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 Title: |
US4198072:
Wheeled vehicle
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Hopkins, Grant; Walla Walla, WA
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| Assignee: |
Cantrell; Mark, Walla Walla, WA
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| Published / Filed: |
1980-04-15
/ 1978-09-01
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| Application Number: |
US1978000938843
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
B62K 5/02;
B62K 5/04;
B62K 9/02;
IPC-7:
B62K 9/00;
B62K 21/00;
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| ECLA Code: |
B62K3/00C; B62K5/02; B62K5/10; B62K9/02;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
280/267;
280/093.504;
280/259;
280/282;
280/288.1;
Original:
280/267;
280/097;
280/259;
280/281.LP;
280/282;
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| Field of Search: |
280/282,263,267,270,281 LP,772,661,97,11.27,11.28,259
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| Priority Number: |
| 1978-09-01 |
US1978000938843 |
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| Abstract: |
A wheeled vehicle powered by its rider to move about on three wheels. It includes a single front wheel and preferably a pair of rear wheels mounted to an elongated frame. The rear wheels are mounted to the frame by a carriage assembly that facilitates pivotal movement of the rear wheels about two axes. The first axis is a steering axis and the second is a steering control axis. The angle of the steering axis may be varied about the steering control axis. Through this arrangement, the rider is able to selectively control the steering response of the vehicle. If he shifts the steering axis to a position parallel with the ground surface he may maneuver the vehicle in wide sweeping high speed curves by leaning as does a bicyclist. The rear wheels merely track behind the front wheel and the frame tilts about the steering axis. If the rider shifts the steering axis to a position nearly perpendicular to the ground, he may negotiate short radius low speed turns. In this situation the rear wheels turn and the frame tilts in response to leaning by the rider. Shifting of the steering axis is accomplished by the rider as he moves between a sitting and a supine position.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Wells, St. John & Roberts ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Peters, Jr., Joseph F.; Schrecengost, Randall A.
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
Show legal status actions
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| Family: |
None
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First Claim:
Show all 17 claims |
What I claim is:
1. A wheeled vehicle comprising:
- an elongated frame having a forward end and a rearward end;
- seat means at the rearward end of the frame for receiving and supporting a rider;
- a ground engaging drive wheel mounted to the forward end of the frame for rotation about a fixed drive wheel axis;
- means for transmitting driving power to the drive wheel while the vehicle is in use;
- a pair of rear ground-engaging wheels located at opposite sides of the frame;
- a transverse axle rotatably mounting the rear ground-engaging wheels about individual rear wheel axes; and
- carriage means movably mounting the axle to the rearward end of the frame for permitting the rider to pivotally adjust the axle relative to the frame while the vehicle is in use by (a) pivotal movement of the axle about a steering axis located within a vertical plane, and (b) by pivotal movement of the axle about a steering control axis about which the steering axis may be angularly adjusted within said vertical plane relative to the ground surface.
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| Background / Summary: |
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
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| Forward References: |
Show 40 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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