Drifting kart
Drifting karts in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described that include a front wheel drive train and rear caster wheels that can be dynamically engaged to induce and control drift during a turn. One embodiment of the invention includes a chassis to which a steering column is mounted, where the steering column includes at least one front steerable wheel configured to be driven by an electric motor, a battery housing mounted to the chassis, where the battery housing contains a controller and at least one battery, wiring configured to provide power from the at least one battery to the electric motor, two caster wheels mounted to the chassis, where each caster wheel is configured to rotate around a rotational axis and swivel around a swivel axis, and a hand lever configured to dynamically engage the caster wheels to induce and control drift during a turn.
1. A drifting cart that is ridable by a user, the drifting cart comprising:
a chassis;
a steering assembly comprising a steering column;
a seat;
a front wheel connected to the steering assembly, the front wheel configured to be steered by the user, the drifting cart configured to be propelled by the front wheel;
a plurality of rear caster wheels, wherein each of the plurality of rear caster wheels is configured to rotate about a respective rotational axis and swivel about a respective swivel axis; and
a hand lever configured to move between a raised position and a lowered position;
wherein the plurality of rear caster wheels are configured to move between a first position and a second position;
wherein when the hand lever is in the raised position, the plurality of rear caster wheels are in the first position; and
wherein when the hand lever is in the lowered position, the plurality of rear caster wheels are in the second position.
2. The drifting cart of claim 1 , further comprising an axle that extends between a first and a second of the plurality of rear caster wheels.
3. The drifting cart of Claim 2 , wherein the axle and first and second rear caster wheels form an assembly that rotates as a group in response to the user raising or lowering the hand lever.
4. The drifting cart of claim 1 , wherein the steering assembly further comprises a motor configured to drive the front wheel.
5. The drifting cart of claim 1 , wherein the steering assembly further comprises a steering wheel.
6. The drifting cart of claim 1 , wherein, when the plurality of rear caster wheels are in the first position, the rear caster wheels are aligned so that they are free to swivel about their swivel axes.
7. The drifting cart of claim 1 , wherein, when the plurality of rear caster wheels are in the second position, the rear caster wheels are aligned so that weight on the rear caster wheels limits the ability of the rear caster wheels to swivel about their swivel axes.
8. The drifting cart of claim 1 , wherein, when the hand lever is in the raised position, a forward end of the hand lever is above a base of the seat.
9. The drifting cart of claim 1 , wherein, when the hand lever is in the lowered position, a forward end of the hand lever is parallel to a base of the seat.
10. The drifting cart of claim 1 , wherein an axle and the plurality of rear caster wheels form an assembly that rotates about a longitudinal axis of the axle.
11. The drifting cart of claim 1 , wherein the drifting cart comprises a tricycle.
12. The drifting cart of claim 1 , wherein the front wheel is steerable 360 degrees.
13. The drifting cart of claim 1 , wherein, when the drifting cart is traveling in a straight line, the front wheel is positioned on a longitudinal centerline of the drifting cart and the plurality of rear caster wheels are spaced apart from the longitudinal centerline of the drifting cart.
14. A drifting cart that is ridable by a user, the drifting cart comprising:
a chassis;
a steering assembly comprising a steering column;
a seat;
a front wheel connected to the steering assembly, the front wheel configured to be steered by the user, the front wheel configured to propel the drifting cart;
a plurality of rear caster wheels, wherein each of the plurality of rear caster wheels is configured to rotate about a respective rotational axis and swivel about a respective swivel axis, each of the swivel axes being disposed at an angle relative to vertical; and
a hand lever configured to move between a raised position and a lowered position;
wherein movement of the hand lever between the raised position and the lowered position is configured to cause the angle of each of the swivel axes to change.
15. The drifting cart of claim 14 , further comprising an axle that extends between a first and a second of the plurality of rear caster wheels.
16. The drifting cart of Claim 14 , wherein the axle and first and second rear caster wheels form an assembly that rotates as a group in response to the user raising or lowering the hand lever.
17. The drifting cart of claim 14 , wherein the steering assembly further comprises a motor configured to drive the front wheel.
18. The drifting cart of claim 14 , wherein the steering assembly further comprises a steering wheel.
19. The drifting cart of claim 14 , wherein, when the plurality of rear caster wheels are in the first position, the rear caster wheels are aligned so that they are free to swivel about their swivel axes.
20. The drifting cart of claim 14 , wherein, when the plurality of rear caster wheels are in the second position, the rear caster wheels are aligned so that weight on the rear caster wheels limits the ability of the rear caster wheels to swivel about their swivel axes.
21. The drifting cart of claim 14 , wherein, when the hand lever is in the raised position, a forward end of the hand lever is above a base of the seat.
22. The drifting cart of claim 14 , wherein, when the hand lever is in the lowered position, a forward end of the hand lever is parallel to a base of the seat.
23. The drifting cart of claim 14 , wherein an axle and the plurality of rear caster wheels form an assembly that rotates about a longitudinal axis of the axle.
24. The drifting cart of claim 14 , wherein the drifting cart comprises a tricycle.
25. The drifting cart of claim 14 , wherein the front wheel is steerable 360 degrees.
26. The drifting cart of claim 14 , wherein, when the drifting cart is traveling in a straight line, the front wheel is positioned on a longitudinal centerline of the drifting cart and the plurality of rear caster wheels are spaced apart from the longitudinal centerline of the drifting cart.