Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-04
2001-01-30
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
C280S288100, C280S288300, C280S264000, C188S068000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179314
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to human-powered ride-on vehicles, and specifically to a front wheel drive ride-on vehicle having a rear steerable wheel that is shiftable to an orientation substantially normal to the driving wheel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are many forms of human-powered vehicles described in the patent and technical literature. Some of these known vehicles are intended to provide a carnival-type ride, wherein the rider may, at the rider's will, be subjected to G-forces, generally of the lateral variety. Ride-on vehicles such as the Big Wheel® achieve such G-forces through the provision of a large, driven front wheel, and the provision of independent braking systems on much smaller rear wheels. As the front wheel is also the source of motive power for the Big Wheel®, the rider frequently loses the ability to provide continued power during a turn, as the turning of the wheel forces the rider's foot off of the associated pedal on the side ow the wheel away from the turn.
A variety of power and braking systems are known for human powered, ride-on vehicles. An early braking system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 180,820, to Appel et al., granted Aug. 8, 1876 for Brakes for light vehicles. This reference depicts a braking system wherein bars are placed in frictional contact with wheels.
U.S. Pat. No. 375,755, to Kidder, granted Jan. 3, 1888, for Velocipede depicts a tricycle having large, powered rear wheels and a small, steerable front wheel, mounted on a curved, non-forked support.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,154,208, to Rundle, granted Sept. 21, 1915, for Propulsion Mechanism, depicts a braking system applied to steerable front wheels.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,620,926, to Trullinger, granted Mar. 15, 1927, for Coaster Wagon depicts a steering mechanism which incorporates a pivotable steering linkage.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,055, granted Aug. 29, 1989 for Drive Mechanism; U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,200, granted May 15, 1990 for Tricycle Drive Mechanism; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,772, granted Nov. 3, 1998 for Ride-on, Human-powered Vehicle Drive and Steering Mechanism are my previously issued patents depicting a variety of propulsion, steering and braking mechanism.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A human-powered ride-on vehicle for a rider includes an integrated body/frame element having a seat for the rider formed thereon; a pair of spaced-apart front wheels mounted to the body/frame element, wherein at least one of the front wheels is driven by the rider; a rear wheel mounted on the body/frame; and a steering mechanism to steer said the wheel, wherein the steering mechanism includes a control stick mounted for shifting movement; and a linkage between the control stick and the rear wheel is operable to steer the rear wheel in a predetermined direction corresponding to the control stick when the control stick is shifted.
An object of the invention is to provide a ride-on vehicle having front wheel drive.
Another object of the invention is to provide a front wheel drive vehicle that has a free-wheeling drive wheel.
A further object of the invention in to provide a vehicle having a steerable wheel that may be oriented substantially normal to the driving wheel.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a vehicle having a single control mechanism for steering and braking.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more fully apparent as the description which follows is read in conjunction with the drawing.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 32681 (1988-05-01), Randolph et al.
patent: 180820 (1876-08-01), Appel et al.
patent: 375755 (1888-01-01), Kidder
patent: 1154208 (1915-09-01), Rundle
patent: 1620926 (1927-03-01), Trullinger
patent: 1933955 (1933-11-01), Arnold
patent: 2201440 (1940-05-01), Letourneau et al.
patent: 2505464 (1950-04-01), Debuit
patent: 3827719 (1974-08-01), Lohr et al.
patent: 3960392 (1976-06-01), Read
patent: 4861055 (1989-08-01), Jones
patent: 4925200 (1990-05-01), Jones
patent: 5551719 (1996-09-01), Rettger, Jr.
patent: 5829772 (1998-11-01), Jones
patent: 5901973 (1999-05-01), Warren
Columbia-Inland Corporation
Johnson Brian L.
Lerner Avraham H.
Varitz PC Robert D.
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