Dual powered vehicle

Claim 2

In a dual powered vehicle having running gear including a frame and front wheel means and a pair of driven axles, each axle connected to a respective rear wheel, the improvement comprising, motor means mounted on the vehicle frame, first drive means connected between said motor means and the vehicle rear axles, a pedalling assembly mounted on the vehicle frame, second drive means connected between said pedalling assembly and the vehicle rear axles, each of said drive means incorporating a sprocket assembly including clutch means constructed and arranged, whereby when the pedalling assembly is employed as the sole source of power, the motor drive means is idle; and manual control means operatively connected to said motor means, whereby the motor means and the pedalling assembly may operate conjointly as a source of power, or as separate sources of power at the option of the user.

Claim 3

In a dual powered vehicle having running gear including a frame and front wheel means and a pair of driven axles, each axle connected to a respective rear wheel, the improvement comprising, motor means mounted on the vehicle frame, first drive means connected between said motor means and the vehicle rear axles, a pedalling assembly mounted on the vehicle frame, second drive means connected between said pedalling assembly and the vehicle rear axles, each of said drive means incorporating a sprocket assembly including clutch means constructed and arranged, whereby when the pedalling assembly is employed as the sole source of power, the motor drive means is idle; and manual control means operatively connected to said motor means, whereby the motor means and the pedalling assembly may operate conjointly as a source of power, or as separate sources of power at the option of the user.

Claim 4

In a dual powered vehicle having running gear including a frame and front wheel means and a pair of driven axles, each axle connected to a respective rear wheel, the improvement comprising, motor means mounted on the vehicle frame, first drive means connected between said motor means and the vehicle rear axles, a pedalling assembly mounted on the vehicle frame, second drive means connected between said pedalling assembly and the vehicle rear axles, each of said drive means incorporating a sprocket assembly including clutch means constructed and arranged, whereby when the pedalling assembly is employed as the sole source of power, the motor drive means is idle; and manual control means operatively connected to said motor means, whereby the motor means and the pedalling assembly may operate conjointly as a source of power, or as separate sources of power at the option of the user.

Claim 5

In a dual powered vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the motor means comprises an electric motor and battery means mounted on the vehicle frame and connected to the electric motor; the control means comprises switch means connected in the circuit between the battery means and the electric motor, said switch means being constructed and arranged to provide multiple control of the voltage supplied from the battery means to the motor, whereby to control the speed of the motor, and concomitant amount of drive transmitted to the vehicle axle.

Claim 6

In a dual powered vehicle having running gear including a frame and front wheel means and driven axle means connected to a pair of rear wheel means, the improvement comprising, motor means mounted on the vehicle frame, first drive means connected between said motor means and the vehicle rear axle means, said first drive means comprising, a shaft journaled in the vehicle fraMe and positioned above and parallel to the vehicle rear axle, a pulley secured to the medial portion of said shaft, a drive belt connected between said pulley and the motor means, a sprocket assembly connected to each end portion of said shaft, a pair of sprockets secured to the vehicle rear axle means and aligned with a respective sprocket assembly on the shaft, and a chain connected between each sprocket assembly on the shaft and its corresponding sprocket on the axle; a pedalling assembly mounted on the vehicle frame, second drive means connected between said pedalling assembly and the vehicle rear axle means, each of said drive means incorporating a sprocket assembly including a clutch means constructed and arranged, whereby when the pedalling assembly is employed as the sole source of power, the motor drive means is idle, and control means operatively connected to said motor means, whereby the motor means and the pedalling assembly may operate conjointly as a source of power, or as independent power sources at the option of the user.

Claim 7

In a dual powered vehicle having running gear including a frame and front wheel means and driven axle means connected to a pair of rear wheel means, the improvement comprising, motor means mounted on the vehicle frame, first drive means connected between said motor means and the vehicle rear axle means, said first drive means comprising, a shaft journaled in the vehicle fraMe and positioned above and parallel to the vehicle rear axle, a pulley secured to the medial portion of said shaft, a drive belt connected between said pulley and the motor means, a sprocket assembly connected to each end portion of said shaft, a pair of sprockets secured to the vehicle rear axle means and aligned with a respective sprocket assembly on the shaft, and a chain connected between each sprocket assembly on the shaft and its corresponding sprocket on the axle; a pedalling assembly mounted on the vehicle frame, second drive means connected between said pedalling assembly and the vehicle rear axle means, each of said drive means incorporating a sprocket assembly including a clutch means constructed and arranged, whereby when the pedalling assembly is employed as the sole source of power, the motor drive means is idle, and control means operatively connected to said motor means, whereby the motor means and the pedalling assembly may operate conjointly as a source of power, or as independent power sources at the option of the user.

Claim 8

In a dual powered vehicle having running gear including a frame and front wheel means and driven axle means connected to a pair of rear wheel means, the improvement comprising, motor means mounted on the vehicle frame, first drive means connected between said motor means and the vehicle rear axle means, a pedalling assembly mounted on the vehicle frame, second drive means connected between said pedalling assembly and the vehicle rear axle means, said second drive means comprising a coaster brake hub connected to the vehicle frame, a sprocket connected to one end of said coaster brake hub, a pedal-crank arm-sprocket assembly connected to the vehicle frame, a chain connected between said pedal-crank arm-sprocket assembly and the sprocket on said one end of said coaster brake, another sprocket secured to the opposite end of said coaster brake hub, a sprocket secured to the vehicle rear axle means and a chain connected between said another sprocket on the coaster brake hub and the sprocket secured to the rear axle means; each of said drive means incorporating a sprocket assembly including a clutch means constructed and arranged, whereby when the pedalling assembly is employed as the sole source of power, the motor drive means is idle, and control means operatively connected to said motor means, whereby the motor means and the pedalling assembly may operate conjointly as a source of power, or as independent power sources at the option of the user.

