Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a sled apparatus. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the sled apparatus is configured to move over various types of surfaces including the ground, grass, pavement, concrete, asphalt, snow, ice, and artificial surfaces.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention is directed to a sled apparatus. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the sled apparatus is configured to move over various types of surfaces including the ground, dirt, grass, pavement, concrete, asphalt, snow, ice, and artificial surfaces.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Presently there exists a wide variety of sporting equipment configured to be ridden. For example, there exists bicycles, scooters, roller skates, roller blades, skateboards, luges, street luges, skeletons, bobsleds and other sporting equipment configured for accommodating one or more riders. Most of these different types of sport equipment have been around for many years, and have been significantly developed, refined and established.  
           [0003]    With the current significant interest in sports and athletics, there appears to be a real opportunity for new types of sport and recreational type equipment. Further, equipment of this type that can be ridden by a user may be of particular interest to persons looking for a new recreation or sporting experience.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    An object of the present invention is to provide a novel sled apparatus.  
           [0005]    A second object of the present invention is to provide an improved sled apparatus.  
           [0006]    A third object of the present invention is to provide a sled apparatus configured to tilt relative to a riding surface along at least one axis of the sled apparatus, preferably the roll axis.  
           [0007]    A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a sled apparatus including a sled body configured to accommodate at least one rider, a front independent suspension connected to the sled body, a rear suspension connected to the sled body, a front pair of surface contacting members independently connected to the sled body by the front independent suspension, at least one surface contacting member independently connected to the sled body by the rear independent suspension, a steering mechanism configured to steer at least one of the surface contacting members, and a tilting mechanism configured to tilt the sled body along the sled body&#39;s roll axis relative to the ground.  
           [0008]    A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a sled apparatus configured to have multiple surface contacting members including at least one selected from the group consisting of ski, ice skate, roller type blade and skid.  
           [0009]    A sixth object of the present invention is to provide a sled apparatus including a front independent suspension configured for connecting a front pair of surface contacting members with a sled body of the sled apparatus.  
           [0010]    A seventh object of the present invention is to provide a sled apparatus including a rear independent suspension supporting at least one surface contacting member.  
           [0011]    An eighth object of the present invention is to provide a sled apparatus including a steering mechanism coupled with a tilting mechanism configured to provide a coordinated turning and tilting of the apparatus during negotiation of a turn with the sled apparatus.  
           [0012]    The present invention is directed to a sled apparatus for use on various surfaces. The sled apparatus according to the present invention can be used on surfaces including, but not limited to the ground, dirt, sand, grass, vegetation, rocks, carpeted, tiled, pavement, asphalt, cement, ice, snow, or other suitable surfaces. Preferably the surface is inclined for unpowered embodiments of the sled apparatus according to the present invention, however, substantially flat surfaces can be utilized with powered embodiments of the sled apparatus according to the present invention.  
           [0013]    The sled apparatus according to the present invention includes a sled body configured to accommodate at least one person. The sled body can be manufactured by a wide variety of methods depending on particular configurations and applications. For example, the sled body can be made of a welded tubular frame supporting an outer skin, cover or shell made of metal, plastic, fiberglass, Kevlar, graphite, composite material, aluminum sheeting, steel sheeting, or other suitable materials. Alternatively, the sled body can be constructed similar to modern jet liners having a monocock type structure with most or all of the structural strength located in the outer panel or perimeter of the sled body (e.g. aluminum or titanium slats supported by one or more bulkheads with an outer sheeting of material mechanically fastened, adhered, welded or otherwise connected to the slats). Alternatively, the entire sled body can be molded (e.g. injection molded or vacuum formed) or made in a fiberglass or composite material mold and laid up therein, with or without vacuum bagging, with bulkheads or gussets used to reinforce connections with mechanical components or equipment such as the front and rear suspensions, seat(s), foot pedal attachments with reinforcement spars adding structural strength along the longitudinal dimension of the sled apparatus.  
           [0014]    The sled apparatus according to the present invention can have various wheel configurations including two (2) front wheels and two (2) rear wheels. Alternatively, the sled apparatus can include a single front wheel and a pair of rear wheels. In a preferred embodiment, there exists two (2) front wheels and a single rear wheel. For example, the rear wheel can be located centered along a center longitudinal axis of the sled apparatus and can be configured to be steerable or freely rotate or “free wheel” with the front two (2) wheels are steerable.  
           [0015]    Preferably, the front wheel(s) and rear wheel(s) are provided with a suspension configured to accommodate a smooth surface in some applications (e.g. pavement or cement) or handle rough surfaces such as a grass covered ski slope on a mountain or hill during the summer. Thus, the desirable suspension is provided with a significant travel to accommodate substantially large bumps, trenches, divots, holes, ridges and other rough surface terrain that may be encountered during such use. Preferably, the suspensions for each surface contacting element is fully independent and includes spring elements (e.g. coil spring, leaf spring) and dampening elements (e.g. shock absorber or other suitable dampener). In a preferred embodiment, a transverse leaf spring is utilized to provide an independent suspension to two (2) front surface contacting elements and a coil spring in combination with a shock absorber is utilized in the suspension for a single trailing rear surface contacting element.  
           [0016]    The sled apparatus according to the present invention can use a wide variety of surface contacting elements, including but not limited to wheels, ice skates, skis, skids, sled runners, roller skate type wheels, rollerblade type wheels and/or blade assemblies, rollers, combination of rollers or other suitable type surface contacting elements. In any event, the proper surface contacting elements must be selected for use depending on the particular applications and surfaces on which the sled apparatus is to be used. Further, the sled apparatus can be fitted with the same surface contacting elements (e.g. all rollerblade type wheels and blade assemblies) or can potentially utilize different surface contacting elements (e.g. pair of front skis and a single rear sled runner, or a pair of front rollerblade wheel blade assemblies and a single rear pneumatic tire and wheel).  
           [0017]    The sled apparatus according to the present invention is preferably provided with steering. Specifically, at least one of the surface contacting elements is configured to be turned by a steering mechanism controlled by the rider of the sled apparatus. Preferably, two or more of the surface contacting elements are configured to steer the sled apparatus in a coordinated manner. For example, a front pair of surface contacting elements are configured to turn in the same direction in unison based on the configuration and arrangement of the steering mechanism. Optionally, a single rear surface contacting element is also coupled with the front surface contacting elements to provide an even more effective steering arrangement. The steering mechanism can be configured to be operated by a single foot, both feet, a single hand, both hands, a steering wheel, a steering lever, or a combination thereof.  
           [0018]    The sled apparatus according to the present invention is preferably configured to rotate or tilt along at least one (1) major axis of the sled apparatus (e.g. roll axis, pitch axis and yaw axis). In a more preferred embodiment, the steering mechanism is coupled (e.g. mechanically, pneumatically, hydraulically) with the tilting mechanism to provide coordinated turning of the sled apparatus. In a most preferred embodiment, the tilting mechanism is configured to move the center of gravity of the sled apparatus sideways to the left or right side of the sled apparatus while steering to the left or right so that the center of gravity is moved towards the uphill side of the sled apparatus to provide a more effective and safe turning of the sled apparatus. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the sled apparatus according to the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the sled apparatus according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a top planar view of the sled apparatus according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the sled apparatus according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the frame assembly, front suspension, rear suspension, steering assembly and pedal assembly of the sled apparatus shown in FIG. 1, without a skin or shell covering the frame assembly.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is a front elevational frame of the frame assembly shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 is a detailed perspective view of the front wheel suspension of the sled apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 8 is a detailed perspective view of the rear suspension of the sled apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 9 is a top diagrammatic view of the steering mechanism for the sled apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 10 is a side diagrammatic view of the steering mechanism shown in FIG. 9.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the steering mechanism shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 12 is another perspective view of the front wheel suspension shown in FIG. 7.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the sled apparatus according to the present invention having a pair of front roller blade assemblies and a single rear wheel.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the sled apparatus according to the present invention having a front pair of skis and a single rear ski.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another further embodiment of the sled apparatus according to the present invention having a front pair of ice blades and a single rear ice blade.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an even further embodiment of the sled apparatus according to the present invention having a front pair of wheels and a single rear wheel.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 17 is a perspective view of even another embodiment of the sled apparatus according to the present invention having a front pair of wheels and a single rear roller blade assembly.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 18 is a perspective view of even another further embodiment of the sled apparatus according tot he present invention having a front pair of roller tracks and a single rear roller track.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 19 is a front elevational view of the sled apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 traveling tilted on a horizontal surface.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 20 is a front elevational view of the sled apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 traveling tilted on an inclined surface. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0039]    A sled apparatus  10  according to the present invention is shown in FIGS.  1 - 4 .  
         [0040]    The sled apparatus  10  includes a sled body  12  having a cockpit  14  provided with a seat  16  for accommodating a driver  18 .  
