Patent Description:
Typical sports equipment enabling a user to slide on snow is skis and snowboards. In the case of skis, a user wears skis on both feet, and changes directions using the skis and ski poles. A snowboard is a single deck on which a user slides on snow with both feet placed on the deck.

Recently, equipment such as ski boards on which a person places both feet without ski poles as on a snowboard has been developed and used. Among such equipment, relatively short-length equipment such as ski-boards or snowboards has gained much popularity in recent years, since more various maneuvers can be performed.

However, when snow sliding devices are used for a long time or during an action of sliding on an object, the snow sliding devices may be damaged, which is problematic. More specifically, a deck rubbing against an object is abraded by repeated riding. In particular, both sides (edges) of the deck, rubbing against an object, may be concentrically abraded or damaged.

In this case, the entirety of the deck must be replaced, thereby increasing maintenance cost. In addition, the problem of waste is caused, since an undamaged deck center must also be replaced.

<CIT> discloses a snow sliding device comprising a first end body, a second end body and a main body.

<CIT> discloses a structure in which a plurality of wings rotate about a hinge.

<CIT> discloses a structure provided with a plurality of blades on a bottom surface of a blade assembly.

<CIT> discloses that a ski device relates to a structure in which the ski device is constructed with a boot length flat elongate base having a toe end, a heel end, and a flat bottom surface for sliding.

<CIT> discloses a structure for attaching a short plate to a boot.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a snow sliding device, in which a portion of a deck including an edge can be easily detached from the deck to enable easy replacement.

According to embodiments of the present invention, a snow sliding device may include: a first end body to which one end of a boot is fastened; a second end body provided opposite the first end body, such that the other end of the boot is fastened to the second end body; and a main body provided between the first end body and the second end body to connect the first end body and the second end body, wherein an edge surface of the main body directed toward the ground is changeable to be selectively used.

The main body may be configured to be rotatable with respect to the first end body and the second end body, such that the edge surface thereof directed toward the ground is selectively changeable.

The main body may be separably connected to the first end body and the second end body, and when a direction in which the main body is connected to the first end body and the second end body is varied, the edge surface of the main body directed toward the ground is changed.

The main body may have a lower edge block connected thereto, the lower edge block protruding toward the ground, thereby providing an edge surface.

The width of the main body may be narrower than the width of either the first end body or the second end body, such that both side surfaces of the main body are recessed more inwardly than the first end body and the second end body, thereby providing recessed surfaces, to which edge blocks are selectively coupled.

Each of the first end body and the second end body may include a connecting portion connected to the main body and an outer portion perpendicularly extending from the connecting portion, thereby providing either a nose or a tail.

The main body may include a single body or a plurality of separable unit bodies.

The first end body and the second end body may provide a nose and a tail, and may include coupling recesses to which the one and other ends of the boot are fitted, respectively.

The first end body and the second end body may have symmetrical shapes.

At least one of the first end body and the second end body may have a curved surface, a central portion of which protrudes parallel to a longitudinal direction of the snow sliding device.

A guide recess may be provided in an outer surface of at least one of the first end body and the second end body.

The snow sliding device according to the present invention has the following effects.

In the snow sliding device according to the present invention, a portion of a deck including an edge can be detached from the deck and replaced with another portion, or another surface of a body can be used as an edge. When the edge is abraded, the edge portion may be replaced with another one or another surface may be used, thereby increasing the longevity of the snow sliding device. In addition, since a user can select the length, thickness, or the like of an effective edge through replacement of the edge, the operability of the snow sliding device can be improved.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Throughout this document, reference should be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals and symbols will be used to designate the same or like components. In the following description of the present disclosure, detailed descriptions of known functions and components incorporated herein will be omitted in the case that the subject matter of the present disclosure may be rendered unclear thereby.

