Rowing type vehicle

Claim 1

A rider propelled vehicle comprising a frame having a frame axis parallel to the direction of travel of said vehicle, a drive wheel including driving means mounted on said frame to rotate on an axle perpendicular to said frame axis, a steerable wheel having an axis of rotation, said steerable wheel mounted on said frame in bearing means defining a steering axis of said steerable wheel with respect to said frame axis, a rail pivotally mounted on said frame to rotate around a rail axis with said rail axis parallel with said frame axis, said rail having a seat mounted thereon, and enlongated operating handle mounted on said frame through pivoting means to move reciprocally through a power stroke and a return stroke, said handle having an upper end and a lower end with said lower end fixed in said pivoting means, an extendible rod slidably mounted in releasable locking means within said pivoting means whereby angular motion of said handle produces corresponding angular motion of said extendible rod, elongated flexible means engaged with said driving means, said elongated means connected at one end to said extendible rod and at the other end to biasing means positioned to bias said handle through said return stroke whereby varying the position of said rod in said pivoting means varies the mechanical force exerted on said driving means through said elongated means during said power stroke, and means connected between said rail and said steerable wheel to move said steerable wheel around its steering axis responsive to rotation of said rail around said rail axis of rotation.