US3632124A

US3632124A - Snow coaster

Info

Publication number: US3632124A
Application number: US877232A
Authority: US
Inventors: James P Cropp
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-11-17
Filing date: 1969-11-17
Publication date: 1972-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 1989-01-04

Abstract

A snow coaster body for supporting one or more riders thereon and including a horizontally centrally disposed annular under portion defining a generally circular lower horizontal surface bound by an outer peripheral downwardly opening channel generally semicircular in cross section. The inner and outer peripheral extremities of the channel include generally horizontal inwardly projecting inner and outer flange portions and the lower horizontal surface is disposed at an elevation slightly below a horizontal plane containing the flanges and includes an outer peripheral upwardly and outwardly beveled portion. Also, an inflated inner tube-type member is seated in the channel and frictionally retained therein by the inner and outer peripheral flanges.

Description

United States Patent 9/3l0.6 x w FOREIGN PATENTS 1,199,652 8/1965 Germany 9/2 943,037 11/1963 GreatBritain 280/18 Primary ExaminerBenjamin Hersh Assistant ExaminerWinston H. Douglas Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien & Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT: A snow coaster body for supporting one or more riders thereon and including a horizontally centrally disposed annular under portion defining a generally circular lower horizontal surface bound by an outer peripheral downwardly opening channel generally semicircular in cross section. The inner and outer peripheral extremities of the channel include generally horizontal inwardly projecting inner and outer flange portions and the lower horizontal surface is disposed at an elevation slightly below a horizontal plane containing the flanges and includes an outer peripheral upwardly and outwardly beveled portion. Also, an inflated inner tube-type member is seated in the channel and frictionally retained therein by the inner and outer peripheral flanges.

PATENTEU JAN 4 I972 30 James P. Cropp IN VENTOR.

Anomq:

SNOW COASTER The snow coaster has been designed to provide a safe gentle ride at high speeds on snow covered slopes and it can be safely used on greater depth toboggan runs as well as natural slopes. The coaster includes a trough-type seating area in which a passenger or passengers may be seated and the seating area includes a semiflat bottom and upstanding side and end walls. The sidewalls include elongated handhold defining openings and the front wall provides bracing for the feet of the rider or riders and protection from flying snow.

The rear end of the coaster is provided with opposite side retractable drag structures for braking and steering the coaster. Separate controls in the form of pull cords or ropes are operatively connected to each drag structure and the coaster includes a centrally disposed lower support member in the form an inflated inner tube-type member. In addition, the coaster includes a circular horizontal surface disposed slightly below the center plane of the inner tube-type member and which substantially fully occupies the area bound by the inner peripheral portions of the inflated body.

The main object of this invention is to provide a snow coaster which may be safely utilized on graded toboggan runs or natural slopes by children as well as adults.

Another object of this invention is to provide a snow coaster constructed in a manner to provide a relatively smooth ride at high speeds.

Still object of this invention is to provide a coaster constructed in a manner whereby the rider or riders thereon may brace themselves relative to the body of the coaster so as to lessen the tendency of falling from the coaster.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a snow coaster whose body portion may be readily constructed of inexpensive materials such as resilient plastics.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a snow coaster that may be operated to spin about a vertical axis during coasting and yet which may be steered and maintained on a straight path without rotation about a vertical axis when desired.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a snow coaster in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to ride so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and easy to learn to ride.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the snow coaster;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a snow coaster as seen from the right side thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 3-3 of H6. 2.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral generally designates the snow coaster of the instant invention. The coaster 10 includes a body referred to in general by the reference numeral 12 constructed of stiff but somewhat resilient material such as plastic. The body 12 includes a flat horizontal bottom 14 provided with an integral upstanding front wall 16 as well as integral upstanding opposite sidewalls l8 and 20. The upper marginal edge portions of the walls l6, l8 and 20 include reinforcing beads 22 and the opposite side rear corners of the bottom or bottom wall 14 each include a pair of transversely spaced depending apertured mounting lugs 24. An elongated upstanding drag member 26 has its upper end secured between each pair of corresponding mounting lugs 24 by means of a pivot fastener 28 and a pair of elongated flexible pull members 30 are provided with one pair of corresponding ends thereof secured through the corresponding drag members 26 as at 32 intermediate the upper and lower ends of the drag members 26. The pull members 30 extend forwardly from the drag members 26 and are slidingly received through opposite sides of longitudinal slots 34 formed in the bottom wall 14. The forward ends of the pull members 30 then continue forward inward of the sidewalls l8 and 20 and pass outwardly through apertures 36 formed through reinforced forward upper corner portions 38 of the

