The present disclosure relates to powered devices for propelling a surface on snow, for example for carrying a skier or a snowboarder.

BACKGROUND

Devices for assisting skiers, also referred to as ski tows, are widely used at present for example in popular skiing resorts for moving people on snow across uphill slopes with little or no exertion of energy on the part of the skier.

Known ski tows usually comprise a powered device that includes a motor-driven toothed endless belt attached to a ski. The toothed endless belt operates as traction means engaging with snow for carrying skiers upwardly over terrains. In use, the endless belt is power driven when going uphill and rotates in idle when going downhill.

Ski tows are typically mounted to a rear portion of the ski, as disclosed for example in US3964560 and US3710881. In such ski tows, the skier's weight is used for compressing and packing the snow for properly carrying skiers over slopes.

Toothed endless belts arranged in a position of a ski other than on a rear portion thereof, such as for example below a sliding surface of the ski, have been also disclosed. For example, EP3092042 provides a power drive for skis that comprises an electric motor, a control unit, and a guide frame to be mounted on the ski that carries the endless drive belt.

In general, known ski tows are undesirably complex and costly. Known powered devices for propelling skiers have further disadvantages as they involve an interference and annoyance to the skier when skiing. For these reasons, known powered devices are merely used as temporary means of transport for carrying skiers upwardly over inclined terrains.

A need still exists for powered devices for propelling skiers that are less cumbersome to use, to transport, and to store, and less expensive to manufacture while allowing the user to freely sky on the snow both in uphill and downhill skiing with no interferences. SUMMARY

A powered device for propelling a surface on snow is disclosed herein. The present powered device has been found to overcome the above deficiencies in known devices while providing a number of significant advantages over the prior art, as it will be described in detail below.

As used herein, a surface to be propelled may be, for example, a ski or a snow board. Other suitable surfaces to be propelled over the snow are not ruled out within the meaning of the present disclosure. A powered ski and a powered snow board that comprise the present powered device are also disclosed herein.

The present powered device comprises at least one small sized, compact power driven rotating mechanism. The rotating mechanism may for example comprise at least one endless rubber crawler that is configured for rotating around first and second spaced apart power driven rotating members. Other different power driven rotating mechanisms are not ruled out as long as they are suitable for tracking over the snow such as for example a single power driven rotating bladed or crawler wheel.

When the present device is to be applied to skis, for example, a first power driven rotating mechanism is arranged to be fitted to an outer side of the right ski and a second power driven rotating mechanism is arranged to be fitted to an outer side of the left ski, opposite the outer side of the right ski. When the present device is to be applied to snowboards, first and second power driven rotating mechanisms are arranged to be fitted to opposite outer sides of the snowboard.

A power supply and a control unit are also provided for suitably powering and controlling the rotating mechanisms, respectively.

The power supply may comprise, for example, at least one 300 Wh lightweight battery, such as for example two. Other different types of power supply may be used for powering the rotating mechanisms. The control unit may include traction control means. The traction control means are configured for continuously matching a translational speed of the surface to be propelled and a rotational speed of the rotating mechanism during use. Traction control may be torque-based or speed-based as required. The traction control means may operate such that when one of the rotating members is detected to rotate faster or slower than the other, for example when one of the rotating members slips or is in the air, the speed is automatically adjusted to match that of the other rotating member. This allows safety to be ensured while avoiding sliding for a safety use. Traction control is advantageous for example in skimo practice where slip often occurs that might affect a skier creating interference and interrupting required continuous dynamics.

The control unit may include a wireless remote control for easy remote operation of the power driven rotating mechanism. The control unit may be configured, for example, for controlling throttle for the rotating mechanisms.

Attaching means are also provided for attachment of the rotating mechanism to an outer lateral side of the surface to be propelled such that, in use, the rotating mechanism is at least in an operating position arranged to track over the snow. The attaching means may be provided such that the rotating mechanisms are positioned behind the skier’s boots.

Attachment of the rotating mechanism to an outer lateral side of the surface to be propelled, such as an outer lateral side of respective skis or both external sides of a snow board, has been found to be extremely advantageous in operation since the user is allowed to go forward uphill against gravity with no interferences.

