Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
280124103 | Body banking on turning | 41 |
20080197597 | Motor Vehicle with Limited Angle of Inclination - The invention relates to a motor vehicle ( | 08-21-2008 |
20080224436 | VEHICLE WITH MOVABLE AND INWARDLY TILTING SAFETY BODY - Enhanced vehicle handling is achieved by the improved suspension systems constructed in accordance with aspects of the present invention, in which not only do the roll couple and jacking couple oppose each other, thereby causing the body roll to counteract the jacking effect, but also the pitch couple and the pitching couple oppose each other, thereby causing the body pitch to counteract the pitching effect. This results in the improvement of the cornering traction of the vehicle, the braking traction of the vehicle, the acceleration traction of the vehicle (especially in a front-wheel-drive vehicle), the simultaneous cornering and braking traction of the vehicle, and the simultaneous cornering and acceleration traction of the vehicle. | 09-18-2008 |
20080258415 | Vehicle Lean and Alignment Control System - A frame and suspension for a vehicle provides automatic lean and alignment. The lean is determined by force sensors, the speed and/or the angle of turn and is provided by actuators in the suspension in accordance with a predetermined protocol in an electronic control unit (ECU). The protocol also provides shock absorption by rapidly tracking a contour of a surface on which the vehicle rides. The suspension is provided by a plurality of arm assemblies each including a lower arm, an upper control arm, and an actuator motively connected to the lower arm and to the upper control arm. The arm assemblies are pivotally connected to the frame on a common axis. The arm assemblies generally form parallelograms and are actuated in concert to remain generally parallel to each other through a range of angles to adjust the lean of the vehicle. The arm assemblies are also actuated independently of each other to accommodate variations in the contour. In one aspect, an actuator controlled by an ECU can be replaced by a mechanical actuator that can be activated manually such as by a driver's own leaning weight. | 10-23-2008 |
20080258416 | SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY HAVING AN INTEGRATED STABLE STORAGE PLATFORM - A suspension system for a vehicle is provided that allows for the vehicle body to be tilted wherein the tilt is controlled by the operator's legs in a manner that greatly enhances the stability of the vehicle while producing a fun vehicle to operate. Further, the bottom member of the suspension system is structured in a manner that provides storage capacity for installation of heavy items such as battery banks in order to preserve a lowered center of gravity for the vehicle. The tilting suspension may be used in the context of three-wheeled vehicle having a single rear drive tire and two forward wheels, but apply equally to a four wheeled vehicle as well as to water craft operating on pontoons or snow vehicles operating on skis. | 10-23-2008 |
20090194961 | VEHICLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM - A suspension system for a tilting vehicular chassis based on more than three wheels separates a tilting component of the chassis from a non-tilting component. The non-tilting component provides a means for powering the vehicle with automotive-type engine and drive train options, while the tilting component provides the turning stability necessary for a narrower wheel base. The narrower wheel base benefits fuel economy. The multiplicity of wheels, and the breadth of platform thus enabled, permits shelter and comfort features for the occupant not otherwise available on a typical two-wheel chassis. | 08-06-2009 |
20100007109 | Tilting Wheeled Vehicle - A tilting, preferably three-wheeled, vehicle is disclosed that has a tilting mechanism that allows the vehicle to have leaning characteristics substantially similar to those offered by an in-line two-wheeled vehicle, but that does not require complex linkages and/or control systems to operate effectively. A tilting linkage is operably secured to a frame to allow a pair of spaced apart wheels to remain substantially aligned with the plane of the vehicle throughout its range of movement while still allowing the steering axes of each wheel to intersect the substantially vertical centerline of each wheel. The linkage also allows the caster angle of each wheel's pivot axis can be optimized independently of the angle of the vehicle's handlebar steering shaft. | 01-14-2010 |
20100072721 | 3 Wheel motorcycle with counter steer - A 3 wheeled motorcycle in which the vertical axis of all 3 wheels remains parallel, capable of counter-steer/lean when making a turn. | 03-25-2010 |
20100072722 | LEAN STEERING TRUCK WITH A TORSION SPRING ASSEMBLY - A mechanical assembly which enables multi-track vehicles to lean into turns and return to a neutral position thereafter. | 03-25-2010 |
20100133772 | MOTORCYCLE - A four wheeled motorcycle vehicle, comprising: a frame ( | 06-03-2010 |
