Abstract:
A molded snowshoe of a high impact plastic material able to efficiently ascend inclines and yet incorporating the ability to change configuration such that the user can ski downhill. The device includes the ability for the position of the user&#39;s foot relative to the present invention to change during transformation from snowshoe mode to ski mode, thus actuating the rotation of wings ending in a position under the device to form a continuous ski-able surface. Snowshoeing is performed when the wings are rotated in an outward position, thus enabling the user&#39;s foot to have the freedom to rotate through the plane of the bottom surface of the present invention.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of winter sports equipment, and more precisely to a device which allows a user to traverse snow-covered areas by hiking up inclines in a similar fashion as one may do with snowshoes and yet have the ability to quickly transform the device to slide down the incline much as one would do with skis.  
         BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    Snowshoeing is a popular winter sport that enables backcountry exploring, provides exercise, and is fun. Likewise, downhill skiing and snowboarding are winter sports that are enjoyed for many of the same reasons. Many have tried to combine these two sports by strapping their equipment to their backs, snowshoeing up a mountain, and skiing or snowboarding back down. The added weight and hassle of packing up the necessary gear is an obvious disadvantage of this activity.  
           [0003]    Some bother doing this to avoid the lift tickets and crowds of ski resorts, and to find untracked snow. They snowshoe as a means to an end, so that they can primarily enjoy the activity of skiing or snowboarding. There are others, though, who are primarily interested in the activity of snowshoeing. They use their skiing equipment because they dislike the idea of hiking up a mountain only to hike back down later on. They also use it to increase their range and speed on snowshoes; they can travel farther and faster into the backcountry if they can ski down any hill they happen to summit.  
           [0004]    It is primarily this latter group of users that the present invention would serve. The main objective of the invention is to function as a snowshoe. The advantage over traditional snowshoes is the ability to be quickly transformed into a ski.  
           [0005]    Currently, there is a large range and variety of snowshoes of different composition, size, and shape. Each have a bearing surface significantly larger than the area contained on the sole of the users boot, thus allowing the user to better distribute the pressure corresponding to the user&#39;s weight. Likewise, many different ski configurations exist touting better maneuverability or quicker speed and possess a surface area much larger than the sole of the ski boot, again, to better distribute the user&#39;s weight. The invention will function similarly to snowshoes of similar size and configuration, and no attempt will be made to construct a ski with added utility. In fact, the invention will function as a ski considerably shorter than most existing skis.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,410,702, by Joseph A. Arsenault, discloses a device that equips a ski with the utility of a snowshoe. This transformation occurs as the folding side wings of the device are parallel to the skiing surface forming a snowshoe-like device. The device operates as a ski when the wings are at an angle with respect to the skiing surface. Each wing pivots about a pair of hinges. There are many limitations to the design of Arsenault. First, the wings of the device rotate as to come nearly in contact with the leg of the user, a less than ideal ergonomic design. Not only does this encumber the user, but it aids in the accumulation of snow on the device. Secondly, snowshoeing is most effective when the pivot point of the ball of the user&#39;s foot is able to rotate through the plane of the snowshoe&#39;s top surface, thus allowing the toe of the foot to grip or dig into the surface of the snow. This design by Arsenault does not contain this feature. Finally, it is more advantageous for the pivot point of the foot to be located about one-third of the length of the snowshoe away from the front of snowshoe. Most traditional snowshoes have this incorporated in their design as it requires less energy to walk or ascend hills; the shorter protruding front section is less of an encumbrance by both acquiring less snow and enabling better mobility. The present invention proposes to resolve these issues.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,861,698, by James W. Grieg, discloses a device which is a hollow lightweight plastic ski with an underside equipped with a series of transversely extending corrugations which are of wedge-shape to help resist rearward movement. Similar shortcomings are presented in this device by Grieg as with the device by Arsenault. Namely, the foot is unable to rotate through the plane of the skiing surface to allow for better traction and maneuverability. Also, the position of the foot relative to the snowshoe ski structure is fixed. Though it is beneficial to have the foot at or behind the midpoint of the ski, it is, as previously mentioned, inconvenient to have the foot located in this same location during walking or climbing movement. The present invention proposes to incorporate the translation of the foot position to accommodate for this need and allow for the rotation of the foot through the deck of the device when functioning as a snowshoe.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,334, by Zhen Zhao, discloses a device which contains a short gliding surface functioning as a ski adjacent to a bearing surface which when placed parallel to the surface of the snow serves as the snowshoe. More specifically, Zhao&#39;s device consists of giving the snowshoe a particular shape which allows it to fulfill both the function of support for walking over the surface of the snow on both flat surfaces and uphill, and yet contain the ability of sliding downhill. The transformation occurs when the device is rotated 90° onto its edge, which is tactically the skiing surface. Similar to U.S. Pat. No. 2,410,702, this device also proves to be ergonomically inconvenient as the edges of the device ride high on the legs of the user when in ski mode. In addition, the device by Zhao, as with the aforementioned disclosures, does not allow the user&#39;s foot to rotate through the plane of the snowshoe which aids in the traction or grip of the snow surface as seen in traditional snowshoes. Lastly, no attempt was made to place the user&#39;s foot in the position that is common to most traditional snowshoes. More specifically, the binding is placed approximately in the center of the length of the device thus impeding maneuverability. The present invention proposes to eliminate these inconveniences.  
         SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    Disclosed herein is an invention which allows a user to traverse snow-covered areas by hiking up inclines in a similar fashion as one may do with snowshoes and yet have the ability to quickly transform the device to slide down the incline much as one would do with skis.  
           [0010]    Hence, it is an objective of the present invention that the surface area is adequately large to distribute the pressure corresponding to the user&#39;s weight in a fashion facilitating effective movement over the surface or slightly below the surface of the snow.  
           [0011]    Another objective of the present invention is the ability for the binding to rotate through the plane of the bottom surface of the device to allow for better maneuverability and traction when functioning as a snowshoe. The traction is obtained by the toe of the binding foot plate assembly, equipped with a steel crampon, digging into the surface of the snow or ice.  
           [0012]    Another objective of the present invention, when functioning as a snowshoe, is to position the ball of the user&#39;s foot about one-third of the length of the snowshoe away from the front of the snowshoe to increase the ability of the user to manage snow-covered terrain. This feature creates a shorter protruding front section that tends to accumulate snow and encumber the user. It is more advantageous to have the majority of the length and weight behind the user&#39;s foot as the front of the device will tend to slope upwards with each step creating a more effective climb.  
           [0013]    Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide the means to snowshoe effectively and efficiently across snow-covered terrain on horizontal or level surfaces, upwardly sloping terrain, and on downhill surfaces.  
           [0014]    A further objective of the present invention is to be primarily molded from a lightweight, tough and somewhat rigid material, preferably a high impact plastic such as, but not limited to, thermosetting, polyurethane elastomer.  
           [0015]    A yet further objective of the present invention is to change configuration from a snowshoe to a ski-able device without the removal or addition of separate parts.  
           [0016]    An additional objective of the present invention is the ability of the binding foot plate assembly to change position relative to the main body of the present invention when undergoing transformation from snowshoe to ski. This translation also facilitates the movement of the wings from an outward, open position to a closed position folded under the device for skiing. As the metal axle, the pivot point of the binding foot plate assembly, moves through a helical groove, the wings are forced to rotate. This further aids in the ease and efficiency of transformation.  
           [0017]    Another objective of the present invention is to possess the means to attach the user&#39;s boot to the device. There are several methods of attaching or binding a user&#39;s boot to a ski or snowshoe. It is not the purpose of this disclosure to delineate any preferential method.  
           [0018]    Yet another objective of the present invention when functioning as a ski is to possess sufficient stability to allow the user to effectively maintain proper balance. This is facilitated by means of narrowing the width of the ski-able surface such that it is less than the overall width of the device and by placing the ski-able surface directly under the user&#39;s foot.  
           [0019]    A further objective of the present invention, when functioning as a ski, is to position the ball of the foot closer to the midpoint of the device than when in snowshoe mode. Stability is more easily attained by such a placement.  
           [0020]    A yet further objective of the present invention is to possess surfaces with a low coefficient of friction when in contact with snow. Such surfaces will be contained on the surface of the wings fashioned to act as skiing surfaces and on the front and rear sections of the device.  
           [0021]    An additional objective of the present invention is to possess edging on the surfaces used for skiing. Such ridges or edges will be contained on the surface of the wings, fashioned to act as skiing surfaces, and on the front and rear sections of the device. Preferably, the edging material will be a type of strong, rigid metal.  
           [0022]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide an upturned, curved front section that would enable the device to better maneuver through snow both when skiing and when snowshoeing.  
