Self-propelled vehicle

• US 5,011,171 A
• Filed: 04/20/1990
• Issued: 04/30/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Walter R. Cook
• Original Assignee: Walter R. Cook
• Inventors: Cook, Walter R.
• Primary Examiner(s): HILL, MITCHELL
• Application Number:
  US07/512,168
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 280/221, D21/194
• US Class Current: 280/221
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 1/00 Unicycles

Abstract

A self-propelled vehicle comprising a first wheel, a second wheel, and a third wheel of greater diameter than the first and second wheels. The third wheel has a center of rotation that is aligned with the first and second wheels. A first pedal connects the first wheel and the third wheel. A second wheel connects the second wheel and the third wheel. The first and second pedals are offset by 180 degrees relative to the third wheel. The third wheel has a width greater than the first and second wheels. The center of rotation of the third wheel is aligned with the centers of rotation of the first and second wheels. The pedal has a suitable width for the receipt of a human foot. The first and second pedals are detachably connected to the wheels. A suitable snap-ring is provided so as to allow each of the pedals to be received by each of the wheels of the present invention.

Claims

1. A self-propelled vehicle comprising:

a first wheel;

a second wheel; and

a third wheel of greater diameter than said first and second wheels, said third wheel having a center of rotation aligned with said first and second wheels, said third wheel connected to said first wheel by a first pedal, said third wheel connected to said second wheel by a second pedal, said first and second wheels located on opposite sides of said third wheel.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, said first and second wheels being of equal diameters.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, said first pedal extending between said first wheel and said third wheel, said second pedal extending between said third wheel and said second wheel.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, each of said first and second pedals having a width suitable for the receipt of a human foot.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, said second pedal being offset from said first pedal by 180 degrees relative to said third wheel.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, said first and second pedals being rotatably connected to said third wheel.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, each of said first and second pedals having an outwardly extending cylindrical portion for engaging a hole extending through a width of said third wheel, said cylindrical portion rotatable within said hole of said third wheel.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, each of said first and second pedals further including a snap-ring fitting onto a notched portion of said cylindrical portion, said snap-ring engaging said cylindrical portion and juxtaposed against the side of said third wheel.

9. The vehicle of claim 6, said first and second pedals being rotatably connected to said first and second wheels, respectively.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, each of said first and second pedals having an outwardly extending cylindrical portion for engaging holes in said first and second wheels.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, each of said cylindrical portions of said first and second pedals including means for retaining said first and second pedals in said hole of said first and second wheels, respectively.

12. The vehicle of claim 4, each of said first and second pedals having a flat upper surface.

13. The vehicle of claim 1, said third wheel having a width greater than each of said first and second pedals.

14. The vehicle of claim 1, said first, second and third wheels and said first and second pedals being of molded plastic.

15. The vehicle of claim 1, each of said first and second pedals comprising:

a body portion;

a first cylindrical portion integrally formed with said body portion and extending outwardly therefrom; and

a second cylindrical portion extending outwardly and integrally formed with said body portion, said second cylindrical portion extending outwardly from the end of said body portion opposite said first cylindrical portion.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, said first cylindrical portion having a circumferential notch adjacent the end of said first cylindrical portion, and said second cylindrical portion including a circumferential notch adjacent the end of said second cylindrical portion opposite said first cylindrical portion.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, said circumferential notch of said first cylindrical portion and said circumferential notch of said second cylindrical portion receiving a snap-ring releasably fitted to and received by said circumferential notches.

18. The vehicle of claim 15, said body portion having a flaired shoulder adjacent the surface of said third wheel.

19. A self-propelled vehicle comprising:

a first wheel;

a second wheel;

a third wheel of greater diameter than said first and second wheels and of a greater width than said first wheel;

a first pedal extending between said first wheel and said third wheel; and

a second pedal extending between said second wheel and said third wheel, said first pedal being offset from said second pedal by 180 degrees relative to said third wheel.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, said first pedal being releasably connected to said first wheel and said third wheel, said second pedal being releasably connected to said second wheel and said third wheel.