Tricycle footwell

Claim 2

In a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, a protective footwell removably mounted to the tricycle and supporting the feet of a rider, wherein said front wheel has a pair of pedals, and said footwell has a front shroud portion extending upwardly between the feet of a rider and said pedals, wherein said front shroud has an upstanding central wall between a pair of right and left walls on laterally opposite sides of said central wall, said central wall being formed as a wheelwell around an aft portion of said front wheel, said central wall protecting the legs and feet of the rider from said front wheel, said right and left walls protecting the feet of the rider from said pedals.

Claim 3

The tricycle according to claim 1 wherein said central wall has a forwardly facing concave surface defining a cavity receiving said front wheel therein, and wherein said central wall has an aft facing convex surface defining a central barrier between the feet of the rider.

Claim 4

The tricycle according to claim 2 wherein said central wall curves laterally and forwardly along said convex surface to forward portions blended into said right and left walls.

Claim 5

The tricycle according to claim 3 wherein said central wall has an upper hump portion curved forwardly and spaced above said front wheel, said hump portion having a forward leading edge curved laterally outwardly and extending downwardly and joining said right and left walls.

Claim 6

In a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, a protective footwell removably mounted to the tricycle and supporting the feet of a rider, wherein said front wheel has a pair of pedals, and said footwell has a front shroud portion extending upwardly between the feet of a rider and said pedals, wherein said footwell has a lower floor extending aft from said front shroud, wherein said floor has right and left foot-receiving portions and an upstanding border wall extending therearound for guiding and retaining the feet of the rider therein, wherein said floor has a central aft section with a U-shape cut-out for extending between the feet of the rider, said U-shape cut-out having a central laterally extending bight and a pair of legs extending aft from said bight, said border fence extending along said U-shape cut-out.

Claim 7

In a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, a protective footwell removably mounted to the tricycle and supporting the feet of a rider, wherein said front wheel has a pair of pedals, and said footwell has a front shroud portion extending upwardly between the feet of a rider and said pedals, wherein said footwell has a lower floor extending aft from said front shroud, wherein said floor has right and left foot-receiving portions and an upstanding border wall extending therearound for guiding and retaining the feet of the rider therein, wherein said floor has a central aft section with a U-shape cut-out for extending between the feet of the rider, said U-shape cut-out having a central laterally extending bight and a pair of legs extending aft from said bight, said border fence extending along said U-shape cut-out.

Claim 8

In a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, a protective footwell removably mounted to the tricycle and supporting the feet of a rider, wherein said front wheel has a pair of pedals, and said footwell has a front shroud portion extending upwardly between the feet of a rider and said pedals, said footwell has a lower floor extending aft from said front shroud, wherein said floor has right and left foot-receiving portions and an upstanding border wall extending therearound for guiding and retaining the feet of the rider therein, wherein said floor has a central forward section with a U-shape for extending between the feet of the rider, said front shroud has an upstanding central wall extending upwardly from said U-shape, said front shroud has right and left walls on laterally opposite sides of said central wall, said border fence blends into said right and left walls and said central wall.

Claim 9

In a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, a protective footwell removably mounted to the tricycle and supporting the feet of a rider, wherein said front wheel has a pair of pedals, and said footwell has a front shroud portion extending upwardly between the feet of a rider and said pedals, said footwell has a lower floor extending aft from said front shroud, wherein said floor has right and left foot-receiving portions and an upstanding border wall extending therearound for guiding and retaining the feet of the rider therein, wherein said floor has a central forward section with a U-shape for extending between the feet of the rider, said front shroud has an upstanding central wall extending upwardly from said U-shape, said front shroud has right and left walls on laterally opposite sides of said central wall, said border fence blends into said right and left walls and said central wall.

Claim 10

In a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, a protective footwell removably mounted to the tricycle and supporting the feet of a rider, and comprising front and rear support links mounting said footwell to said tricycle, wherein said front and rear support links suspend said footwell therebetween with a limited amount of vertical travel, and wherein said footwell has one or more lower wheels normally suspended off the ground in the absence of weight on said footwell, and engaging the ground for rolling therealong in response to a given amount of weight on said footwell.

Claim 11

In a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, a protective footwell removably mounted to the tricycle and supporting the feet of a rider, and comprising front and rear support links mounting said footwell to said tricycle, wherein said front and rear support links suspend said footwell therebetween with a limited amount of vertical travel, and wherein said footwell has one or more lower wheels normally suspended off the ground in the absence of weight on said footwell, and engaging the ground for rolling therealong in response to a given amount of weight on said footwell.

Claim 12

In a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, a protective footwell removably mounted to the tricycle and supporting the feet of a rider, wherein said footwell has right and left laterally spaced lower wheels engageable with the ground for enhanced lateral stability.

