Abstract:
A snow mobility device that defines a longitudinal axis, the snow mobility device having a generally planar deck with a top surface and a bottom surface, the deck defining a front portion, a rear portion, a middle portion, and outer edges. The middle portion is generally flat and the front and rear portions are each curved upwardly. The edges are rounded. There are at least two rails extending outwardly from the bottom surface along all of the middle portion and at least some of each of the front and rear portions of the deck, the rails spaced from one another and essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the snow mobility device.

Description:
FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to a device that is worn by a person to assist with mobility on snow and ice. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Snowshoes cannot be used to glide while perambulating, and cannot be used to slide downhill. Skis allow sliding motions but are not practical for use traversing distances over flat or gently-sloped terrain. Skis are also difficult to carry. 
     SUMMARY 
     Featured in this disclosure is a snow mobility device that defines a longitudinal axis, the snow mobility device comprising a generally planar deck with a top surface and a bottom surface, the deck defining a front portion, a rear portion, and a middle portion, and outer edges, wherein the middle portion is generally flat and the front and rear portions are each curved upwardly. At least some of the front portion may be constructed such that its bottom surface is concave. The edges are rounded. There are at least two rails extending outwardly from the bottom surface along all of the middle portion of the deck and at least some of each of the front and rear portions, the rails spaced from one another and essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the snow mobility device. 
     The rails may be generally triangular shaped in cross section, with the base on the bottom of the deck and the vertex located farthest from the bottom. There may be two rails, with the rails essentially equally spaced from the longitudinal edges of the deck. The rails may be generally parallel along their lengths except for along the front portion where they diverge outwardly from each other, to define a funnel that guides snow into the space between the rails. The rails may extend to or very close to the edges of the front portion. 
     The snow mobility device may further comprise one or more retractable cleats coupled to the deck. The cleats may be generally “V”-shaped. Each cleat may be part of a cleat assembly that comprises a lever that couples with the cleat, and a housing that holds the lever such that it can be operated by a user to extend and retract the cleat relative to the deck. Each cleat assembly may comprise a cleat, a lever, a housing base and a housing cover, wherein the base is attached to the deck and the lever comprises a structure located inside of the cover and that fits into an opening in the cleat. The levers may be operable together, for example using a pivot mechanism. The pivot mechanism may be mounted forward of the two cleat assemblies and act to tie them together so that the two cleats can be extended and retracted together, in unison. There may be a wire that is held in the pivot mechanism and in both cleat assemblies, to tie all three together. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments are shown in the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a top perspective view of snow mobility device deck;  FIG. 1B  is a bottom perspective view of the snow mobility device deck;  FIG. 1C  is a bottom view of the deck;  FIG. 1D  is a front view of the deck;  FIG. 1E  is a top perspective view of the deck;  FIG. 1F  is a cross-sectional view through the front portion of the deck; and  FIG. 1G  is a side view of the deck. 
         FIGS. 1H-1L  show a different example (and the currently-preferred embodiment) in which the cleat assembly mounting holes are outside of the rails, and there is a central raised platform that is part of the deck. 
         FIG. 2A  is a top perspective view of a cleat assembly, with the cover portion of the assembly shown in transparent mode;  FIG. 2B  is a bottom perspective view thereof;  FIG. 2C  is a side view thereof and  FIG. 2D  is a top view, shaded. 
         FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the base of the cleat assembly. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a cleat of the cleat assembly. 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the axle or lever of a cleat assembly. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are top and bottom perspective views of a housing cover of the cleat assembly. 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of a pivoting cleat operator;  FIG. 7B  is a side view thereof;  FIG. 7C  shows the pivot hinge block of the pivoting cleat operator;  FIG. 7D  is a top perspective view of the toggle lever of the pivoting cleat operator;  FIG. 7E  is a top perspective view of the pivot hinge cap of the pivoting cleat operator. 
         FIG. 8  shows a wire that connects the pivoting cleat operator to the two cleat assemblies. 
         FIG. 9A  is a top perspective view of the snow mobility device with a boot mounted thereon;  FIG. 9B  is a bottom perspective view of the snow mobility device with the two cleats retracted;  FIG. 9C  is a close-up view showing the two cleats fully extended; and  FIGS. 9D-9H  show the cleats retracted, partially extended and fully extended, and also illustrate how the pivoting cleat operator is engaged with the cleats via the wire, and how it is used to move the cleats. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure is a snow mobility device that is constructed and arranged to accept a back-country type binding. The snow mobility devices are worn on each foot, almost like snowshoes. They can be used to walk on snow and are also adapted to glide during a step and also downhill, and so can be used almost like skis. 
     Embodiments are shown in the drawings, in which  FIG. 1A  is a top perspective view of snow mobility device deck  10 ;  FIG. 1B  is a bottom perspective view of snow mobility device deck  10 ;  FIG. 1C  is a bottom view of deck  10 ;  FIG. 1D  is a front view of deck  10 ;  FIG. 1E  is a top perspective view of deck  10 ;  FIG. 1F  is a cross-sectional view through the front portion of deck  10 ; and  FIG. 1G  is a side view of deck  10 .  FIGS. 1H-1L  show a different example (and the currently-preferred embodiment) in which the cleat assembly mounting holes are outside of the rails, and there is a central raised platform  41  that is part of the deck, which is further described below. 
