Vehicle

Claim 2

A vehicle comprising a support plate; a first endless belt; nonrotating attachment means adjustably attaching said first endless belt to said support plate to cause said first endless belt to form a movable, ground-engaging surface, said attachment means permitting tension-controlling adjustment of said first endless belt, said attachment means having at the interface of said attachment means and said first endless belt a surface which when lubricated is substantially frictionless; and a lubricating system for providing a lubricating fluid to the interface of said attachment means and said first endless belt, said attachment means including: first and second belt housings each having a belt-retaining groove for retaining said first endless belt with a groundengaging surface adapted for movement of said vehicle over the ground, said groove including a surface which when lubricated is substantially frictionless; first and second bracket members connected to first and second ends of said support plate; first and second yoke means; first and second retaining means, each retaining means connecting an associated yoke means and an associated belt housing with an associated bracket member, at least one of said last-named connections being adjustable; aNd adjustable connecting means adjustably connecting said first yoke means with said second yoke means to permit movement of one of said belt housings relative to the other of said belt housings upon adjustment of said connecting means to control tension in said first endless belt.

Claim 3

A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 in which said support plate is adapted for attachment to a shoe to provide a skate.

Claim 4

A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a shoe attached to said support plate to provide a skate.

Claim 5

A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means attached to said support plate for defining a cargo section.

Claim 6

A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 in which said lubricating system comprises a lubricant reservoir adapted to hold liquid lubricant; at least one lubricant conduit in each belt housing and communicating with said belt-retaining grooves; and means for coupling said reservoir to said conduits to permit flow of lubricant from said reservoir through said conduits to said belt-retaining grooves.

Claim 7

A vehicle as claimed in claim 5 in which each conduit includes means for metering lubricant flow to said belt-retaining grooves.

Claim 8

A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 in which said first endless belt has a hollow core adapted to hold liquid lubricant and having at least one opening communicating between said hollow core and said belt-retaining grooves as said first endless belt moves over said belt housings to permit flow of lubricant from said hollow core to said belt-retaining grooves, whereby said first endless belt with the hollow core and the at least one opening constitute the lubricating system.

Claim 9

A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 in which said groove surface is a tetrafluorethylene coated surface.

Claim 10

A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 in which said groove surface is a ceramic porcelain coated surface.

Claim 11

A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 including a second endless belt adjustably attached by said attachment means to said support plate to form a second movable, ground-engaging surface parallel to said first ground-engaging surface.

Claim 12

A vehicle comprising a support plate; an endless belt; nonrotating attachment means attaching said endless belt to said support plate to cause said endless belt to form a movable, ground-engaging surface, said attachment means having when lubricated a substantially frictionless surface at the interface of said attachment means and said belt; said endless belt having a hollow core adapted to hold liquid lubricant and having at least one opening for communicating between said hollow core and the interface of said attachment means and said endless belt to permit flow of lubricant from said hollow core to said interface as said endless belt moves over said attachment means, whereby said endless belt with the hollow core and the at least one opening constitute a lubricating system for providing lubricant to the interface of said attachment means and said endless belt.

Claim 13

A vehicle comprising a support plate; an endless belt; nonrotating attachment means attaching said endless belt to said support plate to cause said endless belt to form a movable, ground-engaging surface, said attachment means having when lubricated a substantially frictionless surface at the interface of said attachment means and said belt; said endless belt having a hollow core adapted to hold liquid lubricant and having at least one opening for communicating between said hollow core and the interface of said attachment means and said endless belt to permit flow of lubricant from said hollow core to said interface as said endless belt moves over said attachment means, whereby said endless belt with the hollow core and the at least one opening constitute a lubricating system for providing lubricant to the interface of said attachment means and said endless belt.

Claim 14

A vehicle as claimed in claim 11 in which the at least one opening includes means for metering lubricant flow to said interface.

Claim 15

A vehicle as claimed in claim 11 in which said groove surface is a tetrafluorethylene coated surface.

Claim 16

A vehicle as claimed in claim 11 in which said groove surface is a ceramic porcelain coated surface.

