Abstract:
A small, inexpensive, lightweight vehicle in the nature of a wheeled buggy is provided for movement over frozen bodies of water such as ponds and lakes, with the vehicle being powered by a gasoline engine which is alternatively used to power an ice auger.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U. S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/780,254, filed on Mar. 8, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to vehicles for movement over frozen bodies of water and to augers for use by ice fishermen for boring holes through the ice. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In the past, holes have been formed in the ice for ice fishing by the use of ice chisels or hand augers, a task which was tiring and tedious, especially with ice sometimes as thick as 1 to 2 feet. 
         [0004]    More recently, in response to the fast growing popularity of ice fishing as a winter sport, a wide variety of power augers has become available for use by ice fishermen for drilling holes in the ice to set up fishing equipment such as ice tilts and the like. 
         [0005]    Snowmobiles are well known for use as a means for motorized transportation over snow and ice. 
         [0006]    It is also known to drive an auger by using the power generated by a tractor or snow mobile engine, or by an electric power source such as a battery, as disclosed in the following prior art U.S. patents: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Nos. 
                 3,602,321 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3,662,844 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3,705,632 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3,732,751 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3,828,861 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5,330,014 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0007]    However, vehicles such as tractors and snowmobiles are expensive and are not readily available to the average ice fisherman. In addition, the means for connecting augers thereto is complicated and requires special tools and equipment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is a primary object of the invention to provide a small, inexpensive, lightweight, wheeled vehicle in the nature of a buggy for movement over frozen bodies of water such as ponds and lakes, with the vehicle being powered by a gasoline engine which is also used to power an ice auger. 
         [0009]    Modern power augers are formed in two parts, with a gasoline engine on top having handles for holding the device during drilling operations and an ice auger on the bottom for penetrating the ice, with the parts being detachably joined together by such as a screw or pin which extends through the motor shaft of the engine and through the shaft of the auger. 
         [0010]    With the invention hereof, the gasoline engine is separated from the ice auger and detachably connected to the drive shaft of the buggy for powering the vehicle, thus providing the ice fisherman with very desirable mobility on large ponds and lakes. 
         [0011]    It is a further object of the invention to provide an ice buggy which is very affordable since it can be sold without a gasoline engine, in view of the fact that most modern ice fishermen already own a power auger. 
         [0012]    The ice buggy hereof includes: a frame for supporting a pair of spaced wheels mounted on a rear axle; a forward ski; a seat for the operator, a foot-operated “T” bar for steering the ski; a drive shaft operatively connected to the rear axle; and a gasoline engine detachably connected to the drive shaft for rotating the rear axle and the wheels to propel the ice buggy. 
         [0013]    The wheels of the ice buggy are preferably of large diameter, such as 20 inch bicycle wheels, in order to provide ample clearance between the buggy frame and the ice. 
         [0014]    In use, the gasoline engine and ice auger are separated from each other and the gasoline engine is placed on the drive shaft of the buggy. The operator sits on the seat and starts the engine to rotate the drive shaft causing the rear wheels to move the buggy over the ice while the operator steers the buggy by moving the ski through manipulation of the foot operated “T” bar. 
         [0015]    When the desired destination on the ice is reached, movement of the buggy is stopped and the engine is turned off. The engine is then removed from the buggy drive shaft and reattached to the ice auger to convert the unit back to a power auger which can be used to drill holes in the ice. 
