GB2588613A

GB2588613A - Sports vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2588613A
Application number: GB1915632.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Plenderleith William
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-10-29
Filing date: 2019-10-29
Publication date: 2021-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2039-10-29
Also published as: GB201915632D0; GB2588613B

Abstract

A sports vehicle is provided. The sports vehicle includes: a substantially horizontal platform 1 capable of supporting the user and adapted in its central portion to accommodate the user’s feet, and further adapted at each end to accommodate a ground-engaging wheel 2. The wheel is arranged to rotate about a substantially horizontal spindle 3 having its axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the platform. Each end of the spindle is secured to the platform by means of a bracket 4 and two substantially vertical supporting members 5, 6. The supporting members are resiliently pliable so as to allow lateral, longitudinal and angular movement of the spindle in a plane parallel to the platform. The user places their feet on the platform and steers the vehicle by tilting the platform using their body weight. The vehicle enables its user to travel over grassland or similar terrain in a manner similar to snowboarding.

Description

SPORTS VEHICLE

Snowboarding is a popular sport throughout the world, but in most countries it is a seasonal activity. During the off-season, enthusiasts may utilise artificial ski slopes to practise their sport, but in such places their activities are often greatly restricted, denying them the freedom to develop, practise or demonstrate the freestyle techniques that they yearn to perform. Another off-season alternative is "mountain-boarding", also known as "all-terrainboarding", which has become a very popular sport in its own right and can be performed throughout the year wherever suitable terrain is available. However, mountain boards have four relatively large wheels and employ an enlarged version of the steering principle used on skateboards, rendering them both heavy and bulky, and not ideally suited to the freestyle tricks performed by snowboarders.

Against this background, a need was identified for a lighter and more compact sports vehicle that would be compatible with the requirements of freestyle snowboarders during the offseason. Such a vehicle would also have application in sports such as "kite-landboarding", where the participants stand on mobile platforms and, using large kites, harness the power of the wind to propel themselves over grassland, beaches and similar terrain. As in snowboarding, participants perform a variety of tricks and compete against each other to achieve the highest marks for style and execution. Furthermore, a vehicle of this nature, if provided with supporting means for a user adopting a reclining or prostrate posture, would enable the user to indulge in activities akin to tobogganing over various kinds of sloping terrain.

The object of this invention is to provide a lightweight, compact device with steering characteristics similar to those of snowboards, which enables its user to indulge in pursuits that are similar to snowboarding and tobogganing over terrain such as grassland, earth and firm sand.

According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle for travelling over grassland and similar terrain, said vehicle comprising a substantially horizontal platform capable of supporting the user and adapted at each end to accommodate a ground-engaging wheel, said ground-engaging wheel being rotatable on a horizontal spindle, said spindle having its axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said platform and secured to said platform by means of two brackets and four resiliently-pliable supporting members, said supporting members having a substantially vertical axis.

In a preferred embodiment each of said spindles is positioned in closer proximity to its associated inboard supporting members than to its associated outboard supporting members, the said inboard supporting members being those closest to the centre of the platform and the said outboard supporting members being those closest to the ends of the platform. When said platform is tilted, this embodiment results in one wheel pivoting in a clockwise direction about a first imaginary vertical axis whilst the other wheel pivots in an anticlockwise direction about a second imaginary vertical axis, causing the vehicle to be steered towards the side to which said platform is tilted.

In another embodiment one of the said spindles is positioned in closer proximity to its associated inboard supporting members than to its outboard supporting members and the other said spindle is positioned closer to its associated outboard supporting members than to its inboard supporting members. When the platform is tilted, this embodiment results in both wheels pivoting in the same direction about their respective imaginary vertical axes, causing the vehicle to traverse laterally towards the side to which said platform is tilted, without changing the orientation of the longitudinal axis of said platform.

In a further embodiment one of said spindles is positioned closer to its associated inboard supporting members than to its outboard supporting members and the other spindle is rigidly secured to the platform. When said platform is tilted, this embodiment enables only one wheel to pivot about its imaginary vertical axis, reducing the steering effect relative to that of the preferred embodiment but improving the stability of the vehicle when used at high speed.

