This invention is directed toward a snow sled.

The invention is more particularly directed toward a snow sled having novel means for carrying a rider.

The invention is also more particularly directed toward a snow sled having improved steering means.

The invention is also particularly directed toward a snow sled having means to tilt a portion of the sled to improve its turning ability.

Snow sleds for riding down hills on snow are well known. The sleds usually have a platform supported by runners. The rider sits on the platform or lays on the platform on his stomach to ride the sled down the hill. In laying on the platform, the rider's hands and arms are usually in an uncomfortable position. If the sled has no steering means, the rider must awkwardly grip the sides of the sled. If steering means are provided, as shown for example by U.S. Pat. 3,862,766, the hands and arms are in a more comfortable position, but not in a position to distribute some of the rider's weight onto the front runner. Having some of the rider's weight distributed onto the front runner or runners would provide more control of the sled.

Sleds with steering means are preferred so as to be able to control the direction of the sled down the hill.

Some sleds have a steerable front runner as shown for example by U.S. Pat. 3,862,766. This sled, with tandem runners, steers quite well since the rider can cause the edge of the runners to dig into the snow during turns by leaning into the turn. However, sleds with tandem runners are very hard to balance. Sleds with a pair of spaced- apart front runners and a rear runner, such as shown in U.S. Pat. 2,354,627 for example, provide better balance. However these sleds are more difficult to steer and control because the runners, particularly the rear runner, would not normally dig in when the sled is turned. The spaced-apart front runners prevent the rider from leaning to cause the edge of the rear runner to dig in to give a tighter turn. It is known to provide a sled with a mechanism that causes the front runners to dig in when turned to steer the sled. Such a sled is shown in U.S. Pat. 4,165,087. However the mechanism required is quite complicated and expensive. In addition, the rear runner of the sled does not dig in to aid turning.

The known sleds with spaced apart front runners and a rear runner are also normally sat on when ridden and thus the rider's weight is normally on the rear runner instead of on the front runners where more control would be provided.

Known snow sleds also do not have satisfactory brake means. The known brake means are quite expensive and/or ineffective. Known sleds also do not have shock absorbing

means for absorbing bumps during the ride.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a snow sled having improved means for carrying a rider. It is more particularly the purpose of the present invention to provide a snow sled having improved means for carrying a rider in a manner to distribute his weight more effectively on the sled. It is another purpose of the present invention to provide a snow sled having improved steering means, including means to tilt the rear or main runner of the sled. It is a further purpose of the present invention to provide a snow sled that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and that has relatively few parts. It is yet another purpose of the present invention to provide a snow sled that is versatile being able to be used in an acrobatic manner, or to be ridden either lying down or sitting up. It is another purpose of the present invention to provide a snow sled with simple, effective, braking means and with simple, effective, shock absorbing means to provide a better ride.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a snow sled having a main runner, supporting a platform for a rider, and a pair of steering runners, one on each side of the front of the main runner. The steering runners are pivotally connected to the front of the main runner. A steering handle is provided on each steering runner to be held by the rider while he lies on the platform on his stomach so as to place the rider in the

best position on the sled for both weight distribution and for steering. Preferably means are provided on the steering runners just behind the handles for supporting the forearms of the rider while he grips the handles to ensure good weight distribution and a comfortable riding position.

The sled of the present invention is also provided with relatively simple tilt means which tilt the main runner on its side edge when the steering runners are steered to turn the snow sled. The side edge of the main runner, when it is tilted, bites into the snow to provide sharper and more controlled turns.

The steering runners of the snow sled are rotatably mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis which axis is transverse to the long axis of the sled. Brake means are provided on the rear of the steering runners. The rider can pull up the steering handles rotating the steering runners to cause the brake means to brake the snow sled.

The main runner of the snow sled, in one embodiment, has a shallow u-shape when viewed from the side and is attached at its ends to the platform. The main runner is preferably made of resilient material so that it can flex slightly between its ends thus absorbing bumps. Preferably, the main runner is attached to the platform with a sliding connection at one end permitting more flexure and thus more ability to absorb bumps.

