Appeal No. 2004-1223 Page 7
Application No. 09/842,142
bottom end of the vertical steering rod 38. The steering rod 38 pivots within a bearing
40 which is mounted on the frame 1 of the velocipede. In a neutral steering position
one side of the inverted "T" 39 points directly left while the other side points directly
right. At equidistant points from the center or pivoting point on the horizontal portion of
the inverted "T" 39, a steering spring 41a and 42a and cable 41 and 42 are mounted.
In a left turn the left steering spring 41a and cable 41 are pulled rearward while the right
steering spring 42a and cable 42 are allowed to move forward. The opposite end of
each steering spring 41a and 42a and cable 41 and 42 is attached under tension to a
piece of linkage which is described as a forward inverted "T" 43 and pitman arm 44
which also pivots on a vertically oriented axis and is bearing mounted on the frame 1.
In response to the left steering spring 41a and cable 41 moving rearward and the right
steering spring 42a and cable 42 moving forward, the left side of the forward inverted
"T" 43 moves rearward and the right side forward. The rearwardly extending pitman
arm 44 which is affixed to the center of the forward inverted "T" rotates to the right, or
counterclockwise. Pivotally attached to the pitman arm 44 are a left tie rod 45 and a
right tie rod 46. As the pitman arm 44 rotates to the right it pulls the left tie rod 45 and
pushes the right tie rod 46. The left tie rod 45 pivotally communicates with a left
steering knuckle 5 through the left tie rod end 47 and the right tie rod 46 pivotally
communicates with a right steering knuckle 6 through the right tie rod end 48. The
steering movement initiated at the steering lever 37 is communicated to the steering
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