Abstract:
An apparatus that secures a skateboard platform to a snow ski with a base that has a sliding member and stationary member. An adjustment mechanism urges the sliding member to move toward or away from the stationary member. A stabilizer is movable toward and way from the sliding member via a guide path in the base. The stabilizer has two components that move one inside the other to lengthen or shorten a distance between their respective ends. The sliding member has a protruding portion that fits into a front snow ski binding. The stationary member snaps into the rear snow ski binding. The front binding is sandwiched between the stabilizer and the sliding member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO COPENDING PATENT APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is accorded the benefit of invention priority from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/292,646 filed Feb. 8, 2016. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates generally to an apparatus that is used as a skateboard and, more particularly, to a snow ski device that operates like a skateboard on snow surfaces. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    As mentioned in U.S. Pat. No. 4,116,455: 
         [0006]    Skateboards are generally used on smooth, flat surfaces so as to allow for better riding by easy acceptability of the wheels that are part of the device. However, at this time the skateboard is restricted in its use—not only to the type of surface of the ground area but also by weather conditions. That is, during the winter months, in areas that have snow conditions the ground surfaces become covered and a skateboard cannot be operated. 
         [0007]    As mentioned in U.S. Pat. No. 7,581,735: 
         [0008]    In the area of skateboarding, skateboarders have traditionally had to turn to snowboards to have similar recreation in the snowy weather. Snowboarding, however, varies in many significant ways from skateboarding. The most obvious difference is the fact that a snowboarder&#39;s feet are bound and attached through boots to the snowboard, whereas, on a skateboard, the rider&#39;s feet are merely placed on top of the deck of the skateboard and are easily freed from the board to perform tricks and to discontinue the use of the board. Another significant difference is the feel and handling of the snowboard compared to a skateboard due to the fact that the skateboard has wheels and a truck between the deck and the ground that allows for steering and control while a snowboard&#39;s deck comes in direct contact with the ground. The locked-in feet and lack of suspension/steering ability make snowboarding a related, but different skill than skateboarding. Another feature of snowboarding and skiing is that both are edging devices. 
         [0009]    A bideck snowskate has a top skateboard deck, which the rider stands on, and a lower ski deck, which is in contact with the snow. Bidecks come in single blade varieties and multiple blade varieties. Different bidecks are tailored to a different style of riding. Longer bidecks are favored for mountain snowskating, and shorter bidecks are favored for tricks and stunts. 
         [0010]    What is needed is a way to slide across snow on a snow ski while standing upon a skateboard platform (or deck) so as to retain the same freedom of feet movement that the user experiences when skateboarding on pavement, yet retaining the same ski shoe binding settings that the user needs for skiing with the snow skis separate from the skateboard platform. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    One aspect of the invention is to provide a ski board that is adjustable to fit any conventional ski binding without having to alter the ski binding settings. An adjustment screw is provided to allow the user to adjust the base of the ski board to fit in the existing ski binding. 
         [0012]    Another aspect is to provide for a stabilizer, which is located in the front of the ski board. The stabilizer is adjustable in that it screws down to stabilize the front of the ski board so that when the rider applies pressure or weight at the front of the ski board, the stabilizer will not allow the ski bindings to eject the ski board even though the ski binds are designed to eject the ski boot when a ski applies too much weight or presser to the front of the binding. The ski board stabilizer also adjusts forward and back to accommodate larger and smaller bindings. 
         [0013]    An additional aspect is to provide a tether system that will keep the ski board from sliding away on its own down a hill when the rider comes off the ski board. 
         [0014]    A further aspect is to equip the ski board with a brake system. This brake system engages while the rider is not applying pressure or weight to the front of the ski board. When the rider is not standing on the ski board, the brake system engages and holds the ski board in place. This will also engage if the rider comes off the ski board. The ski boarder could also gradually lift their front leg (decreasing downward pressure) as they ride to engage the ski board break. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings, while the scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an assembled ski board unit in accordance with the invention that is shown tethered to a person&#39;s leg, but without the snow ski bindings shown. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a side view of assembled ski board unit of  FIG. 1 , but without the tether and without the snow ski. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E and 3F  are progressive views for assembly of the ski board unit of  FIG. 2  that shows the manner of adjusting a sliding portion of the lower part of the base into its proper position and then securing the base to bindings of a snow ski and then securing the stabilizer. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3G  is a longitudinal view of a further embodiment for assembly of the ski board unit of  FIG. 2  with the rear lower part also being formed to slide. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3H  is an end view of  FIG. 3G . 
