Abstract:
A snowshoe having a binding for a downhill ski boot on a binding platform which can pitch, i.e., rotate about a transverse axis of the snowshoe. The binding platform is supported on a front strap which is attached to the sides of the framework for the snowshoe, which is of sufficient flexibility to pitch and, preferably, roll, i.e., rotate about the longitudinal axis of the framework. Decking between the binding platform and the framework has a front aperture to permit the binding platform to pitch and roll; is of such length as to permit extension of the framework, which is made possible by having the framework be a tubes separated on its first and second sides and containing an insertable tube in the areas of the separations; and has such flexibility as to enable the decking to fold underneath the binding platform when the tube of the framework is unextended.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a snowshoe, especially a snowshoe for a user wearing a downhill ski boot. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    A wide variety of snowshoes exists. 
         [0005]    The following patents and publications, as explained further below, have features of some significance to the present invention: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,829,173; 6,256,908; 6,374,518; 6,898,874; 7,080,850; 7,493,709; 7,681,904; 7,707,749; 7,716,855; 7,793,439; 7,930,842; 7,937,855; 8,020,321; and 8,302,331; United States patent publication nos. 2004/0021297, 2004/0250453, 2010/0289251, and 2012/0151802; international publication nos. WO97/28861 and WO2009/067716; Bulgarian patent publication no. BG110843; Chinese patent no. CN201135164; and French patent publication no. 2 971 165. 
         [0006]    Projections, also termed “crampons,” extending below a snowshoe to aid traction are included in embodiments of the following patents and publications: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,256,908; 6,374,518; 7,707,749; 7,793,439; 7,930,842; 7,937,855; 8,020,321; and 8,302,331; United States patent publication no. 2004/0250453; international publication nos. WO97/28861 and WO2009/067716; and Bulgarian patent publication no. BG110843. 
         [0007]    An adjustable binding to fit different sizes of boots exists in the snowshoes of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,829,173; 6,256,908; 6,374,518; and 7,716,855; United States patent publication nos. 2004/0250453 (merely a strap) and 2012/0151802 (merely a strap); international publication no. WO97/28861; Chinese patent no. CN201135164; and French patent publication no. 2 971 165. 
         [0008]    The length of the snowshoe can be varied in at least some embodiments of U.S. Pat. No. 7,493,709; United States patent publication no. 2012/0151802; and Chinese patent no. CN201135164. 
         [0009]    Of the patents and publications only three appear to permit the boot of a user to roll (rotate about the longitudinal axis of the snowshoe), and each of these involves rigid structures, not simply a strap. U.S. Pat. No. 6,898,874 utilizes multiple cables 318 attached to a rigid platform 314 to deform the frame of the snowshoe. U.S. Pat. No. 8,020,321 employs a rigid pivot axle 39 attached to the frame of the snowshoe with multiple bands. And in U.S. Pat. No. 8,302,331 the ends of a rigid axle are pivotally mounted to permit roll. 
         [0010]    In U.S. Pat. No. 6,256,908 a binding is held to the frame with a strap (32 in one embodiment and 150 in another embodiment), but there is no indication that the strap permits roll of the binding. U.S. Pat. No. 7,937,855 does not truly appear to be enabling for attachment of a harness 26 (for a boot) to the frame 12, especially so as to enable roll, which the patent does not suggest is possible; and if the harness 26 is attached to the decking, the specified rigidity of the decking would preclude roll. And in United States patent publication no. 2012/0151802 the described pivot of enclosure member 28 due to the elasticity of fixing member 25 appears to mean pitch (rotation about a transverse axis of the snowshoe); there is no indication that the fixing member 25 is adequately long to have the tension of such fixing member 25 at such a level as to permit the enclosure member 28 to roll. 
         [0011]    No patent or publication for a traditional snowshoe indicates that the bindings of such snowshoe are suitable for downhill ski boots. U.S. Pat. No. 7,681,904 and related U.S. Pat. No. 7,080,850 makes this assertion, but the subject matter of those patents is a ski which can have its front and rear removed as well as a pivotable lower portion folded outward to create a device for travel on snow which is termed a “snowshoe” but has virtually none of the structure of a traditional snowshoe. 
