US6966572B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Folding riding vehicle
Assignee: Radio Flyer Inc
•
Filing: 2003-11-25
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Granted: 2005-11-22
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Expires: 2023-11-25
Abstract
Abstract A folding riding vehicle, such as a tricycle, feature a front frame element to which a front wheel and handlebars are mounted. A front bracket is attached to the front frame element and a seat bracket, to which a seat is mounted, is pivotally attached to the front bracket. A rear frame element has a pair of rear wheels mounted thereto and is attached to a rear bracket. The rear bracket is also pivotally mounted to the front bracket. The rear seat bracket features a pin that engages slots in the seat bracket. As a result, the seat bracket pivots with respect to the front bracket as the rear frame element is pivoted relative to the front bracket as the riding vehicle is moved between folded and unfolded configurations.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick Michelau
- 👤 Thomas Schlegel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:39
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62K; B62K9/00; B62K9/02; B62K15/00; B62K15/006; B62K15/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A folding riding vehicle comprising: a. a front frame element having a front wheel rotatably mounted thereto; b. a front bracket attached to the front frame element; c. a seat bracket having a seat mounted thereon, said seat bracket pivotally mounted to the front bracket; d. a rear frame element having at least one rear wheel rotatably mounted thereto; e. a rear bracket attached to the rear frame element in a fixed fashion, said rear bracket pivotally attached to the front bracket independent of the rear frame element, and f. a pin joining the seat bracket and the rear bracket so that the seat bracket pivots relative to the front bracket as the rear bracket is pivoted relative to the front bracket as the riding vehicle is moved between folded and unfolded configurations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A folding riding vehicle comprising: a. a front frame element having a front wheel rotatably mounted thereto; b. a front bracket attached to the front frame element; c. a seat bracket having a seat mounted thereon, said seat bracket pivotally mounted to the front bracket; d. a rear frame element having at least one rear wheel rotatably mounted thereto; e. a rear bracket attached to the rear frame element in a fixed fashion, said rear bracket pivotally attached to the front bracket independent of the rear frame element, and f. a pin joining the seat bracket and the rear bracket so that the seat bracket pivots relative to the front bracket as the rear bracket is pivoted relative to the front bracket as the riding vehicle is moved between folded and unfolded configurations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 1 wherein the pin is mounted to the rear bracket and the seat bracket has a slot therein which receives the pin so that the pin travels through the slot as the riding vehicle is moved between the folded and unfolded configurations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 2 wherein the front bracket has a slot therein which also receives the pin and through which the pin travels as the riding vehicle is moved between the folded and unfolded configurations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 3 wherein the slot of the front bracket is an arcuate slot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 1 wherein the folding riding vehicle is a tricycle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 1 wherein the front bracket has a slot therein which receives the pin and through which the pin travels as the riding vehicle is moved between the folded and unfolded configurations.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a tension spring attached between the seat bracket and the front bracket.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a safety cam mounted to the rear bracket, said safety cam preventing the entry of a hand, fingers or the like between the front bracket and the rear bracket.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 8 wherein said safety cam includes a plurality of indentations and further comprising a plunger mechanism mounted to the front bracket, said plunger mechanism including a plunger that engages the indentations of the cam when the riding vehicle is in the folded and unfolded configurations.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a knob attached to the rear frame element and a latching member pivotally attached to the seat bracket, said latching member including a claw that removably engages the knob when the riding vehicle is in the unfolded configuration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 10 further comprising a spring connected between the latching member and the seat bracket and urging the claw into engagement with the knob when the riding vehicle is in the unfolded configuration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 1 wherein said seat bracket features a pair of side plates that straddle said front bracket.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 1 wherein said front bracket features a pair of spaced side plates with the front frame element secured there between.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 13 wherein said seat bracket features a pair of side plates that straddle the side plates of said front bracket.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 14 wherein the rear bracket is pivotally mounted between the side plates of the front bracket.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 15 where in the rear bracket features a pair of side plates with the rear frame element secured there between.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 13 wherein the rear bracket is pivotally mounted between the side plates of the front bracket.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 17 where in the rear bracket features a pair of side plates with the rear frame element secured there between.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 1 wherein the rear bracket features a pair of side plates with the rear frame element secured there between.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
143 words
A folding riding vehicle comprising: a. a front frame element having a front wheel rotatably mounted thereto; b. a front bracket attached to the front frame element; c. a seat bracket having a seat mounted thereon, said seat bracket pivotally mounted to the front bracket and having a slot formed therein; d. a rear frame element having at least one rear wheel rotatably mounted thereto; e. a rear bracket attached to the rear frame element in a fixed fashion, said rear bracket pivotally attached to the front bracket independent of the rear frame element, said rear bracket having a pin extending therefrom and engaging the slot in the seat bracket; and f. said rear bracket and seat bracket pivoting relative to the front bracket, and the pin sliding in the slot, as the folding riding vehicle is moved between folded and unfolded configurations.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
143 words
A folding riding vehicle comprising: a. a front frame element having a front wheel rotatably mounted thereto; b. a front bracket attached to the front frame element; c. a seat bracket having a seat mounted thereon, said seat bracket pivotally mounted to the front bracket and having a slot formed therein; d. a rear frame element having at least one rear wheel rotatably mounted thereto; e. a rear bracket attached to the rear frame element in a fixed fashion, said rear bracket pivotally attached to the front bracket independent of the rear frame element, said rear bracket having a pin extending therefrom and engaging the slot in the seat bracket; and f. said rear bracket and seat bracket pivoting relative to the front bracket, and the pin sliding in the slot, as the folding riding vehicle is moved between folded and unfolded configurations.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 20 wherein the front bracket has a slot therein which also receives the pin and through which the pin travels as the riding vehicle is moved between the folded and unfolded configurations.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 21 wherein the slot of the front bracket is an arcuate slot.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 20 wherein the folding riding vehicle is a tricycle.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 20 further comprising a tension spring attached between the seat bracket and the front bracket.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 20 further comprising a safety cam mounted to the rear bracket, said safety cam preventing the entry of a hand, fingers or the like between the front bracket and the rear bracket.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
51 words
The folding riding vehicle of claim 25 wherein said safety cam includes a plurality of indentations and further comprising a plunger mechanism mounted to the front bracket, said plunger mechanism including a plunger that engages the indentations of the cam when the riding vehicle is in the folded and unfolded configurations.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
46 words
The riding vehicle of claim 20 further comprising a knob attached to the rear frame element and a latching member pivotally attached to the seat bracket, said latching member including a claw that removably engages the knob when the riding vehicle is in the unfolded configuration.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
38 words
The riding vehicle of claim 27 further comprising a spring connected between the latching member and the seat bracket and urging the claw into engagement with the knob when the folding riding vehicle is in the unfolded configuration.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-11-21 | 2009-05-23 | 2009-11-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-11-21 | 2013-05-23 | 2013-11-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-11-21 | 2017-05-23 | 2017-11-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |