Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
SNOWSHOE TRACTION DEVICE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The following includes information that may be useful in
understanding the present
disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein
is prior art nor
material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any
publication or document
that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of traction
footwear of existing art
and more specifically relates to a traction device attachment for a snowshoe.
RELATED ART
[0003] A snowshoe is an article of footwear used for aiding a wearer in
walking over snow.
Snowshoes work by distributing the weight of the person over a larger area so
that the person's
foot does not sink completely into the snow. Snowshoes are typically made of a
lightweight
material and are designed to provide flotation. As such, many snowshoes
include a frame and
material weaved about the frame in a 'latticework' type pattern.
[0004] Snowshoes are often used for recreation in an activity called
"snowshoeing".
Snowshoeing is a relatively safe and inexpensive recreational activity.
However, as the simple
construction of snowshoes do not typically provide grip, snowshoeing in icy,
steep terrain can be
more difficult and even dangerous. Thus, a suitable solution is desired.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known
traction footwear art, the
present disclosure provides a novel snowshoe traction device. The general
purpose of the present
disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to
provide a traction device
that may be easily attached and detached from a snowshoe to provide traction
thereto.
[0006] A device for adding traction to a snowshoe is disclosed herein. The
device includes a
first plate, a second plate, at least one spike and at least one attachment
means. The first plate may
include a first body having a first top surface opposite a first bottom
surface. The first plate may
be configured for installation over a section of the snowshoe whereby the
first bottom surface of
the first plate contacts a foot-contacting surface of the snowshoe. Similarly,
the second plate may
include a second body having a second top surface opposite a second bottom
surface. The second
plate may be configured for installation under the section of the snowshoe
whereby the second top
surface contacts a snow-contacting surface of the snowshoe. The first plate
and the second plate
may be substantially aligned when installed on the section of the snowshoe.
[0007] The least one spike may be attached about the second bottom surface
of the second
plate and may be configured to pierce (and grip) a ground surface. The at
least one attachment
means may be configured to attach the second plate and the first plate
together. Attachment of the
first plate and the second plate when both installed over the section may
secure the device to the
snowshoe for use. Other suitable attachment means may be used.
[0008] According to another embodiment, a method of using a device for
adding traction to a
snowshoe is also disclosed herein. The method includes providing the device as
above; installing
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the second plate under the section of the snowshoe with the second top surface
contacting the
snow-contacting surface of the snowshoe; installing the first plate over the
section of the snowshoe
with the first bottom surface of the first plate contacting the foot-
contacting surface; aligning the
first plate over the second plate; attaching the second plate and the first
plate together, thereby
securing the device to the snowshoe for use; and using the snowshoe with the
device attached on
ground surfaces requiring added traction.
[0009]
For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and
novel
features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood
that not necessarily all
such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular
embodiment of the
invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that
achieves or
optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without
necessarily achieving
other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the
invention which are
believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in
the concluding portion
of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present invention will
become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed
description.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The figures which accompany the written portion of this
specification illustrate
embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a snowshoe traction
device,
constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present
disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device during an 'in-use'
condition, according to an
embodiment of the disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a top view of the device and illustrating a first plate
thereof, according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a top view of the device and illustrating a second plate
thereof, according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the device and illustrating the first
plate, the second plate
(including a set of teeth), and an attachment means for attaching the first
plate and the second plate
together and to a snowshoe, according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a top view of the device and illustrating the device
attached to the snowshoe,
according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a rear cutaway view of the device and illustrating the
device attached to the
snowshoe, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
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[0017] FIG. 7 is a side view of the device and illustrating the first plate
and the second plate,
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of the device and illustrating the
second plate
including a vertical section and a set of teeth, according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a front view of the device of FIG. 8 illustrating the
vertical section and the
set of teeth, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 10A is a side perspective view of the device attached to the
snowshoe and
illustrating the set of teeth, according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 10B is a side view of the device attached to the snowshoe and
illustrating the set
of teeth, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using a device
for adding traction to
a snowshoe, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0023] The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be
described in
conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like
elements.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to
traction footwear
and more particularly to a snowshoe traction device as used to provide an
easily attachable and
detachable traction device for a snowshoe. Generally disclosed is a device to
add traction on
snow/ice as well as biting (gripping) into a surface to aid in walking on
inclined surfaces when
wearing snowshoes. The device may be easily installed to the snowshoe and may
require basic
tools for install. The device may be made of non-corroding materials such as
aluminum, stainless
steel, etc. and may be lightweight but durable. The device may include a top
plate, a bottom plate
and bolts for bolting through apertures in the plates and open spaces in the
snowshoe weave. This
may effectively add snow and ice capabilities of a crampon to snowshoes that
originally did not
have a traction/crampon feature.