20100171282 | VEHICLE WITH MOVABLE AND INWARDLY TILTING SAFETY BODY - Enhanced vehicle handling is achieved by the improved suspension systems constructed in accordance with aspects of the present invention, in which not only do the roll couple and jacking couple oppose each other, thereby causing the body roll to counteract the jacking effect, but also the pitch couple and the pitching couple oppose each other, thereby causing the body pitch to counteract the pitching effect. This results in the improvement of the cornering traction of the vehicle, the braking traction of the vehicle, the acceleration traction of the vehicle (especially in a front-wheel-drive vehicle), the simultaneous cornering and braking traction of the vehicle, and the simultaneous cornering and acceleration traction of the vehicle. | 07-08-2010 |
20100194068 | VEHICLE WITH IMPROVED INTEGRATED STEERING AND SUSPENSION SYSTEM - A three wheeled vehicle that has an improved dual front wheel integrated steering and suspension system that allows the vehicle to be maneuvered by a combination of arm and leg steering movements coupled with front end leaning that shifts the center of mass of the vehicle down and toward the inside wheel. This transfer of mass counteracts a conventional cornering vehicle's tendency to fling its mass to the outside wheel and lift the inner wheel off the ground as well as changing the angle of the line of force exerted through the tires, and enhancing the vehicles's grip on the ground. The vehicle has a reduced amount of sliding and potential of flipping when turning sharply. The steering system is compatible with traditional ACKERMAN steering geometry wherein the inner wheel turns in a smaller diameter circle than the outer wheel. | 08-05-2010 |
20110006498 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR LEANING VEHICLE - A leaning vehicle has a frame that pivots relative to a pivotable frame member about a pivot axis. A torque exerted on a steering assembly in a first direction causes the frame to pivot relative to the pivotable frame member in a second, opposite direction at least when the speed of the vehicle is above a first threshold speed, to steer the vehicle in the second direction. An actuator urges the frame toward an upright position when the frame is in a leaning position and a speed of the vehicle is below a second threshold speed. A method is also described, in which a torque is exerted on the frame in the direction opposite the steering torque when the speed above the first threshold speed. The torque exerted by the actuator is opposite the leaning angle when the speed of travel is below the second threshold speed. | 01-13-2011 |
20110193308 | 3 wheeled motorcycle with countersteer - A 3 wheeled motorcycle in which the vertical axis of all 3 wheels remains parallel, capable of counter-steer/lean when making a turn. | 08-11-2011 |
20110215544 | Vehicles, Systems For Vehicles, And Methods For Vehicles All To Improve Cornering Capability - A land vehicle, according to various aspects of the present invention allows the driver to lean with a frame that supports the driver and that pivots on a base. Motion of the frame is coupled to the wheels to adjust a camber of the wheels. The wheels are coupled to the base that provides a reference for independent wheel suspension mechanisms. As a result, banking of the vehicle does not affect the suspension of the wheels. Hydraulic assistance to counteract the forces of the suspension systems is unnecessary. | 09-08-2011 |
20110248463 | TILTING WHEELED VEHICLE - A mechanically-controlled, tilting, preferably three-wheeled, vehicle is disclosed that has a tilting mechanism that allows the vehicle to have leaning characteristics substantially similar to those offered by an in-line two-wheeled vehicle, but that does not require complex linkages and/or control systems to operate effectively. A tilting linkage is operably secured to a frame to allow a pair of spaced apart wheels to remain substantially aligned with the plane of the vehicle throughout its range of movement while still allowing the steering axes of each wheel to intersect the substantially vertical centerline of each wheel. The linkage also allows the caster angle of each wheel's pivot axis can be optimized independently of the angle of the vehicle's handlebar steering shaft. | 10-13-2011 |
20120098225 | LEANING VEHICLE SUSPENSION - A suspension for a motorized rear wheel driven tricycle which can lean into turns includes a planar central upright frame which is mounted coaxially to the main frame of the tricycle. Upper and lower control arms are hinged to the central upright frame and extend to the left and to the right to connect to wheel bearing knuckles. An inverted rocker member is hinged to the central frame, pivotable about the front and rear ends of the central frame at about the midpoint between the top and bottom of the frame. The rocker member provides connection points for shock absorbers which interconnect the rocker member with each link member of the lower control arm on each side of the central frame. Drive members are supported on the central frame to continuously drive the rear wheels as the tricycle leans into turns. | 04-26-2012 |
