Personalized rapid transit system

Claim 2

A personalized rapid transit system comprising; an interconnected network of rails, support means to locate the rails in a predetermined three-dimensional pattern, a plurality of vehicles with each vehicle adapted to carry at least one person therein and having a configuration which facilitates the removable nesting of vehicles when not in use, each vehicle having a substantially hemispherical portion tapering from an enlarged open end to a rear end of lesser diameter than the opening in the open end, door means on the vehicle shiftable between a position closing the open end to a position exposing the open end and permitting at least the tapered rear end of another vehicle to be placed within the vehicle thereby permitting the vehicles to be stored partially within one another when not in use, and connector and drive means on each vehicle and connected to the network of rails so that the vehicle is suspended from the rail network and is guided and supported thereby during travel and storage.

Claim 3

The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the rail network includes street level portions, inclined portions and elevated horizontal portions including station areas and the network being adapted for passage through openings in a building thereby facilitating the arrangement of the network of rails for a maximum variety of transportation and paths.

Claim 4

The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the network of rails is a monorail system.

Claim 5

The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the drive means and connector means extend from the top of each vehicle and spaced from the center thereof to alleviate danger of passengers coming in contact with the drive and connector means.

Claim 6

A personalized rapid transit system comprising; an interconnected network of rails, support means to locate the rails in a predetermined three-dimensional pattern, a plurality of vehicles with each vehicle adapted to carry at least one person therein and having a configuration which facilitates the removable nesting of vehicles when not in use, the vehicles being stored partially within one another when not in use, connector and drive means on each vehicle and connected to the network of rails so that the vehicle is suspended from the rail network and is guided and supported thereby during travel and storage, a pair of adjacent doors being provided with each door having an outer configuration substantially in the shape of a spherical segment with the adjacent edges of the doors in abutment when the doors are closed and the distal edge of each door adjacent to the hemispherical portion when the doors are closed, the doors being pivotal to an open position wherein the doors are pivoted away from one another into overlapping relationship to the hemispherical portion of the vehicle to thereby provide an opening between the adjacent edges of the doors to permit entry or exit of a passenger from the vehicle and to facilitate nesting of one vehicle within the other.

Claim 7

A personalized rapid transit system comprising; an interconnected network of rails, support means to locate the rails in a predetermined three-dimensional pattern, a plurality of vehicles with each vehicle adapted to carry at least one person therein and having a configuration which facilitates the removable nesting of vehicles when not in use, the vehicles being stored partially within one another when not in use, connector and drive means on each vehicle and connected to the network of rails so that the vehicle is suspended from the rail network and is guided and supported thereby during travel and storage, a pair of adjacent doors being provided with each door having an outer configuration substantially in the shape of a spherical segment with the adjacent edges of the doors in abutment when the doors are closed and the distal edge of each door adjacent to the hemispherical portion when the doors are closed, the doors being pivotal to an open position wherein the doors are pivoted away from one another into overlapping relationship to the hemispherical portion of the vehicle to thereby provide an opening between the adjacent edges of the doors to permit entry or exit of a passenger from the vehicle and to facilitate nesting of one vehicle within the other.

Claim 8

The invention in accordance with claim 5 wherein each vehicle has a seat mounted therein for use by a passenger, the seat being shiftable from a horizontal operating position to a substantially vertical non-operating position which is desirable when nesting and storage of vehicles is to be accomplished.

Claim 9

The invention in accordance with claim 5 wherein windows are provided in the spherical portion of each vehicle and in the doors thereof to facilitate visibility for a passenger.