[0025] Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of
reference, there is
shown in FIGS. 1-10B, various views of a device 100.
[0026] FIG. 1 shows a device 100 during an 'in-use' condition, according to
an embodiment
of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, the device 100 may be used for
adding traction to
a snowshoe 5. Particularly, the device 100 may be used to add traction such
that a wearer of the
snowshoe 5 is able to walk up and down an inclined surface (particularly a
snowy/icy surface).
The snowshoe 5 being defined by a foot-contacting surface 10 opposite a snow-
contacting surface
15. As shown particularly in FIGS. 2-3, the device 100 may include a first
plate 110 and a second
plate 120. The first plate 110 may be configured for installation over a
section 20 of the snowshoe
whereby the first bottom surface 113 of the first plate 110 contacts the foot-
contacting surface
10. Similarly, the second plate 120 may be configured for installation under
the section 20 of the
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snowshoe 5 whereby the second top surface 121 contacts the snow-contacting
surface 15. The first
plate 110 and the second plate 120 may be substantially aligned when installed
over the section 20
on the snowshoe 5. As shown in FIGS. 1, 5, 10A and 10B specifically, the
section 20 may be a
mid-front of the snowshoe 5 and substantially aligned with toes of a wearer.
However, it should
be appreciated that the device 100 is contemplated for use with any section of
the snowshoe 5
depending on user preference and/or traction need.
[0027] The first plate 110 may include a first body 112 having a first top
surface 111 opposite
a first bottom surface 113 and the second plate 120 may include a second body
122 having a second
top surface 121 opposite a second bottom surface 123. Preferably, the first
body 112 may include
a (3-D) rectangular shape and the second body 122 may include the (3-D)
rectangular shape.
Further, the first plate 110 may include a first left side 114 opposite a
first right side 115 and a first
length 116 therebetween, and the second plate 120 may include a second left
side 124 opposite a
second right side 125 and a second length 126 therebetween.
[0028] As shown, the first body 112 and the second body 122 may be equal in
size (or at least
substantially equal in size) to aid in alignment of the first plate 110 and
the second plate 120 when
attached to the snowshoe 5. For example, the first length 116 and the second
length 126 may be
between 7-9 inches in some embodiments. The lengths of the plates (110, 120)
may depend on a
size of the snowshoe 5, or may be standard for all sizes of snowshoes. For
example, the lengths
(116, 126) may be 8 1/4 inches. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the first plate
110 may include a first
width 118 and the second plate 120 may include a second width 128. The widths
(118, 128) may,
in some embodiments, be 1 3/8 inches.
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[0029] As shown in FIG. 4, at least one attachment means 130 may be
provided with the
device 100 and configured to attach the second plate 120 and the first plate
110 together. The
attachment of the first plate 110 and the second plate 120 when both installed
over the section 20
may attach the device 100 to the snowshoe 5 for use. As shown in FIG. 1 and
FIG. 4, the first
plate 110 and the second plate 120 may be installed on the snowshoe 5 such
that the lengths (116,
126) span a width of the snowshoe 5. However, it should be appreciated that
the device 100 is not
limited to this orientation and, again, the device 100 may be installed in
different ways depending
on user preference and traction need.
[0030] In this embodiment, the first plate 110 may include at least one
first aperture 140 and
the second plate 120 may include at least one second aperture 150. As shown in
FIG. 4 and FIG.
6, when the first plate 110 and the second plate 120 are substantially
aligned, the at least one first
aperture 140 and the at least one second aperture 150 may also be
substantially aligned. Preferably,
the at least one first aperture 140 may comprise two first apertures 240. One
of the two first
apertures 242 may be located about the first left side 114 of the first plate
110 and another one of
the two first apertures 244 may be located about the first right side 115 of
the first plate 110.