Since the rotating mechanism is attached to an outer lateral side of the surface to be propelled, the lower surface to be propelled, such as skis or snowboard, is always in close contact with the snow. As a result, the user is allowed of freely uphill skiing as if no device is fitted to the ski. This is a significant advantage in any ski disciplines such as alpine, Nordic, carving, adventure, snowboarding, etc.

The attaching means for attachment of the rotating mechanism to an outer lateral side of the surface to be propelled may be of the releasable type or they may be permanent. In this case, the present powered device can be arranged from the operating position (to track over the snow) into a resting position (not in contact with the snow) by detaching the powered device from the surface to be propelled. Furthermore, the resting position can be also reached by folding the rotating mechanism onto the surface to be propelled. The resting position allows the user to go free downhill skiing, for example, with no interference with the snow.

Detachment of the rotating mechanism is as quick and easy as putting on and taking off skis for example. After detachment, the rotating mechanism can be placed on a backpack, for example, and go downhill. Attachment of the rotating mechanism to the surface to be propelled, such as skis or snowboard, can be performed easily in seconds to get ready for use.

The change from the operating position of the rotating mechanism to the resting position of the rotating mechanism and vice versa may be performed automatically, either by any mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic switching mechanism or by hand. In any case, the change from the operating position to the resting position and vice versa can be performed quickly and easily by the user. This allows the user to face a wide range of different routes, as well as advantageously making transitions between different routes and also skiing from downhill to flat or uphill by simply changing the rotating mechanisms from the operating position to the resting position or vice versa without having to take off the skis or the snowboard to detach the rotating mechanisms. This takes on special importance in skimo or cross-country skiing, for example. With the configuration described above, the user has almost the same ski feeling on uphill and downhill as standard ski as if no devices were fitted to the skis.

The above mentioned attaching means may be of the permanent type. In this particular case, the rotating mechanisms are permanently attached to an outer lateral side of the surface to be propelled by fixing screws, for example. Other suitable fixing means are not ruled out. Still in some examples, the rotating mechanism may be formed integral with the outer lateral side of the surface to be propelled.

In one preferred embodiment, the attaching means may comprise a coupling plate that is associated with the rotating mechanism. Said coupling plate is arranged to be attached to a portion of the surface to be propelled, for example under a skier’s boot.

A tensioning strap may be provided having a first end to be attached to the coupling plate and a second end to be attached to an end portion of the surface to be propelled. The tensioning strap keeps the coupling plate properly locked to the surface to be propelled during use. The powered device may be provided with a suspension mechanism. The suspension mechanism is intended for dampening the rotating mechanism against the snow during use. The suspension mechanism may be configured as a spring mechanism comprising a compression spring, such as a coil spring, or a hydraulic damper, a torsion shaft, an articulated parallelogram, a single pivot, or any other suitable stabilization and suspension means capable of absorbing impacts of the rotating mechanisms over the snow.

The suspension mechanism may also include height-adjusting means for adjusting a separation distance from the rotating mechanism to the surface to be propelled.

Thus, the height-adjusting means allows an insertion depth of the rotating mechanism into the snow to be properly adjusted. With the height-adjusting means, the rotating mechanism can be easily height-adjusted as required for controlling the extent to which the rotating mechanism is inserted into the snow for a better traction of the rotating mechanisms on different snow types.

The suspension mechanism may include first slope-adjusting means for adjusting a first angle of the rotating mechanism to a vertical plane such that the rotating mechanism can be pivoted from side to side with respect to the surface to be propelled. Such first slope-adjusting means may comprise a pivot shaft about which the rotating mechanism can be rotated to the coupling plate at least in the above mentioned operating position to track over the snow, and in the above mentioned resting position, where the rotating mechanism is arranged lying on the surface to be propelled. Other first slope-adjusting means than a pivot shaft may be provided such as deformable elements, a torsion shaft, carbon fiber parts, etc.

Still in further examples, the suspension mechanism may include, in addition or alternatively, second slope-adjusting means for adjusting a second angle of the rotating mechanism to a horizontal plane. The rotating mechanism can be thus pivoted for defining an angle to the surface to be propelled or being parallel thereto.

