Patent ID: 6293576
Filing Date: 2001-09-25
Classification: A63C

Abstract:
A winter transport device, comprising:a first downhill ski comprising an upwardly curved nose and an elongated first member extending rearwardly from said nose at least generally along a first reference axis, wherein said first downhill ski comprises opposing upper and lower surfaces and wherein said first downhill ski comprises first and second side surfaces which define a lateral extent of said first downhill ski;a first downhill ski binding disposed on said upper first surface which comprises first and second binding members spaced along said first reference axis, wherein said first downhill ski binding member is disposed between said nose and said second binding member;a first traction device that is disposed at least generally proximate said first downhill ski binding between said first binding member and said nose, and that comprises:a first mount disposed on said upper surface of said first downhill ski and attached to said first downhill ski;a first traction member which is positioned at least generally alongside said first side surface, and which comprises a free end which is longitudinally spaced from said first mount in a direction of a rear end of said first downhill ski, wherein said free end comprises a traction edge, wherein said traction edge is oriented so as to provide traction when a user of said first downhill ski exerts a rearwardly directed force on said first downhill ski so as to advance a second downhill ski used by the user in a forward direction;a first pivotal interconnection between said first traction member and said first mount;a first biasing member acting on said first traction member, wherein said first biasing member biases said free end of said first traction member toward a position which is disposed below a reference plane which at least generally contains said lower surface of said first downhill ski by pivoting within said first mount;a first latch comprising first and second latch positions; anda first movable interconnection between said first latch and said first mount, said first latch position retaining said first traction member in a fixed position where said free end of said first traction member is retained above said reference plane, said second latch position allowing said biasing member to bias said free end of said first traction member toward said position which is disposed below said reference plane, wherein said first latch may be moved from said first latch position to said second latch position to allow said first downhill ski to realize at least some degree of traction via said first traction device as an at least generally rearwardly-directed force is exerted on said first downhill ski, all while a rigid downhill ski boot is retained within said first downhill ski binding member so as to not allow relative movement between said rigid downhill ski boot and said first downhill ski.