IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0874204
(2004-06-24)
|
등록번호 |
US-7316284
(2008-01-08)
|
우선권정보 |
GB-0314633(2003-06-24) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
5 인용 특허 :
4 |
초록
▼
A vehicle including a frame, a seat attached to the frame front section for supporting the driver in a sitting position, a protective shell attached to the frame front section for substantially enclosing the driver and a pair of skis for gliding on a supporting surface. The skis are pivotally attach
A vehicle including a frame, a seat attached to the frame front section for supporting the driver in a sitting position, a protective shell attached to the frame front section for substantially enclosing the driver and a pair of skis for gliding on a supporting surface. The skis are pivotally attached to the frame front section substantially laterally on each side of the cabin. The skis are coupled to a steering wheel located in the cabin by a steering assembly for allowing the driver to steer the vehicle by pivoting the skis relative to the frame. The vehicle also includes a propelling assembly having an endless track operatively mounted to the frame rear section rearwardly relative to the seat for contacting the supporting surface and propelling the vehicle. A motor is mounted on the frame rear section in a substantially overlying and proximal relationship relative to the endless track. The motor is operatively coupled to the endless track for driving the latter. The seat and the motor are in a substantially proximal relationship relative to the supporting surface when the skis and the endless track contact the supporting surface.
대표청구항
▼
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined as follows: 1. A vehicle usable by a driver over a supporting surface, said driver having driver legs and driver arms, said vehicle comprising: a frame, said frame defining a frame front section and
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined as follows: 1. A vehicle usable by a driver over a supporting surface, said driver having driver legs and driver arms, said vehicle comprising: a frame, said frame defining a frame front section and a frame rear section; a seat attached to said frame front section for supporting said driver in a sitting position; a protective shell attached to said frame front section substantially enclosing said driver to form a cabin; a pair of skis for gliding on said supporting surface, said skis being pivotally attached to said frame front section substantially laterally on each side of said cabin, said skis being operatively coupled to a steering wheel located in said cabin by a steering assembly for allowing said driver to steer said vehicle by pivoting said skis relative to said frame; a propelling assembly including an endless track operatively mounted to said frame rear section rearwardly relative to said seat for contacting said supporting surface and propelling said vehicle; a motor mounted on said frame rear section in a substantially overlying and proximal relationship relative to said endless track, said motor being operatively coupled to said endless track for driving the latter; whereby said seat and said motor are in a substantially proximal relationship relative to said supporting surface when said skis and said endless track contact said supporting surface; said endless track defining a track lower portion and a substantially opposed track upper portion; said propelling assembly also including a driving wheel mechanically coupled to said motor, said driving wheel engaging said endless track for driving the latter; a slide bar attached to said frame rear section, said slide bar defining a slide bar front end and a longitudinally opposed slide bar rear end; said slide bar being positioned so as to be in sliding contact with the inner face of at least a portion of said endless track lower portion; a front bogie wheel and a rear bogie wheel for engaging the inner face of said endless track, said front and rear bogie wheels being both rotatably attached to said slide bar for rotation relative thereto respectively substantially adjacent said slide bar front and rear ends; the configuration and size of said propelling assembly being selected to cause the normally and statically loaded vehicle to be supported by said endless track lower portion more towards the front of the latter then towards the rear of the latter. 2. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein said endless track defines a track lower portion and a substantially opposed track upper portion; said propelling assembly also including a driving wheel mechanically coupled to said motor, said driving wheel engaging said endless track for driving the latter; a slide bar attached to said frame rear section, said slide bar defining a slide bar front end and a longitudinally opposed slide bar rear end; said slide bar being positioned so as to be in sliding contact with the inner face of at least a portion of said endless track lower portion; a front bogie wheel and a rear bogie wheel for engaging the inner face of said endless track, said front and rear bogie wheels being both rotatably attached to said slide bar for rotation relative thereto respectively substantially adjacent said slide bar front and rear ends; the configuration and size of said propelling assembly being selected to cause the normally and statically loaded vehicle to be supported by said endless track lower portion more towards the front of the latter then towards the rear of the latter. 3. A vehicle as recited in claim 2 wherein said rear bogie wheel and the adjacent portions of said endless track are elevated above said front bogie wheel and adjacent portions of said endless track. 4. A vehicle as recited in claim 3 wherein said driving wheel is located both forwardly and upwardly relative to said front bogie wheel so as to define an endless track front section extending between said driving wheel and said front bogie wheel, said endless track front section being slanted substantially upwardly in the forward direction. 5. A vehicle as recited in claim 4 wherein said slide bar has a slide bar front segment extending substantially from said front bogie wheel towards said driving wheel for contacting at least a portion of the inner face of said endless track front section. 