Land vehicles – Skates – Runner type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-12
2001-06-12
Camby, Richard M. (Department: 3661)
Land vehicles
Skates
Runner type
C280S601000, C280S607000, C280S014210
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244615
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention pertains to sporting equipment for use on snow-covered surfaces. More particularly, the invention relates to skis and snowboards for use on inclined terrain.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various types of foot-mounted equipment has been developed for travel or sporting use over snow covered surfaces; incorporating a number of different technologies. U.S. Pat. No. 405,516 issued to Watson is directed to a snowshoe incorporating an opening in the snowshoe. The opening permits the foot, which is secured to the snowshoe with a series of three or more transverse leather straps secured at suitable distances apart to the margin of the opening, to gain a slight purchase on the snow as the foot extends slightly through the opening. While this design is effective in permitting the user to travel on flat ground or uphill, it does not allow him to glide easily downhill.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,304 issued to Nyman, describes a snowboard with dual-acting interchangeable edges designed to provide increased tracking stability on straight ahead runs and increased carving power in turns. While arguably achieving these objectives, the Nyman design requires that one foot be removed from the snowboard to maneuver on flat ground or to get on to or off of chair lifts.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,051, issued to Scherübl, discloses an alpine ski having specific proportions relating to length, width and sidecut for improved control and handling, particularly in deep snow. While the use of such proportions permit improved handling for the ski, the invention does not allow for snowboard-style turning and stopping. U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,078 issued to Vance describes a double edged snowboard having a lower central running surface and a pair of parallel outer running surfaces for use in turning. The three running surfaces are separated by an inner pair of edges and the outer running surfaces are flanked by an outer pair of edges. This snowboard achieves improved handling and stability through the use of its specially adapted running surface and edge system however, it still provides the user with difficulty maneuvering on flat ground and in using chairlifts. Further, this type of snowboard requires a significant investment of time in order for the user to master the skills required for operation of the board.
While other variations exist, the above-described designs for skis, snowshoes and snowboards are typical of those encountered in the prior art. It is an objective of the present invention to provide equipment that allows the user to enjoy the sport of snowboarding with a minimum investment in time to become proficient in its use. It is a further objective to allow the user to maneuver easily on flat ground without the need to remove one foot from the snowboard binding. It is a still further objective of the invention to permit the user to ride chairlift equipment with a minimum of danger and discomfort. It is yet a further objective to provide the user with the capability to easily carve turns and stop on both packed snow surfaces and in deep snow. It is still another objective of the invention to provide the above-described capabilities in inexpensive and durable snowboards that are adaptable for use with standard snowboard boots and bindings.
While some of the objectives of the present invention are disclosed in the prior art, none of the inventions found include all of the requirements identified.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses all of the deficiencies of prior skis and snowboards and satisfies all of the objectives described above.
An improved individual snowboard for each foot providing the desired features may be constructed from the following components. A curved up front shovel, a curved up tail, a top, a bottom, a core and first and second sides are provided. The core is located between the top and the bottom. The shovel and the tail each have an end, an inner side and an outer side. The first side extends from the inner side of the shovel to the inner side of the tail. The second side extends from the outer side of the shovel to the outer side of the tail.
The core is formed of resilient material capable of providing rigidity to the snowboard and securing mounting of a snowboard boot binding. An edge is provided. The edge is formed as a substantially right angle at an intersection of the bottom and each of the front shovel, first and second sides, and the tail.
A variant of the invention further includes first and second sidecuts. The first sidecut is formed as an inward deflection of the first side from a line extending from the inner side of the shovel to the inner side of the tail. The second sidecut is formed as an inward deflection of the second side from a line extending from the outer side of the shovel to the outer side of the tail.
In another variant of the invention, the inward deflection of the first sidecut is in the range of 0.125 inches to 0.25 inches and the inward deflection of the second sidecut is in the range of 0.125 inches to 0.25 inches.
In still another variant, a displacement of the end of the shovel above the top of the snowboard is in the range of one inch to four inches and a displacement of the end of the tail above the top of the snowboard is in the range of one inch to four inches.
In yet another variant of the invention, the edge further includes inset, resilient, hardened material surrounding a perimeter of the snowboard adjacent the bottom. The inset material is capable of being sharpened and holding an edge.
In still a further variant, the edge is segmented at predetermined intervals to provide increased flexibility of the snowboard. In yet a further variant of the invention, low-friction base material is attached to the bottom of the snowboard within an inner perimeter of the inset edge material.
In a final variant of the invention, the low-friction base material is selected from the group containing: urethane plastic, polyurethane and ABS.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3580596 (1971-05-01), Volkl
patent: 4004355 (1977-01-01), Koblick
patent: 4068861 (1978-01-01), Zemke
patent: 4280715 (1981-07-01), Freelander et al.
patent: 4836571 (1989-06-01), Corbisiero
patent: 5393077 (1995-02-01), Wanous
patent: 5398957 (1995-03-01), Leighton et al.
patent: 5687983 (1997-11-01), Feketa et al.
patent: 5720120 (1998-02-01), Smith
patent: 623652 (1961-08-01), None
Mendoza Albert
Mendoza Valetta M.
Beehler & Pavitt
Belasco David A.
Camby Richard M.
Jacobs Robert
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