Abstract:
A foot driven vehicle utilizing a platform. The platform is motivated on a surface utilizing a foot pedal connected to a crank. The crank further includes an endless surface which is linked to a first wheel supported directly to the bottom of the platform. An element which is engageable by a foot or gripable by a hand, is linked to a second wheel supported by the bottom of the platform. The element is movable to turn the second wheel for the purposes of steering. A brake is also included in the present invention for arresting the turning of the first and/or second wheels. The brake includes a flange which is also operated by the foot of the user. A ratchet may also be used in the first wheel to bias rotation of the same.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No: 09/219,565, filed Dec. 21, 1998. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a novel and useful foot driven vehicle. 
     Many non-motorized vehicle platforms have been proposed and built in the past. Essentially, these items are noted as being classified as scooters, skateboards, and the like. 
     Although many of such scooters and skateboards are steerable and dependent on gravitational pull for operation, several designs have been proposed for driving the same. 
     Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,825 which describes an oscillating platform in which the user shifts his weight to affect forward motion of skateboard. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,202 shows a skateboard having a pedal mounted on the upper surface of a platform which drives a horizontally displaceable rack via a cam. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,055 shows a scooter having a steering bar and mechanism for converting oscillating motion onto rotary motion through the use of endless chains. 
     A foot driven vehicle having the capability of complete motional control, including the generating speed, stopping, and steering through foot operated mechanisms would be a notable advance in the recreational vehicle field. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention a novel and useful foot driven vehicle is herein provided. 
     The foot driven vehicle of the present invention utilizes a platform having motivating means for urging the platform along a surface. The motivating means includes a foot pedal connected to a crank. The crank includes an endless surface linked to a first wheel supported to the platform. The endless surface may include a friction surface or a geared surface which is capable of transmitting the rotation motion of the crank to the wheel connected to the platform. In addition, a spur gear wheel may be located intermediate the crank surface and the wheel supported by the platform. In such an embodiment, the rotation motion of the first wheel supported to the platform would be reversed in direction from the motivating means lacking the spur gear. Other gear arrangements may be employed to vary the rotational speed of the first wheel. 
     The foot driven vehicle of the present invention may also include a steering element engageable by the foot or gripable by the hand of the user. The element would be linked to a second wheel supported to the platform and would be movable in order to turn the second wheel about an axis generally perpendicular to the platform. Such steering element may include a stirrup-like structure. In addition, the steering element may further comprise a rotatable shaft which is connected to the second wheel and to the stirrup. The shaft may terminate in a handle. A bearing supported by the platform may surround the rotatable shaft to ease the turning of the shaft during the steering process. 
     Brake means is also provided in the present invention for selectively arresting the turning of the first and second wheels. The brake means may include a hinge flange engageable by the foot of the user. The hinge flange could be linked to a conventional bicycle caliper on either the first or second wheel. The brake means flange may be found on the upper surface of the platform and be in the vicinity of the motivating means foot pedal in order to permit the user to rapidly move a foot between these two control mechanisms. 
     It should be further noted that a third wheel may be employed in the present invention for movement with the first wheel at the lower side of the platform. The first and third wheels may be motivated by the crank which may have a pair of shafts or a pair of endless surface members such as gear wheels. Such gear wheels may be directly linked to a single or double pinion gear along the axis of the first and third wheels, or may be linked by using an intermediate spur or pinion gear to reverse the direction of turning of the first and second wheels. 
     In certain embodiments the motivating means may include a ratchet gear axially located relative to the first wheel. Rotational force is transmitted from the crank endless surface to the ratchet gear. Such transfer may be accomplished by a multiplicity of gears engaging the endless surface of the crank. A gear axle may also be formed between two gears of the multiplicity of gears. 
     Moreover, the first wheel and crank may be directly supported for rotation to the platform to lower the platform relative to the ground surface. 
     It may be apparent that a novel and useful foot driven vehicle has been heretofore described. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a foot driven vehicle which permits the user to control the same using only the user&#39;s feet. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a foot driven vehicle which is as simple to manufacture and maintain. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a foot driven vehicle which generates torque through a gear crank mechanism. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a foot driven vehicle which may be safely operated on various surfaces. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a drive mechanism for a vehicle that is stable and easy to steer. 
     The invention possesses other objects and advantages especially as concerns particular characteristics and features thereof which will become apparent as the specification continues. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top left side perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line  2 — 2  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the motivating means appearing beneath the platform. 
     FIG. 5 is another embodiment of the motivating means appearing beneath the surface of the platform. 
     FIG. 6 is yet another embodiment of the motivating means appearing beneath the surface of the platform. 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention in which the platform is depicted in section. 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the brake mechanism mounted on the top portion of the platform. 
     FIG. 9 is a partial end elevational view of the interconnection of the crank arm to the foot pedal depicted in FIGS. 2 and 7. 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view depicting another embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of an alternate gear arrangement for the embodiment of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the ratchet mechanism used in the embodiment of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 14 is a side view of yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 15 is sectional view taken along line  15 — 15  of FIG.  14 . 
     FIG. 16 is a front elevational view of a further embodiment of FIG.  14 . 
     FIG. 17 is a partial sectional view of the steering mechanism depicted in FIG.  16 . 
    
    
     For a better understanding of the invention reference is made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof which should be taken in conjunction with the heretofore described drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Various aspects of the present invention will evolve from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, which should be referenced to the prior delineated drawings. 
     The invention as a whole is depicted in the drawings by reference character  10 . The foot driven vehicle  10  includes as one of its elements a platform  12  which may include a broad portion  14  and a narrowed portion  16 . Platform  12  is shown in the embodiments of the present invention to be in the form of a plate of uniform thickness. Platform  12  may be constructed of any rigid or semi-rigid material such as metal, plastic, wood, and the like. 
     Turning to FIG. 2, it may be seen that vehicle  10  includes as one of its elements motivating means  18  for urging platform  12  along a surface  20 . Motivating means  18  includes a foot pedal  22  attached to the upper surface  24  of platform  12  by hinge  26 . Motivating means  18  is further formed with a crank  28  having a gear wheel  30 . Crank arm  32  is fastened to gear wheel  30  eccentrically. Arm or rod  32  also connects to foot pedal  22  through a pivot pin  34  which is fastened to a journal  36 . Journal  36  is connected to foot pedal  22 , FIG.  9 . As depicted in FIG. 1, gear wheel  30  may be engaged at its endless surface  38 , by spur gear  40 , which in turn connects to gear  42  along the axis of first wheel  44 . 
     Turning to FIG. 7 it may be seen that motivating means  46  includes many of the elements of motivating means  18 . However, gear wheel  30  directly connects to gear  42  on wheel  44 . Thus, with respect to FIGS. 2 and 7 it may be apparent that first wheel  44  turns in an opposite direction when motivating means  18  or  46  is employed, directional arrows  48  and  50 , FIGS. 2 and 7. 
     Turning now to FIGS. 4-6, it may be observed that variations of motivating means  18  is depicted. In FIG. 4, crank arm  52  is linked to gear wheel  54 , spur gear  56 , and gear  58  associated with wheel  60 . Crank arm  52  is connected to pedal  22  in the same manner as crank arm  32 . Pairs of shafts  62 ,  64 , and  66  hold axles  68 ,  70 , and  72  to the lower surface  74  of platform  12 . Of course, axle  72  supports gears  42  and  58 , as well as wheels  44  and  60 . 
     FIG. 5 depicts another modification of the present invention  10 , in which another motivating means  76  is depicted. Cranks  32  and  52  again are connected to foot pedal  12 , but a single axle  78  connects discs  80  and  82  to gear wheel  84 . Of course, arms  32  and  52  are eccentrically connected to discs  80  and  82  in the same manner as the connection depicted in FIG. 2 between rod  32  and gear wheel  30 . Axle  78  then turns gear wheel  84  which in turn activates spur gear  86  and gear  88  fixed to axle  90  between wheels  44  and  60 . 
     FIG. 6 depicts yet another embodiment of a motivating means  92 . A foot pedal  94  of shortened configuration turns crank arm  96  which is eccentrically connected to gear wheel  98 . Spur gear  100  and wheel gear  102  are turned according to the FIG. 2 depiction showing the turning of wheels  44  and  60 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 2 once again, steering element  104  is shown. Steering element  104  includes a stirrup  106  engageable by a foot  108  of the user. Bearing  110  permits shaft  112  to turn within platform  12 . Shaft  112  is connected to steering wheel fork, and axle  114  along an axis generally perpendicular to lower surface  74  of platform  12 . It should be noted that steering element  104  depicted in FIG. 7 is substantially the same as that depicted in FIG. 2 except that foot  108  enters stirrup  106  from a different direction. 
     Brake means  116  is also found in the present invention. Brake means  116  includes a padded calliper  118  of conventional bicycle configuration with respect to steering wheel, fork and axle  114 , FIG. 6 and 7. Cable  120  leads from a pedal  122  which is pivotally mounted by a pivot pin  124  by bracket  126 . Bracket  126  is held to platform  12  by a fastener  128  which may be a screw, bolt, glue compound, and the like. Spring  130  biases pedal  122  into the position shown in FIG.  8 . It should be noted that spring  132  also biases pedal  22  in the same manner to the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. 
