Patent ID: 7232008

Claim:
An anti-tip system for stabilizing a vehicle about a pitch axis and relative to a ground plane, the vehicle having a drive-train assembly pivotally mounted to a main structural frame for independently driving a pair of drive wheels, the anti-tip system having at least one anti-tip wheel disposed to one side of the vehicle pitch axis, comprising: a mounting assembly disposed in combination with the main structural frame for mounting the anti-tip wheel, the mounting assembly including a linear guide surface positioned substantially normal to a ground plane, at least one follower engaging the guide surface, the follower operatively connected with the anti-tip wheel, whereby the anti-tip wheel is directed linearly with respect to the ground plane by the engagement of the follower with the guide surface in response to the torque applied by the drive train to the drive wheels in driving the vehicle; and a suspension assembly disposed in combination with the mounting assembly for resiliently biasing the anti-tip wheels toward the ground plane.