sidewalls

18 and 20. The free ends of the pull members 30 are directed rearwardly from the apertures 36 and have handgrips 40 attached to their terminal ends.

The sidewalls l8 and 20 have longitudinally spaced openings 42 formed therethrough with a reinforced bead portion 44 of the corresponding sidewall extending about each opening 42.

A lower body referred to in general by the reference numeral 46 is dependingly supported from the undersurface of the bottom wall 14 and defines a centrally disposed annular under portion. The lower body or under portion is in the form of a downwardly opening annular channel which is generally semicircular in cross-sectional shape and includes outer peripheral wall portions 48 and inner peripheral wall portions 50. The lower extremities of the outer wall portion define a generally horizontal inwardly projecting peripheral retaining flange 52 and the lower peripheral portions of the inner peripheral surfaces define a peripherally extending horizontally inwardly projecting retaining flange 53. In addition, the lower body 46 also defines a generally circular lower horizontal wall 54 whose outer peripheral portions are beveled upwardly and outwardly as at 56 and join the lower extremities of the inner peripheral wall portions 50 adjacent the flange 53.

An inflated tube-type member 58 is provided and seatingly received in the circular downwardly opening channel defined by the lower body 46. The tube-type member 58 may be in the form of a conventional inner tube and it will be noted that the

retaining flanges

52 and 53 are disposed slightly below the horizontal center of the inner tube 58 and inwardly deflect the opposing wall portions of the member 58 so as to retain the latter within the channel defined by the lower body 46. Further, it may be seen from FIG. 3 of the drawings that the lower wall 54 is disposed at an elevation spaced below the

retaining flanges

52 and 53 and therefore that there will be little chance of the lower marginal portion of the outer peripheral walls 48 of the lower body 46 contacting the ground or snow-covered surface over which the coaster 10 is moving.

The tube-type member 58 includes the usual valve stem 60 whereby the member 58 may be deflated or inflated as desired and when the coaster 10 is not in use the tube-type member 58 may be deflated, folded and stored within the body 12.

In use, the persons or person wishing to ride the coaster 10 seat themselves on the bottom wall 14 lengthwise of the latter and the forwardmost person on the coaster 10 may brace his feet upon the front wall 16. Each person riding the coaster l0 rearward of the frontmost person may grip the sidewalls l8 and 20 through the openings 42 and the frontmost person on the coaster 10 may grip the handgrips 40 for controlling the drag members 26.

The ride of the coaster 10 is cushioned by the inflated tubetype member 58 and if a sharp bump is encountered and the tube-type member 58 is excessively upwardly deflected, the undersurface of the lower wall 54 will contact the ground so as to support the body 12 therefrom.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A snow coaster for one or more riders, said coaster including an upper body defining a centrally disposed surface upon which a person or persons riding the coaster may be disposed, said body including means defining a generally circular horizontally disposed downwardly opening channel, an

inflated inner tube-type member seatingly received in said channel and projecting downwardly outwardly therefrom, said means defining said downwardly opening channel comprising an annular under body generally semicircular in cross-sectional shape, a lower generally circular horizontal wall portion bound by said under body and including an upwardly and outwardly beveled outer periphery whose outer extremities join with the lower marginal portions of the inner periphery of said annular under body.

