Patent ID: 7559558

Claim:
A snow sled for use by a person on snow, comprising: a longitudinal central axis; first and second longitudinal sides spaced from said longitudinal central axis on opposite sides of said longitudinal central axis; a body that includes: a seating portion having an upper surface and a lower surface spaced from said upper surface, said upper surface for receiving a person in either a seated or lying position during use; a pair of spaced-apart snow-engaging members for supporting said body on snow during use, said pair of spaced apart snow-engaging members supporting said seating portion on corresponding respective ones of said first and second longitudinal sides so that said lower surface of said seating portion is spaced from said snow; and a leading end; and a steering portion comprising: a ski support pivotably secured to said body at said leading end proximate said longitudinal central axis so that the snow sled is steerable by pivoting said ski support side to side during use, said ski support including first end and second ends spaced from one another on opposite sides of said longitudinal central axis; and first and second skis attached to said ski support at corresponding respective ones of said first and second ends; wherein: said ski support includes a curved central tubular portion supporting said first and second skis; and said steering portion further comprises a linkage linking said ski support to said seating portion, said linkage being substantially flexible horizontally and substantially rigid vertically when said pair of spaced-apart snow engaging members and said first and second skis are resting on a horizontal surface; said linkage including a substantially flat bar having a longitudinal axis extending between said body and said curved central tubular portion, said substantially flat bar having a thickness selected to make said linkage substantially flexible horizontally and a width selected to make said linkage substantially rigid vertically.