Cambering vehicle and mechanism

Claim 2

A cambering vehicle, comprising: a frame comprising a front column and a left and a right trailing arm; said front column having an upper end and a lower end opposite said upper end; each said trailing arm having a forward end and a rearward end opposite said forward end; a left and a right trailing arm attachment point disposed opposite one another upon said front column, and immediately above said lower end thereof; said forward end of said left and said right trailing arm being pivotally attached respectively to said left and said right trailing arm attachment point of said front column; a link attachment point disposed circumferentially rearwardly substantially midway between said left and said right trailing arm attachment point of said front column; a transverse link having a left and a right end, pivotally secured to said link attachment point of said front column; elastomeric arm connecting means disposed at said left end and said right end of said link; said link directly connecting and pivotally linking said left and said right trailing arm together such that said left and said right trailing arm each subtend arcs substantially equal to one another and in directions opposite to one another when arcuately pivoted respectively about said left and said right trailing arm attachment point of said front column; surface contact means extending from said rearward end of each said trailing arm; a steering shaft having an upper end and a lower end opposite said upper end, and concentrically disposed within said front column; and a single surface contact means extending from said lower end and steering means extending from said upper end of said steering shaft.

Claim 3

The cambering vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein: said link further comprises a single torsionally and arcuately rigid rod having a pivot passage centrally disposed therethrough for pivotally securing said link to said link attachment point of said front column; each said end of said link including an elastomeric bushing thereon, having an elastomer material disposed therein; each said trailing arm including a link end connecting passage therethrough; and each said elastomeric bushing installed in said link end connecting passage of a corresponding said trailing arm, for directly and resiliently connecting each said trailing arm together.

Claim 4

The cambering vehicle according to claim 1 , further including folding means for each said trailing arm, for folding said front column adjacent said left and said right trailing arm when each said arm is folded.

Claim 5

The cambering vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein at least said surface contact means of each said trailing arm comprises a wheel, with each said wheel including a brake and each said brake being controlled independently from one another by a separate brake control disposed upon said steering means and communicating with each said brake.

Claim 6

The cambering vehicle according to claim 1 , further including vehicle stabilizing and upright parking means, comprising: each said elastomeric arm connection means comprising an elastomeric bushing having an elastomer material disposed therein; and said elastomer material of each said bushing providing increasing angular deflection and torsional resistance to arcuate displacement of each said trailing arm from a central disposition, thereby urging each said trailing arm toward the central disposition and generally parallel orientation with one another.

Claim 7

The cambering vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein said steering means comprises handlebars.

Claim 8

The cambering vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein said surface contact means of each said trailing arm and said steering shaft is selected from the group consisting of wheels, wheeled skates, ice skates, and skis.

Claim 9

A cambering vehicle, comprising: a frame comprising a front column and a left and a right trailing arm; said front column having an upper end and a lower end opposite said upper end; each said trailing arm having a forward end and a rearward end opposite said forward end; a left and a right trailing arm attachment point disposed opposite one another upon said front column, and immediately above said lower end thereof; said forward end of said left and said right trailing arm being pivotally attached respectively to said left and said right trailing arm attachment point of said front column; means for interconnecting said left and said right trailing arm together such that said left and said right trailing arm each subtend arcs equal to one another and in directions opposite to one another when arcuately pivoted respectively about said left and said right trailing arm attachment point of said front column, said interconnecting means including: a link attachment point disposed circumferentially rearwardly substantially midway between said left and said right trailing arm attachment point of said front column; a transverse link having a left and a right end, pivotally secured to said link attachment point of said front column; elastomeric arm connecting means disposed at said left end and said right end of said link; and said link directly connecting and pivotally linking said left and said right trailing arm together such that said left and said right trailing arm each subtend arcs substantially equal to one another and in directions opposite to one another when arcuately pivoted respectively about said left and said right trailing arm attachment point of said front column; a single wheel extending from said rearward end of each said trailing arm; a steering shaft having an upper end and a lower end opposite said upper end, and concentrically disposed within said front column; a single wheel extending from said lower end of said steering shaft and steering means extending from said upper end of said steering shaft; brake means disposed with said wheel of each said trailing arm; and separate and independent brake control means for each said brake means disposed upon said steering means and communicating with said brake means for separate and independent control thereof.

Claim 10

A cambering vehicle, comprising: a frame comprising a front column and a left and a right trailing arm; said front column having an upper end and a lower end opposite said upper end; each said trailing arm having a forward end and a rearward end opposite said forward end; a left and a right trailing arm attachment point disposed opposite one another upon said front column, and immediately above said lower end thereof; said forward end of said left and said right trailing arm being pivotally attached respectively to said left and said right trailing arm attachment point of said front column; means for interconnecting said left and said right trailing arm together such that said left and said right trailing arm each subtend arcs equal to one another and in directions opposite to one another when arcuately pivoted respectively about said left and said right trailing arm attachment point of said front column, said interconnecting means including: a link attachment point disposed circumferentially rearwardly substantially midway between said left and said right trailing arm attachment point of said front column; a transverse link having a left and a right end, pivotally secured to said link attachment point of said front column; elastomeric arm connecting means disposed at said left end and said right end of said link; and said link directly connecting and pivotally linking said left and said right trailing arm together such that said left and said right trailing arm each subtend arcs substantially equal to one another and in directions opposite to one another when arcuately pivoted respectively about said left and said right trailing arm attachment point of said front column; a single wheel extending from said rearward end of each said trailing arm; a steering shaft having an upper end and a lower end opposite said upper end, and concentrically disposed within said front column; a single wheel extending from said lower end of said steering shaft and steering means extending from said upper end of said steering shaft; brake means disposed with said wheel of each said trailing arm; and separate and independent brake control means for each said brake means disposed upon said steering means and communicating with said brake means for separate and independent control thereof.