2. The combination of claim I wherein said upper body comprises an upwardly opening generally channel-shaped body including a bottom wall and a pair of generally parallel upstanding opposite sidewalls interconnected at their front ends by means of an upstanding front wall and said centrally disposed surface comprises the upper surfaces of said bottom wall.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said sidewalls have handgrip-defining openings fonned therein.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the lower marginal portions of the inner and outer peripheries of said annular under body include flange portions projecting into said channel, said inner tube-type member being seated in said channel with its portions opposed by said flanges deflected inwardly thereby.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said lower wall portion is disposed in a plane spaced below said flanges.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said flanges are spaced below the center horizontal plane of said inner tubetype member.

7. A snow coaster for one or more riders, said coaster including a stiff body defining a centrally disposed upwardly facing surface upon which a person or persons riding the coaster may be disposed, said body also including depending stiff inner and outer wall portions defining a generally circular horizontally disposed and downwardly opening channel bounded by said inner and outer wall portions, and inflated inner tube-type member seatingly received in said channel and projecting downwardly outwardly therefrom, said downwardly opening channel being generally semicircular in cross-sectional shape, a lower generally circular horizontal wall portion bounded by said inner wall portion and including an upwardly and outwardly beveled outer periphery whose outer extremities join with the lower marginal portions of the inner wall portion, said centrally disposed surface defining the upper surface of the bottom wall portion of a generally channel-shaped body including generally parallel upstanding opposite sidewalls interconnected at their front ends by means of an upstanding front wall, said side upstanding walls being spaced apart a distance generally equal to the outside diameter of said annular under body.

8. The combination of claim 7 including a pair of rearwardly and downwardly inclined upstanding elongated drag members whose upper ends are dependingly pivotally supported from the rear corner portions of said bottom wall portion for oscillation relative to said body about horizontal transverse axes, a pair of elongated flexible members having one pair of ends thereof attached to said drag members intermediate their upper and lower ends, said pull members extending forwardly and upwardly from said drag members, the opposite side marginal edge portions of said bottom wall portion including openings formed therethrough through which said pull members are slidingly received, the forward upper corner portions of said sidewalls defining guide means with which said pull members are guidingly engaged, and said pull members extending rearwardly and upwardly from said guide means and having handgrips on the other pair of ends thereof.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the lower marginal portions of the inner and outer wall portions include flange portions projecting into said channel, said inner tube-type member being seated in said channel with its portions opposed by said flanges deflected inwardly thereby.

I I i i

Claims

1. A snow coaster for one or more riders, said coaster including an upper body defining a centrally disposed surface upon which a person or persons riding the coaster may be disposed, said body including means defining a generally circular horizontally disposed downwardly opening channel, an inflated inner tube-type member seatingly received in said channel and projecting downwardly outwardly therefrom, said means defining said downwardly opening channel comprising an annular under body generally semicircular in cross-sectional shape, a lower generally circular horizontal wall portion bound by said under body and including an upwardly and outwardly beveled outer periphery whose outer extremities join with the lower marginal portions of the inner periphery of said annular under body.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said upper body comprises an upwardly opening generally channel-shaped body including a bottom wall and a pair of generally parallel upstanding opposite sidewalls interconnected at their front ends by means of an upstanding front wall and said centrally disposed surface comprises the upper surface of said bottom wall.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said sidewalls have handgrip-defining openings formed therein.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said flanges are spaced below the center horizontal plane of said inner tube-type member.

7. A snow coaster for one or more riders, said coaster including a stiff body defining a centrally disposed upwardly facing surface upon which a person or persons riding the coaster may be disposed, said body also including depending stiff inner and outer wall portions defining a generally circular horizontally disposed and downwardly opening channel bounded by said inner and outer wall portions, an inflated inner tube-type member seatingly received in said channel and projecting downwardly outwardly therefrom, said downwardly opening channel being generally semicircular in cross-sectional shape, a lower generally circular horizontal wall portion bounded by said inner wall portion and including an upwardly and outwardly beveled outer periphery whose outer extremities join with the lower marginal portions of the inner wall portion, said ceNtrally disposed surface defining the upper surface of the bottom wall portion of a generally channel-shaped body including generally parallel upstanding opposite sidewalls interconnected at their front ends by means of an upstanding front wall, said side upstanding walls being spaced apart a distance generally equal to the outside diameter of said annular under body.