           [0021]      FIG. 3I  is a longitudinal view of the ski board unit of  FIG. 9  with a weight attached to one side to promote toppling over to that side. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3J  is an end view of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the assembled snow ski board unit of  FIG. 2  but without the stabilizer so as to show how the ski bindings are triggered to eject the base. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5A  is a side view of the stabilizer of the ski board unit in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5B  is a side view of the stabilizer of the ski board unit in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5C  is a side view of the stabilizer of the ski board unit in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 5D  is a side view of the stabilizer of the ski board unit in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 6A  is a side view of a ski board unit brake in a deployed condition in accordance with the invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6B  is a side view of the ski board unit brake of  FIG. 6A  in a non-deployed condition in accordance with the invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 6C-6E  are progressive views of the ski board unit brake of  FIG. 7  to show activation, deactivation and reactivation of the brake. 
           [0031]      FIGS. 6F and 6G  are side views that correspond to that of  FIGS. 6A and 6B , but for a different embodiment. 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the ski board unit of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0033]    Turning to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows the ski board unit  10  of the present invention that allows one to ride a snow ski like a skateboard. Leaning from side to side turns the ski just like a skateboard. Leaning from side to side allows the ski to use its edges to turn like it was designed to do.  FIG. 7  shows an exploded view. 
         [0034]    The components of the ski board unit  10  include a skateboard platform  12 , a base having an upper base part  14  and having a lower base part with a sliding portion  16  and a stationary portion  18 , an adjustment screw  20  and a stabilizer  26 . The adjustment screw extends across a gap  22  between the sliding portion  16  and the stationary portion  18  and into each of the sliding portion  16  and the stationary portion  18  to adjust the sliding movement of the sliding portion  16  towards and away from the stationary portion  18 . The stabilizer  26  provides stability by preventing ejection of the lower part of the base from the front and read ski bindings. A tether  28  may be provided to extend from the skateboard platform  12  to loop around the ankle of a person&#39;s leg. 
         [0035]    That is, the tether  28  attaches to the ski board  10  and keeps the ski board from sliding away from the user on a slope when the user falls or gets off the board. The tether  28  can be attached to the user&#39;s leg or held in the user&#39;s hand as the user operates the ski board unit  10 . The length of the tether can be adjusted based on comfort and preference. 
         [0036]    The turned up two ends of the skateboard top of the ski board platform allow for better grip while riding. A ruff sand paper grip covers the top of the skateboard platform  12 . 
         [0037]    The upper base part  14  retains the lower base part so as to retain the sliding portion  16  in a sliding manner and the stationary portion  18  in a stationary manner. The upper base part  14  has a grooved fit with the lower base part that keeps both the sliding portion  16  and the stationary portion  18  connected, allowing the sliding portion  16  to slide to the appropriate size of the ski binding. The sliding portion  16  slides back and forth as necessary to adjust to larger bindings. 
         [0038]    Turning to  FIGS. 3A through 3F , the sliding portion  16  is slid forward or backward as needed to adjust to larger or smaller ski bindings. One or more threaded adjustment screws  20  enable the user to adjust the size of the base that locks into the ski binding. By turning the adjustment screw  20  or screws in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction as appropriate, the sliding portion  16  may be moved towards or away from the stationary portion  18 , thereby increasing or decreasing the size of the gap  22 . 
         [0039]    To help with setting the correct position of the sliding portion  16 , the sole  32  of the ski boot  30  may be placed beneath the lower base part as shown to serve as a guide to slide the sliding portion  26  to a relative position. In so doing, the sliding portion  16  of the lower part of the base is adjusted to slide from a position in which the distance of the lower part of the base from end to end is shorter than the length of the ski boot sole to a position in which the distance of the lower part of the base from end to end (inclusive of the gap  22 ) is equal to the length of the ski boot sole  32 . 
         [0040]    Once the end to end distance of the lower base part matches the end to end distance of the sole  32  of the snow ski boot  30 , then, as shown in  FIG. 3C-3D , the sliding portion  16  and the stationary portion  18  are ready to be inserted into conventional front and rear ski bindings  34 ,  36  of the snow ski  24  in the manner shown. The lower part of the base snaps into the conventional front and rear bindings just like a ski boot  30  (of  FIG. 3A ,  FIG. 3B ) would. The lower part of base of the ski board unit  10  adjusts to fit different size ski bindings. Thereafter, the stabilizer  26  of  FIG. 3E  is adjusted as to exert pressure between the underside of the overhang  15  of the upper part  14  of the base and the topside of the snow ski  24 . 
