In particular but not exclusively, this invention relates to a recreational vehicle which is used in the snow. It should be appreciated however that the present invention could be used in other environments for example in sand.

Background Art Recreational vehicles for use in snow have been known for many years. Unfortunately, these all have problems associated with them, mainly because they do not help the rider to learn the principes of skiing and because they do not have a brake. Some examples are discussed below.

A toboggan is disclosed in New Zealand Patent Application No. 149948. The toboggan is constructed from plastic tubing and has two longitudinal parallel runners which are connected to a frame which supports a rider. The runners slide over the snow. The rider has a substantially passive role in controlling the direction of the toboggan.

Unfortunately, this does not assist the rider to learn the principals of skiing.

New Zealand Patent Application No. 161145 discloses a bicycle sledge which has a front steering runner and a trailing steering runner. The front steering runner is pivotally attached to a frame portion from which the trailing ski runner is dependant.

The sledge is steered by the user rotating the front ski runner in the desired direction of travel. This action is more akin in bicycles and the like and is not at all similar to a skiing action.

New Zealand Patent Application No. 149948 has the disadvantage that the toboggan cannot be easily steered as it progresses down a slope. The initial direction of travel is generally the direction of travel down the entire slope unless the toboggan is halted

and reorientated. This lack of manoeuvrability can be dangerous.

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

Disclosure Of Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle comprising: a a body * a pair of surface contacting devices attached to said body by suspension means * a linkage mechanism connecting a steering mechanism to the surface contacting devices characterised in that manipulation of said steering mechanism manipulates the surface contacting devices into a similar orientation to the parallel turns of a human skier.

The body may include an operator positioning means. This positioning means may be a seat, although devices like saddles may also be used. More than one seat may be provided, to allow for a passenger or passengers.

The body may be completely open and may offer no protection to the operator and any passengers. Alternatively, the body may include a fairing. The fairing may partially or fully enclose the operator and any passengers. The fairing may be convertible between two states, that is act like a roof on a convertible car. The fairing may also be designed to minimise the drag caused by the vehicle in air, snow, water and/or sand.

The vehicle may also include a braking means and/or a propulsion means. The braking means and propulsion means may be designed for the surface on which the vehicle is used. for example, on snow and sand, a belt or tracks may be used to interact with the surface to propel or halt the vehicle. On water a boat propeller oriet

unit may be used.

The surface contacting devices may comprise wheels or rollers which may be braked and/or driven. This is to allow the vehicle to be used on hard surfaces.

The linkage mechanism may be in the form of a plurality of pivotally connected rods and swing arms. The linkage mechanism may be in the form of chains or belts turning pulleys or hydraulic or pneumatic rams or such like. The linkage mechanism connects the skis to the steering mechanism. It converts movement in the steering mechanism to movement in the skis.

The steering mechanism will now be referred to as handlebars, although other devices such as joysticks or steering wheels may be used.

Both the skis and the handlebars may rotate about two different axes. The axes the skis rotate about may be longitudinal and vertical with respect to the body. The axes said handlebars rotate about may be transverse with respect to the body and substantially vertical with respect to a column which forms part of the steering mechanism.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicte substantially as described above wherein moving said handlebars about the transverse axis may control a braking means.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle substantially as described above wherein moving said handlebars about said vertical axis may rotate said skis about each ski axis such that each ski may move in the same direction as the other ski.

Said linkage mechanism and/or steering mechanism may be used on an existing chassis, such as that found on snow mobiles.

Said vehicle may include a suspension means including springs or shock absorbers or such like to provide a smoother ride for the rider. Said suspension means may be located in the linkage mechanism.

Said skis may have longitudinal runners attached to one or both sides to hold said vehicle steady on hard packed snow or ice. Said runners may move in configurations similar to those of a human ice skater.

Brief Description Of Drawings Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle without a body in accordance with one aspect of the present invention Figure 2 is a view of the rear of the vehicle in figure 1 depicting the vehicle turning to the left Figure 3 is a plan view of the vehicle in figure 1 depicting the vehicle turning to the left Figure 4 is a horizontal view of the braking mechanism of the vehicle in figure 1 depicting the vehicle in the automatic brake on position Figure 5 is a horizontal view of the braking mechanism of the vehicle in figure 1 depicting the brake in the off position Figure 6 is a horizontal view of the braking mechanism of the vehicle in figure 1 depicting the maximum braking position Figure 7 is a horizontal view of a ski and members with a longitudinal runner attached.