It will also be understood that, while terms such as "first", "second", "A", "B", "(a)", and "(b)" may be used herein to describe various elements, such terms are merely used to distinguish one element from other elements. The substance, sequence, order, or number of such elements is not limited by these terms. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected to" or "coupled to" another element, not only can it be "directly connected or coupled to" the other element, but it can also be "indirectly connected or coupled to" the other element via an "intervening" element.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the snow sliding device according to the present invention, as described above, will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> illustrates an embodiment of the snow sliding device according to the present invention attached to a boot <NUM>. As illustrated in this drawing, the snow sliding device according to the present invention the boot <NUM> can be directly attached to without a separate binding means. The snow sliding device according to the present invention may be used as a type of short ski, providing a structure allowing a user to easily and directly attach the boot <NUM> thereto to ride thereon.

In addition, the snow sliding device according to the present invention is intended to allow a user using the same to easily slide on snow and perform a variety of maneuvers, such as turning and braking. <FIG> illustrates the snow sliding device attached to the boot <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, a front portion <NUM> and a rear portion <NUM> of the boot <NUM> are fitted to the snow sliding device, so that the snow sliding device is integrally attached to the boot <NUM>. In this position, the user can use the snow sliding device on snow as a transport means.

Describing the snow sliding device, the snow sliding device according to the present invention generally includes a first end body <NUM>, a second end body <NUM>, and a main body <NUM>. The main body <NUM> is provided between the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM>. Theses bodies <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are connected together, thereby providing a single snow sliding device.

Both ends of the boot <NUM> worn by the user are fastened to the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM>, respectively. In both ends of the boot <NUM>, one end is fastened to the first end body <NUM>, while the other end is fastened to the second end body <NUM>. When both ends of the boot <NUM> are fastened to the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM>, the user can move on snow using the snow sliding device.

The first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM> include connecting portions <NUM> and <NUM> connected to the main body <NUM> and outer portions <NUM> and <NUM> perpendicularly extending from the connecting portion <NUM> and <NUM> to form a nose and a tail, respectively. That is, the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM> have the nose and the tail, respectively. Each of the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM> has a coupling recess <NUM> into which a corresponding end of both ends of the boot <NUM> is fitted. Here, the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM> may be configured to have symmetrical shapes. For reference, the coupling recess <NUM> of the first end body <NUM> is not shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

In at least one of the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM>, an outer surface thereof, i.e. the outer portion <NUM> or <NUM>, is provided in the shape of a curved surface. According to the present embodiment, both the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM> have curved outer surfaces. This configuration allows the user, riding on the snow sliding device, to erect the snow sliding device so that the curved outer surface of the first end body <NUM> or the second end body <NUM> is brought into contact with the ground. This consequently improves sliding performance and helps the user to glide while performing a variety of maneuvers. For example, a portion of the snow sliding device adjacent to the second end body <NUM> may be separated from a snow surface, while the outer portion <NUM> of the first end body <NUM> is in contact with the snow surface.

According to the present embodiment, the outer portion <NUM> of the first end body <NUM> is substantially hemispherical. That is, the central portion of the outer portion <NUM> of the first end body <NUM> protrudes in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the snow sliding device. Thus, the outer portion <NUM> of the first end body <NUM> has a substantially hemispherical shape. Here, the shape of the outer portion <NUM> is not necessarily hemispherical, and the outer portion <NUM> may be configured with a protruding central portion. In addition, the central portion of the outer portion <NUM> of the first end body <NUM> does not necessarily protrude most, but the outer portion <NUM> of the first end body <NUM> may protrude most in a location aside from the central portion.

A guide recess <NUM> or <NUM> is provided in the outer surface of at least one of the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM>. The guide recesses <NUM> and <NUM> may facilitate sliding of the first end body <NUM> or the second end body <NUM>, when the curved outer surface thereof is in contact with the ground, or allow other components to be connected thereto. The connected components may be a front edge block (not shown) or a variety of Internet of things (IoT) devices, including a light-emitting diode (LED) lamp.

The guide recesses <NUM> and <NUM> extend in the longitudinal direction of the snow sliding device. More specifically, as illustrated in <FIG>, the guide recesses <NUM> and <NUM> extend in a bot-to-bottom direction of the first end body <NUM>. When the first end body <NUM> is directed toward the snow surface (bottom), the guide recesses <NUM> and <NUM> extend in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of snow sliding device. This can further improve the sliding performance of the snow sliding device.

