# US 10,864,961 B2 · Steering mechanism for vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,961 B2 - Document ID: US10864961B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/023,905 - Filed: 2018-06-29 - Published: 2018-10-25 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-13 - Assignees: Sun MicroMobility, LLC - Applicants: Sun MicroMobility, LLC - Inventors: Robert M. Cotter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864961B2 ## CPC - B62K 21/02: Front wheel forks or equivalent, e.g. single tine - B62K 5/08: with steering devices acting on two or more wheels - 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 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The steering assembly of claim 1, wherein the rods are made of aluminum. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The steering assembly of claim 1, wherein the first cross bar has a C shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The steering assembly of claim 1, wherein the steering assembly is used for the vehicle and the vehicle further comprises a self-propellable vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The steering assembly of claim 1, wherein the first cross bar is essentially horizontal and attached to the rods in a manner in which enables each rod to be rotated about the X axis in unison. ### Claim 6 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The steering assembly of claim 6, further comprising a first wheel attachment coupled to the first distal end of the first rod and a second wheel attachment coupled to the second distal end of the second rod, the first wheel attachment is configured to rotatably secure a first wheel and the second wheel attachment is configured to rotatably secure a second wheel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The steering assembly of claim 7, wherein when the first rod is rotate about the first axis, the first wheel is rotate accordingly, and wherein when the second rod is rotate about the second axis, the second wheel is rotate accordingly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The steering assembly of claim 8, wherein the steering assembly includes a protective shell configured to substantially enclose both the steering assembly and the first and second wheels. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The steering assembly of claim 6, wherein the first cross bar and the second cross bar are coupled only through the first and second rods. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The steering assembly of claim 6, wherein the steering assembly is not foldable. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The steering assembly of claim 7, further comprising a third wheel positioned and attached between the two support beams. ### Claim 13 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. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the rods are made of aluminum. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the first cross bar has a C shape. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the steering assembly is used for the vehicle and the vehicle further comprises a self-propellable vehicle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the first cross bar is essentially horizontal and attached to the rods in a manner in which enables each rod to be rotated about the first X axis and the second X axis in unison. ### Claim 18 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. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the first shifting direction is substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the second cross bar.