Patent Application
20080246255
The method relates to a skiing device.
Downhill skiing by standing on a platform has become a popular sport. When a skier maneuvers a turn on a downhill slope, the skier must rely on the control edges of the skies. One problem of the currently available skiing devices is that it is very difficult to take sharp turns without having to substantially tilt the platform to an unnatural attitude with added the risk of losing balance or sliding off the platform. There is a need for a skiing device that enables carving of sharp turns without having to tilt the platform too much.
The skiing device of the present invention provides a solution to the above-outlined problems. More particularly, the skiing device of the present invention has a platform including a first axle and a second axle. A first skid has a third axle and a fourth axle. A second skid has a fifth axle and a sixth axle. A first arm is rotatably attached to the first axle and the third axle. A second arm is rotatably attached to the second axle and the fourth axle. A third arm is rotatably attached to the first axle and the fifth axle. A fourth arm is rotatably attached to the second axle and the sixth axle. The first axle is located a distance d1 from the second axle. The third axle is located a distance d2 from the fourth axle. The fifth axle is located a distance d2 from the sixth axle wherein the distance d1 is greater than the distance d2. The platform is tiltable to an angle alpha6 relative to a horizontal plane (H) while the rotatably attached first and second arms tilt the first skid to an angle alpha4 and the rotatably attached third and fourth arms tilt the second skid to an angle alpha5 relative to the horizontal plane. The angle alpha4 and the angle alpha5 are both greater than the angle alpha6. This means the skids are tilted to a more severe tilting angle compared to the tilting angle of the platform.
With reference to
The platform 12 has a support plate 18 having a first axle 20 and a second axle 22. A first arm 24 has a first end 26 rotatably attached to the first axle 20 and an opposite second end 28 rotatably attached to a third axle 30 on the first skid 14. A second arm 32 has a first end 34 rotatably attached to the axle 22 and an opposite end 36 rotatably attached to a fourth axle 38. A third arm 40 has a first end 42 rotatably attached to the first axle 20 and a second opposite end 44 rotatably attached to a fifth axle 46. Finally, a fourth arm 48 has a first end 50 rotatably attached to the second axle 22 and a second opposite end 52 rotatably attached to a sixth axle 54.
An important feature of the skiing device 10 of the present invention is that the first axle 20 is located a distance d1 from the second axle 22 and the third axle 30 is located a distance d2 from the fourth axle 38 wherein the distance d1 is greater than the distance d1. Similarly, the fifth axle 46 is located the distance d2 from the sixth axle 54. Another important feature is that the first arm 24 is movable relative to the third arm 42 so that the angle alpha1 may change as the skiing device is tilted, as explained in detail below.
The first axle 20 may include an arm stopper 56 to prevent the angle alpha1 from growing beyond a first maximum angle size. Similarly, the second arm 32 is movable relative to the fourth arm 48 so that the angle alpha2 may change. The second axle 22 may also include an arm stopper 58 to prevent the angle alpha2 from growing beyond a second maximum angle size. Instead of using the arm stoppers 56, 58, it is possible to use bolts extending through the arms.
When the skiing device 10 is tilted, such as when skiing or carving on a steep skiing slope, the skids 14 and 16 are tilted at a steeper angle compared to tilting angle of the platform 12. The distance d1 is greater than the distance d2, as best shown in
For example, in
As indicated above, the arm stoppers 56 and 58 have the important function of limiting the maximum angle of angle alpha1 and alpha2 while still enabling them to change slightly, to prevent the skiing device from locking up in an undesirable position. For example, in
As the skiing device is tilted, the angle alpha1 between the first arm 24 and the second arm 40 is reduced to angle alpha3 while the angle alpha2 remains the same due to the arm stopper 58.
The skid 114 has a first curved groove 160 defined therein so that a fourth axle 138 may slide in the groove 160 and be movable relative to the skid 114. The skid 116 has a second curved groove 162 defined therein so that a fifth axle 146 may slide in the groove 162 and be movable relative to the skid 116. It is to be understood that the grooves 160, 162 may also be straight and directed in any suitable direction on the skids 114, 116. For example, it may be possible to adjust the location and direction of the grooves 160 and 162 so that the skid 114 is parallel to the skid 116 and so that the angle alpha4 and angle alpha5 are identical or very similar even when the skiing device is tilted.
In an alternative embodiment it may be possible to modify the linking arms so that the length of the arms is adjustable. This could mean that it is not necessary to adjust the angles between arms or to have the axles move in a grove as the skiing device is tilted. For example, the arms may be equipped with a spring-biased member that permits the arms to lengthen or shorten, as desired.
With reference to
While the present invention has been described in accordance with preferred compositions and embodiments, it is to be understood that certain substitutions and alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.
This is a US patent application that claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/909,951, filed 4 Apr. 2007.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60909951 | Apr 2007 | US |
