Collapsible Vehicle

Abstract

A powered vehicle has a rear frame assembly and a front frame assembly that are pivotally attached to one another, and can be pivoted from a normal fully-extended operating position to a folded position in which the frame assemblies are positioned substantially adjacent to one another, effectively reducing overall vehicle length to about half. One or more latch members lock the front and rear frame assemblies in the fully-extended, normal operating position, and they may be used to lock the frame assemblies in the folded position. The seat support structure may be integrated with the front and rear frame assemblies such that pivoting the frame assemblies toward the folded position collapses the seat support. The steering tiller may also be collapsible toward the front frame assembly. The rear wheels may be mounted on a transaxle that is pivotally mounted on the rear frame assembly. An extendable handle may be provided to assist in the folding operation and to tow the collapsed vehicle on its anti-tip rollers.

1 . A foldable scooter comprising:
 a frame that is foldable from an open configuration to a folded configuration;   a seat coupled to the frame;   a pair of rear wheels and at least one front wheel operatively coupled to the frame;   at least one motor for driving the wheelchair;   at least one battery for providing power to the at least one motor, each battery including a casing, a handgrip, an electrical connector, and a battery retaining surface,   a battery compartment for receiving the battery, the battery compartment including an electrical connector, a battery compartment retaining surface capable of contacting the battery retaining surface, and   a spring loaded latch for securing the battery relative to the battery compartment;   whereby the battery is capable of being inserted into the battery compartment while the frame is in the open configuration and is capable of being removed in either the open or folded configuration of the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The scooter of  claim 1 , wherein the latch includes a pin that is spring loaded toward an extended position and the battery compartment includes an aperture to receive the pin. 
     
     
         3 . The scooter of  claim 2 , wherein the pin is approximately vertical while the frame is in the open position. 
     
     
         4 . The scooter of  claim 2 , wherein handle is operatively connected to the pin such that actuating the handle disengages the pin from the battery compartment. 
     
     
         5 . The scooter of  claim 4 , wherein extending the handle disengages the pin from the battery compartment. 
     
     
         6 . The scooter of  claim 4 , wherein the battery includes tabs extending outwardly from the casing and the battery compartment includes slots for slidingly receiving tabs, the tabs having the battery retaining surface, and the slots having the battery compartment retaining surface. 
     
     
         7 . The scooter of  claim 6  wherein the pin prevents movement of the battery relative along a longitudinal axis of the scooter and the tabs and slots prevent movement of the battery approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         8 . The scooter of  claim 4 , wherein the battery compartment includes tabs extending outwardly from the casing and the battery includes slots for slidingly receiving the tabs, the tabs having the battery compartment retaining surface, and the slots having the battery retaining surface. 
     
     
         9 . The scooter of  claim 4 , wherein a terminal portion of the slots is substantially perpendicular to the direction of actuation of the pin. 
     
     
         10 . The scooter of  claim 1 , wherein the slots have at least two non-parallel portions such that the battery tabs change direction while the battery is inserted therethrough. 
     
     
         11 . The scooter of  claim 10 , wherein an entry portion of the slot portions is oblique to the ground plane while the frame is in the open configuration, whereby the battery is seated into the battery compartment upon insertion through the entry portion. 
     
     
         12 . The scooter of  claim 11 , wherein a distal portion of the slot portions is substantially parallel to the ground plane while the frame is in the open position. 
     
     
         13 . The scooter of  claim 1 , further comprising a deck on which a passenger's feet may rest.