Claim 9

In a dual powered vehicle having running gear including a frame and front wheel means and driven axle means connected to a pair of rear wheel means, the improvement comprising, motor means mounted on the vehicle frame, first drive means connected between said motor means and the vehicle rear axle means, a pedalling assembly mounted on the vehicle frame, second drive means connected between said pedalling assembly and the vehicle rear axle means, said second drive means comprising a coaster brake hub connected to the vehicle frame, a sprocket connected to one end of said coaster brake hub, a pedal-crank arm-sprocket assembly connected to the vehicle frame, a chain connected between said pedal-crank arm-sprocket assembly and the sprocket on said one end of said coaster brake, another sprocket secured to the opposite end of said coaster brake hub, a sprocket secured to the vehicle rear axle means and a chain connected between said another sprocket on the coaster brake hub and the sprocket secured to the rear axle means; each of said drive means incorporating a sprocket assembly including a clutch means constructed and arranged, whereby when the pedalling assembly is employed as the sole source of power, the motor drive means is idle, and control means operatively connected to said motor means, whereby the motor means and the pedalling assembly may operate conjointly as a source of power, or as independent power sources at the option of the user.

Claim 10

In a dual powered vehicle having running gear, including a frame and steerable front wheel means and driven axle means connected to a pair of rear wheel means, the improvement comprising, motor means mounted on the vehicle frame, drive means connected between said motor means and the vehicle rear axle means, a pedalling assembly mounted on the vehicle frame, drive means connected between said pedalling assembly and said rear axle means, and control means operatively connected to said motor means, whereby the motor means and pedalling assembly are adapted to operate conjointly as a source of power, or as independent power sources, at the option of the user; said vehicle frame including a pair of tubular frame members bent back upon themselves to form a pair of upper, spaced, parallel leg portions and a corresponding pair of lower leg portions, said upper leg portions being interposed a pair of upper and lower horizontally disposed plates, bolt means extending between said plates to fixedly secure said plates to the leg portions, said motor means being connected to said lower plate, and a source of energy for said motor means being supported on the upper plate.

Claim 11

In a dual powered vehicle having running gear, including a frame and steerable front wheel means and driven axle means connected to a pair of rear wheel means, the improvement comprising, motor means mounted on the vehicle frame, drive means connected between said motor means and the vehicle rear axle means, a pedalling assembly mounted on the vehicle frame, drive means connected between said pedalling assembly and said rear axle means, and control means operatively connected to said motor means, whereby the motor means and pedalling assembly are adapted to operate conjointly as a source of power, or as independent power sources, at the option of the user; said vehicle frame including a pair of tubular frame members bent back upon themselves to form a pair of upper, spaced, parallel leg portions and a corresponding pair of lower leg portions, said upper leg portions being interposed a pair of upper and lower horizontally disposed plates, bolt means extending between said plates to fixedly secure said plates to the leg portions, said motor means being connected to said lower plate, and a source of energy for said motor means being supported on the upper plate.

Claim 12

In a dual powered vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the vehicle axle housing and the drive means between the pedalling assembly and vehicle rear axle means are connected to the lower leg portions.

Claim 13

In a dual powered vehicle having running gear, including a frame and steerable front wheel means and driven axle means connected tO a pair of rear wheel means, the improvement comprising, motor means mounted on the vehicle frame, drive means connected between said motor means and the vehicle rear axle means, a pedalling assembly mounted on the vehicle frame, drive means connected between said pedalling assembly and said rear axle means, control means operatively connected to said motor means, whereby the motor means and pedalling assembly are adapted to operate conjointly as a source of power, or as independent power sources, at the option of the user; and a truncated housing secured to the vehicle frame for enclosing the motor means, source of energy for said motor means, drive means and rear axle, the rear wall of said housing having a recessed portion for carrying articles, and the front wall portion of the housing having a forwardly flared portion terminating in a horizontal surface for supporting the feet of the user of the vehicle.

Claim 14

In a dual powered vehicle having running gear, including a frame and steerable front wheel means and driven axle means connected tO a pair of rear wheel means, the improvement comprising, motor means mounted on the vehicle frame, drive means connected between said motor means and the vehicle rear axle means, a pedalling assembly mounted on the vehicle frame, drive means connected between said pedalling assembly and said rear axle means, control means operatively connected to said motor means, whereby the motor means and pedalling assembly are adapted to operate conjointly as a source of power, or as independent power sources, at the option of the user; and a truncated housing secured to the vehicle frame for enclosing the motor means, source of energy for said motor means, drive means and rear axle, the rear wall of said housing having a recessed portion for carrying articles, and the front wall portion of the housing having a forwardly flared portion terminating in a horizontal surface for supporting the feet of the user of the vehicle.