Dual-pole personal towing vehicle
OwnerKenneth R. Forrestinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A personal traction transportation vehicle which includes two gear-motor-wheels which drive a connected chassis forward. The chassis is stabilized by a third trailing caster wheel. The vehicle is electrically driven by a removable battery pack. At least one and preferably two drag poles simulating ski poles are attached to the chassis through universal joints in a manner allowing the handles of the ski poles to be free to move in the plane normal to the direction of forward movement. The vehicle is steered by either twisting the poles which turn the front two wheels, or by motoring the front drive wheels independently, or by differentially pulling on the drag poles.
Claims21
A personal towing vehicle for towing a user comprising:
- a chassis;
- a first drag pole and a second drag pole, each with a ski-pole-like grip, each drag pole having a grip end and being coupled to the chassis through a corresponding universal joint, each drag pole being freely movable at the grip end in at least lateral directions in a plane normal to a travel direction without impacting steering, and the grip comprising means for steering the vehicle without restricting lateral hand and torso movement of the user;
- at least three ground contact points, including at least one means mounted to said chassis for driving said vehicle, and at least one support element mounted to said chassis for balance and stable support of said chassis;
- and means mounted to said chassis and coupled to said driving means for powering said chassis and pulling said user solely by manipulation of each freely-moveable drag pole.
personal towing vehicle for towing a user comprising:
- a chassis;
- a first drag pole and a second drag pole, each with a ski-pole-like grip, each drag pole being coupled to the chassis through a corresponding universal joint, each drag pole being freely movable at one end in a plane normal to a travel direction without impacting steering, and the grip comprising means for steering the vehicle without restricting lateral hand and torso movement of the user;
- at least three ground contact points, including
- at least one means mounted to said chassis for driving said vehicle, and at least one support element mounted to said chassis for balance and stable support of said chassis;
- an electric motor set for providing independent power to each drive wheel;
- a battery pack removably mounted on said chassis between said first and second drive wheels and said drag wheel;
- means mounted to said chassis and coupled to said driving means for powering said chassis and pulling said user solely by manipulation of each freely-moveable drag pole, wherein said driving means comprises first and second drive wheels mounted in parallel along an axle across said chassis, wherein said support element comprises a caster drag wheel, said universal joints being respectively mounted to said chassis adjacent said first and second drive wheels in order to permit steering by direct manual differential loading control of said drive wheels;
- and
- a battery mount for securing said battery pack to said chassis, said battery mount comprising a gate pivotally mounted to said chassis, wherein said caster drag wheel is mounted to said gate, said battery pack providing ballast weight upon said drag wheel to hold said gate in a closed position securing said battery pack to said chassis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.