Wth the above mentioned slope-adjusting means, the arrangement of the rotating mechanisms can be suitably adjusted as desired such that the rotating mechanisms and thus the surface to be propelled can be operated always as required with the best traction possible on the snow and consequently with the best performance during use. Positioning of the rotating mechanism with respect to a longitudinal direction of the surface to be propelled can be also adjusted, at least in the operating position and the resting position. This is carried out by adjusting position means which, in one example, may comprise a guide along which the rotating mechanism is allowed to slide with respect to a longitudinal direction of the surface to be propelled. Locking means may be provided to cooperate with said adjusting position means to lock the rotating mechanism once a desired position has been reached.

In one example of the present device, a backpack may be included for receiving therein the power supply or the rotating mechanisms, or both.

The powered device described above allows a user to be suitably propelled on snow and used as a unipersonal self lifting means for skiers and snowboarders.

Since the powered device can be manufactured using simple and small parts, a lightweight and compact assembly can be provided that is very easy to be carried by the user.

With above described powered device, skiers can enjoy not only standard ski tracks downhill but also a completely new activity experiencing by themselves skiing uphill. The user is allowed to manage in a new way a wide range of ski tracks and thus a large variety of activities, shorten flat sections, creating new ski tracks by connecting different ski track sections on demand, etc. The present powered device finds advantageous application in Nordic and alpine ski, skimo, skiing in alpine resorts, snowboard users, and others. Users are now allowed to discover new skiing modes.

Wth the powered device described above, reliable propelling of a surface such as skis or snowboard is ensured with no interferences with ski equipment that could result in a damage or safety issue. Massive interference with ski dynamics is avoided while allowing the most natural ski feeling and experience both on uphill traction use and when being carried on the backpack while downhill skiing. The present powered device may be advantageously used either in an assisted walking or in a skimo mode providing the user with assistance in going uphill.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A non-limiting example of the present powered device for propelling a baseplate will be described in the following, with reference to the appended drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general perspective view of one non-limiting example of a powered device fitted on a pair of skis;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one example of a remote control of the powered device;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one example of a power driven rotating mechanism for the powered device in figure 1 ;

Figures 4a and 4b are elevational views of right and left rotating mechanisms, respectively, to be fitted to the skis shown in figure 1;

Figures 5a and 5b are top views of the right and left rotating mechanisms in figures 4a, 4b respectively;

Figure 6 is a detail, close-up perspective view of the power driven rotating mechanism in figure 3; and

Figure 7 is a rear perspective view of the powered device fitted on a ski.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES

In the example shown in figures 1-7 of the drawings, the powered device 100 is intended for propelling surfaces 10, 11, on snow. In this particular example, the surfaces to be propelled are a pair of skis 10, 11. The powered device 100 may of course be fitted to other surfaces such as snow boards and the like.

As shown in figure 1 of the drawings, the powered device 100 comprises a first power driven rotating mechanism 210 intended to be fitted to a left ski 10 and a second power driven rotating mechanism 211 intended to be fitted to a right ski 11.

Referring to figures 1, 3, 4a-5b, and 6, 7 of the drawings, the first rotating mechanism

210 comprises an endless rubber crawler 210a and the second rotating mechanism

211 comprises a corresponding endless rubber crawler 211a. As shown in figures 4a, 4b of the drawings, the endless rubber crawler 210a of the first rotating mechanism 210 is configured for rotating around first and second spaced apart power driven rotating members 210b, 210c while the endless rubber crawler 211a of the second rotating mechanism 211 is configured for rotating around corresponding first and second spaced apart power driven rotating members 211b, 211c. The respective rotating members 210b, 210c, 211b, 211c of the first and second rotating mechanisms 210, 211 are powered through a power supply 300 that is diagrammatically shown in figure 1 stored within a backpack 700. The power supply 300 comprises one, two, or more batteries such as 300 Wh batteries that can last up to 2-3 h or more providing a top speed of 12 km/h or more to the skier at a 30% climb, or more. It is however understood that other lower and higher values than those cited above for the performance of the batteries 300 are possible as long as the user is suitably propelled on the skis 10, 11 over the snow.

