Vehicle with swivel control of casters for enabling rider or external steering

A vehicle which can be rider-steered or externally steered, comprising:

• a vehicle frame or body for carrying an occupant thereon, said vehicle frame or body having a front, a rear, and a mid-portion extending between said front and said rear, said mid-portion having left and right sides,
• at least one wheel mounted on said vehicle for enabling said vehicle to be rolled over a surface, said wheel being parallel to said left and right sides of said vehicle frame or body,
• a pair of swivelable casters, each containing a rotatable wheel and being mounted on said vehicle for enabling said caster to swivel so that said vehicle can be rolled in any direction, said casters being positioned symmetrically with respect to said left and right sides, said casters being selectively coupled so that they can be constrained to swivel together or individually,
• a steering control on said vehicle, said steering control positioned so that it can be operated by said occupant carried on said vehicle, and
• a pair of disconnects for selectively connecting or disconnecting said steering control from said casters so that (1) when said disconnects connect said steering control to said casters, said occupant carried thereon will be able to turn said steering control and thereby swivel said casters and steer said vehicle, and (2) when said disconnects disconnect said steering control from said casters, said casters will be able to swivel freely so as to enable said vehicle to be externally steered in any direction,
• whereby said vehicle can be quickly and easily converted back and forth between externally steered and steered by an occupant thereof, yet said vehicle will have directional stability, can be used on rough surfaces, and can be rapidly propelled.

A method for controlling a vehicle of the type having at least one caster so that said vehicle can be steered by a occupant thereon or by an external force, comprising:

• providing a vehicle frame or body for carrying an occupant thereon, said vehicle having at least one wheel mounted on said vehicle frame or body for enabling said vehicle to be rolled over a surface,
• providing at least one swivelable caster containing a rotatable wheel and mounted on said vehicle, said caster being able to swivel so that said vehicle can be rolled in any direction,
• providing a steering control on said vehicle, said steering control positioned so that it can be operated by said occupant on said vehicle, said steering control coupled to said caster so that manipulation of said steering control will swivel said caster,
• disconnecting said steering control from said caster so that said caster will be able to swivel freely so as to be able to steer said vehicle externally when said steering control is disconnected, and
• connecting said steering control to said caster so that said occupant will be able to turn said steering control and thereby swivel said caster and steer said vehicle when said steering control is connected to said caster,
• whereby said vehicle can be quickly and easily converted back and forth between externally steered and steered by said occupant, yet said vehicle will have directional stability, can be used on rough surfaces, and can be rapidly propelled.