Ice buggy

Abstract

A small, inexpensive, lightweight vehicle in the nature of a wheeled buggy is provided for movement over frozen bodies of water such as ponds and lakes, with the vehicle being powered by a gasoline engine which is alternatively used to power an ice auger.

1 . An ice buggy for movement over a frozen body of water comprising:
 a frame;   an axle mounted for rotation on the frame and having a pair of spaced wheels mounted on opposite ends thereof;   ski means mounted on the frame and depending therefrom;   a seat for a driver mounted on the frame;   steering means operatively connected to the ski means and engageable by the driver for steering the ski means and the ice buggy;   an ice buggy drive shaft mounted for rotation on the frame;   drive means operatively connecting the drive shaft to the axle;   a gasoline engine;   an ice auger; and   means for detachably connecting the gasoline engine to the ice auger or for detachably connecting the gasoline engine to the ice buggy drive shaft; the gasoline engine being operable in a first mode wherein it is connected to the ice buggy drive shaft for rotating the drive shaft, axle and wheels for propelling the ice buggy over the frozen body of water, and being operable in a second mode wherein it is connected to the ice auger for drilling holes in the frozen body of water.   
   
   
       2 . An ice buggy according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive means operatively connecting the ice buggy drive shaft to the axle comprises a pulley on the drive shaft connected by a belt to a pulley on the axle. 
   
   
       3 . An ice buggy according to  claim 1 , wherein the ice buggy drive shaft is vertically disposed. 
   
   
       4 . An ice buggy according to  claim 1 , wherein the steering means comprises a T-bar connected to the ski means and engageable by the feet of the driver and straps connected to the gasoline engine and the T-bar. 
   
   
       5 . An ice buggy according to  claim 1 , including means for directing exhaust gas emitted by the gasoline engine away from the driver. 
   
   
       6 . An ice buggy according to  claim 1 , including brake means on the frame for manipulation by the driver for effecting braking action of the ice buggy. 
   
   
       7 . An ice buggy according to  claim 1 , wherein the wheels are of such diameter as to maintain clearance between the frame and the frozen body of water therebelow. 
   
   
       8 . An ice buggy for movement over a frozen body of water comprising:
 a frame having front and rear ends;   an axle mounted for rotation on the frame adjacent its rear end and having a pair of wheels mounted on its opposite ends;   ski means mounted on the frame adjacent its front end and depending therefrom;   a seat for a driver mounted on the frame intermediate the front and rear ends;   steering means comprising a T-bar operatively connected to the ski means and engageable by the feet of the driver for steering the ski means and the ice buggy;   an ice buggy drive shaft mounted for rotation on the frame forwardly of the seat;   belt and pulley drive means mounted on the frame for operatively connecting the ice buggy drive shaft to the axle;   a gasoline engine;   an ice auger; and   means for detachably connecting the gasoline engine to the ice auger or for detachably connecting the gasoline engine to the ice buggy drive shaft;   whereby, the gasoline engine is operable in a first mode when it is connected to the ice buggy drive shaft for rotating the axle and wheels for propelling the ice buggy over the frozen body of water; and   whereby, the gasoline engine is operable in a second mode when it is connected to the ice auger for drilling holes in the frozen body of water.   
   
   
       9 . An ice buggy according to  claim 8 , wherein the means for detachably connecting the gasoline engine to the ice auger or for detachably connecting the gasoline engine to the ice buggy drive shaft is a pin or stud. 
   
   
       10 . An ice buggy according to  claim 9 , wherein the pin or stud is selectively engageable in a motor shaft of the gasoline engine and a drive shaft of the auger, or is selectively engageable in a boss on the ice buggy drive shaft.