Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-21
2003-09-16
Morris, Lesley D. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
C280S255000, C280S256000, C280S257000, C280S258000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06619682
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of occupant propelled vehicles, and in particular to an occupant propelled scooter and improvements thereto.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are different types of personal vehicles, including vehicles propelled by an occupant. In an occupant propelled vehicle, the occupant, or rider of the vehicle, provides the force to propel the vehicle. Occupant propelled vehicles include, for example, bicycles and scooters.
The prior art includes scooters, as disclosed, for example, by U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,014 to HUANG. The occupant propelled scooter of HUANG includes a frame with handlebars, a platform to support a rider, front and rear wheels, and a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism includes a stepping lever and pedal, and a ratchet mechanism including a ratchet wheel, a ratchet pawl and transmission gears for driving the rear wheel. When a rider steps down on the pedal, the ratchet pawl engages the ratchet wheel, driving the transmission gears and the rear wheel. A spring returns the stepping lever to a raised position when the stepping force is released. This motion is repeated so that the pedal reciprocates vertically and the scooter is propelled in a forward direction. The HUANG patent also discloses an embodiment including a ratchet wheel, a ratchet pawl, and belt gearing.
Another example of a ratchet pawl driven scooter is U.S. Pat. No. 1,511,151 to WILSON. The WILSON scooter includes a drive mechanism including a ratchet wheel, a ratchet pawl, drive gears, and a pedal provided on a shaft mounted on the axis of a drive gear to turn therewith. Reciprocation of the pedal turns the drive gears and the ratchet pawl, thus driving the rear wheel. The WILSON scooter also includes a torsion spring mounted around the pedal shaft to restore the pedal to the upward position and to return the ratchet pawl to its starting position.
Also known in the prior art are scooters having a combination ratchet, ratchet pawl and chain drive. An example of a scooter having a combination ratchet, ratchet pawl and chain drive is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 2,436,199 to CARTMILL. The CARTMILL scooter includes a frame with handlebars, a platform, a reciprocating pedal, a ratchet wheel, a ratchet pawl, and a chain to drive the rear wheel.
Another example of a chain driven scooter is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,055 to JONES. The chain driven scooter of JONES includes a reciprocating carriage, oscillating gears, ratcheting gears, and a chain to drive the rear wheel. The JONES scooter is operated by reciprocating handlebars.
The prior art also includes occupant propelled vehicles, as disclosed, for example, by the product called KICK 'N GO from Honda Co. This vehicle is a scooter having a frame, handlebars, brakes, a kick pedal, a clutch and a drive train. To propel the vehicle in a forward direction, the rider kicks the kick pedal toward the rear of the vehicle, thereby engaging the clutch and driving the chain and rear wheel. The vehicle further includes a return spring to restore the kick pedal to its upright starting position.
the prior art also includes occupant propelled scooters, as disclosed, for example, by U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,269 to FAN. The scooter of FAN includes a platform, wheels, and a crank drive mechanism. The drive mechanism includes a foot pedal, a crank arm, a gear wheel and spur gears. When the occupant depresses the foot pedal, the crank arm turns the gear wheel and spur gears to drive the rear wheel. A spring raises the foot pedal after the force on the pedal is released. Repeated reciprocation of the foot pedal propels the scooter in a forward direction. The FAN patent discloses embodiments including two or three wheels. The FAN scooter may also include a ratchet mechanism on the driven wheel to allow free movement of the scooter in a rearward direction.
The prior art also includes occupant propelled bicycles, as disclosed, for example, by U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,273 to SLATER. The bicycle of SLATER includes a frame with handlebars, a seat, a front wheel and a rear wheel, and a combination chain and rachet pawl drive mechanism. The combination chain and ratchet pawl drive mechanism includes sprocket gears, a chain provided around one of the sprocket gears, and pedals, wherein each pedal includes a ratchet pawl that drives the sprocket gears. The rider alternatingly steps on the pedals, producing a reciprocating motion to the pedals, to rotate the sprocket gears and drive the chain and the rear wheel, propelling the bicycle in a forward direction.
Also known in the prior art are occupant propelled vehicles including drive mechanisms having arcuate toothed members. An example of an occupant propelled vehicle including a drive mechanism having an arcuate toothed member is U.S. Pat. No. 1,562,553 to HANSEN. The vehicle of HANSEN includes a frame, four wheels, meshing drive gears including an arcuate toothed gear, and a pedal for reciprocating the arcuate toothed member and thereby driving the vehicle.
Other examples of occupant propelled vehicles having meshing gears including an arcuate toothed member are U.S. Pat. No. 4,473,236 to STROUD and U.S. Pat. No. 732,120 to SCHMIDT. The STROUD patent discloses a bicycle including meshing gears driven by reciprocation of two pedals. The SCHMIDT patent discloses a skate-like vehicle driven by the weight of an operator on a foot plate.
The prior art also includes occupant propelled vehicles, as disclosed, for example, by U.S. Pat. No. 2,466,105 to HOFFMAN. The vehicle of HOFFMAN includes a chain drive and a pivoting treadle. The pivoting treadle supports an occupant standing thereon and operates the chain drive to propel the vehicle in a forward direction.
The prior art also includes occupant propelled vehicles, as disclosed, for example, by U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,871 to HOTT. The vehicle of HOTT includes optional and removable accessories, such as, for example, a seat and a basket for carrying articles.
Also known in the prior art are vehicles as disclosed, for example, by U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,539 to PATMONT. The PATMONT vehicle is an all terrain scooter having a large chassis and tires.
Also known in the prior art are vehicles as disclosed, for example, by U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,597 to TSAI (disclosing a scooter having four wheels and two pedals which reciprocate together to drive the scooter in forward direction); U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,592 to HORTON et al. (disclosing a multi-planed scooter having a plurality of pairs of wheels); and U.S. Pat. No. 3,945,453 to BLACK (disclosing a three wheeled scooter having a spring drive).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an occupant propelled vehicle which overcomes problems existing in the prior art discussed above.
An aspect of the present invention provides an occupant propelled vehicle including a frame, the frame including a front portion and a rear portion, a front wheel provided on the front portion of the frame, a rear wheel provided on the rear portion of the frame, and a platform for supporting an occupant. The platform is provided between the front and rear portions on the frame. A steering mechanism and an oscillating drive mechanism are provided on the frame.
A further aspect of the present invention provides an occupant propelled vehicle including a frame, the frame including a front portion and a rear portion, a front wheel provided on the front portion of the frame, a rear wheel provided on the rear portion of the frame, a platform for supporting an occupant, the platform provided between the front and rear portions on the frame, a steering mechanism provided on the frame, and a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism includes a drive sprocket mounted on the rear portion of the frame, the drive sprocket having a central axis and an axle therethrough and being rotatable with the axle, a driven sprocket provided coaxially with the rear wheel and rotatable therewith, a pedal crank arm, the pedal crank arm having a first end provided on the drive sprocket axle and a second
Carr Nevin P.
Maurer David P.
Cactus Marketing Services, L.L.C.
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
Morris Lesley D.
Yeagley Daniel
LandOfFree
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