US3178196A

US3178196A - Ski bike

Info

Publication number: US3178196A
Application number: US349048A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gino F Colace
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-03-03
Filing date: 1964-03-03
Publication date: 1965-04-13
Anticipated expiration: 1982-04-13

Description

April 13, 1965 s. F. COLACE SKI BIKE Filed larch 3, 1964 United States Patent 3,178,196 SKI BlKE Gino F. Colace, 212 Richland Ave., Mansfield, Ohio Filed Mar. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 349,048 4 Ciairns. (Cl. 280-16) The invention relates to vehicles for use u on ski slides and similar places, and more particularly to a vehicle having a frame generally similar to that of a bicycle, and provided with short skis front and rear in place of the usual bicycle wheels.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a ski bike comprising a frame having an upright steering post journalled in its forward portion with a short ski attached to the lower end of the steering post and handle bars attached to the upper end thereof, and a second ski supporting the rear end of the frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ski bike of the character referred to in which the skis are pivotally connected upon substantially horizontal pivots.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a ski bike in which the rear ski is also attached to the frame through an upright post journalled in the frame, and links connect the steering post and said rear post for steering the rear ski also with the handle bars.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a ski bike of this character in which a shock absorber is interposed between the steering post and the front ski.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ski bike of the character referred to in which a seat is mounted on the frame by shock absorber means.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from the drawings and following description, or which may be later referred to, may be attained by constructing the improved ski bike in the'rnanner hereinafter described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a ski bike embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the ski bike shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, sectional elevation of the front portion of the frame showing the steering post and shock absorber connecting the front ski thereto; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a simplified form of the invention in which only the front ski is adapted to be steered.

Reference is now made more particularly to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, which illustrate a preferred or deluxe form of the ski bike to which the invention pertains, in which both the front and rear skis are steered by means of the handle bars.

The frame for the device shown in these figures in preferably formed of metal tubing and comprises the downwardly and slightly forwardly inclined front member 1, the top member 2 and bottom member 3.

The top member 2 is welded or otherwise rigidly connected at its forward end to the upper portion of the front member 1, as indicated at 4, and is of generally curved shape. As best shown in FIG. 1, the top member 2 extends rearwardly and slightly upwardly from the point of connection 4, and is then curved more sharply downwardly and rearwardly, as indicated at 5.

The lower rear end of the frame member 2 is rigidly connected to the upper end of the larger diameter, relatively short, straight tubular member 6, which is preferably downwardly and slightly forwardly inclined, as shown in PEG. 1.

The lower frame member 3 is preferably straight, as shown in FIG. 1, the forward end thereof being welded, or otherwise rigidly connected to the lower portion of the front member 1, as indicated at 7, and the rear end 3,178,195 Patented Apr. 13, 1965 thereof being connected in a similar manner to the lower portion of the rear tubular member 6, as shown at 8.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the lower frame member 3 is preferably rearwardly and slightly downwardlyinclined from the point 7, where it is connected to the front member 1, to the point 8 where it is connected to the rear member 6.

Although the tubular portion 6 is referred to above as a rear frame member rigidly attached to the lower, rear, downwardly curved end of the top frame memher 2, it will be obvious that it may be an integral, preferably slightly enlarged, lower end portion of the member 2.

A steering post 9 is located through the tubular front member 1, and journalled in the upper and lower bearings 19 and 11 respectively therein. These bearings may be of any usual and well known construction, being preferably anti-friction type bearings such as' roller hearings or ball bearings.

Handle bars 12, such as are commonly used on bicycle, or the equivalent thereof, are fixed to the upper end of the steering post 9, as indicated at 13.

The cylinder 14 of a usual and well known type of shock absorber is connected at its upper end to the lower end of the steering post 9, as indicated at 15 in FIG. 3, so that the cylinder 14 may be rotated axially by turning of the handle bars 12.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the plunger 16 of the shock absorber is longitudinally slidable within the cylinder 14, and is prevented from rotating relative to the cylinder by any suitable means, as indicated at 17, whereby the plunger 16 may be rotated axially by the handle bars.

A ski 18 is attached to the lower end of the shock absorber plunger 16. This ski is comparatively short and provided with the usual tapered, upwardly curved tip 19 at its forward end. The ski 18 is preferably attached to the plunger 16 in such manner that it may pivot around a substantially horizontal axis relative to said plunger.

For this purpose, an attaching plate 215 may be connected to the upper side of the ski 18, intermediate the ends thereof, as by screws 21 or their equivalents.

Bearing portions 22 are shown formed upon, or connected to, the upper side of the attaching plate 20, and the lower end of the plunger 16 is pivotally connected thereto as by the bolt 23.

The upper portion of the rear post 24 is journalled in the tubular rear member 6, in any usual and well known manner, and a rear ski 25 is connected to the lower end thereof in the same manner as the front ski, by means of the attaching plate with bearings 22' and pivot bolt 23'. Thus, the rear ski may swing around a horizontal axis relative to the post 24. The rear ski 25 is of similar construction to the front ski 18, but preferably somewhat longer, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

A seat or saddle 26 is located upon the rear upper portion of the top frame member 2. The forward end of the seat 26 may rest upon the top of the frame member 2, the rear end thereof being connected to the upper end of the cylinder portion 27 of a shock absorber of conventional construction.

