Description

DEVICE FOR A STEERED MOVEMENT OVER THE SURFACE OF A LOOSE AND HARD MEDIUM SUCH AS SNOW, SAND OR

ANOTHER SIMILAR MEDIUM

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates generally to the field of transport that moves over the snow cover, and, more particularly, to devices for a steered movement over the surface of a loose and hard medium such as snow, sand or another similar medium. Background Art

[2] Currently, sports involving movement over a snow cover, for example, skiing, snow- boarding, sledging, among others, are very popular. Mountain skis enjoy a special popularity because mountain skiing is the most interesting and widely spread pastime. Such a popularity of mountain skiing ensures yearly sales of a great number of pairs of mountain skis worldwide. Increase in sales is prevented, however, by a complexity of the technique of mountain skiing, training difficulty, especially for unsporting people.

[3] The known principle of handling mountain skis is to create an arc of the contact between the edge of the sliding surface of a ski (so-called "edging") and the snow surface when the ski deviates from its horizontal position. In order to implement this principle, the edges of the sliding surface of the ski are made concave (i.e., the ski is narrower in the middle and wider at the ends - has the waist), and the ski itself is made bent upwards as an automobile spring. If the ski is placed at an angle to the snow surface and a load is applied thereto, it will bend downwards by gravity, and the edge which cuts into snow will create an arc. The turn radius is equal to the arc radius. Therefore, for skiing with short radius turns (slalom, carving, mogul), short-radius skis (2 to 4 meters) or, in other words, with a "deep waist" are used while, for skiing with long radius turns (giant slalom, downhill skiing), long-radius skis (7 to 10 meters) are used. For amateur skiers, an averaged variant is manufactured, with a sidecut radius of between 5 meters and 6 meters, this limiting the possibilities of steering them. Skis which operate all the time in an alternating load mode with a significant deformation (of over 10 cm/m) are made as multilayer skis (up to 20 layers) of especially strong and elastic metal alloys and composite materials - a sandwich construction. Making mountain skis is a difficult and expensive process with great manual labor inputs. In spite of the application of novel materials borrowed from the aviation industry, mountain skis often break during skiing. Steering skis by means of their inclination at an angle to the horizontal and of the transfer of the skier's weight from one ski to the other requires a difficult special technique of skiing which may be mastered not by

everyone. Moreover, the necessity of a stiff engagement of the skier's legs with skis requires special high, stiff boots and attachments which provide an immovable fastening of the boot bottom to the ski. To prevent skier's leg bones from fracturing in the event of falls, the attachments are provided with a device, which release the ski from the boot upon reaching the maximum permissible load. This does not always, however, prevent severe injuries in skiers.

[4] In view of the foregoing, only a small portion of those who desire to ski mountains do master the mountain skiing technique to such extent that the purchase of their own outfit becomes expedient; at the same time, most of skiers use yet rental outfits. Furthermore, the substantial factor of that mountain skis fail to spread widely and to become a mass hobby is their high price due to ski construction complexity and the ex- pensiveness of materials which are employed to make them, this, in turn, being attributable to that skis are constantly subject to significant alternating loads. So, for example, a minimum price of the pair of skis may be as high as U.S. $200 while, along with boots, attachments, ski-sticks (poles), the outfit is worth not less than U.S. $600.

[5] A snowboard is another type of sports equipment for recreation in winter. The construction of snowboards, special attachments and boots for them is somewhat simpler than that of mountain skis. The price of a snowboard is, however, affected insignificantly thereby for the same technology (so called a "sandwich technology") of making them is used and the same materials are employed. At the same time, the snowboarding technique gets complicated significantly and only a rather limited number of trained sportsmen may master it. All the above-listed factors influence greatly on the sales level of snowboards, which becomes even lower than that of mountain skis.

[6] Therefore, what is needed is a device for a steered movement over the surface of a loose and hard medium such as snow, sand or another similar medium which, owing to its construction (which also determines the method of steering the device), would make it possible to resolve the existing problems in this field. That is to say, what is needed is the organization of the production of a sports apparatus of low cost to produce, skills required to steer which would be much easier to learn than those required to steer the apparatuses known for the time being. This would make it possible to ensure a rapid growth in popularity of such a device and a high sales level. It would be expedient to use more versatile components of the device made of inexpensive materials so that people with various levels of training and various income levels might become interested in such device.

[7] Currently, a great number of various devices exist which resolve, to some or another extent, these problems.

[8] For example, Russian Federation Patent No. 2073620 (published on 20 February

1997) discloses a device for a steered movement over the surface of a loose and hard medium such as snow, sand or another similar medium which device comprises a support platform and a ski this transport device constituting a snowmobile composed of a chassis, a track propulsion device, and two steering mechanism units arranged exteriorly in relation to tracks. The steering device comprises a group of skis made of a flexible, elastic material in the form of a strip with a straight-line sliding surface and bent end sections. The skis are pivotably connected to movable cross-arms of each of the steering device units. Upon activation of the steering device to turn, the skis bend and turn in their cross sections thereby creating some angle between the bottom plane and the surface over which the snowmobile moves. Resting on the bent skis, the snowmobile becomes capable of moving in a curved path.