The main runner, in one embodiment, has a curved rear

end. This permits a rider to pull the front of the snow sled up off the snow with the handles so as to ride the sled only on the curved rear end of the main runner in an acrobatic manner.

The invention is particularly directed toward a snow sled having a main runner with side edges, and a platform for carrying a rider on the main runner. Two spaced-apart front steering runners are provided, one on each side of the front of the main runner. Pivot means pivotally connect the steering runners to the front of the main runner. A steering handle is provided on each steering runner to allow the rider lying on the platform on his stomach to easily steer the snow sled with his hands.

The invention is also particularly directed toward a snow sled having a main runner with side edges and a platform for carrying a rider on the main runner. Two steering runners are provided, one on each side of the front of the main runner. Pivot means pivotally connect the steering runners to the front of the main runner. Tilt means are provided for automatically tilting the main runner when the steering runners are pivoted to turn the snow sled. The main runner is tilted onto its side edge that is nearest the center of the turn while the steering runners remain flat on the snow.

The invention will now be described having reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the snow sled;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the snow sled;

Fig. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of the sled;

Fig. 4 is a detail side view of the rear of the sled;

Fig. 5 is a detail cross-section view of the front of the sled;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the pivot means;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the pivot means in a turn to the right;

Fig. 8 is a side view showing a rider braking the sled;

Fig. 9 is a side view showing a rider doing acrobatics with the sled;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the rider sitting on the sled;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the snow sled;

Fig. 12 is an exploded view of the snow sled shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a detail cross-section view of the front of the snow sled shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the sled shown in Fig. 11 but modified to have a single slider;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the sled shown in Fig. 11 being ridden by a rider in a sitting position;

Fig. 16 is a side view of another embodiment of the sled;

Fig. 17 is an exploded view of the sled shown in Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a top view of the sled of Fig. 16 during a turn: and

Fig. 19 is a side view of the sled of fig. 16 during a turn.

The snow sled 1, in one embodiment, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, has a rider platform 3 supported by a single, rear, main runner 5. The main runner 5 is relatively wide. The snow sled includes a pair of steering runners 7 connected by pivot means 9 to the front of the main runner 5, one steering runner 7 on each side of the main runner 5.

In more detail, as shown in Fig. 3, the platform 3 has a base 13 with downwardly extending stiffening ribs 15, 17 at its sides 19, 21. A pair of side panels 23, 25 extend outwardly and slightly upwardly from the sides 19, 21 of the base 13 at the rear portion of the base. The rider normally lays on the base on his stomach with his head slightly past the front of the base and with his legs extending past the rear of the base. The side panels 23, 25 provide lateral support for the rider's body, particularly his legs, during turning of the snow sled to help maintain the rider on the snow sled.

Connecting means are provided at the front and rear of the platform 3 for use in connecting the platform 3 to the main runner 5. The rear connecting means, as shown in

Figs. 3 and 4, includes a pair of u-shaped brackets 31, one on each side, fastened to the bottom rear of each stiffening rib 15, 17 by suitable fastening means (not shown) . A cut-out 33 can be provided in the bottom rear of each rib 15, 17, the cut-out 33 forming, with the bracket 31, an elongated slot 35 for use in connecting the rear of the main runner 5 to the rear of the base 13 as will be described. The front connecting means comprise a pair downwardly depending, transversely spaced-apart, lugs 37 at the bottom front of the base 13 that can be fastened by suitable fastening means to the front of the main runner 5 as will be described.

The main runner 5, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, has a main, flat, central, running portion 41 with parallel side edges 43, 45 and a bottom running surface 47. The rear of the running portion 41 merges smoothly with an upwardly and rearwardly curved rear portion 49. Connecting means are provided at the top of the rear portion 49 for use in connecting the rear of the main runner 5 to the rear of the platform 3. The connecting means comprise connecting pins 53 extending transversely from the sides of the rear portion 49 adjacent its top edge 55.