     Turning now to FIGS. 10-12, another embodiment  210  is depicted. Common elements with respect to embodiment  10  of FIGS. 1-10 are noted by identical reference characters. A plurality of gears  212  turns wheels  44  and  60 , FIG.  11 . Such turning occurs by the pushing of pedal  22  by foot  134  in the operation of cranks  32  and  52 . Gear wheels  30  and  54  mesh with gears  214  and  216 . Axle  218  turns gear  220  and engaged gear  224 . Axle  226  links to wheels  44  and  60  through a rachet mechanism  228 , FIG.  13 . Thus, the pressing of pedal  22  downwardly operates embodiment  210  such that wheels  44  and  60  turn according to directional arrow  230 , only. 
     Turning to FIG. 12, it may be observed that another embodiment of the invention is shown in which gear  100  of plurality of gears  232  links to gear  234  via axle  236 . Gear  234  engages gear  238  along axle  226 , which again links wheels  44  and  60 . Gear  238  may also include the ratchet mechanism  228  of FIG.  13 . 
     Returning to FIG. 10, it should be observed that brake pedal  122  and pedal  22  of motivating means  18  includes springs  240  and  242 , respectively. Thus, pedals  122  and  22  are biased upwardly away from platform  12  when not in use. 
     Referring now to FIG. 14, another embodiment  300  of the present invention is depicted. Embodiment  310  includes a platform  312  supporting a brake mechanism  314  and a motivating pedal  316 . These elements are virtually identical to those described hereinbefore with reference to embodiments  10  and  210 , depicted in the prior drawings. Embodiment  310  includes a gear train  318 . Specifically, crank arm  319 , connected to pedal  316 , having a transverse stiffener  317 , operates gear  320 . Gears  322 ,  324 , and  326  provide rotational movement to axle  328 , which rotates wheels  330  and  332 . of course, other gear arrangements may be employed in this regard such as those shown in FIGS. 1-13. Most importantly, gears  320 ,  322 ,  324 , and  326  are directly supported to platform  312 . In this regard, gear  320  is held by bearing and shaft support  334 . Bearing and shaft support  336  is associated with gears  322  and  324 . Finally, axle  328  is supported by a plurality of bearings  336  which also supports gear  326 . 
     In addition, steering mechanism  338  is depicted in the drawings. Steering mechanism  338  includes a rotatable shaft  340  which possess a stirrup  342  that is engageable by a foot  344 , shown in phantom on FIG.  14 . Stirrup  342  extends or projects angularly relative to an axis  344  perpendicular to platform  312 . It should be noted that a shaft  352  may extend directly to wheel  350  without stirrup  342 , FIG.  16 . Bearing and shaft support  346  allows stirrup  342  to rotate relative to platform  312 , directional arrow  348 . Wheel  350 , thus, moves to direct vehicle  310 . Wheel  350  may include a pair of wheels rather than the single wheel shown in FIGS. 14 and 16, coaxially connected. In addition, a shaft  352  and a handle  354  may be employed, FIG. 16, to permit the user to hold the same and aid in the steering of vehicle  310  by rotating handle  354 . It should be noted that brake  314  may be either connected to wheel  350  and/or to the rear wheels  330  and  332 . The brake mechanism for such wheels may be identical to that shown in the embodiments  10  or  210 , prior described. 
     In operation, the user utilizes the mechanism  10  depicted in FIG. 2 by placing one foot  108  into stirrup  106  to steer wheel  114  by turning shaft  112 . Another foot  134  presses pedal  22  to turn gear wheel  30  according to directional arrow  136 . Wheel  44  or pairs of wheel  44  and  60  then move shown by directional arrow  48 . The turning of crank and gear wheel  30  causes similar motion in wheels  44  and  60  as depicted in FIGS. 4-6. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the user presses brake pedal  122  which operates the calliper and pads  118  on steering wheel  114  in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 or  7 . It should be noted, however, that foot  134  in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 would leave pedal  22  and move backwardly toward pedal  122  to activate brake means  116 . In FIG. 7, foot  134  would leave foot pedal  122  and move forwardly to operate brake  116  by pressing pedal  122 . In either case, the user of vehicle  10  has complete motional control. 
     While in the foregoing, embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in considerable detail for the purposes of making a complete disclosure of the invention, it may be apparent to those of skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such detail without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.