USOO9604683B2

(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 9,604,683 B2 Kunsch et al. (45) Date of Patent: Mar. 28, 2017

(54) REAR ENGINE, FRONT WHEEL DRIVE 2,306,042 A * 12/1942 Custer ...... B62D 61,08 THREE WHEELED VEHICLE 180,214 2.434,759 A 1/1948 Donovan (71) Applicants: Gregory W Kunsch, Virginia Beach, 2,740,486 A 38. Wayman VA (US); Alexander Andre Kunsch, is: A 8'85 EF - - - w kW orff Virginia Beach, VA (US) 3,640,545. A * 2, 1972 Citroen ...... B60G 11 OO 180,210 (72) Inventors: Gregory W Kunsch, Virginia Beach, 3,826,326 A 7, 1974 Blair VA (US); Alexander Andre Kunsch, 4,020,914 A 5, 1977 Trautwein Virginia Beach, VA (US) 4,353,567 A 10/1982 Weldy 4,373,600 A 2f1983 Buschbom et al. (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this 3.43 A 3E E. patent is extended or adjusted under 35 4.453,763 A 6, 1984 Ras U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days. 4,573.546 A 3/1986 Irimajiri et al. 4,625,825 A * 12/1986 Ethier ...... B62D 61,065 (21) Appl. No.: 14/752.971 180,215 4,630,702 A * 12/1986 Irimajiri...... B60K 2004 (22) Filed: Jun. 28, 2015 180,215 (Continued) (65) Prior Publication Data US 2016/0375944 A1 Dec. 29, 2016 OTHER PUBLICATIONS (51) Int. Cl. Author: Elvis Payne, Three Wheelers.Com-query : Manufactures B62D 6L/06 (2006.01) with 2 Wheels in Front Web site link: http://www.3 wheelers.com/ ; B6ON 2/01 (2006.01) Database Query: Wheel Configuration = 2F1R or “Both Date: Jun. B6OK 5/00 (2006.01) 21, 2015. (52) U.S. Cl. (Continued) CPC ...... B62D 61/065 (2013.01); B60K 5/00 (2013.01); B60N 2/01 (2013.01); B62D 61/06 Primary Examiner – Faye M Fleming (2013.01); B60K 2005/003 (2013.01) (58) Field of Classification Search (57) ABSTRACT CPC ... B62D 61/06; B62D 61/065; B62D 31/003; The general layout for a front wheel drive, three-wheeled B60K 5/00; B60K 2005/003; B60N 2AO1 vehicle designed for road use with two steerable driven See application file for complete search history. wheels in the front of the vehicle, and the engine located behind the front of the passenger seating. The vehicle layout (56) References Cited is designed for optimal stability and traction by the location U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS of the passenger seating, engine or engines, steering and M driven wheels. 1989,995 A 2f1935 Martin 2,038,843 A 4/1936 Jones 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Sheets

Drawing 2 Enbodiment: Side Wiew r--- -Dual passenger, Side by Side seating Single Engine ---

- Rear Wise C - Engine rent of Engine located :-B - Passenger Seats their font of Seat A - Front Wheets - Driven, Steering

A - Front. Wheels - Driver, Steering B - Passenger Seats C - Engine * - Rear Wiete

Pian View s

Front of Weicle Front of Engine located behind front of Seat US 9,604,683 B2 Page 2

