Foot operated vehicle

Claim 2

A foot operated vehicle comprising: a frame having a generally flat foot support platform and a tubular collar secured to the forward end of the frame positioned in a generally upright orientation; rear wheel means supporting the rear of the platform; a steerable front wheel assembly connected to a forward portion of the frame in supportive relationship to the forward portion of the platform, said front wheel assembly including a steering shaft, a front wheel rotatably mounted to the steering shaft, said steering shaft extending through said tubular collar for pivotally connecting the front wheel to the frame for pivotal movement about a generally upright axis, said steering shaft having an upper end portion extended outwardly of the collar; bias means connected between the frame and the tube collar comprised as a helical spring disposed in surrounding relationship to the upper end portion of the steering shaft extended outwardly of the collar and having one end connected to the collar and an opposite end connected proximate the upper end of the steering shaft, said spring operable to bias the front wheel in a straight ahead position with respect to the frame whereby upon execution of a turn the forward wheel pivots in the direction of the turn against the influence of the bias means, and is returned to a straight ahead position by the bias means upon completion of the turn, and; a cap assembled to the top end of the steering shaft for rotation therewith and having downwardly extended cylindrical sidewalls positioned in covering relationship to the spring and in overlapping relationship to the upper end of the tubular collar.

Claim 3

The foot operated vehicle of claim 1 including: means to limit the permissible amount of pivotal movement of the front wheel about said upright axis.

Claim 4

The foot operated vehicle of claim 2 wherein: said rear wheel means includes a rear wheel, a rear axle connected to the frame, said rear wheel being rotatably mounted on the rear axle for rotation about a rear axis, a front axle, said front wheel being mounted on the front axle for rotation about a front axis, said front axle being connected to the connecting means pivotally connecting the front wheel to the frame, said foot support platform having a planar foot support surface positioned vertically beneath the forward and rear wheel axes.

Claim 5

The foot operated vehicle of claim 2 wherein: the means to limit pivotal movement of the front wheel about the upright axis includes an arcuate circumferential recess located on the outside surface of the tubular collar toward the upper end thereof corresponding to an amount of permissive pivotal movement of said front wheel about said upright axis; an elongate locking member fastened to said cap and having a shank extending through the cap into the area of the arcuate recess of the tubular collar to limit the amount of pivotal movement permitted of said front wheel by limiting the amount of pivotal movement of said cap with respect to the tubular collar.

Claim 6

The foot operated vehicle of claim 4 wherein: said rear wheel means includes a rear wheel mounted on a rear axle for rotation about a rear axis, means connecting the rear axle to the frame, said foot support platform having a planar foot support surface positioned vertically beneath the axis of rotation of the forward and rear wheels.

Claim 7

The foot operated vehicle of claim 5 including: an arcuate, deflectable fender having one end fixed to the frame and an opposite end extended over the rear wheel, a brake pad fastened to a surface of the fender in facing relationship to the rear wheel whereby the fender can be deflected to bring the brake pad in contact with the rear wheel to inhibit rotation of the rear wheel.

Claim 8

A foot operated vehicle of the type having a flat foot support platform for support of one foot of an operator while the vehicle is propelled by the other foot of the operator and of a type that is turned by a leaning motion of the operator in the intended direction of the turn, comprising: a frame having a flat foot support platform; a rear axle connected to a rear portion of the frame; a rear wheel mounted on the rear axle for rotation about a rear wheel axis; a neck extended upwardly and forwardly from a front portion of the platform; a tubular collar secured to the outer end of the neck and positioned in a generally upright orientation; a steerable front wheel assembly including a front axle, a front wheel mounted on the front axle for rotation about a front wheel axis, a steering shaft connected to the front axle, said steering shaft having a portion assembled in and extended outwardly of the tubular collar for pivotal rotation of the front wheel about a generally upright axis; bias means connected between the upper portion of the collar and the steering shaft portion extended outwardly of the collar operable to bias the front wheel in a straight ahead position with respect to the frame whereby upon execution of a turn, the front wheel pivots in the direction of the turn against the influence of the bias means, and is returned to the straight ahead position by the bias means upon completion of the turn; and a cap assembled to the top end of the steering shaft for rotation therewith and having downwardly extended cylindrical sidewalls positioned in covering relationship to the bias means and in overlapping relationship to the upper end of the tubular collar.

Claim 9

A foot operated vehicle of the type having a flat foot support platform for support of one foot of an operator while the vehicle is propelled by the other foot of the operator and of a type that is turned by a leaning motion of the operator in the intended direction of the turn, comprising: a frame having a flat foot support platform; a rear axle connected to a rear portion of the frame; a rear wheel mounted on the rear axle for rotation about a rear wheel axis; a neck extended upwardly and forwardly from a front portion of the platform; a tubular collar secured to the outer end of the neck and positioned in a generally upright orientation; a steerable front wheel assembly including a front axle, a front wheel mounted on the front axle for rotation about a front wheel axis, a steering shaft connected to the front axle, said steering shaft having a portion assembled in and extended outwardly of the tubular collar for pivotal rotation of the front wheel about a generally upright axis; bias means connected between the upper portion of the collar and the steering shaft portion extended outwardly of the collar operable to bias the front wheel in a straight ahead position with respect to the frame whereby upon execution of a turn, the front wheel pivots in the direction of the turn against the influence of the bias means, and is returned to the straight ahead position by the bias means upon completion of the turn; and a cap assembled to the top end of the steering shaft for rotation therewith and having downwardly extended cylindrical sidewalls positioned in covering relationship to the bias means and in overlapping relationship to the upper end of the tubular collar.

Claim 10

The foot operated vehicle of claim 7 wherein: said bias means is comprised of a helical spring coiled about the steering shaft and having one end connected to the steering shaft and an opposite end connected to the tubular collar.

Claim 11

The foot operated vehicle of claim 7 or 8 wherein: said foot support platform has a planar foot support surface positioned vertically beneath the front wheel axis and the rear wheel axis.

Claim 12

The foot operated vehicle of claim 7 or 8 including: an arcuate, deflectable fender having one end fixed to the frame and an opposite end extended over the rear wheel, a brake pad fastened to a surface of the fender in facing relationship to the rear wheel whereby the fender can be deflected to bring the brake pad in contact with the rear wheel to inhibit rotation of the rear wheel.

Claim 13

The foot operated vehicle of claim 8 including: a tubular sleeve bearing disposed between the collar and the steering shaft.

Claim 14

The foot operated vehicle of claim 7 or 8 including: means to limit the permissable amount of pivotal movement of the front wheel about said upright axis.

Claim 15

The foot operated vehicle of claim 7 or 8 including: an arcuate circumferential recess located on the outside surface of the tubular collar toward the upper end thereof corresponding to an amount of permissive pivotal movement of said front wheel about said generally upright axis; an elongate locking member fastened to said cap and having a shank extending through the cap into the area of the arcuate recess of the tubular collar to limit the amount of pivotal movement permitted of said front wheel by limiting the amount of pivotal movement of said cap with respect to the tubular collar.

Claim 16

The foot operated vehicle of claim 13 wherein: said shank is adjustably threaded into the cap.