US3707199A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Recreational vehicle
Assignee: BGW IND Inc
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Filing: 1971-01-11
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Granted: 1972-12-26
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Expires: 1991-01-11
Abstract
Abstract Recreational vehicles are disclosed which are particularly suitable on snow or ice. The vehicles include a main frame on which the rider sits and a power unit connected to the main frame for pivotal movement about a longitudinal axis. Therefore, the rider may remain upright when passing over laterally sloping terrain or may lean into turns. Footrests are provided on each side of the longitudinal axis to provide rider stability without requiring the rider to place his feet on the ground. In one embodiment wheels are driven directly by the engine without an intermediate clutch, and the traction of the wheels is controlled by the operator''s foot pressure on the power unit frame.
Inventors
- 👤 Anton J Gerich
- 👤 Howard W Bletz
- 👤 Merle P Wilfing
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:58
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62M; B62M27/00; B62M27/02; B62M2027/021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A vehicle comprising a frame adapted to support an operator, a steerable terrain-engaging support element mounted on one end of said frame, a propelling unit pivotally connected to said frame for relative rotation about a longitudinal extending pivot axis, said propelling unit including terrain-engaging traction means and power means connected to drive said traction means, said traction means operating to engage said terrain at laterally spaced portions on both sides of said axis so that said power unit is laterally stable on the terrain, said frame being tippable about said axis with respect to the terrain and said propelling unit so that an operator can lean when the vehicle turns, said propelling unit providing a footrest on each side of said axis permitting an operator to control with his feet the position of said frame with respect to said propelling unit while said vehicle is in motion, and spring means connected between said frame and propelling unit which are operable to produce a centering force tending to maintain said frame in an upright position with respect to said propelling unit, said centering force being a direct function of the angle from the upright position of said frame with respect to said propelling unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
A vehicle comprising a frame adapted to support an operator, a steerable terrain-engaging support element mounted on one end of said frame, a propelling unit pivotally connected to said frame for relative rotation about a longitudinal extending pivot axis, said propelling unit including terrain-engaging traction means and power means connected to drive said traction means, said traction means operating to engage said terrain at laterally spaced portions on both sides of said axis so that said power unit is laterally stable on the terrain, said frame being tippable about said axis with respect to the terrain and said propelling unit so that an operator can lean when the vehicle turns, said propelling unit providing a footrest on each side of said axis permitting an operator to control with his feet the position of said frame with respect to said propelling unit while said vehicle is in motion, and spring means connected between said frame and propelling unit which are operable to produce a centering force tending to maintain said frame in an upright position with respect to said propelling unit, said centering force being a direct function of the angle from the upright position of said frame with respect to said propelling unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said traction means is a track mechanism operable to engage the terrain and support the portion of the vehicle not supported by said support element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
130 words
A vehicle comprising a frame adapted to support an operator, a steerable terrain-engaging support element mounted at one end of said frame, a propelling unit pivotally connected to said frame for relative rotation about a longitudinally extending pivot axis, said propelling unit including a track mechanism operable to engage the terrain and support a portion of the vehicle not supported by said support element and power means connected to drive said track mechanism, said frame being tippable about said axis with respect to the terrain and said propelling unit so that an operator can lean when the vehicle turns, and spring means operatively connected between said frame and propelling unit providing a resilient centering force tending to maintain said frame in an upright position with respect to said propelling unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
130 words
A vehicle comprising a frame adapted to support an operator, a steerable terrain-engaging support element mounted at one end of said frame, a propelling unit pivotally connected to said frame for relative rotation about a longitudinally extending pivot axis, said propelling unit including a track mechanism operable to engage the terrain and support a portion of the vehicle not supported by said support element and power means connected to drive said track mechanism, said frame being tippable about said axis with respect to the terrain and said propelling unit so that an operator can lean when the vehicle turns, and spring means operatively connected between said frame and propelling unit providing a resilient centering force tending to maintain said frame in an upright position with respect to said propelling unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 3 wherein said spring means are sized and connected so that an even distribution of the load on the track is maintained when an operator leans into a turn when the vehicle is in motion and turning on substantially flat terrain.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-26 | 1976-06-26 | 1976-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-26 | 1980-06-26 | 1980-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-26 | 1984-06-26 | 1984-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |