Ice and Snow Vehicle.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1899
Ice and Snow Vehicle.
I, VALENTINE SEESER, of No. 1330, West Ninth Street, in the City of Kansas
City, in the County of Jackson and State of Missouri, United States of America,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
My invention relates to ice and snow vehicles, and the object of the invention is
to produce a machine of this character which is propelled by manual power, and
is thoroughly practical, and which combines in a high degree lightness, simplicity,
strength and durability of construction.
My invention contemplates the employment of a bicycle-frame of any preferred
pattern or style, together with the power-transmitting mechanism and the customary
retarding devices minus the brake-shoe, in combination with supporting sleds or
runners and means for imparting motion and for retarding motion,-i.e., braking-
devices which will connect with the retarding devices of the bicycle-frame herein-
before referred to. These sleds or runners, together with the motion-imparting
devices and the brake-mechanism, will be preferably detachably connected to the
bicycle-frame, which therefore may be used, according to the season, with either
wheels to form a bicycle, or with the said attachments to form a snow and ice
vehicle. Thus it is apparent that the expense of buying two complete machines
is avoided.
The invention further consists in its novel and peculiar features of construction
and organization of parts, as is hereinafter described and claimed.
In order that the invention may be fully understood, reference is to be had to
the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 represents principally in side-elevation a vehicle constructed in
accordance with my invention.
Figure 2 represents on an enlarged scale a horizontal section of the same, and
discloses more clearly the construction and arrangement of the power-mechanism.
Figure 3 is a detailed perspective view of the front sled or runner.
Figure 4 represents on an enlarged scale a cross-section of said sled or runner.
Figure 5 represents detailed perspective views of a part of the rear axle, and
of a part of one of the rear forks of the bicycle-frame.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the connections between the arms of
the rear sled or runner.
Figure 7 is a view in side elevation of one of the skates of the vehicle.
Figure 8 is a view of a pivoted sleeve, hereinafter described.
In the said drawing, 1 designates a bicycle-frame of the type shown, or of
other preferred type. 2 designates the front axle, and 3 the rear axle.
any
Said frame is mounted upon sleds or runners 4, which each consists of a runner
proper 5, of steel or other suitable material, and of the approximately V-shaped
arms 6 and 7, which converge upwardly at suitable angles, and are united at their
upper ends by couplings 8. These arms are preferably of steel tubing bent to the
required form. The runner is preferably segmental in cross-section, or gutter-

page_text: shaped, and curved upwardly at its front end that it may glide over slight obstruc-
tions, and depending divergently from said runners are the skates 12. Said skates
are preferably of steel, and are stamped to form combs 13, which project through
and are riveted to the runners, and the upwardly and outwardly diverging brace-
arms 14, which may be riveted to the outer sides of the runners if desired.
In securing the front runner in proper relative position to the frame, the lower
ends of the front fork of the frame are fitted snugly between the couplings 8, which
of course are constructed the required distance apart. The axle. 2 is then extended
through the registering apertures of the coupling 8 and the said fork, and is
engaged at its opposite ends in the customary manner by clamping-nuts. In order
that the relative positions between said front runner and the frame may not depend
alone upon the axle connection, I mount rigidly upon the upper ends of the arms 7
the sleeves 15, which are provided with upwardly-projecting arms 16, which fit
snugly against the outer sides of the fork. These arms are braced apart and tied
together by means of the interposed sleeve 17 and the bolt 18, which extends
through said sleeve and registering apertures in said arms, and engaging the pro-
jecting threaded end of said bolt is the clamping-nut 19.
The connection between the rear forks and the rear sled or runner is in some
respects different. The couplings 8 of said sled or runner are provided with aper-
tures which are engaged by the rear axle 3, as before, but in addition said couplings
are provided at their inner sides with the rectangular projections 8, which fit in
slots Sb, found at the rear ends of all bicycle-frames of approved construction.
The axle 3 extends also through said projections. This construction is provided
at this point in order to assist the axle 3 and the clamping-nuts 11 in maintaining
the relation between the rear forks and the rear sled or runner, in lieu of the con-
struction first described, though it is to be understood, of course, that such
construction may be employed at the rear end of the vehicle-sleds as well as at the
front end.
Mounted upon the rear axle is a sleeve 20, provided with a coupling, and a
longitudinally extending bar 21 connects said coupling with a coupling upon the
cross-bar 22, and said cross-bar is carried by couplings 23 detachably mounted
upon the forks of the frame about midway between the rear axle and the crank-
shaft of the vehicle.
Journaled transversely in said bar 21 is a short shaft 24, and mounted rigidly
upon opposite ends of the same are the cranks 25, longitudinally slotted at their
outer ends. Said cranks are pivotally and adjustably connected as at 26 to the
upper ends of the push-bars 27, which are preferably formed of steel tubing and
are provided at their lower ends with pointed heels or spurs 28, and with flattened
foot-portions 29. The heels or spurs are designed to penetrate the ice or hard
crust of snow, and the foot-portions are to limit such penetration when the push-
bar is propelling the machine, and to cause it to slide more readily and easily
forward when withdrawn or sliding inoperatively upon the surface of the ice or
snow.
