Vehicle having a swivel wheel
AssigneeSmart Trike Mnf Pte Ltd
InventorYoram Baron
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tricycle may be operable between a first mode of operation steerable by a tricycle rider, and a second mode of operation steerable by an individual pushing the tricycle. A rider handle, in the first mode, may be rotationally coupled with the stem in a manner permitting a tricycle rider to exert forces on the rider handle and thereby turn the fork, and the rider handle in the second mode, may be rotationally uncoupled from the stem, preventing forces on the rider handle from turning the fork. At least one rotation restrictor may be included for preventing the front wheel from turning to a position where the front wheel axis leads the stem axis, and for maintaining the front wheel axis in a position trailing the stem axis in the first mode and in the second mode.
Claims19
A tricycle operable between a first mode of operation steerable by a tricycle rider, and a second mode of operation steerable by an individual pushing the tricycle, the tricycle comprising:
- a frame;
- a pair of rear wheels for rotatable connection to the frame;
- a front wheel having opposing sides and a front wheel axis;
- a pair of pedals, each pedal configured to rotate the front wheel;
- a fork having at least one blade configured to support the front wheel in a manner permitting the front wheel to rotate about the front wheel axis;
- a stem extending from the fork and being rotatably connectable to the frame;
- a rider handle, configured to turn the fork about a stem axis transverse to the front wheel axis, the rider handle, in the first mode, being configured to be rotationally coupled with the stem in a manner permitting a tricycle rider to exert forces on the rider handle and thereby turn the fork, and the rider handle in the second mode, being configured to be rotationally uncoupled from the stem, preventing forces on the rider handle from turning the fork;
- and
- at least one rotation restrictor, for preventing the front wheel from turning to a position where the front wheel axis leads the stem axis, and for maintaining the front wheel axis in a position trailing the stem axis both when the tricycle is propelled by a tricycle rider in the first mode and when the tricycle is pushed from behind in the second mode.
A tricycle operable between a first mode of operation steerable by a tricycle rider, and a second mode of operation steerable by an individual pushing the tricycle, the tricycle comprising:
- a fork having at least one blade configured to support a front wheel in a manner permitting the front wheel to rotate about a front wheel axis;
- a stem extending from the fork;
- a handle configured to turn the fork around a stem axis transverse to the front wheel axis, the handle, in the first mode, being rotationally coupled with the stem in a manner permitting a tricycle rider to exert forces on the handle and thereby turn the fork, and the handle in the second mode, being rotationally uncoupled from the stem, preventing forces on the handle from turning the fork;
- and
- a rotation restrictor, for preventing the front wheel from turning to a position where the wheel axis leads the stem axis, and for maintaining the wheel axis in a position trailing the stem axis both when the handle is in the first mode and when the handle is in the second mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.