Sled apparatus

• US 20040051262A1
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Melvin R. Young
• Original Assignee: Melvin R. Young
• Inventors: Young, Melvin R.
• Application Number:
  US10/241,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20040051262A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/7.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/007 means for adjusting the wheel inclination
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/144 with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/44 steerable
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/114 transversally arranged
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/122 Trikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/322 Snowmobiles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/45 Rolling frame vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 13/12 with tilting or bending runners
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 15/008 Wheeled sledges B62B13/18 and B62B15/001 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2301/256 by using endless belts
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2005/001 Suspension details for cycles with three or more main road wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/00 Cycles with handlebars, equipped with three or more main road wheels cycle supports or stands equipped with additional wheels for ride stabilisation B62H1/12
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/05 characterised by a single rear wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/10 with means for inwardly inclining the vehicle body on bends

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a sled apparatus. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the sled apparatus is configured to move over various types of surfaces including the ground, grass, pavement, concrete, asphalt, snow, ice, and artificial surfaces.

Claims

1. A sled apparatus for use over a surface, comprising:

a sled body configured to accommodate at least one rider;

a front suspension connected to said sled body;

a rear suspension connect to said sled body;

a front pair of surface contacting members connected to said sled body by said front suspension;

at least one rear surface contacting member connected to said sled body by said rear suspension;

a steering mechanism configured to steer at least one of said surface contacting members; and

a tilting mechanism configured to tilt substantially said sled body along said sled body'"'"'s roll axis relative to the surface.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said steering mechanism and tilting mechanism are configured to be independent.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said steering mechanism and tilting mechanism are configured to be dependent.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said steering mechanism and tilting mechanism are configured to be selectively independent or dependent.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said steering mechanism is actuated and controlled by a pair of foot pedals.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said steering mechanism is coupled to said tilting mechanism, and said foot pedals actuate and control both steering and tilting of said apparatus.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said steering mechanism is mechanically coupled to said tilting mechanism.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said steering mechanism and said tilting mechanism are coupled to have directly proportional movement rates.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said steering mechanism and said tilting mechanism are coupled to have differential proportional movement rates.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ground contacting members are snow skis.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ground contacting members are ice skates.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ground contacting members are roller type blades.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tilting mechanism is configured to move a center of gravity of said apparatus in a sideways direction relative a direction of movement of said apparatus.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said steering mechanism and said tilting mechanism are coordinated so that said sled body rolls in a same direction as said apparatus is steered by the at least one rider.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sled body is constructed of a tubular frame supporting an outer skin.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rear suspension is a rear independent suspension.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one ground contacting member is a single ground contacting member located substantially on center relative to a center longitudinal axis of said apparatus.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said rear suspension and said single rear ground contacting member are configured to allow said single rear ground contacting member to freely rotate along a substantially vertical axis.

19. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said steering mechanism is configured to rotate said pair of front ground contacting members along substantially vertical axes.

20. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said front suspension includes a transverse oriented leaf spring.

21. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rear suspension includes a coil spring.