In the preferred embodiment, the vehicle is bidirectional. When travelling, either end of said vehicle may be the leading end. The vehicle may therefore be used for freestyle tricks involving a 180-degree or 540-degree rotation while said vehicle is airborne.

In all three embodiments, the angle through which the wheels pivot is dependent on three factors: the angle through which the platform is tilted; the weight of the user; and the pliability of the supporting members. By employing supporting members of appropriate pliability, the vehicle can be optimised to suit the user's weight and desired steering characteristics.

Preferably, all of said resiliently-pliable supporting members are of identical pliability Alternatively, the pliability of said outboard resiliently-pliable supporting members is different from the pliability of said inboard supporting members.

Alternatively, the pliability of said resiliently-pliable supporting members associated with one spindle is different from the pliability of any resiliently-pliable supporting members associated with the other spindle.

Preferably, said resiliently-pliable supporting members are made of natural rubber, but may instead be made of synthetic materials.

Preferably, said resiliently-pliable supporting members take the form of a right circular cylinder, but may instead take the form of a 'waisted' circular cylinder, a right elliptic cylinder, a rectangular prism or other forms.

Preferably, said ground-engaging wheels are provided with hubs made of low-friction polymeric materials, but may instead be provided with hubs made of metallic materials.

Preferably, said ground-engaging wheels are provided with hubs having a plain central bore, but may instead be provided with rolling-element bearings.

Preferably, said ground-engaging wheels are provided with solid rubber tyres, but may instead be provided with inflatable rubber tyres.

Preferably, said platform is made of laminated wood, but may instead be made of composite materials or moulded plastics materials.

Preferably, each end of said platform is provided with a cut-out to accommodate a ground-engaging wheel, but each of said ground-engaging wheels may instead be accommodated by other means, such as by the provision of a metal frame.

Preferably, the upper side of the central portion of said platform is provided with boot or shoe retention means.

Alternatively, said horizontal platform may incorporate supporting means for a user who adopts a reclining or prostrate posture.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures la and lb show a side elevation and plan view respectively of a vehicle according to the invention; Figures 2a and 2b show end elevations of a vehicle according to the invention with the platform in a horizontal position and in a tilted position respectively; Figures 3a and 3b show a force diagram and an end elevation respectively pertaining to a vehicle according to the invention with the platform tilted; Figure 4 shows a partial plan view of a vehicle according to the invention with the platform tilted; Figure 5 shows a plan view of a vehicle according to the invention with the platform tilted and the two wheels steering in opposite directions; Figure 6 shows a plan view of a vehicle according to the invention with the platform tilted and the two wheels steering in the same direction; Figure 7 shows a plan view of a vehicle according to the invention with the platform tilted and only one wheel steering; and Figures 8a and 8b show a detailed end elevation and a detailed partial side elevation respectively of a vehicle according to the invention.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 and Figure 8, a vehicle according to the invention comprises a substantially horizontal platform 1 capable of supporting the user and adapted in its central portion to accommodate the user's feet, and further adapted at each end by incorporating a cut-out 14 to accommodate a rotatable wheel 2 arranged to engage with the ground 31 and to rotate about a substantially horizontal spindle 3 having its axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said platform. Each end of said spindle is secured to said platform by means of a bracket 4 and two resiliently-pliable supporting members 5,6 positioned to either side of the axis of said spindle. The user places his feet on said platform at approximately position 23 in Figure 1 and steers said vehicle by tilting the platform using his body weight.

When the platform 1 is parallel to the ground 31, as shown in Figure 2a, the force due to the weight of the user is transmitted through said platform to the upper end of said resiliently-pliable supporting members 5,6. The reactive force occurring at the point of contact 32 between the wheel 2 and the ground 31 is transmitted through said wheel 2, spindle 3 and brackets 4 to the lower end of said resiliently-pliable supports 5,6. The resulting downward-acting forces 71,72 and the opposing upward-acting forces 61,62 act along the axis 21 of each of said resiliently-pliable supporting members, subjecting said resiliently-pliable supporting members to axial compression loading, but not to lateral shear loading.

However, when said platform is tilted to one side, as shown in Figure 2b, the resulting downward-acting forces 73,74 and the opposing upward-acting forces 63,64 do not act along the axis of each of said resiliently-pliable supporting members, subjecting said resiliently-pliable supporting members to both axial compression loading and lateral shear loading.

