Patent US3568787A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3568787A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Tractor for a skier
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-01-09
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Granted: 1971-03-09
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Expires: 1989-01-09
Abstract
Abstract A tractor for a skier comprises a motor supporting a driving pulley around which passes an endless crawler belt which in turn passes on a guide pulley adjustably supported on a frame rail attached to the motor for tensioning the belt. The frame rail supports rollers which guide the lower run of the belt, said frame rail being dismantleable or foldable to enable transport of the tractor. Footrests on either side of the tractor are pivotably supported on a bar on the frame rail and stabilizer arms extend rearwardly of the footrests and are resiliently urged into contact with the ground for enabling the skier to shift his weight toward one or the other of the footrests and respective stabilizer arm to thereby steer the tractor.
Inventors
- 👤 Henri Gremeret
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:24
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63C; A63C5/00; A63C5/08; A63C5/085; A63C11/00; A63C11/10; B; B62; B62M; B62M27/00; B62M27/02; B62M2027/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A tractor adapted to be straddled by a skier, comprising a motor, a driving pulley driven by said motor and mounted thereon, an endless crawler belt in driving engagement with said driving pulley; said endless crawler including a lower portion adapted for contacting the ground; an articulated frame rail supported from said motor and extending longitudinally of the tractor, a plurality of rollers on said frame rail for guiding a lower run of the crawler belt; an adjustable support mounted rearwardly of the frame rail, a guide pulley on said adjustable support engaging said belt; tensioning means for displacing the support to tension the belt, a transverse support bar mounted above the frame rail, and a footrest on either side of the belt supported from said support bar for pivotal movement about a transverse axis between selected fixed positions; the footrest being vertically spaced from said lower portion of said endless crawler to permit the skier to exert his weight toward one or the other of the footrests for tilting and thereby steering the tractor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A tractor adapted to be straddled by a skier, comprising a motor, a driving pulley driven by said motor and mounted thereon, an endless crawler belt in driving engagement with said driving pulley; said endless crawler including a lower portion adapted for contacting the ground; an articulated frame rail supported from said motor and extending longitudinally of the tractor, a plurality of rollers on said frame rail for guiding a lower run of the crawler belt; an adjustable support mounted rearwardly of the frame rail, a guide pulley on said adjustable support engaging said belt; tensioning means for displacing the support to tension the belt, a transverse support bar mounted above the frame rail, and a footrest on either side of the belt supported from said support bar for pivotal movement about a transverse axis between selected fixed positions; the footrest being vertically spaced from said lower portion of said endless crawler to permit the skier to exert his weight toward one or the other of the footrests for tilting and thereby steering the tractor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A tractor as claimed in claim 1 comprising stabilizer arms extending rearwardly from said footrests and springs means between said stabilizer arms and said footrests whereby the stabilizer arms are urged towards the ground for both stabilizing and steering the tractor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A tractor as claimed in claim 1 comprising pivots on each footrest, a transverse tube mounted on said support and receiving said pivots, and means for removably securing said pivots in said tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
A tractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said motor is centrally located in said tractor, said frame rail including first and second portions pivotably connected to said motor and extending in opposite directions therefrom, said driving pulley being mounted on one of said portions, and means for driving the pulley from the motor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A tractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support bar is directly supported from said motor, said frame rail comprising a plurality of dismantleable elements interconnected in end-to-end relation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A tractor as claimed in claim 1 comprising spaced flanges secured to said motor, rollers supported from said flanges in circular array around the motor, said driving pulley being an annular member encircling said motor and rotatably carried on said rollers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A tractor as claimed in claim 6, wherein said flanges are secured to said frame rail.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
A tractor as claimed in claim 6, wherein said motor includes speed reducing means with an output shaft, a drive shaft supported by said flanges in concentric relation relative to said circular array of rollers, first transmission means coupling said output shaft and said drive shaft and second transmission means coupling said drive shaft and said driving pulley.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A tractor as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first and second transmission means include respective gears and chains with respective speed-reducing ratios, said driving pulley having a groove therein and a recessed toothing in said groove for drivingly engaging the chain of said second transmission means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A tractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame rail includes first and second sections hingeably joined together in axial alignment, said sections being foldable for transport and including means axially aligning and securing the sections together when they are unfolded.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A tractor as claimed in claim 10, wherein said adjustable support is mounted on one of said sections for axial displacement therealong, said tensioning means engaging said support and said one section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
81 words
A tractor as claimed in claim 11, wherein said tensioning means comprises a block having opposite ends with threads of opposite pitch therein, first bolt means secured to said adjustable support and threadably engaged with one of the threads in said block, said second bolt means secured to said one section and threadably engaged with the other of the threads in said block whereby turning of the block will produce relative movement of the adjustable support and the said one section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
96 words
A tractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said footrest comprises a profiled plate with a forward portion of U-shape for retaining the boot of a user and a rear member with a flat face against which the back of the boot can rest, a pivot on the back of said rear member, a stabilizer arm rotatably mounted on said pivot on the rear member and extending rearwardly thereof, spring means between said footrest and said stabilizer arm for urging the latter against the ground, and means for limiting upward movement of said stabilizer arm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A tractor as claimed in claim 13, wherein said means for limiting upward movement of said stabilizer arm comprises a ratchet wheel mounted on said pivot and a pawl on said footrest engaging said ratchet wheel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-08 | 1974-09-07 | 1975-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-08 | 1978-09-07 | 1979-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-08 | 1982-09-07 | 1983-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |