Electric scooter

Abstract

To provide a three-wheel electric scooter capable of improving operability while running at a relatively low speed.SOLUTION: An electric scooter includes: a main body 10 thereof; a front wheel 13; an inclination adjustment part; a first rear wheel 15; and a second rear wheel 16. The main body and the front wheel are constituted to be inclinable to a road surface. The inclination adjustment part is constituted so that the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel can be inclinable to the road surface regardless of an inclination angle to the road surface of the main body. A slant adjustment part is constituted so that the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel can be inclinable to the road surface under a state where the main body is not inclined to the road surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric scooter. [Background technology]

[0002] There are vehicles generally called kick scooters that are equipped with an electric motor to enable them to propel themselves (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Kick scooters and electric scooters equipped with an electric motor come in two-wheeled and three-wheeled varieties. Some three-wheeled vehicles have operability similar to that of two-wheeled vehicles, and some of these vehicles have wheels that tilt relative to the road surface when the vehicle turns. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3081197 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, electric scooters that travel at relatively low speeds and electric kickboards that are steered while standing can have different operability than electric scooters that travel at relatively high speeds.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide an electric scooter that can improve operability when traveling at relatively low speeds. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric scooter. The electric scooter includes a main body, a front wheel, a tilt adjustment unit, a first rear wheel, and a second rear wheel. The main body and the front wheel are configured to be tiltable with respect to a road surface. The tilt adjustment unit allows the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel to be tiltable with respect to the road surface regardless of the tilt angle of the main body with respect to the road surface. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to improve operability when traveling at a relatively low speed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an electric scooter 1. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the rear side (rear side in the direction of travel) of the electric scooter 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an electric scooter 1 when driven in a seated position. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram showing the tilt adjustment part 17 as seen from the rear of the main body 10. FIG. [Diagram 5] 1 is a diagram showing the inclination adjustment part 17 as seen from the front side of the main body 10. FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a diagram showing the tilt adjustment part 17 when the first rear wheel 15 and the second rear wheel 16 are tilted as viewed from the rear of the main body 10. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a diagram showing the tilt adjustment part 17 when the first rear wheel 15 and the second rear wheel 16 are tilted as viewed from the front of the main body 10. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an inclination angle. [Figure 9] 1A to 1C are diagrams showing examples of riding postures of occupants. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Various characteristic features shown in the following embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0010] 1. Overall structure Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an electric scooter 1. Fig. 2 is a view showing the rear of the electric scooter 1 (the rear side in the direction of travel).

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the electric scooter 1 includes a main body 10, a handlebar 11, a frame bar 12, a front wheel 13, a rear wheel support unit 14, a first rear wheel 15, a second rear wheel 16, and an inclination adjustment unit 17. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the electric scooter 1 can also be provided with a seat 20 and a seat support unit 21 so that a rider can ride the electric scooter in a seated position. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the electric scooter 1 when being driven in a seated position.

[0012] The main body 10 is a part on which a rider rides, and is also a part on which devices such as a battery are mounted. The handlebar 11 changes the direction of the front wheel 13, enabling steering of the electric scooter 1. The handlebar 11 is also provided with operating parts such as an accelerator, brake, and light switch, and a display part such as a meter. The handlebar 11 is connected to the main body 10 via a frame bar 12, and is also directly connected to the front wheel 13. For example, the frame bar 12 has a hollow cylindrical shape, and the handlebar 11 penetrates the hollow part, enabling the front wheel 13 to be operated by the handlebar 11. For this reason, if the handlebar 11 is straight, the handlebar 11 and the top surface of the main body 10 (the riding position when the rider rides in an upright position) are parallel. The handlebar 11 and the front wheel 13 are also aligned in the diametric direction.

[0013] The rear wheel support part 14 connects the main body 10 to the first rear wheel 15 and the second rear wheel 16, and supports the first rear wheel 15 and the second rear wheel 16. In addition, the rear wheel support part 14 allows the first rear wheel 15 and the second rear wheel 16 to move up and down in order to keep the first rear wheel 15 and the second rear wheel 16 in contact with the ground when the road surface is uneven, etc. For this reason, the rear wheel support part 14 may be provided with a spring or the like that operates as a suspension.

[0014] Additionally, the rear wheel support portion 14 allows the first rear wheel 15 and the second rear wheel 16 to tilt. This allows the main body 10 and the front wheels 13 to tilt with respect to the road surface. The tilt of the first rear wheel 15 and the second rear wheel 16 is adjusted by a tilt adjustment portion 17. The tilt adjustment portion 17 will be described later.

[0015] 2.Inclination adjustment part 17 Next, the inclination adjustment unit 17 will be described. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the inclination adjustment unit 17 as viewed from the rear of the main body 10, and Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the inclination adjustment unit 17 as viewed from the front of the main body 10. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the inclination adjustment unit 17 as viewed from the rear of the main body 10 in a state in which the first rear wheel 15 and the second rear wheel 16 are inclined, and Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the inclination adjustment unit 17 as viewed from the front of the main body 10 in a state in which the first rear wheel 15 and the second rear wheel 16 are inclined. Note that Figs. 4 to 7 are all simplified diagrams for ease of explanation.

