US3529847A

US3529847A - Mono-ski

Info

Publication number: US3529847A
Application number: US728936A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ray F Shores
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-05-14
Filing date: 1968-05-14
Publication date: 1970-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 1987-09-22

Description

United States Patent 3,529,847 MONO-SKI Ray F. Shores, Baltimore, Md. (3 Brookebury Drive, Reisterstown, Md. 21136) Filed May 14, 1968, Ser. No. 728,936 Int. Cl. B62b 17/06 US. Cl. 28012 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A single ski having an upwardly extending rod pivotally connected thereto and terminating in a handle bar. A braking system operable from the handle bar permits the position of the rod to be adjusted during use and a light connected to the rod can be oriented in various directions by the skier without affecting the direction of the skis motion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to skis and, more particularly, to a mono-ski having an upwardly extending member providing support to the skier.

Description of the prior art Traditionally, man has employed a pair of skis in transversing snow covered terrain. As is well known, each of these skis consists of a single extended runner, curved upwardly at the front end, and includes some type of fastening to facilitate attachment to the foot of the skier. Considerable skill is required to utilize these devices, i.e., for the operator to continually maintain his balance and to control the path of travel by exerting the proper pressures through his legs and feet to the skis. More recently, increasing popularity is being enjoyed by devices comprising a single ski supporting the skier. In this case, the skier positions both of his feet on a single runner which is provided with an upwardly extending rod or arm terminating in a handle. By gripping the handle with both hands, the skier is able to obtain substantial support. Further, by exerting forces on the handle, transverse of the longitudinal axis of the ski, the skier is readily able to direct the course that the ski travels over the snow. Because of the support and guidance assistance provided by the upright member, plus the fact that only one ski must be controlled, relatively little skill is required to operate skis of this latter type. Consequent- 1y, not only is this new skiing technique becoming popular with skilled skiers, but it is also extremely popular with children and persons learning to ski.

One major limitation of heretofore designed single skis is the fact that the support arm has either been permanently positioned with respect to the ski runner or freely pivotally connected thereto. It has been found highly desirable for the skier to be able to change the position of the arm during different stages of the ski run and, of course, this is not possible with the former type of structure. Additionally, this type of structure presents a potentially dangerous condition in case of accident since the skier is confronted with a rigid obstacle which can cause great harm. The latter type of structure suffers from the fact that the freely pivotal connection materially detracts from the amount of support the arm is able to provide to the skier.

Another problem experienced when using any type of ski equipment is associated with night skiing. A number of lighted slopes are now available, but Where unavailable for one reason or another, the skier must either carry a lighted torch or his activities must be restricted to the daytime. The lighted torch solution to the problem "ice is obviously inconvenient and requires an extreme degree of balance control and, therefore, is only possible for the most skilled skiers. The inventor has devised a unique means whereby a person utilizing a single ski can continually scan the slope with a beam of light while skiing without adversely affecting his balance on the runner to any noticeable degree.

These limitations of prior art ski apparatus are overcome by the present invention.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus controlled by the skier for lighting ski slopes.

It is another object of this invention to provide a flashlight attachment for a mono-ski, the light beam of which can be oriented in various directions by the skier without substantially aflfecting his normal skiing position or balance.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a flashlight attachment for a mono-ski, the light beam of which can be oriented in various directions by the skier without exerting any force on the ski runner tending to change the direction of movement thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a support member on a mono-ski which can conveniently be fixedly positioned in a variety of positions by the skier while making a run.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a fixedly positioned support member on a mono-ski which will not present a rigid obstacle in case of accident.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of the preferred embodiment when read in connection With the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers have been employed in the different figures to denote the same parts and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a ski embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2 showing in more detail the entire support member of this invention; and

FIG. 4 is an elevation view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION This invention in its preferred embodiment briefly comprises a ski runner having a pair of foot engaging members and a rounded mounting cleat attached thereto. A support rod is pivotally connected to the mounting cleat and carries a pair of brake shoes which releasebly engage opposite sides of the mounting cleat. A handle bar is connected to the other end of the support rod by a ball and socket joint and carries a flashlight and a pivotally mounted arm connected to the brake shoes by a shielded cable. Movement of the arm from its normal position against a restraining spring force disengages the brake shoes from the mounting cleat and permits the arm to be pivotally repositioned along the longitudinal axis of the ski runner. 1

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. 1, a pair of

boot grips

10, 12 are shown mounted on a ski runner 14. These

boot grips

10, 12 may conveniently be formed of molded rubber and attached by the skier, according to his personal desires, to the ski runner '14 by screws (not shown). A pad 16 of rubber or other material having a relatively skid-proof surface is attached by any suitable means to the ski runner 14 between it and the boot grips 12 so as to cover the general area where the skiers feet will be positioned when using the mono-ski of this invention. Also connected to the ski runner 14, well forward of the

boot grips

10, 12, is a mounting cleat 18 having a rounded face 20 over which is positioned a clamp 22. A plurality of screws 24 passing through holes provided in

flanged ends

26, 28 of the clamp 22 engages the ski runner 14 to securely fasten the mounting cleat 18 thereto.

