Tracked personal snow transport system

The present disclosure provides a snow transport system with a frame comprising a base plate, a pair of opposed side plates mounted on opposed sides of the base plate, and a plurality of cross members extending between the side plates. A pair of convex lower track slides are mounted on lower portions of the pair of opposed side plates, and a pair of convex upper track slides are mounted on upper portions of the pair of opposed side plates. A drive wheel is mounted at an upper front portion of the frame, and an idler wheel mounted at a lower rear portion of the frame. A continuous track is wrapped around the drive wheel, the convex lower track slides, the idler wheel and the convex upper track slides. A motor assembly is mounted within the frame, and connected to the drive wheel through a transmission assembly. A push arm assembly is mounted to one side of the frame, the push arm assembly extending forwardly from the frame and having a push bar portion and user controls at a forward end thereof.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a motorized personal snow transport system for propelling skiers and other snow sports participants.

BACKGROUND

Various attempts have been made to provide snow sports participants such as skiers, snowboarders, and the like with motorized assistance for travelling over flat or hilly terrain.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure provides a snow transport system with a frame comprising a base plate, a pair of opposed side plates mounted on opposed sides of the base plate, and a plurality of cross members extending between the side plates. A pair of convex lower track slides are mounted on lower portions of the pair of opposed side plates, and a pair of convex upper track slides are mounted on upper portions of the pair of opposed side plates. A drive wheel is mounted at an upper front portion of the frame, and an idler wheel mounted at a lower rear portion of the frame. A continuous track is wrapped around the drive wheel, the convex lower track slides, the idler wheel and the convex upper track slides. A motor assembly is mounted within the frame, and connected to the drive wheel through a transmission assembly. A push arm assembly is mounted to one side of the frame, the push arm assembly extending forwardly from the frame and having a push bar portion and user controls at a forward end thereof.

Further aspects and details of example embodiments are set forth below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the examples described herein. The examples may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the examples described. The description is not to be considered as limited to the scope of the examples described herein. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a tracked motorized snow transport system to assist a skier, snowboarder or other snow sports participant in travelling over flat or hilly terrain. Details of an example transport system10are illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 11.

The transport system10comprises a drive unit50with a push arm assembly150extending forwardly therefrom to support a push bar portion160and user controls170at the forward end thereof. To operate the transport system10, a user stands in front of the transport system with the push bar portion160positioned against their lower buttocks, and operates the user controls170to drive a track120of the drive unit50and propel the user forward. In some embodiments, the push arm assembly150may also be pivoted to extend behind the drive unit50, such that the user can be pulled behind the drive unit50.

The drive unit50of transport system10comprises a frame100with a drive wheel116and an idler wheel117mounted thereon, around which a track120is wrapped. A motor assembly130is mounted within the frame100, and connected to the drive wheel116by a transmission assembly140to drive the track120. A push arm assembly150is mounted on one side of the frame100and extends forward to support a push bar portion160and user controls170at the forward end thereof. The location of the push arm assembly on the frame assists in maintaining safe operation of the snow transport system; the arm assembly is positioned high enough to avoid obstacles and forward enough to provide adequate momentum to the operator through varying pitches of terrain.

In the illustrated example the push bar portion160and user controls170are adapted for use by a skier, but these elements may be adapted for snowboarders or other users in other embodiments.

The frame100comprises a base plate101with a pair of opposed side plates102,103attached to lateral sides thereof, and a plurality of cross members extending between the side plates102,103. Upper and lower track slides122and124are respectively mounted on the upper and lower portions of the side plates102,103to allow the track120to slide thereacross, while providing a desirable amount of friction or drag as described further below. In the illustrated example the cross members comprise a drive shaft104for mounting the drive wheel116, a secondary drive shaft105, a push arm mounting bar106, an upper support bar107, and upper and lower tail piece support bars108and109. A removable tail piece assembly110is detachably mounted on the tail piece support bars108,109as described further below. The tail piece assembly110comprises a pair of opposed tail side plates111,112with an idler shaft113connected therebetween, and the idler wheel117is mounted on the idler shaft113. A top cover121may be provided between the side plates102,103just below the upper track slides122.

The motor assembly130is mounted on the base plate101. In some embodiments, the motor assembly130, and other components of the transport system10such as, for example a fuel tank, battery, bearings, track tensioner wheel, start solenoid, motor cover, track release mechanism, chain tensioner, track tensioner, upper and lower track slides, power unit arm link, and/or various other hardware are strategically positioned and configured to keep the center of mass of the transport system10as low as possible. In some embodiments, the motor assembly130and other components of the transport system10are positioned to achieve balanced left/right weight distribution, and for safety considerations as described below.

