Patent Abstract:
A ski-sled frame that can be detachably mounted to a standard pair of skis by attaching the frame to a standard set of ski bindings. The ski-sled may include a seat for carrying the rider, a frame supporting the seat, handles for balance and that aid in steering the ski-sled, and mounting means for attaching the ski-sled to a pair of skis.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a ski-sled for recreational use on snow and which is detachably mounted to standard alpine bindings attached to a pair of commercially available snow skis.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Ski-sleds have been previously shown to include a frame and a seat for supporting a rider. Such sleds allow a person to ski in the snow while maintaining a sitting or crouching position. Sleds of this kind may include skis, runners or other surfaces for slidingly engaging the snow. The skis, runners or other surfaces that engage the snow are fixedly attached to the seat or frame that supports the rider. Such sleds may be utilized by individuals with certain physical disabilities in order to enjoy the skiing experience in addition to individuals who simply enjoy an alternative to the normal standing skiing experience. Such sleds may also be known as a sit-ski.  
         [0003]     When skiing, it is well known that the height, weight and skill of the skier effects whether the skier uses longer or shorter skis. In addition, longer skis allow skiers to achieve higher rates of speed. Furthermore, ski conditions and terrain conditions also indicate the use of different types of skis. One disadvantage to known ski-sleds is the fact that the frames and sleds can not be interchanged for use with different types of skis for different skiers, ski conditions, or speed preferences.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention includes a ski-sled frame that is removably attachable to standard ski bindings in such a way that the ski-sled frame can be utilized with a variety of different types and sizes of skis to meet the preferences and needs of different skiers.  
         [0005]     A ski-sled frame for removable attachment to a standard pair of alpine ski bindings, comprising a frame, a seat connected to the frame; a first and second ski connection member pivotally attached to the frame, a first and second ski control rod attached to the first and second ski connection members, respectivelym a first and second foot plate assembly attached to the first and second ski connection members, respectively, the first and second foot plate assemblies further comprising a first and second foot plate extender slidingly engaged to a rear portion of the first and second foot plate assembly whereby the length of the first and second foot plate assembly can be selectively adjusted and whereby the ski-sled frame can be removably attached to a standard pair of alpine ski bindings.  
         [0006]     A frame for supporting a rider, comprising, a frame, a seat fixedly attached to the frame, and ski connection means attached to the frame for connecting the frame to a standard pair of ski bindings.  
         [0007]     11. A ski-sled frame for removable attachment to a standard pair of alpine ski bindings and skis, comprising a frame, a first foot plate assembly affixed to the frame and a second foot plate assembly affixed to the frame, whereby the first and second foot plate assemblies are removably attached to a standard pair of alpine ski bindings mounted on a pair of snow skis. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the ski-sled of the present invention attached to a standard pair of snow skis.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  shows a rear elevational view of the ski-sled of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  shows a side perspective view of a adjustable ski connection member of the ski-sled of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 4A  shows a side elevational view of the ski-sled of  FIG. 1  with a rider seated on the seat.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4B  shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the ski-sled of  FIG. 1  with a rider.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]     With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , a ski-sled according to one embodiment of the present invention will be herein described. The description contained herein is for illustrative purposes and is not meant to exclude any derivations that are within the conceptual context of the present invention. It is contemplated that various deviations can be made to these embodiments without deviating from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the present invention be dictated by the appended claims rather than by the below description.  
         [0014]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of a ski-sled in accordance with the present invention is identified by the numeral  10 . As may be appreciated, the ski-sled as shown is generally symmetrical between each side. Various other embodiments of the ski-sled  10  may further include other features or adjustments depending on the needs of the rider. Such additional features or adjustments may be attached to one side or the other of the ski-sled and may result in a non-symmetrical ski-sled  10 . For example, a handicapped rider may require certain types of support or other equipment that a non-handicapped rider would not desire that results in a non-symmetrical ski-sled.  
