Turning mechanism for tandem wheeled vehicles and vehicles employing the same
OwnerSalvatore Buscagliainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steering mechanism is provided for tandem wheeled vehicles. The steering mechanism employs casters that are capable of swivelling. The casters are attached to a base member and a pair of resilient members is used to provide control over the degree of swivel of the casters. When turning, the caster rotates in the direction of turn and is restricted by the resilient members. The degree of rotation which the caster is allowed depends on the resilience of the resilient members and the force being applied to motivate the turn. A skateboard is also provided which incorporates the steering mechanism.
Claims3
A tandem wheeled vehicle, said vehicle having a planar base having a first end, a second end and a middle section therebetween, comprising:
- a first caster mounted proximate said first end of said base, said first caster having a rotational axis, said first caster mounted with said rotational axis defining an acute angle relative to said middle section, said first caster also having an axle disposed substantially perpendicularly with respect to said rotational axis, said axle having a first end and a second end;
- a wheel mounted to said first caster axle and operatively arranged for rotation about said first caster axle;
- a first rotational limiter mounted to said base and to said first end of said first caster axle;
- a second rotational limiter mounted to said base and to said second end of said first caster axle, wherein said first and second rotational limiters are operatively arranged to exert substantially equal force on said first caster tending to maintain said first caster in an equilibrium condition;
- a second caster mounted proximate said second end of said base, said second caster having a rotational axis, said second caster mounted with said rotational axis defining an acute angle relative to said middle section, said second caster also having an axle disposed substantially perpendicularly with respect to said rotational axis, said axle having a first end and a second end;
- a wheel mounted to said second caster axle and operatively arranged for rotation about said second caster axle;
- a third rotational limiter mounted to said base and to said first end of said second caster axle;
- and,
- a fourth rotational limiter mounted to said base and to said second end of said second caster axle, wherein said third and fourth rotational limiters are operatively arranged to exert substantially equal force on said second caster tending to maintain said second caster in an equilibrium condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.