LEAN VELOCIPEDE

• US 3,860,264 A
• Filed: 01/15/1973
• Issued: 01/14/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edward W. Libby, Leonard R. Moquin, Raymond J. Douglas
• Original Assignee: Edward W. Libby, Leonard R. Moquin, Raymond J. Douglas
• Inventors: Douglas, Raymond J., Libby, Edward W., Moquin, Leonard R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Robert R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/323,544
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 280/266,263,268,282
• US Class Current: 280/266
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/02 Tricycles children's tricycles B62K9/02
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/06 Frames for tricycles

Abstract

A velocipede having a front wheel assembly carrying a front wheel and a rear wheel assembly carrying a pair of co-axial rear wheels. The wheel assemblies are pivotally connected approximately midway between the axis of rotation of the front wheel and the axis of rotation of the pair of rear wheels by a pivotal coupling member that is rotatable around an axis that lies in the longitudinal plane of the velocipede at an angle of 20* from the vertical. A spring within the pivotal coupling member limits the relative displacement of the wheel assemblies to 25* on either side of the vehicle'"'"''"'"'s normal forward position in response to sideways tilting of the front wheel assembly by means of a weight shifting or a leaning motion of the rider of the velocipede.

Claims

1. A velocipede comprising:

1. a front wheel assembly having a front wheel rotatably mounted thereto on a first axis of rotation;

2. a rear wheel assembly having a pair of rear wheels rotatably mounted thereto on a second axis of rotation; and

3. steering means coupling said front wheel assembly to said rear wheel assembly, said steering means located approximately half-way between the respective vertical planes of said first axis of rotation and said second axis of rotation and normally biasing said front and rear wheel assemblies to maintaiN said respective vertical planes in a parallel relationship, and said steering means being responsive to the weight shifting of a rider of said velocipede to provide horizontal displacement of said respective vertical planes, said steering means comprising;

A. a sleeve member affixed to said rear wheel assembly, said sleeve member having a pair of projections and a hollow portion;

B. a bracket member mounted to said front wheel assembly, said bracket member having a first opening thereon and further having a top and bottom extension, each of which has a respective opening;

C. retaining means for rotatably coupling said sleeve member to said bracket member, part of said retaining means passing through said hollow portion of said sleeve member and said respective openings of said top and bottom extensions of said bracket member; and

D. biasing means rotatably mounted to said sleeve member, said biasing means having a first end and second end, said first and second ends being retained between said pair of projections of said sleeve member and further retained within said first opening of said bracket member.

2. A velocipede as recited in claim 1 and further including:

a seat for supporting a rider mounted on said front wheel assembly; and

said steering means determining the direction in which said velocipede travels in accordance with said weight shifting of the rider, shifting of weight to the right of said seat initiates a circular path to the rider'"'"''"'"'s right and shifting of weight to the left of said seat initiates a circular path to the rider'"'"''"'"'s left.

3. steering means coupling said front wheel assembly to said rear wheel assembly, said steering means located approximately half-way between the respective vertical planes of said first axis of rotation and said second axis of rotation and normally biasing said front and rear wheel assemblies to maintaiN said respective vertical planes in a parallel relationship, and said steering means being responsive to the weight shifting of a rider of said velocipede to provide horizontal displacement of said respective vertical planes, said steering means comprising:

A. a sleeve member affixed to said rear wheel assembly, said sleeve member having a pair of projections and a hollow portion;

B. a bracket member mounted to said front wheel assembly, said bracket member having a first opening thereon and further having a top and bottom extension, each of which has a respective opening;

C. retaining means for rotatably coupling said sleeve member to said bracket member, part of said retaining means passing through said hollow portion of said sleeve member and said respective openings of said top and bottom extensions of said bracket member; and

D. biasing means rotatably mounted to said sleeve member, said biasing means having a first end and second end, said first and second ends being retained between said pair of projections of said sleeve member and further retained within said first opening of said bracket member.

4. A velocipede as recited in claim 1 wherein the width of said first opening of said bracket member retaining said ends of said biasing means limits the maximum horizontal displacement of said respective vertical planes to 25* in either direction from the longitudinal plane of said velocipede.

5. A velocipede as recited in claim 1 wherein said steering means has an axis of rotation normally located approximately 20* from the vertical.