Abstract:
The recreational vehicle disclosed here is a ski bike with four skis which is steerable using a handle bar. Both the front and rear skis have suspension systems which have shock absorbers. Brakes on each from ski serve to slow the bike and to assist in steering the bike, and a rear brake is used to slow and stop the bike.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to snow vehicles or coasting devices of the type primarily used for gliding over hills covered with snow or ice. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     U.S. Pat. No. 944,848 discloses a sled with two skis mounted to the front of a riding board, two more skis mounted to the rear of said riding board, and a steering bar that goes through the front of the riding board and controls the direction of the sled by changing the direction in which the front skis point. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,429,636 discloses a snow vehicle consisting of a frame, four skis, a seat and a steering bar. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,479,674 discloses a snow vehicle consisting of a frame, two skis, a seat and a steering bar. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,442,404 discloses a snow vehicle consisting of a frame, four skis, a seat, a steering bar and a front brake. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,140,099 discloses a ski-type bobsled comprising either one or two interconnected pairs of skis connected by a chassis which provides a means to steer the sled by shifting the driver&#39;s body weight from side to side. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,178,196 discloses a ski bike consisting of a frame, handle-bars, two skis mounted one in front and one in back and a seat. U.S. Pat. No. 3,361,436 discloses a two-seat ski sled having a pair of transverse mounted frames, four skis, two in the front and two in the back, and a braking lever which slows the sled by moving the front skis toward each other at their fronts. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,561,783 discloses a collapsible snow vehicle consisting of a frame, a seat, handlebars for steering a single front ski, and a rear ski spring-mounted to the frame. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,682,495 discloses a snow vehicle consisting of a frame, a seat, two front skis with hand-controlled braking, and a rear ski. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,902 discloses a steerable snow sled consisting of a chassis to which is connected two rear skis, two front skis which are steered by means of a steering bar hooked to a multi-hinged steering mechanism. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,071 discloses a snow vehicle consisting of a seat to which is mounted two rear skis, a steering bar and a front ski which is steered by means of the bar and the riders&#39;s feet, which are placed in stirrups over the front ski. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the invention is to provide a vehicle of this character, including skis supported on a fully suspended frame, the frame being constructed so that the forward runners may be adjusted or rotated to guide the vehicle. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a snow vehicle having a seat to accommodate riders of various sizes in a manner that allows said riders to position their centers of gravity for maximum speed and control. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a snow vehicle having skis, the front ends of which will tilt up to accommodate various terrains but which will only tilt down in front to a position parallel with the rider&#39;s seat. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a brake means whereby the forward movement of the snow vehicle will be slowed at the will of the rider. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide independent suspension to each of the skis to create a more comfortable ride and to give the rider more control over the vehicle. 
     With the foregoing and other objects in view which win appear as the description proceeds, reference is made to the appended drawings and the following description thereof which will illustrate a form of the invention by way of example and not of limitation, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention claimed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a snow vehicle constructed in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevation view thereof FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view thereof FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view showing the rear brake linkage. 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevation view showing the rear brake mechanism. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 shows the snow vehicle comprised of a frame  10  of two identical pieces of metal tubing bent arcuately at the front and back portions, the front arc being larger than the back arc, the two structures being connected together side by side by metal ribs  12  at various places along each half of the frame  10 . For added support, metal bars  26  are placed near the rear of the bike between the top and bottom of the frame. 
     Connected to the back end of the frame  10  where the downward arc begins is a U-shaped extension  13  that is mounted to the frame  10  so as to be parallel to the ground. Running from nearly the back of the extension  13  to the lower portion of the downward arc of the frame  10  is a support bar  14  which is used to provide extra support to the extension  13 . Between the extension  13  and the support bar  14  is another support bar  33 , also used to increase the support strength of the extension  13 . The purpose of the extension is to help hold the molded frame cover that serves both to cover the frame and to provide a seat for the rider. 