The plunger 28 of the shock absorber is longitudinally slidable through the lower end of the cylinder 27, and the lower end of said plunger is pivotally connected, as at 2?, to the bracket 30 mounted upon the rear curve portion 5 of the upper frame member 2.

Foot rest means 31 is provided upon the rear portion of the lower frame member 3, in convenient position for a person sitting upon the seat 26 to place his feet thereon when riding on the ski bike.

For the purpose of causing the rear ski 25 to be properly steered in unison with the front ski 18, by turning of the handle bars 12, suitable linkage is provided. This linkage comprises the similar links 32 and 33, which are crossed relative to each other, as shown in the drawings. The forward ends of these links are pivotally connected to opposite sides of the shock absorber cylinder 14, and the rear ends thereof are pivotally connected to the other sides of the rear post 24.

For this purpose, ears 34 may be formed upon, or attached to, opposite sides of the cylinder 14, and the forward ends of the links 32 and 33 may be pivotally connected to said ears, as by the pivot pins 35. In like manner, cars 34' may be formed upon or attached to .opposite sides of the rear post 24, and the rear ends of the links 32 and 33 may be pivotally connected thereto as by the pivot pins 35.

With this construction, when the handle bars 12 are manipulated to turn the front ski 18 in either direction, through the pivotally attached links 32 and 33, the rear ski 25 will be turned in the proper direction .to track after the front ski 18.

In FIG. 4 is shown a somewhat simplified, less expensive embodiment of the invention, in which the rear ski 'is not arranged to be steered. Otherwise, the construction of this embodiment 'is quite similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

The frame comprises the downwardly and slightly forwardly inclined tubular front member 1a, the top memher 211 and the bottom member 3:1. The front member 1:: maybe the same as the front member 1 above described and illustrated in detail.

The top member 2a is attached at its forward end to the upper portion of the front member 1a, and is curved rearwardly and slightly upwardly from the point of connection 4a, and is then curved more sharply downwardly and rearwardly, as indicated at 5a.

The lower frame member 3a is preferably straight, as shown in FIG. 4, the forward end thereof being connected to the lower portion of the front member in, as indicated at 7:1, and the rear end thereof being welded or otherwise rigidly connected to the lower end of the downwardly curved portion 5a .of the member 2a.

The steering post 9a may be the same as'the steering post 9 above described and shown in detail in FIG. 3, and may be attached to the cylinder 14;: of the shock absorber in the manner disclosed in detail above.

Handle bars 120 are attached to the upper end of the steering post 9a for turning the same to steer the ski bike. The plunger 16a of the shock absorber is 1ongi tudinally slidable within the cylinder 14a, thereof, as above disclosed with reference to FIG. 3.

The front ski 18a is pivotally connected to the lower end of the plunger 16a, as indicated at 22a, in the manner disclosed above in the other embodiment of the invention.

The rear ski 25a is pivotally connected to the rear lower end of the member 2:1, as indicated at 22a, by pivot means such as disclosed in detail above.

The seat 260 is located upon the rear upper portion of the top frame member 2a. The forward end of the seat may rest upon the top of the frame member 2a, the rear end thereof being connected by a depending bracket 36 to one end of the rubber shock absorber 37, the other end of which is connected to the bracket 38 mounted upon the frame member 2a.

Foot rest means 31a is provided upon the rear portion of the lower frame member 3a, in convenient position for a person sitting upon the seat 26a to place his feet thereon.

The ski bike shown in FIG. 4 may be operated in the same manner as that shown in FIGS. 1-3, with the exception that the rear ski 25a cannot be steered to track after the front ski. However, the front ski may be steered by the handle bars in the same manner as that shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1'3 and the two embodiments of the invention are otherwise substantially similar.

In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such Words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, the operation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful construction, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A ski bike comprising a-frame consisting of a forwardly and downwardly inclined tubular front member, a top member connected at its forward end to the upper end of the front member and being curved slightly upwardly and rearwardly and then downwardly and rearwardly, the rear end thereof being inclined downwardly and slightly forwardly, and a straight lower member connected at opposite ends to the lower ends of the front member and top member, a steering post journalled in said front member, steering means on the upper end of the steering post, a front ski connected to the lower end of the steering post, a rear ski connected to the rear end of the top member, each ski being pivoted upon a substantially horizontal axis, a seat having its front end resting upon the top member, shock absorber means located substantially above the pivot point of the rear ski and connecting the rear end of the seat to the top frame member, and foot rest means on said lower member at a point near its connection to the top member, whereby the Weight of a rider is concentrated near the pivotal point of the rear ski.

