Land vehicle propelled by simulated rowing motion

Claim 1

A wheeled vehicle with an oar-type drive assembly capable of simulating a rowing motion, comprising: (a) a main frame having front wheels journaled from each side thereof, said front wheels being steeringly connected to each other, the steering thereof being operative by foot pedals mounted on said frame, each of said foot pedals being pivotally attached to said main frame and having attached to each of said foot pedals a cable in operative connection with separate steering arms, each of said steering arms being separately fixedly attached to a rotatable spindle assembly attached to each of said front wheels and to separate tie rod arms, each of said tie rod arms being attached to a common tie rod therebetween, whereby movement of one of said foot pedals causes equal reaction to each of said front wheels; (b) a drive wheel journaled from the rearward portion of said frame; (c) a rowing member pivotally attached to said frame at one end of said member and having oar handles extending outwardly from the opposite end of said member, said rowing member being operatively connected to said drive wheel to effect the rotation thereof in a forward direction; wherein said rowing member is attached by cable to a flanged drum having said cable wound thereon, said flanged drum being mounted on a jack shaft attached to said main frame; a one-way ratchet mechanism operatively connecting said drum and said drive wheel, said rowing member being capable of pulling said cable to effect rotation of said drum and drive wheel in a forward direction, and means for returning said drum and said cable to their original position; wherein said means for returning said drum and said cable to their original positions includes an elastic member wound on said drum in a direction opposite to the direction in which said cable in wound on said drum, one end of said elastic member being operatively attached to said main frame, whereby upon unwinding said cable from said flanged drum by a pulling action of said rowing member, said elastic member is correspondingly wound upon said flanged drum, thereby increasing tension in said elastic member such that when said pulling action of said rowing member ceases, said elastic member seeks to release tension therein, thereby causing said cable to rewind on said flanged drum as said rowing member is returned to its original position.