Dirigible vehicle
OwnerHarry Tabb Smithinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dirigible vehicle which is supported upon at least three ground engaging wheels located about the lower periphery of the device. Two of the three wheels are steerable while the third is fixed in position with its axis perpendicular to a line interconnecting the two steerable wheels. By manipulation of the steerable wheels, the vehicle may be adapted for movement along a linear path or may be made to spin about its own axis. Intermediate positioning of the steerable wheels will cause the vehicle to sweep in large circular arcs. The device may be self-propelled by a foot pedal assembly or by a small motor, with either a single steering wheel or dual independent steering controls. The unique steering capabilities of the vehicle make it ideally suited for recreational purposes or wherever extreme maneuverability is required.
Claims8
A vehicle comprising a frame;
- at least three ground engaging wheels on said frame, vertical axes through the center of each of said wheels being substantially equally spaced from each other whereby said wheels form the corners of an equilateral triangle;
- one of said wheels having a fixed horizontal axis of rotation with respect to said frame;
- driving means on said frame connected to said fixed axis wheel and linkage means for steering the others of said wheels about vertical axes of steering rotation through the center of each of said wheels to positions at which the horizontal axes of rotation of all wheels are parallel to each other, and to positions at which the horizontal axes of rotation of all wheels intersect at a common point at the center of said triangle, said dirigible wheels rotating in one direction when all of the wheels are in said parallel axis position and in the opposite direction when said wheels are in said intersecting axis position, and said fixed axis wheel rotating in the same direction in both said axis positions whereby said vehicle traverses straight line, arcuate and circular paths during operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.