portions and adapted for holding the lock plate therebetween at one end thereof, one of the calipers being connected to a brake cable (246) for movement therewith to hold the lock plate between the calipers upon movement of the brake cable in a direction which actuates the brake.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
A three-wheeled vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and further including a clutch. mechanism (225a/b, 258a) associated with an axle (256) for one of the wheels for which the parking brake mechanism is provided, this clutch mechanism being releasable to override the effect of the operating means of the parking apparatus on the parking brake mechanism.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A three-wheeled vehicle as claimed in claim 10 and including an operating means (265) for the clutch mechanism that is provided behind a driver's seat (13) in close proximity to a carrier handle (264) of the vehicle.