A family of vehicles is presented which exploit dynamic controls to stabilize in-line two wheeled vehicles. The stabilization results in improved safety at high speeds and on uncooperative surfaces. Stabilization affords balance at zero speed without auxiliary support means. Transformational wheel base length affords high visibility at low speeds and low drag at high speeds. In wheel chair configurations transforming wheel base length allows navigation up and down stairs.

A motorized self-balancing vehicle is provided. The vehicle may include at least two wheels. The vehicle may include a self-balancing mechanism. The vehicle may include a manual-drive mechanism. The self-balancing mechanism may constantly update the self-balancing vehicle in order to maintain the balance of a rider of the vehicle, while the rider is engaged in human motion on the manual-drive mechanism. The human motion may include pedaling and/or stepping. The vehicle may include an electric motor. The vehicle may include only an electric motor. The vehicle may include only a manual-drive mechanism. The vehicle may include both the manual-drive mechanism and the electric motor. In the embodiment including the manual-drive mechanism and the electric motor, the power generated by the electronic motor may be combined with power generated by the manual-drive mechanism in order to move the vehicle.

A front wheel drive recumbent bicycle frame and bicycle are described wherein the wheelbase is adjustable between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position by adjusting the length of a telescoping main tube. The main tube of the bicycle frame rises as it extends rearwardly relative to both a flat underlying surface and a line drawn from the front dropouts to rear dropouts. Accordingly, the adjustment of the wheelbase also changes several important bicycle parameters including the head tube angle, trail, and backrest angle.

The present disclosure provides systems, methods, and devices for operating a vehicle, such as a self-balancing vehicle, using a steering member and/or a braking member. A resistance to movement of the steering member may be controllable based upon an operating state or change thereof of the vehicle. The braking member may control a resistance to motion of at least one of at least two wheels of the vehicle based upon an operating state or change thereof of the vehicle.

A configurable cycle vehicle (10) has an adjustable frame (12) which is formed from a plurality of relatively configurable frame members (26, 28, 30, 32, 34), and which can be separately arranged in a first, upright riding condition, or alternatively in a second, recumbent riding condition. A method of conversion of a cycle vehicle between first and second riding conditions is also provided.

A cycle includes steering handles having one or more of a brake controller, a gear shifter, a throttle, and/or an electronic display. The cables for one or all of these components are inside the steering handle in the area adjacent to the hand grip of the steering handle. The brake controller can be used to simultaneously activate two or more brake assemblies. The cycle can be any suitable cycle such as a bicycle or a tadpole tricycle.

A rack-driven seated handcycle is a semi-recumbent style two, three, or four wheeled human powered cycle that uses a linearly designed toothed rack with teeth located on the topside and bottom side of the rack, and a gear that meshes with the top teeth and a gear that meshes with the bottom teeth, at least one ratchet mechanism, and a chain coupling the upper and lower gears with the drive wheel which may be located in front or back of the rider. The rider pushes and pulls the handlebars forward and rearward to pull the rack back and forth in relation to the pinions above and below the toothed rack to drive chain(s) to propel the cycle forward. Each forward and each rearward stroke may constitute a power stroke to propel the cycle. A plurality of gear speeds is able to in select a lever ratio for each of the forward and the rearward strokes.

A recumbent cycle includes a toothed belt drive system and rear suspension. It also includes a double A-arm suspension assembly and at least one transmission having a planetary gear arrangement.

The power transmission system for a vehicle includes a side flex chain assembly that transmits rotational drive from a power transfer assembly to at least one direction wheel, resulting in propulsion of the vehicle. The orientation of the side flex chain in relation to the axis of the crank sprocket and the side flex chain sprocket and the convex inner face of the bushings of the side flex chain allow the side flex chain to twist when the at least one directional wheel turns left or the right without disengaging from the crank sprocket or the side flex chain sprocket. The power transmission system is designed to be used with a steering system that allows the power transfer assembly to remain substantially in the sagittal plane when steering.

A pedal operated vehicle includes a frame and a drive wheel rotatably coupled to the frame. In addition, the vehicle includes a pedal assembly coupled to the frame and including a pedal sprocket. Further, the vehicle includes a transmission mounted to the frame. The transmission includes an input sprocket mounted to a rotatable first shaft and an output sprocket mounted to a rotatable second shaft. A first chain is disposed about the pedal sprocket and the input sprocket. The output sprocket is configured to drive the rotation of the drive wheel. Moreover, the transmission includes a first plurality of sprockets coupled to the rotatable first shaft and a second plurality of sprockets coupled to the rotatable second shaft. A second chain disposed about one sprocket of the first plurality of sprockets and one sprocket of the second plurality of sprockets.