     FIG. 2 shows the beginning of the front arc of the frame  10  from the top of the snow vehicle is connected a steering column  20  which is fastened to the frame  10  perpendicular to the ground. The bottom runs through a metal strip  27  attached to the bottom of the frame  10 . To the bottom of the steering column  20  are connected tie rods  22  which are attached to the tops of swivel joints  25  which are connected to the front skis. Connected to the bottom of the swivel joints  25  and the bottom of the frame  10  are metal bars  23  which hold the skis to the vehicle. Connected to the tops of the swivel joints  25  and the frame  10  are telescoping connectors which help hold the skis in place while allowing some flexible movement of the skis  17  as they go over rough terrain. The clamps  31  connect the telescoping connectors  22  and the metal bars  23  to the front skis via pins which allow the metal bars  23  and the tie rods  22  vertical play when crossing rugged terrain. That play is limited by shock absorbers  15 . 
     The shock absorbers  15  are used to smooth out the ride of the vehicle while assuring that the front skis  17  maintain contact with the ground. They are connected via pins, on one end to the bars  23  running between the front skis  17  and the frame  10 . At their opposite ends the shock absorbers  15  are connected via clamps to a strip of metal  37  connected to twin supports  21  constructed of metal tubing arcuately bent and connected side-by-side to the frame  10  and bowing out to the sides of the vehicle. These supports  21  give extra strength to the frame  10  where the front steering skis  17  and associated steering linkages are connected to the vehicle. 
     At the bottom of the swivel joints  25  are attached clamps  29  which hold the front skis  17 . These clamps  29  allow the skis  17  to move up in the front to accommodate various terrains but prevent the skis  17  from moving down in the front to a position lower than parallel to the bottom of the frame  10 . 
     The top of the steering column  20  is connected to handle bars  11  which the rider uses to control the front skis  17  and thereby steer the vehicle. When the rider turns the handle bars  11 , the steering column  20 , which rests on a base  27  which spans the bottom of the frame  10 , pushes the tie rods  16  which cause the skis  17  to be turned in the direction the rider wishes to travel. 
     Connected to the handle bars  11  are hand brakes  19 . The hand brakes  19  connect to cables  30  which run down the steering column and then to each of the skis where they connect to spring-mounted metal brakes  18  attached to the tops of each of the front skis  17 . The hand brake on the right side of the handle bars controls the brake on the right front ski, while the hand brake on the left handle bar controls the brake on the left front ski. When the rider pulls a hand brake  19  the cable  30  causes the metal brake  18  to be lowered into the snow, causing a drag on that ski, thus slowing it down and thereby forcing the vehicle to turn in the direction of the brake that has been activated. 
     FIG. 3 he rear skis  28  of the vehicle are attached to a V-shaped clamp  32 . The point of the V is attached to two metal bars  34  which are attached via pins  18  to the frame  10 . Connected to the two arms of the V-shaped clamp  32  is a bar  39  which holds the two legs together. The point of the V is also attached via a clamp  31  to a shock absorber  41  which is attached at its other end to a metal bar  40  attached to the rear arc of the two halves of the frame  10 . This shock absorber  41  gives the rider more comfort by cushioning blows to the rear skis  28 . 
     A foot pedal  24  is spring mounted to the bottom of the frame  10  near the beginning of the rear arc. This pedal is connected to a cable  30  which connect to a joint  38  which is spring mounted to a metal brake foot  35 . When the rider depresses the pedal  24 , the cable causes the metal brake foot  35  to be lowered into the snow, causing a drag on the vehicle and thus slowing it down or stopping it. 
     FIG. 4 is a rear view and FIG. 5 is a side view of the rear brake linkage  44 . The brake cable  30  connects the pedal  24  and the linkage  38 . Two inverted V supports  32  are mounted on the metal arms  34 . A pivot pin  38  spans a hole in the top of each of the supports  32  and also connects two C-shaped arms  36 . The C-shaped arms  36  are also connected to each other by bar  37  to which the cable  30  is connected. The C-shaped arms  36  are also connected to two force arms  42  by pivot pin  40 . The force arms  42  are pivotally connected to the brake foot  35 . The other end of the brake foot  35  is pivotally connected to the metal arms  34 . 
     In operation, depression of the pedal  24  causes retraction of cable  30 , forward movement of the C-shaped arms  36 , downward movement of the force arms  42 , and downward movement of the brake foot  35 , thereby slowing the motion of the ski bike. 
     The entire frame  10  is covered with a sturdy plastic body which is used to both enhance the appearance of the vehicle as well as providing a seat for the rider.