Vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle having a chassis frame, a single front and a single rear wheel aligned on the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and retractible outrigger wheels on opposite sides of the frame. A driver compartment supported by the frame and a driver foot pedal inside the compartment. Connection apparatus including ratchet and pawl instrumentalities connecting the foot pedal to the outrigger wheels to move them up and down in two full depressions of the foot pedal. The first depression lowers the outrigger wheels to a first position about half way to full lowering of the outrigger wheels which is suitable for low speed operation. The second depressions lowers the outrigger wheels to a second fully lowered position which is suitable for stopping. The force of the feet required to fully lower the outrigger wheels in two strokes when the vehicle is leaned over with the weight applied to one of the outrigger wheels being generally half of the force required to fully lower the outrigger wheels in one stroke. A hand grip on each side of the driver compartment, a front fork pivotally supporting the front wheel, and motion transfer apparatus from each hand grip extending on each side of the driver compartment and connecting to the front fork, whereby steering is accomplished by the driver pushing and pulling on the hand grips. A swing arm pivotally mounting bearings for the rear wheel with the pivotal axis of the swing arm located rearwardly of the rear wheel. The outrigger wheels have axles located in generally the same vertical plane lateral of the vehicle as the rear wheels axles when the outrigger wheels are in down position. The frame includes side trusses disposed generally in horizontal planes and located on each side of the driver compartment at about elbow height and diagonal frame members at front and back of the driver compartment tying together the side trusses thereby forming a complete trusswork about the compartment to protect the driver.