US3498627A - Steerable toboggan - Google Patents

Description

March 3,1970 H. c. PYFEIFER 3,498,627

STEERABLE 'IOBOGGAN I Filed Nov. 20. 19167 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 INVENTOR. HALLIE C. PFEIFER March 3, 1970 H. CQPFEIFER 3,

STEERABLE woiaoeem I I Filed Nov. 20, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet '2' FIG. 5. mvsmon. I

HALLIE c. PFEIFER United States Patent -O US. Cl. 280-22 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE My invention encompasses a unique arrangement of vanes attached to a new toboggan shape with the necessary control apparatus for over-snow tobogganing.

The vanes are attached to the toboggan in a controllabe fashion for two purposes; one for steering and the second is for braking. Thus the sport of tobogganing is broadened by providing a more controlled directional latitude.

Drawings have been prepared in conjunction with this description upon which will be numbers referring to the various components and devices; liberal reference is made to these numbers throughout this description.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the toboggan.

FIG. 2 is a section on the line 22 of FIG. 1, in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a section on the line 33 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the toboggan showing the :steering vanes in a turning position.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the toboggan showing the steering vanes in a spread position for braking.

As shown in the drawings, my improved steerable toboggan consists of a molded fiberglass, or similar material, toboggan shell 1 which attached thereto is the'steering and braking mechanism. The shell is formed with a curved prow, and a width greater in the front than in the rear to facilitate lateral motion of the rear of the shell during steering for improved maneuverability. The steering mechanism consists of the control stick 2, which moves to either side for steering or to the rear for braking. The control stick is attached to the pivot shaft 3 -by a single pinned hinge 4 and rotates in the bearings 5 which are an integral part of the toboggan 1. The generally vertical control stick 2 is pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft 3 for forward and backward motion while the generally horizontal pivot shaft 3 is rotatably mounted in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the toboggan to also permit motion from side to side by the control shaft 2. Attached to the pivot shaft 3 is the swing arm 6. Attached to the swing arm 6 is a backing plate 6a for mounting thereto two pulleys 9 so that the two control cables 7 may move freely. The steering and braking is accomplished through the two control cables 7 fastened 7a to the control stick 2 and are guided over the pivot shaft 3 by two pulleys 8 thence guided over the swing arm 6 by two pulleys 9 thence guided around inside perimeter of toboggan 1 by two forward pulleys 10 and two rear pulleys 11 and attached 12 to the flexible steel guide vanes 13. The guide vanes 13 are securely fastened 14 to the toboggan 1 to prevent any movement at their forward end. As shown in the drawings the vanes 13 are set apart and parallel to provide smooth passage through snow, and are formed by flat blades oriented perpendicular to the base of the toboggan shell. In order to maintain the parallel alignment of the vanes 13 a spring 15, to prevent spreading, with a separator dowel 16 within the spring is provided at the rear of the vanes 13.

v 3,498,627 Patented Mar. 3, 1970 FIGURE 4 illustrates the vanes 13 in a turning position. The turning position is achieved simply by moving the control stick 2 to one side 'or the other. The movement of the control stick 2 is translated through the rotation ofthe pivot shaft 3 and the swing arm 6 to the control cables 7. One control cable 7 is in tension pulling on the vanes 13 as the other control cable 7 is slack. The spring 15 tension holding the vanes 13 against the separator dowel 16 keeps the vanes parallel in the turning arc position.

FIGURE 5 illustrates the vanes 13 having been spread apart in position for slowing or stopping forward movement. This position is simply achieved by pulling back on the control stick 2. The rearward movement of the control stick 2 is translated through both the control cables 7 and against the spring 15 causing the vanes 13 to be pulled apart.

What is claimed is:

1. A toboggan comprising:

a shell having a generally flat base suitable for sliding over a surface, said shell formed with a curved prow in the front and a width greater in the front than in the rear of said shell;

a pair of elongated guide vanes positioned along the bottom of the base of said shell, each vane rigidly fixed near the front of the shell and free at the rear of the shell for bending laterally along its length;

means at the rear of the shell resiliently spacing said guide vanes generally in parallel alignment;

and means for bending said guide vanes back and forth in general parallel alignment for steering right and left and for bending said guide vanes in opposite directions outwardly for braking, said means for bending said guide vanes comprises a pair of cables connected respectively at the rear of said shell to said guide vanes, guide means leading said cables outwardly and along the shell to the front thereof, a generally vertical control shaft at the front of the shell to which said cables are connected, said control shaft pivotally mounted for motion forward and backward for bending said guide vanes outwardly in opposite directions for braking, and a generally horizontal rotatably mounted pivot shaftpositioned at the front of the shell in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said shell on which the control shaft is mounted whereby said control shaft can also be moved from side to side for bending said guide vanes in general parallel alignment back and forth for steering.

2. A toboggan as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide vanes comprise flat blades oriented perpendicular to the flat base of the shell.

3. A toboggan comprising:

a shell having a generally flat base suitable for sliding over a surface, said shell formed with a curved prow in the front and a width greater in the front than in the rear of said shell;

a pair of elongated guide vanes positioned along the bottom of the base of said shell, each vane rigidly fixed near the front of the shell and free at the rear of the shell for bending laterally along its length;

means at the rear of the shell resiliently spacing said guide vanes generally in parallel alignment;

and means for bending said guide vanes comprising a pair of cables connected respectively at the rear of said shell to said guide vanes, guide means leading said cables outwardly and along the shell to the front thereof, a generally vertical control shaft at the front of the shell to which said cables are connected, said control shaft pivotally mounted for motion forward and backward for bending said guide n3 a: l 'j vanes outwardly'in opposite directions for braking, References Cited and a generally horizontal rotatably mounted pivot- I shaft positioned at the front of the shell in the direc- UNITED STATES PATENTS tion of the longitudinal axis of said shell and on 2,027,128 1/1936 Tessmer 28022 which the control shaft 'is mounted whereby said 5 2 137 437 1 1 Wawat 280 18 control shaft can also be moved from side to side 2766 992 10/1956 Rohe for bending said guide vanes in vgeneral parallel alignment-back and forth for steering.- LEO FR E 4. A to boggan as setvforth innclaim 3 wherein said IAG Pnmary Xammer guide vanes comprise flat blades orientedperpendicular to 6 J. E. SIEGEL, Assistant Examiner the flatbaseof the shell. A

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