(56) References Cited OTHER PUBLICATIONS U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS Unknown Author, Wikipedia: Three Wheeled Vehicles with Two Front Wheels Web site link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three 4,662,468 A * 5, 1987 Ethier ...... B62D 61,065 wheelerii Examples Date: Jun. 21, 2015. 180,211 Author. Elvis Payne, Three Wheelers.Com-query : Manufactures 4,697,663 10, 1987 Trautwein with 2 Wheels in Front Web site link: http://www.3 wheelers.com/ ; 4,703,824 ck 11, 1987 Irimajiri ...... B62D 61,065 Database Query: Wheel Configuration = 2F1R or “Both Date: Jun. 180,210 21, 2015. 4,717, 164 ck 1, 1988 Levavi ...... B60G 17FOO Unknown Author, web page image of LaBolle vehicle, Jun. 27. 180,210 2015, one page Web Link: http://thegegeblog.canalblog.com/ar 4,787,470 11, 1988 Badsey chives/2010/04/01/174396.28.html. 4.919,225 4, 1990 Sturges Unknown Author, web page Wikipedia Griffon vehicle, Jun. 27. 5, 1992 Miller 2015, one page Web Link: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ 5,116,069 %C3%89tablissements Griffon. 5,236,060 8, 1993 Huber Unknown Author, web page AC History, Jun. 27, 2015, two pages 5,248,011 9, 1993 Richards Web Link: http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/heritage ac. 5,307,889 5, 1994 Bohannan ...... B62D 51,008 php. 180/13 Unknown Author, web page Searching for lost Indians, Jun. 27. 5.431.243 7, 1995 Richards 2015, two pages Web Link: https://touringroads.wordpress.com/ 5.433,285 7, 1995 Richards 2013/10/05/searching-for-lost-indians-an-archival-journey?. 5,495,905 3, 1996 Fini, Jr. Elvis Payne, web page Asia, Jun. 27, 2015. One page Web Link: 5,806,622 9, 1998 Murphy http://www.3 wheelers.com/aisa.html. 5,927,424 7, 1999 Van Den Brink et al. Elvis Payne, webpage A.F., Jun. 27, 2015. One page Web Link: 6,641,154 11/2003 Vey http://www.3 wheelers.com/afcars.html. 7,090,234 8, 2006 Takayanagi et al. Unknown Author, web page, Welcome to the home of Doug 7,185,900 3, 2007 Bogatay, Sr. et al. Malewicki's Inventions, engineering projects and fun stuff. Jun. 27. 11/2008 Pickering 2015, two pages Web Link: http://www.canosoarus.com/. 7,445,070 Unknown Author, web page Welcome to BRAMotorworks, Jun. 27. 7.464,781 12, 2008 Guay et al. 2015, one page Web Link: http://www.bra-cars.com/. D584,188 1/2009 Jenkins et al. Hanlon, Mike, the three-wheeled driving machine, Gizmag. Jan. 21. 7,543,672 6, 2009 Codere et al. 2005, 4 pages Web link: http://www.gizmag.com/go/3628/. 7,549,494 6, 2009 Zichek Unknown Author, web page Home=>Concept Cars, Jun. 27, 2015, 7,588,110 9, 2009 Martino one page Web Link: http://www.diseno-art.com/encyclopedia/con 8,540,045 9, 2013 Hall ...... B60G 3, 20 cept cars/aprilia magnet.html. 180,210 Hanlon, Mike, VW's 3-wheel sportcar, Gizmag. Jan. 5, 2006, 4 8,544,587 10, 2013 Holroyd pages Web Link: http://www.gizmag.com/go/4990?. 8,646,794 2, 2014 Mullin Hanlon, Mike, Peugeot's exciting new 3-wheeler-the 20OUP 8,662,228 3, 2014 Hill Gizmag. Aug. 28, 2005, 4 pages Web Link: http://www.gizmag. 4, 2014 Holroyd com/go/4494. 8,695,746 Unknown Author, web page Polaris Slingshot company web page, 8,781,684 T/2014 Bruce Jun. 27, 2015, one page Web Link: http://www.ipolaris.com/en-us/ 8,840,131 9, 2014 Calley slingshot. 9,221,508 12, 2015 de Haan ...... B6ON 2,005 Ian Stent, CKC Jun. 2012 Issue 63, pp. 17-19 Web Link: http:// 2005/0212329 9, 2005 Gillies De www.grinnallcars.com/grin-factor.pdf. Landeta ...... B62D 21, 186 Unknown Author, web page. The Petrol Stop, Jun. 27, 2015, 1 page 296,190,07 Web Link: http://www.thepetrolstop.com/2012/03/stimson 2013,0056287 3/2013 Park Scorcher.html. 2014/0217714 8, 2014 Sekiya ...... B62D 21/04 280/781 * cited by examiner U.S. Patent Mar. 28, 2017 Sheet 1 of 5 US 9,604,683 B2