Claim 17

A vehicle comprising a support plate; a first endless belt; nonrotating attachment means adjustably attaching said first endless belt to said support plate to cause said first endless belt to form a movable, ground-engaging surface, said attachment means permitting tension-controlling adjustment of said first endless belt, said attachment means having when lubricated a substantially frictionless surface at the interface of said attachment means and said first endless belt, said attachment means including: first and second belt housings each having a belt-retaining groove for retaining said first endless belt with a ground-engaging surface adapted for mOvement of said vehicle over the ground, said groove including, a surface which when lubricated is substantially frictionless; first and second bracket members connected to first and second ends of said support plate; first and second yoke means; first and second retaining means, each retaining means connecting an associated yoke means and an associated belt housing with an associated bracket member, at least one of said last-named connections being adjustable; and adjustable connecting means adjustably connecting said first yoke means with said second yoke means to permit movement of one of said belt housings relative to the other of said belt housings upon adjustment of said connecting means to control tension in said first endless belt.

Claim 18

A vehicle comprising a support plate; a first endless belt; nonrotating attachment means adjustably attaching said first endless belt to said support plate to cause said first endless belt to form a movable, ground-engaging surface, said attachment means permitting tension-controlling adjustment of said first endless belt, said attachment means having when lubricated a substantially frictionless surface at the interface of said attachment means and said first endless belt, said attachment means including: first and second belt housings each having a belt-retaining groove for retaining said first endless belt with a ground-engaging surface adapted for mOvement of said vehicle over the ground, said groove including, a surface which when lubricated is substantially frictionless; first and second bracket members connected to first and second ends of said support plate; first and second yoke means; first and second retaining means, each retaining means connecting an associated yoke means and an associated belt housing with an associated bracket member, at least one of said last-named connections being adjustable; and adjustable connecting means adjustably connecting said first yoke means with said second yoke means to permit movement of one of said belt housings relative to the other of said belt housings upon adjustment of said connecting means to control tension in said first endless belt.

Claim 19

A vehicle as claimed in claim 15 further comprising means for applying a lubricant to the interface of said attachment means and said belt.

Claim 20

A vehicle as claimed in claim 15 including a second endless belt adjustably attached by said attachment means to said support plate to form a second movable, ground-engaging surface parallel to said first ground-engaging surface.

Claim 21

A vehicle comprising a support plate; a first endless belt; a second endless belt; nonrotating attachment means adjustably attaching said first and second endless belts to said support plate to cause said first and second endless belts to form first and second movable, ground-engaging surfaces, said attachment means permitting tension-controlling adjustment of said first and second endless belts, said attachment means having at the interfaces of said attachment means and said first and second endless belts first and second surfaces which when lubricated are substantially frictionless; and a lubricating system for providing a lubricating fluid to the interfaces of said attachment means and said first and second endless belts, said attachment means comprising: a. first and second belt housings, each belt housing including: i. a first belt housing portion; ii. a second belt housing portion; iii. a flexible filler portion; and iv. mounting means for mounting said first and second belt housing portions with said flexible filler portion therebetween to define a belt-retaining groove for retaining an associated one of said first and second endless belts with a ground-engaging surface adapted for movement of said vehicle over the ground, that part of said belt-retaining groove made up of said first and second belt housing portions including a surface which when lubricated is substantially frictionless, said mounting means including adjustable means permitting adjustment of the spacing between said first and second belt housing portions in which said flexible filler portion is situated; and b. first and second bracket members coupling said first and second belt housings to first and second ends of said support plate.

Claim 22

A vehicle comprising a support plate; a first endless belt; a second endless belt; nonrotating attachment means adjustably attaching said first and second endless belts to said support plate to cause said first and second endless belts to form first and second movable, ground-engaging surfaces, said attachment means permitting tension-controlling adjustment of said first and second endless belts, said attachment means having at the interfaces of said attachment means and said first and second endless belts first and second surfaces which when lubricated are substantially frictionless; and a lubricating system for providing a lubricating fluid to the interfaces of said attachment means and said first and second endless belts, said attachment means comprising: a. first and second belt housings, each belt housing including: i. a first belt housing portion; ii. a second belt housing portion; iii. a flexible filler portion; and iv. mounting means for mounting said first and second belt housing portions with said flexible filler portion therebetween to define a belt-retaining groove for retaining an associated one of said first and second endless belts with a ground-engaging surface adapted for movement of said vehicle over the ground, that part of said belt-retaining groove made up of said first and second belt housing portions including a surface which when lubricated is substantially frictionless, said mounting means including adjustable means permitting adjustment of the spacing between said first and second belt housing portions in which said flexible filler portion is situated; and b. first and second bracket members coupling said first and second belt housings to first and second ends of said support plate.