         [0041]    The adjustment of the stabilizer  26  is carried out as shown in  FIG. 3F  by unscrewing the inner cylinder  35  from the cylinder  40  until the hinged trapezoidal end piece  39  exerts pressure on the topside of the snow ski  24 . Preferably, the base has a 4-inch height, which allows clearance of the ski binding and the skateboard platform  12 . 
         [0042]    Although not shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, 3A and 3B , there are two sets of four threaded screws  38  of  FIG. 7  that allow the user to secure the skateboard platform  12  to the base  14 . As shown in  FIG. 7  and understood from  FIGS. 3G and 3H , the base has predrilled holes that align with the two sets of four threaded screws  38  of  FIG. 7 . If desired, additional pairs of such holes may be provided in the base  14  to enable the placement of the skateboard platform  12  to be adjusted forwards or backwards on the top of the base  14  to align the threaded screws  38  with the desired pairs of holes to make securement. Thus, the threaded screws  38  enable the user to adjust where the base that locks into the ski binding  34 ,  36  relative to the skateboard platform  12 , which may enable the ski board unit  10  to be used with different size ski bindings. Although the embodiment of  FIGS. 3C-3F  has two pairs of threaded screws  38  (only two visible on side), preferably four pairs of threaded screws  38  as shown in  FIG. 7  are used to provide stronger securement than can be provided by just two pairs of threaded screws  138 . 
         [0043]    The two sets of four screws generally correspond with the placement of two sets of four holes conventionally used to secure a support for a pair of wheels to the underside of a skateboard. The base  14  is provided with eight predrilled holes in its top surface to align with the two sets of four threaded adjustment screws  138 . However additional pairs of predrilled holes may be provided in the base  14  to enable some adjustment as concerns the relative placement of the skateboard platform  12  on the base  14  by aligning the threaded adjustment screws  138  with desired pairs of holes in the base. The ski board in accordance with the invention may be assembled into an operative condition by following six steps (See  FIGS. 3A-3F ): 
         [0044]    Step 1. Use a screwdriver to turn the adjustment screw to adjust the movable sliding portion  16  of the ski board base to match the size of the bottom or sole  32  of the ski boot  30  used for the ski one plans to use the ski board with. Turn the adjustment screw  20  counterclockwise to make the effective size of the base larger and clockwise to make smaller. 
         [0045]    Step 2. Turn the adjustment screw  20  to adjust the movable sliding portion  16  of the ski board base to match the size of the bottom or sole  32  of the ski boot. Stop when there is a match. 
         [0046]    Step 3. Line up the Ski board base like one would for one&#39;s ski boot  30  with the front tip of the ski board base going into the front part of the ski binding. Line up with nose/front of base first. 
         [0047]    Step 4. Line up the Ski board base to the ski binding and just like one would with one&#39;s ski boots, putting the front of the ski boot into the front part of the ski binding and then push down on the back to snap the ski board base into the ski bindings. 
         [0048]    Step 5. Use one&#39;s hand to twist the ski board stabilizer  26  to extend the stabilizer  26  to fit snug against the ski  24 . The ski board stabilizer  26  is threaded  35 ,  40  and telescopic. As one twists the lower part of the stabilizer  26 , it will extend down toward the ski  24 . 
         [0049]    Step 6. Once one has twisted the ski board stabilizer  26  to extend the stabilizer  26  to fit snug against the ski. It is now ready to start using the ski board on the snow. 
         [0050]    Turning to  FIGS. 3F and 3G , provision may be made to enable the stationary portion  18  to instead slide back and forth to fit larger bindings. As shown, the stationary portion  18  may be repositioned into any one of a plurality of different positions by choosing which group of two pairs of holes  17  in the upper part  14  of the base should align with four holes through the stationary portion  18  to secure the screws  19  accordingly. The sliding portion  16  may be slid and secured as in the other embodiments. 
         [0051]    Turning to  FIGS. 3I and 3J , a small weight  120  (e.g., one ounce) may be applied to one side of the base or clipped onto the platform one side and then tightened with a screw  122  to keep the small weight  120  in place. That way, should the user get off the ski board unit  10 , the ski board unit  10  will likely tip over on the side of the weight, thereby preventing the ski board unit  10  from sliding away down a hill. Such a small weight applied to one side does not completely replace the functions of the brake since the ski board unit  10  will not remain upright for long since the weight is present, which means that the ski board unit  10  will not be held steady while the user is trying to step on the ski board unit  10 . Further, the user is not able to gradually slow down the ski board unit  10  since there would be no brake of  FIGS. 6A and 6B  to apply. In its simplest form, the small weight could be a conventional one-ounce line clip weight whose bottom is tightened by turning the screw  122  to secure to one side of the platform. 