In some embodiments, a muffler133of the motor assembly is intentionally on the left side, opposite side to the fuel tank132for safety reasons. The exhaust port of the muffler133points downwards towards the snow for safety and noise baffling effect. In the illustrated example transport system10, the carburetor (not specifically enumerated), fuel tank132, fresh air intake131and electrical components are on the right hand side, and the muffler133and transmission assembly140are on the left hand side of the transport system.

Construction of the frame100is facilitated by the use of hard plastic bushings (not separately enumerated) between the side plates102,103covering each of the drive shaft104, the secondary drive shaft105, the push arm mounting bar106and the tail piece support bars108,109. In some embodiments, all shafts and axles have threaded ends to accommodate locking bolts.

The upper and lower track slides122and124in conjunction with the front single drive wheel116and the rear adjustable idler wheel117provide the necessary drag to prevent excessive forward coasting. The slides122and124are constructed from hard nylon strips. This design is a safety feature of the snow transport system10. Both the upper and lower track slides122and124are convex in the sense that they are curved such that the track120bears against the slides, and the friction opposing movement of the track120is sufficient to safely stop the transport system10when the throttle is not being applied. The lower track slides124are additionally configured to ensure even machine weight distribution to ground.

The shape of the drive unit50, and in particular the shape of the side panels102/103and track slides122/124, is configured to allow the drive unit50to travel over uneven terrain while maximizing contact between the track120and the snow. In particular, the front portions of the side panels102/103and lower track slides124are angled upwards (e.g. at an angle of about 40-60 degrees from horizontal, or preferably about 45-50 degrees from horizontal) to allow the drive unit50to go over uneven terrain, with the middle and rear portions of the side panels102/103and lower track slides124generally flat to provide good contact between the track120and the snow.

The lower track slides124also act as support clamps between the side panels102,103and base plate101. As shown inFIG. 7, lateral side portions101A of the base plate101are bent downwardly, and each of the lower track slides124has a groove125therein sized to receive one of the side portions101A and a respective side plate102/103.

In some embodiments the motor assembly130comprises a motor driving a centrifugal clutch142of the transmission assembly140. In some embodiments the motor assembly130also comprises an air intake comprising an air intake filter134and a flange136for protecting the filter134and acting as a stop for the push arm assembly150. The flange136acts as an operational stop to maintain a limited vertical positioning of the arm to hold the arm when in storage position, as described below.

The motor may for example, be a four stroke or two stroke gas powered motor, or an electric motor. The clutch142drives the secondary drive shaft105by means of a roller chain143engaging a sprocket144on the secondary drive shaft105. The secondary drive shaft105operates as a gear reduction mechanism and drives, by means of another roller chain146, a track drive sprocket147mounted on the drive shaft104. The drive shaft104in turn drives the drive wheel116, which engages the track120. The track120may, for example, comprise a continuous rubber snowmobile-like track. In one embodiment, the track120is 11 inches wide and 96 inch in circumference. In one embodiment the track drive components include a removable chain tensioner on the first roller chain143, which allows for enough slack in the first roller chain143to facilitate installation and removal of centrifugal clutch for maintenance.

In some embodiments the drive unit50has a quick-change track mechanism, which allows the tail piece assembly110to be pivoted underneath the drive unit50for installation and removal of the track120. During installation, the entire drive unit50is inserted into the track and secured via extension of the quick-change track mechanism (QCTM). In the illustrated embodiment, the QCTM is provided by means of holes114in the tail side plates111,112through which the lower tail piece support bar109is connected, and notches115in the tail side plates111,112for detachably engaging the upper tail piece support bar108. Bushings and a locking mechanism118(seeFIG. 9) are provided to selectably lock the tail side plates111,112in engagement with the upper tail piece support bar108, such that when the locking mechanism118is disengaged, the tail piece assembly110may be rotated downwardly about the lower tail piece support bar109of allow installation or removal of the track120. Another locking mechanism119may be provided to selectably lock the tail side plates111,112in engagement with the lower tail piece support bar109. The longitudinal (e.g. front-back) position of the idler wheel117is adjustable to fine-tune the tension of the track120. Adjusting the position of the idler wheel117also allows for varying of the maximum track torque. A looser track120can permit cogs of the drive wheel116to slip over drive lugs of the track120if the throttle is fully open, thus limiting the maximum track torque. Providing for a reduced maximum track torque may be useful, for example, for beginner users.

