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US 8,465,037 B2Granted
Dual steerable vehicle
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. In both such first and second modes, the frame of the tricycle is configured to rotatably support the rear wheels and configured to support the head tube at a distance from the rear wheels such that a distance between the head tube and rear wheels need not necessarily be changed even when the front wheel axis location is changed from one mode to another.
Claims22
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 pair of rear wheels;
- a front wheel having opposing sides and a front wheel axis;
- a head tube;
- a frame configured to rotatably support the rear wheels and configured to support the head tube at a fixed, non-adjustable distance from the rear wheels;
- a pair of pedals, each pedal configured for connection about the front wheel axis 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 configured to extend from the head tube in a manner permitting the stem to rotate, the stem including a metal rod having a minimum diameter that is at least three times smaller than a width of the front wheel;
- a rider handle, configured to turn the fork about a stem axis extending 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, where the stem axis leads the front wheel axis, being configured to be rotationally uncoupled from the stem, preventing forces on the rider handle from turning the fork and permitting the individual pushing the tricycle to turn the fork via pushing force;
- and
- wherein the stem extends from the fork at an angle of between about 165 degrees and 179 degrees and wherein an offset distance between the stem axis and the front wheel axis is between 15 mm and 40 mm.
7 more elements
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 pair of rear wheels;
- a front wheel having opposing sides and a front wheel axis;
- a head tube;
- a seat;
- a frame configured to support the seat, to rotatably support the rear wheels and to support the head tube at a fixed, non-adjustable distance from the rear wheels;
- a pair of pedals, each pedal configured for connection about the front wheel axis 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 configured to rotatably extend from the head tube;
- 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, where the stem axis leads the front wheel axis, being configured to be rotationally uncoupled from the stem, preventing forces on the rider handle from turning the fork and permitting the individual pushing the tricycle to turn the fork via pushing force;
- and
- wherein the stem extends from the fork at an angle chosen so that when the stem axis trails the front wheel axis the pedals are oriented for pedaling by a rider without a need to alter a distance between the seat and the head tube.
8 more elements
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 pair of rear wheels;
- a front wheel having opposing sides and a front wheel axis;
- a head tube;
- a frame configured to rotatably support the rear wheels and configured to support the head tube;
- a pair of pedals, each pedal configured for connection about the front wheel axis 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 configured to extend from the head tube in a manner permitting the stem to rotate, the stem including a rod having a minimum diameter that is at least three times smaller than a width of the front wheel;
- a rider handle, configured to turn the fork about a stem axis extending 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, where the stem axis leads the front wheel axis, being configured to be rotationally uncoupled from the stem, preventing forces on the rider handle from turning the fork and permitting the individual pushing the tricycle to turn the fork via pushing force;
- and
- wherein the stem extends from the fork at an angle of between about 165 degrees and 179 degrees and wherein an offset distance between the stem axis and the front wheel axis is between 15 mm and 40 mm.
7 more elements
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 pair of rear wheels;
- a front wheel having opposing sides and a front wheel axis;
- a head tube;
- a seat;
- a frame configured to support the seat, to rotatably support the rear wheels and to support the head tube at a fixed, non-adjustable distance from the rear wheels;
- a pair of pedals, each pedal configured for connection about the front wheel axis 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 configured to rotatably extend from the head tube;
- 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, where the stem axis leads the front wheel axis, being configured to be rotationally uncoupled from the stem, preventing forces on the rider handle from turning the fork and permitting the individual pushing the tricycle to turn the fork via pushing force;
- and
- wherein the stem is oriented with respect to the fork at an angle chosen so that when the stem axis trails the front wheel axis the pedals are oriented for pedaling by a rider without a need to alter a distance between the seat and the head tube.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.