6. A vehicle as recited in claim 3 wherein said propelling assembly also includes an intermediate bogie wheel located between said front and rear bogie wheels, said front and intermediate bogie wheels being located substantially in the same horizontal plane, said endless track lower portion defining a track rear section extending between said intermediate and rear bogie wheels, said endless track rear section being slanted substantially upwardly in the rearward direction; a track intermediate section extending between said front and intermediate bogie wheels, said track intermediate section being located below the remainder of said endless track so as to support a greater portion of the weight of said vehicle then other sections of said endless track when said vehicle is normally and statically loaded. 7. A vehicle as recited in claim 6 wherein said slide bar has a slide bar rear segment extending substantially from said intermediate bogie wheel toward said rear bogie wheel for contacting at least a portion of the inner face of said endless track rear section and a slide bar intermediate segment extending between said front and intermediate bogie wheels for contacting at least a portion of the inner face of said endless track intermediate section. 8. A vehicle as recited in claim 3 wherein said driving wheel is located both forwardly and upwardly relative to said front bogie wheel so as to define an endless track front section extending between said driving wheel and said front bogie wheel, said endless track front section being slanted substantially upwardly in the forward direction; said propelling assembly also including an intermediate bogie wheel located between said front and rear bogie wheels, said front and intermediate bogie wheels being located substantially in the same horizontal plane, said endless track lower portion defining a track rear section extending between said intermediate and rear bogie wheels, said endless track rear section being slanted substantially upwardly in the rearward direction, a track intermediate section extending between said front and intermediate bogie wheels, said track intermediate section being located below the remainder of said endless track so as to support a greater portion of the weight of said vehicle then other sections of said track when said vehicle is normally and statically loaded; said track front and intermediate segments defining an obtuse front-to-intermediate segment angle therebetween, said track rear and intermediate segments defining an obtuse rear-to-intermediate angle therebetween, said front-to-intermediate segment angle being smaller then said rear-to-intermediate segment angle. 9. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein said frame front section includes a pair of seat supporting arms extending substantially forwardly from said frame rear section, said seat supporting arms extending on each side of said seat in a substantially proximal relationship with the latter, said seat being exclusively secured to said seat supporting arms so as to allow said seat to be in a proximal relationship with said supporting surface. 10. A vehicle as recited inclaim 9, wherein said seat includes a bench section and a back rest section, said skis and said seat being positioned relative to each other so that at least a portion of said skis is positioned laterally relative to at least a portion of said bench section in register with the latter. 11. A vehicle as recited in claim 9 wherein said frame front section also includes a cabin base wall extending substantially forwardly from said seat supporting arms, said cabin base wall defining a substantially horizontal base wall spacing segment extending from said seat supporting arms and a base wall foot resting segment extending at an angle from said base wall spacing segment; said protective shell being pivotally attached to said cabin base wall for pivotal movement between an open configuration facilitating movement of said driver in and out said seat and a closed configuration wherein said protective shell protectively shields said driver from external elements. 12. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein said steering assembly includes a steering column mechanically coupled to said steering wheel, said steering column extending substantially forwardly and being configured and sized for allowing said driver legs to to extend underneath said steering wheel. 13. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein said steering assembly includes suspension tables and driving rods attached to said skis respectively for resiliently biasing said skis towards said supporting surface and driving said skis, said seat being configured, sized and positioned so as to allow said driver to sit in a substantially recumbent position with said driver legs in a substantially overlying relationship relative to said suspension tables and driving rods. 14. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said skis is provided with a braking tongue pivotally attached thereto for selective pivotal movement between a braking configuration wherein said braking tongue protrudes from the gliding surface of said at least one ski to frictionally contact said supporting surface and a gliding configuration wherein said braking tongue is positioned so as not to interfere substantially with said supporting surface. 15. A vehicle as recited in claim 14 wherein said at least one ski is provided with a ski aperture extending therethrough for allowing said braking tongue to pivot between said gliding configuration wherein said braking tongue fills said ski aperture and is in a coplanar relationship with said ski gliding surface and said braking configuration wherein said braking tongue protrudes from said ski gliding surface; said braking tongue being operatively coupled to a tongue actuating means for allowing said driver to selectively pivot said braking tongue. 16. A vehicle as recited in claim 15 wherein said at least one ski is provided with ski flanges extending substantially upwardly therefrom substantially adjacent its lateral edges, said braking tongue being attached to a tongue axle extending between said ski flanges; said tongue actuating means including an actuating piston extending between said at leaat one ski and said braking tongue for selectively pivoting the latter. 