US 4,394,029 AGranted

Foot operated vehicle

OwnerFrank E. Holmgreninventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A foot operated vehicle having a frame with a flat foot support platform supported by front and rear wheels for the support of one foot of the operator while the vehicle is propelled by the other foot of the operator and wherein turning is accomplished by a leaning motion of the operator in the intended direction of the turn. A steerable front wheel assembly of the vehicle includes a front axle, a front wheel mounted on the front axle, a steering shaft connected to the front axle and assembled to the frame for pivotal rotation of the front wheel about a generally upright axis. Bias means are connected between the steering shaft and the frame operable to bias the front wheel in a straight ahead or centered position with respect to the frame whereby upon execution of a turn, the front wheel pivots in the direction of the turn against the influence of the bias means, and is returned to the straight ahead position by the bias means upon completion of the turn.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A foot operated vehicle comprising:

a frame having a generally flat foot support platform and a tubular collar secured to the forward end of the frame positioned in a generally upright orientation;
rear wheel means supporting the rear of the platform;
a steerable front wheel assembly connected to a forward portion of the frame in supportive relationship to the forward portion of the platform, said front wheel assembly including a steering shaft, a front wheel rotatably mounted to the steering shaft, said steering shaft extending through said tubular collar for pivotally connecting the front wheel to the frame for pivotal movement about a generally upright axis, said steering shaft having an upper end portion extended outwardly of the collar;
bias means connected between the frame and the tube collar comprised as a helical spring disposed in surrounding relationship to the upper end portion of the steering shaft extended outwardly of the collar and having one end connected to the collar and an opposite end connected proximate the upper end of the steering shaft, said spring operable to bias the front wheel in a straight ahead position with respect to the frame whereby upon execution of a turn the forward wheel pivots in the direction of the turn against the influence of the bias means, and is returned to a straight ahead position by the bias means upon completion of the turn, and;
a cap assembled to the top end of the steering shaft for rotation therewith and having downwardly extended cylindrical sidewalls positioned in covering relationship to the spring and in overlapping relationship to the upper end of the tubular collar.

2 more elements

A foot operated vehicle of the type having a flat foot support platform for support of one foot of an operator while the vehicle is propelled by the other foot of the operator and of a type that is turned by a leaning motion of the operator in the intended direction of the turn, comprising:

a frame having a flat foot support platform;
a rear axle connected to a rear portion of the frame;
a rear wheel mounted on the rear axle for rotation about a rear wheel axis;
a neck extended upwardly and forwardly from a front portion of the platform;
a tubular collar secured to the outer end of the neck and positioned in a generally upright orientation;
a steerable front wheel assembly including a front axle, a front wheel mounted on the front axle for rotation about a front wheel axis, a steering shaft connected to the front axle, said steering shaft having a portion assembled in and extended outwardly of the tubular collar for pivotal rotation of the front wheel about a generally upright axis;
bias means connected between the upper portion of the collar and the steering shaft portion extended outwardly of the collar operable to bias the front wheel in a straight ahead position with respect to the frame whereby upon execution of a turn, the front wheel pivots in the direction of the turn against the influence of the bias means, and is returned to the straight ahead position by the bias means upon completion of the turn;
and
a cap assembled to the top end of the steering shaft for rotation therewith and having downwardly extended cylindrical sidewalls positioned in covering relationship to the bias means and in overlapping relationship to the upper end of the tubular collar.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.