Vehicle front wheel pivot lock
OwnerThomas M. Richinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle has first and second rear drive wheels that are driven independently of each other and a pair of front wheels that freely rotate about a vertical axis wherein the rear drive wheels and the front wheels are rotatably mounted to a frame. A locking mechanism is operatively connected to the pair of front wheels to restrain the rotation of the front wheels about the vertical axis and maintain the pair of front wheels in a forward position while the operator engages the locking mechanism. When the operator releases the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism is removed from the pair of front wheels and the pair of front wheels are free to rotate about the vertical axis.
Claims17
A vehicle having a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels rotatably mounted to a frame, the vehicle having a locking mechanism for selectively restraining the pair of front wheels in a forward direction on the frame, the locking mechanism comprising:
- a first arm configured to restrain one of the pair of front wheels in a forward direction;
- a second arm configured to restrain the other of the pair of front wheels in a forward direction;
- a vertical spring extending from the frame to a body member pivotably connected to the frame, the vertical spring being operable between an initial position wherein the vertical spring is compressed to a final position wherein the vertical spring is stretched and the body member is rotated to release a first and a second horizontal spring;
- and
- a first horizontal spring extending from the body member to the first arm and a second horizontal spring extending from the body member to the second arm, the first and second horizontal springs being operable between an initial position wherein the first and second horizontal springs are stretched to a final position wherein the first and second horizontal springs are compressed to pull the first and second arms to restrain the pair of front wheels.
A vehicle having a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels rotatably mounted to a frame, the vehicle having a locking mechanism for selectively restraining the pair of front wheels in a forward direction on the frame, the locking mechanism comprising:
- a pair of caster frames rotatably mounted to the frame, the caster frames configured to rotate about a vertical axis, wherein each of the caster frames is configured to receive one of the front wheels;
- a first arm operatively connected to one of the caster frames and a second arm operatively connected to the other of the caster frames, the first and second arms are operable between an initial position wherein rotation of the pair of caster frames is unlimited and a final position wherein the first and second arms engage the pair of caster frames to limit rotation of the pair of caster frames;
- a vertical spring extending from the frame to a body member pivotably connected to the frame, the vertical spring is operable between an initial position wherein the vertical spring is compressed to a final position wherein the vertical spring is stretched and the body member is rotated to engage a first and a second horizontal spring, and
- a first spring extending from the body member to the first arm and a second spring extending from the body member to the second arm, the first and second springs are operable between an initial position wherein the first and second springs are stretched to a final position wherein the first and second springs are compressed to release the first and second arms to engage the pair of caster frames.
A method for selectively restraining a pair of front wheels in a forward direction on a frame of a vehicle comprising:
- providing a first arm operatively connected to a first caster frame sized to receive one of the front wheels and a second arm operatively connected to a second caster frame sized to receive the other of the front wheels;
- applying a force to a body member pivotably connected to the frame to rotate the body member from an initial non-rotated position wherein a first and a second spring are released to a final rotated position wherein the first and the second spring are compressed, the first spring attached to the body member and the first arm, and the second spring attached to the body member and the second arm;
- releasing the first spring to return to a compressed state wherein a force from the first spring rotates the first arm over the first caster frame to restrain the first caster frame from rotation;
- and
- releasing the second spring to return to a compressed state wherein a force from the second spring rotates the second arm over the second caster frame to restrain the second caster frame from rotation.
A vehicle having a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels rotatably mounted to a frame, the vehicle having a locking mechanism for selectively restraining the pair of front wheels in a forward direction on the frame, the locking mechanism comprising:
- a first arm pivotally connected to the frame, the first arm configured to restrain one of the pair of front wheels in a forward direction;
- a second arm pivotally connected to the frame, the second arm configured to restrain the other of the pair of front wheels in a forward direction;
- a body member pivotably connected to the frame;
- and
- a first spring extending from the body member to the first arm and a second spring extending from the body member to the second arm, the first and second springs being operable between an initial position wherein the first and second springs are stretched to a final position wherein the first and second springs are compressed to pull the first and second arms to restrain the pair of front wheels.
A vehicle having a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels rotatably mounted to a frame, the vehicle having a locking mechanism for selectively restraining the pair of front wheels in a forward direction on the frame, the locking mechanism comprising:
- a first arm pivotally connected to the frame, the first arm including a first rod engagement portion, the first arm is configured to restrain one of the pair of front wheels in a forward direction;
- a second arm pivotally connected to the frame, the second arm including a second rod engagement portion, the second arm is configured to restrain the other of the pair of front wheels in a forward direction;
- a body member pivotably connected to the frame;
- and
- an engagement rod attached to the body member, the engagement rod extending from the first rod engagement portion to the second rod engagement portion, wherein rotation of the body member causes the engagement rod to move downward and release the first and second arms to pivot downward to restrain the pair of front wheels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.