The main body <NUM> is provided between the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM>. The main body <NUM> may be regarded as connecting the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM>. The main body <NUM> has an edge surface <NUM> directed toward the snow surface (ground). In addition, one of several edge surfaces <NUM> of the main body <NUM> can be selectively used by changing the edge surface of the main body <NUM> with another edge surface.

The plurality of edge surfaces <NUM> of the main body <NUM> can be used through rotation of the main body <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, when the separated main body <NUM> is rotated <NUM>°, the opposite surface is directed toward the ground, and the other edge surface <NUM> can be used. More specifically, the main body <NUM> is provided to be rotatable with respect to the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM> about the axis of rotation extending along a line connecting the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM>. Reference numeral <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> indicates a top surface of the main body <NUM>.

In this regard, according to the present embodiment, the main body <NUM> is provided rotatable with respect to the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM>. Rotation of the main body <NUM> allows both the top surface and the bottom surface to be used, so that two edge surfaces can be selectively used. Accordingly, when one edge surface is worn, the other edge surface can be used, thereby increasing the longevity of the snow sliding device. In addition, the length, thickness, and the like of an effective edge can be selected by the user through replacement of the edge, thereby improving the operability of the snow sliding device.

The main body <NUM> is connected to the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM> in such a manner that the main body <NUM> can be separated from the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM>. When the direction in which the main body <NUM> is connected to the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM> is varied, the edge surface directed toward the ground may be changed. Specifically, since the main body <NUM> can be completely separated from and then reconnected to the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM>, the main body <NUM> may be rotated or replaced by another main body before being reconnected to the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM>. When the length of another main body is different from the length of the main body <NUM>, the entire length of the snow sliding device is varied.

The main body <NUM> may be provided as a single body or may be comprised of a plurality of separable unit bodies. When the main body <NUM> is comprised of the plurality of separable unit bodies, the overall length of the snow sliding device may be varied by varying the number of the unit bodies.

A main guide <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> is provided in the bottom of the main body <NUM>. The main guide <NUM> is recessed in the bottom, i.e. a bottom surface, of the main body <NUM>. The main guide <NUM> extends in the longitudinal direction of the main body <NUM>, thereby improving the sliding performance of the snow sliding device. In this regard, the main guide <NUM> may be provided in a location aligned with connecting recesses <NUM> and <NUM> provided in the bottoms of the above-described guide recesses <NUM> and <NUM>, such that the main guide <NUM> is continuous with the connecting recesses <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> and <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>.

A separate lower plate (not shown) may be connected to the main body <NUM> of the snow sliding device. The lower plate protrudes toward the ground, thereby providing an edge surface, and is connected to the main guide <NUM> of the main body <NUM>. The lower plate may be connected to the main body <NUM> by a variety of methods. For example, the lower plate may be connected to the main body <NUM> using a fastener, such as a bolt, or may be fitted to the main body <NUM> by sliding. An edge means may be connected to the main body <NUM>, based on a press-fitting structure.

<FIG> illustrates a second embodiment of the snow sliding device according to the present invention. For reference, descriptions of some features will be omitted when they are the same as those of the above-described embodiment. As illustrated in this drawing, the width of the main body <NUM> of the snow sliding device may be narrower than the width of either a first end body <NUM> or a second end body <NUM>. Then, both side surfaces of the main body <NUM> are recessed more inwardly than the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM>, thereby forming recessed surfaces, to which separate edge blocks may be coupled. According to the present embodiment, the edge blocks are side edge blocks <NUM>. The side edge blocks <NUM> are provided in outermost locations of the main body <NUM>, thereby forming edge surfaces supposed to come into contact with the ground.