The front of the running portion 41 merges smoothly with an upwardly curved front portion 59. The front portion 59 has a top portion 61 and a downwardly and forwardly angled front mounting portion 63. The bottom surface 65 of the front mounting portion 63 extends at an

angle β of about 30 degrees as shown in Fig. 5. The angle can vary between twenty degrees and forty five degrees. Socket openings 67 are provided in the top of the top portion 61 for receiving the lugs 37 on the platform 3 as will be described.

The angled mounting portion 63 on the main runner 5 has a mounting plate 71 attached to its bottom surface 65 as shown in Fig. 5. The bottom surface 65 is slightly dished as shown at 75 so that a major portion of the mounting plate 71 is spaced a short distance from the bottom surface 65. The bottom edge portion 77 of the mounting plate 71 is fastened by suitable fastening means 81 to the lower bottom part of the mounting portion 63. The upper edge portion 83 of the plate 71 is bent and fastened to the bottom 85 of the top portion 61 of the main runner 5 by suitable fastening means 87.

The steering runners 7 are identical so only one will be described in detail. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, each steering runner has a short ski 91 with an upturned front tip 93 and an upturned rear end 95. A forwardly and upwardly extending steering handle 97 is provided on the front of the ski 91. A forearm rest 99, in the shape of a trough, is mounted on the ski. The forearm rest 99 has a bottom wall 101 and side walls 103, 105. The handle 97 preferably is attached to the front, center of the bottom wall 101 of the forearm rest 99. A brace 107 extends from the top of the handle 97 to the top, front portion of the

inner side wall 103 to strengthen the structure. The rear portion of the inner side wall 103 extends upwardly as shown at 109 to form a bracket. A mounting pin 111 is fastened to the inner side of bracket 109. The forearm rest 99 is mounted on the center of the ski 91, with its bottom wall 101 flush on the top surface of the ski, with suitable fastening means (not shown) . Preferably, the longitudinal position of the forearm rest 99 on the ski 91 can be adjusted by using adjustable fastening means.

Brake means 113 are provided on the upturned rear end 95 of the ski 91. The brake means 113 can comprise a series of sharp, parallel, ridges 115 formed in the bottom surface of the upturned rear end 95 with the ridges 115 extending across the width of the ski. The ridges 115 bite into the snow when the brake is operated as will be described.

The steering runners 7 are connected to the front of the main runner 5 with a cross member 121 as shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6. The cross member 121 comprises a plate having a flat central portion 123 and two arm portions 125 extending slightly downwardly from opposite sides of the central portion 123. A mounting block 127 is provided at the end of each arm 125. The block 127 has a semi-circular cutout 129 in its bottom surface 131 for receiving the mounting pin 111 on the ski 91. A bracket 133 fastens to the bottom surface 131 of the block 127 with fasteners 135 to rotatably lock the steering runner 7, via mounting pin

111, to the end of the cross member 121. When the steering runners 7 are attached to the ends of the cross member 121 they can rotate about the horizontal axis of the mounting pins 111 which axis is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the sled.

Pivot means 9 are provided for pivotally connecting the cross member 121 to the mounting plate 71 on the mounting portion 63 of the main runner 5. The pivot means 9 preferably has three headed pins 141A, 14IB, 141C mounted on the upper surface of the central portion 123 of the cross member 121. The heads 143 of the pins 141 are removably attached by fastener 145. The pins 141 are arranged in a triangle with two pins 141A and 14IB at the top of the center portion 123 and the third pin 141C at the bottom of the center portion 123 between the top two pins 141A, 14IB.

The pivot means 9 include three slots 151, 153, 155 in the mounting plate 71. The top two slots 151, 153 curve down and slightly inwardly from their top ends 157, 159. The bottom slot 155 has a slightly raised central point 161 from which two wings 163, 165 extend slightly downwardly and out from each other. The ends 157, 159 and the central point 161 of the slots 151, 153, 155 form a triangle identical to the triangle formed by the pins 141.