[0016] As shown in Figs. 4 to 7, the inclination adjustment unit 17 is arranged with its shaft penetrating the main body 10 and is configured to be rotatable around the shaft. The inclination adjustment unit 17 also includes a restoration mechanism 18. The rear wheel support unit 14 is connected to the inclination adjustment unit 17 on the rear side of the main body 10, and the restoration mechanism 18 is connected to the inclination adjustment unit 17 on the front side of the main body 10. With this configuration, the inclination adjustment unit 17 operates like a seesaw with the shaft as a fulcrum, and adjusts the inclination of the first rear wheel 15 and the second rear wheel 16. The restoration mechanism 18 has a restoring force such as a spring or a damper, and generates a force to return to the original state when compressed or expanded. In other words, the restoration mechanism 18 restores the first rear wheel 15 and the second rear wheel 16 to an upright state when the first rear wheel 15 and the second rear wheel 16 are inclined. The restoring mechanism 18 also operates as a vibration suppression mechanism that suppresses vibration in the tilt direction of the first rear wheel 15 and the second rear wheel 16. The restoring mechanism 18 may be omitted.

[0017] The first rear wheel 15 and the second rear wheel 16 tilt due to a change in the load on the main body 10, but since the tilt angle is adjusted by the tilt adjustment unit 17, as a result, the tilt angle of the first rear wheel 15 and the second rear wheel 16 does not necessarily match the tilt angle of the main body 10 with respect to the road surface. In other words, the tilt adjustment unit 17 makes the first rear wheel 15 and the second rear wheel 16 tiltable with respect to the road surface regardless of the tilt angle of the main body 10 with respect to the road surface. For example, the tilt adjustment unit 17 makes the first rear wheel 15 and the second rear wheel 16 tiltable with respect to the road surface when the main body 10 is not tilted with respect to the road surface.

[0018] In addition, since the first rear wheel 15 and the second rear wheel 16 are connected to the tilt adjustment unit 17 via the rear wheel support unit 14, the tilt adjustment unit 17 tilts one of the first rear wheel 15 and the second rear wheel 16 according to the tilt angle of the other. In addition, by appropriately setting the size of the tilt adjustment unit 17, the tilt adjustment unit 17 can also keep the first rear wheel 15 and the second rear wheel 16 parallel to each other.

[0019] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing examples of inclination angles. As shown in the figure, if the inclination angle of the first rear wheel 15 is α, the inclination angle of the second rear wheel 16 is β, and the inclination angle of the main body 10 is γ, then α and β are the same or approximately the same, and γ is an arbitrary angle that is not related to α and β. Specifically, γ coincides with the inclination angle of the handlebar 11 with respect to the road surface and is determined by the rider's operation, and α and β are determined by the rider's load balance.

[0020] This allows the rider 4 to easily turn the electric scooter 1 in the state shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a riding posture of a rider. Note that the dotted line in Fig. 9 indicates the inclination angle of the first rear wheel 15, and the dashed line in Fig. 9 indicates the inclination angle of the main body 10. As shown in these figures, the rider 4 can turn the main body 10 in a state where the inclination angle of the main body 10 is smaller than the inclination angle of the first rear wheel 15, making it easy to ride with the upper body established relative to the road surface 3, and to easily assume a lean-out posture that is considered to be suitable for turning at a relatively low speed.

[0021] 3.Other The present invention may be provided in the following aspects. In the electric scooter, the tilt adjustment unit enables the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel to tilt with respect to a road surface while the main body is not tilted with respect to a road surface. In the electric scooter, the lean adjustment unit leans one of the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel in accordance with a lean angle of the other. In the electric scooter, the tilt adjustment unit keeps the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel parallel to each other. In the electric scooter, the tilt adjustment unit is equipped with a restoration mechanism that restores the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel to an upright state when the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel are tilted. In the electric scooter, the restoring mechanism operates as a vibration suppression mechanism that suppresses vibration in a tilt direction of the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel. Of course, this is not the case.

[0022] Finally, although various embodiments of the present invention have been described, these are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The new embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The embodiments and their modifications are within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0023] 1: Electric scooter 3: Road surface 4: Crew 10: Main unit 11:Handlebar 12: Frame bar 13: Front wheel 14: Rear wheel support part 15: First rear wheel 16: Second rear wheel 17: Inclination adjustment part 18:Restoration mechanism 20:Sheet 21: Seat support part

Claims

1. An electric scooter, The front wheel and A first rear wheel and a second rear wheel; a main body that is located between the front wheel and the rear wheel, has a long box shape along the front-rear direction of the electric scooter, and has at least a battery mounted therein; a first rear wheel support portion that connects the main body and the first rear wheel and supports the first rear wheel so as to be movable up and down; a second rear wheel support portion that connects the main body and the second rear wheel and supports the second rear wheel so as to be movable up and down; a tilt adjustment unit connected to the main body, the first rear wheel support unit, and the second rear wheel support unit; The entire upper surface of the main body is a riding position for placing both feet of a passenger who always rides in a standing position, does not have a seat on which the passenger rides in a sitting position, and is composed of a flat surface parallel to the road surface, the tilt adjustment unit is configured to be rotatable with respect to the main body via a shaft unit, and allows the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel to be tilted with respect to a road surface regardless of a tilt angle of the main body with respect to a road surface, the electric scooter is configured to be able to turn in a state in which the inclination angle of the body is smaller than an inclination angle of the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel with respect to a road surface, the tilt adjustment unit allows the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel to be tilted with respect to a road surface in a state in which the main body is not tilted with respect to a road surface. Electric scooter.

2. The electric scooter according to claim 1, the tilt adjustment unit tilts one of the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel in accordance with a tilt angle of the other of the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel. Electric scooter.

3. The electric scooter according to claim 2, The tilt adjustment unit keeps the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel parallel to each other. Electric scooter.

4. The electric scooter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The tilt adjustment unit includes a restoration mechanism. the restoring mechanism restores the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel to an upright state when the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel are inclined. Electric scooter.

5. The electric scooter according to claim 4, the restoring mechanism operates as a vibration damping mechanism that suppresses vibration in a tilt direction of the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel. Electric scooter.

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