# US 8,740,235 B2 · Vehicle with a shock absorber

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- Number: US 8,740,235 B2
- Document ID: US8740235B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/100,677
- Filed: 2013-12-09
- Published: 2014-04-03
- Granted: 2014-06-03
- Earliest claimed: 2011-08-12
- Assignees: Smart Trike Mnf Pte Ltd
- Applicants: Yoram Baron
- Inventors: Yoram Baron
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8740235B2

## CPC

- B62B 1/12: involving parts being adjustable, collapsible, attachable, detachable, or convertible
- B62B 5/067: {Stowable or retractable handle bars}
- B62B 7/12: convertible, e.g. into children's furniture or toy (children's chairs convertible to pushchairs A47D1/06)
- B62B 9/20: Handle bars; Handles
- B62D 1/12: Hand levers
- B62H 7/00: Devices for learning to ride cycles, not otherwise provided for, e.g. assisting balance
- B62J 1/00: Saddles or other seats for cycles; Arrangement thereof; Component parts
- B62J 15/00: Mud-guards for wheels
- B62K 5/02: Tricycles (children's tricycles B62K9/02)
- B62K 5/06: Frames for tricycles
- B62K 9/02: Tricycles
- B62K 13/00: Cycles convertible to, or transformable into, other types of cycles or land vehicle (cycle supports or stands equipped with additional wheels for ride stabilisation B62H1/12)
- B62K 13/08: Frames
- B62K 21/00: Steering devices
- B62K 21/02: Front wheel forks or equivalent, e.g. single tine
- B62K 21/08: Steering dampers (dampers in general F16F)
- B62K 21/18: Connections between forks and handlebars or handlebar stems
- B62K 21/24: readily releasable
- B62M 1/38: for directly driving the wheel axle
- B62M 6/00: Rider propulsion of wheeled vehicles with additional source of power, e.g. combustion engine or electric motor
- B62B 5/0079: {Towing by connecting to another vehicle}
- B62B 7/126: {into a trailer, e.g. bicycle trailer}
- B62B 2202/26: Handbags, e.g. shopping bags
- B62B 2206/006: Convertible hand-propelled vehicles or sledges
- B62B: HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES (characterised by animal propulsion B62C; propulsion of sledges by driver or engine B62M)
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- B62H: CYCLE STANDS; SUPPORTS OR HOLDERS FOR PARKING OR STORING CYCLES; APPLIANCES PREVENTING OR INDICATING UNAUTHORIZED USE OR THEFT OF CYCLES; LOCKS INTEGRAL WITH CYCLES; DEVICES FOR LEARNING TO RIDE CYCLES
- B62J: CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS
- B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
- B62M: RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR {SINGLE-TRACK} CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of transmissions in vehicles in general B60K; transmission elements per se F16)

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A tricycle, comprising:
a frame;
a pair of rear wheels configured for rotatable connection to one side of the frame;
a handlebar configured for mounting on another side of the frame;
a fork configured for connection to the handlebar to enable force exerted on the handlebar to turn the fork;
a front wheel configured for rotatable connection to the fork;
a pedal rod configured to extend through the front wheel for supporting pedals to enable a rider to rotate the front wheel;
a spring interposed between the pedal rod and a connection on the fork for maintaining a portion of the fork at a variable spaced-apart distance from the pedal rod and for enabling a distance between the pedal rod and the portion of the fork to vary as the rider pedals the front wheel; and
a housing covering at least a portion of the spring and extending toward the pedal rod, wherein the housing includes a slot therein through which the pedal rod is configured to pass, the slot being sized so that as the distance between the pedal rod and the portion of the fork varies, the rod is enabled to move up and down within the slot.

### Claim 2

A tricycle, comprising:
a frame:
a pair of rear wheels configured for rotatable connection to one side of the frame;
a handlebar configured for mounting on another side of the frame;
a fork configured for connection to the handlebar to enable force exerted on the handlebar to turn the fork;
a front wheel configured for rotatable connection to the fork;
a pedal rod configured to extend through the front wheel for supporting pedals to enable a rider to rotate the front wheel;
a spring interposed between the pedal rod and a connection on the fork for maintaining a portion of the fork at a variable spaced-apart distance from the pedal rod and for enabling a distance between the pedal rod and the portion of the fork to vary as the rider pedals the front wheel; and
a coupling member interposed between the pedal rod and the spring, wherein the coupling member includes a U-shaped groove therein for rotatably receiving the pedal rod and an opposing end for engaging the spring.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The tricycle of claim 2, wherein the coupling member is made of plastic.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The tricycle of claim 1, wherein the spring is arranged to absorb shock between the handlebar and the pedals.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The tricycle of claim 3, wherein the coupling member includes a first portion in an area of the groove and a second portion in an area of the spring, and wherein the first portion has a dimension greater than a dimension of the second portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The tricycle of claim 1, wherein the connection on the fork includes a pin that secures the fork over the upper end of the spring.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The tricycle of claim 2, wherein the coupling member is configured to orient the spring above the pedal rod.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The tricycle of claim 2, wherein the coupling member includes a pillar on an upper end thereof, the pillar having a radius smaller than a radius of the spring.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The tricycle of claim 2, wherein the coupling member includes a chamber and guiding trails.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The tricycle of claim 1, where the spring is viewable.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The tricycle of claim 1, wherein the spring is arranged to absorb shock between the frame and the front wheel.