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US 9,604,683 B2 1. 2 REAR ENGINE, FRONT WHEEL DRIVE inconsistent driving experience. This is of most concern THREE WHEELED VEHICLE during hard cornering, or situations involving wet or loose gravel roads where the traction of the rear wheel is reduced BACKGROUND causing the vehicle to react differently due to the change in loading. Even the most experienced drivers may be chal Field of the Invention lenged by the radical change in vehicle dynamics The present invention pertains to motor vehicles. More Vehicles with straddle type seating, Type (2A) and (3B) specifically, the present invention pertains to those having provide certain advantages, however they do not provide the comfort and safety of traditional seating. only three wheels. Each of the layout types defined above could incorporate Description of the Related Art 10 front wheel or rear wheel steering as further layout sub Typical road use, highway speed, three wheeled vehicles types, as depicted under Type (3C). Vehicles with primary consist of the following layout types: steering provided through the rear wheels are generally less Type-1 Two wheels in the rear of the vehicle with the stable at higher speeds, causing additional stability concerns rear wheel driven. with a three wheeled vehicle. Type 2 Two wheels in the front of the vehicle with the 15 rear wheel driven. Variations of this are: SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION (A) Straddle type seating where the body or engine is straddled by the passenger, whether the engine is In contrast to the layouts described above, the present directly underneath, forward, or rearward of the invention defines a layout which is a unique variation of driver. Type (3), with the engine(s) placed behind passenger seat(s) (B) Traditional seating with engine in front of the while still driving the front wheels. The wheels are arranged passenger Seat. with two in the front of the vehicle and one in the rear. The (C) Traditional seating with engine behind the passen front wheels are the driven wheels as well as the primary ger Seat. steering wheels. One or more passenger seats can be located Type 3 Two wheels in the front of the vehicle with the 25 forward of the engine or engines. front wheels driven. Variations of this are: It is an object of the present invention to provide a three-wheeled vehicle having a layout where weighting and (A) Straddle type seating where the body or engine is wheel loading provides a stable platform for road use at straddled by the passenger, whether the engine is highway speeds. The present invention provides the follow directly underneath, forward, or rearward of the ing advantages over previous layouts: driver. 30 Since the passenger and the engine are significant weight (B) Traditional seating with the engine in front of the considerations, locating these close to each other pro passenger seat. vides the optimal weighting for a three wheeled (C) Traditional seating with engine behind the front of vehicle. passenger Seat. Variation of weight due to passenger loading is less of an (1) Rear wheel steering. 35 impact to weight distribution and vehicle dynamics (2) Front wheel steering. This vehicle type is the Variability of weight due to passenger loading being present invention. closer to front wheels. Three wheeled vehicles with two rear wheels, Type (1), Since two wheels are driven, vehicle can provide faster suffer from detrimental stability problems when turning, and acceleration without loss of traction. even more serious stability issues when braking while 40 The rear wheel must Support braking and lateral loads turning. This is a critical need, as maximum stability is only, making it less likely to lose traction. required in emergency situations. It is very common for If the front wheels lose partial traction, vehicle will still vehicles of this type to tip over during more extreme retain a magnitude of control. aVS. DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF Three wheeled vehicles with a single rear wheel which is 45 also the driven wheel, Type (2), have traction problems due THE DRAWING to the power being driven through a single wheel. Loss of Examples of common existing three wheeled vehicle traction causes the driver to quickly lose control of the Types: vehicle since there is no directional control. This can be Drawing (1): especially dangerous when the vehicle is in a turn and the 50 FIG. 1 Type 2B Plan View rear wheel loses traction. The loss of traction is compounded FIG. 2 Type 3B Plan View by the combination of lateral forces on the rear wheel from FIG. 3 Type 2C Plan View the turn, the forward forces from acceleration, and changes Present Invention: in contact pressure due to uneven road Surfaces. Drawing (2): Three wheeled vehicles with two front driven wheels and 55 the engine forward of the passenger seat, Type (3B), suffer Embodiment: Dual Passenger, Side by Seating, from a broad variation in center of gravity as a result of Single Engine varied passenger loading. The seated position requires leg room for the passenger, and pushes the engine farther away FIG. 4A Embodiment Side View from the center of gravity of the driver. Not only does this 60 FIG. 4B Embodiment Plan View impact vehicle dynamics while in motion, but it also brings FIG. 4C Embodiment Perspective View about the larger concern of varying passenger loads based on Drawing (3): the size of person(s), (especially if there are two seats), which changes the front to rear center of gravity for the Other Example Embodiments vehicle as a whole. The inconsistent passenger load causes 65 large variations of weight on the single rear wheel which FIG. 5 Plan View—dual passenger, serial seating, dual dramatically changes the vehicle's dynamics, resulting in an engine US 9,604,683 B2 3 4 FIG. 6—Plan View—single passenger seating, single behind the front of the passenger seats (item B). The engine engine (item C) drives the front wheels (item A). The same embodi ment is shown from a plan view in FIG. 4B, and from Example Drivetrain Embodiments perspective view in FIG. 4C. Another example embodiment is shown on FIG. 5 show Drawing (4): ing dual passenger serial seating and dual engines. The FIG. 7 Plan View—central drive shaft, single engine embodiment portrays front wheels (item A) which provide FIG. 8 Plan View parallel driveshaft with right angle primary steering for the vehicle. A rear wheel (item D) is gears, single engine located behind the front wheels (item A). The front of the Drawing (5): 10 forward most engine (item C) is located behind the front of FIG.9 Plan View parallel driveshaft with chain or belt the forward most passenger seat (item B). The engine (item drive, single engine C) drives the front wheels (item A). FIG. 10 Plan View-drive shaft or direct drive, dual Another example embodiment is shown on FIG. 6 show engines ing single passenger seating with a single engine. The For Embodiments, Items as follows: 15 embodiment portrays front wheels (item A) which provide primary steering for the vehicle. A rear wheel (item D) is All Embodiments located behind the front wheels (item A). The front of the forward most engine (item C) is located behind the front of (A) Front Wheels—Driven, Steering the forward most passenger seat (item B). The engine (item (B) Passenger Seat(s) 2O C) drives the front wheels (item A). (C) Engine The present invention may utilize a variety of engine to (D) Rear Wheel driven wheel connection types and is not limited by possible types. Example connection types may include chain, belt, Drive Embodiments hydraulic, shaft, or direct. Example engine to driven wheel 25 embodiments (FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10) are provided to represent (E1) Drive shaft and differential Some of the many possibilities and show that the present (E2) Drive shaft and Right Angle gears invention is not limited by drive train mechanisms: (E3) Drive shaft and Chain or Belt drive Central driveshaft (E1), single engine embodiment (FIG. (E4) Drive shaft or Direct drive 7). Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in 30 Parallel driveshaft with right angle gears (E2), single detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited engine embodiment (FIG. 8). in its application to the details of construction and the Parallel driveshaft with chain or belt drive (E3), single detailed arrangement of components set forth in the follow engine embodiment (FIG. 9). ing description or illustrated in the following drawings. The Driveshaft or Direct drive (E4), dual engines (FIG. 10). invention is capable of other embodiments not listed herein, 35 The present invention is not limited by engine type or and of being practiced or of being carried out in various number of engines. Gasoline, Hydrogen, Steam, Electric and ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and other engine type embodiments are not limiting factors of terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and the present invention. should not be regarded as limiting. If seating has adjustable seating, references to front of 40 seat indicate the forward most position of the seat. If DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE multiple seats are used, the front of seat refers to the seat INVENTION in the forward most position in the vehicle. References to front of engine refer to the forward most FIGS. 1, 2, 3 respectively portray general layouts of portion of the engine in a vertical plane. existing vehicle Types 2B, 2C, and 3B. These are the most 45 The present invention may have numerous embodiments common versions of existing three wheeled vehicles having for actual steering of the front wheels. The present invention two wheels in the front. There are numerous existing is limited to vehicles with primary Steering through the use embodiments of these vehicle types with various seating of the front wheels. Advanced embodiments may include arrangements, engine types, body types, structural arrange Some incremental steering through the use of the rear wheel ments, and component arrangements. Each of these figures 50 Such a flexing, incremental movement or rotating for use in portrays front wheels (item A), a rear wheel (item D) which parking or slow speed maneuvering. Vehicle with primary is located behind the front wheels (item A), one or more steering accomplished through the rear wheel at highway engines (item C) with the location depicted in relationship to speeds are not within the scope of the present invention. the front of the passenger seats (item B). Example embodi The present invention is limited to standard sit-in or sit-on ments of the connections from the engine to the driven 55 type seats (Item B), which is also referred to as traditional wheels are shown as Drive shaft and Chain or Belt drive seating. The present invention does not extend to vehicles (item E3), as well as Drive shaft or direct drive (item E4). with Straddle seating, in which the passenger has one leg or As with the numerous embodiments of existing three foot on either side of the engine or primary body of the wheeled vehicles, the present invention also has numerous vehicle, regardless of whether the passenger is in a forward possible embodiments. FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 5, 6 depict 60 leaning, vertical, rearward leaning, reclined, or horizontal example embodiments of the present invention. position. Straddle type seating may have the engine directly The first example embodiment of the present invention is underneath, forward, or rearward of the driver. shown in FIG. 4A, showing dual passenger side by side In addition to items noted above, the present invention is seating and a single engine. The embodiment portrays front not limited by: wheels (item A) which provide primary steering for the 65 frame or body structure type or material. vehicle. A rear wheel (item D) is located behind the front distances between items. wheels (item A). The front of the engine (item C) is located classification of vehicle Such as motorcycle or . US 9,604,683 B2 5 6 construction details adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Suspension types and variations. Further, this application is intended to cover Such departures body types. from the present disclosure as come within known or other vehicle components. customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains While this invention has been described with several 5 embodiments, the present invention may be further modified CITATIONS within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This applica tion is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or Patent Citations