         [0016]    In a modified form of the invention, a hand brake is provided for stopping movement of the ice buggy; steering assist means is provided for aiding in steering the ice buggy; and a seat support is provided with a convenience shelf for transporting articles. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a fragmentary, top perspective view of an ice buggy embodying a first form of the invention with a gasoline engine attached to the ice buggy drive shaft; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the ice buggy of  FIG. 1  with the gasoline engine removed from the ice buggy drive shaft; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a power auger incorporating a gasoline engine of the type shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged, exploded, fragmentary, front perspective view of the ice auger, gasoline engine and its motor shaft, and connecting pin of the power auger of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged, fragmentary, top perspective view of the drive shaft of the ice buggy of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged, fragmentary, front perspective view showing the motor shaft of the gasoline engine of  FIGS. 1 and 4  partially engaged with the ice buggy drive shaft of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged, fragmentary, front perspective view of the belt and pulley drive means of the ice buggy of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged, fragmentary, top perspective view of the rear axle and rear pulley of the drive means of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged, fragmentary, top perspective view of the front ski and steering T-bar of the ice buggy of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of an ice buggy embodying a second form of the invention with a gasoline engine attached to the buggy drive shaft and the ice buggy incorporating a modified frame, steering assist means and brake means; 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged, fragmentary, side perspective view of the ice buggy of  FIG. 10  further incorporating an exhaust tube leading from the gasoline engine; 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of the ice buggy of  FIG. 10  with the gasoline engine removed from the ice buggy drive shaft and the seat shown in a collapsed position; 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged, fragmentary, side perspective view of the ice buggy of  FIG. 10  showing the seat mounting means; 
           [0030]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged, fragmentary, bottom perspective view of the ice buggy of  FIG. 10  showing the brake means; 
           [0031]      FIG. 15  is an enlarged, fragmentary, rear perspective view of the ice buggy of  FIG. 10 ; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 16  is an enlarged, fragmentary, bottom perspective view of the ice buggy of  FIG. 12 , with the gasoline engine removed and the seat shown in a collapsed position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]    Referring first to  FIGS. 1-9 , an ice buggy embodying a first form of the invention is generally indicated by  10  and includes a frame  12  which supports the following: ski means  14 ; spaced rear wheels  16  and  18  mounted on an axle  20 ; a seat  22 ; a steering T-bar  24 ; an ice buggy drive shaft generally indicated by  26  which is powered by a gasoline engine  100 ; and belt and pulley drive means generally indicated by  28  for operatively connecting drive shaft  26  to axle  20 . 
         [0034]    Gasoline engine  100  is otherwise and alternatively part of a power auger, generally indicated by  101 , of the type shown in  FIG. 3 , used to drive an ice auger  102  and is provided with handles  104  for grasping the unit during use. 
         [0035]    As best seen in  FIG. 4 , gasoline engine  100  and ice auger  102  are detachably interconnected by a stud or bolt  106  which extends through provided openings in a motor shaft  108  of gasoline engine  100  and through a main shaft  110  of ice auger  102 . 
         [0036]    Frame  12  of ice buggy  10  is preferably fabricated from metal or a similar strong, rigid material, is triangular in plan and includes a transverse rear rail  30  and side rails  32  and  34  each connected at one end by corner plates  36  to an end of rear rail  30 . Rear rail  30  and side rails  32  and are preferably of square, hollow cross section, with side rails  32  and  34  extending angularly inwardly from rear rail  30  to meet at their forward ends where they are connected together by an apex plate  38  which also forms a support for ski means  14  and steering T-bar  24  in manner to be described. 
         [0037]    Frame  12  is reinforced by a trio of spaced, central rails  40  which extend transversely between and are fixed at their opposite ends to side rails  32  and  34  and is further reinforced by spaced, support rails  42  which extend longitudinally between and are fixed at their opposite ends to rear rail  30  and to the rearmost central rail  40 . 
         [0038]    Seat  22  is positioned forwardly of frame rear rail  30  and is supported upwardly of support rails  42  by pairs of upright rails  44  which are disposed at each side of the seat and are connected at their lower ends to support rails  42 . 
         [0039]    Rear wheels  16  and  18  are fixed to the opposite ends of axle  20  which is positioned immediately forwardly of frame rear rail  30  and rearwardly of seat  22 ,with wheel  16  being disposed immediately outwardly of side rail  32  and wheel  18  being disposed immediately outwardly of side rail  34 . 
         [0040]    Rear wheels  16  and  18  are preferably of large diameter, such as 20 inch bicycle wheels, in order to provide ample clearance between frame  12  and the ice therebelow. Chains  19  are provided on each wheel  16  and  18  for improved traction. 
         [0041]    Axle  20  is journaled centrally of its length in a first pair of spaced pillow block bearings  46  fixed to support rails  42  and is journaled adjacent its ends in a second pair of spaced pillow block bearings  48 , each fixed to a corner plate  36 . 
         [0042]    Ice buggy drive shaft  26  is vertically-disposed approximately centrally of frame  12  forwardly of seat  22  and is journaled at its lower end in a flange bearing  49 , best seen in  FIG. 7 , fixed to a mounting plate  50  which extends longitudinally between and is adjustably secured to a pair of central rails  40  by spaced pairs of bolts  52  which extend upwardly from the central rails and through spaced pairs of slots  54  in plate  50 , with the bolts having nuts  56  threaded thereon. 