The snow sled 1 is assembled by removing the heads 143 from the pins 141 and mounting the mounting plate 71 on the pins 141 with the pins 141 extending through the

slots 151, 153, 155. The heads 143 are replaced with the fasteners 145. The mounting plate 71 is now mounted on the cross member 121 to form the pivot means 9 with the pins 141 and the slots 151, 153, 155. The main portion of the mounting plate 71 is parallel to the flat central portion 123 of the cross-member 121. The mounting plate 71 is then mounted against the bottom of the angled mounting portion 63 on the main runner 5 by the fasteners 81, 85 to connect the cross member 121 to the main runner 5. The dished portion 75 of the bottom surface 65 of the mounting portion 63 provides clearance for the heads 143 and the fasteners 145. At the same time, the platform 3 is mounted on the main runner 5 by inserting the lugs 37 into the sockets 65. The fasteners 85 that fasten the mounting plate 71 to the main runner 5 also connect the lugs 37 of the platform 3 to the main runner 5. The brackets 31 are fastened to the platform 3 to lock the pins 53 on the main runner 5 to the platform 3 at the rear. The steering runners 7 are fastened to the ends of the cross member 121 by the pins 111 and the brackets 133.

Means are preferably provided for limiting the amount of rotation of the steering runners 7 about the axis of the pins 111. These rotation limiting means 169, as shown in Fig. 5, can comprise a flange 171 extending radially out from the end of the pin ill. A pair of spaced apart stop ribs 173, 175 are formed in the block 127 on either side of the cutout 129. The flange 171, abutting on either

stop rib 173, 175, limits the amount of rotation of the steering runner 7. A tension spring 177 can be provided connected between the top of each flange 171 and a pin 179 on each arm portion 125 of the cross member 121 as shown in Fig. 5. The tension springs 177 normally pull the runners 7 about the pins 111 against the upper stop rib 175.

The rider normally rides on the snow sled with his stomach on the platform 3 and with his forearms in the forearm rests 99 and his hands on the handles 97. Weight is partly transferred to the steering runners 7 by the forearms on the forearm rests 99. The forearms hold the steering runners 7 flat against the snow against the action of the stretched springs 177. The snow sled is steered by moving the steering handles 97 to pivot the cross member 121, and thus the steering runners 7, about the main runner 5 via the pivot means 9 formed by the pins 141 and the slots 151, 153, 155. If the cross member 121 is turned to the right, as shown in Fig. 7, the upper right hand pin 1 1A stays at the top end 157 of its slot 151 and the upper left hand pin 14IB slides down its slot 153. The bottom pin 141C slides from the central point 161 in its slot 155 out in its right hand wing 163. The cross member 121 stays horizontal as it turns and the steering runners stay flat on the snow while turning. However the flat central portion 123 of the cross member 121, which is at an angle to the snow, cams the upper left side of the

mounting plate 71 upwards as the cross member turns thus tilting the left side of the platform 3 upwardly so that the sled rides on the right side edge 43 of the main running portion 41 of the main runner 5 which edge 43, being closest to the center of the turn, becomes the inner edge. With the snow sled riding on the inside edge 43 of the main runner 5 during a turn, the snow sled makes a sharper and more controlled turn with little side slip. The mounting plate 71 on the angled mounting portion 63 of the main runner 5, and the adjacent central portion 123 of the cross member 121, in effect, form tilting means to tilt the main runner 5 when the cross member 121 rotates relative to the main runner 5 in turning. When the central portion 123 rotates relative to the mounting plate 71 it will cause the mounting portion 63, and thus the platform 3, to tilt about either side edge 43, 45 of the main runner 5.