Comments related to Cited Filing Publi resent Paten date date Applicant Title invention U.S. . No. 1,989,995 26 Feb. 1930 5 Feb. Martin James V Autoette Rear Wheel 935 Drive U.S. . No. 2,038,843 Apr. 28, Jones Joseph R Three wheeled automobile Rear Wheel 936 Steering U.S. No. 2,434,759 31 Aug. 1945 20 Jan. Karl Donovan Tricycle vehicle Rear Wheel 948 Drive U.S. . No. 2,740,486 ul. 25, Sto Paul Anna Charles Three wheel vehicle with Rear Wheel 939 Francois one driving wheel and two Drive steering wheels U.S. No. 2,851,302 18 Jan. 1957 9 Sep. Gen Motors Corp Vehicle frame and Two Rear 958 underbody construction Wheels U.S. . No. 3,610,35823 Jul. 1969 5 Oct. Walter H. Korff Cycle car Rear Wheel 971 Drive U.S. . No. 3,826,3269 Nov. 1971 30 Jul. Blair D Three wheeled automotive Rear Wheel 974 vehicular construction Drive U.S. . No. 4,020,91423 Feb. 1976 3 May Wolfgang Trautwein Stabilized three-wheeled Rear Wheel 977 vehicle Drive U.S. . No. 4,353,567 24 Nov. 1980 2 Oct. Weldy Ross A Steering and Suspension Single Front 982 system for the front wheel Wheel of a three-wheeled vehicle U.S. . No. 4,373,600 18 Jul. 1980 5 Feb. Veda, Inc. Three wheel drive vehicle Rear Wheel 983 Steering U.S. . No. 4,377,215 20 Aug. 1981 22 Mar. Hare Terence G Suspension system for Rear Wheel 983 automotive vehicles Drive U.S. . No. 4,448,278 16 Feb. 1982 5 May Badsey William John Land vehicle Rear Wheel 984 Drive U.S. . No. 4,453,763 13 Apr. 1982 2 Jun. Trihawk, Inc. Frame and body Front Engine 984 construction for automotive passenger vehicle U.S. . No. 4,573.54630 Apr. 1984 4 Mar. Honda Giken Kogyo Three-wheeled motor Front Engine 986 Kabushiki Kaisha vehicle U.S. . No. 4,625,82531 Jan. 1986 2 Dec. Ethier Pierre M Front-drive three-wheels Front Engine 986 vehicle with tandem drive and passenger U.S. . No. 4,662,468 24 Jan. 1986 5 May Ethier Pierre M Snowmobile-motorcycle Front Engine 987 hree-wheel vehicle U.S. . No. 4,697,663 Oct. 6, Wolfgang Trautwein Three-wheeled vehicle Rear Wheel 987 Drive U.S. . No. 4,703,82416 May 1984 3 Nov. Honda Giken Kogyo hree-wheeled vehicle 3 Wheel 987 Kabushiki Kaisha Steering U.S. . No. 4,787,470 30 Jun. 1986 29 Nov. Yamaha Hatsudoki hree wheel vehicle Rear Wheel 988 Kabushiki Kaisha Drive U.S. . No. 4,919,225 31 Mar. 1988 24 Apr. Sturges Daniel D Platform oriented Front Engine 990 transportation vehicle U.S. . No. 5,116,069 11 Mar. 1991 26 May Miller Robert H hree-wheel vehicle Two Rear 992 Wheels U.S. . No. 5,236,060 Aug. 17, William D. Huber hree-wheel vehicle and Rear Wheel 993 conversion kit Drive, Straddle Seating U.S. . No. 5,248,011 23 Jan. 1992 28 Sep. Richards Donald C hree wheeled vehicle Rear Wheel 993 having driven front wheels Steering and steerable rear wheel U.S. . No. 5,431,243 17 Aug. 1993 1 Jul. Richards; Donald C. Three wheeled vehicle with Three Wheel 995 all wheel steering Steering U.S. . No. 5,433,285 27 Sep. 1993 8 Jul. Richards; Donald C. Three wheeled vehicle Two Rear 995 Wheels U.S. . No. 5,495,905 21 Sep. 1994 5 Mar. Fini, Jr.; Anthony W. Modular motor vehicle Four Wheels 996 U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,622 24 Apr. 1996 5 Sep. New Corporation Lightweight vehicle with Rear Wheel 998 pivotal canopy Drive U.S. . No. 5,927,424 13 Jun. 1995 27 Jul. Brinks Westmaas B.V. Self-stabilizing, directionally Two Rear 999 controllable vehicle with at Wheels, tilting least three wheels Mechanism US 9,604,683 B2

