Patent ID: 8302331

Claim:
A hinge member for mounting a harness to a frame of a snowshoe, comprising: a rigid pivot rod for extending between frame first and second side segments and comprising opposite first and second end portions, said pivot rod for pivotally mounting the harness relative to the frame; a first rigid rod attachment mount having a first frame socket for pivotal attachment to the frame first side segment so as to be pivotable about the frame first side segment, and a first rod socket wherein said rigid pivot rod first end portion is pivotally mounted, said first rod socket being spaced apart from said first frame socket so as to allow said pivot rod to pivot about an axis which is generally parallel to and spaced from said first frame socket; and a second rigid rod attachment mount having a second frame socket for pivotal attachment to the frame second side segment so as to be pivotable about the frame second side segment, and a second rod socket wherein said rigid pivot rod second end portion is pivotally mounted, said second rod socket being spaced apart from said second frame socket so as to allow said pivot rod to pivot about an axis which is generally parallel to and spaced from said second frame socket.