Braking is easily accomplished by the rider when he pulls up the handles 97, as shown in Fig. 8, pivoting the skis 91 about pins 111, to have the rear end 95 of the skis 91 with the brake means 113 thereon bite into the snow. The higher the handles 97 are pulled, the more the skis rotate and the more the brake means 113 brake. The elbows of the rider, adjacent the rear end 95 of the ski, help provide braking pressure. The longitudinal ajustability of the forearm rests 99 allows the elbows to be positioned adjacent the rear end of the ski. If a

person falls off the sled, the springs 177 automatically pull the steering runners 7 into a braking position pivoting the skis 91 about the pins 111 to have the brake means 113 bite into the snow and to thus bring the unmanned sled to a stop.

The snow sled can be used acrobatically. By shifting his weight rearwardly, and pulling up on the handles 97, as shown in Fig. 9, the rider can ride the snow sled on the curved rear portion 49 of the main runner 5. The rotation limiting means 169, limiting rotation of the steering runners 7, allows the rider to lift the front end of the sled. The rider can also ride the snow sled in a sitting position if desired, as shown in Fig. 10, sitting on the platform 3 with his feet in the forearm rests 99 and his hands on the side panels 23, 25. The snow sled can also be ridden forwards or backwards since both ends of the main and steering runners are upturned.

The main runner 5, having a shallow u-shape when viewed from the side, and molded from suitable plastic material, is somewhat resilient. Being connected at its ends to the platform 3, it acts as a spring to absorb shocks and bumps. Having the rear end of the main runner 5 slidably connected to the platform 3, via the pins 53 slidable in the slots 35, improves the ability of the main runner 5 to absorb shocks. The pins 53 would normally be located at the front end of the slots 35 but when the main runner 5 is flexed in a bump there is room for the pins to

slide rearwardly allowing greater flexure of the main runner 5 and thus better shock absorbency.

All the parts of the snow sled 1, except perhaps for certain of the fastening means, can be molded from suitable plastic materials.

The main runner 5 of the snow sled 1 described above is a single, molded plastic member. The main runner could however be manufactured from a plurality of parts made from various materials. By way of example, as shown in Figs. 11 to 13, a modified main runner 5' is provided having a frame 201 with two parallel sliders 203, 205 attached to the bottom of the frame 201 to provide the running surface. The frame 201 has two parallel, rod-like, slider supports 207, 209. The slider supports 207, 209 are joined at their ends. A rear cross-bar 211 joins the rear ends of the slider supports 207, 209 together. A mounting plate 71', similar to the mounting plate 71, joins the front ends of the slider supports 207, 209 together to complete the frame 201 as will be described. The slider supports 207, 209 and the rear cross-bar 211 can be formed from a single tubular element that is bent to provide the slider supports 207, 209 and the cross-bar 211. The tubular element is preferably metallic and resilient.

The runner 5', when viewed from the side, has a main, flat, central, running portion 221 which merges smoothly with a rear portion 223 and with a front portion 225. The rear portion 223 curves smoothly upwardly and rearwardly

from the central running portion 221. Rear connecting means 227 connect the rear end of the rear portion 223 of the frame 201 to the bottom rear of the platform 3 ¹ . The rear connecting means 227 can comprise a wide bracket 229 with a transverse, central dip or depression 231 for receiving the rear cross-bar 211 of the frame. Fasteners (not shown) connect the ends of the bracket 229 to the bottom surface of the platform 3* adjacent its rear end with the cross-bar 211 of the frame securely held between the bracket 229 and the platform 3' .

The front portion 225 of the frame 201 has an upwardly curved rear section 237, a flat, top middle section 239 and a downwardly and forwardly directed front section 241. The rear section 237 of the front portion 225 of the frame 201 curves smoothly upwardly from the central running portion 221. Fasteners 243 connect the flat, top middle section 239 of the front portion 225 of the frame 201 against the bottom surface of the platform 3 ' adjacent its front end 245.

