Patent ID: 7419175

Claim:
An operator carrying vehicle comprising: a) a frame having a front and a rear end; b) at least one wheel rotatably mounted under the front end of the frame; c) a pair of offset rear wheels rotatably mounted under the rear end of the frame at opposite sides; d) operator means for powering the rear wheels; e) means for steering the front wheel; f) a rear axle rotatably mounted under and across the rear end of the frame with the rear wheels being attached to opposite ends thereof to rotate therewith; and g) operator means for powering the rear axle, the operating means comprising: i) a platform of essentially the same dimensions as the frame, the platform being pivotally attached to the front of the frame inclining downward from the front to the rear; ii) a first, second and third shaft rotatably mounted across the platform, with the first and second shafts adjacent and parallel to each other at the front of the platform, and the third shaft at the rear of the platform parallel to the first and second shafts, the first, second and third shafts all having first and second ends with the respective first and second ends of the shafts being on the same side of the platform; iii) a first rubber roller keyed to and enclosing the first shaft, and a second rubber roller enclosing the third shaft; iv) a planar plastic platen disposed on the platform, the platen being essentially the same shape and size as the platform; v) a treadmill belt enclosing the platen and the first and second roller; vi) a first gear mounted on the first end of the first shaft and a second gear mounted on the first end of the second shaft with the first and second gears meshing; vii) a third gear mounted on the second end of the second shaft opposite the second gear and a plurality of successively sized sprockets mounted on an end of the rear axle; and viii) a chain connected to the third gear and the plurality of sprockets such that rotation of the treadmill belt drives the rear axle.