Foldable Electric Vehicle

Abstract

Foldable electrical vehicles and related charging infrastructure are described. The foldable electrical vehicle generally includes three structural armatures (front and rear wheel-bearing armatures and a seat-bearing armature) that are pivotally interconnected along their lengths such that they may be pivoted between a closed position wherein the three armatures are disposed roughly parallel to each other in a compact folded configuration, and an open riding configuration wherein an angular relation is formed between the armatures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foldable vehicle comprising:
 at least two wheel-bearing arms each having first and second ends and each defining a wheel-bearing arm longitudinal axis, each of said wheel-bearing arms having at least one wheel assembly interconnected to the second end thereof and a wheel-bearing arm pivot hinge bracket disposed along the length thereof;   at least one seat-bearing arm having first and second ends and defining a seat-bearing arm longitudinal axis, the seat-bearing arm having a seating platform interconnected to the second end thereof and a seat-bearing pivot hinge bracket disposed along the length thereof;   a seat support element pivotably engaged at a first end thereof along the length of the seat-bearing arm and slidingly engaged at a second end thereof along the length of one of the at least two wheel-bearing arms such that a triangular configuration is formed between the seat-bearing arm, the at least one wheel-bearing arm and the seat support element; and   wherein the at least two wheel-bearing arm pivot hinge brackets and the seat-bearing pivot hinge bracket are configured to cooperatively interconnect to form a vehicle pivot hinge such that the wheel-bearing arms and seat-bearing arm are pivotably interconnected about a single vehicle pivot point.   
     
     
         2 . The foldable vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising a steering mechanism interconnected with at least one of said wheel-bearing arms and configured to change the directional orientation of at least one wheel assembly relative to the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The foldable vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein the vehicle comprises a front wheel-bearing arm and a rear wheel-bearing arm, and wherein the steering mechanism is pivotably interconnected with the wheel assembly of the front wheel-bearing arm to move between at least two configurations:
 a first riding configuration wherein the longitudinal axes of the front wheel-bearing arm and the steering mechanism have angular offsets relative to each other, and   a second folded configuration wherein the longitudinal axes of the front wheel-bearing arm and the steering mechanism are parallel.   
     
     
         4 . The foldable vehicle of  claim 3 , further comprising a front wheel assembly lock configured to prevent changes to the directional orientation of the wheel assembly of the front wheel-bearing arm when in the folded configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The foldable vehicle of  claim 3 , wherein the front wheel-bearing arm defines an internal volume having an energy storage device disposed therein. 
     
     
         6 . The foldable vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein the steering mechanism is at least one handlebar, and wherein the height and angle of the handlebar relative to height of the remainder of the vehicle is adjustable. 
     
     
         7 . The foldable vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two wheel-bearing arm pivot hinge brackets and the seat-bearing arm pivot hinge bracket are disposed proximal to the first end of their respective arms. 
     
     
         8 . The foldable vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising a pivot locking mechanism configured to disengageably lock the at least two wheel-bearing arms in one of the at least two configurations. 
     
     
         9 . The foldable vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the pivot locking mechanism comprises a plurality of locking grooves and a cooperative locking pin configured to engage said locking grooves, said locking grooves being disposed on at least one of the at least two wheel-bearing arms, and said cooperative locking pin being disposed on at least another of the at least two wheel-bearing arms such that when the cooperative locking pin is engaged within the locking grooves the at least two wheel-bearing arms are prevented from pivoting relative to each other. 
     
     
         10 . The foldable vehicle of  claim 9 , further comprising a locking mechanism disengagement element disposed on the seat-bearing arm and configured to disengage the pivot locking mechanism when the seat-bearing arm is pivoted upward relative to the axial alignment of the seat-bearing arm in one of either the first riding configuration or the second folded configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The foldable vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the wheel-bearing arms and seat-bearing arm move between at least two configurations comprising:
 a first riding configuration wherein the longitudinal axes of the at least two wheel-bearing arms and the seat-bearing arm have angular offsets relative to each other, and   a second folded configuration wherein the longitudinal axes of the two wheel-bearing arms and the seat-bearing arm are parallel.   
     
     
         12 . The foldable vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the axis of the seat support element is orthogonal with the axis of the seat-bearing arm. 
     
     
         13 . The foldable vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the seat support element slidingly engages a channel disposed along a portion of the wheel-bearing arm, the channel delineating a curvilinear path between at least two configurations:
 a first riding configuration wherein the longitudinal axes of the wheel-bearing arm and the seat-bearing arm and the seat support element have angular offsets relative to each other, and   a second folded configuration wherein the longitudinal axes of the wheel-bearing arm and the seat-bearing arm and the seat support element are parallel.   
     
     
         14 . The foldable vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the seat support element comprises a resilient member. 
     
     
         15 . The foldable vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the seat support element is configured such that when the seat-bearing arm is pivoted into the second folded configuration the resilient member is placed into tension such that a resilient locking force is applied to the seat-bearing arm to urge said seat-bearing arm into position in the second folded configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The foldable vehicle of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one additional resilient element disposed in relation to said seat support element to apply a force thereto, thereby urging said seat support element into at least one of either the first riding configuration or the second folded configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The foldable vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle comprises two wheel-bearing arms, a front wheel-bearing element having a front wheel assembly with a single wheel, and a rear wheel-bearing element having a rear wheel assembly with at least one wheel. 
     
     
         18 . The foldable vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein the rear wheel assembly comprises at least two wheels interconnected via a fixed axle. 
     
     
         19 . The foldable vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein the rear wheel assembly comprises at least two wheels interconnected via an axle pivotable about a point perpendicular to the axis of the rear wheel-bearing armature. 
     
     
         20 . The foldable vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one luggage rack disposed on at least one of the wheel-bearing arms, said luggage rack being pivotable between at least two configurations:
 a first riding configuration wherein the longitudinal axes of the wheel-bearing arm and the luggage rack have angular offsets relative to each other, and   a second folded configuration wherein the longitudinal axes of the wheel-bearing arm and the luggage rack are parallel.