           [0023]    A fuller understanding of the embodiment of the present invention with its objectives, and the advantages which result there from, will emerge more clearly from the following detailed description, and accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the present invention with the wings rotated under to allow the invention to function as a ski;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the present invention with the wings rotated in an outward position allowing the invention to function as a snowshoe;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line x-x of FIG. 2 with the body of the invention and the binding assembly omitted, which discloses the position of the wings when snowshoeing and when skiing;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the main body of the invention to be molded from a high impact plastic material;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the main body of the invention to be molded from a high impact plastic material;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 6 is a right side plan view of the main body of the invention to be molded from a high impact plastic material;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a sliding mechanism used for the translation of the binding foot plate assembly;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a wing of the invention;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 9 is a top plan view and front elevation view of a tube with slot;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 10 is a top plan view and front elevation view of a tube for a rear hinge;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 11 is a top plan view and front elevation view of the front support member;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 12 is a top plan view and front elevation view of the rear support member;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 13 is a bottom plan view of the present invention with the wings in a position to allow the device function as a ski;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 14 is a right side plan view of the present invention with the wings in a position to allow the device to function as a ski;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the present invention with the wings rotated in an outward position to allow the device to function as a snowshoe;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 16 is a right side plan view of the present invention with the wings rotated in an outward position to allow the device to function as a snowshoe;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 17 is a top perspective view of the wing and helical groove appendage;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view taken on line x-x of FIG. 2 with the body and the binding assembly omitted to show the possible angle of rotation of the wings;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 19 is a top plan view of the present invention to disclose a possible locking mechanism to prohibit translation of the binding foot plate assembly;  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 20 is a bottom plan view of the binding foot plate assembly  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0044]    The hybrid snowshoe-ski device embodying the present invention is generally indicated by  47  and  48 , which disclose the device functioning as a snowshoe and ski, respectively. Clearly, there are many different permutations in architecture which make it possible to maintain the spirit of the present invention, and this invention is not limited to  47  and  48  or the illustrations which follow.  
         [0045]    Thus, the hybrid snowshoe-ski device consists of a body  1  of a generally elongated shape with half-elliptical ends  23 ,  24  molded preferably from a tough rigid material, preferably a high impact plastic such as, but not limited to, thermosetting, polyurethane elastomer. Both ends  23 ,  24  curve upwards, the curve made by the front side  23  being more pronounced.  
         [0046]    As can be seen in FIGS. 4, 5 and  6 , the body  1  consists generally of a deck and side members  37 ,  13 ,  16 ,  38  which aid in structural rigidity and assist in other functions as will be described below. An opening  20  has a defined shape limited by the ability of the binding foot plate assembly  3  with boot attached to rotate through the plane of the deck, the wings  2  to fold under the device with collected snow and yet optimize the amount of plastic material used in the body  1 . In other words, the opening  20  also aids in allowing the wings  2  to form the ski configuration as accumulated snow is less likely to get trapped between the wings  2  and the body  1 .  
         [0047]    As illustrated in FIG. 5, the bottom bearing surface  27  of the front section  49  and the rear section  50  possess a low coefficient of friction surface to better enable the device to glide over the surface of the snow in the act of skiing. It may, for example, be a sole made of a material used to make skis, but is not required as the plastic material may already possess a surface with the required coefficient of friction. FIG. 8 reveals the bearing surface  52  of one of the wings  2  which is to be constructed from the same material as the bottom bearing surface  27  of sections  49  and  50 , thus possessing the same coefficient of friction (see also FIG. 13).  
         [0048]    In addition, surfaces  27  may contain metal ridges  25  to aid in turning on hard packed snow or ice, and helping to protect the bearing surface from wear. Likewise, metal edging  25  may be present on the wings  2 .  
         [0049]    Besides providing greater structural support, side members  37  are necessary to hold tubes  7 , possibly of aluminum, in place. Thus, side members  37  are virtually hollow cylindrical tubes with an inner diameter large enough to accommodate tubing  7 . The grooves  36  cut into tubes  7  create boundaries for the metal axle  18  to slide across. The large rod  29  and small rod  31  connected by the metal axle  18  (FIG. 7) slide within tubing  7 , which is contained within the side members  37 . The metal axle  18  slides also through additional grooves  17  made in side members  37 . The other end of tubes  7  are attached to the front support member  11 .  
         [0050]    As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 15, side members  13  come in contact with the wings  2  along surface  12  restricting further rotation and helping to better distribute forces induced on the wings  2  while snowshoeing. The side members  13  are convex in shape.  
         [0051]    Similar to side members  37 , side members  16  and  38  are virtually hollow cylinders with the purpose of accommodating smaller diameter tubing. Tubes  46  (FIG. 10) fit into side members  16  and  38 .  
