Patent ID: 6588785
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: B62J,B62K,B62M

Abstract:
A pedal powered vehicle adapted for delivering and receiving forceful impacts, the vehicle comprising:a frame constructed from a rotationally molded impact absorbing plastic, the frame being interconnected to two powered wheels, one steering wheel, and a recumbent seating arrangement; a crank assembly interconnected to the frame at a location forward of and above the powered wheels, a chain drive interconnected to the crank assembly and an axle assembly, the crank, axle assemblies and chain drive delivering rotational power to the powered wheels; a pair of steering handles, each handle adapted to rotate a corresponding steering sprocket by way of a flexible and rigid linkage with rotation of the steering sprockets resulting in rotation of the steering wheel by way of a chain drive that engages both the steering sprockets and the steering wheel; the axle assembly including first and second axle components interconnected by a differential and a clutch assembly adapted to rotate the axle components, the clutch assembly including male and female clutch elements, the female clutch element having a series of cavities within an inner face, the male clutch element being engaged and driven by the drive chain and having an inner face with a friction lining and a series of spring biased pawls, the male clutch element having two orientations, in the first orientation the friction lining is engaged with the inner face of the female clutch element such that rotation of the male clutch element in either rotational sense is transmitted to the female clutch element, in the second orientation the friction lining is disengaged and the spring biased pawls are made to engage the cavities of the female clutch element such that rotation in only one sense is transmitted from the male to the female clutch element.