Electrical cables 360 connect the batteries 300 in the backpack 700 to the rotating mechanisms 210, 211 of the powered device 100 fitted to skis 10, 11. The electrical cables 360 are held to the user’s legs through respective leg straps 350 as shown in figure 1 of the drawings.

A control unit, not shown is provided. The control unit includes wireless remote control 400 as shown in figure 2 for controlling throttle and other functions of the rotating mechanisms 210, 211. The control unit is also configured for controlling traction by continuously matching a translational speed of the skis 10, 11 and a rotational speed of the first and second rotating mechanisms 210, 211 during use. When one of the rotating members 210b, 210c, 211b, 211c is detected to rotate faster or slower than the other when one of them slips or is in the air, the speed is automatically adjusted to match that of the other. As shown in figures 5a, 5b, 6 of the drawings, the powered device 100 is also provided with first attaching means 500 for attachment to a right ski 10 and second attaching means 501 for attachment to a left ski 10. The attaching means 500 allow the respective first and second rotating mechanisms 210, 211 to be releasably attached to a corresponding outer lateral side 10’, 1T of the respective ski 10, 11. In use, the first and second rotating mechanisms 210, 211 are arranged in an operating position shown in figures 1, 6, 7 to track over the snow.

The attaching means 500, 501 of the respective rotating mechanisms 210, 211 in the example shown in figures 1, 6, 7 comprise corresponding coupling plates 550, 551, as shown in figure 3, 5a, 5b, 6 and 7. The coupling plates 550, 551 are releasably attached to a rear portion of the skis 10, 11, under the user’s boot 900. More specifically, when fitted to the skis 10, 11, the power driven rotating mechanisms 210, 211 of the present of the powered device 100 are each positioned under and behind the skier’s boots 900 as shown in figures 1 and 7 of the drawings.

The powered device 100 can be arranged at least in the above mentioned operating position to track over the snow as shown in the figures and also in a resting position where the powered device 100 offers no interference with snow. When the powered device 100 is in the operating position, the rotating mechanisms 210, 211 are arranged vertical or substantially vertical, that is, at least substantially perpendicular to the snow or to the surfaces of the skis 10, 11 to track over the snow. The powered device 100 can be arranged in the resting position by pivoting the rotating mechanisms 210, 211 for lying them on the surface of the skis 10, 11 or by detaching the powered devices 100 from the skis 10, 11.

The change from the operating position to the resting position and vice versa of the powered devices 100 is performed quickly and easily by the skier manually although it could be performed automatically by any mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic switching mechanism. It is advantageous that switching the rotating mechanisms 210, 211 from the operating position to the resting position does not require the skis 10, 11 to be taken off.

Releasable attachment of each rotating mechanism 210, 211 to an outer lateral side 10’, 1T of the ski 10, 11 allows the skier to go forward uphill against gravity and go downhill with no interferences during use, with the rotating mechanisms 210, 211 either folded onto the respective skis 10, 11 or detached therefrom.

Detachment or release of the powered devices 100 is performed quickly and easily as putting on and taking off the skis 10, 11. The powered devices 100 can be then stored within the above mentioned backpack 700, for example, for going downhill.

In the operating position, the skis 10, 11 are always in close contact with the snow so the user is capable of freely uphill skiing as if the powered device 100 is not fitted to the skis 10, 11. The powered device 100 offers almost the same ski feeling on uphill than standard or gravity or downhill ski with no device fitted.

Reference is now made to figure 6 of the drawings. The powered device 100 has a suspension mechanism 560. The suspension mechanism 560 provides stabilization and suspension to the rotating mechanisms 210, 211 during use over the snow. In the non-limiting example shown in the figures, the suspension mechanism 560 comprises a compression spring 565 extending along and surrounding a telescopic shaft 566. A first end of the telescopic shaft 566 is pivotally linked to a portion of the coupling plate 550, 551 of the attaching means 500, 501. A second, opposite end of the telescopic shaft 566 is pivotally linked to a support plate 350 that carries the rotating mechanism 210, 211. The support plate 350 is in turn pivotally linked to the coupling plate 550, 551 through a pivot shaft 555. The pivot shaft 555 is part of first slope-adjusting means that will be described further below.

