US3123374A

US3123374A - Snow coaster rudder

Info

Publication number: US3123374A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1964-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 1981-03-03

Description

March 3, 1964 J. N. M LEOD SNOW COASTER RUDDER Filed 001;. 4, 1962 United States Patent 3,123,374 SNOW COASTER RUDDER John N. MacLeod', 287 Babcock Blvd, Gibsonia, Pa. Filed Oct. 4, 1962, Ser. No. 228,342 3 Claims. (Cl. 2s0 12) This invention relates generally to childrens sleds and more specifically it relates to an improved rudder for childrens sleds.

One object of the present invention is to provide a steering means for a childs snow coaster. It is generally well known that a childs snow coaster is comprised of a saucer-like element upon which the child sits and slides over ice or snow which may be of a level or inclined plane as, for example, a frozen pond or a snow-covered hillside. Such conventional snow coasters are not provided with any steering mechanisms and the snow coaster is accordingly, apt to rotate during travel whereby at times the child is facing rearward or sideways while in motion.

Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to provide a rudder mechanism for a snow coaster whereby the device will slide over ice or snow in a manner so that the snow coaster will not rotate and thus the child will at all times face forwardly.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a snow coaster rudder mechanism having means to be adjustable.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a snow coaster rudder mechanism wherein the rudder position may be permanently fixed.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a snow coaster rudder mechanism bearing the above objects in mind, which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the invention shown in operative use;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the lines 4-4 of FIGURE 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows thereof; and

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view of the elements which comprise the rudder mechanism.

*Referring now to the drawing in detail, the numeral represents a snow coaster rudder according to the present invention wherein there are a pair of blade elements 11 and 12 which are attached to a snow coaster 13. The snow coaster is of generally circular configuration having a circular periphery =14 forming the edge thereof and has upper sides 15 which are downwardly dished and a lower side 16 of convex character. The blade element 11 is atfixed in rigid position to the snow coaster by means of screws 17 and a rivet 18 at the center of the snow coaster. This blade element is attached to the underside thereof and in an upstanding position. The blade element may be made of any material as preferred and, if made of wood, then a metal bracket 19 would be attached thereto by means of rivets 20 or the like, the bracket having an opening at its extreme end through which the rivet 18 extends. The blade element would be of relatively thin height adjacent the end nearest the rivet 18 and would necessitate the bracket 19 in order to pro vide strength to the blade element to prevent splitting or 3,123,374 Patented Mar. 3, 1964 cracking thereof. The blade element is of relatively flat character having parallel opposite sides 21 and 22, a bottom edge 23, rear edge 24, and a concave edge 25 which conforms to the dished shape of the snow coaster. A notch 26 is provided on its top edge 27 within which head 28 of the snow coaster extends. The blade element 12 is attached adjustably to the snow coaster. It likewise has a bracket 29 attached adjacent its lowermost edge 30 by means of rivets 31 and provided with an opening 32 through which the rivet 18 extends and about which the blade element is pivotable. It is to be noted that the bracket 29 has a lateral offset 33 for the purpose of permit-ting the blade elements to be brought relatively close to each other. Blade element 12 has an upstanding rear edge 34, an upper edge 35, -a concave arcuate edge 36 and a notch 37 in the upper edge to receive therein the bead 28 of the snow coaster. A clamp element 38 having an opening 39 therein for receiving a screw 40 therethrough is attached to the blade element 12 by means of a threaded opening 41 in the blade element into which the screw 40 is engaged. The blade element 12 is likewise of flat material having parallel opposite sides 42 and 43.

In operative use, the adjustable blade element 12 is pivoted about the rivet 18 to a desired position and the screw 40 is then tightened downwardly whereby the bead 28 of the snow coaster is locked between the clamp and the adjustable blade element. Thus the adjustable blade element is retained in a fixed position where desired.

It is to be noted that when the snow is particularly deep it may be advisable to have the blade elements relatively close to each other thus providing a more streamlined design whereas when the snow is relatively low the blade elements could be spaced further apart, thus adjustability is accomplished.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A snow coaster of the character as set forth, the combination of a main body and a rudder mechanism, said rudder mechanism being attached to the underside of said main body, said main body comprising a circular element having an upper and a lower side, said upper side being downwardly dished, said lower side being of a downwardly convex configuration and said element hav ing an edge forming the outer periphery which is of a circular configuration, said rudder mechanism comprising a pair of blade elements, one of said blade elements being permanently afiixed in rigid position to the underside of said main body and the other of said blade elements being pivotably adjustable relative to said first blade element.

2. In a snow coaster the combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the said blade element rigidly attached in fixed position comprises a relatively flat member in upstanding position, said element having one edge which conforms to the outer configuration of said main body and the other of said blade elements which is adjustable comprising a generally flat member having one edge thereof conforming to the outer configuration of said main body, said blade element being in likewise upstanding position and having one end attached pivotably free adjacent the corresponding end of the first said permanently attached blade element, both said blade elements forming a rearwardly diverging V-shaped configuration.

3. In a snow coaster the combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein the said adjustable blade element further comprises a clamp element attached to the upper edge thereof for clamping the said edge of the main body be- 2,551,906

tween the said adjustable blade e1ements and the said 2,826,424

clamp. 3,026,120

References Cited in the file of this patent 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 241,126

1,580,224 Tatro Apr. 13, 1926 694520 2,987,437 Wanat Jan. 16, 1940 Z3. Schafihausen May 8, 1951 Erickson Mar. 11, 1958 Guerard Mar. 20, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland June 17, 1946 Canada Sept. 6, 1960

Claims

1. A SNOW COASTER OF THE CHARACTER AS SET FORTH, THE COMBINATION OF A MAIN BODY AND A RUDDER MECHANISM, SAID RUDDER MECHANISM BEING ATTACHED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID MAIN BODY, SAID MAIN BODY COMPRISING A CIRCULAR ELEMENT HAVING AN UPPER AND A LOWER SIDE, SAID UPPER SIDE BEING DOWNWARDLY DISHED, SAID LOWER SIDE BEING OF A DOWNWARDLY CONVEX CONFIGURATION AND SAID ELEMENT HAVING AN EDGE FORMING THE OUTER PERIPHERY WHICH IS OF A CIRCULAR CONFIGURATION, SAID RUDDER MECHANISM COMPRISING A PAIR OF BLADE ELEMENTS, ONE OF SAID BLADE ELEMENTS BEING PERMANENTLY AFFIXED IN RIGID POSITION TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID MAIN BODY AND THE OTHER OF SAID BLADE ELEMENTS