[9] The disadvantages of the described device include the complexity of its construction attributable to that the device belongs mostly to snow motorcycles. As disadvantages, there may also be considered a rather high price of the device because of the complexity of construction parts, a long list of materials employed, and a quite narrow specialization of the device which is not a widely used sport apparatus. In addition, this device does not provide the possibility of a steered movement over the snow cover in a standing position this making it impossible, on some occasions, to control the situation effectively.

[10] Russian Federation published patent application No. 93041190 discloses a device for a steered movement over the snow cover which device comprises a support platform connected by a steering device to at least one front ski and to at least one rear ski. The steering device comprises two intersecting or crossing axles connected by a connecting member and mounted in bearings at a fixed angle with respect to each other with one of the axles being perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline plane and the other being arranged at an angle with the sliding surface of the ski.

[11] The disadvantages of the described device include the complexity of its construction and a rather high price due to both high manufacturing costs of components and a high price of materials employed. As disadvantages of the device, there may also be considered its quite narrow specialization for it is not a widely used sport apparatus.

[12] The most similar to the invention claimed is the device described in Russian

Federation published patent application No. 200513865 which device comprises a support platform and a ski connected to the support platform by means of a steering device. The support platform is a bob saddle with a variable geometry intended for riding in a sitting position, a prone position, semi-sitting position, semi-prone position, and in a motorcyclist's posture.

[13] The disadvantages of the described device include the complexity of its construction this causing rather high manufacturing costs of the device as well as a limited

steerability thereof. Disclosure of Invention Technical Solution

[14] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for a steered movement over the surface of a loose and hard medium such as snow, sand or another similar medium which device, owing to both simplicity and reliability of its construction and a ready availability of materials employed, would offer the opportunity to ensure said movement upon exposure to dynamic loads of various levels, to ensure reduction in the manufacturing costs of the device, to ensure ease in learning and practicing the skills required to steer the device, all these in turn allowing growth in popularity of the device and a high cost efficiency of its implementation to be ensured.

[15] This object is achieved according to the present invention by providing a device for a steered movement over the surface of a loose and hard medium such as snow, sand or another similar medium, which device comprises a support platform and a ski connected to the support platform by means of a steering device, the ski being configured in the form longitudinal runners flexible in the plane of the ski and assembled in a set, and the steering device being configured in the form of a front support and a rear support which are spaced along the longitudinal axis of the ski and ensure that the support platform can roll relative to the ski, and two cross tie rods disposed at a section between the front support and rear support and configured so that they connect the lateral edges of the support platform to the unlike, opposite lateral edges of the ski section adjacent from below, i.e., they connect the right-hand lateral edge of the support platform to the left-hand lateral edge of the ski section adjacent from below.

[16] Such a device owing to both the simplicity and reliability of its construction offers the opportunity to ensure a steered movement upon exposure to dynamic loads of various levels since the front and the rear supports spaced along the longitudinal axis of the ski are provided, which supports enables loads to be taken up while ensuring that the support platform can roll transversally relative to the ski, this in turn ensuring ease in and the effectiveness of steering the device by the transfer of the rider's weight to one or the other edge of the support platform depending on to where to turn, this in turn ensuring ease in learning the skills required to steer the device. The construction of the device in accordance with the present invention comprises no high-loaded part, this allowing inexpensive and readily available materials to be employed and the present invention to be widely introduced into the practice.

[17] The presence of the two cross tie rods, which connect the lateral edges of the support platform to the unlike, opposite lateral edges of the ski section adjacent from below,

ensures ease in and the effectiveness of steering the device in accordance with the invention as well, since, in steering, these tie rods draw the center of the ski to the direction opposite to that of turn this resulting in that the longitudinal runners flexible in the plane of the ski bend, the ribs of the runners form an arc which leads the ski to where it is desired to turn. An arc radius is determined by a tilt angle of the support platform. A force required to bend the ski through a certain angle depends on the modulus of elasticity of the ski and can also be set by adjusting the distance from the tie rod fastening location to the central axis of the support platform; for this purpose, multiple openings for fastening the tie rods may be provided, for example. The possibility of ski bend with forming arcs of different radii allows different radii turns to be made without skidding (so called "brakage" or braking) and loss of speed connected therewith. The universality of the device of the present invention is ensured by adjusting its sensitivity to a steering force - the apparatus may be easily adapted to both beginners and experts, to the adults and children.

