GB2027644A

GB2027644A - Steerable vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2027644A
Application number: GB7832974A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-08-10
Filing date: 1978-08-10
Publication date: 1980-02-27

Abstract

A handle portion of a vehicle is mounted for rotation as a whole relative to a seat portion about a vertical axle 13 through which the handle portion and the seat portion are coupled. The seat portion has a rear axle mounted therebeneath and carrying a pair of wheels 4. A front axle carrying a pair of wheels 5 is mounted beneath the handle portion. The vehicle has widely spaced handles 2 for the respective left and right hands of a rider and the front wheels 5 are relatively much closer together than the rear wheels 4. The vertical turning axle 13 is located forwardly of both the front and rear axles. The vehicle is suitable for carrying small children down small inclines requiring considerable physical movement or twisting in the seat to effect steering. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle This invention relates to vehicles. It is particularly, though not necessarily exclusively, concerned with vehicles suitable for carrying small children down small incline, possessing a relatively low centre of gravity, no motive power, and requiring considerable physical movement or twisting in the seat to effect steering.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle comprising a seat portion and a steering handle portion; the seat portion having a rear axle mounted therebeneath, a pair of wheels being mounted on the rear axle for rotation about the axis thereof; the handle portion being mounted for rotation as a whole relative to the seat portion through a vertical axle through which the handle portion and the seat portion are coupled; and a front axle being mounted beneath the handle portion, a pair of wheels being mounted on the front axle for rotation about the axis thereof.

Preferably the axial separation of the two front wheels is less than the axial separation of the two rear wheels and is less than the separation between handles for left and right hands respectively. The vertical turning axle may be located such that when the vehicle travels in a forward direction the front wheels are located between the turning axle and the rear wheels. The handle portion may be provided with respective portions adapted to receive pressure from the left and right feet of a rider to assist in steering of the vehicle, which foot portions may be located forward both of the turning axle and of the respective handles when the vehicle travels in a forward direction.

The invention is hereinafter more particularly described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a top plan view of an embodiment of vehicle constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 shows a sectional view taken generally along the line A-A of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows an underneath plan view of the vehicle of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 shows a front elevationa! view of the vehicle; Fig. 5 shows a side elevational view of the vehicle of Figs. 1 to 4 illustrating the way in which the vehicle is ridden; and Fig. 6 shows the portion indicated B in Fig. 2 to an enlarged scale and partially in section.

The seat portion of the vehicle shown in the drawings comprises a shaped seat 1, formed for example from a plastics material fastened to a frame 8, formed of metal rods or tubes, by means of screw 6 and brackets 7. As is apparent in Fig. 3, the frame 8 may generally define a "V". At the rear end of frame 8 is mounted a rear wheel axle 9, a rear wheel 4 being mounted at either end thereof. The rear wheels 4 may be arranged to rotate freely about axle 9.

The vehicle also comprises a steering handle portion which is coupled to the seat portion at the forward end of the frame 8. The handle portion comprises a pair of handles 2 which may be formed of metal rods or tubes and which are interconnected by a cross piece 3 which serves as a support for the rider's feet, as will be explained, and by a support plate 12. As shown in Fig. 6, a second support plate 10 is mounted at the forward end of frame 8. The support plates 10 and 12 are arranged so as to be rotatable about the axis of a turning axle 13. In effect, the arrangement is one of a rotary bearing.

A front wheel axle 14 is mounted at the rear end of the handle portion close behind the axle 13 when the vehicle travels forwardly. A pair of front wheels 5 are mounted on the front wheel axle. As is clear from Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the rear wheels 4 are set considerably further apart than the front wheels 5.

A rider is illustrated in Fig. 5 sitting upon the shaped seat 1 with his hands gripping the hand grips 11 formed at the ends of handles 2 and with his feet pressing against opposite ends of the transverse bar 3. When the rider pulls the handle with his right hand and pushes his left foot forward, the handle portion will be pivoted about axle 13 and the vehicle will travel to the right when travelling down an incline. Conversely, when the rider pushes with his right foot and pulls with his left hand the vehicle will travel to the left. As is apparent from the geometry of the vehicle as illustrated, the rider must make a substantial twisting motion in his seat in order to achieve the pulling and pushing explained above.The low centre of gravity of the vehicle will give the rider an impression of greater speed and this combined with the substantial physical motions invoived in steering the vehicle adds to the enjoyment of youthful riders. By alternatively pushing and pulling on the two sides of the vehicle, the vehicle can be made to career along a wave-like path as it travels down an incline.

1. A vehicle comprising a seat portion and a steering handle portion; the seat portion having a rear axle mounted therebeneath, a pair of wheels being mounted on the rear axle for rotation about the axis thereof; the handle portion being mounted for rotation as a whole relative to the seat portion through a vertical axle through which the handle portion and the seat portion are coupled; and a front axle being mounted beneath the handle portion, a pair of wheels being mounted on the front axle for rotation about the axis thereof.

2. A vehicle according to Claim 1, wherein the axial separation of the two front wheels is less than the axial separation of the two rear wheels and is less than the separation between handles for left and right hands respectively.

