Sidewalk coaster sled

Claim 1

A sidewalk coaster sled intended for rolling along a suitable supporting surface comprising a platform having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposed front and back edges, and opposed side edges, a front pair of wheels interconnected at their axis by an axle extending therebetween, means rotatably mounting the axle to the platform beneath the bottom surface thereof in a manner permitting free rotative movement of the wheels in the general longitudinal direction of the platform, a handle bar disposed above the top surface of the platform near the front and edge thereof, means interconnecting the handle bar to the front wheel axle to effect the rotative movement of the axle between a front wheel normal straight-ahead position and angular positions relative thereto in a manner to effect the steering movement of the platform, a pair of laterally spaced apart back wheels, a back axle rotatably interconnecting the back wheels, means rotatably supporting the back axle beneath the platform bottom surface in a manner permitting free rotative movement of the back wheels in planes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the platform, each of the back wheels having an interior circular hub portion, a brake pad associated with each back wheel hub portion and adapted for movement into and out of engagement therewith, a brake pad rod interconnecting the brake pads and extending transversely of the platform, the brake pad rod being mounted for longitudinal movement forwardly and rearwardly of the platform, the rear most position of the brake pad rod defining the disengaged position between the brake pads and the wheel hub, forward longitudinal movement of the brake rod effecting the engagement of the brake pads with the wheel hub, spring means resiliently biasing the brake pad rod and connected brake pads in a manner to maintain the brake pads normally disengaged from the wheel hubs, said spring means normally biasing the brake pad rod in the rearmost position, a brake operating handle disposed forwardly of the platform and operatively connected to the brake pad rod to slectively effect movement thereof into a wheel hub engaging position to apply a braking force to the back wheels, the brake operating handle comprising a pair of laterally spaced apart and transversely aligned brake handles, each handle disposed adjacent an opposite side edge of the platform near the front end portion thereof, the brake handles each being identical and of an elongated configuration having their bottom ends projecting beneath the bottom surface of the platform and rigidly interconnected by a rod extending therebetween, the midportion of each brake handle being pivotally connected to the platform for swinging movement in a vertical plane about the horizontal axis of the pivot in a manner to effect the longitudinal forward and rearward movement of the handle rod, the top end of each handle member terminating in a hand grip portion adapted to be gripped in the hand of an individual to effect the movement of the associated handle member, and means interconnecting the handle rod with the brake rod for substantially equal and simultaneous movement in like directions by both rods whereby movement of the handle grip portions about their respective pivot points will effect forward movement of the handle rod which in turn will effect forward movement of the brAke rod against the spring means to urge the brake pads into frictional engagement with the wheel hubs to apply a braking force thereto, the release of the brake handles permitting the springs to return the brake rod to the brake disengaging position rearwardly of the platform, such movement simultaneously returning the brake handles to their normal at rest positions.