Claim 13

In a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, a protective footwell removably mounted to the tricycle and supporting the feet of a rider, wherein said footwell has right and left laterally spaced lower wheels engageable with the ground for enhanced lateral stability.

Claim 14

In a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, a protective footwell removably mounted to the tricycle and supporting the feet of a rider, wherein said front wheel has a front axle mounted to said frame, and comprising a pair of right and left support links extending forwardly from said footwell on laterally opposite sides of said front wheel and mounted to said front axle and preventing turning of said front wheel about a vertical axis, to provide a steering-lock blocking steering of the tricycle by the rider.

Claim 15

In a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, a protective footwell removably mounted to the tricycle and supporting the feet of a rider, wherein said front wheel has a front axle mounted to said frame, and comprising a pair of right and left support links extending forwardly from said footwell on laterally opposite sides of said front wheel and mounted to said front axle and preventing turning of said front wheel about a vertical axis, to provide a steering-lock blocking steering of the tricycle by the rider.

Claim 16

The tricycle according to claim 9 wherein each of said right and left front support links has an aft end mounted to said footwell, and has a forward end removably mounted to said front axle, at least one of said ends being pivotally mounted to allow vertical travel of said footwell.

Claim 17

The tricycle according to claim 9 wherein each of said right and left front support links has a forward end in the form of a hook hooked on said front axle.

Claim 18

The tricycle according to claim 9 wherein said front axle has right and left cranks extending transversely therefrom on laterally opposite sides of said front wheel, said pedals being mounted to said cranks, and wherein said right and left front support links are mounted to said front axle laterally inboard of said right and left cranks, respectively.

Claim 19

In a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, a protective footwell removably mounted to the tricycle and supporting the feet of a rider, wherein said frame has an aft portion supporting said rear wheels, and comprising a rear link extending from said footwell to said aft frame portion and mounted thereto.

Claim 20

In a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, a protective footwell removably mounted to the tricycle and supporting the feet of a rider, wherein said frame has an aft portion supporting said rear wheels, and comprising a rear link extending from said footwell to said aft frame portion and mounted thereto.

Claim 21

The tricycle according to claim 13 wherein said aft frame portion has a first support bar extending laterally thereacross, said footwell has a second support bar extending laterally thereacross, said rear link is mounted to said first and second support bars, said footwell has a longitudinal centerline coincident with said front wheel and defining a longitudinal vertical centerline plane, and wherein said rear link has a lateral extension span transversely crossing said centerline plane and having a laterally widened extension span width stabilizing said footwell against right-left tilting in the event of uneven right-left foot pressure of the rider.

Claim 22

The tricycle according to claim 13 wherein said rear link has a first end mounted to said footwell, and has a second end removably mounted to said aft frame portion, at least one of said ends being pivotally mounted to allow vertical movement of said footwell.

Claim 23

The tricycle according to claim 13 wherein said rear link has an end in the form of a hook hooked on said aft frame portion.

Claim 24

In a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, a tool-free mounting assembly mounting a protective footwell to said tricycle requiring no tools, and wherein said toll-free mounting assembly mounts said footwell to said tricycle with snap-in insertion, wherein said footwell has a forward end and an aft end, and said tool-free mounting assembly comprises first and second hooks tool-free mounting one of said ends to said tricycle, and a third hook tool-free mounting the other of said ends to said tricycle.

Claim 25

In a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, a tool-free mounting assembly mounting a protective footwell to said tricycle requiring no tools, and wherein said toll-free mounting assembly mounts said footwell to said tricycle with snap-in insertion, wherein said footwell has a forward end and an aft end, and said tool-free mounting assembly comprises first and second hooks tool-free mounting one of said ends to said tricycle, and a third hook tool-free mounting the other of said ends to said tricycle.

Claim 26

In a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, a laterally stabilized mounting assembly mounting a protective footwell to said tricycle in laterally stabilized relation, wherein said footwell has a longitudinal centerline coincident with said front wheel and defining a longitudinal vertical centerline plane, and wherein said laterally stabilized mounting assembly comprises a support link supporting said footwell from said tricycle and having a lateral extension span transversely crossing said centerline plane and having a laterally widened extension span width stabilizing said footwell against right-left tilting.

Claim 27

In a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, a laterally stabilized mounting assembly mounting a protective footwell to said tricycle in laterally stabilized relation, wherein said footwell has a longitudinal centerline coincident with said front wheel and defining a longitudinal vertical centerline plane, and wherein said laterally stabilized mounting assembly comprises a support link supporting said footwell from said tricycle and having a lateral extension span transversely crossing said centerline plane and having a laterally widened extension span width stabilizing said footwell against right-left tilting.