         [0041]    The sled body  12  is provided with a front suspension  20  for supporting a pair of rollerblade type blade assemblies  22  fitted with a plurality of rollerblade type wheels  24 . For example, the rollerblade type blade assemblies  22  can each be provided with a set of three (3) wheels  24  and a second set of three (3) wheels  24 . The blade assembly  22  is connected to a strut  26  by a pivotal connection  28  (e.g. pin connection). The strut  26  is provided with a pair of lower gusset plates  30  having a pivotal connection  32  with a leaf spring  34 . A single leaf spring  34  is shown, however, the leaf spring  34  can be one that comprises multiple separate or individual leafs mechanically coupled or connected together. An upper end of the strut  26  is connected to a control arm  36  by pivotal connection  38 . The control arm  36  is configured to pivot from a position within the sled body  22 , and thus, a slot or window  40  in sled body  12  is provided to accommodate such movement of the control arm  36 . The struts  26  include an upper externally threaded portion  26   a  cooperating with a lower internally threaded portion  26   b  configured to allow the length of the strut  26  to be adjusted.  
         [0042]    The back portion of the sled body  12  is provided with a rear suspension  42  connecting a single rear wheel  44  to the sled body  12 . The rear wheel  44  is supported by a wheel assembly  46  connected to a swing arm  48  by a pivotal connection  50 . The wheel assembly  46  includes a yoke portion  52  provided with a pivotal connection  54  for accommodating an axle of the wheel  44 . The wheel assembly  46  is configured to rotate relative to the swing arm  48  and sled body  12 , and the pivotal axis is oriented substantially vertical with respect to the sled apparatus  10 . A pair of coiled spring/shock absorber assemblies  56  connect the swing arm  48  to the sled body  12 .  
         [0043]    A detailed view of the sled apparatus  10  without an outer skin, covering or shell is shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0044]    The sled body  12  of the sled apparatus  10  shown in FIG. 5 is made of a tubular welded frame preferably made of steel, aluminum, titanium, or some suitable metal alloy or even plastic. The frame  58  can be covered with fabric, fiberglass, plastic sheeting, metal sheeting, or a shell made of fiberglass, Kevlar, graphite or other suitable composite can be connected to the frame  58 , or the frame  58  can be molded to portions of the shell.  
         [0045]    The steering mechanism  60  for the sled apparatus  10 , is shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 9 and 10.  
         [0046]    The steering mechanism  60  is controlled by a set of handgrips  62   a  and  62   b  provided on hand levers  64   a  and  64   b.  The hand levers  64   a  and  64   b  are connected to outer ends of shafts  66   a  and  66   b  pivotally supported by portions of the tubular frame  58  (e.g. gusset plates provided with appropriate type bearings). A pair of push rods  70   a  and  70   b  are connected to lower ends of the hand levers  64   a  and  64   b,  respectively, and extend and connect to a bell crank  72  by pivotal connection  74   a  and  74   b,  respectively to provide steering of the rear wheel assembly  46 . The bell crank  72  and wheel assembly  46  again are connected to the swing arm  48  by pivotal connection  50 , as shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0047]    A pair of push rods  76   a  and  76   b  are pivotally connected to the bell crank  72  and extend forward and connect with steering arms  78   a  and  78   b,  respectively, of the blade assemblies  22 . The blade assemblies  22  are connected to the struts  26  (FIG. 1) by pivotal connections  80   a  and  80   b  (FIG. 9), respectively, to provide steering of the blade assemblies  22 .  
         [0048]    A driver of the sled apparatus  10  grips the handgrip  62   a  with his or her left hand and grips handgrip  62   b  with his or her right hand. To turn the sled apparatus  10  to the left, the driver pulls back on the left handgrip  62   a  and pushes forward on the right handgrip  62   b.  To turn right, the driver pulls back on the right handgrip  62   b  and pushes on the left handgrip  62   a.  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the handgrips  62   a  and  62   b  are mechanically coupled by the pushrod  70   a  and  70   b  to the bellcrank  72  allowing the user to apply both a pulling force and pushing force on the opposite handgrips  62   a  and  62   b  greatly increasing the ability of the driver to turn the rear rollerblade type blade assembly  46  for quickly and accurately turning the sled apparatus  10 . In an alternative embodiment, the left handgrip  62   a  and right handgrip  62   b  can be decoupled, and operate independent of each other however, this arrangement would reduce the amount of turning force by approximately one-half(½) versus the arrangement shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.  
         [0049]    The tilting mechanism for the sled apparatus  10  is shown in FIGS.  5 - 7  and  12 .  
