the semi-recumbent construction ensures good visibility and easy balancing for the steering rider on the rear seat as well as the comfort of a recumbent bike for the rider in the front.
Cargo bike:
as common for the most cargo bikes, the load is placed in front of the rider.
Family vehicle:
enough space for two children and some luggage, well monitored in front of the rider.
Various configurations
Bicycle:
the two-wheel configuration has less weight, is better suitable for higher speed and narrow paths and needs less space for storage.
Tricycle:
the three-wheeler can be loaded and unloaded more easily, the payload is higher and uphill grades can be passed more slowly with less physical effort. The tricycle can be adapted to load and weather conditions by shifting the front wheels:
A short wheelbase means less risk of lateral toppling and more ground clearance, but also less weight on the driven rear wheel. This configuration is most suitable on dry surface and without load.
The configuration with the long wheelbase is more suitable, if the vehicle is heavily loaded: In this case, the low centre of gravity makes lateral toppling unlikely, but with the short wheelbase, too few weight on the driven wheel could cause wheelspin in bad weather conditions or toppling over the front wheels in case of braking.
Rain cover
The configuration with a fixed loading space and separate pivot plate steering can be quite easily equipped with a textile rain cover, although at least the head of the rider(s) should be protected only by a cape in order to reduce the height of the cover.
Why a multi-purpose Bike?
Accumulating demand for series manufacturing:
The origin of this proposal was a research project concerning family velomobiles as a means of transport in rural areas. Although a relatively simple human powered vehicle with weather protection and sufficient loading space could be a feasible solution for trips up to 3-5 km, the primary draft turned out to be too unconventional for achieving the necessary sales volume for cost-efficient production in an appropriate timescale. The three-in-one multi-purpose bike is less unorthodox concerning the riders position and the currently higher demand for cargo bikes and leisure tandems makes mass production more realistic.
More usefulness:
Some customers might be interested in using the vehicle for more than one purpose, e.g. for bringing children to nursery as well as for leisure trips.
Why a reversed seat for the second rider?
Due to the configuration with the second driver looking backwards the chain run and the force flow are short and straight, reducing mechanical drag as well as efforts for production and maintenance. Furthermore, there is no chain obstructing in the loading space and it is easier to realise a foldable construction.