In order that the push-bars may operate in planes parallel with the rear sled or
runner I provide the longitudinal slots 30 at each side of said runner by means of
the transverse arms 31 and the longitudinal rods 31". Said longitudinal rods, how-
ever, in order to reduce friction to the minimum, are in the form of antifriction-
rollers, preferably of hard rubber; said rollers having their ends journaled in the
arms 31.
In order to impart motion to the vehicle by the operation of the push-bars, the
customary sprocket-wheel 32 is connected by the chain 33 to the sprocket-wheel 34,
which, however, is preferably not the sprocket-wheel employed when the frame is
mounted upon wheels, though it can be used in that connection if desired. The
sprocket wheel 34 is preferably mounted rigidly upon one end of a sleeve 35,
journaled upon the axle 3, and upon the other end of the same sleeve is keved or
otherwise rigidly mounted the cog-wheel 36, which meshes with the small cog-
wheel 37, mounted rigidly upon the short shaft 24.

page_text: From the foregoing it will be apparent that as the rider rotates the crank-shaft
with his feet upon the pedals, the motion is imparted to the shaft 24 through the
medium of the connections above described, and this rotation of said shaft causes
the cranks 25 to move the push-bars alternately to the rear and forward. As said
cranks rise in moving forward they bring said push-bars more nearly to a vertical
position, and as a certain point in their orbit is passed they cause the sharpened
heels or spurs of the push-bars to slightly penetrate the ice or hardened crust of
snow, and exert a pressure which results in the rapid propulsion of the machine.
In case the vehicle is being used upon snow the foot-portions will prevent the
heels or spurs penetrating too deeply and thereby retarding the speed of the
vehicle by the waste or loss of power." As these push-bars operate alternately, it
is evident that a continuous pressure is exerted in the propulsion of the machine.
It may be found desirable to employ additional push-bars in order to make the
motion possibly more uniform and smooth. In this case it will only be necessary
to provide a corresponding number of cranks.
In order to provide against any possible chance of the push-bars slipping under
the pressure applied in the propulsion of the vehicle, particularly when traveling
upon ice, I may employ devices constructed as follows:
38 designates guide-sleeves, which are provided with arms 39, pivotally mounted
upon cylindrical studs 40, projecting inwardly from the arm 7 of the rear sled or
runner, and held in position by the retaining-nuts 41, engaging said studs.
These sleeves are mounted so as to swing only in the same vertical plane as the
push-bars 27, and extending slidingly through them are the rods 42, which are
pivotally connected as at 43 to the clips or sleeves 44, mounted rigidly upon the
push-bars, near their lower ends. Spiral springs 45 surround said rods and bear
at their opposite ends against said pivoted sleeves and the clips or sleeves 44, and
therefore tend to force the push-bars continuously forward and downward, in order
that there will be no possible chance of slipping when the pressure from the pedals
is applied. These devices just described, however, I do not consider absolutely
essential, and may dispense with them entirely.
In order to retard the motion of and stop the vehicle when desired, I provide a
braking-mechanism as follows:
46 designates the brake-shoe, which is pivoted as at 47 to the front runner, and
is curved downwardly at its rear or friction end, and is adapted to be instantly
projected through the slot 48 in said runner into frictional contact with the ice
or snow when necessary to retard the motion of or stop the vehicle. The opposite
end of the brake-shoe is pivotally connected as at 49 by the tie-rod 50 to the
arm 51 of a bell-crank lever mounted pivotally upon the front axle 2, and connected
with the arm 52 of said lever is the push-rod 53, forming a part of an ordinary
bicycle braking-mechanism, and connected at its upper end to the brake-lever 54.
The customary spring 55 for maintaining the brake in its inoper position is
employed in this connection, though it is obvious that the brake-shoe may be
held from contact with the ice or snow in divers other ways. By this arrange-
ment it is only necessary for the rider to grip the brake-lever in the customary
manner to apply the brake.
When the machine is traveling upon ice it will be supported solely by the
skates 12, and the runner proper will not be in contact with the ice. These skates
are made comparatively short to facilitate turning, and by arranging them parallel
and at some distance apart it is obvious, also, that in making turns the skates
on one side of said runners will be always in contact with the ice, and being com-
paratively sharp at their bearing-edges, will prevent the machine from slipping
from under the rider. When traveling upon snow. the skates will not be an
impediment to rapid motion, as they will penetrate the snow, and the runners
proper of the vehicle will glide upon the surface of the snow. In making turns,
as before, the runners, by penetrating the snow, will prevent the slipping of the
vehicle.
This vehicle possesses one decided advantage which will recommend itself,--that is

page_text: after a sufficient momentum is acquired the rider may cease pedaling without
removing his feet from the pedals, which therefore will provide for him a foot-
rest whenever he desires to rest, and during the cessation of pedal movement the
vehicle will glide smoothly along, and the push-bars will simply drag inoperatively
behind, but ready at all times to respond to the movement of the crank-shaft in
order to maintain or increase the speed of the vehicle.
It is obvious from the above description, taken in connection with the drawings,
that a person skilled in the art to which this machine pertains may easily and
expeditiously transform the device from a bicycle into a snow or ice vehicle, or
vice versa.
It is obvious, of course, that various changes in the form, proportion
and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention; such changes, for instance, as the substitution of a
sprocket chain and wheel connection between the rear axle and the crank-shaft 24,
instead of the cog-gearing shown. I may also find it desirable to employ an anti-
friction-roller 31" at each side of each slot 30 instead of at the outer side only.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in, what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. An ice and snow vehicle, comprising sleds or runners, a suitable frame
mounted thereon, a crank-shaft, push-bars provided with heels or spurs at their
lower ends and pivotally connected at their upper ends to said crank-shaft, and
means to rotate the latter, substantially as set forth.
2. An ice and snow vehicle, comprising sleds or runners, a suitable frame
mounted thereon, a crank-shaft, push-bars provided with heels or spurs and with
foot-portions at their lower ends, and means to rotate said crank-shaft, substantially
as set forth.
3. An ice and snow vehicle, comprising sleds or runners, one of them provided
with guide-slots, a frame mounted thereon upon which a person may sit, a crank-
shaft, and push-bars pivotally connected to said crank-shaft at their upper ends
and projecting through the guide-slots of said sled or runner, substantially as set
forth.
4. An ice and snow vehicle, comprising sleds or runners, a frame upon which a
person may sit, mounted upon said sleds or runners, a crank-shaft journaled in
said frame, push-bars pivotally connected at their upper ends to said crank-shaft,
sleeves pivoted to arms of the runner in rear of the crank-shaft, rods pivotally
connected to the push-bars and extending slidingly through said sleeves, expansion-
springs mounted upon said rods between said push-bars and said sleeves, and means
to rotate the crank-shaft, substantially as set forth.
5. An ice and snow vehicle, comprising sleds or runners, one of them provided with
guide-slots, a frame upon which a person may sit, mounted upon said sleds or
runners, a crank-shaft journaled in said frame, push-bars extending through said
guide-slots and pivotally connected at their upper ends in said crank-shaft, sleeves
pivoted to arms of the runners in rear of the crank-shaft, rods pivotally connected
to the push-bars and extending slidingly through said sleeves, expansion-springs
mounted upon said rods between said push-bars and said sleeves, and means to
rotate the crank-shaft, substantially as set forth.
6. An ice and snow vehicle, comprising sleds or runners mounted each upon a
pair of parallel skates, a frame upon which a person may sit, mounted upon said
sleds or runners, one of them provided with guide-slots, a crank-shaft rotatably
mounted in said frame, push-bars pivotally connected at their upper ends to said
crank-shafts and extending through said guide-slots, and means to rotate said
shaft and thereby operate said push-bars, substantially as set forth.
7. An ice and snow vehicle, comprising sleds or runners arranged tandem, a
bicycle-frame mounted thereon upon which a person may sit, a crank-shaft
journaled in said frame, push-bars pivotally connected to said crank-shaft, and a
pedal-carrying crank-shaft geared to the first-named crank-shaft, substantially as
set forth.

page_text: 8. An ice and snow vehicle, comprising a pair of sleds or runners arranged
tandem, a bicycle-frame mounted thereon upon which a person may sit, means for
propelling said machine upon the surface of ice or crusted snow, a braking-
mechanism whereby the motion of the vehicle may be retarded or checked, con-
sisting of a pivoted brake-shoe, a handle-lever, and intermediate connections
between the same, substantially as set forth.
9. An ice and snow vehicle, comprising a pair of sleds or runners arranged
tandem, and mounted each upon a pair of skates, which project below the surface
of the runner proper, a bicycle-frame mounted detachably upon said sleds or run-
ners, upon which a person may sit, means for propelling said vehicle, and means
for checking its motion consisting of a brake-shoe pivoted upon the front runner,
a bell-crank lever pivoted between the front forks of the frame, a rod connecting
the brake-shoe and the bell-crank lever, a handle-lever, a rod connecting the same
also with the bell-crank lever, and a spring normally holding the brake-shoe above
the surface of the ice or snow and opposite a slot or opening in the runner, through
which it may be projected when it is desired to check the vehicle, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
10. In an ice and snow vehicle, the combination with a bicycle-frame, of a front
sled or runner, comprising the runner proper, upwardly diverging arms, and
couplings connected to said-arms and clamped against the outer sides of the
vehicle-forks and upon the front and rear axles of the vehicle, and sleeves secured
upon arms of the front sled or runner and provided with arms which embrace
externally the front fork and are bolted firmly together, substantially as set forth.
11. In an ice and snow vehicle, the combination with a pair of sleds or runners
arranged tandem, rectangular lugs projecting from one of said sleds or runners,
a bicycle-frame mounted upon the front runner, and provided with slotted forks
which embrace the lugs of the rear sled or runner, and an axle and clamping-nuts
to secure said frame and rear runner firmly in their relative positions, substantially
as set forth.
Dated thin 4th day of November 1898.