Patent Application
20190061800
This disclosure relates generally to the field of recreational sports equipment. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a ski scooter device.
Young children can participate in snow tubing and sledding, but this does not teach basic skiing skills. Day-long ski schools attempt to teach the basics of skiing and snowboarding, but strapping the child into skis or snowboards can significantly limit their movement and enjoyment of winter sports. Other solutions attempt to use three connected skis, but these solutions are unable to teach basic skiing skills as the skis are not maintained on the same plane and do not turn with respect to each other. Still other solutions seek to use two skis one in front of the other, but these solutions provide a very unstable platform, are much more likely to sink into soft snow, and do not mimic natural skiing motions.
The disclosure presented herein relates to a ski scooter device. In one, non-limiting embodiment, the ski scooter device may have a central ski, two outrigger skis, a central platform, a suspension system, and a steering mechanism. The ski scooter device may have a torsion spring system and a steering column.
The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:
In the Summary above, this Detailed Description, the claims below, and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, or a particular claim, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally.
Where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where the context excludes that possibility), and the method can include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all the defined steps (except where the context excludes that possibility).
The term “at least” followed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range beginning with that number (which may be a range having an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable being defined). For example, “at least 1” means 1 or more than 1. The term “at most” followed by a number (which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lower limit, or a range having no lower limit, depending upon the variable being defined). For example, “at most 4” means 4 or less than 4, and “at most 40%” means 40% or less than 40%. When, in this specification, a range is given as “(a first number) to (a second number)” or “(a first number)−(a second number),” this means a range having a lower limit and an upper limit corresponding to the first number and the second number, respectively. For example, 25 to 100 mm means a range whose lower limit is 25 mm and upper limit is 100 mm.
Referring now to
In one or more non-limiting embodiments, the scooter 100 may have a central platform 106 that may be attached on top of the central ski 102. In some embodiments, the central platform 106 may have a coating, such as a skateboard grip tape, that sloughs snow while providing traction and stability for a rider standing on the central platform 106. In other embodiments, the central platform 106 may have a skeletal frame featuring a weaved or waffled design that allows snow to fall through the central platform 106 and prevent snow clumping or buildup on the central platform 106. A rider may stand or sit on the central platform 106. In some embodiments, the central platform 106 may be fastened on top of the central ski 102 and later removed if the rider, such as a child, outgrows the central platform 106 or wants a more tactile or board-to-slope feel beneath the rider's feet.
The scooter 100 may also have a steering mechanism 108 such as a handle bar or a steering wheel that provides easy steering and stabilization of the scooter 100 when in use. The steering mechanism 108 may be attached to the suspension system 110 and may sit on top of the central platform 104. The suspension system 110 may be attached to the outrigger skis 104 and may control the angular or turn initiation movements of the outrigger skis 104. A rider may initiate turns by manipulating the steering mechanism 108, which in turn causes the suspension system 110 to move the outrigger skis 104 resulting in a turn. For instance, the steering mechanism 104 may have a steering column 112 and a handle bar 113. A rider may turn or tilt the handle bar 113 left to turn left on the scooter 100 going down a mountain slope. In some embodiments, the steering mechanism 108 may have an adjustable steering column or may be folded down for easier transporting and storage.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.
All the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
While embodiments have been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the SKI SCOOTER DEVICE. Accordingly, the scope of the SKI SCOOTER DEVICE is not limited by the disclosure of these preferred and alternate embodiments. Instead, the scope of the SKI SCOOTER DEVICE may be determined entirely by reference to the claims. Insofar as the description above and the accompanying drawings (if any) disclose any additional subject matter that is not within the scope of the claims below, the inventions are not dedicated to the public and Applicant hereby reserves the right to file one or more applications to claim such additional inventions.
The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.
All the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent, or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35. U.S.C. § 112 ¶ 6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of U.S.C. § 112 ¶ 6.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/552,337 filed Aug. 30, 2017. The content of the above application is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62552337 | Aug 2017 | US |