Best Modes For Carrying Out The Invention Referring to the figures a vehicle constructed for travelling over snow is shown.

The vehicle comprises a body (not shown), a pair of skis [22 and 52] in a parallel

relationship and a linkage mechanism connecting said skis [22 and 52] to a pair of handlebars [56]. The vehicle also has a linkage mechanism which connects said handlebars [56] to a brake [43].

Each ski [22 or 52] has two members [23] which attach to a mounting tube [25 or 32] at points 24. Said skis [22 and 52], ski members [23], and mounting tubes [25 and 32] can rotate about a vertical axis A and a longitudinal axis B. The means to rotate said skis [22 and 52] about said axes A and B are double action hinges [26]. Said double action hinges [26] are attached to the swing arms [27,28,29,30] which are connected to the body (not shown) at points 47,48,49,50. Said swing arms [27,28,29,30] rotate about vertical axes through points 47,48,49,50, rotating said mounting tubes [25 and 32] about axes A. The body [not shown] has two pivotally ended ski tilting rods [39 and 54] which connect to said mounting tubes [25 and 32] via the levers [31 and 51]. As the swing arms [27,28,29,30] rotate about points 47,48,49,50 the pivotally ended ski tilting rods [39 and 54] cause the mounting tubes [25 and 32] and attached members [23] and skis [22,52] to rotate about axes B.

Said front swing arms [28 and 30] are connected to the handlebars [56] by the pivotally ended steering rods [33 and 37] and a V-shaped crank 34. Said handlebars [56] are rotatably connected to the body [not shown] by the steering column [36].

Figures 2 and 3 depict the formation the skis [22 and 52] are in if the operator turns the handlebars [56] in an anti-clockwise direction.

The crank [34] pushes the pivotally ended steering rod [37] outwards, rotating the forward swing arm [30] and the rear swing arm [29] in an anti-clockwise direction, the left-hand mounting tube [32] is rotated anti-clockwise about axis A. The pivotally ended ski tilting rod [39] pushes on the mounting tube lever [31] causing said mounting tube [32] to rotate about axis B. Consequently the left-hand ski [52] is aimed to the left and tilted onto its left-hand edge.

Said crank [34] also pulls on the right-hand pivotally ended steering rod [333, rotating the right-hand front swing arm [28] and the rear swing arm [27] in an anti-clockwise direction, the right-hand mounting tube [25] is rotated anti-clockwise about axis A. The pivotally ended ski tilting rod [54] pulls on the mounting tube lever [51] causing said mounting tube [25] to rotate about axis B. Consequently the right-hand ski [22] is also

aimed to the left and tilted onto its left-hand edge, a position parallel to said left-hand ski l52].

The steering linkage mechanism may have devices (not shown) which prevent the vehicle from catching a sidewards sliding edge.

Figure 4 shows a brake [43] in the'automatic on'position. The steering column [36] is in the'hands off'position. The pivotally ended brake drive rod [40] holds the brake lever [41] rotated about point 44 in a position which holds the pivotal ended brake control rod [42] down, said brake [43] is attached and is rotated about point 45 to engage the snow. The brake return spring [53] holds the mechanism in this position.

Figure 5 shows what happens when said steering column [36] is rotated anti-clockwise into the'go'position. The pivotally ended brake drive rod [40] is pushed rearwards causing the brake lever [41] to rotate clockwise. The pivotally ended brake control rod [42] is raised and the brake [43] is rotated about point 45 up into a position clear of the snow.

Figure 6 shows the steering column [36] rotated anti-clockwise to the'maximum braking'position. The pivotally ended brake drive rod [40] is pulled forwards and downwards which rotates the brake lever [41] anti-clockwise. The pivotally ended brake control rod [42] is lowered and the brake [43] is rotated clockwise about point 45 to a position deep in the snow.

The direction and/or pitch of the brake blade [43] may be linked to movement in the steering column [36] in order to assist with steering the vehicle or to groom the slope.

In use an operator steps into a body (not shown) and pulls on the handlebars [56] shifting the steering column [36] to the'go'position. The vehicle (figure 1) then moves down a slope. The direction of movement is controlled by manipulating the handlebars [56] about axis X. The speed of movement is controlled by rotating the handlebars [56] backwards about axis Y.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.