WO2003039938A1

WO2003039938A1 - Snowboat

Info

Publication number: WO2003039938A1
Application number: PCT/SK2002/000020
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ludovít VESELY; Dusan Jantos
Original assignee: Vesely Ludovit; Dusan Jantos
Priority date: 2001-11-07
Filing date: 2002-10-22
Publication date: 2003-05-15
Also published as: SK16132001A3

Abstract

The snowboat is a piece of sports equipment whose design is based on the previously-untried constructional fusion of a boat-shaped hull structure with a sliding runner (1) flanked with guiding grooves (2). The upper part of the hull structure may be terminated with a peripheral frame (3), to which at least one pair of hand-rails (4) may be fitted. The Snowboat is intended for descending sloping, particularly snow-covered terrains with various degrees of difficulty.

Description

Snowboat

Description of the invention

Technical features. This invention consists of an item of sports equipment called the Snowboat. This serves principally for descending snow-covered terrain at various degrees of difficulty". Control of the Snowboat does not require contact between the Snowboater's feet and the ground. Its design is based on the previously-untried constructional fusion of a boat-shaped hull with a sliding runner and guiding grooves. Directional control of this invention is provided by the guiding grooves in the underside of the hull, or if need be also by a braking system.

Preceding technology. No sports equipment exists at the present time which might be compared with the Snowboat, or which might have served as its technical design model. With its shape and intended use the Snowboat is slightly reminiscent of a toboggan or sledge, but the difference is that the grooves in its underside enable its direction and speed to be controlled without the Snowboater's feet coming into contact with the ground.

Essence of the invention. The Snowboat is so named because of its semi-enclosed, rounded constructional form. This invention has the potential for great variability in its shape, dimensions and design in connection with its manner of riding as well as the external conditions, i.e. surface, slope and complexity of the terrain. The underside of the Snowboat consists of a sliding runner on either side of which one or several pairs of guiding grooves are located. The variability of the Snowboat's internal architecture lies in the potential for installing different structures serving for example for fitting an auxiliary drive or braking system in the Snowboat, or a seating surface to suit a cross-country riding style. For performance sport riding the Snowboater either crouches or lies in the Snowboat, depending on the design of the invention. Control of the Snowboat is based on the principle of lateral weight transfer, as the Snowboater leans over to the side of the required direction of travel, and the angle of leaning determines which parts of the guiding grooves come into contact with the ground and with what force, thus influencing the direction of movement of the Snowboat. Additional control mechanisms for the Snowboat could be an auxiliary drive or braking system. Part of its internal equipment consists of single or multiple pairs of hand-rails, intended to improve the Snowboater's stability during the ride. These rails could also fulfil an additional controlling function, for instance if they are connected to the Snowboat's braking system. Summary of technical drawings. The appended technical drawings depict the Snowboat as follows: Fig.l - side view,Fig.2 - top view, Fig.3 - bottom view, Fig.4 - rear view, Fig.5 - front view.

Practical realizations of the invention. The basic version of the Snowboat consists of a boat-shaped hull structure. Particular design solutions may vary from that of the prototype shown in Fig.l depending on the type of ride desired and the external conditions, i.e. the surface, slope and complexity of the terrain. The underside of the hull is equipped with a sliding runner 1 flanked with at least one pair of guiding grooves 2 which serve to control the Snowboat. In particular design solutions these guiding grooves can have differing rake, geometry, number and arrangement. The hull is attached principally to the peripheral frame 3j which is also the functional terrnination of the sliding runner 1 and is designed to increase the Snowboater's comfort and safety. As a rule the upper part of the peripheral frame 3 has at least one pair of hand-rails 4 fitted to it, which the Snowboater can hold onto to improve his/her stability, but which can also fulfil an additional controlling function, for example if they are connected up to the Snowboat's braking system.

The variable inner architecture of the Snowboat's hull permits a number of different structures to be created, serving for instance for the installation of an auxiliary drive or braking system, or a cockpit with a sitting surface for the Snowboater.

Range of commercial applications. The range of the Snowboat invention's applications takes in all places where someone wants to descend especially snow-covered sloping terrain without direct contact of their feet with the ground. This new item of characteristic sports equipment will find itself being used by all sorts of people who enjoy exercise particularly in the winter countryside, regardless of their state of physical fitness or their age. The Snowboat is a unique alternative for descending sloping terrain, especially snow-covered, for sportspeople with paraplegia of the lower limbs.

Claims

BASIS FOR PATENT CLAMS

1. The Snowboat, with its hull structure and variable internal architecture permitting the creation of different structures designed for installation of an auxiliary drive or braking system, or sitting surfaces for the Snowboater, is distinguished from other devices intended for descending snow-covered slopes in particular by the underside of its boat-shaped hull having a sliding runner (1) flanked with at least one pair of guiding grooves (2) enabling the Snowboat's direction to be controlled without contact between the Snowboater's feet and the ground.

2. The Snowboat as presented in claim no.l is distinguished from other equipment by having the upper part of its hull structure terminated in a peripheral frame (3).

3. The Snowboat as presented in claims nos.l and 2 is distinguished from other equipment by having the upper part of its peripheral frame (3) fitted with at least one pair of hand-rails (4).