20120119462 | LEANING VEHICLE WITH TILTING FRONT WHEELS AND SUSPENSION THEREFOR - A leaning vehicle has a frame pivotally connected to the lower end of a shock tower, the pivotal connection defining a frame leaning axis wherein the frame is adapted to lean to a right side and to a left side relative to the shock tower about the frame leaning axis. An actuated lock locks the frame to the shock tower and prevents relative movement between the frame and the shock tower about the frame leaning axis. | 05-17-2012 |
20120175856 | Tricycle With Wheelchair Platform - A vehicle includes a frame having a front portion and a rear portion, an operator's seat coupled to the frame, a front wheel steerably coupled to the front portion of the frame, a first rear wheel coupled to the rear portion of the frame, a second rear wheel coupled to the rear portion of the frame, an engine coupled to the rear portion of the frame and configured to drive the first rear wheel, and a wheelchair platform located at least partially between the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel and configured to accept a wheelchair placed in a position at least partially straddling the engine. The front portion of the frame may be rotatably coupled to the rear portion. The vehicle may further include a body, a lean angle limiting system, and/or an active lean angle system. | 07-12-2012 |
20120181768 | VEHICLE WITH MOVABLE AND INWARDLY TILTING SAFETY BODY - Enhanced vehicle handling is achieved by the improved suspension systems constructed in accordance with aspects of the present invention, in which not only do the roll couple and jacking couple oppose each other, thereby causing the body roll to counteract the jacking effect, but also the pitch couple and the pitching couple oppose each other, thereby causing the body pitch to counteract the pitching effect. This results in the improvement of the cornering traction of the vehicle, the braking traction of the vehicle, the acceleration traction of the vehicle (especially in a front-wheel-drive vehicle), the simultaneous cornering and braking traction of the vehicle, and the simultaneous cornering and acceleration traction of the vehicle. | 07-19-2012 |
20120267870 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR LEANING VEHICLE - A leaning vehicle has a frame, a straddle seat, an engine, and a shock tower having a lower end pivotally connected to a front portion of the frame about a pivot axis. Front left and right suspension assemblies operatively connect to the front portion of the frame. A steering assembly has a steering column and a handlebar. A rear suspension is connected to the rear portion of the frame. Each front suspension assembly has a knuckle, a spindle passing through the knuckle and being rotatable relative to the knuckle about a steering axis, a lower suspension arm having an end pivotally connected to the frame and another end pivotally connected to the lower end of the spindle about a tilting axis parallel to the pivot axis, and a shock absorber having an upper end connected to the shock tower and a lower end connected to the lower suspension arm. | 10-25-2012 |
20130113174 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR LEANING VEHICLE - A leaning vehicle has a frame, a straddle seat, an engine, and a shock tower having a lower end pivotally connected to a front portion of the frame about a pivot axis. Front left and right suspension assemblies operatively connect to the front portion of the frame. A steering assembly has a steering column and a handlebar. A rear suspension is connected to the rear portion of the frame. Each front suspension assembly has a spindle, a lower suspension arm having an end pivotally connected to the frame and another end pivotally connected to the lower end of the spindle, a leaning rod having an end pivotally connected to the frame and another end pivotally connected to the upper end of the spindle via a ball joint, and a shock absorber having an upper end connected to the shock tower and a lower end connected to the lower suspension arm. | 05-09-2013 |
20130161919 | DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE ANGLE OF TILT OF A FRAME MOUNTED ON A TILTABLE WHEEL SET - The present invention relates to a device mounted on a wheel set that comprises:
| 06-27-2013 |
20130207363 | TILTING WHEELED VEHICLE - A tilting, preferably three-wheeled, vehicle is disclosed that has a tilting mechanism that allows the vehicle to have leaning characteristics substantially similar to those offered by an in-line two-wheeled vehicle, but that does not require complex linkages and/or control systems to operate effectively. A tilting linkage is operably secured to a frame to allow a pair of spaced apart wheels to remain substantially aligned with the plane of the vehicle throughout its range of movement while still allowing the steering axes of each wheel to intersect the substantially vertical centerline of each wheel. The linkage also allows the caster angle of each wheel's pivot axis can be optimized independently of the angle of the vehicle's handlebar steering shaft. | 08-15-2013 |
20130214503 | Devices To Let A Tilting Vehicle Lean When Driving And To Keep It Standing When Stopped - Tilting devices suitable to vehicles that are free to tilt and free to be steered, apt to let them lean when driving and to keep them standing when stopped only by means of their brakes (or the like) ( | 08-22-2013 |
