US5029666A — Collapsible motorcycle

Claim 1

Independent Claim 280 words

--A collapsible motorcycle (1) comprising a frame (2), a front steering wheel (3), a rear wheel (4), and an engine (5) supported on said frame (2) and connected to one of said wheels; said front wheel (3), in a non-steering position, and said rear wheel (4) presenting, in use, a common vertical plane of symmetry (6); and said frame (2) comprising a longitudinal intermediate body (7) substantially parallel to said plane (6); a first element (10) between said front wheel (3) and a front portion of said intermediate body (7); a second element (11) between said rear wheel (4) and a rear portion of said intermediate body (7); and a steering device (12); characterised by the fact that said first and said second elements (10, 11) each comprise a respective first and second arm (15, 16), and a respective first and second transverse hub (17, 18) integral with respective said arms (15, 16) and connected for rotation to respective said front and rear wheels (3, 4); first and second hinge means (32, 33) being provided between said intermediate body (7) and respective said first and second arms (15, 16) for enabling displacement, in relation to said intermediate body (7), of said first arm (15) with said front wheel (3) and said second arm (16) with said rear wheel (4) along a respective first and second non-interfering path, and between a distended position wherein said arms (15, 16) extend in substantially diverging manner from said intermediate body (7), and a collapsed position wherein said rear wheel (4) is located to the front of said front wheel (3), and said arms (15, 16) extend in converging manner from said intermediate body (7).

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 280 words

--A collapsible motorcycle (1) comprising a frame (2), a front steering wheel (3), a rear wheel (4), and an engine (5) supported on said frame (2) and connected to one of said wheels; said front wheel (3), in a non-steering position, and said rear wheel (4) presenting, in use, a common vertical plane of symmetry (6); and said frame (2) comprising a longitudinal intermediate body (7) substantially parallel to said plane (6); a first element (10) between said front wheel (3) and a front portion of said intermediate body (7); a second element (11) between said rear wheel (4) and a rear portion of said intermediate body (7); and a steering device (12); characterised by the fact that said first and said second elements (10, 11) each comprise a respective first and second arm (15, 16), and a respective first and second transverse hub (17, 18) integral with respective said arms (15, 16) and connected for rotation to respective said front and rear wheels (3, 4); first and second hinge means (32, 33) being provided between said intermediate body (7) and respective said first and second arms (15, 16) for enabling displacement, in relation to said intermediate body (7), of said first arm (15) with said front wheel (3) and said second arm (16) with said rear wheel (4) along a respective first and second non-interfering path, and between a distended position wherein said arms (15, 16) extend in substantially diverging manner from said intermediate body (7), and a collapsed position wherein said rear wheel (4) is located to the front of said front wheel (3), and said arms (15, 16) extend in converging manner from said intermediate body (7).

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that, in said collapsed position, said wheels (3, 4) substantially preserve said common plane of symmetry (6).

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 51 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that, when said front wheel (3) is set to the non-steering position, said arms (15, 16) extend on opposite sides of said plane (6), and said hubs (17, 18) extend from respective said arms (15, 16) towards said plane (6).

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 56 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that one of said paths extends substantially parallel to said plane (6), whereas the other comprises a portion wherein the respective wheel (3) (4) travels away from said plane (6), and a further portion wherein the respective wheel (3) (4) travels towards said plane (6).

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 54 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that said second path extends substantially parallel to said plane (6), whereas said first path comprises a portion wherein said front wheel (3) moves away from said plane (6), and a further portion wherein said front wheel (3) moves towards said plane (6).

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 90 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 5, characterised by the fact that said first hinge means (32) comprise a bridge element (55) between said first arm (15) and said intermediate body (7), and a first and second cylindrical hinge (56, 57) respectively connecting said bridge element (55) to said intermediate body (7) and said first arm (15); said first and second cylindrical hinges (56, 57) respectively presenting a first and second axis (58, 59) at an angle to each other, and said first axis (58) lying in said plane (6).

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 25 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 6, characterised by the fact that said first hinge (56) is a steering hinge for said front wheel (3).

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 31 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 7, characterised by the fact that said first axis (58) is substantially parallel to said first arm (15) when said front wheel (3) is distended.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 7, characteised by the fact that said first and second axes (58, 59) are perpendicular.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 31 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 6, characterised by the fact that said second hinge means (33) comprise a cylindrical hinge (34) having its axis (35) perpendicular to said plane (6).

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 72 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 10, characterised by first and second releasable lock means (36) respectively connected to the second cylindrical hinge (57) of said first hinge means (32) and the cylindrical hinge (34) of said second hinge means (33); said lock means (36) being operated selectively for locking the respective hinges (57, 34) in two positions corresponding respectively to the extended and collapsed position of the respective wheels (3, 4).

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 66 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 7, characterised by the fact that said steering device (12) comprises a column (63) and a handlebar (64) connected to a first end of said column (63); a second end (65) of said column (63) being connected in rotary manner to said intermediate body (7) so as to rotate between a raised and lowered position in relation to the same.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 28 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 12, characterised by the fact that said column (63) is connected to said intermediate body (7) via said first hinge means (32).

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 46 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 13, characterised by the fact that said first hinge means (32) comprise a third cylindrical hinge (60) parallel to said second cylindrical hinge (57) and located between said bridge element (55) and said second end (65) of said column (63).

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 66 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 14, characterised by the fact that transmission means (66, 67) are provided between said second and third hinges (57, 60); said transmission means being such that rotation of said column (63) about the axis (61) of said third hinge (60) causes said first arm (15) to turn in the opposite direction about the axis (59) of said second hinge (57).

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 88 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 12, characterised by the fact that said handlebar (64) comprises two rods (69) on opposite sides of said column (63); and connecting means (70) between said rods (69) and said column (63) for enabling said rods (69) to move, in relation to said column (63), between a first position wherein said rods (69) are arranged substantially coaxial with each other and across said column (63), and a second position wherein said rods (69) are substantially parallel and adjacent to said column (63).

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 43 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 16, characterised by the fact that said connecting means (70) comprise, for each said rod (69), a cylindrical hinge (73) having its axis (74) inclined substantially 45° in relation to the longitudinal axis of said column (63).

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 24 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that said first and second arms (15, 16) each comprise a telescopic damper.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 44 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 18, characterised by the fact that each said telescopic damper comprises two cylindrical telescopically-connected tubes (21, 22), and a key device (23) located between said tubes (21, 22) for preventing rotation of one in relation to the other.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 41 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that said rear wheel (4) is the drive wheel; said engine (5) being supported on said second arm (16) and moving with the same between said distended and collapsed positions.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 42 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 20, characterised by the fact that said intermediate body (7) comprises two side members (8) connected together at opposite ends and defining an opening (9) housing said engine (5) when said second arm (16) is collapsed.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 21 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, characterised a seat (14) supported on said rear portion of said intermediate body (7).

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 47 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 22, characterised by the fact that said seat (14) is connected to said intermediate body (7) via slide type connecting means (13) enabling said seat (14) to move between a forward and rear position in relation to said intermediate body (7).

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 97 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that said intermediate body (7) comprises, on its front portion, a fork member (83) extending downwards and comprising two bars (85) on opposite sides of said plane (6); a footrest (89) being connected in rotary manner to the free bottom end of each said bar (85) so as to turn, in relation to the same and about an axis substantially parallel to said plane (6), between a raised position substantially parallel to the respective bar (85), and a lowered position substantially perpendicular to said bar (85).

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 51 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 24, characterised by the fact that each said footrest (89) constitutes a first arm of a respective square rocker arm (88) comprising a second arm (90) integral with the first (89), and a wheel (91) mounted for rotation on the respective said second arm (90).

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 73 words

--A motorcycle as claimed in claim 25, characterised by the fact that said two bars (85) of said fork (83) define an opening housing said rear wheel (4) in the collapsed position; said two wheels (91) being substantially coaxial with each other and parallel to said plane (6) when both respective said rocker arms (88) are raised, and projecting outwards of the bottom portion of said rear wheel (4) in the collapsed position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-07-08	1995-01-07	1995-07-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-07-08	1999-01-07	1999-07-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-07-08	2003-01-07	2003-07-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Collapsible motorcycle

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