         [0050]    Referring to FIG. 7 and  12 , the tilting mechanism  98  includes a set of foot pedals  100   a  and  100   b  connected to levers  102   a  and  102   b  respectively. The levers  102   a  and  102   b  are connected to the frame  12  by pivotal connectors  104   a  and  104   b.  The upper ends of the levers  102   a  and  102   b  are pivotally connected to pushrods  106   a  and  106   b.  The opposite ends of the pushrods  106   a  and  106   b  are pivotally connected to stabilizing arms  108   a  and  108   b.  The opposite ends of the stabilizing arms  108   a  and  108   b  are connected by pivotal connection  110  to a bracket  111  connected to leaf spring  34 . A pair of shock absorber/spring assemblies  112   a  and  112   b  are connected at their lower ends by pivotal connectors  114   a  and  114   b  to stabilize arms  108   a  and  108   b.  The upper ends of the shock absorber/spring assemblies  112   a  and  11   2   b  are connected by pivotal connectors  116   a  and  116   b  respectively, to control arms  36   a  and  36   b.  The control arms  36   a  and  36   b  are connected to the frame  12  by pivotal connectors  118   a  and  118   b,  respectively.  
         [0051]    In use, the driver of the sled apparatus  10  tilts the sled apparatus by use of the tilting mechanism  98 . Specifically, the user places his or her left foot on foot pedal  100   a  and his or her right foot on foot pedal  100   b.  To tilt the sled apparatus  10  along the roll axis of the sled apparatus  10  the driver applies foot pressure to one of the foot pedals  100   a  or  100   b.  When the driver applies foot pressure to foot pedal  100   a,  the tilting mechanism  98  pivots the outer end of the control arm  36   a  downwardly causing the left side of the sled apparatus  10  upwardly (with reference frame when the driver is sitting within the sled apparatus  10 ). When the driver applies foot pressure to the foot pedal  100   b,  the outer end of the control arm  36   b  is forced downwardly causing the right side of the sled apparatus  10  to move upwardly. It is possible to raise the entire front of the sled apparatus  10  by simultaneously applying foot pressure to both foot pedals  100   a  and  100   b,  and then somewhat tilting the sled apparatus  10  by applying differential pressure to the foot pedals  100   a  and  100   b  to provide further variability in the operation of the sled apparatus  10 .  
         [0052]    The steering mechanism  60  and tilting mechanism  98  are independently controlled and operated in the sled apparatus  10  shown in FIGS.  1 - 12 . However, in an alternative embodiment, the steering mechanism  60  and tilting mechanism  98  can be partially or fully coupled to provide coordinated steering and tilting of the sled apparatus. However, the independent configuration shown in the sled apparatus  10  of FIGS.  1 - 12  allows for more variability of operation by the driver depending on the type of surface, the angle of inclination of the surface and/or roughness of the surface. For example, when negotiating the sled apparatus  10  shown in FIG. 1 down a grassy hill, when the driver steers to the left, he or she may want to tilt the sled apparatus  10  downwardly on the lefthand side to put more force or pressure on the right front blade assembly  22  (i.e. the blade assembly  22  on the downhill side of the vehicle) the same or similar to a person snow skiing down a hill. In this manner, the sled apparatus  10  can be operated in a smoother and safer course versus a vehicle not having a tilting mechanism negotiating such a terrain. Thus, the sled apparatus  10  allows for banking of the sled apparatus  10  during turning to allow for faster, more stable and safe turning thereof.  
         [0053]    As shown in FIG. 19, the sled apparatus  10  can be tilted when traveling on a substantially horizontal surface H. Specifically, the sled apparatus  10  can be tilted downwardly on the left side thereof when negotiating a turn to the left allowing the sled apparatus  10  to negotiate the turn faster, with more stability and safer. The struts  26  remain substantially vertical with respect to the horizontal surface H, however, in other embodiments, the sled apparatus  10  can be configured to incline the struts  26  to possibly further enhance the turning ability of the sled apparatus  10 .  
         [0054]    As shown in FIG. 20, the sled apparatus  10  is being driven on an inclined surface I. The sled apparatus  10  is tilted so that the sled apparatus is oriented in a substantially vertical axis as shown. The downhill side of the sled apparatus  10  (i.e. right side) carries a greater percentage of the weight with the sled apparatus  10  being tilted into the hill as shown. This configuration would be achieved, for example, when negotiating a turn of the sled apparatus  10  to the left when coming down a hill and traversing the hill the same or similar to a person snow skiing.