As may be better seen by reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, a pair of

yoke arms

30, 32 are attached to opposite sides of the lower end of a support rod 34 and are provided with a pair of aligned

bores

36, 38. The mounting cleat 18 is also provided with a bore 40. The support rod 34 is pivotally connected to the mounting cleat 18 by a bolt 42 which passes through the

aligned bores

36, 38 of the

yoke arms

30, 32 and the bore 40 of the mounting cleat 18 and the

yoke arms

30, 32 and a nut 48 cooperates with threads of the bolt 42 to complete the assembly.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the support rod 34 is of tubular construction. Inserted within the upper end 50 of the support rod 34 and fastened thereto by a bolt 52 is a nipple 54 provided with a ball 56'. A socket member 58 is positioned on the ball 56 so as to form a ball and socket joint. Welded to opposite portions of the socket member 58 are

handle bars

60, 62. A flashlight 64 is mounted to the top of the socket member 58 by a clamp 66.

Now referring to FIG. 4, it will be noted that the rear section of the socket member 58 includes a slit 68 with opposed flanges 70, 72 disposed on either side thereof. A wing nut 74 passes through the flanges 70, 72 and thereby provides means for adjusting the closeness of the fit of, i.e., the frictional forces between, the socket member 58 and the ball 56. These frictional forces are adjusted by the use of the wing nut 74 so that the

handle bars

60, 62 can be freely turned or pivoted by the skier with respect to the support rod 34 but will readily retain any given position when released.

As may best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a pair of

brake shoe arms

76, 78 are pivotally connected together and to the support rod 34 by a bolt 80 which passes through bores suitably provided in the brake shoe arms and a bore 82 in the support rod. The inner faces of lower extremities 84, '86 of the

brake shoe arms

76, 78 are provided with

brake shoes

88, 90, respectively. Mounted on the bolt 80 is a U-type spring 92, the ends 94, 96 of which are positioned between and against the

upper extremities

98, 100, respectively, of the

brake shoe arms

76, 78. In this manner, the forces exerted by the U-type spring 92 on the

brake shoe arms

76, 78 continually urge the

brake shoes

88, 90 into contact with the

sides

102, 104 of the mounting cleat 18. The

brake shoes

88, 90 and the mounting cleat 18 are formed of materials that will provide excellent frictional contact therebetween. For instance, the mounting cleat 18 may be formed of Micarta and the

brake shoes

88, 90, of rubber. I

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, one end of a shielded cable is connected through the

upper extremities

98, 100 of the

brake shoe arms

76, 78 and the other end thereof is connected to a lever 10 8 pivotally attached to the handle bar 62 by a clamp 110.

Clamps

112 and 114 retain the intermediate section 116 of the shielded cable 106 in snug fit against the support rod 34.

It will be appreciated that the spring 92 will continually urge the

brake shoes

88, 90 against the

sides

102, 104 of the mounting cleat 1-8, respectively, and the lever 108 towards its extended position away from the handle bar 62. When the skier exerts a gripping force on the handle bar 62 and lever 108 so as to move the lever towards the 4 handle bar, the brake shoes 88, will be withdrawn from contact with the mounting cleat 18.

OPERATION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In operation, the skier positions himself on the ski runner 14 by placing the toes of his boots in the respective boot grips 10, 12. He then adjusts the upward orientation of the support rod 34 with respect to the ski runner 1-4 to suit his preference by exerting a squeezing force on the handle bar 62 and lever 108, thereby releasing the

brake shoes

88, 90 from contact with the mounting cleat 18, pivoting the support rod 34 to the desired position and releasing his grip on the lever which then causes the brake shoes to grip the mounting cleat under the force of spring 92. The support rod 34 is then locked into the desired position. Simultaneously, the handle bars 60, 62 are moved to the desired position against the frictional forces between ball 56 and socket member 58.

The skier then commences his run down the slope gripping the handle bars 60', 62 to obtain support. Additionally, he controls the course followed by the ski runner 14 by exerting forces thereon, as desired, transverse of the longitudinal axis 118 (FIG. 1) of the runner through the handle bars 60, 62 and the support rod 34. During his run, the skier will often find it desirable to change the orientation of the support rod 34 on the mounting cleat 18 with respect to the ski runner 14. This is readily accomplished by squeezing the lever 108 toward the handle bar 62 to release the brake shoes 88, 90', pivoting the support rod 34 to the new position and subsequently releasing the lever 108 to look the support rod in the new position by action of the brake shoes against the mounting cleat '18.