The displacement of the telescopic elements of the telescopic shaft 566 as the support plate 350 is pivoted about pivot shaft 555 to the coupling plate 550, 551 during tracking of the endless rubber crawlers 210a, 211a of the rotating mechanisms 210, 211 over the snow is damped by the spring action of the compression spring 565 that urges the support plate 350 away from the coupling plate 550, 551.

Height-adjusting means 800 are also provided. The height-adjusting means 800 are configured for adjusting an angular position of the support plate 350 relative to the coupling plate 550, 551. As a result, a separation distance from the rotating mechanisms 210, 211 to the respective surface of the skis 10, 11 can be properly adjusted. The height-adjusting means 800 allow an insertion depth of the rotating mechanisms 210, 211 into the snow to be easily adjusted allowing a better traction on different snow types to be obtained. The height-adjusting means 800 may be an adjusting screw as in the example shown in figure 6. In some examples, the height adjusting means 800 may include locking means for establishing a predetermined length of the telescopic shaft 566 and thus the angular position of the support plate 350 to the coupling plate 550, 551.

First and second slope-adjusting means are associated with the suspension mechanism 560.

The first slope-adjusting means 555 allow a first pivoting angle a of the rotating mechanisms 210, 211 to a vertical plane xz to be properly adjusted, as depicted in figure 1 of the drawings. The rotating mechanisms 210, 211 can be thus pivoted from side to side about a longitudinal axis x, that is parallel to a direction of travel, with respect to the surface of the skis 10, 11. The first slope-adjusting means comprise the above mentioned pivot shaft 555 about which the support plate 250 carrying the rotating mechanisms 210, 211 can be pivoted. As the length of the telescopic shaft 566 is varied, the first pivoting angle a of the rotating mechanisms 210, 211 to the vertical plane xz can be easily adjusted at least in the operating position to track over the snow.

The second slope-adjusting means allow a second pivoting angle b of the rotating mechanisms 210, 211 to a horizontal plane xy to be adjusted, as depicted in figure 1 of the drawings. The rotating mechanisms 210, 211 can be thus pivoted for defining the angle b with respect to the skis 10, 11 or being arranged parallel thereto.

With the above mentioned first and second slope-adjusting means, the positioning of the rotating mechanisms 210, 211 can be properly adjusted in angular positions, height, hardness, and geometry in general in the operating position so the behavior of the skis 10, 11 during use. The powered device 100 can be thus operated always as desired with the best traction possible on the snow.

A position of the rotating mechanisms 210, 211 with respect to the direction of travel x at least in the operating position and the resting position may be adjusted. This can be carried out by adjusting position means 600. In the example shown in figure 7, the adjusting position means comprise a guide 600 along which each rotating mechanism 210, 211 is allowed to slide with respect to the direction of travel x. Locking means, not shown, are provided to cooperate with the guide 600 to lock the rotating mechanisms 210, 211 once a desired position in the skis 10, 11 has been reached.

The control unit 400 is configured to cooperate with geolocation systems such as GNSS systems, and/or Bluetooth devices for controlling one or more of the rotating mechanisms 210, 211, the suspension mechanism 560, the height-adjusting means 800, and the first and second slope-adjusting means. At least one sensor may be provided between a ski-binding and boot sole in cooperation with the control unit 400.

An adjustable tensioning strap 650 is also provided. As shown in figure 7, a front end of the tensioning strap 650 is attached to the respective coupling plates 550, 551 and a rear end of the tensioning strap 650 is attached to a rear end of the skis 10, 11 through a suitable strap claw 655. The length of the tensioning strap 650 can be adjusted so as to keep the respective coupling plate 550, 551 suitably locked to the skis 10, 11 during use.

Although one example of a powered device for propelling skiers has been disclosed herein, other alternatives, modifications, uses and/or equivalents thereof are possible. Thus, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by the particular example disclosed herein but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow. Reference signs related to drawings placed in parentheses in the claims are solely for attempting to increase the intelligibility of the claim and shall not be construed as limiting the scope thereof.