Claim 28

In a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, a laterally stabilized mounting assembly mounting a protective footwell to said tricycle in laterally stabilized relation, wherein said footwell has a longitudinal centerline coincident with said front wheel and defining a longitudinal vertical centerline plane, and wherein said laterally stabilized mounting assembly comprises first, second and third support links supporting said footwell from said tricycle, said first and second support links being laterally spaced on laterally opposite sides of said centerline plane, said third support link having a lateral extension span transversely crossing said centerline plane and having a laterally widened extension span width.

Claim 29

In a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, a laterally stabilized mounting assembly mounting a protective footwell to said tricycle in laterally stabilized relation, wherein said footwell has a longitudinal centerline coincident with said front wheel and defining a longitudinal vertical centerline plane, and wherein said laterally stabilized mounting assembly comprises first, second and third support links supporting said footwell from said tricycle, said first and second support links being laterally spaced on laterally opposite sides of said centerline plane, said third support link having a lateral extension span transversely crossing said centerline plane and having a laterally widened extension span width.

Claim 30

In a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, a laterally stabilized mounting assembly mounting a protective footwell to said tricycle in laterally stabilized relation, wherein said footwell has a longitudinal centerline coincident with said front wheel and defining a longitudinal vertical centerline plane, and wherein said laterally stabilized mounting assembly comprises a set of support links supporting said footwell from said tricycle in pivotal relation allowing vertical travel of said footwell, and a pair of lower wheels on said footwell spaced on laterally opposite sides of said centerline plane.

Claim 31

In a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, a laterally stabilized mounting assembly mounting a protective footwell to said tricycle in laterally stabilized relation, wherein said footwell has a longitudinal centerline coincident with said front wheel and defining a longitudinal vertical centerline plane, and wherein said laterally stabilized mounting assembly comprises a set of support links supporting said footwell from said tricycle in pivotal relation allowing vertical travel of said footwell, and a pair of lower wheels on said footwell spaced on laterally opposite sides of said centerline plane.

Claim 32

A tool-free assembly method for a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, comprising mounting a protective footwell to the tricycle without tools, and comprising providing said footwell with a forward end and an aft end, and mounting said footwell to said tricycle with two hooks at said forward end and one hook at said aft end.

Claim 33

A tool-free assembly method for a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, comprising mounting a protective footwell to the tricycle without tools, and comprising providing said footwell with a forward end and an aft end, and mounting said footwell to said tricycle with two hooks at said forward end and one hook at said aft end.

Claim 34

The method according to claim 21 comprising mounting said aft end of said footwell to said tricycle at said one hook with snap-in insertion.

Claim 35

A tool-free assembly method for a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, comprising mounting a protective footwell to the tricycle without tools, and comprising mounting said footwell to said tricycle in laterally stabilized relation with a laterally stabilized mounting assembly, and comprising providing said footwell with a forward end and an aft end, and mounting said footwell to said tricycle with first and second support links at one of said ends, and a third support link at the other of said ends, wherein said footwell has a longitudinal centerline coincident with said front wheel and defining a longitudinal vertical centerline plane, and comprising laterally spacing said first and second links on laterally opposite sides of said centerline plane, and laterally spanning said centerline plane with said third link having a laterally widened extension span width transversely crossing said centerline plane.

Claim 36

A tool-free assembly method for a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, comprising mounting a protective footwell to the tricycle without tools, and comprising mounting said footwell to said tricycle in laterally stabilized relation with a laterally stabilized mounting assembly, and comprising providing said footwell with a forward end and an aft end, and mounting said footwell to said tricycle with first and second support links at one of said ends, and a third support link at the other of said ends, wherein said footwell has a longitudinal centerline coincident with said front wheel and defining a longitudinal vertical centerline plane, and comprising laterally spacing said first and second links on laterally opposite sides of said centerline plane, and laterally spanning said centerline plane with said third link having a laterally widened extension span width transversely crossing said centerline plane.

Claim 37

A tool-free assembly method for a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, comprising mounting a protective footwell to the tricycle without tools, and comprising suspending said footwell from said tricycle with a set of support links in pivotal relation allowing vertical travel of said footwell, and providing a pair of laterally spaced lower wheels on said footwell.

Claim 38

A tool-free assembly method for a tricycle having a longitudinally extending frame supporting a front wheel, a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, and a seat for a rider, comprising mounting a protective footwell to the tricycle without tools, and comprising suspending said footwell from said tricycle with a set of support links in pivotal relation allowing vertical travel of said footwell, and providing a pair of laterally spaced lower wheels on said footwell.