         [0015]     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the ski-sled  10  of the present embodiment generally includes a frame  12 , a seat  14 , frame connection members  16  and  18 , ski control rods  20  and  22 , ski connection members  28  and  30  and brake  32 . The seat  14  is fixedly attached at a middle portion of the frame  12 . Frame connection members  16  and  18  are attached to either side of frame  12  and operably connect the ski connection members  28  and  30  to the frame  12 . The ski control rods  20  and  22  are fixed to the ski connections members  28  and  32 , respectively. The brake  32  is fixedly attached at a position on the bottom side of frame  12  substantially under seat  14  and is of such a length that the brake  32  can engage the ground when desired by the rider. The frame  10  is shown attached to standard alpine skis  34  and  36  by attaching the frame  12  to standard alpine bindings  38  and  39  mounted on the skis  34  and  36 .  
         [0016]     The ski control rods  20  and  22  may further include handle grips  24  and  26 . Handle grips  20  and  22  provide a convenient contoured place where the rider can grip the ski-control rods  20  and  22  and thereby control the direction and movement of the ski-sled  10 . Such operation is further described below.  
         [0017]     The frame  12  as illustrated for the present embodiment is a shape generally resembling two inverted U&#39;s connected by another U in the middle where the seat  14  is attached. As may be appreciated, the shape of the frame may be in many forms. The frame  12  may be made of any plastic, metal or other generally stiff material, made by plastic molding, welding, grinding or other process, that can withstand the stresses placed thereon. It may be advantageous to construct the frame  12  of such a material that includes a certain amount of flexural properties as are often associated with skis and the like. In addition, the frame  12  can be constructed of multiple materials layered in a manner similar to the construction of skis in order to provide both flexibility and strength. The ski control rods  20  and  22 , ski connection members  28  and  30 , and the brake  32  may be likewise constructed of materials selected to provide maximum operation and durability. The handle grips  24  and  26  may be rubber or plastic grips as are often found on the end of standard ski poles. The ski control rods  20  and  22  may be constructed of the same, or different, materials than the frame  12 . As may be appreciated more in the description below concerning the riding of the ski-sled  10 , the ski control rods and  22  should be constructed of an appropriately strong material that can withstand the pressure exerted on the ski control rods  20  and  22  by the rider while steering the ski-sled  10 .  
         [0018]     In the present embodiment, the frame connection members  16  and  18  are comprised of a pivot joint with a pin rotationally connecting the frame  12  and each ski connection member  28  and  30 . As illustrated better in  FIG. 2 , the frame connection member  16  and  18  are designed such that the frame connection members  16  and  18  allow the ski connection members  28  and  30  to rotate inwardly or outwardly relative to the frame  12 . As will be further described below, the ski connection members  28  and  30  are able to rotate in an inwardly or outwardly direction depending on the way in which the rider is steering the ski-sled  10 .  
         [0019]     As is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , ski connection members  28  and may further comprise a left foot plate assembly  40  and a right foot plate assembly  42 , respectively. Foot plate assemblies  40  and  42  are substantially mirror images of one another and so only foot plate assembly  40  will be further described in detail. Foot plate assembly  40  includes a foot plate  43 , a foot plate extender  44  and an extender locking system  46 . The forward portion of the foot plate  43  is shaped and sized to approximate the front portion of a standard ski boot. The rear end of the foot plate extender  44  is the size and shape of the rearward portion of a standard alpine ski boot. The foot plate extender  44  slidably engages the rear portion of the foot plate  43  by engaging an interior track in the foot plate  44 . By sliding the foot plate extender  44  in or out relative to foot plate  43 , the foot plate extender  44  can be used to alter the size of the overall foot plate assembly  40 .  