Similarly, the at least one second aperture 150 may comprise two second
apertures 250. One of
the two second apertures 252 may be located about the second left side 124 of
the second plate
120 and another one of the two second apertures 254 may be located about the
second right side
125 of the second plate 120.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 4 when the first plate 110 and the second plate 120
are substantially
aligned, the one of the two first apertures 242 and the one of the two second
apertures 252 as well
as the another one of the two first apertures 244 and the another one of the
two second apertures
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254 may also be substantially aligned. For example, the one of the two first
apertures 242 and the
one of the two second apertures 252 may be located 17/32 inches from the first
left side 114 and
the second left side 124 (as measured from a center of the apertures),
respectively, and the another
one of the two first apertures 244 and the another one of the two second
apertures 254 may also be
located 17/32 inches from the first right side 115 and the second right side
125 (as measured from
the center of the apertures), respectively. Further, all of the apertures may
be located 9/16 inches
from top and bottom sides of the plates (110, 120) again, as measured from a
center of the
apertures. As such, when the first plate 110 and the second plate 120 are
aligned (with the sides
aligned), the apertures (242, 244, 252, 254) are all aligned. The two first
apertures 240 and the two
second apertures 250 may be at least substantially equal in size. For example,
in some
embodiments, the apertures (242, 244, 252, 254) may include a diameter of 5/16
inches.
[0032] Further, as illustrated in these figures, the snowshoe 5 may include
a plurality of
openings 25. The plurality of openings 25 may be configured to provide
flotation and may also
prevent accumulation of snow thereon. For example, the plurality of openings
25 may be integral
to a weave of the snowshoe 5. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, when the
first plate 110
and the second plate 120 are substantially aligned, the one of the two first
apertures 242, the one
of the two second apertures 252, and one of the plurality of openings 30 (on
the snowshoe 5), as
well as the another one of the two first apertures 244, the another one of the
two second apertures
254 and another one of the plurality of openings 35 (on the snowshoe 5) may
also be substantially
aligned.
[0033] In this embodiment, the at least one attachment means 130 may
include a shaft 132
configured for insertion into the at least one first aperture 140, the at
least one second aperture 150
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and at least one of the plurality of openings, thereby securely fastening the
device 100 to the
snowshoe 5. Preferably, the at least one attachment means 130 may comprise a
set of two
attachment means 230 including a first shaft 232 and a second shaft 234. The
first shaft 232 may
be configured for insertion into the one of the two first apertures 242, the
one of the two second
apertures 252 and the one of the plurality of openings 30, and the second
shaft 234 may be
configured for insertion into the another one of the two first apertures 244,
the another one of the
two second apertures 254 and the another one of the plurality of openings 35.
This may ensure
both sides (114, 115, 124, 125) of the device 100 are secured to the snowshoe
5, effectively
preventing the device 100 from lifting or gathering snow thereunder.
[0034]
Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the first shaft 232 may be a first bolt
233
configured for insertion into the one of the two first apertures 242, the one
of the two second
apertures 252 and the one of the plurality of openings 30, and the second
shaft 234 may be a second
bolt 235 configured for insertion into the another one of the two first
apertures 244, the another
one of the two second apertures 254 and the another one of the plurality of
openings 35. In this
embodiment, a first nut 236 and a second nut 237 may be provided with the
device 100 to secure
the bolts (233, 235) within the apertures (242, 244, 252, 254). Further, the
apertures (242, 244,
252, 254) may include a female thread, and the bolts (233, 235) may include a
male thread
configured to mate with the apertures (242, 244, 252, 254). However, it should
be appreciated that
the shafts (232, 234) are not limited to being bolts. It should also be
appreciated that the at least
one attachment means 130 and/or the means by which the plates (110, 120)
attach together and to
the snowshoe 5 are not limited to the options discussed above (shaft, bolts,
nuts, apertures). For
example, the at least one attachment means 130 may include magnet(s),
clamp(s), clip(s),
adhesives(s), etc.
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[0035] As above, the device 100 may be used for adding traction to a
snowshoe 5. As such, at
least one spike 160 may be attached about the second bottom surface 123 of the
second plate 120
and the at least one spike 160 may be configured to pierce a ground surface.
The at least one spike
160 may be arranged at least substantially perpendicular to the second plate
120 such that the at
least one spike 160 pierces the ground surface as a wearer is walking.
[0036] Preferably, the at least one spike 160 may include a set of spikes
162. As shown
specifically in FIGS. 8-9, the set of spikes 162 may be integral to a
downwardly extending vertical
section 127 of the second plate 120, which again, may be at least
substantially perpendicular to the
second plate 120. Preferably, the vertical section 127 may be at a 90-degree
angle relative to the
second plate 120 (as shown in FIG. 7). The vertical section 127 of the second
plate 120 may
include a plate-height 227 of between 1-2 inches, and each spike from the set
of spikes 162 may
include a spike-height 262 of between 1/2 - 1 inch. Particularly, the plate-
height 227 may be 1 1/2
inches and the spike-height 262 may be 3/4 inch. The set of spikes 162 may
span the second length
126 of the second plate 120 and may be spaced equally apart from each other to
provide optimal
traction across the lengths (116, 126) of the device 100. In some embodiments,
as shown in FIG.
8, each spike may include a triangular shape (with a point of the triangle
defining the spike). The
triangular shape may be a substantially equilateral triangle.
[0037] Referring now to FIG. 11 showing a flow diagram illustrating a
method 200 of using
a device 100 for adding traction to a snowshoe, according to an embodiment of
the present
disclosure. In particular, the method 200 may include one or more components
or features of the
device 100 as described above. As illustrated, the method of use 200 may
include the steps of: step
one 201, providing the device as above; step two 202, installing the second
plate under the section
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-05-13
of the snowshoe with the second top surface contacting the snow-contacting
surface of the
snowshoe; step three 203, installing the first plate over the section of the
snowshoe with the first
bottom surface of the first plate contacting the foot-contacting surface; step
four 204, aligning the
first plate over the second plate; step five 205, attaching the second plate
and the first plate
together, thereby securing the device to the snowshoe for use; step six 206;
and using the snowshoe
with the device attached on ground surfaces requiring added traction.
[0038] Further steps may include step seven 207, providing the device as
above (whereby the
first plate includes the two first apertures, the second plate includes the
two second apertures and
the at least one attachment means includes the set of two attachment means
comprising the first
shaft and the second shaft); step eight 208, installing the second plate under
the section of the
snowshoe with the second top surface contacting the snow-contacting surface of
the snowshoe;
step nine 209, installing the first plate over the section of the snowshoe
with the first bottom surface
of the first plate contacting the foot-contacting surface; step ten 210,
aligning the first plate over
the second plate; step eleven 211, inserting the first shaft into the one of
the two first apertures, the
one of the two second apertures and the one of the plurality of openings; step
twelve 212; inserting
the second shaft into the another one of the two first apertures, the another
one of the two second
apertures, and the another one of the plurality of openings, thereby securing
the device to the
snowshoe for use; and step thirteen 213, using the snowshoe with the device
attached on ground
surfaces requiring added traction.
[0039] It should be noted that steps seven 207, eight 208, nine 209, ten
210, eleven 211, twelve
212, thirteen 213, are optional steps and may not be implemented in all cases.
Optional steps of
method of use 200 are illustrated using dotted lines in FIG. 11 so as to
distinguish them from the
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other steps of method of use 200. It should also be noted that the steps
described in the method of
use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference.
The use of "step of'
should not be interpreted as "step for", in the claims herein and is not
intended to invoke the
provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f). It should also be noted that, under
appropriate circumstances,
considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing
preferences, cost,
structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc.,
other methods for using
a device for adding traction to a snowshoe, are taught herein.
[0040]
It should be appreciated that the measurements given are given as examples
only and
are not meant to be limiting. Further, the embodiments of the invention
described herein are
exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be
readily envisioned
to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be
embraced within the
spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing
abstract is to enable the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the
scientist, engineers
and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms
or phraseology, to
determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the
technical disclosure of
the application.
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