         [0043]    The position of drive shaft  26  relative to frame  12  may be changed by loosening nuts  56 , sliding mounting plate  50  longitudinally relative to bolts  52  and securing the mounting plate in desired position by tightening nuts  56 , for purposes to appear. 
         [0044]    Belt and pulley drive means  28  includes a horizontally oriented drive pulley  58  secured to drive shaft  26  immediately above flange bearing  49 , a vertically oriented follower pulley  60  fixed to axle  20  between the first pair of pillow block bearings  46  and a belt  62  entrained around pulleys  60  and  62 . Tension on belt  62  may be adjusted by sliding mounting plate  50  longitudinally forwardly or rearwardly. 
         [0045]    As best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , drive shaft  26  has a circular, upstanding boss  64  fixed to its upper free end and coaxial therewith. Boss  64  has a central bore  66  therein which is provided with a vertically extending, semi-circular slot  68  in its wall. 
         [0046]    This construction permits the easy assembly of gasoline engine  100  onto drive shaft  26  of the ice buggy. 
         [0047]    Following separation of engine  100  from auger  102  of power auger  101  by removal of stud  106 , the stud is reinserted in motor shaft  108  so as to extend transversely outwardly therefrom. Gasoline engine  100  is then grasped by handles  104  and, as shown in  FIG. 6 , motor shaft  108  is inserted into central bore  66  of boss  64  and slid downwardly so that stud  106  is engaged in slot  68 , with downward movement being stopped upon engagement of engine  100  with the upper face of boss  64 . 
         [0048]    Thus, when gasoline engine  100  is started, motor shaft  108  is rotated causing stud  106  to bear on slot  68  of boss  64  thereby setting up concomitant rotation of ice buggy drive shaft  26 , belt and pulley drive means  28  and axle  20  to rotate wheels  16  and  18  to propel the ice buggy. 
         [0049]    With an operator seated in seat  22 , and grasping handles  104  of gasoline engine  100 , steering of the ice buggy is accomplished by foot pressure exerted on T-bar  24  which is operatively connected to the upper end of a shaft  70  which extends vertically through and is mounted for rotation relative to apex plate  38  of frame  12  and is connected at its lower end to ski means  14 . 
         [0050]    When the desired destination is reached on the ice, gasoline engine  100  is turned off and its motor shaft  108  is removed from engagement in bore  66  of boss  64  of ice buggy drive shaft  26  by grasping the handles  104  of the engine and lifting upwardly. 
         [0051]    Stud  106  may then be used to reattach gasoline engine  100  to ice auger  102 , at which time power auger  101  may be used to bore holes in the ice by activating the gasoline engine and grasping handles  104  for guiding the auger during drilling operations. 
         [0052]    Referring now to  FIGS. 10-16 , a modified ice buggy generally indicated by  200  includes: brake means  211 ; a modified frame  212 ; steering assist means  224 ; a modified seat support means  240 ; and a gasoline engine exhaust means  250 . 
         [0053]    Ice buggy  200  is otherwise substantially similar to ice buggy  10  of  FIGS. 1-9 . 
         [0054]    Frame  212 , which is preferably fabricated from metal or a similar strong, rigid material, is similar to frame  12  of ice buggy  10  and is triangular in plan and includes a transverse rear rail  230  of lesser length than the length of rear rail  30  of frame  12 , and side rails  232  and  234  each connected at one end by corner plates  236  to one end of rear rail  230  rail. 
         [0055]    Side rails  232  and  234  extend angularly inwardly from rear rail  230  to meet at their forward ends where they are connected by an apex plate  238  which also forms a support for ski means  14  and steering T-bar  24  in manner as previously described with reference to ice buggy  10 . 
         [0056]    The shorter length of rear rail  230  of frame  212  permits axle  20 , which extends between rear wheels  16  and  18 , to be supported by only one pair of spaced pillow block bearings  248  fixed to each corner plate  236 , as opposed to the two pair of pillow block bearings  46  and  48  of ice buggy  10 . 
         [0057]    As best seen in  FIG. 14 , brake means  211  is pivotably connected to frame  212  immediately below seat  22  and includes a handle  213  fixed to a free end  215   a  of an L-shaped pivot rod  215  having an opposite end which defines a cross arm  215   b  which extends transversely between and is mounted for rotative movement relative to brackets  217  fixed to the lower surface of each frame side rail  232  and  234 . 
