Variable wheelbase personal mobility vehicle

Abstract

A variable wheelbase personal mobility vehicle is disclosed comprising a front wheel assembly and a rear wheel assembly. A front wheel is pivotably mounted relative to the front wheel assembly for controlling the direction of movement of the personal mobility vehicle. Plural drive wheels are mounted relative to the rear wheel assembly for driving the personal mobility vehicle. A seat is connected to the rear wheel assembly for supporting an operator. A variable wheelbase mechanism varies the distance between the front wheel and the plural drive wheels.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A variable wheelbase personal mobility vehicle, comprising: 
 a front wheel assembly and a rear wheel assembly;    a front wheel pivotably mounted relative to said front wheel assembly for controlling the direction of movement of said personal mobility vehicle;    plural drive wheels mounted relative to said rear wheel assembly for driving the personal mobility vehicle;    a seat connected to said rear wheel assembly for supporting an operator; and    a variable wheelbase mechanism for varying the distance between said front wheel and said plural drive wheels.    
     
     
         2 . A variable wheelbase personal mobility vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said front wheel comprises plural front wheels pivotably mounted relative to said front wheel assembly for controlling the direction of movement of said personal mobility vehicle.  
     
     
         3 . A variable wheelbase personal mobility vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said variable wheelbase mechanism includes a lock for locking said distance between said front wheel and said plural drive wheels when said lock in a closed condition and for enabling said distance between said front wheel and said plural drive wheels to be varied when said lock in an open condition.  
     
     
         4 . A variable wheelbase personal mobility vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said variable wheelbase mechanism includes a variable wheelbase drive for moving said front wheel relative to said plural rear wheels for changing the wheelbase of the personal mobility vehicle.  
     
     
         5 . A variable wheelbase personal mobility vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said variable wheelbase mechanism includes a variable wheelbase drive for moving said front wheel relative to said plural rear wheels for changing the wheelbase of the personal mobility vehicle; and 
 said variable wheelbase drive comprising a linear actuator.    
     
     
         6 . A variable wheelbase personal mobility vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said variable wheelbase mechanism includes a variable wheelbase drive for moving said front wheel relative to said plural rear wheels for changing the wheelbase of the personal mobility vehicle; and 
 said variable wheelbase drive comprising a jackscrew.    
     
     
         7 . A variable wheelbase personal mobility vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said variable wheelbase mechanism includes a variable wheelbase drive for moving said front wheel relative to said plural rear wheels for changing the wheelbase of the personal mobility vehicle; and 
 said variable wheelbase drive comprising a scissor jack.    
     
     
         8 . A variable wheelbase personal mobility vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said variable wheelbase mechanism includes a variable wheelbase drive for moving said front wheel relative to said plural rear wheels for changing the wheelbase of the personal mobility vehicle; and 
 said variable wheelbase drive comprising a rack and pinion mechanism.    
     
     
         9 . A variable wheelbase personal mobility vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said variable wheelbase mechanism comprises a slide mechanism for varying the distance between said front wheel and said plurality of rear drive wheels.  
     
     
         10 . A variable wheelbase personal mobility vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said variable wheelbase mechanism comprises a slide mechanism interconnecting said front wheel assembly to said rear wheel assembly for varying the distance between said front wheel and said plurality of rear drive wheels.  
     
     
         11 . A variable wheelbase personal mobility vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said variable wheelbase mechanism comprises a shaft mounted relative to one of said front and rear wheel assemblys and a shaft receiver mounted relative to the other said front and rear wheel assemblys; and 
 said shaft slidably cooperating with said shaft receiver for moving said front wheel assembly relative to said rear wheel assembly.    
     
     
         12 . A variable wheelbase personal mobility vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said variable wheelbase mechanism comprises a shaft mounted relative to one of said front and rear wheel assemblys and a sleeve defining a bore mounted relative to the other said front and rear wheel assemblys; and 
 said bore slidably receiving said shaft for slidably mounting said front wheel assembly relative to said rear wheel assembly.    
     
     
         13 . A variable wheelbase personal mobility vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said variable wheelbase mechanism comprises plural shafts with each of said plural shafts being mounted relative to one of said front and rear wheel assembly; 
 plural sleeves with each of said plural sleeves defining a bore mounted relative to the other said front and rear wheel assemblys; and    said plural bores slidably receiving said plural shafts for slidably mounting said front wheel assembly relative to said rear wheel assembly.    
     
     
         14 . A variable wheelbase personal mobility vehicle, comprising: 
 a front wheel assembly and a rear wheel assembly;    a front wheel pivotably mounted relative to said front wheel assembly for controlling the direction of movement of said personal mobility vehicle;    plural drive wheels mounted relative to said rear wheel assembly for driving the personal mobility vehicle;    a seat connected to said rear wheel assembly for supporting an operator;    a variable wheelbase mechanism for varying the distance between said front wheel and said plural drive wheels; and    said variable wheelbase mechanism enabling said front wheel assembly to be removed from said rear wheel assembly for transportation of the variable wheelbase personal mobility vehicle.    
     
     
         15 . A variable wheelbase personal mobility vehicle, comprising: 
 a front wheel assembly and a rear wheel assembly;    a front wheel pivotably mounted relative to said front wheel assembly for controling the direction of movement of said personal mobility vehicle;    plural drive wheels mounted relative to said rear wheel assembly for driving the personal mobility vehicle;    a seat connected to said rear wheel assembly for supporting an operator;    a variable wheelbase mechanism for varying the distance between said front wheel and said plural drive wheels; and    said variable wheelbase mechanism enabling said front wheel assembly to be removed from said rear wheel assembly for enabling a different front wheel assembly to be secured to said rear wheel assembly.