The side edge blocks <NUM> extend in the longitudinal direction of the main body <NUM>, and have a low thickness. The top-bottom height of the side edge blocks <NUM> may be the same or different from the top-bottom height of the main body <NUM>. The top-bottom height of the side edge blocks <NUM> may be selected differently, depending on the sliding performance of the snow sliding device. The side edge blocks <NUM> may be connected to the main body <NUM> using a fastener, such as a bolt, or a variety of other coupling structures, such as a press-fitting structure and a coupling structure having coupling protrusions.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view illustrating a third embodiment of the snow sliding device according to the present invention. As illustrated in this drawing, a main body <NUM> relatively shorter in length than the main body <NUM> according to either the foregoing embodiment of <FIG> or the foregoing embodiment of <FIG>. The main body <NUM> is relatively shorter in length, but connecting portions <NUM> and <NUM> of first and second end bodies <NUM> and <NUM> are provided to be relatively longer. When the lengths of the connecting portions <NUM> and <NUM> of the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM> are the same as in the embodiment of <FIG>, the overall length of the snow sliding device may be reduced. The length of the snow sliding device may be changed more variously through replacement of the main body <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a fourth embodiment of the snow sliding device according to the present invention. According to the present embodiment, an edge block is connected to the bottom, i.e. a bottom surface, of the snow sliding device. In the present embodiment, the edge block is a lower edge block <NUM>. The lower edge block <NUM> may act to increase the overall height of the snow sliding device while providing an edge surface in the bottom of the main body <NUM>. The lower edge block <NUM> can be fastened to the bottom of the main body <NUM> using a fastener or a variety of other methods, such as a slide-fitting method. The lower edge block <NUM> may have a variety of widths and heights, and may provide sliding performance required by the user through replacement.

Hereinafter, a process of using the embodiment illustrated in <FIG> will be described. First, when a user, gliding on snow using a snow sliding device, intends to replace an edge surface of the snow sliding device, the boot <NUM> must first be detached from the snow sliding device. When a front portion <NUM> and a rear portion <NUM> of the boot <NUM> are separated from the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM>, respectively, the boot <NUM> is detached from the snow sliding device.

In this state, the user separates the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM> from the main body <NUM>. Since the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM> are connected to the main body <NUM> using a protrusion coupling structure, a coupling structure using a fastener (e.g. a bolt), a sliding coupling structure, or the like, the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM> can be separated from the main body <NUM>.

When the main body <NUM> is separated, the main body <NUM> may be rotated before being reconnected to the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM>. Alternatively, the main body <NUM> may be replaced with another main body, which is then connected to the first end body <NUM> and the second end body <NUM>. This consequently changes the edge surface rubbing against snow. When an edge is abraded, the main body may be replaced with another main body or another edge may be used, thereby increasing the longevity of the snow sliding device. In addition, the user may freely select the length, thickness, or the like of an effective edge through replacement of the edge.

Although all components of the embodiments according to the present invention have been described as being combined together or as operating in combination, the present invention is not limited thereto. The features of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may be partially or entirely coupled or combined with each other and may work in concert with each other within the scope of the purpose of the present invention. It will be understood that the terms "comprise", "include", "have", and any variations thereof used herein are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions unless explicitly described to the contrary. Descriptions of components in the singular form are intended to include descriptions of components in the plural form, unless explicitly described to the contrary. Unless otherwise specified, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person skilled in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

Claim 1:
A snow sliding device comprising:
a first end body (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to which one end of a boot (<NUM>) is fastened;
a second end body (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) provided opposite the first end body (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), such that the other end of the boot (<NUM>) is fastened to the second end body (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>); and
a main body (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) provided between the first end body (<NUM>) and the second end body (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to connect the first end body (<NUM>) and the second end body (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), wherein an edge surface (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) of the main body (<NUM>) directed toward the ground is changeable to be selectively used,
wherein the main body (<NUM>) is separably connected to the first end body (<NUM>) and the second end body (<NUM>), and when a direction in which the main body (<NUM>) is connected to the first end body (<NUM>) and the second end body (<NUM>) is varied, the edge surface (<NUM>) of the main body (<NUM>) directed toward the ground is changed, and
wherein at least one of the first end body (<NUM>) and the second end body (<NUM>) comprises a curved surface, a central portion of which protrudes parallel to a longitudinal direction of the snow sliding device.