The mounting plate 71' is attached via a bent upper edge portion 83' to the bottom of the top middle section 239 with the same fasteners 243 that connect the top, middle section 239 to the platform 3'. The mounting plate 71' is also attached, adjacent its lower edge 247, to the front section 241 of the frame 201, adjacent its lower end, by fasteners 249. The major portion of the mounting plate 71' lies parallel and adjacent the bottom of the

front section 241 of the front portion 225 of frame 201, spaced from the front section 241 by spacers on the fasteners 243, 249. The plate 71' extends between the slider supports 207, 209. A separate front cover 253 forms an extension of platform 3' and extends from the front end 245 of the platform over the front end of the front section 241 of the frame 201. The fasteners 249 serve to attach the cover 253 to the frame 201.

The sliders 203, 205 are preferably molded from suitable plastic material and curved to follow the bottom surface of the slider supports 207, 209 along the central running portion 221, a major portion of the rear portion 223, and a major portion of the rear section 237 of the front portion 225 of the frame 201. Fasteners 255 connect the rear ends of the sliders 203, 205 to the rear portion 223 of the slider supports 207, 209 and fasteners 257 connect the front ends of the sliders 203, 205 to the rear section 237 of the front portion 225 of the slider supports 207, 209. The outer edges 261, 263 of the sliders 203, 205 form the turning edges for the main runner 5'. The bottom surfaces 265, 267 of the sliders 203, 205 form the running surface of the main runner 5' .

The main runner 5' is substantially cheaper to produce than the main runner 5 since it requires no single, large plastic member. The shallow u-shape of the main runner 5', when viewed from the side, still provides shock absorbency due to the resilience of the metallic

slider supports 207, 209 and the resilience of the plastic sliders 203, 205. The shallow u-shape of the main runner 5' , with the upwardly and rearwardly directed rear portion 223, also allows the sled to be used acrobatically.

While two separate sliders 203, 205 have been shown, a single large slider 261, as shown in Fig. 14, could be used instead. The slider 261 is curved similarly to sliders 203, 205 and is attached adjacent its side edges 263, 265 to the slider supports 207, 209 by fasteners 255', 257'. The slider 261 can be molded from suitable plastic material.

One form of steering handle 97 for the steering runners 7 has been described. Another form of steering handle 97', as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, can comprise a horizontal bar 275 extending between the side walls 103', 105' of the forearm rest 99• . The horizontal bar 275 is spaced above the bottom wall 101• of the forearm rest 99' a distance sufficient to allow the rider to slip the toes of his boots under the bar when riding the sled in a sitting position as shown in Fig. 15 so as to be able to steer the sled with his feet. When riding the sled while lying on his stomach, the rider can steer the sled by grasping the bars 275 with his hands, with his forearms in the forearm rests 99' to better distribute his weight onto the front runners.

Both embodiments of the sleds 5, 5' described above operate quite well with the outer side edges of the main

runner biting in on a turn, due to tilting of the main runner, to provide sharper turning when the steering runners are turned. Both sleds can also be used acrobatically since they have rounded front and rear portions on the main runner and upturned ends on the steering runners.

It has been discovered however that the steering of the sled can be further improved with minor modifications. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 16 and 17, the modified sled 301 has a platform 303 supported by a single, rear, main runner 305. The sled includes a pair of steering runners 307 connected by pivot means 309 to the front of the main runner 305, one steering runner 7 on each side of the main runner 305.

The main runner 305 has a frame 315 having a pair of rod-like slider supports 317, 319. The slider supports 317, 319 are identical so only one will be described in detail. Slider support 317 has an angled rear portion 321 rather than a rounded rear portion. The main, flat, central, running portion 323 of the slider support 317 is extended rearwardly and the rear portion 321 essentially extends forwardly and upwardly from the back end of the central portion 323. The upper end of the rear portion 321 is connected to the back of the platform 303 by suitable connector means. The connector means (not shown) can include suitable resilient means 325 to resiliently connect the rear portion 321 of the slider support 317 to

the platform 303. The slider support 317 has a front portion 331 with an upwardly and forwardly directed rear section 333 extending from the forward end of the central portion 323. The front portion 331 includes a downwardly and forwardly directed front section 335 which extends from the forward end of the rear section 333. The front section 335 extends at an angle of about 25° to the horizontal or to the central portion 323. The front portion 331 is attached to the bottom of the platform 303 by suitable fastening means (not shown) .

