Hand propelled vehicles

Claim 1

A factory truck comprising an elongated truck platform having at least two corners near one end thereof, a pair of vertical members attached to each of said corners and extending above and below said platform, bracing means for stabilizing said vertical members, handle means connected between the ends of said vertical members above the platforM to manipulate the truck when it is not being driven, crankshaft axle means having a centrally located crank throw, said axle extending between the other ends of said vertical members below said platform, a pair of wheels, each of said wheels being rigidly mounted on an opposite end of and turning with said crankshaft, a third castor wheel swivel mounted on the other end of said platform, means for turning said crank shaft comprising a single hand operated lever means, said single hand operated lever means being coupled to said crank throw via linkage means for turning said crank responsive to reciprocal movement of the top of said hand operated lever means in the direction of travel of said truck, said single hand operated lever means moving through a slot in said platform, bracket means attached to the surface of said platform, means for pivotally coupling said hand operated lever means onto said bracket means so that a mechanical advantage is obtained by the user of said lever means, a swivel seat mounted on said platform positioned so that a person sitting in said seat can operate said lever means, a pair of plates with a ball bearing race between them, one of said plates being attached to said platform, the other of said plates carrying said swivel seat, and means geared to turn said third wheel wherein said gearing means comprises a gear attached to said seat, a meshing pinion gear fixedly attached below said platform to a pivot pin, said pivot pin being pivoted in said platform, said third wheel being fixedly attached to said pivot pin directly below said pinion gear so that said vehicle is guided in the direction in which an operator sitting in the seat instinctively swivels the seat as he turns to avoid an obstacle in the path of said truck.