         [0020]     The extender locking system  46  of the present embodiment includes a thumb screw  46 . The thumb screw  46  can be tightened through a threaded hole in the rear portion of the foot plate  42  and through a hole in the foot plate extender  44  to lock the foot plate extender  44  in the interior track of the foot plate  42 . The overall length of the foot plate assembly  40  is thereby selected. The thumb screw  42  may include a plastic T-shaped gripping handle for easy manipulation even when the user is wearing a winter glove. The extender locking system  46  can be replaced with any type of locking system known to those of skill in the art, such as a spring release latch, other types of screws, clamps, and etcetera.  
         [0021]     The foot plate assemblies  40  and  42  can be adjusted in length in order to detachably affix the ski-sled  10  to standard ski bindings of different sizes. This feature of the foot plate assemblies  40  and  42  allow the ski-sled  10  to be utilized with different standard alpine skis that have different sized pressure release alpine bindings previously attached thereon. The adaptable ski connection members  28  and  30  therefore allow the ski-sled  10  to be attached to older style straight skis, newer style shaped skis, or any other type of ski that has standard releasable alpine bindings.  
         [0022]     In operation, the frame  12  is attached to the desired pair of skis  34  and  36  by attachment to a standard pair of alpine bindings  38  and  39  already mounted thereon. The rider sits on seat  14  and starts the sit-ski  10  moving down the selected hill. When in motion, the rider grips handle grips  24  and  26  to maintain balance and to control the direction of the sit-ski  10 . By exerting pressure on the ski control rods  20  and  22  in a left or right direction, the ski connection members  28  and  30  change position relative to the frame  12  and thereby changes the angle of contact the skis  34  and  36  have upon the ground. As is best illustrated in  FIG. 2 , by exerting left pressure on the ski control rods  20  and  22 , the rider may tilt each ski  34  and  36  in a counterclockwise direction, thus causing each ski  34  and  36  to contact the ground on the left side of each ski  34  and  36 . By combining this movement with a slight lean, the ski-sled  10  can be steered either left or right. As skiers will appreciate, the change in angle of the skis combined with a leaning motion is substantially similar to turning when skiing in the normal standing position.  
         [0023]     When the rider desires to stop forward motion, the rider simply pulls each ski control rods  20  and  22  in an inward direction. Each ski  34  and  36  will then simultaneously rotate in an outward direction and rest on the interior edge of the ski. This action will lower the frame  12  closer to the ground. By pulling in the ski control rods  20  and  22  the correct amount, the brake  32  will then contact the ground and, by dragging, slow the rider to a stop. The rider may alternatively or simultaneously place his or her feet on the ground to stop.  
         [0024]     As may be appreciated, in further embodiments the seat  14  may include a spring or other cushioning system. Such a spring or cushioning system may include a simple spring attachment between the seat  14  and the frame  12 . In further embodiments the spring or cushioning system may be comprised of a hydraulic-type system or other systems known to those in the art.  
         [0025]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a rider  60  seated on a sled  10 . The rider  60  sits in a substantially upright position and braces his or her feet on the flat exposed portions of the skis  34  and  36 . As may be appreciated, the ski-sled  10  may be ridden in a variety of ways be riders of various skill and experience levels.  
         [0026]     As is illustrated in  FIG. 4B , the ski-sled  10  may be equipped with a back rest  62 . As is illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the back rest  62  may be fixed or adjustable in order to achieve a substantially upright or a substantially reclined seating position for the rider  60 . In additional alternative embodiments the ski-sled may be further equipped with a foot rest  64  that extends forward from the frame  12 . The length that the foot rest  64  extends from the  14  may be adjustable to allow the rider  60  to maintain a substantially bent or substantially straight legged position, and to accommodate riders of different heights. Such a foot rest may also include straps or foot holders such as are regularly included on the pegs of off-road bicycles, often referred to as “toe-clips.” 
         [0027]     The embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes and are not meant to exclude any derivations or alternative methods that are within the conceptual context of the invention. It is contemplated that various deviations can be made to these embodiments without deviating from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the present invention be dictated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description of this embodiment.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0