In some embodiments, the tail piece assembly110can be removed easily with no tools and can be replaced with a different tail piece assembly with tail piece side plates to accommodate longer track sizes. When the tail piece assembly110is in the closed position the track tension urges the tail side plates111,112onto the tail piece support bars108,109, to maintain the closed position.

In some embodiments, the upper tail piece support bar108and the push arm mounting bar106extend laterally outwardly beyond the side panels102and103and other components of the transport system10to provide mounting points for attaching a carrying rack or the like atop the drive unit50. The mounting points provided by the upper tail piece support bar108may also be used for attaching a tow hitch or the like for towing a sled, trailer, or other unpowered transport system behind the transport system10.

The push arm assembly150comprises a first arm section151pivotally connected to the frame100by means of the push arm mounting bar106, and a second arm section152pivotally connected to the first arm section151by a four point clevis assembly153. The clevis assembly153operates as a shock absorber within the entire arm structure by tensioning a rubber bungee cord between the first and second arm sections151,152, as described below.

With reference toFIGS. 10 and 11, the clevis assembly153comprises four pivots154A,154B,154C and154D. Pivots154A and154B are located on the first arm section151. Pivot154C is located on an extension152A of second arm section152, and pivot154D is located on the second arm section152. A first connecting linkage155is pivotally connected between pivots154A and154C. A pair of second connecting linkages156are pivotally connected between pivots154B and154D. A bungee cord157or other stretchable resilient element is connected between pivots1546and154C. In the illustrated example, pivot154A is provided in the form of a removable locking pin, and pivots154B-D are in the form of bolts, with washers provided to reduce friction while pivoting. The clevis assembly153allows the push arm assembly150to fold up for storage by removing the removable locking pin of pivot154A to allow the clevis assembly153to operate as a hinge for folding the push arm assembly for compact storage as shown inFIG. 8. A rubber support pad158may be provided on the first arm section151to support the second arm section152when the push arm assembly150is in the folded configuration. The clevis assembly153provides a robust connection between first arm section151and second arm section152while allowing for about 4 inches of linear movement. When the drive unit50pushes the operator forward, the clevis assembly153is partially collapsed and the bungee cord157is tensioned producing a cushion effect for the user. An adjustable setting of the bungee cord157tension varies the amount of cushioning shock absorbing effect for operators of different mass.

The push bar portion160comprises a padded horizontal backrest tube162, which adds the primary forward momentum to the operator's center of gravity. Each end of the padded backrest tube162is equipped with a rotating clevis clamp164that connects to one of a pair of control handles172. The control handles172contain a throttle control174, ignition, lights, fuse and safety shutoff. The control handles172are fully adjustable for operator comfort and storage.

Power is transferred to the user from the drive unit50by the push arm assembly150. The push arm assembly150is substantially rigid (apart from the partial collapsibility of the clevis assembly through tensioning of the bungee cord157) when the locking pin of the clevis assembly153is in place, and is free floating in limited movement about a rotational axis through the push arm mounting bar106. This allows the track120to maintain traction position to the ground while staying aligned with the user during operation. The flange136discussed above protects the air intake filter134, prevents full rotation of the drive unit50in relation to the push arm assembly150, and acts as rest for the first arm section151when the push arm assembly150is folded up for storage as shown inFIG. 8. The single point attachment of the push arm assembly150to the drive unit50at the push arm mounting bar106prevents binding injury. This single connection is a safer than a connection on both sides would be as there is no enclosed space created above the moving track.

The positioning of the push arm mounting bar106on the drive unit50is facilitates safe and proper functioning of the transport system10. The location of the push arm mounting bar106on a specific point on the side of the drive unit50as shown in the example embodiment is selected for optimal design functionality—high enough that the arm clears obstacles, forward enough that the arm continues to provide forward momentum during varying degrees of pitch of the drive unit50on uneven terrain. In some embodiments, the push arm assembly150is modular and removable from the drive unit50with quick release mechanical and electrical connections provided at the push arm mounting bar106.

The stability and control of the tracked snow transport system10is achieved by the operator applying rotational torque to the push arm assembly150via the control handles172, while track torque and rotation is controlled through the rpm of the motor152by the operator's index finger throttle control174of the centrifugal clutch, allowing fully automatic track rotation. When throttle is released, transport system10will slow down due to friction forces on the track120.

The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.