Abstract: A sliding recreational device having a body, a seating area for a passenger, and a sliding pan mounted on the bottom of the body is disclosed. A cushioning element mounted in the body protects a passenger from injury while riding the device. By applying certain patterns to the bottom of the sliding pan, a stable, more predictable ride path is made possible for the rider. The addition of a system of pivoting braking elements and cabling enable a passenger to steer and brake the device.

Abstract: The snowmobile having a longitudinal axis, a chassis, a pair of skis each having a steering spindle, and a suspension system. The suspension system comprises, for each ski, a first control arm pivotally mounted to the chassis for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis and having a first pivotal connection to the spindle and a second control arm pivotally mounted to the chassis for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis and having a second pivotal connection to the spindle spaced from the first connection. The pivot axis of each control arm and the connection of that control arm to the spindle define a control arm plane; the control arm planes intersect to define a control line that intersects a vertical plane containing said longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An apparatus is attachable to a conventional snowboard to convert the snowboard into a snow scooter having improved performance characteristics in comparison to those of the snowboard alone. The apparatus includes a member movable relative to the snowboard by either the hands or feet of the rider, and forces and motions applied to that member by the rider are converted by an associated motion and force transmitting mechanism into twisting motions of the rear portion of the snowboard relative to the front portion of the snowboard, allowing the scooter rider to better perform turns and other maneuvers during the riding of the scooter and also allowing the rider to ride the snow scooter without foot bindings fixing his feet to the scooter.

Abstract: A sled having left and right runners pivotably attached to front, center and rear cross members. A central longitudinal member is axially pivotably attached to the front and rear cross members. When rotated, the central longitudinal member moves the central cross member right and left, causing the runners to bend and the sled to turn. The front and rear cross members are free to move toward and away from each other to facilitate the smooth deflection of the runners.

Abstract: A ski vehicle includes a frame having a first ski mounted thereon. A steering column having a handlebar attached thereto is rotatably mounted to the frame. A second ski is mounted to the steering column. A seat post has a first end and an opposing second end. The first end of the seat post is hingedly, removably, and/or slidably mounted to the frame. A seat is mounted to the second end of the seat post.

Abstract: A snow skiing device on which a skier may sit and/or stand. The device includes a frame having a front end and a rear end. A ski system which, in one embodiment, includes a steerable front ski attached to the front end and a rear ski attached to the rear end of the frame. The skis can be in linear alignment with one another. The device further includes a platform extending from the front end to the back end of the frame and is positioned above the skis. The platform, in one embodiment, is parallel to the skis.

Abstract: A dog powered and human controlled vehicle comprising a frame structure having a horizontally oriented opening within which will be positioned at least one dog. The frame structure comprises a pair of frame members transversely spaced apart by forward and rearward transversely extending means. The front of the frame is supported by means which includes a steerable member adapted to have contact with the ground. The rear end of the frame is supported by means adapted to have contact with the ground, the frame structure being thus supported a preselected distance from the ground. Manually operable steering means are provided at the rear end of the structure and is connected to a steerable member at the front end so as to change direction of travel of the vehicle. Means are provided for tethering a dog to the frame structure and for connecting a dog harness on a dog to the frame structure so that forward directed longitudinal pulling force produced by the dog is applied to the frame structure.

Abstract: A ski vehicle includes a frame having a first ski mounted thereon. A steering column having a handlebar attached thereto is rotatably mounted to the frame. A second ski is mounted to the steering column. A seat post has a first end and an opposing second end. The first end of the seat post is hingedly, removably, and/or slidably mounted to the frame. A seat is mounted to the second end of the seat post.

Abstract: An inflatable tube ski vehicle with steering mechanism comprises an inflated, torus-shaped tube or bladder and a ski insert disposed in the central opening of the bladder. The ski insert may be dish-shaped, or it may partially wrap around the top and/or bottom of the bladder. In either case, the ski vehicle has a steering/braking mechanism comprising left and right lever arms pivotally attached to and extending down through the ski insert. To turn, a rider simply pulls on one of the lever arms, causing a lower portion of the lever arm to extend past a bottom of the insert. To brake, both arms are pulled simultaneously. Because the ski vehicle is round and because the weight of the vehicle and rider are largely uniformly distributed over the center of the vehicle, a pivot or fulcrum point occurs directly under the rider's seat, affording a significant degree of control.

Abstract: A sled apparatus for sledding through snow covered terrain. The sled apparatus includes a rear portion including a panel having a top surface and a bottom surface. The panel has a back edge, a front edge, and a pair of side edges. A back pair of runners is attached to the bottom surface. Each one of the back pair of runners is positioned generally adjacent to and extends along one of the side edges of the panel such that the back pair of runners is orientated generally parallel to each other. A tongue is attached to and extends outwardly away from the front edge of the panel. A steering member is rotatably attached to the tongue.

