US3921740A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-propelled vehicle
Assignee: CHAIR E YACHT Inc
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Filing: 1974-06-12
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Granted: 1975-11-25
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Expires: 1994-06-12
Abstract
Abstract A self-propelled vehicle includes a vehicle body mounted on a frame and rollably supported by front and rear wheel assemblies, driving means, such as an engine, mounted on the frame for powering the vehicle, a mechanism for drivingly connecting the output of the drive means to at least one of the wheel assemblies, a mounting device for connecting rotatably the driven wheel assembly to the body to permit the driven wheel assembly to rotate freely about an axis in a 360 degree circle of rotation, and a manually operable steering control device rotatably mounted on the frame for rotating the driven wheel assembly about its axis in the 360 degree circle of rotation, whereby the vehicle may be driven in a reverse direction by simply turning the driven wheel assembly through 180 degrees and then applying the power to drive the vehicle in reverse. A ramp is hingedly mounted on the body to serve as a loading ramp when in its down position and to serve as a closure when disposed in its upper position, and a latching mechanism maintains the ramp in its upper position and serves as a wheel brake when the ramp is in its lower position. A flexible coupling is provided between the steering control device and the driven wheel assembly to enable the steering control device to extend upwardly and rearwardly to terminate in a convenient position for manipulation by the operator.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry G Forster
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:17
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61G; A61G5/00; A61G5/04; A61G5/041; A61G5/042; A61G3/00; A61G3/02; A61G3/06; A61G3/061; A61G5/10; A61G5/1005; A61G5/1032; A61G5/1051; B; B62; B62D; B62D61/00; B62D61/06; B62D61/08; B62K; B62K5/00; B62K5/02; B62K5/023; B62K5/025; A61G2220/00; A61G2220/14; A61G2220/145; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S180/00; Y10S180/907; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/134
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
In a self-propelled vehicle, the improvement comprising: a vehicle frame; front and rear wheel assemblies connected to said frame; a vehicle body mounted on said frame, said body for supporting and carrying the operator of the vehicle; drive means mounted on said frame having an output connected drivingly to a driven one of said wheel assemblies for powering the vehicle; driving and braking means for controlling the speed of said drive means and for braking purposes; mounting means disposed above and in alignment with the vertical axis of said driven wheel assembly and connecting rotatably the driven one of said wheel assemblies to said body for enabling said driven wheel assembly to rotate continuously uninterruptedly and freely about a vertical axis in a 360* circle of rotation; and manually operable steering control means rotatably mounted on the frame for rotating said driven wheel assembly about its axis in said 360* circle of rotation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
In a self-propelled vehicle, the improvement comprising: a vehicle frame; front and rear wheel assemblies connected to said frame; a vehicle body mounted on said frame, said body for supporting and carrying the operator of the vehicle; drive means mounted on said frame having an output connected drivingly to a driven one of said wheel assemblies for powering the vehicle; driving and braking means for controlling the speed of said drive means and for braking purposes; mounting means disposed above and in alignment with the vertical axis of said driven wheel assembly and connecting rotatably the driven one of said wheel assemblies to said body for enabling said driven wheel assembly to rotate continuously uninterruptedly and freely about a vertical axis in a 360* circle of rotation; and manually operable steering control means rotatably mounted on the frame for rotating said driven wheel assembly about its axis in said 360* circle of rotation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A self-propelled vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said driven assembly includes a wheel supporting fork and said moounting means includes connection means for rotatably mounting said fork to said frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A self-propelled vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said connection means includes a spindle fixedly mounted on and extending from said frame, a sleeve fixedly mounted on said frame for receiving swivally said spindle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A self-propelled vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said spindle is tubular in shape and includes a hollow interior, said driving and braking means including a brake cable and a throttle cable extending from said steering control means axially through said spindle within the hollow interior thereof to said driving means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
A self-propelled vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said connection means includes a drum fixedly connected to said fork for supporting said drive means and roller means fixedly mounted on said frame for supporting rollably at least partially said drum to said frame to enable it to rotate about a vertical axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
A self-propelled vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said mounting means includes a flexible coupling device, said fork including a substantially vertically extending spindle fixedly mounted on said fork, said steering control means including an inclined steering column rotatably mounted on said frame and extending upwardly and rearwardly, said steering column having a lower front end portion flexibly connected to said frame by means of said coupling device to enable the driver assembly to rotate about said vertical axis when said inclined steering column is rotated about its own inclined axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
A self-propelled vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said driving and braking means includes a centrifugal clutch mechanism having a plurality of weights movable during operation of said power means, said clutch further includes a driven drum for rotating about its axis, a brake band at least partially surrounding said band and having a brake lining for moving into braking engagement with the outer surface of said drum while it is rotating for decreasing its speed to disengage the clutch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
138 words
In a self-propelled vehicle, the improvement comprising: a vehicle frame; front and rear wheel assemblies connected to said frame for rolling along a supporting surface; a vehicle body mounted on said frame, said body for supporting and carrying the operator of the vehicle; power means drivingly connected to at least one of said wheel assemblies for powering said vehicle; steering control means for moving one of said wheel assemblies; ramp means hingedly connected to said body to move between a loading and unloading position and a closed position over an opening in said body; manually operable means for retaining releasably said ramp means in its closed position; and latching and braking means responsive to said manually operable means for preventing one of said wheel assemblies from rolling when said ramp means is in its loading and unloading position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
138 words
In a self-propelled vehicle, the improvement comprising: a vehicle frame; front and rear wheel assemblies connected to said frame for rolling along a supporting surface; a vehicle body mounted on said frame, said body for supporting and carrying the operator of the vehicle; power means drivingly connected to at least one of said wheel assemblies for powering said vehicle; steering control means for moving one of said wheel assemblies; ramp means hingedly connected to said body to move between a loading and unloading position and a closed position over an opening in said body; manually operable means for retaining releasably said ramp means in its closed position; and latching and braking means responsive to said manually operable means for preventing one of said wheel assemblies from rolling when said ramp means is in its loading and unloading position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
118 words
A self-propelled vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said manually operable means includes a control lever pivotally mounted on said frame and a link connecting said ramp means and said lever to cause them to move in unison, said braking means including an arm connected to said control lever for moving into braking engagement with one of said wheel assemblies when said ramp means is disposed in its loading and unloading position, a pin fixed to said body, a latching dog pivotally mounted on said lever for engaging releasably said pin when said ramp means is in its position to retain it in place, and spring means for urging resiliently said latching dog into engagement with said pin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
214 words
In a self-propelled vehicle, the improvement comprising: a vehicle frame front and rear wheel assemblies connected to said frame; a vehicle body mounted on said frame, said body for supporting and carrying the operator of the vehicle; driving means mounted on said frame having an output connected drivingly to a driven one of said wheel assemblies for powering the vehicle, the driven one of said wheel assemblies to said body to permit said driven wheel assembly to rotate freely about an axis in a 360* circle of rotation; driving and braking means for controlling the speed of sid drive means and for braking purposes; manually operable steering control means rotatably mounted on the frame for rotating said driven wheel assembly about its axis in said 360* circle of rotation, said driven assembly including a wheel supporting fork and connection means for rotatably mounting said fork to said frame, said connection means including a spindle fixedly mounted on and extending from said frame, a sleeve being fixedly mounted on said frame for receiving swivally said spindle; latching and braking means for retaining releasably said ramp means in its closed position and for braking one of said wheel assemblies to prevent the vehicle from moving wHen said ramp means is in its loading and unloading position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
214 words
In a self-propelled vehicle, the improvement comprising: a vehicle frame front and rear wheel assemblies connected to said frame; a vehicle body mounted on said frame, said body for supporting and carrying the operator of the vehicle; driving means mounted on said frame having an output connected drivingly to a driven one of said wheel assemblies for powering the vehicle, the driven one of said wheel assemblies to said body to permit said driven wheel assembly to rotate freely about an axis in a 360* circle of rotation; driving and braking means for controlling the speed of sid drive means and for braking purposes; manually operable steering control means rotatably mounted on the frame for rotating said driven wheel assembly about its axis in said 360* circle of rotation, said driven assembly including a wheel supporting fork and connection means for rotatably mounting said fork to said frame, said connection means including a spindle fixedly mounted on and extending from said frame, a sleeve being fixedly mounted on said frame for receiving swivally said spindle; latching and braking means for retaining releasably said ramp means in its closed position and for braking one of said wheel assemblies to prevent the vehicle from moving wHen said ramp means is in its loading and unloading position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
118 words
A self-propelled vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said latching and braking means includes a manually operable control lever pivotally mounted on said frame, a link connecting said ramp means and said lever to cause them to move in unison, a brake arm connected to said control lever for moving into braking engagement with one of said wheel assemblies when said ramp means is disposed in its loading and unloading position, a pin fixed to said body, a latching dog pivotally mounted on said lever for engaging releasably said pin when said ramp means is in its closed position to retain it in place, and spring means for urging resiliently said latching dog into engagement with said pin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
246 words
In a self-propelled vehicle, the improvement comprising: a vehicle frame; front and rear wheel assemblies connected to said frame for rolling along a supporting surface; a vehicle body mounted on said frame, said body for supporting and carrying the operator of the vehicle; power means drivingly connected to at least one of said wheel assemblies for powering said vehicle; steering control means for moving one of said wheel assemblies; ramp means hingedly connected to said body to move between a loading and unloading position and a closed position over an opening in said body; manually operable means for retaining releasably said ramp means in its closed position; braking means responsive to said manually operable means for preventing one of said wheel assemblies from rolling when said ramp means is in its loading and unloading position, said manually operable means includes a control lever pivotally mounted on said frame and a link connecting said ramp means and said lever to cause them to move in unison, said braking means including an arm connected to said control lever for moving into braking engagement with one of said wheel assemblies when said ramp means is disposed in its loading and unloading position, a pin fixed to said body, a latching dog pivotally mounted on said lever for engaging releasably said pin when said ramp means is in its closed position to retain it in place, and spring means for urging resiliently said latching dog into engagement with said pin.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
246 words
In a self-propelled vehicle, the improvement comprising: a vehicle frame; front and rear wheel assemblies connected to said frame for rolling along a supporting surface; a vehicle body mounted on said frame, said body for supporting and carrying the operator of the vehicle; power means drivingly connected to at least one of said wheel assemblies for powering said vehicle; steering control means for moving one of said wheel assemblies; ramp means hingedly connected to said body to move between a loading and unloading position and a closed position over an opening in said body; manually operable means for retaining releasably said ramp means in its closed position; braking means responsive to said manually operable means for preventing one of said wheel assemblies from rolling when said ramp means is in its loading and unloading position, said manually operable means includes a control lever pivotally mounted on said frame and a link connecting said ramp means and said lever to cause them to move in unison, said braking means including an arm connected to said control lever for moving into braking engagement with one of said wheel assemblies when said ramp means is disposed in its loading and unloading position, a pin fixed to said body, a latching dog pivotally mounted on said lever for engaging releasably said pin when said ramp means is in its closed position to retain it in place, and spring means for urging resiliently said latching dog into engagement with said pin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-24 | 1979-05-26 | 1979-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-24 | 1983-05-26 | 1983-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-24 | 1987-05-26 | 1987-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |