Tool-less steering wheel assembly
AssigneeHuffy Corporation
InventorDonald K. Jessie, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steering wheel assembly for use with a ride-on vehicle which has a frame with at least two wheels. The steering wheel assembly comprises a steering rod operatively coupled to the frame of the ride-on vehicle. The steering rod includes a chuck secured to the steering rod. The chuck includes a body extending between a base and an upper end. The steering wheel assembly further comprises a steering wheel with a sleeve adapted to be coupled to the chuck in a tool-less manner such that the steering wheel is configured to be engaged by a rider for moving the steering wheel and thereby steering the ride-on vehicle.
Claims11
A ride-on vehicle, comprising:
- a frame having at least two wheels;
- a steering rod operatively coupled to the frame;
- a chuck secured to the steering rod, the chuck having a body extending between a base and an upper end;
- and
- a steering wheel having a sleeve adapted to be coupled to the chuck in a tool-less manner, the sleeve having a cavity defined by an inner surface configured to receive the chuck therein, the sleeve having a key located on the inner surface;
- wherein the steering wheel is configured to be engaged by a rider for moving the steering wheel and thereby steering the ride-on vehicle,
- wherein the sleeve includes at least one aperture for achieving a tool-less assembly of the steering wheel to the chuck,
- wherein the chuck includes at least one spring clip assembly configured to engage the at least one aperture of the sleeve for achieving the tool-less assembly of the steering wheel to the chuck, and
- wherein the at least one spring clip assembly comprises a leg member having a foot with a base portion, the leg member being formed on the upper end of the chuck and extending along the body of the chuck and being substantially coplanar with the body of the chuck such that the leg member is an extension of the upper end of the chuck.
A method of assembling a ride-on vehicle having a steering wheel assembly in a tool-less manner, the method comprising:
- providing the ride-on vehicle having a frame with at least two wheels;
- providing the steering wheel assembly having a steering rod with a chuck secured thereto, the chuck having a body extending between a base and an upper end, the chuck having at least one spring clip assembly including a leg member having a foot with a base portion, the leg member being formed on the upper end of the chuck and extending along the body of the chuck and being substantially coplanar with the body of the chuck such that the leg member is an extension of the upper end of the chuck, and the steering rod being operatively coupled to the frame of the ride-on vehicle, and a steering wheel having a sleeve with at least one aperture, the sleeve having a cavity defined by an inner surface, the sleeve having a key located on the inner surface of the sleeve;
- aligning the key of the sleeve with a keyway of the chuck;
- inserting a portion of the chuck into the sleeve of the steering wheel and moving the steering wheel in a direction to further slide the chuck into the sleeve until the sleeve nears the at least one spring clip assembly on the chuck;
- actuating the at least one spring clip assembly on the chuck and further inserting the chuck into the sleeve such that the sleeve slides over the at least one spring clip assembly;
- and
- further moving the steering wheel until the chuck is fully nested in the sleeve at which point the at least one spring clip assembly of the chuck engages the at least one aperture on the sleeve, thereby coupling the sleeve of the steering wheel to the chuck in the tool-less manner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.