US3188105A - Sled structure - Google Patents

Description

June 8, 1965 J. P. 0. LEE 3,188,105

SLED STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 20, 1963 3,188,165 7 SLED STRUCTURE dohn Patrick G. Lee, RFD. 3, Putney, V Filed Feb. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 259,6?92

Claims. (111.286-25) The present invention relates to sleds generally and in particular to a new and novel sled structure.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel sled structure in which a single elongated member is bent upon itself to form the runners of the sled, the forward nose portion of the sled, the sheet supporting structure of the sled, and the portion of the sled which is held by the hands of the user or employed to support the feet of the user of the sled.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sled structurewhich is extremely economical to produce, one which is sturdy in construction, one having longlife characteristics, and one which is highly effective in action.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sled structure which lends itself to manufacture from commercially available tubing, one which may be fabricated in any size desired, one which lends itself to fabrication upon available tube bending equipment, and one which is commercially feasible.

A further object is to provide a sled structure with removable seats, and one which permits attachment of any one of a variety of variously'shaped seats.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following de-' scription when taken in connection with the annexed drawing, in which: v

FIGUREI is a plan view of the sled structure according to the invention, one form of seat for the structure being shown in dotted lines, a p

FIGUREZ is an end elevational view of the sled struc ture' taken from the front,

FIGURE 3 is aside elevational tion,

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary View partially in section on an enlarged scale showing the forward end of the sled structure, Y

FIGURE 5 15's view'taken on the line 55 of FIG- URE 4, i i w A a l FIGURE 6 is an isometric exploded view of the sled structure showinga second seat member in position for mounting uponthe sled, a r a FIGURE 7 is a view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 77 of FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view partially in section showing a modified form of the forward end portion of view partially in see the sled structure according to the present invention, and.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of another form of seat to be used with the sled structure of'the present invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing in which like nu- I aisaias Patented June 8, 1965 wardly upon the second section 18 so as to'be substan-' tially parallel thereto and in superimposed spaced relation, as at 24. The free ends of the third' sections are bent inwardly to form fourth sections 26 which have their free ends joined together to form another bight 28 which is substantially parallel to the bight 16 previously described. v

The fourth sections 26 slope in a curve downwardly sothat the bight 28 is slightly below'the plane of the third sections 24, the bight28 being in the same plane as the bight 16.

Spring means connects the bight 16 to the bight 28 and this spring means consists of a coil spring'litl having one end formed as a hook 32 and the other end formed as another hook 34. The hook 32 is engaged inan eye formation'36 projecting from the bight 16 and the hook 34 is engaged with another eye formation 38 projecting from the bight 28.

In FIGURE 8 an alternative method of connecting the spring Stl is shown in which the book 32' is looped over the bight 16.

The sled structure as shown in FIGURE 1 includes a first seat 46which is removably attached to the third sections 24 and bight 28 by means of suitable fastening elements extending through appropriately positioned holes provided in the rolledunder edge portions of said seat 46. Another or second seat 40 as shown in FIGURE 9 may beattache'd in place of the seat 46 if desired. The second seat 40 has rolled under skirts 42 and 44 provided with holes 48 through which fastening elements may be positioned to secure the seat 40 to the sled-structure.

As illustrated, the seat 40 is only an example of a seat which may be employed in place of the seat 46.

Both the seat 40 and the basic seat 46 have holes, as at 48and 50, respectively, for the penetration therethrough of a fastening element such as a bolt or metal working screw, neither of which are shown as they ,do not tubular member from which the frame of the sled is constructed, the plastic material being provided so as merals indicate like parts throughout the several views,

the sled structure according to the present invent-ion is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and it is formed from an elongatedmember bent upon itself to form a first U-shaped element designated in FIGURE 3 by the reference numeral 12.

The sled structure is symmetrical along a longitudinal axis and therefore the description of one component thereof on one side will be considered as descriptive of the opposite component.

The legs of the U-shaped element 12 are divided into first sections 14 contiguous to the bight 16, the sections 14 sloping upwardly at approximately forty-five degrees to the horizontal. The sections 14 are also arcuately curved as shown most clearly in FIGURE 2 and the bight 16 is horizontal.

to reinforce the sled structure at such points requiring reinforcement.

While the element 12 has been described as being of tubular material such as tubular aluminum, steel, or the like, it may also be fabricated of square or rectangular material, channel shaped material, or of material of any desired cross-section as found practical in the manufacture of the sled structure according to the present invention.

' It will be seen therefore that the sled structure of the present invention is novel, may be constructed in any size desired, is rigid and of sturdy construction, the spring 30 providing resiliency between the seat portion and the runner portions of the sled, and the sled structure being of such shape as to be attractive. The seats 40 and 46 may be fabricated of metal, rigid plastic or plastic having a certain rigidity while being soft to the touch and deformable under pressure as desired.

The seats 40 and 46 lend themselves to fabrication in colors and the frame of the sled structure also lends itself As shown in FIGURE 7 the underface of each 1. A sled structure comprising an elongated member bent upon itself to form a first U-shaped element, the legs of said element each having a first section disposed contiguous to the bight of said element, a second section adjacent said first section and disposed horizontally, said second section being adapted to engage a ground surface, said leg first sections being bent upwardly at an angle to the horizontal, a third section bent upwardly and back- Wardly' on said second section into substantially parallel relation with respect to said second section and extend ing in the form of a cantilever for a major portion of the length of the second sections, and a fourth section bent inwardly into substantial parallel spaced relation with respect to said bight, the free ends of said fourth sections being joined together to form a second bight, said second bight being on the same plane as said first bight, and a seat extending over said leg third sections and secured directly and only thereto.