       FIG. 2A  is a top perspective view of a cleat assembly  50  that is attached to deck  10  (with the cover portion of the assembly shown in transparent mode);  FIG. 2B  is a bottom perspective view thereof;  FIG. 2C  is a side view thereof and  FIG. 2D  is a top view, shaded.  FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of base  62  of cleat assembly  50 .  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of cleat  54  of cleat assembly  50 .  FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of axle or lever  52  of cleat assembly  50 .  FIGS. 6A and 6B  are top and bottom perspective views of housing cover  64  of cleat assembly  50 . 
       FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of a pivoting cleat operator;  FIG. 7B  is a side view thereof;  FIG. 7C  shows the pivot hinge block of the pivoting cleat operator;  FIG. 7D  is a top perspective view of the toggle lever of the pivoting cleat operator;  FIG. 7E  is a top perspective view of the pivot hinge cap of the pivoting cleat operator;  FIG. 8  shows the wire that connects the pivoting cleat operator to the two cleat assemblies. 
       FIG. 9A  is a top perspective view of the snow mobility device with a boot mounted thereon;  FIG. 9B  is a bottom perspective view of the snow mobility device with the two cleats retracted; and  FIG. 9C  is a close-up view showing the two cleats fully extended.  FIGS. 9D-9H  show the cleats retracted, partially extended and fully extended, respectively, and also illustrate how the pivoting cleat operator is engaged with the cleats via the wire, and how it is used to move the cleats. 
     One example shown in the drawings is depicted fully assembled (but without the pivoting cleat operator) in  FIGS. 9A-9C  in which snow mobility device  100  includes two primary components—generally planar deck  10  that is shown in  FIG. 1  and two of the cleat assemblies shown in  FIGS. 2-6 . The cleat assemblies are attached to the top of the deck so that the cleats project through holes  24  and  26  in deck  10  as is apparent from the drawings. Deck  10  has top surface  12  and bottom surface  30  and defines a front portion  14 , a rear portion  16 , and a middle portion  18  between the front and rear. The middle portion is cambered. The outer edges are preferably rounded or radiused so the edges grip but do not dig into the snow. Deck  10  includes integral rails  20  and  22  that are molded into the deck and have a generally triangular cross-sectional shape with the vertex located farthest from the deck below bottom  30 . The rails are generally spaced evenly from the two edges and flare outwardly slightly towards front portion  14  to create a wider opening  32  that tends to funnel snow into and between the rails to help with stability and control. Front  14  is turned upwardly into a scoop shape and the rails diverge outwardly toward the front; together this helps to direct snow into the scoop area and also helps the tip to ride above the snow. There can be a raised central platform  41  in the central region of the device, located between the rails. This profile stiffens the device and also provides a raised surface that the binding can be mounted to. Since the device is stiffened, the whole deck can be made thinner than would be the case without the platform. This decreases the weight of the platform. The back-country ski bindings allow the foot to pivot up and down about the toe, while keeping the toes above the deck; this leads to the ability to glide. Not shown in the drawings is the option of temporarily or permanently mounting climbing skins to the underside of the devices. 
     Cleat assemblies  50  comprise housing  60  that itself comprises base  62  and cover  64  that are held together with screws passed through the cover such as through openings  95  and  96 . Cover  64  defines a front downwardly projecting lip  94  that creates a concave area that accepts portion  91  of axle or lever  52 . Ball  92   a  of extending lever  92  is captured within and can rotate within opening  79  in cleat  54 . This arrangement allows the user to push or pull extending end  90  up and down to extend and retract cleat  54  relative to the bottom of the deck as shown in  FIGS. 9B and 9C . Bottom portion  80  of cleat  54  is what is extended outwardly into the snow. Cleat  54  is preferably generally “V”-shaped in profile as shown, with the point  78  facing forward. The retractable and extendable cleats allow the user to create a variable amount of drag to help with traction and control. 
     Pivoting cleat operator  150  is an optional assembly that would be mounted forward of the two cleat assemblies and tie them together so that the two cleats can be extended and retracted together, in unison. Operator  150  comprises pivot hinge block  160  with base  162  that is mounted to the top of the deck and projections  163  and  164  which define saddles  165   a  and  165   b  at the top. Toggle lever  152  has pivot pins  157  that sit in saddles  165   a  and  b  so that lever  52  can pivot about pivot axis  170 . Lever  152  defines concave depressions  154  and  156  that can be pushed down to pivot the lever back and forth. Pivot hinge cap  166  sits over lever  152  to hold it in place via bridge  168 . Openings  167  accommodate pivot pins  157 . Wire  182 ,  FIG. 8 , fits through slot  158 ; portion  188  is located in this slot while ends  184  and  186  fit into openings  53  in end  90  of lever  52 . Thus, when the user pushes down on surface  154  or  156  the resulting pivot cause lever  52  to pivot and thus the two cleats to extend and retract in unison. A detent is used to hold the lever in one of four positions; the spring-loaded ball sits in depression  166  and engages with one of four arc-shaped receiving cavities  159   a - 159   d.    
     Other constructions are contemplated herein. There can be one or more cleats. The cleats can have a different shape. They can be extended and retracted with different mechanisms. When the mechanisms are tied together, the manner they are tied and moved in unison can differ. All these options will keep the invention within the scope of the claims. 
     Although aspects of the invention are shown in some drawings and not others, this is not a limitation as the features can be combined in any technically feasible way. And other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the technical field.