초록 ▼

A vehicle powered to move about on a front drive wheel and rearward supports, preferably a pair of wheels. The rear wheels are mounted to the frame by a steering control mechanism that facilitates pivotal steering movement of the rear wheels about two axes - a steering axis and a steering control ax

A vehicle powered to move about on a front drive wheel and rearward supports, preferably a pair of wheels. The rear wheels are mounted to the frame by a steering control mechanism that facilitates pivotal steering movement of the rear wheels about two axes - a steering axis and a steering control axis. The steering control axis is coaxial with the rear wheels and is perpendicular to the steering axis. The angle of the steering axis may be varied about the steering control axis. Steering is accomplished by the rider shifting his weight from one side of the vehicle to the other. He may shift the steering axis to a position substantially parallel with the ground surface so the frame may be tilted like a bicycle in wide, sweeping high speed curves. The rear wheels then track behind the front wheels as the frame tilts about the steering axis. If the rider shifts the steering axis to a position nearly perpendicular to the ground, he may negotiate short radius, low speed turns. In this situation, the rear wheels turn about the steering axis and the frame tilts only slightly in response to leaning by the rider. Shifting of the steering axis is accomplished by lifting or lowering handles affixed to the axle.

대표청구항 ▼

A steering control mechanism for a vehicle having a frame and a steerable support means comprising: first gimbal means adapted to mount the support for pivotal movement about a steering axis; second gimbal means adapted to mount the first gimbal means to the frame for pivotal movement thereon about

A steering control mechanism for a vehicle having a frame and a steerable support means comprising: first gimbal means adapted to mount the support for pivotal movement about a steering axis; second gimbal means adapted to mount the first gimbal means to the frame for pivotal movement thereon about a steering control axis that is perpendicular to and intersects the steering axis; and control means connected to the first gimbal means for selectively pivoting the steering control axis and adapted to selectively vary the angular position of the steering axis relative to the frame.