2. A ski bike comprising a frame consisting of a forwardly and downwardly inclined tubular front member, a top member connected at its forward end to the upper end of the front member and being curved slightly upwardly and rearwardly and then downwardly and rearwardly, the rear end thereof being inclined downwardly and slightly forwardly, and a straight lower member connected at opposite ends to the lower ends of the front member and top member, a steering post journalled in said front member, steering means on the upper end of the steering post, a front ski connected to the lower end of the steering post, a rear ski connected to the rear end of the top member, each ski being pivoted upon a substantially horizontal axis, a seat having its front end resting upon the top member, shock absorber means located substantially above the pivot point of the rear ski and connecting the rear end of the seat to the top frame member, said shock absorber comprising an upright bracket upon said top member, a depending bracket at the rear end of the seat, and a rubber block having opposite sides connected to said brackets, and foot rest means on said lower member at a point near its connection to the top member, whereby the weight of a rider is concentrated near the pivotal point of the rear ski.

3. A ski bike comprising a frame consisting of a forwardly and downwardly inclined tubular front member, a top member connected at its forward end to the upper end of the front member and being curved slightly upwardly and rearwardly and then downwardly and rearwardly, a tubular member connected to the rear end thereof, said tubular member being inclined downwardly and slightly forwardly, a rear post journalled in said tubular member, and a straight lower member connected at opposite ends to the lower ends of the front member and top member, a steering post journalled in said front member, steering means on the upper end of the steering post, a front ski connected to the lower end of the steering post, a rear ski connected to the lower end of said rear post, each ski being pivoted upon a substantially horizontal axis, a seat having its front end resting upon the top member, shock absorber means located substantially above the pivot point of the rear ski and connecting the rear end of the seat to the top frame member, and foot rest means on said lower member at a point near its connection to the top member, whereby the weight of a rider is concentrated near the pivotal point of the rear ski, oppositely disposed ears upon the steering post and the rear post, and crossed links pivotally connected at opposite ends to said ears so as to cause the rear ski to track after the front ski.

4. A ski bike comprising a frame consisting of a forwardly and downwardly inclined tubular front member, a top member connected at its forward end to the upper end of the front member and being curved slightly upwardly and rearwardly and then downwardly and rearwardly, a tubular member connected to the rear end thereof, said tubular member being inclined downwardly and slightly forwardly, a rear post journalled in said tubular member, and a straight lower member connected at opposite ends to the lower ends of the front member and top member, a steering post journalled in said front member, steering means on the upper end of the steering post, a front ski connected to the lower end of the steering post, a rear ski connected to the lower end of said rear post, each ski being pivoted upon a substantially horizontal axis, a seat having its front end resting upon the top member, shock absorber means located substantially above the pivot point of the rear ski and connecting the rear end of the seat to the top frame member, said shock absorber comprising an upright bracket upon said top member, a depending bracket at the rear end of the seat, and a rubber block having opposite sides connected to said brackets, and foot rest means on said lower member at a point near its connection to the top member, whereby the weight of a rider is concentrated near the pivotal point of the rear ski, oppositely disposed ears upon the steering post and the rear post, and crossed links pivotally connected at opposite ends to said ears so as to cause the rear ski to track after the front ski.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 764,415 7/04 Beulin. 1,318,747 10/19 Gross 28016 1,809,295 6/ 31 Gundersen 280-16 2,273,869 2/42 Julien 267-1 2,756,016 7/ 5 6 Painter 267-1 FOREIGN PATENTS 108,258 8/43 Sweden. 206,002 1/09 Germany.

ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A SKI BIKE COMPRISING A FRAME CONSISTING OF A FORWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY INCLINED TUBULAR FRONT MEMBER, A TOP MEMBER CONNECTED AT ITS FORWARD END TO THE UPPER END OF THE FRONT MEMBER AND BEING CURVED SLIGHTLY UPWARDLY AND REARWARDLY AND THEN DOWNWARDLY AND REARWARDLY, THE REAR END THEREOF BEING INCLINED DOWNWARDLY AND SLIGHTLY FORWARDLY, AND A STRAIGHT LOWER MEMBER CONNECTED AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE LOWER ENDS OF THE FRONT MEMBER AND TOP MEMBER, A STEERING POST JOURNALLED IN SAID FRONT MEMBER, STEERING MEANS ON THE UPPER END OF THE STEERING POST, A FRONT SKI CONNECTED TO THE LOWER END OF THE STEERING POST, A REAR SKI CONNECTED TO THE REAR END OF THE TOP MEMBER, EACH SKI BEING PIVOTED UPON A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS, A SEAT HAVING ITS FRONT END RESTING UPON THE TOP MEMBER, SHOCK ABSORBER MEANS LOCATED SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE THE PIVOT POINT OF THE REAR SKI AND CONNECTING THE REAR END OF THE SEAT TO THE TOP FRAME MEMBER, AND FOOT REST MEANS ON SAID LOWER MEMBER AT A POINT NEAR ITS CONNECTION TO THE TOP MEMBER, WHEREBY THE WEIGHT OF A RIDER IS CONCENTRATED NEAR THE PIVOTAL POINT OF THE REAR SKI.