         [0052]    Locking mechanisms are contained in the curved shaped protrusions  4  and  5 , though the locking mechanism is omitted in FIG. 4. It is anticipated, but not required, that the curved shaped protrusions  4 , 5  are molded separately and later cemented into their respective positions as shown, after the locking mechanisms (FIG. 19) are installed. Groove  26  is provided to allow the engagement and disengagement of the locking mechanism by means of a sliding lever  22  attached to a pin  42  (FIG. 19).  
         [0053]    The hybrid device according to the present invention is used as a snowshoe as follows.  
         [0054]    When the user desires to walk or hike through snow-covered terrain whether uphill or on a horizontal, flat surface, the user places the hybrid device flat, that is to say with the bearing surfaces  27 ,  51 ,  53  in contact with the snow as illustrated in FIG. 2 or  15 .  
         [0055]    The user then fastens his boots to the binding foot plate  3  on the hybrid device and walks or hikes as he would with traditional snowshoes.  
         [0056]    The binding foot plate  3  in FIG. 20 rotates about the metal axle  18  allowing crampon  6  to dig or grip into the snow or ice and enables a more natural walk. The crampon  6  may be fastened to the binding foot plate by means of rivets  41 . In addition, optional teeth  28  can be part of the design to help gain more traction on snow or ice. And surface  50  on wings  2  may contain ribbing or corrugations to further increase resistance to rearward movement.  
         [0057]    While walking or momentarily standing, the force generated by the user can be distributed through the metal axle  18  or through the front support member  11  when the heel of the binding foot plate is in contact with the front support member  11  (FIG. 11).  
         [0058]    The hybrid device is locked in snowshoe mode when pin  42  is inserted into the hole  30  on rod  29  as shown in FIG. 19 (see also FIG. 7). The pin  42  is forced into the hole  30  by means of a spring  44 . To disengage the front locking mechanism the lever  22  is translated from position a to position b as shown in  45  which is the path formed by following groove  26 . The pin rests on bushings  43  which are fixed between the body of the hybrid device and the curved shaped protrusion  4 .  
         [0059]    The user can transform the hybrid device to use as a ski as follows.  
         [0060]    Once the front locking mechanism is disengaged, the binding assembly is free to move towards the rear of the hybrid device. Rods  29  and  31  slide through tubes  7 , as also the metal axle  18  slides along grooves  36  and  17 . In addition, the attached binding plate  3  translates until the heel piece  8  is locked into place by the rear locking mechanism as shown in FIG. 1. This process of moving the foot binding plate  3  towards the rear of the hybrid device constrains the wings  2  to rotate by means of the helical groove  10  located on the helical groove appendage  9  (FIG. 17).  
         [0061]    Typically, the angle α of rotation, as seen in FIG. 18, is between 120° and 180°, and preferably in the region of 150°. This angle α is defined by the angle covered by the helical groove  10 .  
         [0062]    The position of the wings from snowshoe to ski is illustrated from the cross-sections in FIG. 3, the top and bottom illustrations revealing snowshoe and ski configurations respectively.  
         [0063]    To assist in the rotation of the wings  2  are the rear hinges that consist of side members  16  and  38 . The rear collar appendages  15  are aligned with the side members  16  and  38  and the tubes  46  are inserted through the cylindrical holes contained in each of the members and collar appendages. The assembled hinge can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2,  13 ,  14  and  15 .  
         [0064]    The rear locking mechanism contained in  5  (not shown) performs in a similar manner to the front locking mechanism as outlined above with a notable exception being the pin  19  is of a larger diameter than pin  42 .  
         [0065]    The foot binding plate when in ski mode rests on the rear support member  14  (FIG. 12) to better distribute the user&#39;s weight. In addition, tabs  39  and  40 , which come in contact with the wings when in ski mode, help to better distribute the forces exerted on the bearing surfaces  52  of the wings  2 .  
         [0066]    Once the transformation of the configuration of the hybrid device is complete, the user progresses over the gliding slope. As seen in FIG. 13, the bearing surfaces  27  and  52  form a smooth skiing surface complete with gradually arcing sides and metal edges  25 .  
         [0067]    The above description shows that the hybrid snowshoe-ski device makes it possible to traverse snow-covered areas by hiking up inclines in a similar fashion as one may do with snowshoes and yet have the ability to quickly transform the device to slide down the incline much as one would do with skis, thus enabling the user to experience snowshoeing and skiing in a manner previously unknown.