Claim 23

A vehicle as claimed in claim 18 in which said support plate is adapted for attachment to a shoe to provide a skate.

Claim 24

A vehicle as claimed in claim 18 further comprising a shoe attached to said support plate to provide a skate.

Claim 25

A vehicle as claimed in claim 18 further comprising means attached to said support plate for defining a cargo section.

Claim 26

A vehicle as claimed in claim 18 in which said lubricating system comprises a lubricant reservoir adapted to hold liquid lubricant; at least one lubricant conduit in each belt housing and communicating with said belt-retaining grooves; and means for coupling said reservoir to said conduits to permit flow of lubricant from said reservoir through said conduits to said belt-retaining grooves.

Claim 27

A vehicle as claimed in claim 22 in which each conduit includes means for metering lubricant flow to said belt-retaining grooves.

Claim 28

A vehicle as claimed in claim 18 in which each of said first and second endless belts has a hollow core adapted to hold liquid lubricant and has at least one opening communicating between said hollow core and The associated one of said belt-retaining grooves as said first and second endless belts move over said belt housings to permit flow of lubricant from said first and second endless belt hollow cores to said belt-retaining grooves, whereby said first and second endless belts with the hollow cores and the openings constitute the lubricating system.

Claim 29

A vehicle as claimed in claim 18 in which each said groove surface includes a tetrafluorethylene coated surface.

Claim 30

A vehicle as claimed in claim 18 in which each said groove surface includes a ceramic porcelain coated surface.

Claim 31

A vehicle comprising a support plate; a first endless belt; a second endless belt; nonrotating attachment means adjustably attaching said first and second endless belts to said support plate to cause said first and second endless belts to form first and second movable, ground-engaging surfaces, said attachment means permitting tension-controlling adjustment of said first and second endless belts, said attachment means having when lubricated a substantially frictionless surface at the interfaces of said attachment means and said first and second belts, said attachment means comprising: a. first and second belt housings, each belt housing including: i. a first belt housing portion; ii. a second belt housing portion; iii. a flexible filler portion; and iv. mounting means for mounting said first and second belt housing portions with said flexible filler portion therebetween to define a belt-retaining groove for retaining an associated one of said first and second endless belts with a ground-engaging surface adapted for movement of said vehicle over the ground, that part of said belt-retaining groove made up of said first and second belt housing portions including a surface which when lubricated is substantially frictionless, said mounting means including adjustable means permitting adjustment of the spacing between said first and second belt housing portions in which said flexible filler portion is situated; and b. first and second bracket members coupling said first and second belt housings to first and second ends of said support plate.

Claim 32

A vehicle comprising a support plate; a first endless belt; a second endless belt; nonrotating attachment means adjustably attaching said first and second endless belts to said support plate to cause said first and second endless belts to form first and second movable, ground-engaging surfaces, said attachment means permitting tension-controlling adjustment of said first and second endless belts, said attachment means having when lubricated a substantially frictionless surface at the interfaces of said attachment means and said first and second belts, said attachment means comprising: a. first and second belt housings, each belt housing including: i. a first belt housing portion; ii. a second belt housing portion; iii. a flexible filler portion; and iv. mounting means for mounting said first and second belt housing portions with said flexible filler portion therebetween to define a belt-retaining groove for retaining an associated one of said first and second endless belts with a ground-engaging surface adapted for movement of said vehicle over the ground, that part of said belt-retaining groove made up of said first and second belt housing portions including a surface which when lubricated is substantially frictionless, said mounting means including adjustable means permitting adjustment of the spacing between said first and second belt housing portions in which said flexible filler portion is situated; and b. first and second bracket members coupling said first and second belt housings to first and second ends of said support plate.

Claim 33

A vehicle as claimed in claim 27 further comprising means for applying a lubricant to the interfaces of said attachment means and said first and second endless belts.