SNOWSHOE WITH SKI FUNCTION

RAQUETTE A NEIGE CONCUE POUR LA MARCHE ET LE SKI

English Abstract

A snowshoe designed for walking on the snow and for skiing includes: a deck, a
sliding segment
and a binding system. The sliding segment is located on the deck by the fasten
and the binding
system is connected to the sliding segment so that the binding system and the
deck connect and
function through the sliding system. The sliding segment serves as the main
adjustment piece to
pass from the ski function to the walking function. The sliding segment
includes a moving plastic
piece, a located segment and some springs. The located segment is connected to
the deck. The
moving segment joins the located segment and the springs, which are connected
to the moving
segment. The system converts from the walking configuration to the ski
configuration. An
adjustable binding length may be provided to permit the snowshoe to fit
different foot sizes.

Claims

What is claimed is:
1. A snowshoe with both ski and walking functions, comprising:
(a) a deck;
(b) a sliding segment connected to the deck; and
(c) a binding system connected to the sliding segment.
2. The snowshoe of claim 1, wherein the sliding segment comprises:
(a) a moving plastic segment covers and connects to a located segment,
wherein the
located segment connects to the deck; and
(b) a set of springs that attach to the moving segment.
3. The snowshoe of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the located segment
comprises a first recess.
4. The snowshoe of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the located segment
comprises a first recess
and a second recess.
5. The snowshoe of claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the binding system
comprises:
(a) a long plastic part; and
(b) a heel placement portion, wherein the user adjusts the length of the
snowshoe
according to their foot size by pulling up the steel tube which is joined to
the heel
placement portion, then by moving the heel placement portion to the front or
the
back according to their foot size.
6. The snowshoe of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the moving segment
also comprises a
recess that matches a recess of the located segment, wherein when both
recesses match up,
the springs push the steel tube down towards the sliding segment, and then
after, the sliding
segment is locked in place until the steel tube is moved and the sliding
segment unlocks.
6

7. The snowshoe of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a lift
system located on the
back of the deck.
8. The snowshoe of any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a steel
crampon located on
the front of the binding.
7

Description

CA 02782164 2012-07-05
SNOWSHOE WITH SKI FUNCTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] This patent application relates to a snowshoe, possessing both
skiing and walking
functions.
Background
[0002] Nowadays, snowshoes are used widely, especially in North America
and in the
northern parts of Europe, as sporting equipment for both families and friends
for walking and
playing outdoors. Meanwhile, skiing and snowboarding remain popular winter
sports. In this
regard, a way to combine both skiing and snowshoeing has not yet been
developed, in order to
satisfy the needs of winter sport enthusiasts. The present application relates
to an invention which
permits the combination of both skiing and walking in the snow for sport
enthusiasts who wish to
enjoy both activities with little hassle.
Summary
[0003] Users utilize the snowshoe's walking mode on a flat plane, and the
same snowshoe
transforms into a ski-like piece of equipment usable on a slope. Additionally,
the user may use the
snowshoe's lift function when tackling a hill. Pulling up the lifter creates
the sensation of walking
on flat ground, while working the user's legs muscles. The binding system is
also adjustable based
on the size of the user's feet. In summary, this patent application pertains
to a multi-functional
snowshoe.
[0004] One of the exemplary objectives of the present invention is to
offer a snowshoe
with an integrated ski functionality, a foot-size adjustment system and a
lifter function.
[0005] The snowshoe includes a deck, a sliding segment and a binding
system. The sliding
segment connects with the deck and the binding system connects with the
sliding segment. When
the sliding system moves, the binding system follows, causing the snowshoe to
convert from its
walking function to its skiing function.
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CA 02782164 2012-07-05
[0006] The present invention permits the user to swap easily from the ski
mode to the
walking mode, giving the user the unique advantage of being able to perform
both activities with
little hassle. When the recesses in the moving segment match up with a first
recess of the located
segment, springs push the metal tube, allowing the sliding segment to be moved
to the front of the
snowshoe, resulting in its walking mode. Furthermore, while climbing up a
hill, the user can pull
up a lifter and place the binding system on the lifter, thereby permitting the
user to save energy and
providing the sensation of walking on flat ground. When the user pulls up the
metal tube and lets
the sliding part move to the second recess on the located segment, the springs
will push down on
the sliding segment, which enables the ski function. In this mode, the front
crampons flip into the
front gap, which allows the user to ski.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0007] Fig. 1 is a side view of an exemplary snowshoe in accordance with
the teachings of
the present invention;
[0008] Fig. 2 is a front view of an exemplary snowshoe in accordance with
the teachings of
the present invention;
[0009] Fig. 3 is a top view of an exemplary sliding element of the
snowshoe in accordance
with the teachings of the present invention;
[0010] Fig. 4 is a view of an exemplary moving segment of the snowshoe in
accordance
with the teachings of the present invention;
[0011] Fig. 5 is a back view of an exemplary located segment of the
snowshoe in
accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
[0012] Fig. 6 is a side view of the exemplary located segment of the
snowshoe in
accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
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Detailed Description
[0013] The present invention is to be understood with reference to the
appended drawings,
which are concurrently referred to hereinafter.
[0014] As shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 6, the exemplary snowshoe with a ski
function includes a
deck 1, a sliding segment 2, a binding element 3, a plastic filling segment 4,
a lifter 5, and a steel
crampon 6. The sliding segment 2 connects to the deck 1, which is joined to a
moving segment 21,
a located segment 22 and springs 23 with a tube. The located segment 22 sets
up on the deck 1,
where there are a first and second recess 24. The springs 23 are attached to
the moving segment 21,
and the moving segment 21 matches and covers the located segment 22, creating
a connection with
deck 1. There is also a recess 25 on the moving segment 21. In the shown
example, the springs 23
maintain the tube in recess 25. The binding element 3 comprises a main binding
31, a long segment
32 which adjusts the size by displacing a moving segment 33. The binding
element 3 also connects
with the moving segment 21 and is attached to a teeth rail 34. Adjusting the
heel placement portion
is performed by moving the sliding segment 33 along the teeth rail 34 which
permits variability in
foot size. A plastic filling part 4 is connected to the deck 1. The deck 1 is
provided with the steel
crampon 6, which grips the ice and snow in walking mode. When the snowshoe is
converted to the
ski mode, the steel crampon 6 flips up into the front opening and the lifter 5
connects with the back
of the deck 1. The steel crampon 6 connects with the front of binding 31.
[0015] As shown on Fig. 5, there are four holes on the located segment
22, and the deck 1
fastens to the located segment 22 via these four holes (e.g., with screws).
[0016] The present invention switches from the ski mode to the walking
mode by using
the sliding segment 2. When the recess 25, present on the moving segment 21,
matches the first
recess 24 on the located segment 22, springs 23 push the tube to the position
of those 2 recesses,
locking onto the sliding segment 2. At this point, the sliding segment 2 and
binding element 3 are
at the front of the snowshoe and are locked in place, completing the
transformation to the walking
mode. When the user pulls up the tube, moving the sliding segment 2 to the
back of the snowshoe,
then the recess 25, present on moving segment 21, matches the second recess 24
on the located
segment 22. At this point, the springs 23 push down the tube, moving the
sliding segment 2 and
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binding element 3 to the back of the snowshoe, and the plastic segment 4 fills
in the gap at the
front, enabling the snowshoe's ski mode.
[0017]
Any simple change, resulting in an improvement of the snowshoes, belongs to
the
owner of the present invention.

Representative Drawing