Convertible vehicle

Claim 2

In combination with a vehicle having a body frame and having a steerable front wheel and a driven rear wheel mounted on said frame, means for increasing the traction of said rear wheel, said means comprising a tension wheel assembly mounted on said frame, a flexible traction belt adapted to extend around said driven rear wheel and around said tension wheel, said tension belt being driven by said rear wheel, said tension wheel being spring biased in a direction away from said rear wheel and substantially parallel to the horizontal to maintain constant tension on said belt, a pressure roller assembly mounted on said frame and extending downwardly and engaging the lower run of said belt to insure maximum traction contact, and common means mounting said tensioning wheel assembly and said pressure assembly on said frame whereby said assemblies may be removed simultaneously from said frame upon removal of said common means, said common mounting means comprising an elongated pin attached to said frame, and including first and second connecting means on said tension wheel assembly and said pressure roller assembly respectively for connecting said assemblies to said pin for independent pivotal movement about said pin.

Claim 3

A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said tensioning wheel is journaled to a spring biased telescopic tubE, said tube being pivotally movable on said mounting means about a horizontal axis, and including abutment means on said frame engaging said tube limiting the extent of downward movement of said wheel.

Claim 4

A combination as defined in claim 1 and including a ski and means to secure said ski to said front wheel.

Claim 5

A combination as defined in claim 3 wherein said means to secure said ski to said front wheel is a strap fixed at one end to said ski and adapted to extend around said front wheel, and locking means for securing the other end of said strap to the ski holding it securely in place.

Claim 6

In combination with a vehicle having a body frame and having a steerable front wheel and a driven rear wheel mounted on said frame, means for increasing the traction of said rear wheel, said means comprising a tension wheel assembly mounted on said frame, a flexible traction belt adapted to extend around said driven rear wheel and around said tension wheel, said traction belt being driven by said rear wheel, said tension wheel being spring biased in a direction away from said rear wheel and substantially parallel to the horizontal to maintain constant tension on said belt, said tension wheel assembly comprising a wheel journaled to a spring biased telescopic extensible tube, said tube being pivotally movable on said mounting means about a horizontal axis, and including abutment means on said frame engaging said tube limiting the extent of downward movement of said wheel, a pressure roller assembly mounted on said frame and extending downwardly and engaging the lower run of said belt to insure maximum traction contact, an elongated pin on said frame, first and second connecting means connecting said assemblies to said pin for independent pivotal movement about said pin.

Claim 7

In combination with a vehicle having a body frame and having a steerable front wheel and a driven rear wheel mounted on said frame, means for increasing the traction of said rear wheel, said means comprising a tension wheel assembly mounted on said frame, a flexible traction belt adapted to extend around said driven rear wheel and around said tension wheel, said traction belt being driven by said rear wheel, said tension wheel being spring biased in a direction away from said rear wheel and substantially parallel to the horizontal to maintain constant tension on said belt, said tension wheel assembly comprising a wheel journaled to a spring biased telescopic extensible tube, said tube being pivotally movable on said mounting means about a horizontal axis, and including abutment means on said frame engaging said tube limiting the extent of downward movement of said wheel, a pressure roller assembly mounted on said frame and extending downwardly and engaging the lower run of said belt to insure maximum traction contact, an elongated pin on said frame, first and second connecting means connecting said assemblies to said pin for independent pivotal movement about said pin.

Claim 8

A combination as defined in claim 5 wherein there are two pressure rollers, and including two rods, each pivotally supported at one end on said mounting means, and having a pressure roller journaled at the other end, said rods extending downwardly and outwardly from said mounting means in opposite directions, and spring means spanning the distance between said rods and connected thereto whereby said rods are drawn toward each other thereby maintaining the pressure rollers in engagement with the bottom run of the belt.

Claim 9

A combination as defined in claim 5 and including a ski and means to secure said ski to said front wheel.

Claim 10

A combination as defined in claim 7 wherein said means to secure said ski to said front wheel is a strap fixed at one end to said ski and adapted to extend around said front wheel, and locking means for securing the other end of said strap to the ski holding it securely in place.

Claim 11

In combination with a vehicle having a body frame and having a steerable front wheel and a driven rear wheel mounted on said frame, means for increasing the traction of said rear wheel, said means comprising a tension wheel assembly mounted on said frame, a flexible traction belt adapted to extend around said driven rear wheel and around said tension wheel, said traction belt being driven by said rear wheel, said tension wheel being spring biased in a direction away from said rear wheel and substantially parallel to the horizontal to maintain constant tension on said belt, a pressure roller assembly mounted on said frame and extending downwardly and engaging the lower run of said belt to insure maximum traction contact, and common means mounting said tensioning wheel assembly and said pressure roller assembly on said frame whereby said assemblies may be removed simultaneously from said frame upon removal of said common means said pressure roller assembly comprising at least two pressure rollers, and including at least two rods each pivotally supported at one end on said mounting means and having one of said pressure rollers journalled to the other end, said rods extending downwardly and outwardly from said mounting means in opposite directions, and spring means spanning the distance between said rods and connected thereto whereby said rods are drawn toward each other thereby maintaining the pressure rollers in engagement with the bottom run of the belt.

Claim 12

In combination with a vehicle having a body frame and having a steerable front wheel and a driven rear wheel mounted on said frame, means for increasing the traction of said rear wheel, said means comprising a tension wheel assembly mounted on said frame, a flexible traction belt adapted to extend around said driven rear wheel and around said tension wheel, said traction belt being driven by said rear wheel, said tension wheel being spring biased in a direction away from said rear wheel and substantially parallel to the horizontal to maintain constant tension on said belt, a pressure roller assembly mounted on said frame and extending downwardly and engaging the lower run of said belt to insure maximum traction contact, and common means mounting said tensioning wheel assembly and said pressure roller assembly on said frame whereby said assemblies may be removed simultaneously from said frame upon removal of said common means said pressure roller assembly comprising at least two pressure rollers, and including at least two rods each pivotally supported at one end on said mounting means and having one of said pressure rollers journalled to the other end, said rods extending downwardly and outwardly from said mounting means in opposite directions, and spring means spanning the distance between said rods and connected thereto whereby said rods are drawn toward each other thereby maintaining the pressure rollers in engagement with the bottom run of the belt.

Claim 13

A combination as defined in claim 9 wherein said tensioning wheel is journaled to a spring biased telescopic tube, said tube being pivotally movable on said mounting means about a horizontal axis, and including abutment means on said frame engaging said tube limiting the extent of downward movement of said wheel.

Claim 14

A combination as defined in claim 9 wherein said rods are independently pivotally mounted.

Claim 15

A combination as defined in claim 9 and including a ski and means to secure said ski to said front wheel.

Claim 16

A combination as defined in claim 12 wherein said means to secure said ski to said front wheel is a strap fixed at one end to said ski and adapted to extend around said front wheel, and locking means for securing the other end of said strap to the ski holding it securely in place.