Claim 11

The cambering vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein: said link further comprises a single torsionally and arcuately rigid rod having a pivot passage centrally disposed therethrough for pivotally securing said link to said link attachment point of said front column; each said end of said link including an elastomeric bushings thereon, having an elastomer material disposed therein; each said trailing arm including a link end connecting passage therethrough; and each said elastomeric bushing installed in said link end connecting passage of a corresponding said trailing arm, for directly and resiliently connecting each said trailing arm together.

Claim 12

The cambering vehicle according to claim 8 , further including vehicle stabilizing and upright parking means, comprising: each said elastomeric arm connecting means comprising an elastomeric bushing having an elastomer material disposed therein; and said elastomer material of each said bushing providing increasing angular deflection and torsional resistance to arcuate displacement of each said trailing arm from a central disposition, thereby urging each said trailing arm toward the central disposition and generally parallel orientation with one another.

Claim 13

The cambering vehicle according to claim 8 , further including folding means for each said trailing arm, for folding said front column adjacent said left and said right trailing arm when each said arm is folded.

Claim 14

The cambering vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein said steering means comprises handlebars.

Claim 15

A cambering vehicle, comprising: a frame comprising a front column and a left and a right trailing arm; said front column having an upper end and a lower end opposite said upper end; each said trailing arm having a forward end and a rearward end opposite said forward end; a left and a right trailing arm attachment point disposed opposite one another upon said front column, and immediately above said lower end thereof; said forward end of said left and said right trailing arm being pivotally attached respectively to said left and said right trailing arm attachment point of said front column; a link attachment point disposed circumferentially rearwardly substantially midway between said left and said right trailing arm attachment point of said front column; a transverse link having a left and a right end, pivotally secured to said link attachment point of said front column; elastomeric arm connecting means disposed at said left end and said right end of said link; said link directly connecting and pivotally linking said left and said right trailing arm together such that said left and said right trailing arm each subtend arcs substantially equal to one another and in directions opposite to one another when arcuately pivoted respectively about said left and said right trailing arm attachment point of said front column; folding means for each said trailing arm, for folding said front column adjacent said left and said right trailing arm when each said arm is folded; surface contact means extending from said rearward end of each said trailing arm; a steering shaft having an upper end and a lower end opposite said upper end, and concentrically disposed within said front column; and a single surface contact means extending from said lower end and steering means extending from said upper end of said steering shaft.

Claim 16

A cambering vehicle, comprising: a frame comprising a front column and a left and a right trailing arm; said front column having an upper end and a lower end opposite said upper end; each said trailing arm having a forward end and a rearward end opposite said forward end; a left and a right trailing arm attachment point disposed opposite one another upon said front column, and immediately above said lower end thereof; said forward end of said left and said right trailing arm being pivotally attached respectively to said left and said right trailing arm attachment point of said front column; a link attachment point disposed circumferentially rearwardly substantially midway between said left and said right trailing arm attachment point of said front column; a transverse link having a left and a right end, pivotally secured to said link attachment point of said front column; elastomeric arm connecting means disposed at said left end and said right end of said link; said link directly connecting and pivotally linking said left and said right trailing arm together such that said left and said right trailing arm each subtend arcs substantially equal to one another and in directions opposite to one another when arcuately pivoted respectively about said left and said right trailing arm attachment point of said front column; folding means for each said trailing arm, for folding said front column adjacent said left and said right trailing arm when each said arm is folded; surface contact means extending from said rearward end of each said trailing arm; a steering shaft having an upper end and a lower end opposite said upper end, and concentrically disposed within said front column; and a single surface contact means extending from said lower end and steering means extending from said upper end of said steering shaft.

Claim 17

The cambering vehicle according to claim 13 , wherein: said link further comprises a single torsionally and arcuately rigid rod having a pivot passage centrally disposed therethrough for pivotally securing said link to said link attachment point of said front column; each said end of said link including an elastomeric bushing thereon, having an elastomer material disposed therein; each said trailing arm including a link end connecting passage therethrough; and each said elastomeric bushing installed in said link end connecting passage of a corresponding said trailing arm, for directly and resiliently connecting each said trailing arm together.

Claim 18

The cambering vehicle according to claim 13 , wherein at least said surface contact means of each said trailing arm comprises a wheel, with each said wheel including a brake and each said brake being controlled independently from one another by a separate brake control disposed upon said steering means and communicating with each said brake.

Claim 19

The cambering vehicle according to claim 13 , further including vehicle stabilizing and upright parking means, comprising: each said elastomeric arm connecting means comprising an elastomeric bushing having an elastomer material disposed therein; and said elastomer material of each said bushing providing increasing angular deflection and torsional resistance to arcuate displacement of each said trailing arm from a central disposition, thereby urging each said trailing arm toward the central disposition and generally parallel orientation with one another.

Claim 20

The cambering vehicle according to claim 13 , wherein said steering means comprises handlebars.

Claim 21

The cambering vehicle according to claim 13 , wherein said surface contact means of each said trailing arm and said steering shaft are selected from the group consisting of wheels, wheeled skates, ice skates, and skis.