Abstract: A tricycle front hub is composed of a rectangular through hole and a fastening device located securely in the rectangular through hole for holding a crank rod of a front wheel of the tricycle. The rectangular through hole is provided with a plurality of retaining apparatuses. The fastening device is composed of a first fastening portion and a second fastening portion, which are provided respectively with a plurality of retaining apparatuses. The fastening device is located securely is the rectangular through hole such that the retaining apparatuses of the fastening device are securely engaged with the retaining apparatuses of the rectangular through hole.

Abstract: A child's tricycle comprising a pair of rear wheels, a front wheel, a seat positioned between the front and rear wheels, a support for the seat extending between the front and rear wheels, a handle for steering, and a steering fork having an upper end for supporting the handle and a bifurcated lower end for supporting the front wheel. A one-piece crank extends through the front wheel and defines outer ends disposed on opposite sides of the front wheel for holding pedals whereby a child can propel the tricycle by applying foot pressure to the pedals to thereby turn the crank and associated front wheel. A driving connection between the crank and front wheel is provided by a centrally located bend in the crank, and a centrally located opening defined by the front wheel snugly receiving the bend. A head tube is eliminated by using a steering fork and steering wheel telescoping combination which extends through vertically-aligned openings in the tubular support extending longitudinally of the tricycle.

Abstract: A bicycle comprises a wheel-supporting member having an annular sleeve portion, a stub wheel spindle having a journal portion supported for rotation in the sleeve portion by thin wall, large diameter angular contact bearings, a wheel attachment portion extending laterally out of the sleeve in cantilevered relation, and a wheel having a hub received on the wheel attachment portion of the spindle. The wheel attachment portion of the spindle and the wheel hub have mating tapered surfaces so as to provide precise alignment of the wheel and mating splines so as to couple the wheel to the spindle for rotation. The wheel is fastened to the spindle by a split tapered collet and a latch mechanism that holds the collet in place and is releasable by operation of a single member.

Abstract: A bottom bracket axle assembly for a pedal powered vehicle provides an axle that includes a spindle at each end for engaging a pedal crank arm. Each spindle includes a bearing support for mounting the axle in a bottom bracket tube having cup-mounted bearings on each end thereof. The axle includes a hollow enlarged diameter central section that may be formed from a seamless tube. Both outer and inner diameters of the central section are greater than an outer diameter of each spindle outward of its bearing supports and the outer diameter of the central section may be sized so that it substantially equals the inner diameter of the cups and bottom bracket. In this instance, a clearance is provided between the inner diameter of the cups and outer diameter of the central section so that free rotation may occur therebetween.

Abstract: A driving structure for children's tricycle includes a cylindrical shell adapted to receive a crank case therein. The crank case is composed of an upper and a lower half cases, each is identical to the other and has a trough and two strips adapted to rest a flat plate of the crank thereon, and has a flat plate at one having a crank receiving cup extending at the opposite end.

Abstract: A drive wheel assembly (10) for a toy vehicle includes an axle (11), a wheel (13) and a bushing (12) insertable into the hub (30) of the wheel (13). The hub (30) is provided with a generally axial aperture (32) communicating with a tapered aperture (34). The bushing (12) has a generally axial aperture (19) therein to receive the axle (11) therethrough. The bushing (12) also includes an expandable annular locking member (24) at the end thereof which, as the axle (11) is being inserted in the aperture (19), expands to engage the inner walls of the tapered aperture (34).

Abstract: A welded spoke wheel having a specially designed hub and knock-down crank shaft. The hub is a cylindrical tube with welded end caps. The crank shaft is assembled from a center shaft and two outer shafts. The outer shafts have radial tabs which engage axial slots formed in the center shaft. A flange is welded to each of the outer shafts to provide a surface for enabling the outer shafts to be secured to the hub end caps. This axially and rotationally locks the crank shaft to the hub.

Abstract: A wheel hub is disclosed including an improved structure for mounting at least one accessory thereto. This structure includes a radially acting coupling arrangment including an axially outwardly directed rim portion about a periphery of the wheel hub punctuated by a plurality of recesses for receiving complementary projections on the accessory for coupling the wheel hub and accessory for rotation in unison. An axially acting coupling arrangement is also provided on the wheel hub for holding the accessory substantially against axial movement relative to the wheel hub.

Abstract: A wheel capable of being used as the front or rear wheel of a chain-driven velocipede or as the front wheel of a pedal-driven tricycle has a wheel rim whose hub is formed with an axial passage and an array of receptacles extending inward from the opposite ends of the hub. A pair of identical metal plates are positioned at opposite ends of the hub, each plate having a set of tabs aligned with the receptacles at the associated end of the hub and an axial opening which is in register with the passage through the hub. The two plates are clamped together with the wheel hub between them so that they rotate in unison with the wheel hub. When mounted on an axle, the wheel can function as a non-driven velocipede wheel. Also, pedal crank sections can be inserted through the axial plate openings into the opposite ends of the hub passage and secured to the plates so that the wheel can be used as the front wheel of a tricycle.

Abstract: A moulded wheel made of plastic material for children's vehicle with pedal-driven wheels, consisting of two identical half-wheels (1a, 1b) separated by the symmetry plane perpendicular to the axis of the wheel and formed by a shell element produced by only one moulding process and by means of only one die and back draft, and including a hollow, peripheral tire portion (2) which has a semicircular radial section and is connected to a central disc portion (3) from which a short, hollow shaft (4) projects outwards and is integrated with a box-like radial arm (5) integrated in turn at its external end with a sleeve (6) which is provided with a hole (6a) having an axis parallel to the axis of the wheel, and in which the hollow shaft (7) of the pedal crank (8) is fitted, from the internal face of each half-wheel (1a, 1b) at least one guide pin (10) and one guide seat (11) projecting at positions diametrically symmetric with respect to the axis of the wheel and at least one fixing pin (12) and one housing (13) proje

Abstract: A bicycle pedal which has an upper surface to be engaged by the sole of a shoe of a cyclist and a toe clip for extending around the toe region of the shoe is supported for free rotary movement at all times with respect to a shaft carried by a rotary crank of the bicycle. The pedal is automatically oriented at least when the rotary crank has turned through 90.degree. beyond its top dead center position in an attitude according to which the upper surface of the pedal is substantially horizontal and directed upwardly, this latter orientation in the latter attitude being brought about by way of magnetic means which does not interfere with the free rotation of the pedal with respect to the shaft on which the pedal is supported.

Abstract: A wheel of the welded spoke variety has a hub with specially designed end caps. If the wheel is to be used as a front wheel of a tricycle, a pedal crank shaft having radial tabs is slid through openings in the end caps having inwardly projecting lips. As the shaft is forced further through the hub, the tabs slice into the rim around the opening in the distal end cap and also upset portions of the rim ahead of the cut into shaft slots just ahead of the tabs. This locks the hub to the shaft both axially and rotationally. If the wheel is to be used on a sidewalk bike with a coaster brake installed in the hub instead of a pedal crank, a circular array of teeth are formed in the outer surface of the proximate end cap which interfit with teeth on an element of the brake so that the brake element and hub rotate together.