Collapsible sail-propelled vehicle

Claim 2

A sail-propelled vehicle for operation on a solid surface, comprising: a frame having an elongated rear lateral member, an elongated longitudinal member extending forwardly from the lateral member, first attachment means for releasably securing together the lateral and longitudinal members, a pair of rear struts secured adjacent opposite ends of the lateral member and extending toward each other and upwardly and forwardly from the lateral member, a forward strut secured adjacent a forward end of the longitudinal member and extending upwardly and rearwardly toward upper ends of the rear struts, and coupling means for securing together upper ends of the forward and rear struts; a seat member attached to the frame and arranged to support and occupant of the vehicle; a sail-carrying mast secured to and extending upwardly from the frame; and support means secured to and extending downwardly from the frame to support the vehicle for movement along the solid surface.

Claim 3

The vehicle defined in claim 1 in which the frame includes a generally U-shaped roll bar with legs extending upwardly from the rear lateral member, second attachment means for releasably securing together the roll-bar legs and the lateral member, and a brace strut secured to and extending between the coupling means and an upper portion of the roll bar.

Claim 4

The vehicle defined in claim 1 in which the support means comprises a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels rotatably mounted on opposite sides of the frame, and a front wheel steerably and roTatably mounted on the frame forwardly of the rear wheels.

Claim 5

The vehicle defined in claim 1 in which the support means comprises first and second laterally spaced iceboat runners mounted on opposite sides of the frame, and a third iceboat runner mounted on the frame forwardly of the first and second runners.

Claim 6

The vehicle defined in claim 2 in which the coupling means includes pivot means for pivotally securing together the forward, rear and brace struts, and further comprising second pivot means for pivotally securing together the forward strut and longitudinal member, and third attachment means for releasably securing together the rear struts and lateral member whereby the several strut members and the longitudinal member are foldable together to be oriented in parallel relation.

Claim 7

The vehicle defined in claim 5 in which the seat member is a flexible, foldable material defining a cockpit with a closed forward end for partially enclosing the vehicle occupant, and further comprising fourth attachment means for releasably securing the forward end of the cockpit to the frame, and fifth attachment means for releasably attaching the brace strut to the upper portion of the roll bar.

Claim 8

The vehicle defined in claim 5 and further comprising a selectably releasable mounting means for rotatably securing the mast to the frame.

Claim 9

The vehicle defined in claim 2 in which the seat member is a flexible, foldable material formed to define a cockpit for partially enclosing the occupant.

Claim 10

A sail-propelled vehicle for operation on a solid surface, comprising: of rear secured adjacent a frame having an elongated rear lateral member, an elongated longitudinal member extending forwardly form the lateral member, first attachment means for releasably securing the longitudinal member to the lateral member between the ends of the lateral member a pair of rear struts secured adjacent opposite ends of the lateral member and extending toward each other and upwardly from the lateral member, a forward strut secured adjacent a forward end of the longitudinal member and extending upwardly toward upper ends of the rear struts, and coupling means for securing together upper ends of the forward and rear struts, the frame being collapsible for storage into a configuration in which the members and struts are oriented substantially parallel to each other; a foldable seat member attached to the frame and arranged to support an occupant of the vehicle; a sail secured to the frame; and support means secured to the frame to support the vehicle for movement along the solid surface.

Claim 11

A sail-propelled vehicle for operation on a solid surface, comprising: of rear secured adjacent a frame having an elongated rear lateral member, an elongated longitudinal member extending forwardly form the lateral member, first attachment means for releasably securing the longitudinal member to the lateral member between the ends of the lateral member a pair of rear struts secured adjacent opposite ends of the lateral member and extending toward each other and upwardly from the lateral member, a forward strut secured adjacent a forward end of the longitudinal member and extending upwardly toward upper ends of the rear struts, and coupling means for securing together upper ends of the forward and rear struts, the frame being collapsible for storage into a configuration in which the members and struts are oriented substantially parallel to each other; a foldable seat member attached to the frame and arranged to support an occupant of the vehicle; a sail secured to the frame; and support means secured to the frame to support the vehicle for movement along the solid surface.

Claim 12

The vehicle defined in claim 9 in which the seat member is a flexible material formed to define a cockpit for partially enclosing the occupant.

Claim 13

The vehicle defined claim 9 in which the support means comprises a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels rotatably mounted on the rear lateral member at opposite sides of the frame, and a single front wheel steerably and rotatably mounted on the frame forwardly of the rear wheels.

Claim 14

The vehicle defined in claim 11 in which the forward and rear struts are rigid, and further comprising a pair of stays respectively connected adjacent opposite ends of the lateral member and extending forwardly to be connected adjacent the forward end of the longitudinal member.