Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
A wheeled device comprising two parallel, spaced and aligned wheels, an axle interconnecting said wheels, said axle including a pair of opposed offset portions oriented between axially aligned end portions, and one-way drive connecting means between each of the wheels and the end portions of the axle, an elongated pedal rotatably connected to each of the offset portions of the axle to facilitate an occupant or user balancing himself while moving the offset portions in a circular path to propel the device across a supporting surface said one-way drive connecting means including an axially oriented ratchet mechanism associated with each of the wheels and the corresponding end portion of the axle, each ratchet mechanism including a plurality of ratchet teeth circumferentially arranged on the wheel and facing axially therefrom, a sleeve axially slidable on the axle and spring biased toward the wheel, a pin and slot driving connection between the sleeve and the axle, and a ratchet pawl extending axially from the sleeve for engagement with the teeth on the wheel, wherein said pedals are substantially planar and define forward and rearward end portions relative to the offset portions of said axle, said rearward end portion being substantially longer than said forward end portion and having a transverse end edge for frictionally engaging the supporting surface to provide a drag brake when in contact with the supporting surface, thereby enabling steering control of the device by controlling the downward force exerted on the rearward end portion of each pedal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
249 words
A wheeled device comprising two parallel, spaced and aligned wheels, an axle interconnecting said wheels, said axle including a pair of opposed offset portions oriented between axially aligned end portions, and one-way drive connecting means between each of the wheels and the end portions of the axle, an elongated pedal rotatably connected to each of the offset portions of the axle to facilitate an occupant or user balancing himself while moving the offset portions in a circular path to propel the device across a supporting surface said one-way drive connecting means including an axially oriented ratchet mechanism associated with each of the wheels and the corresponding end portion of the axle, each ratchet mechanism including a plurality of ratchet teeth circumferentially arranged on the wheel and facing axially therefrom, a sleeve axially slidable on the axle and spring biased toward the wheel, a pin and slot driving connection between the sleeve and the axle, and a ratchet pawl extending axially from the sleeve for engagement with the teeth on the wheel, wherein said pedals are substantially planar and define forward and rearward end portions relative to the offset portions of said axle, said rearward end portion being substantially longer than said forward end portion and having a transverse end edge for frictionally engaging the supporting surface to provide a drag brake when in contact with the supporting surface, thereby enabling steering control of the device by controlling the downward force exerted on the rearward end portion of each pedal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said ratchet teeth on the wheel face axially outwardly of the wheel, said sleeve and pin-and-slot connection between the axle and sleeve being oriented axially outwardly of the wheel, and a hub cap mounted on the axle outwardly of the wheel and including an inner end engaging the wheel circumferentially of the ratchet teeth whereby the hub cap encloses and conceals the ratchet mechanism.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein a coil compression spring is interposed between the outer end of the sleeve and the hub cap to spring-bias the sleeve inwardly toward the wheel for maintaining the pawl in engagement with the ratchet teeth on the wheel.