Lockable steering mechanism for ride-on vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11358675-B2
Application number	US-202017067976-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2020
Priority date	Oct 10, 2019
Publication date	Jun 14, 2022
Grant date	Jun 14, 2022

Abstract

A lockable steering mechanism for a children's ride-on vehicle is provided. The steering mechanism has a steering shaft coupled to a steering link that is coupled to the vehicle's front wheels. A steering wheel is axially fixed to the steering shaft. A lifter guide is rotationally and axially fixed to the steering shaft, and a lifter is rotationally fixed to and axially moveable about the lifter guide. A rotatable locking ring rotates from a first position to a second position. The lifter engages the steering wheel when the locking ring is in the first position to rotationally fix the steering wheel to the steering shaft. The lifter is rotationally decoupled from the steering wheel when the locking ring is in a second position to rotationally decouple the steering wheel from the steering shaft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lockable steering mechanism for a children's ride-on vehicle, comprising:
a base having an opening,
a rotatable steering shaft extending through the opening in the base, the steering shaft having a first end and a second end, the second end of the steering shaft being coupled to a steering link that is coupled to front wheels of the vehicle;
a lifter guide rotationally and axially fixed to the steering shaft;
a lifter rotationally fixed to the lifter guide, the lifter being axially moveable with respect to the lifter guide;
a locking ring rotatably coupled to the base, the locking ring rotating from a first position to a second position; and,
a steering wheel axially fixed to the first end of the steering shaft, wherein the lifter engages the steering wheel when the locking ring is in the first position to rotationally fix the steering wheel to the steering shaft, and wherein the lifter is rotationally decoupled from the steering wheel when the locking ring is in the second position to allow the steering wheel to be rotationally decoupled from the steering shaft.

2. The lockable steering mechanism of claim 1 , wherein when the locking ring is in the second position the front wheels of the vehicle are turned to a specific angle and remain at that angle until the locking ring is moved from the second position.

3. The lockable steering mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the steering wheel can be turned when the locking ring is in the second position, and wherein turning of the steering wheel when the locking ring is in the second position does not cause the front wheels to turn.

4. The lockable steering mechanism of claim 1 , wherein when the locking ring is in the second position and the steering wheel is turned, the steering shaft remains rotationally fixed and does not turn.

5. The lockable steering mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the lifter has a receiver, wherein the steering wheel has a protrusion that is adapted to mate with the receiver of the lifter, wherein when the locking ring is in the first position the receiver of the lifter mates with the protrusion of the steering wheel and rotationally fixes the steering wheel to the lifter, and wherein when the locking ring is in the second position the receiver of the lifter is spaced an axial distance from the protrusion of the steering wheel and the steering wheel is decoupled from the lifter and rotationally decoupled from the steering shaft.

6. The lockable steering mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the locking ring has an opening in a sidewall thereof, wherein the base has a first button and a second button, the first button being positioned within the opening of the locking ring when the locking ring is in the first position, thereby locking the locking ring in the first position, and the second button being positioned within the opening of the locking ring when the locking ring is in the second position, thereby locking the locking ring in the second position.

7. The lockable steering mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the first and second buttons can be separately pushed in by the user to disengage the first and second buttons, respectively, from the opening in the locking ring to allow the locking ring to be rotated between the first and second positions.

8. The lockable steering mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the lifter is in a first axial position when the locking ring is in its first position, wherein the lifter is a second axial position distinct from the first axial position when the locking ring is in the second position, and further comprising a spring to bias the lifter to the second position.

9. The lockable steering mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the lifter has a cam follower surface that mates with a cam surface of the locking ring, and wherein rotation of the locking ring results in the cam surface of the locking ring axially moving the lifter.

10. The lockable steering mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a stopper that extends from the steering wheel and into an opening of the locking ring, the opening of the locking ring having spaced apart stops that separately engage the stopper to operate as rotation restrictors for the steering wheel.

11. A lockable steering mechanism for a children's ride-on vehicle, comprising:
a steering shaft having a first end and a second end, the second end of the steering shaft being coupled to a steering link coupled to front wheels of the vehicle;
a locking ring rotatable with respect to the steering shaft from a first position to a second position;
a steering wheel axially fixed to the first end of the steering shaft, the steering wheel rotationally fixed to the steering shaft in a first mode when the locking ring is in the first position, and the steering wheel rotationally decoupled from the steering shaft in a second mode when the locking ring is in the second position; and,
a lifter guide and a lifter, the lifter guide being rotationally and axially fixed to the steering shaft, the lifter being rotationally fixed to the lifter guide, the lifter being axially moveable with respect to the lifter guide, wherein the lifter engages the steering wheel when the locking ring is in the first position to rotationally fix the steering wheel to the steering shaft, and wherein the lifter is rotationally disengaged from the steering wheel when the locking ring is in the second position to allow the steering wheel to be rotationally decoupled from the steering shaft.

12. The lockable steering mechanism of claim 11 , further comprising a base, the locking ring rotating about the base.

13. The lockable steering mechanism of claim 12 , wherein the locking ring has an opening in a sidewall thereof, wherein the base has a first button and a second button, the first button being positioned within the opening of the locking ring when the locking ring is in the first position, thereby locking the locking ring in the first position, and the second button being positioned within the opening of the locking ring when the locking ring is in the second position, thereby locking the locking ring in the second position.

14. The lockable steering mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the lifter has a receiver, wherein the steering wheel has a protrusion that is adapted to mate with the receiver of the lifter, wherein when the locking ring is in the first position the receiver of the lifter mates with the protrusion of the steering wheel and rotationally fixes the steering wheel to the lifter, and wherein when the locking ring is in the second position the receiver of the lifter is spaced an axial distance from the protrusion of the steering wheel and the steering wheel is decoupled from the lifter and rotationally decoupled from the steering shaft.

15. The lockable steering mechanism of claim 11 , wherein when the locking ring is in the second position the front wheels of the vehicle are turned to a specific angle and remain at that angle until the locking ring is moved from the second position, wherein the steering wheel can be turned when the locking ring is in the second position and turning of the steering wheel when the locking ring is in the second position does not cause the front wheels to turn, and wherein when the locking ring is in the second position and the steering wheel is turned, the steering shaft remains rotationally fixed and does not turn.

16. A lockable steering mechanism for a children's ride-on vehicle, comprising:
a base having a bore;
a locking ring rotatably coupled to the base and rotatable between a first locked position and a second locked position;
a steering shaft extending through

Assignees

• Radio Flyer Inc

Inventors

• Korte Joseph
• Ostergaard Collin
• Eckert Cameron
• Swan Jacob

Classifications

• B62D1/04

  Hand wheels · CPC title

• B62D1/183

  adjustable between in-use and out-of-use positions, e.g. to improve access · CPC title

• B62K9/00

  Children's cycles (toy vehicles A63H17/00) · CPC title

• B62K21/24 Primary

  readily releasable · CPC title