# US 10,245,194 B2 · Drifting kart > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,194 B2 - Document ID: US10245194B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/112,469 - Filed: 2018-08-24 - Published: 2019-02-21 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2008-07-18 - Applicants: Ali Kermani - Inventors: Ali Kermani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245194B2 ## CPC - A61G 5/1051: {Arrangements for steering} - A61G 5/047: {by a modular detachable drive system} - A63G 25/00: Autocar-like self-drivers; Runways therefor - B60K 7/0007: {the motor being electric} - B62B 5/0026: {Propulsion aids} - B62D 9/00: Steering deflectable wheels not otherwise provided for (steering positon indicators B62D15/02) - B62D 17/00: Means on vehicles for adjusting camber, castor, or toe-in - B62D 21/183: {specially adapted for sports vehicles, e.g. race, dune buggies, go-karts (tubular skeleton B62D23/005)} - B62D 39/00: Vehicle bodies not otherwise provided for {, e.g. safety vehicles (safety equipment B60R21/00)} - B62D 61/08: with single front wheel - B62D 63/02: Motor vehicles - B62K 5/025: power-driven - A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00) - A63G: MERRY-GO-ROUNDS; SWINGS; ROCKING-HORSES; CHUTES; SWITCHBACKS; SIMILAR DEVICES FOR PUBLIC AMUSEMENT - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B62B: HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES (characterised by animal propulsion B62C; propulsion of sledges by driver or engine B62M) - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE ## Abstract Drifting karts in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described that include a front wheel drive train and rear caster wheels that can be dynamically engaged to induce and control drift during a turn. One embodiment of the invention includes a chassis to which a steering column is mounted, where the steering column includes at least one front steerable wheel configured to be driven by an electric motor, a battery housing mounted to the chassis, where the battery housing contains a controller and at least one battery, wiring configured to provide power from the at least one battery to the electric motor, two caster wheels mounted to the chassis, where each caster wheel is configured to rotate around a rotational axis and swivel around a swivel axis, and a hand lever configured to dynamically engage the caster wheels to induce and control drift during a turn. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A ridable vehicle comprising: a chassis having a forward portion and a rearward portion; a steering mount coupled to the forward portion of the chassis, wherein the steering mount comprises a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion, wherein the first portion is positioned forward of the second portion and the intermediate portion connects the first portion with the second portion, wherein the steering mount is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, wherein the steering mount comprises a steering assembly configured to support a fork, the fork configured to support a motor; a seat coupled to the chassis, wherein the seat is positioned adjacent the second portion of the steering mount, at least two caster wheels coupled to the rearward portion of the chassis, wherein the caster wheels are configured to rotate about a rotational axis and swivel about a swivel axis, wherein the swivel axis is substantially stationary relative to chassis; wherein the motor is configured to drive the front wheel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ridable vehicle of claim 1, wherein the steering mount comprises a substantially trapezoidal shape from a side vantage point of the ridable vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ridable vehicle of claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion is generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ridable vehicle of claim 1, wherein a front end of the seat is positioned adjacent a lower portion of the second portion of the steering mount. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ridable vehicle of claim 1, wherein the seat is positioned above the chassis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ridable vehicle of claim 1, wherein the steering assembly extends through an aperture in the intermediate portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ridable vehicle of claim 1, wherein a base of the seat is positioned approximately aligned with a lateral axis that is perpendicular to a swivel axis of the caster wheels. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The ridable vehicle of claim 1, wherein the motor is a variable speed electric motor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The ridable vehicle of claim 8, wherein the power delivered to the variable speed electric motor is controlled by an acceleration pedal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The ridable vehicle of claim 1, wherein the caster wheels are coupled to the chassis via a rotatable member that is coupled to a hand lever coupled to the chassis and rotation of the hand lever rotates the caster wheels from a first position where the caster wheels are aligned so that the weight on the caster wheels limits the ability of the caster wheels to swivel about their swivel axes, to a second position where the caster wheels are aligned so that they are free to swivel about their swivel axes. ### Claim 11 A ridable vehicle comprising: a chassis having a forward portion and a rearward portion; a steering mount coupled to the forward portion of the chassis, wherein the steering mount comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is positioned forward of the second portion, wherein the steering mount is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, wherein the steering mount comprises a steering assembly configured to support a fork, the fork configured to support a steering wheel and a motor; a seat coupled to the chassis, the seat comprising a base and a rear portion, at least two caster wheels coupled to the rearward portion of the chassis, wherein the caster wheels are configured to rotate about a rotational axis and swivel about a swivel axis, wherein the swivel axis is substantially stationary relative to chassis; wherein the motor is configured to drive the front wheel, and wherein the rear portion of the seat is positioned rearward of a connection between the caster wheels and the chassis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The ridable vehicle of claim 11, wherein the seat is positioned entirely below the steering wheel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The ridable vehicle of claim 11, wherein the motor is a variable speed electric motor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The ridable vehicle of claim 11, wherein the caster wheels are coupled to the chassis via a rotatable member that is coupled to a hand lever coupled to the chassis and rotation of the hand lever rotates the caster wheels from a first position where the caster wheels are aligned so that the weight on the caster wheels limits the ability of the caster wheels to swivel about their swivel axes, to a second position where the caster wheels are aligned so that they are free to swivel about their swivel axes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The ridable vehicle of claim 11, wherein the steering mount comprises a substantially trapezoidal shape from a side vantage point of the ridable vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The ridable vehicle of claim 11, wherein a front end of the seat is positioned adjacent a lower portion of the second portion of the steering mount. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The ridable vehicle of claim 11, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the steering mount are angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the chassis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The ridable vehicle of claim 11, wherein the base of the seat is positioned approximately aligned with a lateral axis that is perpendicular to a swivel axis of the caster wheels. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The ridable vehicle of claim 11, wherein the swivel axis is rearward of the connection between the caster wheels and the chassis. ### Claim 20 A method comprising: obtaining a cart comprising: a chassis comprising a forward portion and a rearward portion; a steering mount coupled to the forward portion of the chassis; a seat coupled to the chassis; a front wheel; a motor; and at least two caster wheels coupled to the rearward portion of the chassis and configured to rotate about a rotational axis and swivel about a fixed swivel axis; driving the front wheel with the motor; receiving a turning input to turn the front wheel and to induce a turn of the cart; and engaging the caster wheels to provide drifting movement of the cart during the turn.