-continued

Comments related to Cited Filing Publi present Paten date date Applicant Title invention U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,1549 Sep. 1999 4 Nov. Jeffrey Vey Air bladder Suspension for Two Rear 2003 three-wheeled vehicle Wheels U.S. Pat. No. 7,090,234 22 Sep. 2003 15 Aug. Honda Giken Kogyo Three-wheel vehicle with Two Rear 2006 Kabushiki Kaisha Swinging mechanism Wheels U.S. Pat. No. 7,185,900 22 Aug. 2003 6 Mar. Cleveland T-Trike Frame and steering Two Rear 2007 Manufacturing, Inc. mechanism for three-wheel Wheels vehicle U.S. Pat. No. 7,445,0704 May 2006 4 Nov. Pickering Gregory L. Three wheel motorcycle Two Rear 2008 Wheels U.S. Pat. No. 7.464,781 18 Oct. 2002 16 Dec. Bombardier Recreational Three-wheeled vehicle Rear Wheel 2008 Product Inc. having a split radiator and Drive an interior storage compartment U.S. Pat. No. 7,543,6721 May 2006 9 Jun. Bombardier Recreational Straddle-type wheeled Rear Wheel 2009 Products Inc. vehicle and frame thereof Drive U.S. Pat. No. 7,549,494 27 Mar. 2006 23 Jun. Zichek Daniel A Transverse mounted Two Rear 2009 mid-engine three wheel Wheels vehicle U.S. Pat. No. 7,588,110 1 Sep. 2005 15 Sep. Marc Gregory Martino Three-wheeled vehicle with Front Engine 2009 centrally positioned motor and driver's seat US 2013OOS6287 (application) 7 Mar. Young Jin Park, Youn-sik Three-wheeled electric Rear wheel 2013 Park, Jae Seok YOU vehicle steering U.S. Pat. No. 8,544,587 1 Oct. ames A.J. Three wheeled vehicle Rear Wheel 2013 Holroyd, Gustavo A. Drive Aramayo, Brian T. Utter, Jason J. Hohenstein, Vittorio Tomolillo, U.S. Pat. No. 8,646,794 11 Feb. Craig Mullin Three-wheeled motorized Front Engine, 2014 vehicle Straddle Seat U.S. Pat. No. 8,662,228 Mar, 4, Robert B. Hill, Fred Lux, Free-to-lean three-wheeled Rear Wheel 2014 Timothy Michael Miller, passenger vehicle, power Drive Edmund Jerome Stilwell plant controller and body therefor U.S. Pat. No. 8,695,746 Apr. 15, James A. J. Holroyd, Three wheeled vehicle Front Engine, 2014 Gustavo A. Aramayo, Rear Wheel ason J. Hohenstein, Drive Mathew Bradley Wiest, effrey D. Bennett, Mark Alan Ziliak U.S. Pat. No. 8,781,684 Jul. 15, Ian A. Bruce Steering and control systems Two Rear 2014 for a three-wheeled vehicle Wheels U.S. Pat. No. 8,840,131 Sep. 23, David Calley Three-wheeled vehicle Rear wheel 2014 steering USDS841.88 19 Jun. 2006 6 Jan. Ag Vehicle Rear Wheel 2009 Drive

Non-Patent Citations Web site link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three Non Patent Citation #1 wheelerii Examples Unknown Author, Wikipedia: Three Wheeled Vehicles with Two Front Wheels Date: Jun. 21, 2015

Two front wheels

Years Comments Relative to Name Country manufactured Present Disclosure

Léon BolléeVoiturette France 1895-? Rear wheel drive Advance 6 hp air-cooled Tri Car and England 1902-12 Rear wheel drive 9 hp water-cooled Tri Car" Egg Switzerland 1896-1899 Rear wheel drive HumberTricarill England 1904 Rear wheel drive Riley Olympia Tricarl England 1904 Rear wheel drive Lagonda Tricar' England 1904-07 Rear wheel drive Anglian England 1905-07 Rear wheel drive Armadale England 1906-07 Rear wheel drive Morgan V-Twin and F-Series England 1911-39, Front Engine 1932-52 American Tri-Car United States 1912 Rear Wheel Drive US 9,604,683 B2 1. O -continued