17. A vehicle usable by a driver over a supporting surface, said driver having driver legs and driver arms, said vehicle comprising: a frame, said frame defining a frame front section and a frame rear section; a seat attached to said frame front section for supporting said driver in a sitting position; a protective shell attached to said frame front section for supporting said driver in a sitting position; a protective shell attached to said frame front section for substantially enclosing said driver; a pair of skis for gliding on said supporting surface, said skis being pivotally attached to said frame front section substantially laterally on each side of said cabin, said skis being operatively coupled to a steering wheel located in said cabin by steering assembly for allowing said driver to steer said vehicle by pivoting said skis relative to said frame; a propelling assembly including an endless track opertively mounted to said frame rear section rearwardly relatively relative to said seat for contacting said supporting surface and propelling said vehicle; a motor mounted on said frame rear section in a substantially overlying and proximal relationship relative to said endless track, said motor being operatively coupled to said endless track for driving the latter; said seat and said motor being in a substantially proximal relationship relative to said supporting surface when said skis and said endless track contact said supporting surface; said propelling assembly also including a suspension assembly connecting said endless track relative to said frame rear section and biasing said endless track away from said frame rear section towards said supporting surface; the configuration, size and characteristics of said suspension assembly being selected to also cause the normally and statically loaded vehicle to be supported by said endless track lower portion more towards the front of the latter then towards the rear of the latter. 18. A vehicle as recited in claim 17 wherein said endless track defines a track lower portion and a substantially opposed track upper protion; said propelling assembly also including a driving wheel mechanically coupled to said motor, said driving wheel engaging said endless track for driving the latter; a slide bar attached to said frame rear section, said slide bar defining a slide bar front end and a longitudinally opposed slide bar rear end; said slide bar being positioned so as to be in sliding contact with the inner face of at least a portion of said endless track lower portion; said suspension assembly being configured and sized for allowing said endless track to controllably pivot about said driving wheel. 19. A vehicle as recited in claim 17 wherein said endless track defines a track lower portion and a substantially opposed track upper portion; said propelling assembly also including a driving wheel mechanically coupled to said motor, said driving wheel engaging said endless track for driving the latter; a slide bar attached to said frame rear section, said slide bar defining a slide bar front end and longitudinally opposed slide bar rear end; said slide bar being positioned so as to be in sliding contact with the inner face of at least a portion of said endless track lower portion; a front bogie wheel and a rear bogie wheel for engaging the inner face of said endless track, said front and rear bogie wheels being both rotatably attached to said slide bar for rotation relative thereto respectively substantially adjacent said slide bar front and rear ends; said rear bogie wheel and the adjacent portions of said endless track being elevated above said front bogie wheel and adjacent portions of said endless track. said driving wheel being located both forwardly and upwardly relative to said front bogie wheel so as to define an endless track front section extending between said driving wheel and said front bogie wheel, said endless track front section being slanted substantially upwardly in the forward direction; said slide bar having a slide bar front segment extending substantially from said front bogie wheel towards said driving wheel for contacting at least a portion of the inner face of said endless track front section; said propelling assembly also including an intermediate bogie wheel located between said front and rear bogie wheels, said front and intermediate bogie wheels being located substantially in the same horizontal plane, said endless track lower portion defining a track rear section extending between said intermediate and rear bogie wheels, said endless track rear section being slanted substantially upwardly in the rearward direction. a track intermediate section extending between said front and intermediate bogie wheels, said track intermediate section being located below the remainder of said endless track so as to support a greater portion of the weight of said vehicle then other sections of said track when said vehicle is normally and statically loaded; said slide bar having a slide bar rear segment extending substantially from said intermediate bogie wheel toward said rear bogie wheel for contacting at least a portion of the inner face of said endless track rear section and a slide bar intermediate segment extending between said front and intermediate bogie wheels; said frame rear section defining a rear section front end location substantially adjacent said frame front section and a longitudinally opposed rear section rear end; said suspension assembly including a first suspension arm, said first suspension arm being pivotally coupled to said frame rear section substantially adjacent said rear section rear end, said first suspension arm defining a first arm first segment protruding above said frame rear section and a first arm second segment extending below said frame rear segment, said first suspension arm extending generally at an angle and downwardly in a rearward direction; a second suspension arm pivotally attached at opposed longitudinal ends thereof respectively to said first suspension arm adjacent a lower end of the latter and to said slide bar rear segment; a third suspension arm, said third suspension arm being pivotally attached at opposed longitudinal ends thereof respectively to said frame rear section front end and to said slide bar intermediate segment; a first suspension biasing component mounted between said frame rear section in front of said first suspension arm and said first arm first segment for biasing said first arm first segment away from said frame rear section; a second suspension biasing component mounted between said frame rear section in front of said third suspension arm and said slide bar adjacent the intersection between said slide bar front and intermediate segments for biasing said slide bar away from said frame rear section.
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