         [0012]    And the decking of U.S. Pat. No. 7,493,709 folds when the length of the snowshoe is shortened but does not go under a platform for a binding. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The Snowshoe of the present invention has a binding platform supported by a front strap attached to the frame of the snowshoe and a rear strap also attached to a frame of the snowshoe. The binding platform has a binding for a traditional downhill ski boot and is attached to the front strap. The front strap is flexible so that it can twist about its longitudinal axis and thereby permit the binding platform to pitch, i.e., rotate about a transverse axis of the snowshoe. The length and, consequently, the tension on the front strap is at a level permitting the attach binding platform to roll, i.e., to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the snowshoe. 
         [0014]    Decking is attached to the frame of the snowshoe and contains a forward aperture through which the binding platform can pitch and preferably has a rear aperture through which projections (crampons) can extend to improve the traction of the Snowshoe. 
         [0015]    The rear portion of the snowshoe frame is telescopically extendable, and the decking is sufficiently flexible that the decking in the area of extension folds under the binding platform when the frame is not extended. 
         [0016]    The Snowshoe, thus, can enable one wishing to downhill ski in an area not served by a ski lift to climb a hill using the snowshoes while carrying downhill skis, preferable releasably attached to a backpack; to place the Snowshoe in an unextended position into the backpack; to use the downhill bindings to place the downhill skis on the user&#39;s feet without having to change the user&#39;s footwear—generally and inconvenient, uncomfortable task in snow and cold weather; and to ski down the hill. Also, the ability of the Snowshoe to permit the binding platform to roll facilitates the user&#39;s moving transversely across the hill, if necessary or desirable. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of one extended and one unextended snowshoe. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an elevational view of an extended snowshoe. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a plan view from the bottom of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  shows an extended snowshoe holding a traditional downhill ski boot. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  portrays the embodiment of  FIG. 4  with the binding platform rotated in the pitch direction. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is an elevational view of channels in the heel plate used to adjust the distance between the toe portion of the binding and the heel portion of the binding and also shows the flexible rear decking folded under the rear of the binding platform. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is an elevational view showing similar channels to those of  FIG. 6  but with such channels in the toe plate. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a plan view from the top of the heel plate. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  shows the decking in the extendable portion of the snowshoe extended by the extension of the snowshoe. 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  depicts the embodiment of photograph  FIG. 5  from the bottom. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5  and  FIG. 10 , the Snowshoe of the present invention accommodate traditional downhill ski boots  1 , rather than just a cross-country ski boot. 
         [0028]    The basic structure of the Snowshoe comprises a framework  2 , preferably a tube  3  which is, as its name indicates, hollow, and even more preferably an aluminum tube  3 , similar to that of the Yukon Charlie&#39;s Trail Series 8×25 snowshoe. 
         [0029]    A binding platform  4  is, as seen in  FIGS. 3 ,  5 , and  10 , supported by (a) a front strap  5  having a first end  6  attached to a first side  7  of the framework  2  and a second end  8  attached to a second side  9  of the framework  2  and (b) a rear strap  10  having a first end  11  attached to a first side  7  of the framework  2  and a second end  12  attached to a second side  9  of the framework  2 . The binding platform  4  is attached to the front strap  5  but merely rests on the rear strap  10 . 
         [0030]    The front strap  5  can be constructed from any material which one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize (a) has sufficient strength to support the binding platform  4  and a user and (b) is preferably sufficiently flexible to permit the binding platform  4  to pitch and to roll. Moreover, the front strap  5  is preferably attached to the framework  2  with a level of tension which also permits the binding platform  4  to roll. The rear strap  10  can be constructed from any material which one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize has sufficient strength to support the binding platform  4  and a user. Attachment of the straps  5 ,  10  to the framework  2  is preferably accomplished by having a first end  6 ,  11  wrapped around the framework  2  and connected to itself farther from the first end  6 ,  11  with a fastener  13 , preferably a permanent fastener  13  and even more preferably a rivet  13  and by similarly wrapping and fastening the second end  8 ,  12 . 
         [0031]    Attachment of the binding platform  4  to the front strap  5  can be done with any fastener  14  which one of ordinary skill in the art would deem adequate. Preferably, however, such fastener  14  is a releasable fastener; and, even more preferably, such fastener  14  comprises a bolt  15 , one or more washers  16 , and a nut  17 . 
