Tricycle apparatus with rear independent transverse suspension and related components

摘要

A three-wheeled self-propelled pedal vehicle with front wheel bicycle steering and independently suspended rear drive wheels. The three-wheeled self-propelled pedal vehicle may include a tubular frame comprising a bicycle front triangle down and seat tube members connected to a longitudinal symmetrical support frame with upper and lower longitudinal chords where the lower longitudinal chord supports a drive mechanism comprising a tractive element drive from a bicycle crank chain ring to a freehub transfer shaft assembly and a separate tractive element between the freehub transfer shaft assembly and an articulating telescoping drive shaft assembly which drives rear wheel axles supported by mirrored independent transverse suspension arms.

主权项

1. A human-powered tricycle comprising:
a tricycle frame defining a central plane; a front steering wheel operatively coupled to a front end of the tricycle frame to enable steering of the tricycle; a pedal arrangement coupled to an intermediate portion of the tricycle frame to enable human-powered motion of the tricycle; a pair of independently suspended rear drive wheels coupled to a rear end of the tricycle frame by a corresponding pair of suspension arms that extend transverse to the central plane; a transfer shaft assembly supported by the tricycle frame aft of the pedal arrangement; and a drive shaft assembly operatively coupling the rear drive wheels to the pedal arrangement via a plurality of mechanical power transmission components including a freehub body supported by the transfer shaft assembly, the drive shaft assembly including a pair of drive shaft sub-assemblies coupled together via a main drive shaft assembly, the main drive shaft assembly including a main drive shaft with a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end including an external profile comprising an arrangement of splines configured to receive a driven sprocket and internal threads to receive a threaded lock ring to secure the driven sprocket to the first end of the main drive shaft.