A sled having a frame with a seat portion, the frame being supported by two runners each located under one side of the frame, wherein each of the runners is movably connected to the frame by several levers. Each lever is mounted on the frame by a transverse pivot and each has a lower end connected to the runner, the levers allowing the runner connected thereto to move downwardly from a retracted position to an extended position at which latter position the side of the sled above that runner is lifted relative to a snow surface under the runner. A foot pedal may be provided on each side of the frame positioned for use by an occupant of the seat portion and connected to the levers so that pressure on a pedal on one side of the frame causes the levers on that side to extend the runner connected thereto, thus tilting the sled relative to the snow surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a sled for recreational use on snow, 
especially in the manner of a toboggan, and which has the ability to tilt 
under the control of the user for cornering or for traversing slopes. The 
sled has a generally conventional surrounding frame, offering some 
protection against snow spray. 
2. Prior Art 
Some known types of sleds are tiltable; these generally fall into two 
classes. 
Firstly, there are sleds which are tilted by the operator leaning to one 
side or the other. In some of these, the runners are intended to simulate 
the effect of skis. Obviously, control of such sleds would require some 
practice. Examples of such sleds are shown in the following patents: 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,173,703, issued Mar. 16,1965 to Isenberger; 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,338,589, issued Aug. 29, 1967 to Barton et al.; 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,466, issued Mar. 19, 1991 to Den Hartog; 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,925, issued Aug. 9, 1994 to Dolson; and 
Canadian Pat. No. 777,681, issued Feb. 6, 1968 to Tonelli. 
Other sleds are known, especially of the bob-sled type, in which the 
tilting of the sled, along with steering, is controlled by a steering 
wheel, or other hand operated means. These types of sled are often 
intended for racing, and tend to be complicated and expensive. Another 
perceived drawback of such sleds is that they cannot safely be used by a 
person holding a small child in his or her arms, as is often needed in 
recreational tobogganing. Examples of such sleds are shown in the 
following patents: 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,532,887, issued Dec. 5, 1950 to Bor; 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,833,234, issued Sep. 3, 1974 to Schreiber; 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,036,506, issued Jul. 19, 1977 to Scheib; and 
Italian Patent No. 453,644, issued Jan. 26, 1949. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a sled which can be used for simple 
recreational tobogganing, which retains much of the construction of a 
conventional sled, but which has been modified to be tiltable on corners 
or while traversing a slope. The tilting is effected by the user's feet, 
and thus is more easily controlled than one which depends on the user 
shifting his weight. Since the feet are used, the user has his hands free 
for operating a rudder-type steering mechanism and has at least one hand 
free for holding an infant. 
In accordance with the present invention, a sled has a frame having a seat 
portion, the frame being supported by runners including two side runners 
one of which side runners is located under each side of the frame, with 
each of the side runners being movably connected to the frame by several 
levers. Each lever is mounted on the frame by transverse pivot means and 
each has a lower end connected to the runner by further transverse pivot 
means, the levers on each side being movable in unison to move the runner 
connected thereto downwards from a retracted position to an extended 
position at which latter position the side of the sled above that runner 
is lifted relative to a snow surface under the runner. At each side of the 
frame a tilt control part is positioned for actuation by the foot of an 
occupant sitting on the seat portion so that pressure on this tilt control 
part at one side of the frame causes the runner at that side to move to 
its extended position. The tilt control part may be a foot pedal connected 
either to the levers or to the associated side runner. Alternatively, it 
may merely be the top part of a side runner, or a part solidly connected 
to the side runner. 
It will be understood that the reference to the side runners each being 
mounted under one side of the sled is not intended to indicate an exact 
placement, since the runners can be somewhat inboard or somewhat outboard 
of the sides. In fact the runners can each occupy one half of the width of 
the sled. References to the pivot means being "transverse" means 
transverse to the fore-and-aft axis of the sled; the pivot means are 
preferably horizontal and perpendicular to this axis. 
Preferably, the frame includes a planar bottom member, with sides and a 
front and a rear mounted above the bottom member, and the seat portion 
extends transversely between the sides. The bottom member has several 
apertures spaced along each side portion, and has transverse pivot means 
associated with each of the apertures which support the levers. 
In one form of the invention, on each side of the sled, the levers are in 
the form of bell-cranks each having a lower end pivot connected to the 
side runner, an intermediate pivot mounted on the pivot means of the 
bottom member, and an upper end pivot connected by linkage to 
corresponding locations on the other levers, one of the levers being 
integral with a foot pedal which controls the tilting. 
In another form of the invention, on each side of the sled, each of the 
levers is associated with a cam rotatable to push the respective lever or 
the associated side runner downward, the cams being connected by linkages 
to rotate together, one of the cams being integral with a foot pedal which 
controls tilting. 
Where the bottom member has apertures, the levers may be relatively wide to 
cover these apertures when the runner is retracted. Alternatively, the 
levers may constitute crank arms of crank members having an axle part 
rotatable in a transverse bearing in the frame. 
