US 6,276,700 B1 · Gravity driven steerable wheeled vehicle

Abstract

A gravity driven steerable wheeled vehicle for recreational use, most particularly on surfaces such as pavement, artificial hard-pack turf, mountain slopes, dirt roads, grass and hard-packed snow. The vehicle has at least three (3) but preferably four (4) wheels which may or may not be on independent axles one from the other and which may or may not be each independently shock suspended. There is also a steering mechanism for steering the vehicle and a driver compartment portion for containing a driver of the vehicle in a prone face-down and face-forward position. The vehicle is steerable by the driver from the prone face-down and face-forward position. The vehicle may further have braking system for slowing or stopping the vehicle and a harness apparatus for harnessing the driver onto and into the vehicle.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A gravity driven steerable wheeled vehicle comprising:

a chassis having a front portion, a rear portion, an underside and a top side;
a rider riding surface on said chassis top side configured to cause a rider on said rider riding surface to be oriented in a prone, face down, face forward position;
means for attaching a rear axle assembly substantially at said chassis rear portion;
means for mounting a front axle assembly substantially at said chassis front portion;
means for steering said gravity driven steerable wheeled vehicle by said rider when said rider is positioned on said rider riding surface;
at least one but not more than two rear wheel hub and spindle assemblies integral with said rear axle assembly;
and
at least one but not more than two front wheel hub and spindle assemblies integral with said front axle assembly.

5 more elements

A gravity driven steerable wheeled vehicle comprising:

a chassis having a front portion, a rear portion, an underside and a top side;
a rider riding surface on said chassis top side configured to cause a rider on said rider riding surface to be oriented in a prone, face down, face forward position;
means for attaching a rear axle assembly substantially at said chassis rear portion;
means for mounting a steerable front axle assembly substantially at said chassis front portion;
means for steering said gravity driven steerable wheeled vehicle by said rider when said rider is positioned on said rider riding surface;
two rear wheel hub and spindle assemblies integral with said rear axle assembly, one said rear wheel hub and spindle assembly at each end of said rear axle assembly;
two front wheel hub and spindle assemblies integral with said front axle assembly, one said front wheel hub and spindle assembly at each end of said front axle assembly;
two front wheels and two front tires, each said front tire mounted on each of said two front wheels forming two front tire/wheel combinations, each said front tire/wheel combination attached to each said two front wheel hub and spindle assemblies;
two rear wheels and two rear tires, each said rear tire mounted on each of said two rear wheels forming two rear tire/wheel combinations, each said rear tire/wheel combination attached to each said two rear wheel hub and spindle assemblies;
means for absorbing shock exerted on each said front tire/wheel combinations thereby damping shock caused by said vehicle passing over rough terrain, between said front tire/wheel combinations and said front axle assembly;
means for absorbing shock exerted on each said rear tire/wheel combinations thereby damping shock caused by said vehicle passing over rough terrain, between said rear tire/wheel combinations and said rear axassembly;
and
means for causing deceleration and halting of motion of said vehicle when said vehicle has motion;
and means for harnessing the rider onto and into said rider riding surface when said rider is positioned on said vehicle.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Gravity driven steerable wheeled vehicle

Life of this patent

Gravity driven steerable wheeled vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27