A single slider 341 is attached to the bottom of the slider supports 317, 319. The slider 341 has parallel outer edges 343, 345 and extends from part way up the rear section 333 of the front portion 331 of the slider supports 317, 319 to just past the end of the flat central portion 323. The rear portion 349 of the slider is bent or cambered slightly away from the rear of the central portion 323 and the tail end 351 is curled up. The slider is attached by suitable fastener means 353 to the front portion 331, and to close to the center of the central portion 323, of the slider supports 317, 319 with the rear portion of the slider being free of the supports. The slider 341 is preferably molded from suitable plastic material and is slightly resilient.

The downwardly and forwardly extending front sections 335 of the slider supports 317, 319 form a front mounting for a mounting plate 357. The mounting plate can be

mounted on the bottom of the front section 335 of the supports 317, 319 by upper and lower cross supports 359, 361 extending across the supports. The cross supports 359, 361 space the mounting plate 357 from the slider supports 317, 319. The mounting plate 357 has slots 363, 365, 367 therein similar to the slots 151, 153, 155 in mounting plate 71. The slots in the plate 357 differ however in that the slots 363, 365 are spaced apart at the top a distance substantially equal to the width of the slider 341. The slot 367 is also preferably as long as the width of the slider 341. The slot 367 can be shorter to limit the turning of the front skis thus providing shallower turns if desired.

A cross member 371, similar to cross member 121, carries the steering runners 307 at its ends on pins. The cross member 371 has a flat central portion 375 that is parallel to the mounting plate 357 and adjacent to it. The central portion 375 carries the pins 377 that are mounted in the slots 363, 365, 367. The pins and slots form the pivot means 309 connecting the steering runners 307 to the main runner 305. The central portion 375 of the cross member 371 and the mounting plate 357 form the tilting means for tilting the main runner 305 on either of its edges 343, 345 when the steering runners 307 are turned.

The modifications to the sled provide a sled 301 that carves tighter turns down the hill and is more under control. The shallower angle of the tilt means, at around

25°, formed by the mounting plate 357 and the central portion 375 of the cross member 371, makes it easier to turn the steering runners 307. It was previously thought that a steeper angle was needed to obtain sufficient bite of the inner edge of the main runner when turning. The wider spacing of the slots 363, 365 and the lengthening of the slot 367 also transfer the bite of the inner edge of the main runner toward the tail end of the main runner as does the lengthening of the main runner by using an angled rear portion 321 rather than an upwardly curved portion. In fact, with these modifications, the front portion of the inner edge of the main runner is even raised slightly off the snow in a tight turn as shown in Figs. 18 and 19, while the rear portion of the inner edge digs more deeply into the snow. This is advantageous in that the rear portion of the inner edge of the main runner acts as a moving pivot means about which the front end of the sled pivots in the turn. The farther back the pivot is from the front end of the sled, the easier the sled pivots in the turn and the better the sled can be controlled while turning. Having the pivot farther back lengthens the minimum turning radius. However it is more important to have better control of the sled at the expense of a tighter turning radius. The cambered rear portion of the slider also ensures that the slider, particularly its rear end, always contacts the snow and digs in on turning to provide better turns. The modifications provide an even

better sense of carving turns down a hill under control. The modified sled can be ridden by the rider in a lying down position or in a sitting position as before. Suitable handle means are provided on the steering runners as before. The modified sled cannot be used as acrobatically as the other sleds since the main runner has no curved rear portion. However the sled can still be run frontwards or backwards since the runners are slightly turned up at either end.

The modifications may be used individually, or in combination on the sleds 1, 1' to improve turning, but it is preferred that they be used as a group as shown in the sled 301.