Ski attachment for motorcycles

Claim 2

For use in combination with a motorcycle having a main frame and a power driven rear ground-engaging wheel, a ski attachment comprising: a. an attachment frame including means for mounting it on said main cycle frame, b. an endless traction belt carried operably by said attachment frame so as to be disposed beneath said rear cycle wheel, and having a normally horizontal lower reach, c. a ski having an aperture formed therethrough, d. attaching means connecting said ski to said attachment frame so that said belt is disposed within the aperture of said ski and iTs lower reach engages a snow surface beneath said ski, e. at least one drive roller carried rotatably by said attachment frame, said drive roller including a friction portion engageable with said cycle wheel whereby said roller is turned by rotation of said wheel, and a sprocket wheel rotatable with said friction portion, and f. a flexible sprocket chain affixed peripherally to said traction belt and meshed with said sprocket wheel.

Claim 3

For use in combination with a motorcycle having a main frame and a power driven rear ground-engaging wheel, a ski attachment comprising: a. an attachment frame, b. means for mounting said attachment frame on said main frame, said mounting means being operable to permit pivotal movement of said attachment frame relative to said cycle frame on a horizontal axis transverse to the line of cycle travel, c. an endless traction belt carried operably by said attachment frame so as to be disposed beneath said rear cycle wheel, and having a normally horizontal lower reach, d. a ski having an aperture formed therethrough, e. attaching means connecting said ski to said attachment frame so that said belt is disposed within the aperture of said ski and its lower reach engages a snow surface beneath said ski, said pivotal connection of said attachment frame to said main cycle frame permitting said belt and ski to pivot to follow irregularities of the snow surface being traversed, and f. power means operable to drive said traction belt.

Claim 4

For use in combination with a motorcycle having a main frame and a power driven rear ground-engaging wheel, a ski attachment comprising: a. an attachment frame, b. means for mounting said attachment frame on said main frame, said mounting means being operable to permit pivotal movement of said attachment frame relative to said cycle frame on a horizontal axis transverse to the line of cycle travel, c. an endless traction belt carried operably by said attachment frame so as to be disposed beneath said rear cycle wheel, and having a normally horizontal lower reach, d. a ski having an aperture formed therethrough, e. attaching means connecting said ski to said attachment frame so that said belt is disposed within the aperture of said ski and its lower reach engages a snow surface beneath said ski, said pivotal connection of said attachment frame to said main cycle frame permitting said belt and ski to pivot to follow irregularities of the snow surface being traversed, and f. power means operable to drive said traction belt.

Claim 5

The structure as recited in claim 2 with the addition of resilient means biasing said attachment frame yieldably toward a position relative to said main cycle frame wherein said belt and ski are disposed generally horizontally.

Claim 6

The structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said mounting means for mounting said attachment frame on said main cycle frame is operable to permit pivotal movement of said attachment frame relative to said cycle frame on a horizontal axis coaxial with the rotational axis of said rear cycle wheel, whereby said attachment frame pivots coaxially with said wheel.

Claim 7

For use in combination with a motorcycle having a main frame and a power driven rear ground-engaging wheel, a ski attachment comprising: a. an attachment frame including means for mounting it on said main cycle frame, b. an endless traction belt carried operably by said attachment frame so as to be disposed beneath said rear cycle wheel, and having a normally horizontal lower reach, c. a ski having an aperture formed therethrough, d. attaching means connecting said ski to said attachment frame so that said belt is disposed within the aperture of said ski and its lower reach engages a snow surface beneath said ski, said attaching means being vertically adjustable, whereby the lower reach of said traction belt may be disposed selectively at different distances below the bottom surface of said ski, and e. power means operable to drive said traction belt.

Claim 8

For use in combination with a motorcycle having a main frame and a power driven rear ground-engaging wheel, a ski attachment comprising: a. an attachment frame including means for mounting it on said main cycle frame, b. an endless traction belt carried operably by said attachment frame so as to be disposed beneath said rear cycle wheel, and having a normally horizontal lower reach, c. a ski having an aperture formed therethrough, d. attaching means connecting said ski to said attachment frame so that said belt is disposed within the aperture of said ski and its lower reach engages a snow surface beneath said ski, said attaching means being vertically adjustable, whereby the lower reach of said traction belt may be disposed selectively at different distances below the bottom surface of said ski, and e. power means operable to drive said traction belt.

Claim 9

For use in combination with a motorcycle having a main frame and a power driven rear ground-engaging wheel, a ski attachment comprising: a. an attachment frame including means for mounting it on said main cycle frame, b. an endless traction belt carried operably by said attachment frame so as to be disposed beneath said rear cycle wheel, and having a normally horizontal lower reach, c. a ski having an aperture formed therethrough, d. attaching means connecting said ski to said attachment frame so that said belt is disposed within the aperture of said ski and its lower reach engages a snow surface beneath said ski, said attachment means being resiliently yieldable in a vertical direction, whereby the lower reach of said traction belt may be extended further beneath said ski through the aperture thereof against the increasing resistance of said attaching means.

Claim 10

For use in combination with a motorcycle having a main frame and a power driven rear ground-engaging wheel, a ski attachment comprising: a. an attachment frame including means for mounting it on said main cycle frame, b. an endless traction belt carried operably by said attachment frame so as to be disposed beneath said rear cycle wheel, and having a normally horizontal lower reach, c. a ski having an aperture formed therethrough, d. attaching means connecting said ski to said attachment frame so that said belt is disposed within the aperture of said ski and its lower reach engages a snow surface beneath said ski, said attachment means being resiliently yieldable in a vertical direction, whereby the lower reach of said traction belt may be extended further beneath said ski through the aperture thereof against the increasing resistance of said attaching means.

Claim 11

The structure as recited in claim 6 wherein said attaching means connecting said ski to said attachment frame compRises; a. a plurality of upwardly opening socket members affixed to said ski and projecting upwardly therefrom, b. a plurality of depending plungers affixed to said attachment frame and each engaged slidably in one of said socket members, c. springs yieldably resisting downward movement of each of said plungers in its associated socket member, and d. means positively limiting upward movement of each of said plungers in its associated socket member.