Single laterally bendable track snowmobile
OwnerJack C. Stacy, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle especially adapted for traveling on snow, which has a single endless track made bendable laterally in order to change direction of travel. The vehicle has a main body assembly which is separated and supported above the track by a special suspension arm. A motor is located in the body assembly, and a drive train is connected between the motor and track. The drive train extends through the suspension arm. The steering control system also passes through the suspension arm and causes the track to flex laterally into a curve in a manner which positions the rider over the flotation centerline of the curved track and thereby maintains balance while negotiating turns. One end of the suspension arm is sprung from the track, and the body is sprung from the other end of the suspension arm.
Claims19
A single track vehicle having a main body, a track assembly spaced from and underlying said main body, a suspension arm by which the main body is supported in spaced relationship respective to the track assembly;
- said track assembly includes an endless, flexible track means and a track support means;
- means capturing said track means in an oblated form respective to said track support means for ground supporting the vehicle from the track means;
- means by which one of the suspension arm is connected to the track support means;
- and,
- the other end of the suspension arm is connected to said main body so that the suspension arm provides the only support for the main body.
A vehicle having a main body to which there is attached a steering means;
- a suspension arm having opposed ends with one end thereof being attached to said main body at a location near the forward end thereof, said main body includes a seat located rearwardly of the suspension arm attachment;
- a motor supported at the rear end of said main body in underlying relationship respective to the seat;
- a track assembly, including an endless track means captured within a track support means;
- said track support means is a segmented track body that receives the endless track means in a manner whereby said track means can be moved while supporting the vehicle;
- spring means connecting the other end of the suspension arm to a rear segment of the track body means;
- drive means connected to said motor, extending through said suspension arm, and connected to move endless track means.
A single track vehicle having a main body, a track assembly, a hollow cantilevar suspension arm by which the main body is supported by the track assembly;
- said track assembly includes an endless, flexible track means and a track support means;
- means capturing said track means respective to said track support means for ground supporting the vehicle from the track means;
- means by which one end of the suspension arm is connected to the track support means;
- the other end of the suspension arm is connected to said main body;
- the other end of the suspension arm is connected to said main body;
- a motor means is mounted respective to said main body;
- a drive train means is connected between said motor means and extends through the interior of said suspension arm and into driving relationship respective to said track means;
- and,
- a steering system attached to said main body, means extending through the interior of said suspension arm for connecting said steering system to said track means and thereby curving said track means laterally for negotiating turns.
A single track vehicle having a main body, a track assembly;
- said track assembly includes an endless, flexible track means and a track support means;
- means by which said main body is supported by the track suppport means;
- means capturing said track means respective to said track support means for ground supporting the vehicle from the track means;
- said track means includes a plurality of segments connected together in a manner whereby each segment can be pivoted about a horizontal pivot pin;
- means connecting said segments together whereby pivotal movement of one segment causes an adjacent segment to pivot;
- and means forming a tunnel through said segments through which a marginal length of said endless track is received;
- a motor means is mounted respective to said main body;
- a drive train means is connected between said motor means and extends into driving relationship respective to said track means;
- and,
- a steering system attached to said main body and connected to cause the segments to pivot and thereby curve said track means laterally for negotiating turns.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.