Land vehicles – Runner vehicle – Occupant steered
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-09
2003-06-10
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Runner vehicle
Occupant steered
C280S015000, C280S016000, C280S028110, C280S022100, C280S025000, C280S027000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06575479
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to sleds, sleighs, and related devices for travel over ice and snow, and more particularly to a small single occupant sled having two fixed rearward runners and a single steerable front runner. The present three runner sled incorporates various improvements over sleds of the prior art, including an adjustable front suspension, novel brake means, and means for carrying the device on the back of a person on foot.
2. Description of Related Art
Sleds and related vehicles have been developed in many cultures throughout the world, wherever climatological conditions provide for ice and snow. Generally speaking, sleds have not evolved appreciably over the years, and can be divided into a relatively few classes based upon their runner configurations. The present invention relates more particularly to sleds having multiple runners with at least one steerable runner, as opposed to toboggans, dual fixed runner sleds, and the like.
Most sleds known in the past are relatively simple devices, having no suspension and relatively crude (if any) steering. Such devices are generally intended purely for recreation, and are generally operated by one or more occupants (generally children) in relatively short runs down a reasonably gentle slope. In such conditions, such relatively primitive sled configurations are reasonably safe. However, the poor suspension, steering, and brakes (if any) provided with such sleds, can easily prove to be a hazard if an occupant or user attempts a slope which leads to somewhat more speed than he or she is used to, or more speed than the relatively primitive sled configuration is equipped to handle.
Accordingly, a need will be seen for a single occupant three runner sled which incorporates various features which provide additional safety margins for persons using the present sled. The present three runner sled incorporates a front suspension which may be adjusted as desired for the weight and seating position of the occupant, as well as the ambient snow or ice conditions (rough, smooth, etc.). Independent brakes are also provided behind each of the rear runners, with the brake shoes being interchangeable as desired for different conditions. A “dead man's,” or emergency, brake is also automatically actuated in the event the occupant falls from the sled. The kneeling position provided for the occupant of the present sled is somewhat like that used with personal watercraft, and provides a relatively low center of gravity while still allowing the occupant to shift his or her weight readily for better control.
A discussion of the related art of which the present inventors are aware, and the differences and distinctions between that art and the present invention, is provided below.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,682,495 issued on Aug. 8, 1972 to Kourosh Zaimi, titled “Snow Bike,” describes a three runner device somewhat resembling the classic two runner ski-bob, in that a bicycle type seat is provided on the longitudinal member extending forwardly from the single non-steerable rear runner. However, the Zaimi device includes two steerable front runners, with the directions of the front runners being independently controllable relative to one another. Each front runner has an independent brake, with each separately steerable handlebar having a brake lever thereon for the brake on that side. The seating position does not provide the versatility of the present sled's seating position, and the two independently steerable front runners and single rear runner are essentially reversed from the configuration of the present sled.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,833,234 issued on Sep. 3, 1974 to Hermann Schreiber, titled “Vehicle, In Particular For Training In The Coordination Of Several Controls,” describes a three runner sled having a single steerable front runner and two fixed rearward runners. No specific seating arrangement is disclosed, but it is apparent that the operator's feet must be deployed forwardly, as the directional steering is configured to simulate the forwardly disposed rudder pedals of a conventionally controlled aircraft. Other controls cause the Schreiber sled to bank by tilting the sled relative to the two rearward runners, unlike the present sled.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,858,896 issued on Jan. 7, 1975 to Jean-Yves Evequoz, titled “Ski-Bob,” describes a three runner sled having a single steerable front runner and two closely spaced rear runners. While the conventional ski-bob is equipped with only two runners in tandem, the Evequoz sled is closely related, as the two rear runners have only enough clearance therebetween to provide for independent operation of their separate suspensions. They are so closely spaced that no real lateral stability is provided, with the operator being required to balance laterally using his or her feet. In any event, no adjustability is disclosed for the front suspension, as provided by the present sled, and the seating arrangement of the Evequoz sled is completely different, due to the need to position the operator's feet laterally from the sled for stability.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,900,208 issued on Aug. 19, 1975 to Stig Gunnar Hjelmquist, titled “Sleds,” describes a three runner sled having a single steerable front runner and two directionally fixed rear runners. However, the Hjelmquist sled has no suspension whatsoever and a single hand operated brake affixed to the front runner, rather than the two rearwardly disposed and independently controllable brakes of the present sled. Moreover, the seating position is unlike that of the present sled, with the Hjelmquist sled having a generally rearwardly disposed seat and lateral runners extending forwardly of the seat for placement of the operator's feet. Hjelmquist also uses a steering wheel, rather than handle bars, for directional control of his sled.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,063,746 issued on Dec. 20, 1977 to Odd Hansen, titled “Sledge,” describes a three runner sled having a single steerable front runner and two directionally fixed rear runners. The two rear runners are linked together at their forward ends by a crossmember which passes in front of the steering column of the device; no suspension means is disclosed for the front runner or ski. The seating position is completely different than that provided by the present sled, with the operator's feet positioned forwardly of the seat in order to operate the forwardly disposed brake spurs which extend through the forward portions of the two laterally spaced rear runners, more or less laterally in line with the steering wheel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,142 issued on Jul. 18, 1978 to Richard W. Turner, titled “Snow Sled Turning Mechanism,” describes a three runner sled having a single steerable front runner steered by handlebars. The Turner sled includes a relatively wide body portion for the occupant(s) and braking means extending from each of the non-steerable rear runners, with the brakes being independently selectively actuated by corresponding levers on the handlebars. No specific seating position is shown or described by Turner, but it is apparent that the rider's feet are not positioned rearwardly, as Turner does not provide any rearwardly disposed foot rests in his sled. Moreover, while Turner provides a suspension spring for the front runner, he makes no disclosure of any means of adjusting the front suspension in any way, whereas the present sled includes front suspension adjustment means.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,566 issued on Feb. 27, 1979 to David M Benes et al., titled “Wheelchair Supporting Sled,” describes a sled having a single steerable front runner with four laterally spaced rearward runners, the two outermost runners being provided for increased lateral stability. Steering and braking are controlled respectively by a handlebar and brake handgrips on the handlebar. No seating position is provided in the Benes et al. sled. Rather, a series of clamps is provided to secure a wheelchair frame removably to the sled structure, with the wheelchair providing the
Johnson Brian L.
Litman Richard C.
Swenson Brian L
Triage Sled Works, Inc.
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