When using the mono-ski at night on an unlighted or dimly lighted slope, the same procedure set forth above is followed. Additionally, the flashlight 64 is energized prior to commencing the run. As the skier transverses his course, he can continually scan the slope with the light beam emitted from the flashlight 64 for obstacles and other hazards without removing his hands from the handle bars 60, 62, therefore without adversely affecting his balance on the ski runner 14. Additionally, this scanning operation is accomplished without the necessity of exerting any forces through the support rod 34 on the ski runner 14 acting transverse of its longitudinal axis 118 which would unintentionally affect the course traveled by the runner. This highly advantageous light beam scanning technique is made possible by the universal type connection between the handle bars 60, 62 and support rod 34 provided by the ball 56 and socket member 58.

The support rod 34- can be moved to its rearwardmost.

position to facilitate storage of the equipment when not in use. For towing purposes, the support rod 34- can be moved to its forwardmost position.

It is possible to provide other means for releasably engaging the support rod 34 to a mounting cleat. For instance, the

brake shoes

88, 90 could be replaced with prongs which would engage and disengage locking grooves radially provided around the sides of the mounting cleat. However, the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings has an important advantage over a mono-ski incorporating this type of structure. More specifically, in the preferred embodiment, the support rod 34 does not constitute a rigid obstacle in case of an accident. The frictional contact between the brake shoes 88, 90' and the mounting cleat 18 are such as to permit the support rod to pivot under forces exerted on it by the skier should an accident occur.

This invention may be practiced or embodied in other ways without departing from the spirit or essential character thereof. The embodiments described herein are therefore illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

The invention claimed is:

1. Ski apparatus comprising:

a ski runner;

a mounting cleat fixedly attached to said ski runner;

a rod having one end thereof pivotally connected to said mounting cleat;

a handle bar connected to the other end of said rod adapted to provide support for said skier;

first means mounted on said rod to releasably engage said cleat;

second means operable by said skier to selectively disengage and re-engage said first means with respect to said cleat while using said ski runner; said first means including brake shoes and said second means including a cable having one end thereof connected to said brake shoes and the other end thereof operably connected to said handle bar.

2. Ski apparatus comprising:

a ski runner;

a rounded mounting cleat having flat sides fixedly attached to said ski runner;

a rod having one end thereof pivotally connected to said cleat and the other end terminating in a ball;

a handle bar having a socket formed centrally thereof and positioned on said ball to form a ball and socket joint;

a light positioned on said socket;

brake shoes mounted on said rod to releasably engage respective said flat sides of said mounting cleat;

a lever pivotally mounted from said handle bar and adapted to be gripped by said skier when supporting himself from said handle bar; and

a cable connected between said brake shoes and said lever whereby movement of said lever by said skier will cause'said brake shoes to become disengaged from said cleat.

3. Ski apparatus comprising:

a ski runner;

a rod having one end pivotally connected to said ski runner and adapted to extend upwardly from said ski runner;

handle bar means attached to said rod by universal joint means to permit movement about the point of attachment to said rod, said handle bar means being adapted to be gripped by said skier whereby said skier can obtain support while skiing and through which said skier can exert forces on said rod in a direction transverse of the longitudinal axis of said ski runner to change the direction of movement of said ski runner; and

a light fixedly attached to said handle bar means, whereby the skier may change the direction of the light beam emitted from said light while using said ski apparatus without exerting any substantial forces on said rod in a direction transverse of the longitudinal axis of said ski runner.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further including means to adjust the ease of movement of said handle bar means about the point of attachment to said rod.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means for attaching said handle bar means to said rod comprises a ball and socket joint.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further including means to adjust the frictional forces within said ball and socket joint.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said connection between said rod and said ski runner comprises:

a mounting cleat fixedly attached to said ski runner;

and

a pin passing through said cleat pivotally connecting said rod to said cleat;

and additionally including:

second means mounted on said rod for releasably engaging said cleat; and

third means operable by said skier to selectively disengage and re-engage said second means with respect to said cleat while using said ski runner.

8. The ski apparatus of claim 7 wherein said second means includes brake shoes.

9. The ski apparatus of claim 7 wherein said third means includes a cable having one end thereof connected to said second means and the other end thereof Operably connected to said first means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,578,415 3/1926 Ferris 28011.13 XR 1,785,783 12/1930 Mohr 280-46 2,202,217 5/1940 Mallory 74-491 2,710,334 6/1955 Peterson 240-755 FOREIGN PATENTS 989,562 4/ 1965 Great Britain.

LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner L. I. PAPERNER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.