Dual steerable vehicle
AssigneeSmart Trike Mnf Pte Ltd
InventorYoram Baron
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tricycle may be operable between a first mode of operation steerable by a tricycle rider, and a second mode of operation steerable by an individual pushing the tricycle. In both such first and second modes, the frame of the tricycle is configured to rotatably support the rear wheels and configured to support the head tube at a distance from the rear wheels such that a distance between the head tube and rear wheels need not necessarily be changed even when the front wheel axis location is changed from one mode to another.
Claims20
A tricycle operable between a first mode of operation steerable by a tricycle rider, and a second mode of operation steerable by an individual pushing the tricycle, the tricycle comprising:
- a front wheel having opposing sides and a front wheel axis;
- a pair of pedals, each pedal configured for connection about the front wheel axis to rotate the front wheel;
- a fork having at least one blade configured to support the front wheel in a manner permitting the front wheel to rotate about the front wheel axis;
- a stem having a stem axis about which the stem is rotatable, the stem axis being offset from the front wheel axis;
- a rider handle, configured to turn the fork through rotation of the stem about the stem axis, wherein the rider handle, the stem and the fork are selectively configurable such that in the first mode, the rider handle, the stem, and the fork are rotationally coupled in a manner permitting a tricycle rider to exert forces on the rider handle and thereby turn the fork, and wherein in the second mode, an uncoupling prevents forces on the rider handle from turning the fork, thereby permitting the individual pushing the tricycle to turn the fork via a pushing force.
A tricycle operable between a first mode of operation steerable by a tricycle rider, and a second mode of operation steerable by an individual pushing the tricycle, the tricycle comprising:
- a head tube;
- a frame configured to support a seat and the head tube;
- a pair of rear wheels and at least one rear wheel axle, wherein the pair of rear wheels and the at least one rear wheel axle are configured to facilitate movement of the frame;
- a front wheel having an axis of rotation;
- a pair of pedals, each pedal configured for connection about the front wheel axis to rotate the front wheel;
- a fork having at least one blade configured to support the front wheel in a manner permitting the front wheel to rotate about the front wheel axis of rotation;
- a stem extending from the fork through the head tube and having an area of minimum diameter;
- and
- a rider handle, configured to turn the fork through rotation of the stem about the stem axis, wherein the rider handle, the stem and the fork are selectively configurable such that in the first mode, the rider handle, the stem, and the fork are rotationally coupled in a manner permitting a tricycle rider to exert forces on the rider handle and thereby turn the fork, and wherein in the second mode, an uncoupling prevents forces on the rider handle from turning the fork, thereby permitting the individual pushing the tricycle to turn the fork via a pushing force;
- and
- wherein an average width of the front wheel is greater than the minimum diameter of the stem.
A tricycle operable between a first mode of operation steerable by a tricycle rider, and a second mode of operation steerable by an individual pushing the tricycle, the tricycle comprising:
- a front wheel having a front wheel axis;
- a pair of pedals, each pedal configured for connection about the front wheel axis to rotate the front wheel;
- a head tube;
- a front wheel and a pair of rear wheels;
- a fork having at least one blade configured to support the front wheel in a manner permitting the front wheel to rotate about a front wheel axis;
- a stem having sections of varying diameter and including a rod in an area of minimum diameter;
- and
- a rider handle, configured to turn the fork through rotation of the stem about the stem axis, wherein the rider handle, the stem and the fork are selectively configurable such that in the first mode, the rider handle, the stem, and the fork are rotationally coupled in a manner permitting a tricycle rider to exert forces on the rider handle and thereby turn the fork, and wherein in the second mode, an uncoupling prevents forces on the rider handle from turning the fork, thereby permitting the individual pushing the tricycle to turn the fork via a pushing force;
- wherein the minimum diameter of the rod of the stem is less than 12 mm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.