         [0032]    To facilitate maintaining the Snowshoe on top of snow, decking  18  is, as depicted in  FIGS. 1 through 5  and  10 , attached to the framework  2  and preferably also to the straps  5 ,  10  between the framework  2  and the binding platform  4  while leaving sufficient space, i.e., a front aperture  19  to avoid interfering with the pitching and rolling of the binding platform  4 . Preferably the decking  18  extends on and from the rear strap  10  along a first side  20  of the binding platform  4 , around the front  21  of the binding platform  4 , and along a second side  22  of the binding platform  4  until it is above the rear strap  10  where it extends across the top  23  of the rear strap  10  to the starting point, thereby forming a continuous unit, although the decking  18  may be comprised of a front U-shaped section connected to a rear U-shaped section. Preferably, the front strap  5  and the rear strap  10  are made of rubber, most preferably with a thickness which one of ordinary skill in the art would consider to be one-eighth inch; and the decking  18  is preferably comprised of high-density polyethylene. 
         [0033]    A rear decking  24 , as portrayed in  FIGS. 1 through 5 ,  9  and  10 , extends between, and is connected to, the first side  7  of the framework  2 , the second side  9  of the framework  2 , and the rear portion  25  of the framework  2 . The rear decking  24  does not extend forward of the rear strap  10  to which the rear decking is preferably attached, again leaving sufficient space to avoid interfering with the pitching and rolling of the binding platform  4 . The rear decking  24  is preferably composed of the same material as the decking  18 . The rear decking  24  is, therefore, also preferably comprised of high-density polyethylene. Sufficient material is included for the rear decking  24  to permit full extension of the snowshoe, as explained below, with the material being sufficiently flexible to fold underneath the binding platform  4  when the snowshoe is returned to its unextended length, as depicted in  FIG. 6 . If desired, the decking  18  and the rear decking  24  can be a unitary structure. Connection of the decking  18  to the framework  2  is preferably achieved by wrapping the edge  26  of the decking  18  around the framework  2  and fastening such edge  26  to a more inward portion  27  of the decking  18 , preferably with a rivet  28 , and even more preferably with a rivet  28  having at least one outward extension  29  to lower pressure on the decking  18  (Optionally, a washer  30  between the rivet  28  and the decking  18  could accomplish this lowering of pressure on the decking  18 .). Similarly, connection of the rear decking  24  to the framework  2  is preferably done by wrapping the edge  31  of the rear decking  24  around the framework  2  and fastening such edge  31  to a more inward portion  32  of the rear decking  24 , preferably with a rivet  33 , and even more preferably with a rivet  33  having at least one outward extension  34  to lower pressure on the rear decking  24  (Optionally, a washer  35  between the rivet  33  and the rear decking  24  could achieve this lowering of pressure on the rear decking  24 .) 
         [0034]    downhill binding  36  is, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 , attached to the top  37  of the binding platform  4 . Preferably, the distance between the toe portion  38  of the binding  36  and the heel portion  39  of the binding  36  is adjustable. Preferably, a toe plate  40  has, as seen in  FIG. 7 , downwardly extending projections  41  which, by releasable connection of the toe plate  40  to the top  37  of the binding platform  4 , are releasably held against the top  37  of the binding platform  4  to create a series of transverse channels  42  into which a lower bar  43  of the toe portion  38  of the binding  36  can be selectively inserted. Similarly, preferably a heel plate  44  has, as shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  8 , and  9 , downwardly extending projections  45  which, by releasable connection of the heel plate  44  to the top  37  of the binding platform  4 , are releasably held against the top  37  of the binding platform  4  to create a series of transverse channels  46  into which a lower bar  47  of the heel portion  39  of the binding  36  can be selectively inserted. The distance between the toe portion  38  of the binding  36  and the heel portion  39  of the binding  36  is, thus, determined by the channels  42 ,  46  into which the lower bar  43  of the toe portion  38  of the binding  36  and the lower bar  47  of the heel portion  39  of the binding  36  are placed. 
         [0035]    Any downhill binding can, however, be attached to the top  37  of the binding platform  4 . But because of their considerable length, new adjustable bindings on a platform, such as the TYROLIA PowerRail, are the least preferred for this purpose. 
