US2513199A - Scooter - Google Patents

Description

June 27, 1950 Q 1 OHLHAVER 2,513,199

SCOOTER Filed March 18, 1947 INVENTOR GERHARD J. OHLHAVER ATTORNEY Patented June 27, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,513,199 scoo'rlnt` v Gerhard J. Ohlhaver, St. Clair Shores, Application March 1s, 1947, serial No. 735,298

1 claim. (c1. 28o-,16)

This invention relates to a scooter and, in particular, it relates to a scooter or push-vehicle adapted for use on snow or ice. More particularly, the invention relates to a scooter having, in combination, sleigh-runners, ski-runners and icerunners.

In general, my invention relates to a scooter, the principal body of which comprises a skisurface or runner, a portion of which is steerable for directional control. Permanently aflixed to the sides of the ski-board are sleigh-runners which are particularly adaptable for supporting the vehicle on hard snow or ice. The sleighrunners extend only a short distance below the bottom surface of the ski-board, thus the sleighrunners do not detract from the operation of the vehicle over soft snow. In fact, the sleighrunners function to maintain the ski-board in a straight path unless it is deviated from that path by means of the steering mechanism. Adjacent to the sleigh-runners, but of a lesser length, are ice blades adapted to be lowered slightly below the bottom of the sleigh-runners so that the scooter functions with great stability on hard ice in substantially the same manner as conventional ice skates. By this arrangement it is possible to use the scooter over a Wide variety of surface. conditions prevalent during the cold season. y

It is therefore among the objects of my invention to provide a scooter of the character described which may be efficiently operated over loose snow in substantially the same manner as the operation of skis; to provide a scooter which in combination. with operation over loose snow is also adapted through the medium of a different running surface to operate more efficiently over hard snow; to provide a scooter which in combination with its use on hard or soft snow is adaptable for use on hard ice; to provide a scooter of the character described which isreadily steerable while being moved over varioussurfaces occurring in the `winter months; toprovide a scooter of the type described which isreadily adaptable for use over hard or soft snow without any change in the runner arrangement; and, to provide a scooter of the character described which operates efficiently and which may be manufactured economically.

These and other objects and advantages will appear more fully in the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a scooter representing an embodiment of my invention;

" lation to the principal ski-member I.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View thereof, partly broken away;

Figure 3 isa transverse view, in section, of a portion of the scooter taken along lines III-III of Figure 2;

V Figuren is an enlarged view, partly broken away, of a portion of the scooter illustrating the ice blade arrangement; and

Figure 5 is a view, in` section, comparable to Figure 3. but illustrating a .modied form of my invention.`

With reference to the drawing and in particular to Figure 1-, I illustrate a form of my inventionconstituting a scooter of which the principal base member constitutes a flat ski-member I. Directlyin front of the ski-member I is a continuationmember 2. The leading edge of the continuation-*member 2 is bent upwardly so that the combination of both ski-members are proportionally equivalent to the conventional ski except that the width of the present embodiment is slightly greater than the width of the conventional ski. Preferably, the ski-members I and 2 are `formed of wood. v

The continuation member 2 is steerable in re- 4 This is accomplished by meansof. a vbracket 3 attached near the leading edge of the member I. A bracket 4 isl attached near the rear edge of the ski-member 2 and is `pivotally connected to a steering post 5. A flange-bracket 6 is welded or otherwise associated with the steering post 5 and, by meansofa hinge `pin 1, the brackets 6 and 3 are pivotally connected together. This arrangement completes the steering mechanism between the ski-members I and 2. Handle bars 8 attached to the steering post 5 provide manual means for actuatingnthe steeringpost 5. t

Since the steering post 5 is pivoted with the ski-memberjZ it is desirable to maintain the skimember l2 Vin substantially the same plane as the ski-member, I.- This is accomplished by means of a wire .and spring -9` which attaches the leading e'dgeaof theski-member -2 with the steering post iig-This connection prevents the leading edgeof the ski-member 2 from pivoting downwardly particularly when the ski-member 2 is raised from a supporting surface.

Because a scooter of this type is usually used over various surfaces which may injure the material of the ski-members I and 2, I provide a sheet metal facing I0 and I I applied to the under surface of the ski-members I and 2, respectively.

On each side of the ski-member I beginning at its rear edge and extending substantially one- Cil runners I2 and I3 are curved upwardly so as to.,r

constitute a better approach to irregularities on the supporting surface. and I3 may be attached to the sides of the skimember I by any conventional means such as wood screws I4.

The sleigh-runners I2'Y present a semi-sharp edge.

pearance of the scooter and also functions as a stop to prevent the foot from sliding forward.

Figure 5 illustrates a modification of my invention and shows a device similar in all respects to the principal embodiment, except, that in place of the sleigh-runners and ic-runners, a single metal channel member 28 extends centrally along the length of the ski-members such as 29. Bolts are used to attach the channelmemberv to the ski-member. The bottom edges 3l of the channel-member are beveled so as to The unit is complete by the addition of a sheet metal facing 32 attached to the underside of the ski-member 29. This modified form is advantageous in that it is functionable as a complete unit for operation in s'oft snow, hard snow, or on ice, and, in addi- A somewhat similar set of sleigh-runners I5 and I6 are attached to the sides of the ski-mem'- ber '2. from the rear of theski-member Zftol substantially one-half its length.

In 'operation over hard snow the 'sleighrunners take precedence as a supporting medi'utn fr the scooter.v This results in less frictiri 'and better controlability 'due to the steering arrangement. When the 'scooter is operated over soft snow the rather shallow deptl'riaftlie sleighrunners sink into the soft snow and de not materially affect the operation 'of' 'thes'co'oter in 'its ski function. In fact, when in use over soft'stints?, such as traveling downhill, the presenc'ehbff the sleigh runners `give better ccntrolability' to the scooter particularly insofar as steering is'concerned.

When the scooter is in use on hard ice, 'me`an`s are provided in the formy of ice blades lI 'I and'i attached tothe sides of the s 'kiemember IV 'in' slots I9 and 20, respectively, provided therefor." In length, these ice-runners are comparable 'to v'con'- ventional ice skates. The leading vedgeof the ice runner is pivotally cnnected ltra the side' vof the ski-member I and the vrear portion of 'each ice-member is provided with a' s lot-'2I for association with a bolt 22 extending 'through the width of the ski-member 22A and which maybe ytightened by means of a thumbnut za.'

lA substantially similar pair ,f ice-runners 2ll and 25 are associatedwith fthe'ski-rnfner-2.V

When itis desirable tov use the ice-blades when operating over hardi'ce the operatr 'merely loosens the thumb nut 23 to permit the'runn'ers to drop below thebottom surface of the'sleighrunners. The ice-runners are' then tightened in' place. It is merely necessary that the ice-runners extend to about one-eighth finch below the bottom suifale of the Sleigh-r'hers P'fe'blyl, the bottomedge of the icelrunnersare beveled so as tb present asharpedge tonieice-surface? f T'o 'complete' the assembly it is esirable'rto at'- tach a second board' 2B on 'top1f 'of'the ski-member I. beard is wider than the ski"-"nier'iber'-' I`v and enables the @pewtert'q piace both feet en the boal'l'v 2Bv for ACba-sting' 1' 'I"ri'ihgy downhill. A raised portion br 'nliig 21 'adds' 'te thwap'- Similarly, thesev sleigh-runners extend ing' the vehicle.

tion, it permits a slight amount of side tilting which may be effectively used in the performance ofthe s cooter.

Itfis- 'therecr'e believed apparent that Ihavc provided-a novel arrangement for a scooter which gives' i't wide utility in operation over Various surfaces'prevalent during the winter months.

' Whl'e'I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be underste'c'ti that it-islsus'ce'ptible of those modifications whichffappejar obviously within the spirit of my invention v'and as appearing in the scope of the appended claim;

Havihgthus described my invention, what I claim and desire-t0 protect by Letters Patent is:

A vehiiie of the general type of a scooter adapted fr'slidin'g engagement with a supporting surface ccmprising', a flat elongated body member constituting means for resting upon a slippery surface, a second fiat body 'member positioned in front of 'the 'first 'named body member and forming a contiguous surface therewith, a runner positioned at each side of both the rst and second named' body members, an ice blade positior'ied at each side of both the rst and second named'body members, said ice blades having their bottom edges extending below the bottom s 1 .1rface sV of said runners, means for moving the ice .blades and for locking them in a position wherein their bottom edges do not extend below the Abottom surfaces of said runners, and means for swinging Jthe second named body member relative vto the first named body Amember for steer- GERHARD J. OHLHAVER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the nie f thisvpatent:

, ff: 4STATES. PATENTS Nmnber

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