[18] Thus, the aggregate of novel design features has resulted in the appearance of a new qualitative effect - steering the ski through the movement of special steering members, the runners. All this changes the technique of moving over the surface of a loose and hard medium such as snow, sand or another similar medium, making it substantially simpler, more reliable and safer. Safety in using the device in accordance with the present invention is ensured thanks to its good sensitivity and steerability, lack of a rigid fixation of the user's feet to the support platform of the device, this making it possible to make a steered movement in a conventional footwear using boots and attachments for a snowboard. All this allows interest in the device of the present invention to be excited in potential customers who may include users with various income levels and various levels of training.

[19] Expediently, the configuration of the device in accordance with the present invention is such that the runners are assembled in a set by means of cross ties, which ensure that the set as a whole can bend in the ski plane. In addition, this makes it possible to ensure a good steerability of the device of the invention without necessity to learn special skills required to steer this device this making it attractive for wide circles of holiday-makers and sportsmen this in turn increasing cost efficiency. The cross ties are disposed in slot-like openings made in the runners in the horizontal plane this ensuring that the set as a whole can bend freely in the ski plane.

[20] Preferably, the configuration of the device in accordance with the present invention is such that it is provided with an additional pair of slant rods arranged in front of the front support and configured so that they connect the lateral edges of the ski to the like halves of the adjacent section of the support platform. This ensures the possibility of the bending of the front portion of the set of the runners forming the ski, this in turn fa-

cilitating turn as desired - right or left - and making steering the device easier.

[21] Preferably, the configuration of the device in accordance with the present invention is such that it is provided with an additional pair of slant rods arranged behind the rear support and configured so that they connect the lateral edges of the ski to the like halves of the adjacent section of the support platform. This ensures the possibility of the bending of the rear portion of the set of the runners forming the ski, this in turn facilitating turn as desired - right or left - and making steering the device easier.

[22] The support platform for a steered movement is configured so that it does not limit or restrict the choice of positions for a steered movement, for example, in a standing position.

[23] Like all the standard constructions of skis, the ski of the device for a steered movement is provided with metal edges. Description of Drawings

[24] An embodiment of the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[25] Fig. 1 is a side view of a device for a steered movement over the surface of a loose and hard medium such as snow, sand or another similar medium in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[26] Fig. 2 is a top view of a device for a steered movement over the surface of a loose and hard medium such as snow, sand or another similar medium in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[27] Fig. 3 is a rear view of a device for a steered movement over the surface of a loose and hard medium such as snow, sand or another similar medium in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Industrial Applicability

[28] Fig. 1 is a side view of a device for a steered movement over the surface of a loose and hard medium such as snow, sand or another similar medium in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, which device comprises a support platform 1 a ski 2 connected to the support platform 1 by means of a steering device. The steering device is configured in the form of a front support 3 and a rear support 4 and two crossing tie rods 5. The device is also provided with an additional pair of slant rods 6 arranged in front of the front support 3 and with an additional pair of slant rods 7 arranged behind the rear support 4.

[29] Fig. 2 is a top view of a device for a steered movement over the surface of a loose and hard medium such as snow, sand or another similar medium in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The ski 2 is configured in the form of longitudinal runners 8 flexible in the plane of the ski and assembled in a set. The runners 8

are assembled in a set by means of cross ties 9. In this embodiment, to lessen the weight of the construction, free spaces are provided between the runners 8, within which spaces spherical stops 10 are disposed through which the cross ties 9 pass.

[30] Fig. 3 is a rear view of a device for a steered movement over the surface of a loose and hard medium such as snow, sand or another similar medium in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. All the parts are indicated by the same reference numerals as in the previous figures.

[31] Movement over the surface of a loose and hard medium such as snow, sand or another similar medium using the device in accordance with the present invention occurs as follows.

[32] A rider occupies the support platform 1, for example, stands with his/her two feet onto the support platform 1 and starts sliding down a snow-covered slope. In order to turn right, he/she transfers his/her body weight to the right-hand edge of the support platform 1. The ski 2 remains horizontal, and the support platform 1 tilts to the right rolling owing to the presence of the front support 3 and the rear support 4 spaced along the longitudinal axis of the ski 2. The two cross tie rods 5 draw the center of the ski 2 to the left. The additional pair of the slant rods 6 arranged in front of the front support 3 and the additional pair of the slant rods 7 arranged behind the rear support 4 draw the ski 2 to the right. As a result, the ski 2 bends in the horizontal plane, the ribs of the runners 8 form an arc which leads the ski 2 to the right. In order to turn left, the rider transfers his/her body weight to the left-hand edge of the support platform 1, the support platform 1 tilts to the left, and so on in reverse order.

[33] Thus, the present invention provides a device for a steered movement over the surface of a loose and hard medium such as snow, sand or another similar medium which device, owing to both simplicity and reliability of its construction and a ready availability of materials employed, offers the opportunity to ensure said movement upon exposure to dynamic loads of various levels, to ensure reduction in the manufacturing costs of the device, to ensure ease in learning and practicing the skills required to steer the device, all these in turn allowing growth in popularity of the device and a high cost efficiency of its implementation to be ensured.