Two front wheels

Years Comments Relative to Name Country manufactured Present Disclosure Birmingham Small Arms Company England 1929-36 Front Engine Three Wheeler Zaschka Germany 1929 Rear Wheel drive Dymaxion car Onited States 1933 Rear wheel steering Mathis VEL, 333 France 1946 Front engine Velorex Oskar and other models Czechoslovakia 1951-71 Rear wheel drive UK 1957-62 Rear wheel drive Scootacar UK 1957-64 Rear wheel drive Messerschmitt KR175 Germany 1953-64 Rear wheel drive Messerschmitt KR200 Germany 1953-64 Rear wheel drive Peel PSO sle of Man 1963-64 Rear wheel drive HM Vehicles Free-way Onited States 1979-82 Rear wheel drive Campagna T-Rex Canada 1996-present Rear wheel drive Malone Car Company F1000 Skunk United Kingdom 1999-present Front Engine SSTAZR Cree SAM Switzerland 2001 Rear wheel drive Scoot Coupe Onited States 2004-present Rear wheel drive Myers Motors NmC (“No more Gas') Onited States 2006-present Rear wheel drive Can-Am Spyder Canada 2007-present Rear wheel drive Brudeli. 645L Norway 2008 Rear wheel drive Moonbeam Onited States 2008-present Rear wheel drive Triac Onited States 2009-2011 Front Engine XR-3 Hybrid Onited States Plans-2008, Two engines: Kit-2009 Front Engine (gas), Front Wheel drive; and Rear engine (electric), rear wheel drive. Aptera 2e United States Electric Front Engine Triton Trikes United States 2000-current Front Engine Elio Motors Shreveport, LA, Begins 1H Front Engine United States 201616) GO3Wheeler United States 2014 Rear Wheel Drive

Non Patent Reference #2 35 Web site link: http://www.3 wheelers.com/; Database Query: Author: Elvis Payne, Three Wheelers.Com-query: Manufac Wheel Configuration=2F1R or “Both tures with 2 Wheels in Front Date: Jun. 21, 2015

Query Results: Comments related to Info Manufacturer From O Country present disclosure

Copeland 884 891 Onited States Rear Wheel Steering Butler 890 890 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Lambert 891 917 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive Bernardi 894 901 taly Rear Wheel Drive Leyland 895 895 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Leon Bollee 895 899 France Rear Wheel Drive Wolseley 896 899 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Humber 896 910 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Riker 896 900 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive Eagle 899 908 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive ackson 899 914 United Kingdom Front Engine Beeston 899 905 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive ackson & 900 908 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Kinnings Singer 900 907 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Lion 900 905 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Ribble Motors 900 908 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Riley 900 907 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Lagonda 901 905 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Saute Et 902 904 France Rear Wheel Drive Sechaud Quadrant 903 906 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Wolf 903 906 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Raleigh 903 935 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Garrard 904 904 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Repton 904 904 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive NSU 905 910 Germany Rear Wheel Drive Lurquin-Coudert 1905 914 France Rear Wheel Drive Kerry 905 907 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive US 9,604,683 B2 11 -continued Query Results: Comments related to Manufacturer From To Country present disclosure Rexette 905 905 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Sanchis 906 912 France Rear Wheel Drive Contral 906 908 France Rear Wheel Drive Advance 906 908 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Certain 907 907 France Rear Wheel Drive PMC (1) 910 910 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Kelsey 910 912 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Morgan 910 951 United Kingdom Front Engine Motorette (2) 910 912 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive Kelsey Crouch 912 912 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Girling 912 912 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Autotrix 913 913 United Kingdom Front Engine Torpelle 914 914 France Rear Wheel Drive Thurlow 914 921 United Kingdom Front Engine Leyat 914 914 France No Driven Wheels LSD 919 924 United Kingdom Front Engine Trident 919 920 France Single Front Wheel MB 919 921 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive (Merrall-Brown) Castle Three 919 922 United Kingdom Front Engine Wooler 920 926 United Kingdom Front Engine Eibach 921 925 Germany Rear Wheel Drive Diable 921 924 France Rear Wheel Drive Atomette 921 922 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Monet-Goyon 921 926 France Front Engine Xtra 922 924 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Thompson Bros 922 922 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Diablo 922 927 Germany Front Engine Sandford 922 936 France Front Engine D’Yrsan 923 928 France Front Engine Omega (1) 925 927 United Kingdom Front Engine Mops 925 925 Germany Rear Wheel Drive Coventry-Victor 926 938 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive BSA 929 936 United Kingdom Front Engine Zaschka 929 929 Germany Rear Wheel Drive Framo-Werke 932 937 Germany Front Engine Hercules 932 933 Germany Rear Wheel Drive JMB 933 935 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Dymaxion 933 934 Onited States Rear Wheel Steering Rollfix 933 936 Germany Rear Wheel Drive Kaiser 935 935 Germany Rear Wheel Drive Airomobile 937 938 Onited States Front Engine Gillet 937 937 Belgium Rear Wheel Drive Tatra 938 938 Czech Republic Rear Wheel Drive Arzens 942 942 France Rear Wheel Drive Bubblepuppy 944 947 Onited States Front Engine Bouffort 945 960 France Front Engine Mathis 945 948 Germany Front Engine Dot 947 956 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Fend 948 953 Germany Rear Wheel Drive Altona 948 948 Belgium Front Engine Kurier 948 948 Czech Republic Front Engine Vallée 949 954 France Rear Wheel Drive Kreibich 949 949 Czech Republic Rear Wheel Drive Nitta Sangyo 950 950 apan Rear Wheel Drive Tripolino 950 950 Czech Republic Rear Wheel Drive Fuldamobil 950 961 Germany Rear Wheel Drive Vincent 950 955 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Brutsch 951 957 Germany Rear Wheel Drive Bonnallack 951 952 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Meyra 952 956 Germany Rear Wheel Drive EEC 952 954 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Felber 952 953 Austria Rear Wheel Drive Libelle 952 954 Austria Rear Wheel Drive DS Malterre 952 958 France Rear Wheel Drive Nobel 952 961 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Gaitán 953 953 Spain (various models) Two Rear Wheels or