In yet another form of the invention, a foot pedal on each side of the sled 
may be connected by a push rod to an associated side runner, and arranged 
to push the runner down when the pedal is depressed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5 showing the first embodiment, the sled has a 
frame 10, which may be of wood or molded of plastic, and which includes a 
planar bottom member 11 and upstanding sides 12 having their front and 
rear ends joined by a sloping front 14 and by a back 16. Extending between 
the sides is a horizontal seat portion 18, spaced above the bottom member 
which is effectively surrounded by the upper portions of the sides, front 
and rear so that a user sitting on the seat is somewhat protected from 
snow spray. 
The bottom member 11 has a row of three rectangular apertures 19 lying in 
the plane of the bottom member and spaced along each of its side portions, 
each aperture occupying slightly less than 1/3 the total width of the 
bottom member. Near to their rear ends, the sides of these apertures are 
provided with bores which are transverse to the sled sides and which 
extend from outer sides of the bottom member and into the bottom member at 
the inner sides of the apertures, and which are suitable for receiving 
transverse pivot pins 20 inserted from the sides of the sled. Each pivot 
pin 20 rotatably supports an intermediate pivot bearing 21 of a bell-crank 
shaped lever 22 or 22', the shapes of which are best seen in FIG. 5. On 
each side of the sled the two rearmost levers 22 are identical, but the 
front lever 22', which is near to the front 14 of the sled, is larger and 
has an upwards extension 23 with a rearwards protrusion which is suitable 
for use as a foot pedal by an occupant of the sled sitting on seat portion 
18. The levers have a width which is slightly less than that of the 
apertures. 
The levers 22, 22' each have a pair of upper pivots 24 connected to linkage 
bars 26 extending along each side of the levers and which ensure that the 
levers on one side of the sled move in unison. The levers also each have a 
pair of lower transverse pivots 27 which are connected to upstanding lugs 
28 protruding from the upper sides of one of the side runners 30; the 
nature of these lugs being best seen in FIG. 5. As will be seen in FIG. 1, 
in the retracted position of the runners, the lugs 28 and the longer arms 
of levers 22, 22' fit within the apertures so that the runners rest close 
against the bottom member 11 and effectively close these apertures so that 
not much snow enters through these. 
It will be apparent that when the occupant of the sled pushes the pedal 23 
with a foot, the levers 22 and 22' are rotated in unison, in the clockwise 
direction as seen in the drawing, and that this movement causes the 
associated side runner 30 to move from the retracted position, shown in 
FIG. 1, to the extended position shown in FIG. 2. This has the effect of 
tilting the sled from a normal position shown in FIG. 3, i.e. parallel to 
the snow surface, to the tilted position shown in FIG. 4. This can be used 
both to effect a turn, and to maintain an "even keel" when traversing a 
slope. Tilting is facilitated by the occupant shifting his weight. 
FIGS. 6 to 13 show further embodiments of the invention, in which the 
levers are operated by cams, and also show certain details of construction 
which can also be used in the embodiment just described. 
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the frame of this embodiment is intended to be 
made of molded plastic and has a bottom member 111, upstanding sides 112, 
and a front 114 and back 116 joining the front and rear ends of the sides. 
The sides, front and rear each have a lower portion P1 and an upper 
portion P2, these portions being shown separated in FIG. 9. It will be 
seen that the lower portion P1 is in the form of a generally rectangular 
member having a lower end surrounding the perimeter of the bottom member. 
The seat portion 118 extends between the sides of the upper portion P2. As 
in the first embodiment, the bottom member 111 has a row of three 
apertures 119 along each of its sides; as seen in plan view in FIG. 10. 
Each aperture occupies a width slightly less than 1/3 of the overall width 
of the bottom member, and has a length about 1/5 of the overall length of 
the bottom member. 
As shown in FIG. 6, the major length of each aperture is covered, in the 
retracted condition of the runners 130, by levers 122 partly accommodated 
by an associated aperture 119 each having an inner, front end located in 
an aperture and pivoted to the bottom member by a transverse pivot 120 and 
having its other end connected by pivots 127 to lugs 128 of a runner 130. 
As indicated in FIG. 10, pivots 120 are bolts extending through bores 
which are transverse to the fore-and-aft direction and which enter through 
the sides of the bottom member 111 near the front of the apertures, 119, 
pass through sides of the apertures and terminate on the inner sides of 
the apertures in openings 132 accessible from the top of the bottom member 
and suitable for receiving nuts which secure the bolts in place. 
In this embodiment, the levers 122 are operated indirectly by cams 125 and 
125' which are located similarly to the levers 22, 22' of the first 
embodiment, and which each have a protruding lower end portion acting 
against the respective lever 122 to push this lever down when the cam is 
rotated in the clockwise sense as shown in the drawings. Each cam 125 is 
pivotally mounted on a pivot bolt 121 which passes through a transverse 
bore in the side of the bottom member near to the rear of an aperture 119, 
through a pivot bore 121' at the rear corner of the cam, as shown in FIG. 
8, and then passes into the inner side of the respective aperture where it 
is secured by a nut 134 shown in FIG. 10. On each side of the sled, the 
three cams are linked by a pair of linkage rods 126, so as to move 
together; the user's foot fits between these rods. The front ends of 
linkage rods 126 are connected to the cam 125', this cam having an upper 
extension 125'a which provides a foot pedal. In addition, the rods 126 of 
a pair are connected, rearwardly of the foot pedal, by a transverse bar 
126a which is movable by the heel of the user to pull the rods rearwards 
and so to release the cams from the extended position shown in FIG. 7; 
this is desirable in case friction on the cams causes them to become stuck 
in this position. 
In operation, forward pressure on foot pedal 125'a rotates cam 125', and 
rods 126 cause cams 125 to be similarly rotated. The lower ends of the 
cams 125 and 125' act against the levers 122 to rotate these in an 
anti-clockwise direction, causing the associated runner 130 to be extended 
and thus to tilt up that side of the sled. 
FIGS. 11 to 13 show a modification of this second embodiment, in which the 
levers 122', while being generally similar to levers 122, are each 
provided with a bulge 122a on their upper surfaces, near to their 
mid-points, which bulges each provide a detent which engages the lower end 
of the associated cam 125, 125'. With these detents, the cams are retained 
in the extended position until positively moved back to the retracted 
position by the user moving the bar 126a with his heel; this is an 
advantage in bumpy conditions. 
With the designs shown in FIGS. 1-13, loose snow may tend to accumulate 
under the front of the frame; FIGS. 14, 14a, 14b, 15 and 15a show views 
similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 of variations of the sled which avoid this 
problem. 
FIGS. 14 and 14a show a sled which is the same as that of the earlier 
embodiments, except for the addition of a third runner 30a under the 
center of the sled, taking up most of the space between the side runners 
30. This third runner is fixed to the frame of the sled in the position 
shown, and prevents an accumulation of snow in front. 
FIG. 14b shows another variation of the sled with a third runner 30b which 
projects from the bottom of the sled by an amount about one half the 
maximum amount by which the side runners 30 can project. This third runner 
can be fixed in the position shown, allowing the sled to tilt to either 
side about this central runner, without the user needing to lift the sled 
when tilting as in the previous embodiments. Alternatively, this third 
runner can be provided with levers, cams, and a central foot pedal for 
varying its projection, as with the side runners. The side runner levers 
122' can be similar to those shown in FIGS. 11-13, except that the levers 
are preferably provided with an additional detent to releasably hold the 
levers in an intermediate position in which the sled is level. 
FIGS. 15 and 15a show a further variation of sled in which the side runners 
30' are each almost one-half the width of the sled, and in which the 
apertures in the bottom member are each more than one-third the overall 
width of the sled. Again, this will prevent accumulation of snow at the 
front. 
While the sled shown has three levers for each runner, a longer sled may 
have more levers, for example six, for each runner. 
FIG. 16 shows a further modification in which internal longitudinal walls 
150 have been added to give extra strength. Walls 150 are the full length 
of the sled, and are secured to the bottom of the sled, to the front and 
rear of the sled, and to the underside of the seat which fits across the 
tops of these internal walls. 
FIGS. 17 through 20 show a further modified version of the sled in which no 
foot pedals are used; instead, the tilt control part contacted by the 
user's foot is an upper portion of the side runner or is solid with the 
side runner. 
As shown in FIG. 18, this version of the sled, indicated at 200, is similar 
to that of FIG. 14b in that it has a fixed, central runner 230b between 
the two side runners 230, allowing it to be readily tilted without any 
lifting. Since little lifting force is required, the tilt can be 
controlled directly by the force of the user's feet on the top of the two 
side runners 230, preferably in the location of the lugs 228 holding the 
lower ends of the front levers 222, as is shown in FIGS. 17, 19 and 20. 
FIGS. 19 and 20 show the lowered and raised positions of the nearside 
runner 230; for simplicity, the other runners are not shown in these side 
views. 
In this version of the sled, the levers 222, instead of being rectangular 
elements as shown in FIG. 18, can be the crank arms of crank members 
having upper shafts held by the central part of the frame, and lower, 
parallel shafts held by the lugs 228. 
FIGS. 21 and 22 show a variation of the cam type operation shown in FIGS. 6 
and 7. Here, instead of the cams operating on the levers which hold the 
side runners, as in FIG. 6 and 7, the cams act against the runners 330 
themselves, or more exactly operate on the lugs 328 which hold the lower 
ends of the levers 322. The front cam/foot pedal 325' is connected to the 
other cams by link 326. 
FIGS. 23 and 24 show a variation of the bell crank type of arrangement of 
FIGS. 1 and 2, in which the bell cranks, instead of being directly 
connected to the side runners like in the earlier version, are connected 
to the runners 430 by push rods 424 pivoted to both the bell cranks and to 
the runners. The front bell crank/foot pedal 422' is connected to the 
other cranks by link 426.