         [0052]    The significance of the stabilizer  26  can be better appreciated by turning to  FIG. 4  which illustrates what may happen in its absence or if not secured properly to exert pressure on the topside of the snow ski  24 . That is, the person using the ski board unit  10  applies a weight force forward, which triggers the ski bindings to eject the sliding portion  15  and the stationary portion  18  of the lower part of the base. Indeed, the forward weight of the platform  12  itself may be enough to trigger the bindings to eject the base. 
         [0053]    Turning to  FIG. 5A , the stabilizer  26  keeps the ski board  10  from ejecting when the rider applies their weight to the front of the ski board  10 . The user does not have to adjust the ski binding tension to keep the ski board  10  from being ejected. It is safer not to adjust the ski binding tension, because it is set for the user&#39;s height, weight and ability. The user would want the ski binding to eject based on these factors when the user is skiing with the skis (without the board attached to a ski). The ski board  10  allows the user to use the existing skis at their current settings. It is easy to snap in and set and also easy to disengage the board from the ski. 
         [0054]    A ski board stabilizer channel allows the stabilizer  26  to adjust toward and away from the binding. This allows the ski board unit  10  to adjust to different size bindings. The cylinder  35  goes inside cylinder  40 . They are threaded and adjusted by twisting cylinder  35 . Screw down to ‘tighten’ (i.e., shorten the overall length) and unscrew to ‘loosen’ (i.e., increase the overall length). There is a swivel part  41  attached to the bottom of the inside cylinder  40  to which is hinged a trapezoidal end piece  39 . 
         [0055]    By unscrewing the engaged threads of the cylinder  35  and the inside cylinder  40 , the hinged trapezoidal end piece  39  rotates as need be to rotate so that the bottom of the hinged trapezoidal end piece  39  rests flat upon the incline of the snow ski  24 . The stabilizer  26  provides front weight stability and keeps the bindings  34 ,  36  from ejecting upon the application of front weight pressure. 
         [0056]    Upon screwing the engaging threads of the cylinder  40  and the inside cylinder  35 , their end-to-end distance of them shortens and upon unscrewing the engaging threads of the cylinder  40  and inside cylinder, their end-to-end distance lengthens. 
         [0057]    A channel pin  42  fits in selected one of grooves  44  of the grooved track to help secure the ski board stabilizer  26 . The channel pin  42  presses into the selected one of the grooves  44  as the cylinder  40  and inside cylinder  35  are unscrewed sufficiently with end of the inside cylinder  35  pressing against a topside surface of the snow ski  24 . A channel cap  47  is screwed in place into the overhang of the base  14  with screws  43  to keep the channel pin  42  fitted into position to the selected groove  44 . By loosening the screws  43  and thereby the channel cap  47  from the overhang, the channel pin  42  may be relocated to a different groove  44  and thus the stabilizer  26  may be relocated accordingly. 
         [0058]      FIG. 5B  is an alternative embodiment for the stabilizer to that of  FIG. 5A  in which the pin and grooved track of  FIG. 5A  are replaced by two rows of teeth  45 A,  45 B that engage and mesh with each other as the inside cylinder  35  is rotated counterclockwise relative to the cylinder  40  by a sufficient amount such that pressure is applied via the hinged trapezoidal end piece  39  to the topside of the snow ski  24 . The row of teeth  45 A is directed downwardly from the underside of the overhang  15  of the upper part  14  of the base. 
         [0059]    When the inside cylinder  35  is rotated clockwise relative to the cylinder  40 , pressure is released and the cylinder  40  and inside cylinder  35  may be displaced in a linear direction with the hinged trapezoidal piece  39  and one of the rows of teeth  45 A closer to or further away from the sliding portion  16 . The channel cap  47  has a center region that is open to accommodate the cylinder  40  being moved laterally to any position in which the two rows of teeth  45 A,  45 B may engage and mesh with each other. The channel cap  47  is secured to the underside of the overhang  15  of the upper part  14  of the base with screws  43 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 5C  is a further embodiment of the stabilizer in that a series of pre-drilled threaded holes  49  are made in the underside of the overhang  15  of the upper part  14  of the base into which screws  43  are aligned and fastened to secure the channel cap  47  in place to allow the cylinder  40  to press against the underside of the overhang  15  as the hinged trapezoidal end piece  39  presses against the topside of the snow ski  39  that arises from unscrewing the inside cylinder  35  relative to the cylinder  40 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 5D  is yet another embodiment of the stabilizer in which a magnetic strip  51  is provided on the underside of the overhang of the base and a further magnet  53  is provided atop the cylinder  40  of the stabilizer to magnetically attract with the magnetic strip  51 . The magnetic force should be strong enough to support the weight of the stabilizer dangling from the overhang  15  of the upper part  14  of the base as the internal cylinder  35  is being rotated until the hinged trapezoidal end piece  39  exerts pressure upon the topside of the snow ski  24 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 4  shows that without the stabilizer  26 , the application of forward weight would tend to trigger the bindings to eject the base from the bindings. 
