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US 5,088,949 AGranted
Oscillation-driven vehicle
OwnerVirgil Atkinson, William G. Owens, Jr. +1inventors
InventorsVirgil Atkinson, William G. Owens, Jr., William G. Owens, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle comprises a rigid longitudinal body having a bottom surface engaging the ground and having spaced first and second ends along a longitudinal axis. The bottom surface includes a convex cross-section along its longitudinal axis. The vehicle includes an oscillation generator having horizontal and vertical force components is mounted adjacent and secured to one of the first and second ends for generating vibratory motions, thereby imparting vibrations to the body. The vibratory motions generated by the oscillation generator alternately lift and propel the vehicle forward.
Claims22
A vehicle, comprising:
- a) a rigid longitudinal body having a bottom surface engaging the ground and having spaced first and second ends along a longitudinal axis;
- b) said bottom surface is convex as viewed along a direction substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and establishing an essentially localized contact area between said body and the ground to thereby permit said body to rotate about said contact area;
- and
- c) means mounted adjacent one of said first and second ends and connected to said body for generating vibratory motions having horizontal and vertical force components, thereby vibrating said body and causing said body to rotate about said contact area;
- d) whereby the vibratory motions generated by said generating means periodically rotate and propel the vehicle forward.
2 more elements
A toy vehicle, comprising:
- a) a rigid body having a bottom surface engaging the ground and having front and rear ends;
- b) said bottom surface is convex as viewed along a direction substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and establishing an essentially localized contact area between said body and the ground to thereby permit said body to rotate about said contact area;
- c) an eccentric flywheel;
- d) means operably secured to said body and disposed adjacent said front end for driving said flywheel;
- e) weight means mounted on said body and adjacent said other end;
- and
- f) at least a resilient means disposed between said body and one of said drive means and said weight means;
- g) whereby the vibratory motions generated by said generating means interact with said weight means and said at least resilient means and said body to periodically rotate and propel the vehicle forward.
5 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a) a rigid longitudinal body having a bottom surface engaging the ground and having front and rear ends;
- b) said bottom surface is convex as viewed along a direction substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and establishing an essentially localized contact area between said body and the ground to thereby permit said body to rotate about said contact area;
- c) means mounted adjacent one of said front and rear ends and connected to said body for generating vibratory motions having horizontal and vertical force components, thereby vibrating said body and causing said body to rotate about said contact area;
- d) weight means mounted on said body and adjacent the other end of said body;
- e) at least a resilient means disposed between said body and one of said generating means and said weight means;
- f) whereby the vibratory motions generated by said generating means interact with said weight means and said at least resilient means and said body to periodically rotate and propel the vehicle forward.
3 more elements
A vehicle, comprising:
- a) a rigid longitudinal body having a bottom surface engaging the ground and having front and rear ends;
- b) said bottom surface is convex as viewed along a direction substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and establishing an essentially localized contact area between said body and the ground to thereby permit said body to rotate about said contact area;
- c) means mounted adjacent one of said front and rear ends and connected to said body for generating vibratory motions having horizontal and vertical force components, thereby vibrating said body and causing said body to rotate about said contact area;
- d) weight means mounted on said body and adjacent the other end of said body for counter balancing the weight of said generating means about said contact area;
- e) at least a resilient means disposed between said body and one of said generating means and said weight means;
- f) whereby the vibratory motions generated by said generating means interact with said weight means and said at least resilient means and said body to periodically rotate and propel said vehicle forward.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.