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US 4,106,786 AGranted
Recreational vehicle for use on sloping terrains
OwnerEarl Raymond Talbottinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Recreational vehicle comprises a riding platform having provided therein a centrally disposed aperture, with a single wheel mounted in the aperture. A first pair of skid means is spaced on either side of the plane of the wheel and projects forwardly of the wheel. A second pair of skid means is spaced on either side of the plane of the wheel and projects rearwardly of the wheel. A manual support means is affixed to the platform to provide for support of a standing rider. When riding the vehicle, speed can be controlled by the rider shifting weight, with a backward shift causing the rearward skids to contact the terrain and provide a braking action.
Claims9
A recreational vehicle adapted to be ridden by a person down sloping terrain, said vehicle comprising:
- (a) a riding platform having a periphery, and an aperture provided in said platform and elongated in the direction of movement intended for said vehicle;
- (b) wheel means having an axle portion, said wheel means mounted in the aperture in said platform with said axle portion affixed to said platform and disposed perpendicular to the direction of movement intended for said vehicle, the diameter of said wheel means being sufficient that an appreciable portion thereof projects beneath said platform and an appreciable portion thereof projects above said platform;
- (c) elongated, spaced forward skid means affixed to and projecting beneath said platform with the length dimensions thereof disposed in the direction of movement intended for said vehicle, said forward skid means positioned laterally on opposite sides of a vertical plane through said wheel means and perpendicular to said wheel means axle portion, the leading edge portions of said forward skid means having a gradually upwardly sloping configuration to provide a smooth skidding surface with the terrain to be traversed and extending a sufficient distance forwardly to prevent the leading edge portions of said platform from contacting the terrain to be traversed, and the distance said wheel means projects beneath said platform being greater than the distance said forward skid means project beneath said platform;
- (d) elongated, spaced rearward skid means affixed to and projecting beneath said platform with the length dimensions thereof disposed in the direction of movement intended for said vehicle, said rearward skid means positioned laterally on opposite sides of a vertical plane through said wheel means and perpendicular to said wheel means axle portion, the trailing edges of said rearward skid means extending a sufficient distance rearwardly to prevent the trailing edge portions of said platform from contacting the terrain to be traversed, the distance said wheel means projects beneath said platform being greater than the distance said rearward skid means project beneath said platform, when said vehicle is appreciably tilted with respect to the terrain upon which it is supported, at least one of said forward skid means and said rearward skid means contacting the terrain before any peripheral portion of said platform, and when said vehicle is moving in its intended direction and is tipped backwardly, said rearward skid means contacts the terrain to provide a braking action therefor;
- and
- (e) support means affixed to said platform to provide a rider on said vehicle with manual support to enable the rider to maintain a standing position on said vehicle, whereby vehicle speed on a sloping terrain can be controlled by the rider varying position on said vehicle to control the vehicle angle relative to the terrain, with braking accomplished by the rider shifting weight backward to cause said rearward skid means to contact the terrain in a skidding fashion and effect vehicle braking.
3 more elements
A recreational vehicle adapted to be ridden by a person down sloping terrain, said vehicle comprising:
- (a) a riding platform having a periphery, and an aperture provided in said platform and elongated in the direction of movment intended for said vehicle;
- (b) wheel means having an axle portion, said wheel means mounted in the aperture in said platform with said axle portion affixed to said platform and disposed perpendicular to the direction of movement intended for said vehicle, the diameter of said wheel means being sufficient that an appreciable portion thereof projects beneath said platform, and an appreciable portion thereof projects above said platform;
- (c) elongated, forward and lateral skid means and elongated, rearward and lateral skid means affixed to and projecting beneath said platform with the length dimensions thereof disposed in the direction of movement intended for said vehicle;
- the distance said wheel means projects beneath said platform being greater than the distance said skid means project beneath said platform;
- said skid means respectively disposed a sufficient distance forwardly and laterally and rearwardly of said wheel means that when said vehicle is tilted appreciably with respect to the terrain on which it is supported, at least one of said skid means contacts the terrain before any portion of the periphery of said platform;
- and the leading edges of said skid means which could abut and snag the terrain to be traversed having a gradually upwardly sloping configuration to provide a smooth skidding surface with the terrain to be traversed;
- and
- (d) support means affixed to said platform to provide a rider on said vehicle with manual support to enable the rider to maintain a standing position on said vehicle, whereby vehicle speed on a sloping terrain can be controlled by the rider varying position on said vehicle to control the vehicle angle relative to the terrain, with braking accomplished by the rider shifting weight backward to cause said rearward skid means to contact the terrain in a skidding fashion and effect vehicle braking.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.