Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02309893 2000-OS-24
This invention relates to a device to enable a person to move on the snow.
Such devices are well known. They include downhill skis , cross-country skis
snowboards and the
like. One of the oldest is the snowshoe, long used by trappers, prospectors
and other people who
frequently have to move over snow unable to bear their weight. Snow shoes are
compact, light,
easy to carry, relatively easy to master and have simple bindings to allow the
wearer to attach the
snow shoe to the foot. In general no special boot is required, unlike downhill
skiing in particular
but, increasingly, cross country skiing and snowboarding.
The most common type of snow shoe comprises a wooden, generally elliptical,
frame with a cross
pattern of cords running laterally and longitudinally. The binding is attached
to the cords.
The relatively wide ellipse of the traditional snow shoe can make it a little
difficult to use. The
movement of the feet must be coordinated to avoid the shoes hitting each other
and a wide stance
adopted.
To avoid this snow shoes have been made of a generally rectangular shape,
especially where snow
shoes are used recreationally, which is happening with increasing frequency.
Prior art snow shoes do not slide on the snow but must be lifted and placed
down in the same way
as walking. Their grip during climbing can be poor except on very gentle
slopes.
The present invention seeks to provide a device to enable a person to move on
the snow that has
the advantages of the snow shoe but avoids the major disadvantages of prior
art snow shoes.
Accordingly, in a fast aspect, the present invention is a device to enable a
person to move over the
snow that comprises a plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, a
binding attached to the
upper surface, a unidirectional slip material on the lower surface allowing
the person to slide the
device on the snow in a first direction but resisting any tendency to slide in
a second direction,
apposite from the first direction.
The plate is preferably continuous and preferably generally rectangular with a
width wider than
the foot of the wearer and a length longer than the foot of the wearer. An
aluminum extrusion has
proved successful.
Desirably the plate has at least one longitudinal flange on its upper surface
to increase rigidity. It
is preferred to provide two flanges, spaced from each other, as this
facilitates the mounting of the
binding.
Preferably the plate has a leading edge that inclines upwardly forwardly as
this eases the passage
through snow. This configuration is well known in skis.
The binding is simple and, in a preferred embodiment, comprises a foot-bed to
receive the foot of
a wearer, anchor means extending from the foot-bed to locate the foot and
means to pivotably
attach the foot-bed to the plate.
The anchor means preferably comprises ears extending from each corner of the
foot-bed to
receive straps that extend around the wearer's foot and can be tightened.
A polyurethane moulding of the foot-bed with integral ears has proved
successful.
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CA 02309893 2000-OS-24
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The binding is preferably attached to the upper surface of the plate by the
provision of openings at
each side of the leading edge of the binding, corresponding openings in the
plate and pivots
extending through corresponding openings. Preferably the openings in the plate
are in flanges
extending upwardly from the plate as discussed above.
It is desirable to provide longitudinal ribs on the lower surface of the foot-
bed as this allows snow
to pass between the binding and the plate, preventing snow build-up.
Again the leading edge of the foot-bed is preferably inclined upwardly.
The unidirectional slip material may be of polyamide. A material known as
synthetic seal skin has
proved ideal.
The invention is illustrated , merely by way of example, in the drawings, in
which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a plate useful in the present invention with a
unidirectional slip
material attached to its lower surface;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the plate of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a detail of the unidirectional slip material;
Figure 4 is an isometric view of a binding of the device of the present
invention; and
Figure S shows the base of the binding of Figure 4.
The drawings show a device to enable a person to move on the snow. The device
includes a
continuous plate 10 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 having an upper surface 12 and
a lower surface 4.
A binding 16 as shown in Figures 4 and 5 is attached to the upper surface 12
and a unidirectional
slip material 18 is mounted on lower surface 14 as shown in Figures I and 3.
The plate 10 has spaced flanges 20 with openings 22. Plate 10 is generally
rectangular with a
width slightly wider than boot width and a length longer than boot length.
Plate 10 is inclined
upwardly at 24, adjacent the leading edge 26 of the platel0.
Each binding I 6 comprises a foot-bed 28 to receive the sole of the wearer's
boot. Ears 30 extend
from each corner of the foot-bed. These ears 30 are integrally moulded with
the foot-bed 28 in
the illustrated embodiment. Straps 32 are attached to ears 30. Straps 32 are
provided with
fastening means, for example as buckles or any convenient equivalent, that
allows a wearer to
break the strap to allow entry of the boot and then to refasten and tighten to
secure the boot in the
binding.The fastening means are conventional and are omitted for clarity.
Straps 32 are riveted to ears 30.
There are openings 34 at each side of the leading edge of each binding 16.
These openings 34 can
be aligned with openings 22 in the plate 10 and a pivot pin inserted and
secured. A bolt with a nut
(not shown) suffices. Washers 36, preferably of a low friction plastic, are
inserted between the
plate 10 and the inner surface of the foot-bed 28 to facilitate movement of
the binding relative to
2.
CA 02309893 2000-OS-24
the plate 10.
The foot-bed 28 has a lower surface 38. Ribs 40 extend longitudinally of the
surface 38. These
ribs 40 allow the passage of snow between the plate 10 and the foot-bed 28. A
build-up of snow
at this point can restrict the movement of the device through the snow.
Each foot-bed 28 is turned up at 42 adjacent the leading edge of the foot-bed
28.
The unidirectional material 18 preferably comprises a polyamide base sheet 44
in which the outer
surface is fibrillated with relatively rigid fibres 46 extending non-
perpendicularly from the sheet.
The sheet 18 may be adhered to lower surface 14 by a pressure sensitive
adhesive. Material 18 is
mounted so that its fibres 46 point to the trailing edge of the plate 10.
Plate 10, including integral flanges 20, may be made from any hardened,
durable material , for
example aluminum or composite materials, which also have the advantage of
lightness.
25
35
45
The plate 10 may have a length in the range about 45 cms. to about 100 cms..
The upturned
portion at the leading edge occupies about 10 cms. of the overall length. The
foot-bed 28 and ears
30 may be integrally moulded from polyurethane or any durable plastic.
Material i 8 may be
a synthetic sealskin, commercially available.
A preferred embodiment of the invention has been described for clarity and
understanding. It
will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various
modifications can be made in light
of this disclosure that do not depart from the spirit or scope of the appended
claims.
3.