         [0058]    A brake arm  219  extends rearwardly from pivot rod  215  and is fixed at one of its ends centrally of cross arm  215   b  and has an upwardly curved outer free end  221 . A stud  223  is provided on brake arm  219  intermediate its length and extends outwardly and downwardly therefrom. 
         [0059]    The brake means  211  is operated by grasping handle  213  and pulling it upwardly, causing brake arm  219  to be rotated downwardly to bring stud  223  of brake arm  219  into engagement with the ice to bring the moving ice buggy to a stop. 
         [0060]    The central rail  40 , longitudinal support rails  42  and upright rails  44  of ice buggy  10  are replaced in ice buggy  200  by seat support means, generally indicated by  240 , fabricated from sheet metal or similar strong material, which is fixed to the upper horizontal surface of frame  212 . 
         [0061]    Seat support means  240 , which is best seen in  FIG. 13 , includes a pair of spaced, upright side walls  242  and  244  which are fixed at their lower ends to side rails  232  and  234  respectively and are spanned at their upper ends by a flat upper wall  246  to which seat  22  is mounted. 
         [0062]    A portion of upper wall  246  extends rearwardly from seat  22  to provide a shelf  246   a  for supporting such as a carrying case or miscellaneous articles, not shown. 
         [0063]    Steering assist means  224  comprises a pair of spaced straps  226  which are fixed at their upper ends to handles  104  of gasoline engine  100  and are fixed at their opposite lower ends to T-bar  24 . Thus, the steering T-bar can be moved not only by foot pressure exerted by the operator on the T-bar, but by hand pressure exerted by the operator on the handles  104 , thereby changing the direction of ski means  14 . 
         [0064]    To ensure that exhaust fumes from gasoline engine  100  do not reach the operator, exhaust means, generally indicated by  250 , is provided and comprises a flexible tube  250   a , best seen in  FIGS. 11 and 13 , which is detachably secured at its upper end to an exhaust port  251  of the gasoline engine and extends downwardly to a semi-circular spring fastener  253  fixed to the forward edge of drive shaft mounting plate  50  which has a complemental semi-circular notch  253   a  therein for receiving and holding the lower end of the exhaust tube. 
         [0065]    Thus, exhaust fumes are directed downwardly by the exhaust tube toward the ice and away from the operator. 
         [0066]    As with ice buggy  10 , buggy drive shaft  26  is vertically disposed approximately centrally of frame  212  forwardly of seat  22  and is journaled at its lower end in flange bearing  49  which is fixed to mounting plate  50 , which is mounted for longitudinal adjustment relative to side rails  232  and  234  of frame  212 . 
         [0067]    Belt and pulley drive means  28  of ice buggy  10  is incorporated in its entirety in ice buggy  100  with horizontally oriented drive pulley  58  being secured to drive shaft  26 ; with vertically oriented follower pulley  60  being fixed to axle  20 ; and with belt  62  being entrained around pulleys  60  and  62 . Tension on belt  62  may be adjusted by sliding mounting plate  50  longitudinally forwardly or rearwardly relative to frame side rails  232  and  234 . 
         [0068]    Also, gasoline engine  100 , power auger  101  and ice auger  102  remain unchanged, with the gasoline engine and ice auger being detachably interconnected by stud  106  which extends through provided openings in motor shaft  108  of gasoline engine  100  and through main shaft  110  of the ice auger. 
         [0069]    In addition, the means for connecting gasoline engine  100  to drive shaft  26  remains the same. Following separation of engine  100  from power auger  101 , stud  106  is reinserted in motor shaft  108  and the motor shaft is inserted into central bore  66  of boss  64  and slid downwardly so that stud  106  is engaged in slot  68 , with downward movement being stopped upon engagement of engine  100  with the upper face of boss  64 . 
         [0070]    Thus, when gasoline engine  100  is started, motor shaft  108  is rotated causing stud  106  to bear on slot  68  of boss  64  thereby setting up concomitant rotation of ice buggy drive shaft  26  to drive belt and pulley drive means  28  to rotate axle  20  and wheels  16  and  18  to propel ice buggy  200 . 
         [0071]    For the fisherman who already owns a power auger, the ice buggy of the invention, in either of its embodiments, provides a very affordable and inexpensive form of transportation over snow and ice since it can be sold without a gasoline engine.