Funny Patent of the week - Horse-powered car that literally puts cart before the horse

In 1981, Philips Arthur Barnes patented this horse-powered car in UK. In essence it is a horse, tethered to a treadmill, inside a vehicle body on wheels. To get moving you simply turn on the treadmill and wait for the “engine” to start trotting. The inventor actually accomplished putting cart before the horse. Unlike traditional horse-drawn vehicles, the horse rides inside, behind the driver, protected by an all-weather canopy. Further, the horse has no control of the direction and speed of the vehicle and it can be controlled by the driver. 

In 2009, Abdolhadi Mirhejazi, an Iranian engineer, actually build this car. He marketed it under the name “Naturmobil”, as the car had zero emissions, if you discount all the horse farts.

Front view of the car
Front view of the car (Image Credit – Toxel)

 

Inside view of the car
Inside view of the car (Image Credit – IMGUR)

 

Side view of the car
Side view of the car

 

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Top view of the car

Mirhejazi built the car for the purpose of advertising and tourism. He wanted to make money via outdoor advertisments. Not a bad idea for novelty advertsiment!
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Multiple horses may be used to power bigger cars and carry more passengers.
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Source: Autoblog; TheGuardian 

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