초록 ▼

A vehicle which rolls over the terrain to be traversed on rotatable balls rather than wheels, the vehicle having a support structure slung between the front and rear balls so that its lowest point of support for a rider of the vehicle is below the plane containing the axes of rotation of the balls.

A vehicle which rolls over the terrain to be traversed on rotatable balls rather than wheels, the vehicle having a support structure slung between the front and rear balls so that its lowest point of support for a rider of the vehicle is below the plane containing the axes of rotation of the balls. Conveniently the vehicle has only a single front and rear ball, the front ball being steerable, but the vehicle can have 3 or 4 balls. Preferably the balls are inflatable. The vehicle can also be motorized.

대표청구항 ▼

A coaster vehicle, comprising (a) an elongated support structure; (b) first and second ground-engaging spherical members rotatably connected with opposite ends of said support structure, respectively, said spherical members being mounted for axial rotation about horizontal axes to permit forward mov

A coaster vehicle, comprising (a) an elongated support structure; (b) first and second ground-engaging spherical members rotatably connected with opposite ends of said support structure, respectively, said spherical members being mounted for axial rotation about horizontal axes to permit forward movement of the vehicle generally longitudinally of said support structure, one of said spherical members also being connected with said support structure for pivotal movement about a vertical pivot axis; (c) a seat mounted intermediate the ends of said support structure, said support structure and said seat each having substantial portions extending below a line joining the horizontal axes of rotation of said spherical members, respectively, to cause the center of gravity of the vehicle to lie below the plane containing the horizontal axes of rotation of said spherical members; and (d) steering means operable by a passenger, when seated on said seat, for steering said one spherical member relative to said support structure, whereby the vehicle can be rocked to and fro about the ground-engaging surfaces of said spherical members in a direction transversely of said forward direction thereby to permit a seated passenger to steer the vehicle by use of said steering means and by laterally tilting the vehicle in said transverse direction.