Patent ID: 8100421

Claim:
A vehicle, comprising: a rigid deck; an aft running gear attached to the deck; a steering assembly; a flexible joint attaching the steering assembly to the deck, such that the steering assembly is pivotable about the flexible joint with respect to the deck between a rider-standing mode and a rider-sitting mode; and a brake assembly attached to the deck, the brake assembly having: a brake pedal; a biasing element coupling the brake pedal and the deck; and a brake pad operably associated with the brake pedal; wherein the brake pad gradually moves towards a surface over which the vehicle is traveling as the steering assembly pivotally transitions from the rider-standing mode through the rider-sitting mode to the deck; wherein the brake pad is in braking contact with the surface during non-operational use of the vehicle; wherein the steering assembly is tiltable about the flexible joint with respect to the deck to turn the vehicle; and wherein the steering assembly includes a steering arm defining an opening and a first flexible member and a second flexible member extend through the opening.