Rear Wheel Drive Issi 953 953 taly Rear Wheel Drive Cimera 953 957 Spain Rear Wheel Drive Edith 953 957 Australia Rear Wheel Drive Messerschmitt 953 962 Germany Rear Wheel Drive US 9,604,683 B2 13 -continued Query Results: Comments related to Manufacturer From To Country present disclosure Boli 953 957 Spain Rear Wheel Drive inter 953 956 France Rear Wheel Drive Setta 954 964 Germany Rear Wheel Drive 954 958 Germany Rear Wheel Drive Vimp 954 954 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive BMW 954 964 Germany Rear Wheel Drive Shelter 954 954 Netherlands Rear Wheel Drive Kroboth 954 955 Germany Rear Wheel Drive Goricke 954 959 Germany Rear Wheel Drive Tri-Car 955 955 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive MT 955 962 Spain Two Rear Wheels Pinguin 956 956 Germany Rear Wheel Drive Belcar 956 956 Switzerland Rear Wheel Drive Bly 956 957 United Kingdom Front Engine Powerdrive 956 958 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Unicar 956 968 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Coronet 957 960 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Henri Baldet 957 957 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Scootacar 957 964 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Fuji Motors Corp 1957 958 apan Rear Wheel Drive Velorex 958 971 Czech Republic Rear Wheel Drive Oile:S 958 958 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Berkeley 959 960 United Kingdom Front Engine Frisky 959 964 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Hamblin 96.O 960 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Trojan 962 96S Germany Rear Wheel Drive Trivan 962 964 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive Zaika 962 96S Russian Federat Rear Wheel Drive Ranger 964 976 United Kingdom Front Engine Howecette 968 968 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive AF Cars 969 98O United Kingdom Front Engine Teilhol 970 983 France Rear Wheel Drive Citeadine 970 983 France Rear Wheel Drive Mumford 971 986 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Fiberfab 971 975 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive PMC (2) Powers 1974 974 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive or Motor Corp Front Engine depending on config Volkswagen- 974 98O Onited States Front Engine Mosquito 974 979 United Kingdom Front Engine Duo Delta 974 974 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive Dale 975 975 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive Stimson 976 976 United Kingdom Straddle Seating Automirage 976 985 taly Rear Wheel Drive Turbo Phantom 978 982 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive HMVehicles 979 983 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive Trihawk 982 985 Onited States Front Engine LiteStar 982 988 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive Feora 982 982 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive Triad 982 985 United Kingdom Front Engine Gamma 982 984 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive Unisport 982 988 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive Zoe Motors 982 983 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive Doran 983 Present United States Front Engine D&A Vehicles 983 986 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive Dolphin 983 986 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive Ford 983 983 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive Fire Aero 984 988 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive Shrike 984 984 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive Gamma 984 988 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive DRK 984 998 United Kingdom Front Engine Replicar 985 987 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Hudson 985 998 United Kingdom Front Engine Buckland 985 998 United Kingdom Front Engine Pembleton 986 Present United Kingdom Front Engine Kudos 986 986 United Kingdom Front Engine Trilux 986 986 United Kingdom Front Engine Le Patron 986 Present Netherlands Front Engine Horlacher 986 990 Switzerland Rear Wheel Drive Saccomando 986 992 United Kingdom Front Engine Robert Q Riley 986 Present United States Rear Wheel Drive Falcon 986 986 United Kingdom Front Engine US 9,604,683 B2 15 16 -continued Query Results: Comments related to Info Manufacturer From To Country present disclosure Trigger Technics 1987 Present Netherlands Rear Wheel Drive B.V. JZR 987 Present United Kingdom Front Engine Badsey 987 990 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive SportCycle 988 Present United States Rear Wheel Drive Lomax 988 Present United Kingdom Front Engine Tri-Tech 990 Present United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Autocraft Trifid 990 991 United Kingdom Front Engine BRA 992 2006 United Kingdom Front Engine JBF Boxer 992 992 United Kingdom Front Engine Grinnall 992 Present United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive

Specialist Cars Suntera 994 997 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive Blackjack 995 Present United Kingdom Front Engine Texas Rocket 995 995 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive Corbin Motors 996 2003 Onited States Sparrow Rear Wheel Drive Merlin-Front Engine Malone Car 997 Present United Kingdom Front Engine

