Patent ID: 6139031
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: A63C,B62B

Abstract:
A snow scooter comprising:an elongate board having a first end, a second end, a top and a bottom, a left side periphery and a right side periphery, said elongate board having a longitudinal axis between its first and second ends, said elongate board being generally straight along the majority of its longitudinal axis between said first and second ends, elongate board top having a surface on which a user may stand between said first and second ends, and said elongate board bottom being a low-friction surface for sliding downhill on a snowy surface,an upwardly curved leading edge in the area of said elongate board first end,a plurality of elongate recessed channels located on said elongate board bottom, said channels being generally parallel to said elongate board longitudinal axis,a first metal edge located at said elongate board left side periphery and being adapted to sharply cut into snow that it contacts,a second metal edge located at said elongate board right side periphery and being adapted to sharply cut into snow that it contacts,a control plate receptacle located on said elongate board and forming a hole from said elongate board top through said elongate board to said elongate board bottom, said control plate receptacle having a periphery that is generally circular in shape,a first and a second control rod receiving notch located at said control plate receptacle outer periphery,a generally circular control plate being shaped and configured to be placed into said control plate receptacle, said control plate having a top, a bottom and an outer periphery,a first and a second control rod, said first and second control rods being located on said control plate outer periphery generally opposite each other, said control rods being shaped and configured to be insertable into said control rod receiving notches,a control rod rotation groove located about the periphery of said control place receptacle in said elongate board, said control rod rotation groove being configured and adapted to receive said control rods which have been placed into said control rod receiving notches, said control rod rotation groove permitting generally circular movement of said control rods about said control plate receptacle periphery, but said control rod rotation groove generally preventing movement of said control rods toward said elongate board top and toward except through said control rod receiving notches,a steering rudder having a longitudinal axis, said steering rudder being located on said control plate bottom, said steering rudder projecting from said control plate bottom below said elongate board bottom so that when said elongate board is on a snowy surface, said steering rudder projects into said snowy surface, said steering rudder being movable by rotating said control plate arcuately within said control plate receptacle so that said steering rudder longitudinal axis changes angular orientation with respect to said elongate board longitudinal axis,a control handle projecting upwardly from said control plate top and being configured for a snow scooter user to grasp said control handle, said control handle being movable in all 3 directions in order to cause said control plate to experience (i) arcuate movement within said control plate receptacle thereby causing said steering rudder longitudinal axis to change angular orientation with respect to said elongate board longitudinal axis and thereby provide a steering function, (ii) planar divergence from said board bottom in order to provide a braking function, and (iii) simultaneous steering and braking.