Lean steering truck with a torsion spring assembly

• US 7,967,096 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2009
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zuumcraft, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Zuumcraft, Inc.
• Inventors: Grosset, Greg, Boyd, Tom, Parashar, Amish, Lofft, William, Chung, Rasyad
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROCCA, JOSEPH M
• Application Number:
  US12/406,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20100072722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 180/210, 280/11.27, 280/11.28, 280/87.03, 280/87.041, 280/87.042, 280/87.043, 280/81.6, 280/124.107, 280/124.116, 280/124.166, 280/124.103, 280/124.111, 280/124.137, 280/124.149, 280/124.152
• US Class Current: 180/210
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 3/002 without a seat, i.e. the rider operating the vehicle in a standing position, e.g. non-motorized scooters; non-motorized scooters with skis or runners
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/08 with steering devices acting on two or more wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/10 with means for inwardly inclining the vehicle body on bends

Abstract

A mechanical assembly which enables multi-track vehicles to lean into turns and return to a neutral position thereafter.

Claims

1. A lean steering truck comprising:

an attachment plate;

a torsion assembly including a torsion hanger housing rotatably coupled with the attachment plate and providing resistive force against rotation in a first plane from a defined neutral position;

a first swing arm rotatably coupled to the torsion assembly such that the first swing arm is rotatable in a plane other than the first plane of rotation of the torsion assembly;

a first control arm coupled to the first swing arm assembly at a location on the first swing arm distal to a point at which the first swing arm is coupled to the torsion assembly;

a second swing arm rotatably coupled to the torsion assembly such that the second swing arm is rotatable in a plane other than the first plane of rotation of the torsion spring assembly; and

a second control arm coupled to the second swing arm assembly at a location on the second swing arm distal to a point at which the second swing arm is coupled to the torsion assembly.

2. The lean steering truck of claim 1 wherein the torsion assembly comprises a torsion spring.

3. The lean steering truck of claim 1 wherein the torsion assembly further comprises a tension adjustment mechanism.

4. The lean steering truck of claim 3 wherein the tension adjustment mechanism comprises one or more set screws.

5. A lean steering truck for use with a vehicle comprising:

a torsion assembly including a torsion hanger housing rotatably coupled with the vehicle and providing resistive force against rotation in a first plane from a defined neutral position;

a first swing arm rotatably coupled to the torsion assembly such that the first swing arm is rotatable in a plane other than the first plane of rotation of the torsion assembly;

a first control arm coupled to the first swing arm assembly at a location on the first swing arm distal to a point at which the first swing arm is coupled to the torsion assembly;

a second swing arm rotatably coupled to the torsion assembly such that the second swing arm is rotatable in a plane other than the first plane of rotation of the torsion spring assembly; and

a second control arm coupled to the second swing arm assembly at a location on the second swing arm distal to a point at which the second swing arm is coupled to the torsion assembly.