Air cushion borne vehicles having endless flexible treads

Claim 1

A VEHICLE HAVING FRONT AND REAR ENDS AND INCLUDING A VEHICLE BODY, SAID VEHICLE BEING ARRANGED FOR RECEIVING SUPPORT FROM AN AIR CUSHION WHEN FORMED BENEATH THE VEHICLE BODY, MEANS CARRIED BY THE VEHICLE BODY ENCLOSING AN AIR CUSHION SPACE, MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID VEHICLE BODY EXTERNALLY OF AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CUSHION SPACE FOR DELIVERING AIR TO SAID ENCLOSED SPACE TO FROM THEREIN AN AIR CUSHION PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THE VEHICLE, WHEREIN THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE MEANS FOR ENCLOSING SAID AIR CUSHION SPACE COMPRISES AN ENDLESS MOVABLE BAND OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL CARRIED BY THE VEHICLE BODY HAVING TOP AND BOTTOM RUNS EXTENDING IN THE FRONT TO REAR DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE AND CLOSING THE TOP AND BOTTOM RESPECTIVELY OF SAID SPACE, SAID ENDLESS BAND HAVING FRONT AND REAR PORTIONS JOINING THE TOP AND BOTTOM RUNS AND RESPECTIVELY PROJECTING FORWARDY AND REARWARDLY FROM SAID RUNS, THE BOTTOM RUN OF THE ENDLESS BAND BEARING ON THE SURFACE OVER WHICH THE VEHICLE TRAVELS, SAID ENCLOSING MEANS ALSO INCLUDING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING FLEXIBLE SKIRTS CARRIED BY THE VEHICLE BODY LOCATED ALONG AND MINIMIZING LATERAL ESCAPE OF AIR FROM THE RESPECTIVE LONGITUDINAL SIDES OF SAID AIR CUSHION SPACE BETWEEN THE RUNS OF SAID BAND, AND A FLEXIBLE SKIRT CARRIED BY THE VEHICLE BODY EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE VEHICLE ACROSS EACH END OF SAID AIR CUSHION SPACED FOR MINIMIZING ESCAPE OF AIR THEREFROM.