Company Mercedes Benz 997 997 Germany Rear Wheel Drive Carver 997 2009 Netherlands 2 Rear Wheels IndyCycle 999 999 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive Landshark 2OOO 2OOO United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Cree 2001 2001 Switzerland Rear Wheel Drive Sealion 2002 2002 Norway Front Engine TR Hog 2002 2002 Onited States Rear Wheel Drive SLOW 2003 2003 United Kingdom Rear Wheel Steering QPod 2004 Present United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive Myers Motors 2004 Present United States Rear Wheel Drive Peugeot 2005 2005 France Front Engine Sceadu 2006 Present United States Rear Wheel Drive Fuel Vapor 2006 Present Canada Front Engine Technologies Xzilarakor 2006 Present United States Rear Wheel Drive Liberty Motors 2007 Present United States Front Engine Bonnington 2007 2007 Australia Rear Wheel Drive Cirbin Motors 2007 Present United States Rear Wheel Drive Corp. Planet 2007 Present United Kingdom Front Engine Engineering Ltd Elio Motors 2008 Present United Kingdom Front Engine Razor 2012 Present United Kingdom Rear Wheel Drive KTM 2013 2013 Austria Rear Wheel Drive

Other Non Patent Citations

Comments related # Author, Desc, Date Web Link Vehicle o present disclosure 3 Unknown Author, web page image http://thegegeblog.canalblog.com Bolle-La Bolle Rear wheel drive of LaBolle vehicle, Jun. 27, 2015, archives/2010/04/01/17439628.html 1896 One page 4 Unknown Author, web page https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/% Griffon-1906 Rear wheel drive Wikipedia Griffon vehicle, C3%89tablissements Griffon un. 27, 2015, one page 5 Unknown Author, web page AC http://www.uniquecarsandparts. AC-Auto Carrier Rear wheel drive History, Jun. 27, 2015, two pages com.autheritage ac.php 1903-UK AC-Sociable Rear wheel drive 1907-UK 6 Unknown Author, web page https:/touringroads.wordpress.com/ Advance Motor Co- Rear wheel drive Searching for lost Indians, 2013/10/05/searching-for-lost- ForeCarTricar un. 27, 2015, two pages indians-an-archival-journey 1907-UK 7 Elvis Payne, web page Asia, http://www.3wheelers.com.aisa.html Actividades Rear wheel drive un. 27, 2015, One page Industriales-Aisa 1952-Spain 8 Elvis Payne, web page A.F.Cars, http://www.3wheelers.com.afcars.html AF Cars-AB1 Front Engine un. 27, 2015, One page Spider/Grand Prix 1969 US 9,604,683 B2 17 18 -continued

Comments related # Author, Desc, Date Web Link Vehicle to present disclosure 9 Unknown Author, web page, http://www.canoSoarus.com Aero Visions Inc- Rear wheel drive Welcome to the home of Doug California Malewicki's Communter inventions, engineering projects 1980-United States and fun stuff. Jun. 27, 2015, two pages O Unknown Author, web page http://www.bra-cars.com BRA Motor Works- Front Engine Welcome to BRA Motorworks, CX3, CV3, un. 27, 2015, one page Leighton, MR3 2003-present-UK 1 Hanlon, Mike, the three-wheeled http://www.gizmag.com/go/3628. Mercedes-Benz F Rear wheel drive driving machine, Gizmag. 300 Life-Jet an. 21, 2005, 4 pages Concept Car 2 Unknown Author, web page http://www.diseno-art.com Aprilia Magnet Straddle Seating Home=>Concept Cars, encyclopedia concept cars, aprilia Concept Only Un. 27, 2015, one page magnet.html 3 Hanlon, Mike, VW's 3-wheel http://www.gizmag.com go. 4990, Volkswagen 3 Rear wheel drive sportcar, Gizmag., Jan. 5, 2006, wheeler GX3 4 pages Concept Car 4 Hanlon, Mike, Peugeot's exciting http://www.gizmag.com go. 4494 Peugeot 20CUP Front Engine new 3-wheeler-the 20CUP, Concept Car Gizmag. Aug. 28, 2005, 4 pages 5 Unknown Author, web page http://www.polaris.com/en-usslingshot Polaris Slingshot Front Engine Polaris Slingshot company web page, Jun. 27, 2015, one page 6 Ian Stent, CKC June 2012 Issue http://www.grinnallcars.com/grin-factor.pdf Grinnall Scorpion III Rear Wheel Drive 63, pages 17-19 7 Unknown Author, web page, The http://www.thepetrolstop.com/2012/03/ Scorcher Saddle seating Petrol Stop, Jun. 27, 2015, 1 page stimson-scorcher.html

30 What is claimed is: an engine or engines to propel the vehicle either directly 1. A three wheel vehicle comprising: or indirectly through the front wheels, the front of the two driven front wheels which allow primary directional forward most engine located behind the front of the control of the vehicle: forward most passenger seat; and a single non-driven rear wheel; 35 a passenger compartment, the compartment comprising a drive train connecting the engine(s) to the driven one or more passenger seats; wheels, the drive train located outside of or under the wherein the front wheels are located next to the side of the passenger compartment. passenger seats in a transverse direction of the vehicle; k . . . .