Claims
- 1. A steering mechanism for a children's toy vehicle, comprising:
a. a non-circular wheel piece connectable to a wheel turning mechanism of a toy vehicle; and, b. an arcuate front portion along the front periphery of said wheel piece.
- 2. The steering mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a curved rear portion along the rear periphery of said wheel piece.
- 3. The steering mechanism of claim 2, wherein said rear portion is nested between two end portions of said front portion.
- 4. The steering mechanism of claim 4, wherein said front portion and said rear portion form a tulip shape.
- 5. The steering mechanism of claim 2, wherein said wheel piece defines one or more grips along the periphery of said front and rear portions.
- 6. The steering mechanism of claim 5, wherein said wheel piece include one or more openings defined through said wheel piece adjacent said grips.
- 7. The steering mechanism of claim 6, wherein said grips are contoured.
- 8. The steering mechanism of claim 6, wherein said grips are formed with a resilient material.
- 9. The steering mechanism of claim 6, wherein said wheel piece is primarily made of blow-molded or injection molded plastic.
- 10. The steering mechanism of claim 9, wherein said wheel piece incorporates one or more portions covered with a resilient cushioning material.
- 11. The steering mechanism of claim 1, in combination with a front wheel frame connected to said wheel piece, a front tricycle wheel mounted to said front wheel frame, a rear wheel frame pivotably coupled to said front wheel frame, and two rear tricycle wheels mounted to said rear wheel frame.
- 12. The combination of claim 11, wherein said wheel piece is connected to said front wheel frame at a point eccentric to said wheel piece.
- 13. The combination of claim 12, wherein said wheel piece is connected to said front wheel frame at a point offset forward from the center of said wheel piece.
- 14. The combination of claim 11, wherein said coupling between said front wheel frame and said rear wheel frame is along a pivot axis, wherein said front wheel frame is connected to said steering wheel piece along a mounting axis, and wherein said mounting axis is parallel to and offset forward from said pivot axis.
- 15. The combination of claim 14, further comprising a seat mounted to said rear frame portion and a pedal crank coupled to said front wheel to propel said front wheel.
- 16. The combination of claim 12, wherein said front wheel frame and said front wheel define a turning axis, wherein said front wheel frame is coupled to said rear wheel frame along a pivot axis, and wherein said turning axis is parallel to and offset forward from said pivot axis.
- 17. A tricycle, comprising:
a. a front frame; b. a front tricycle wheel mounted to said front frame along a turning axis; c. a rear frame pivotably coupled to said front frame along a pivot axis; d. two tricycle wheels mounted to said rear frame; e. a steering mechanism associated with said front frame along a mounting axis; and, f. wherein said turning axis is parallel to and offset forward from said pivot axis.
- 18. The tricycle of claim 17, wherein said mounting axis is parallel to and offset forward from said pivot axis.
- 19. The tricycle of claim 18, wherein said mounting axis is offset from said turning axis.
- 20. The tricycle of claim 17, wherein said steering mechanism is connected to said front wheel frame at a point offset forward from the center of said steering mechanism.
- 21. The tricycle of claim 20, wherein said steering mechanism defines an arcuate front portion along the front periphery of said wheel piece.
- 22. The tricycle of claim 21, wherein said steering mechanism includes a curved rear portion.
- 23. The tricycle of claim 22, wherein said arcuate front portion defines two end portions, and wherein said curved rear portion is nested between said end portions.
- 24. The tricycle of claim 20, wherein said front and rear wheels are aligned to support said tricycle upon a support surface, and wherein said steering mechanism is mounted at a non-parallel angle to the support surface.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims priority to provisional application, Serial No. 60/476,021 filed on Jun. 4, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60476021 |
Jun 2003 |
US |