GB2183568A - Vehicle for sport & pleasure - Google Patents

Abstract

The vehicle in its basic wheel-mounted form utilises the steer-by-leaning principle as in the well known skateboard. It has, however, strengthened axles and modified suspension designed to give improved control. Furthermore, it has handlebars, seat, footrests and knee-rest. The configuration of these features, especially the knee-rest and handlebars, greatly extends the scope of operation and improves safety. In its second mode, the vehicle is a steerable skid-mounted toboggan. Conversion to this form is achieved by replacing the wheel and axle assemblies with a pair of articulating skids. In this form it can be used on snow or artificial ski-slopes. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicleforsport and pleasure This invention relates to a vehicl e of a type wh ich appeals largely to young persons and is used for sport and pleasure.

The skateboard enjoyed enormous popularity during the 1970's but has proved, by and large, to be a passing fashion. Skateboard wheels and axles reached a high degree of sophistocation, steerable by the rider's leaning in the appropriate direction. A high degree of control and manouverability is possible.

In one embodiment,the subject ofthisspecifica- tion is a vehicle which has steerable wheels and axles in the manner of the skateboard but which is safer in operation. The vehicle is equipped with a contoured seat 1 (Figure 2), footrests 2, and handlebars 3, to give maximum security. A knee-rest 4 is provided behind the contoured seat (Figure 2). The rider may sit on the vehicle with both feet on the footrests, or may "scoot" using one leg for propulsion and one knee in the knee-rest. The handlebars have a multiple function; besides providing a stable hold, they protect the rider by wrapping around the legs in the mannerofa roll-bar. On steeply banked turns, the lower elbow 5 of the handlebars prevents overturning. The proximity of the riderto the ground creates a great illusion of speed.

In operation, a certain amount of breaking and control can be exercised by the rider's feet. With the ball ofthefootresting on thefootrest,the heel can be pressed against the tread of the front wheel to pro duce retardatio n . The desig n is such thatthefront axle is positioned to facilitate this operation. Furthermore, the rearwheels are positioned as close to the rear end of the vehicle as possibleto give maximum stability when "scooting", since in this mode, most of the rider's weight is supported by the knee-rest.

On a prototype vehicle, fixed handlebars were found to bea severe nuisanceforstorage. Inthedesign shown, the handlebars are provided with angled pivots 6 which are lockable and these enablethe handlebars to be neatlyfolded flat (downwards and inwards by rotation) for storage. In this position, the elbow 5 ofthe handlebar provides a very convenient carrying handle (Figure 5). In practice, this fold-down facility has been found to work well.

The knee-rest4 is a cupped portion integral with the contoured seat. It has been found desirable to attach a ribbed rubber bar 7 to the rear edge of the cup to provide a good grip for the rider's knee when "scooting ". On later designs the cupped portion has been extended to givefirmergrip and improved comfort.

In another embodiment, the range of operation and scope of appeal is considerably broadened by converting the vehicle into a steerable toboggan.

This is effected very simply by replacing the wheels and axles by a pair of skids (see Figure 6 & Figure 7) using the same mountings. Various types of skids have been tested with good steerability and in princ iplethesystemworkswell. Suitable skid shoes 8 can be provided to work on snow, ice, or man-made mat eriais as used for artificial ski-slopes. The skid shoes should have generous curl-up atthe leading end. To minimise lateral drift when cornering, longitudinal corrugations 9 are provided in the shoes to give improved grip.

In the course of developing the product for produc- tion, a version having a tubularframe and moulded seat has evolved. This is shown wheel-mounted in Figure 8 and skid-mounted in Figure 9. Although the tubularframed version is somewhat different in appearance, it is exactly similar in operation to the versions depicted in Figures 1-7.

1. Avehicleforsportand pleasure having a seat, footrests and handlebars. The vehicle can accommodate one ortwo riders and is steerable by leaning in the appropriate direction. The vehicle may be mounted on wheels orskids, the wheel and skid units being interchangeable.

2. Avehicleforsportand pleasure as claimed in claim 1 wherein a knee-rest is provided in addition to the seat. When used on the wheel-mounted version, the knee-rest enables a single riderto scootthevehicle using one leg for propulsion whilst holding on to the handlebars. Alternatively, one rider may propel the vehicle by scooting from the knee-restwhilst a second rider or passenger is mounted on the seat.

3. Avehicleforsportand pleasure as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2wherein the handlebars are readily adjustable in position as desired by the rider. In the folded-flat position the handlebars provide a con venientcarrying handle, and the vehicle is compact for storage.

4. Avehicleforsportand pleasureasclaimedin any preceding claim wherein the handlebars protect the rider by wrapping around the legs in the manner of a roll-bar.

5. A vehicle for sport and pleasure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the footrests, when used in conjunction with the wheels, are positioned such that a seated rider may brake the vehicle using the heels against the front wheel treads.

6. Avehicleforsportand pleasureasclaimed in any preceding claim wherein the knee-rest, when used in conjunction with the wheels, is positioned such that the riders weight can be transmitted to one axle only. Using the knee-rest and holding on to the handlebars, the rider can then perform various stunts.

7. A vehicle for sport and pleasure as claimed in claims 1 to 4 wherein various types of interchangeable skid units may be fitted to suit different operating conditions; for example, snow, artificial ski-slopes, wet grass.

8. Avehicleforsportand pleasure substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 - 9 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Vehicleforsport and pleasure This invention relates to a vehicl e of a type wh ich appeals largely to young persons and is used for sport and pleasure. The skateboard enjoyed enormous popularity during the 1970's but has proved, by and large, to be a passing fashion. Skateboard wheels and axles reached a high degree of sophistocation, steerable by the rider's leaning in the appropriate direction. A high degree of control and manouverability is possible. In one embodiment,the subject ofthisspecifica- tion is a vehicle which has steerable wheels and axles in the manner of the skateboard but which is safer in operation. The vehicle is equipped with a contoured seat 1 (Figure 2), footrests 2, and handlebars 3, to give maximum security. A knee-rest 4 is provided behind the contoured seat (Figure 2). The rider may sit on the vehicle with both feet on the footrests, or may "scoot" using one leg for propulsion and one knee in the knee-rest. The handlebars have a multiple function; besides providing a stable hold, they protect the rider by wrapping around the legs in the mannerofa roll-bar. On steeply banked turns, the lower elbow 5 of the handlebars prevents overturning. The proximity of the riderto the ground creates a great illusion of speed. In operation, a certain amount of breaking and control can be exercised by the rider's feet. With the ball ofthefootresting on thefootrest,the heel can be pressed against the tread of the front wheel to pro duce retardatio n . The desig n is such thatthefront axle is positioned to facilitate this operation. Furthermore, the rearwheels are positioned as close to the rear end of the vehicle as possibleto give maximum stability when "scooting", since in this mode, most of the rider's weight is supported by the knee-rest. On a prototype vehicle, fixed handlebars were found to bea severe nuisanceforstorage. Inthedesign shown, the handlebars are provided with angled pivots 6 which are lockable and these enablethe handlebars to be neatlyfolded flat (downwards and inwards by rotation) for storage. In this position, the elbow 5 ofthe handlebar provides a very convenient carrying handle (Figure 5). In practice, this fold-down facility has been found to work well. The knee-rest4 is a cupped portion integral with the contoured seat. It has been found desirable to attach a ribbed rubber bar 7 to the rear edge of the cup to provide a good grip for the rider's knee when "scooting ". On later designs the cupped portion has been extended to givefirmergrip and improved comfort. In another embodiment, the range of operation and scope of appeal is considerably broadened by converting the vehicle into a steerable toboggan. This is effected very simply by replacing the wheels and axles by a pair of skids (see Figure 6 & Figure 7) using the same mountings. Various types of skids have been tested with good steerability and in princ iplethesystemworkswell. Suitable skid shoes 8 can be provided to work on snow, ice, or man-made mat eriais as used for artificial ski-slopes. The skid shoes should have generous curl-up atthe leading end. To minimise lateral drift when cornering, longitudinal corrugations 9 are provided in the shoes to give improved grip. In the course of developing the product for produc- tion, a version having a tubularframe and moulded seat has evolved. This is shown wheel-mounted in Figure 8 and skid-mounted in Figure 9. Although the tubularframed version is somewhat different in appearance, it is exactly similar in operation to the versions depicted in Figures 1-7. CLAIMS

1. Avehicleforsportand pleasure having a seat, footrests and handlebars. The vehicle can accommodate one ortwo riders and is steerable by leaning in the appropriate direction. The vehicle may be mounted on wheels orskids, the wheel and skid units being interchangeable.

2. Avehicleforsportand pleasure as claimed in claim 1 wherein a knee-rest is provided in addition to the seat. When used on the wheel-mounted version, the knee-rest enables a single riderto scootthevehicle using one leg for propulsion whilst holding on to the handlebars. Alternatively, one rider may propel the vehicle by scooting from the knee-restwhilst a second rider or passenger is mounted on the seat.

3. Avehicleforsportand pleasure as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2wherein the handlebars are readily adjustable in position as desired by the rider. In the folded-flat position the handlebars provide a con venientcarrying handle, and the vehicle is compact for storage.

4. Avehicleforsportand pleasureasclaimedin any preceding claim wherein the handlebars protect the rider by wrapping around the legs in the manner of a roll-bar.

5. A vehicle for sport and pleasure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the footrests, when used in conjunction with the wheels, are positioned such that a seated rider may brake the vehicle using the heels against the front wheel treads.

6. Avehicleforsportand pleasureasclaimed in any preceding claim wherein the knee-rest, when used in conjunction with the wheels, is positioned such that the riders weight can be transmitted to one axle only. Using the knee-rest and holding on to the handlebars, the rider can then perform various stunts.

7. A vehicle for sport and pleasure as claimed in claims 1 to 4 wherein various types of interchangeable skid units may be fitted to suit different operating conditions; for example, snow, artificial ski-slopes, wet grass.

8. Avehicleforsportand pleasure substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 - 9 of the accompanying drawings.