20140125027 | Vehicles, Systems For Vehicles, And Methods For Vehicles All To Improve Cornering Capability - A land vehicle, according to various aspects of the present invention allows the driver to lean with a frame that supports the driver and that pivots on a base. Motion of the frame is coupled to the wheels to adjust a camber of the wheels. The wheels are coupled to the base that provides a reference for independent wheel suspension mechanisms. As a result, banking of the vehicle does not affect the suspension of the wheels. Hydraulic assistance to counteract the forces of the suspension systems is unnecessary. | 05-08-2014 |
20140265204 | Powered Ride-On Vehicle of an Airplane Design With Steer and Tilt Combination and Simulated Combat Capabilities. - A motor powered riding vehicle with an airplane appearance consisting of a chassis, body and shell. The chassis is in contact with the ground via the wheels. The body includes a seat for the operator and an area to accommodate the controls and battery, if electric power is used. The shell surrounds the body, and gives form to the type of plane being imitated. The body/shell combination are connected to the chassis at two longitudinal pivot points which allow the body to simulate a banking motion as the rear wheel is turned. In addition, the body can contain a bracket to which a toy gun or some electronic “shooting” device is attached to allow two or more planes to engage in simulated combat. | 09-18-2014 |
20150137472 | VEHICLE - Provided herein is a vehicle having high driving operability during turning. The vehicle having a right wheel provided at the right of a main body and a left wheel provided at the left of the main body, includes a right lower arm that connects the main body to the right wheel, a left lower arm that connects the main body to the left wheel, and foot placement sections that are respectively mounted to the right and left lower arms in order to place feet of a driver thereon. A mounting position of the right lower arm to the main body is to the left of the main body and a mounting position of the left lower arm to the main body is to the right of the main body. | 05-21-2015 |
20150298735 | VEHICLE - A vehicle includes a resisting force change mechanism that changes a resisting force exerted against a turning operation of each of an upper cross member and a lower cross member with respect to a body frame, and a resisting force that occurs when the upper cross member and the lower cross member are displaced from respective positions relative to the body frame in at least two different magnitudes. The resisting force change mechanism includes a first portion and a second portion that change a resisting force against a relative turning therebetween about a resisting force change axis which is parallel or substantially parallel with an upper middle axis. The first portion is non-turnably fixed to one member and the second portion is supported by another member, at least a portion of which is turnably supported by the one member, and the second portion turns relative to the first portion. | 10-22-2015 |
20150298736 | VEHICLE - A right front fender and a left front fender are displaceable relative to a vehicle body frame in accordance with an operation of a link mechanism. At least a portion of the right front fender is disposed above a center in the up-down direction between an upper end of a right front wheel and a lower edge of the link mechanism or a steering mechanism directly above the right front wheel, and is disposed below a right lower edge of a front portion of a link cover portion, as seen from a front in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body frame when the vehicle body frame is in the upright state. At least a portion of the left front fender is disposed above a center in the up-down direction between an upper end of a left front wheel and a lower edge of the link mechanism or the steering mechanism directly above the left front wheel, and is disposed below the left lower edge of the front portion of the link cover portion, as seen from the front when the vehicle body frame is in the upright state. | 10-22-2015 |
20160121958 | VEHICLE - At least portion of a detecting portion of a front wheel rotation speed detector is supported on one front telescopic element of a shock absorbing device and is positioned in, as viewed in the direction of a wheel axis, an area defined by a front imaginary line which passes a front end of the shock absorbing device and which is parallel to a steering axis and a rear imaginary line which passes a rear end of the shock absorbing device and which is parallel to the steering axis in a perpendicular or substantially perpendicular direction to the wheel axis and the steering axis, an area located inwards of an outer shape of a wheel, and an area which is located outside an area defined between the front and rear telescopic elements. | 05-05-2016 |
