Steering mechanism for vehicle
AssigneeSun MicroMobility, LLC
InventorRobert M. Cotter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a steering assembly for a vehicle, comprising two rotatable rods, oriented vertically and having a wheel attachment on one end wherein wheels can be rotatably secured. The rods are connected to a first cross bar in such a way that enables the steering assembly to be attached to the vehicle frame and allows the rods to rotate. The rods are also rotatably attached to a second cross bar on the opposite end of the rod in such a way as to allow the rods to rotate. The rods are also attached to a steering mechanism in a manner that enables them to be manually rotated in unison and which in turn pivots the wheels and steers the vehicle.
Claims19
A steering assembly for a vehicle, the steering assembly comprising:
- two rods each having distal and proximal ends, each rod substantially vertical and rotatable about a respective X axis, each rod further connected to a wheel attachment device on the distal end thereof to which a wheel can be rotatably secured;
- a first cross bar located between the distal end of each rod, which enables the steering assembly to be attached to a frame of the vehicle and allows each of the rods to rotate;
- a second cross bar connected to the proximal end of each rod in such a way as to allow each of the rods to rotate;
- and
- a steering mechanism attached to and located between the rods in a manner that enables the rods to be rotated to pivot each of the respective wheels and steers the vehicle,
- wherein at least one of the first and second wheel attachments are attached to the first cross bar through the rods at a position that is lower than an upper rim of each of the wheels.
A steering assembly for a pedal driven vehicle, the vehicle having a frame, the frame comprising at least two horizontal support beams that further comprising two essentially horizontal beams having a proximal end and distal end and at least one adjustable wheel attachment located on the distal end, the steering assembly comprising:
- a first rod having a first distal end and a first proximal end, the first rod is rotatable about a first axis;
- a second rod having a second distal end and a second proximal end, the second rod is rotatable about a second axis;
- a first cross bar attached to both the first distal end and the second distal end, the first cross bar further attached to a frame of the vehicle;
- a second cross bar attached to both the first proximal end and the second proximal end;
- and
- a steering mechanism attached to the second cross bar and configured to manually rotate the first rod about the first axis and the second rod about the second axis substantially concurrently,
- wherein a plane formed by the first cross bar and one of the at least one adjustable wheel attachment of the frame is substantially perpendicular to the rods.
A method of assembling a steering assembly for a vehicle, the steering assembly comprising a first rod, a second rod, a first cross bar, a second cross bar and a steering mechanism, the method comprising:
- preparing the first rod having a first distal end and a first proximal end, the first rod substantially vertical and rotatable about a first X axis;
- preparing the second rod having a second distal end and a second proximal end, the second rod substantially vertical and rotatable about a second X axis;
- connecting the first rod to a first wheel attachment device on the first distal end thereof to which a first wheel can be rotatably secured;
- connecting the second rod to a second wheel attachment device on the second distal end thereof to which a second wheel can be rotatably secured;
- preparing the first cross bar located between the first distal end and the second distal end;
- connecting the second cross bar to the first proximal end and the second proximal end in such a way as to allow each of the rods to rotate;
- attaching a steering mechanism to the rods in a manner that enables the rods to be rotated to pivot each of the respective wheels and steers the vehicle;
- and
- attaching the steering assembly to a frame of the vehicle and allowing each of the rods to rotate,
- wherein at least one of the wheel attachments are attached to the first cross bar through the rods at a position that is lower than an upper rim of each of the wheels.
A method of steering a vehicle having a steering assembly, the steering assembly comprising a first rod having a first distal end and a first proximal end and substantially vertical and rotatable about a first axis and connected to a first wheel attachment device on the first distal end thereof to which a first wheel can be rotatably secured, a second rod having a second distal end and a second proximal end and substantially vertical and rotatable about a second axis and connected to a second wheel attachment device on the second distal end thereof to which a second wheel can be rotatably secured, a first cross bar located between the first distal end and the second distal end, a second cross bar attached to both the first proximal end and the second proximal end and a steering mechanism attaching to the rods in a manner that enables the rods to be rotated to pivot each of the respective wheels and steers the vehicle, the method comprising:
- shifting the steering mechanism to a first shifting direction to cause the first rod to rotate about the first axis in a first rotating direction and the second rod to rotate about the second axis in the first rotating direction substantially concurrently;
- and
- shifting the steering mechanism to a second shifting direction to cause the first rod to rotate about the first axis in a second rotating direction and the second rod to rotate about the second axis in the second rotating direction substantially concurrently,
- wherein at least one of the first and second wheel attachment devices are attached to the first cross bar through the rods at a position that is lower than an upper rim of each of the wheels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.