Figure 3a shows the axial component 75 and lateral component 76 which comprise the vertical force 73 acting on an individual resiliently-pliable supporting member. The effect of the axial component on said supporting member is of little practical significance, but the lateral component causes a deflection 81 of said resiliently-pliable supporting member, as shown in Figure 3b, the amount of this deflection being dependent partly on the angle 82 through which said platform is tilted. Considering a group of four resiliently-pliable supporting members, this deflection causes the entire assembly of said wheel 2, spindle 3 and brackets 4 to be displaced in the opposite sense to that in which said platform is tilted.

The lateral force applied to said group of four resiliently-pliable supporting members acts through the axis of the spindle 3. Assuming all four of said resiliently-pliable supporting members to be of identical pliability, and said spindle to be positioned midway between the

S

inboard supporting members 5 and the outboard supporting members 6, all four of said resiliently-pliable supporting members would experience the same amount of deflection 81.

However, as shown in Figure 4, if the distance 83 between the centre of said inboard supporting members 5a,5b and the axis 24 of said spindle 3 is less than the distance 84 between the centre of said outboard supporting members 6a,6b and said axis 24 of said spindle 3, the proportion of the lateral load 61 acting on said inboard supporting members 5a,5b will be greater than the proportion acting on said outboard supporting members 6a,6b. Consequently, the displacement 85 of said inboard supporting members from their original position will be greater than the displacement 86 of said outboard supporting members. Furthermore, because the relative positions of the lower ends of all four supporting members are held constant by the assembly of said brackets 4 and spindle 3, equilibrium of the lateral forces can only be achieved if said brackets 4 and said spindle 3 pivot as a complete assembly about an imaginary pivot-point in approximately position 25. So, if said platform is tilted in the direction of the arrow 87, said wheel will pivot in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow 88.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the mounting arrangement applied to one wheel 2a is as shown in Figure 4 whilst the mounting arrangement applied to the other wheel 2b is a mirror image of the arrangement shown in Figure 4. In this embodiment, if said platform is tilted in the direction indicated by arrow 87, said wheel 2a will pivot in a clockwise direction and said wheel 2b will pivot in an anticlockwise direction, as indicated by arrows 88 and 89 respectively, causing the vehicle to change its direction of travel and steer in the same sense as the tilting of said platform, following a circular path.

Figure 6 shows another embodiment of the invention in which the mounting arrangement applied to one wheel 2b is the same as that shown in Figure 5, with the spindle positioned closer to the inboard supporting members 5 than to the outboard supporting members 6, whilst the mounting arrangement applied to the other wheel 2c has the spindle positioned closer to the outboard supporting members 6 than to the inboard supporting members 5. In this embodiment, if the platform is tilted in the direction indicated by arrow 87, both of said wheels 2b,2c will pivot in an anticlockwise direction, as indicated by the arrows 88, causing the vehicle to traverse laterally in the same sense as the tilting of said platform, without changing the orientation of the longitudinal axis of said platform.

Figure 7 shows a further embodiment of the invention in which the mounting arrangement applied to one wheel 2b is the same as that shown in Figures 5 and 6, with the spindle positioned closer to the inboard supporting members 5 than to the outboard supporting members 6, whilst the mounting arrangement applied to the other wheel 2d provides for rigid attachment to the platform 1. Such rigid attachment can be achieved by utilising rigid supporting members 5,6 or by employing a bracket of a type which can be secured directly to said platform. In this embodiment, if said platform is tilted in the direction indicated by arrow 87, wheel 2b will pivot in an anticlockwise direction, as indicated by arrow 89, and wheel 2b will not pivot in either direction. This will cause the vehicle to change its direction of travel and steer in the same sense as the tilting of said platform, but said vehicle will follow a circular path of greater radius than that achieved in the embodiment shown in Figure 5.

In any foregoing embodiment of the invention, the upper side of the central portion of the horizontal platform 1 may be provided with boot or shoe retention means 13, in Figure 1. Alternatively, supporting means (not shown) may be provided for a user adopting a reclining or prostrate posture.

