Vehicle with swivel control of casters for enabling rider or external steering
US6302421A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 15, 2000 |
| Grant date | Oct 16, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 15, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB62K5/08
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A vehicle with a caster (12) has a disconnectable steering system so the vehicle can be quickly and easily converted back and forth between rider-steerable and externally steerable configurations. The vehicle includes a frame (body) (20), the caster, and a steering mechanism (22, 24, 34) mounted on the frame. A disconnecting device (32) is mounted between the steering mechanism and the caster. When the disconnecting device connects the steering mechanism to the caster, the vehicle can be steered by the occupant since the steering mechanism and caster rotate as one unit. When the disconnecting device disconnects the steering mechanism from the caster, the caster is allowed to swivel freely (360.degree.) about its vertical axis so that the vehicle can be pushed or pulled in any direction by an external operator. The vehicle may be a stroller, a toy vehicle, a scooter, a wheelchair, a cart, a dolly, etc., and it can have more than one caster.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.