2. A sled structure comprising an elongated member bent upon itself to form a first U-shaped element, the legs of said element each having a first section disposed contiguous to the bight of said element, a second section adjacent said first section and disposed horizontally, said second section being adapted to engage a ground surface, said leg first sections being bent upwardly at an angle of substantially forty-five degrees to the horizontal, a third section bent upwardly and backwardly on said secnd section into substantially parallel relation with respect to said second section and extending in the form of a cantilever for a major portion of the length of the second sections and a fourth section bent inwardly into substantial parallel spaced relation with respect to said bight, the free ends of said fourth sections being joined together to form a second bight, said second bight being on the same plane as said first bight, and a seat extending over said leg third sections and secured directly and only thereto. 7

3. A sled structure comprising an elongated member bent upon itself to form a first U-shaped element, the legs of said element each having a first section disposed contiguous to the bight of said element, a second section adjacent said first section and disposed horizontally, said second section being adapted to engage a ground surface, said leg first sections being bent upwardly at an angle to the horizontal, a third section bent upwardly and backwardly on said second section into substantially parallel relation with respect to said second section and extending in the form of a cantilever for a major portion of the length of the second sections, and a fourth section bent inwardly into substantial parallel spaced relation with respect to said bight, the free ends of said fourth sections being joined together to form a second bight, said second bight being on the same plane as said first bight, a seat extending over said leg third sections and detachably secured directly and only thereto, and spring means connecting said first and secondbights together.

4. A sled structure comprising an elongated member bent upon itself to form a first U-shaped element, the legs of said element each having a first section disposed contiguous to the bight of said element, a second section adjacent said first section and disposed horizontally, said second section being adapted to engage a ground surface, said leg first sections being bent upwardly at an angle to the horizontal, a third section bent upwardly and back- Wardly on said second section into substantially parallel relation with respect to said second section and extending in the form of a cantilever for a major portion of the length of the second sections, and a fourth section bent inwardlyinto substantial parallel spaced relation with respect to said bight, the freeends of said fourth sections being joined together to form a second bight, said second bight being on the same plane as said first bight, a seat extending over said leg third sections and detachably secured directly and only thereto, and spring means connecting said first and second bights together, said seat having a portion extending over the juncture of the free ends of said fourth leg sections.

5. A sled structure comprising an elongated member bent upon itself to form a first U-shaped element, the legs of said element each having a first section disposed contiguous to the bight of said element, a second section ad jacentsaid first section and'disposed horizontally, said second section being adapted to engage a round surface, said leg first sections being bent upwardly at an angle to the horizontal, a third section bent upwardly and backwardly on said second section into substantially parallel relation with respect to said second section and'extending in the form of a cantilever for a major portion of the length of the second sections, and a fourth section bent upwardly into substantial parallel spaced relation with respect to said bight, the free ends of said fourth sections being joined together to form a second bight, said second bight being on the same plane as said first bight, a seat including a sloping seat back extending over said leg third sections and detachably secured directly and only thereto, spring means connecting said first and second bights together, said seat having a portion extending over the juncture of the free ends ofsaid fourth leg sections.

References Qited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 168,180 9/75 Parks 280-12 188,353 3/77 Gilzinger 280-12 536,202 3/95 Hamlin 280-12 1,049,601 1/13 Reeve 2s0 25 2,294,704 9/42 Ware 2s0 23 2,446,452 8/48 Benson 280--22 FOREIGN PATENTS 43,990 5/27 Norway.

ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

A. HARRY LEVY, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A SLED STRUCTURE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED MEMBER BENT UPON ITSELF TO FORM A FIRST U-SHAPED ELEMENT, THE LEGS OF SAID ELEMENT EACH HAVING A FIRST SECTION DISPOSED CONTIGUOUS TO TH EBIGHT OF SAID ELEMENT, A SECOND SECTION ADJACENT SAID FIRST SECTION AND DISPOSEED HORIZONTALLY, SAID SECOND SECTION BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A GROUND SURFACE SAID LEG FIRST SECTIONS BEING BENT UPWARDLY AT AN ANGLE TO THE HORIZONTAL, A THIRD SECTION BENT UPWARDLY AND BACKWARDLY ON SAID SECOND SECTION INTO SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATION WITH RESPECT TO SAID SECOND SECTION AND EXTENDING IN THE FORM OF A CANTILEVER FOR A MAJOR PORTION OF THE LENGTH OF THE SECOND SECTIONS, AND A FOURTH SECTION BENT INWARDLY INTO SUBSTANTIAL PARALLEL SPACED RELATION WITH RESPECT TO SAID BIGHT, THE FREE ENDS OF SAID FOURTH SECTIONS BEING JOINED TOGETHER TO FORM A SECOND BIGHT, SAID SECOND BIGHT BEING ON THE SAME PLANE AS SAID FIRST BIGHT, AND A SEAT EXTENDING OVER AND LEG THIRD SECTIONS AND SECURED DIRECTLY AND ONLY THERETO.

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