Figures 8a and 8b show a detailed embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention. In this embodiment, the platform 1 is made of laminated wood and the brackets 4 are manufactured from sheet metal. The wheels 2 consist of a polypropylene hub 2e to which is bonded a solid rubber tyre 2f. Each of said wheels rotates on a steel spindle 3 which has a screw-threaded hole 3a at each end and is rigidly secured to the two said brackets by means of cap screws 7. The resiliently-pliable supporting members 5,6 consist of a cylindrical piece of natural rubber to each end of which is bonded a metal end cap 11,12, each of said end-caps having a central screw-threaded hole 11a,12a. The upper end of each of said supporting members 5,6 is secured to the underside of said platform 1 by means of cap screws 8. The lower end of each of said supporting members 5,6 is secured to the upper side of the bracket 4 by means of a cap screw 9.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A vehicle for travelling over grassland and similar terrain, said vehicle comprising a generally horizontal platform having attached to each of its ends a ground-engaging wheel, said ground-engaging wheel being arranged to rotate about a substantially horizontal spindle, said horizontal spindle having its axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said platform, one or more of said horizontal spindles being attached to said horizontal platform by resiliently-pliable attachment means so as to permit lateral, longitudinal and angular movement of said one or more horizontal spindles in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said horizontal platform.
2. A vehicle according to Claim 1, in which two of said spindles are attached to said horizontal platform by resiliently-pliable attachment means so as to permit lateral, longitudinal and angular movement of said two horizontal spindles in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said horizontal platform.
3. A vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2, in which said resiliently-pliable attachment means includes four substantially vertical resiliently-pliable supporting members, the upper ends of said four supporting members being secured to the underside of said horizontal platform; the lower ends of two of said four supporting members being secured by means of a bracket to one end of said horizontal spindle; and the lower ends of two of said four supporting members being secured by means of a bracket to the opposite end of said horizontal spindle.
4. A vehicle according to Claim 3, in which two of said four resiliently-pliable supporting members are positioned to one side of the axis of their associated horizontal spindle and the other two of said four resiliently-pliable supporting members are positioned to the opposite side of the axis of said associated horizontal spindle, all four of said resiliently-pliable supporting members being equidistant from the axis of said associated horizontal spindle.
S. A vehicle according to Claim 3, in which two of said four resiliently-pliable supporting members are positioned to one side of the axis of their associated horizontal spindle and the other two of said four resiliently-pliable supporting members are positioned to the opposite side of the axis of said associated horizontal spindle, two of said four resiliently-pliable supporting members on one side of the axis of said associated horizontal spindle being in closer proximity to the axis of said associated horizontal spindle than are the two of said four resiliently-pliable supporting members on the opposite side of the axis of said associated horizontal spindle.
6. A vehicle according to Claim 3, in which all of said resiliently-pliable supporting members are of identical pliability.
7. A vehicle according to Claim 3, in which the two of said four resiliently-pliable supporting members positioned to one side of the axis of their associated horizontal spindle are less pliable than the two of said four resiliently-pliable supporting members positioned to the opposite side of the axis of said associated horizontal spindle.
8. A vehicle according to Claim 3, in which the four resiliently-pliable supporting members associated with one horizontal spindle are of different pliability from any four said resiliently-pliable supporting members associated with the other said horizontal spindle.
9. A vehicle according to Claim 3, in which said resiliently-pliable supporting members have a cross-sectional shape that is circular and of constant diameter over the length of said resiliently-pliable supporting members.
10. A vehicle according to Claim 3, in which said resiliently-pliable supporting members have a cross-sectional shape that is circular and of varying diameter over the length of said resiliently-pliable supporting members.
11. A vehicle according to Claim 3, in which said resiliently-pliable supporting members have a cross-sectional shape that is non-circular.
12. A vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2, in which a cut-out is provided at each end of said horizontal platform to accommodate said ground-engaging wheels.
13. A vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2, in which a metal frame is provided at each end of said horizontal platform to accommodate said ground-engaging wheels.
14. A vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the central portion of the upper side of said horizontal platform is provided with boot or shoe retention means.
15. A vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2, in which said horizontal platform is provided with supporting means for the user whereby said user may adopt a reclining posture.
16. A vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2, in which said horizontal platform is provided with supporting means for the user whereby said user may adopt a prostrate posture.