3. A vehicle according to Claim 1 or Claim 3, wherein both the front wheels and the rear wheels are located aft of the vertical axle.

4. A vehicle according to both Claim 2 and

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Vehicle This invention relates to vehicles. It is particularly, though not necessarily exclusively, concerned with vehicles suitable for carrying small children down small incline, possessing a relatively low centre of gravity, no motive power, and requiring considerable physical movement or twisting in the seat to effect steering. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle comprising a seat portion and a steering handle portion; the seat portion having a rear axle mounted therebeneath, a pair of wheels being mounted on the rear axle for rotation about the axis thereof; the handle portion being mounted for rotation as a whole relative to the seat portion through a vertical axle through which the handle portion and the seat portion are coupled; and a front axle being mounted beneath the handle portion, a pair of wheels being mounted on the front axle for rotation about the axis thereof. Preferably the axial separation of the two front wheels is less than the axial separation of the two rear wheels and is less than the separation between handles for left and right hands respectively. The vertical turning axle may be located such that when the vehicle travels in a forward direction the front wheels are located between the turning axle and the rear wheels. The handle portion may be provided with respective portions adapted to receive pressure from the left and right feet of a rider to assist in steering of the vehicle, which foot portions may be located forward both of the turning axle and of the respective handles when the vehicle travels in a forward direction. The invention is hereinafter more particularly described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a top plan view of an embodiment of vehicle constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 shows a sectional view taken generally along the line A-A of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows an underneath plan view of the vehicle of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 shows a front elevationa! view of the vehicle; Fig. 5 shows a side elevational view of the vehicle of Figs. 1 to 4 illustrating the way in which the vehicle is ridden; and Fig. 6 shows the portion indicated B in Fig. 2 to an enlarged scale and partially in section. The seat portion of the vehicle shown in the drawings comprises a shaped seat 1, formed for example from a plastics material fastened to a frame 8, formed of metal rods or tubes, by means of screw 6 and brackets 7. As is apparent in Fig. 3, the frame 8 may generally define a "V". At the rear end of frame 8 is mounted a rear wheel axle 9, a rear wheel 4 being mounted at either end thereof. The rear wheels 4 may be arranged to rotate freely about axle 9. The vehicle also comprises a steering handle portion which is coupled to the seat portion at the forward end of the frame 8. The handle portion comprises a pair of handles 2 which may be formed of metal rods or tubes and which are interconnected by a cross piece 3 which serves as a support for the rider's feet, as will be explained, and by a support plate 12. As shown in Fig. 6, a second support plate 10 is mounted at the forward end of frame 8. The support plates 10 and 12 are arranged so as to be rotatable about the axis of a turning axle 13. In effect, the arrangement is one of a rotary bearing. A front wheel axle 14 is mounted at the rear end of the handle portion close behind the axle 13 when the vehicle travels forwardly. A pair of front wheels 5 are mounted on the front wheel axle. As is clear from Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the rear wheels 4 are set considerably further apart than the front wheels 5. A rider is illustrated in Fig. 5 sitting upon the shaped seat 1 with his hands gripping the hand grips 11 formed at the ends of handles 2 and with his feet pressing against opposite ends of the transverse bar 3. When the rider pulls the handle with his right hand and pushes his left foot forward, the handle portion will be pivoted about axle 13 and the vehicle will travel to the right when travelling down an incline. Conversely, when the rider pushes with his right foot and pulls with his left hand the vehicle will travel to the left. As is apparent from the geometry of the vehicle as illustrated, the rider must make a substantial twisting motion in his seat in order to achieve the pulling and pushing explained above.The low centre of gravity of the vehicle will give the rider an impression of greater speed and this combined with the substantial physical motions invoived in steering the vehicle adds to the enjoyment of youthful riders. By alternatively pushing and pulling on the two sides of the vehicle, the vehicle can be made to career along a wave-like path as it travels down an incline. CLAIMS

4. A vehicle according to both Claim 2 and Claim 3, wherein the respective left and right handles are also located aft of the vertical axle when the vehicle is adapted to travel straight forward.

5. A vehicle according to any preceding Claim, wherein the handle portion is additionally provided with respective left and right foot-rests forwardly of the vertical axle for assisting a rider in steering of the vehicle by pushing on a respective foot-rest at the same time pulling on a respective handle.

6. A vehicle according to Claim 1, wherein said seat portion comprises a shaped seat member supported on a generally V-shaped frame formed of metal rod or tube stock and having said rear axle mounted between the arms of the V-shaped frame; and wherein the handle portion comprises two separate curved handle members formed of metal rod or tube stock and having respective first ends relatively close together and supporting said front axle therebetween and having their other ends substantially further apart and defining respective handles for left and right hands; and wherein said vertical axle comprises a rotary bearing supported at one axial end by a plate mounted between and supported by intermediate portions of said handle members, a transverse bar being mounted between said handle members forwardly of said vertical axle to define respective foot-rests for the left and right feet of a rider.

7. A vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.