20160129967 | VEHICLE - A vehicle prevents interference of a right lamp and a left lamp with a link mechanism without increasing the size of the vehicle in its width direction. A right link side portion of a right lamp is located on the right of a locus along which a link mechanism extends when an upper cross portion turns when looking at the vehicle from the front of an upper middle axis. At least portion of the right link side portion is located on the left of a right end portion of a body cover, above the upper middle axis and below an upper end portion of the link mechanism that results when the upper cross portion turns clockwise to a maximum extent relative to a body frame, when looking at the vehicle from the front of the upper middle axis. | 05-12-2016 |
20160137247 | VEHICLE - A left front fender includes a left upper wall portion, a left side wall portion, and a left guide portion. The left upper wall portion defines a left upper inner surface facing a portion of an upper surface of a left front wheel. The left side wall portion extends downward from the left upper inner surface to define a left side inner surface facing a left side surface of the left front wheel. The left guide portion defines a left guide surface extending rightward from the left side inner surface toward the left side surface of the left front wheel. | 05-19-2016 |
20160137252 | VEHICLE - A body cover includes an outer surface covering portion that covers at least a portion of an outer peripheral surface of a link mechanism excluding an upper surface and a lower surface thereof. When the vehicle is in the upright state, at least portions of a leaning-associated deforming portion of a brake controlling operation transmission member that deform in association with the leaning of a body frame are positioned between the outer peripheral surface of the link mechanism, excluding the upper surface and the lower surface thereof, and the outer surface covering portion. | 05-19-2016 |
20160137253 | VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH LEANING-CAPABLE VEHICLE-BODY FRAME AND TWO FRONT WHEELS - A vehicle includes a restrictor that prevents movement of a brake controlling operation transmission member and is provided at an upper portion of at least one of an upper cross portion, a right side portion, and a left side portion. The brake controlling operation transmission member includes a leaning-associated deforming portion that is located between a brake controller and the restrictor to deform in response to the leaning of a body frame and a wheel-turning-associated deforming portion at least a portion of which is located between the leaning-associated deforming portion and a brake device to deform in response to the turning of a right front wheel and a left front wheel. | 05-19-2016 |
20160144680 | SUSPENSION SYSTEMS FOR LATERALLY TILTABLE MULTITRACK VEHICLES - A laterally tiltable, multitrack vehicle suspension may include first and second steering knuckles. The suspension may also include a first set of control arms connected to the first steering knuckle and a second set of control arms connected to the second steering knuckle. Each of the first and second sets of control arms may include upper and lower control arms. The suspension may further include a spring/damper element acting between the first and second sets of control arms and a balancer system. | 05-26-2016 |
20160144923 | VEHICLE - A vehicle includes a suspension device including a right cover member that is provided at least partially between a left surface of a right brake disc and a ground contact point of a left tire and in a position located closer to the right brake disc than the ground contact point of the left tire when a body frame is in the upright state and when the body frame leans to the left, and a left cover member that is located between a right surface of a left brake disc and a ground contact point of a right tire and in a position located closer to the left brake disc than a ground contact point of the right tire when the body frame is in the upright state and when the body frame leans to the right. | 05-26-2016 |
20160152292 | VEHICLE | 06-02-2016 |
20160152293 | VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH LEANING-CAPABLE VEHICLE-BODY FRAME AND TWO FRONT WHEELS | 06-02-2016 |
20160176439 | Steering Unit | 06-23-2016 |
20160185413 | VEHICLE - A vehicle includes a vehicle body frame that can lean, a right front wheel and a left front wheel, and an upper cross portion and a lower cross portion of a link mechanism each including a right end portion, a left end portion, and a middle portion supported on the vehicle body frame. An upper right displacement and an upper left displacement that result when a rearward test force is exerted individually on a lower right portion and a lower left portion that support the lower cross portion with the lower cross portion removed are larger than a lower right displacement and a lower left displacement that result when a force that is equal or substantially equal in magnitude and direction as the forces exerted on the lower right and left portions is exerted individually on an upper right portion and a upper left portion that support the upper cross member with the upper cross portion removed. | 06-30-2016 |
20190144035 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A TILTABLE VEHICLE | 05-16-2019 |