         [0063]    Turning to  FIG. 6A , a brake  50  holds the ski board unit  10  in place until the user is fully on the ski board unit  10  with both feet. The platform  12  has a forward portion  13  that is hinged to the rest of the platform at a hinge  11 . The base  14 , which has the overhang  15 , also has a raised portion adjacent the overhang  15  so as to enable the brake seat  52  to fit in a recess alongside the stepped end of the raised portion and be above the overhang  15 . 
         [0064]    When the user applies weight to the front of the ski board and depresses the brake seat  52 , the arm  54  pivots about pivot  55  so that the brake seat  52  disengages from its brake position to enter into a non-braking position of  FIG. 6B . As the pivoting commences, a rod  59  at the end of the arm  54  slides within an open track  57  in the brake seat  52  in response to the pivoting force exerted about the pivot  55  by depressing the brake seat  52 . 
         [0065]    When the user removes their feet from the forward portion  13  of the platform  12 , the forward portion of the arm  54  lowers because of pivoting movement about the pivot  55  under spring tension from spring  61  in or on lever arm  63  so that the brake seat  52  returns to the activated brake position of  FIG. 6A . 
         [0066]    When deployed, the arm  54  pivots to stop the ski board unit  10  from sliding forward. When weight is put on the front of the ski board unit  10 , the brake mechanism is depressed and the arm retracts/disengages. The tension spring  61  lifts up the brake seat  52  when the user&#39;s weight has been lifted and deploys the arm  54  to stop the ski board  10  from sliding forward.  FIGS. 6C-6E  show how to activate, deactivate and reactivate the brake  50  merely by pressing down with one&#39;s foot onto the forward portion  13  of the platform to deactivate the brake and thereafter removing one&#39;s foot from pressing down to allow the spring tension to restore the brake to the activated position. 
         [0067]      FIGS. 6F and 6G  correspond to the views of  FIGS. 6A and 6B , but for a different embodiment in that the hinged front portion  13  of  FIGS. 6A and 6B  is omitted so that the platform  12  is a single piece and not hinged into two portions. In addition, a rear support  73  is provided underneath a rear portion of the platform in the vicinity of the platform  12  where a hole or holes to secure a conventional skateboard wheel or wheels is/are provided. The rear support  73  is pivoted to the topside of the base  12  with a pivot  75 . The underside of the platform  12  is secured to the rear support  73  by one or more screws. The underside of the platform  12  is also secured to the brake seat  52 . 
         [0068]    An advantage of the brake of  FIGS. 6A and 6B  over that of the brake of  FIGS. 6F and 6G  is the ability for the user to apply the brake gradually as the ski board unit  10  is in motion to slow the ski board unit. On the other hand, the brake of  FIGS. 6F and 6G  has an advantage over that of the brake of  FIGS. 6A and 6B  in that any conventional skateboard platform may be used without any need to modify the skateboard itself. Such is not the case for the brake of  FIGS. 6A and 6B  because the skateboard may need to be split into two parts that are then hinge to each other. 
         [0069]    However, the brake of  FIGS. 6A and 6B  and the brake of  FIGS. 6F and 6G  offer the ability of keeping the ski board unit  10  steady and secure when left on a hill incline to enable the user to step on the platform for use of the ski board unit. 
         [0070]    Also, both prevent the ski board unit from sliding down a hill on its own since the lever arms are spring loaded to push against the ground. 
         [0071]    All components of the base of the ski board unit may be fastened to each other and to the underside of the platform by conventional fastening techniques, such as with fasteners (screws in screw-threaded holes). Pivots and hinges of the brake or below the rear support may be secured to the base in any conventional manner that permits pivoting about the pivot and rotation about the hinges. 
         [0072]    While the foregoing description and drawings represent the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.