         [0036]    The bottom  48  of the binding platform  4  preferably has along the first side  20  and the second side  22  of the binding platform projections (crampons)  49  to aid traction in snow. In such an embodiment the decking  18  also contains, as seen most clearly in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  5 , and  10 , a rear aperture  50  to accommodate such projections  49 . 
         [0037]    With the snowshoe constructed as described above, an entire traditional downhill ski boot  1  is, as shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  10 , attached to the binding platform  4  through use of a toe portion  38  of the binding  36  and a heel portion  39  of the binding, but because of the ability of the binding platform  4  to pitch and roll, a user experiences the same effect as with a cross-country ski boot wherein either (a) only the front of the boot, and not the heel, is attached to a binding that can pitch or (b) both the front of the boot and the rear of the boot are attached to a pitchable binding (as in U.S. Pat. No. 7,716,855 and Chinese patent publication no. CN201135164Y) but not with structure which substantially immobilizes the boot in the binding as does a binding  36  for a traditional downhill ski boot  1 . A user of the present invention, consequently, can, as explained above, utilize the same pair of boots  1  for downhill skiing and also for snowshoeing. This facilitates wearing the snowshoes to climb a hill while carrying downhill skis with a backpack and then wearing the downhill skis to ski down the hill while carrying the snowshoes with the backpack. 
         [0038]    In order to have the length of the snowshoe of the present invention adjustable, the tube  3  is separated on both the first side  7  and the second side  9  of the framework  2 , a first insertable tube  51  having a smaller diameter than the tube  3  is inserted, on the first side  7  of the framework  2 , within the section  52  of tube  3  forming the portion of the framework  2  forward of the separation  53  and also within the section  54  of the tube  3  forming the portion of the framework  2  rearward from the separation  53 ; and a second insertable tube  55  having a smaller diameter than the tube  3  is inserted, on the second side  7  of the framework  2 , within the section  52  of tube  3  forming the portion of the framework  2  forward of the separation  53  and also within the section  54  of the tube  3  forming the portion of the framework  2  rearward from the separation  53 . The point of separation  53  is selected to be rearward from the rear strap  10 . 
         [0039]    The first insertable tube  51  is permanently attached, on the first side  7  of the framework  2 , inside either the section  52  of the tube  3  forming the forward portion of the framework  2  or inside the section  54  of the tube  3  forming the rearward portion of the framework  2 , but preferably inside the section  54  of the tube  3  forming the rearward portion of the framework  2 , and slidably mounted within the other section  52  of the tube  3 . A means, furthermore, exists for holding the first insertable tube  51  at one or more discrete distances inside the section  52  or  54  of the tube  3  wherein the first insertable tube  51  is slidably mounted. Such means is preferably a spring-loaded button  55  inserted into the first insertable tube  51  and one or more apertures  57  in the section  52  or  54  of the tube  3  within which the first insertable tube  3  is slidably mounted on the first side  7  of the framework to accommodate, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the spring-loaded button  56  in the extended position of such spring-loaded button  56 . 
         [0040]    Similarly, the second insertable tube  55  is permanently attached, on the second side  9  of the framework  2 , inside either the section  52  of the tube  3  forming the forward portion of the framework  2  or inside the section  54  of the tube  3  forming the rearward portion of the framework  2 , but preferably inside the section  54  of the tube  3  forming the rearward portion of the framework  2 , and slidably mounted within the other section  52  of the tube  3 . A separate means for holding the second insertable tube  55  at one of several discrete distances inside the section  52  or  54  of the tube  3  wherein the second insertable tube  55  is slidably mounted is unnecessary since this function will be accomplished by the means for holding the first insertable tube  51  at one or more discrete distance inside the section  52  or  54  of the tube  3  wherein the first insertable tube  51  is slidably mounted. Of course, if desired, such means could be associated with the second insertable tube  55  rather than the first insertable tube  51 . 
         [0041]    A non-exclusive list of material from which the first insertable tube  51  and the second tube  55  can be constructed is copper and aluminum, with aluminum being preferred. 
         [0042]    Extending the length of the Snowshoe permits the Snowshoe to accommodate a larger, heavier user. 
         [0043]    As used herein the term “preferable” or “preferably” means that a specified element or technique is more acceptable than another but not that such specified element or technique is a necessity.