Patent ID: 6173799
Filing Date: 2001-01-16
Classification: B60L,B62B,Y02T

Abstract:
A motor-assisted single-wheel cart comprising:a vehicle body frame comprised of a pair of right and left side frame members each having an upper horizontal member and a lower member positioned below the upper horizontal member, the right and left side frame members being spaced apart from each other in a lateral direction;an axle rotatably mounted to the lower member and positioned in front of a center portion of the vehicle body frame in a longitudinal direction;a single wheel mounted to the axle and positioned in a center portion of the vehicle body frame in the lateral direction;a pair of right and left operation handles each extending rearward from one of the upper horizontal members;a bed mounted to an upper portion of the vehicle body frame;a battery mounted to the lower member and arranged at a rear portion of the vehicle body frame around the axle;a motor mounted to to lower member for generating an assisting power in correspondence to an operation force applied to the operation handle by a human hand; anda power transmission mechanism for transmitting an output of the motor to the axle;wherein when the vehicle body frame is viewed from a side surface in the lateral direction, each lower member comprises a horizontal portion extending parallel to the upper horizontal member, a front vertical portion extending upwardly and vertically from a front end of the horizontal portion, a leg portion bending downwardly and upwardly from a rear end of the horizontal portion substantially in a V-shaped manner, and a rear vertical portion extending upwardly from the leg portion and disposed parallel to the front vertical portion, the motor being arranged rearwardly and upwardly of the axle so as to be disposed within a space surrounded by the lower member and the upper horizontal member.