Abstract: A sliding twist vehicle for snowy ground. The sliding twist vehicle includes a vehicle frame, a twisting unit, a transmission unit, and a steering unit. The transmission unit has a control portion, which is extended above the vehicle frame, connected to the steering unit, and a twisting portion, which is extended below the vehicle frame, connected to the driving portion of the twisting unit. The twisting unit further has two sharp edge portions extended along the two sides of the twisting unit from the driving portion respectively, two supporting portions which are spacedly apart from the driving portion. The transmission unit is rotationally connected to the vehicle frame such that when a clockwise and an anti-clockwise movement are subsequently imparted to the steering unit, the twisting unit is twisted as a result, causing the sliding twist vehicle to slide forwardly.

Abstract: A three runner sled includes a single steerable front runner and two directionally fixed rear runners extending from a frame. The frame has a longitudinal backbone member with an elongate seat. Each rear runner has a knee rest somewhat forwardly positioned relative to the seat. Each rear runner also has a foot rest at its rearward end. This configuration results in a kneeling position for the sled operator, providing a relatively low center of gravity for the sled and operator, yet allowing the operator to readily shift his/her weight laterally for better balance and control. The telescoping steering column connecting the front runner to the sled frame includes an adjustable suspension. Independently actuated brakes are provided at the rearward ends of the rear runners, controlled by separate brake levers. Attachments may be provided for carrying the sled on a person's back, for convenient sled transport.

Abstract: A walking snowboard that enables its user to walk over snow cross-country and also to surf down slopes.

Abstract: The present invention is a sled for use by a person on snow. The sled comprises a low profile body member comprising an upper portion and a bottom portion adapted slide upon the snow. The upper portion comprises a front portion and a rear portion. The rear portion comprises a seat portion adapted for seating by the person. The sled further comprises a low profile rudder member moveably engaged with the rear portion. The low profile rudder member has a handle portion and a snow engagement portion adapted to be in contact with the snow. In operation, the person may grip and move the handle portion thereby causing movement of the snow engagement portion.

Abstract: A snow skiing device on which a skier may sit and/or stand. The device includes a frame having a front end and a rear end. A ski system which, in one embodiment, includes a steerable front ski attached to the front end and a rear ski attached to the rear end of the frame. The skis can be in linear alignment with one another. The device further includes a platform extending from the front end to the back end of the frame and is positioned above the skis. The platform, in one embodiment, is parallel to the skis.

Abstract: The present invention is a snow sled that allows a person to sit and steer the sled by applying a force with their left or right foot. The snow sled comprises a body member connected to a front steering member by a flexible neck member. The body member and the front steering member each comprise a top portion and a bottom portion adapted to slide on the snow. The body member further comprises a seat portion adapted for seating by the person. The steering member further comprises left and right foot mounting portions adapted to receive the left and right feet of the person. A person may make move the sled to the left by extending their right foot to apply a force to the right foot mounting portion. The person may move the sled to the right by extending their left foot to apply a force to the left foot mounting portion.

Abstract: An inflatable tube ski vehicle with steering mechanism comprises an inflated, torus-shaped tube or bladder and a ski insert disposed in the central opening of the bladder. The ski insert may be dish-shaped, or it may partially wrap around the top and/or bottom of the bladder. In either case, the ski vehicle has a steering/braking mechanism comprising left and right lever arms pivotally attached to and extending down through the ski insert. To turn, a rider simply pulls on one of the lever arms, causing a lower portion of the lever arm to extend past a bottom of the insert. To brake, both arms are pulled simultaneously. Because the ski vehicle is round and because the weight of the vehicle and rider are largely uniformly distributed over the center of the vehicle, a pivot or fulcrum point occurs directly under the rider's seat, affording a significant degree of control.

Abstract: An inflatable tube ski vehicle with steering mechanism comprises an inflated, torus- or delta-shaped tube or bladder and a ski insert disposed in the central opening of the bladder. The ski insert may be dish-shaped, or it may partially wrap around the top and/or bottom of the bladder. In either case, the ski vehicle has a steering/braking mechanism comprising left and right lever arms pivotally attached to and extending down through the ski insert. To turn, a rider simply pulls on one of the lever arms, causing a lower portion of the lever arm to extend past a bottom of the insert. To brake, both arms are pulled simultaneously. Because the ski vehicle is generally round and because the weight of the vehicle and rider are largely uniformly distributed over the center of the vehicle, a pivot or fulcrum point occurs directly under the rider's seat, affording a significant degree of control.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sliding twist vehicle for snowy ground. The sliding twist vehicle includes a vehicle frame, a twisting unit, a transmission unit, and a steering unit. The transmission unit has a control portion, which is extended above the vehicle frame, connected to the steering unit, and a twisting portion, which is extended below the vehicle frame, connected to the driving portion of the twisting unit. The twisting unit further has two sharp edge portions extended along the two sides of the twisting unit from the driving portion respectively, two supporting portions which are spacedly apart from the driving portion. The transmission unit is rotationally connected to the vehicle frame such that when a clockwise and an anti-clockwise movement are subsequently imparted to the steering unit, the twisting unit is twisted as a result, causing the sliding twist vehicle to slide forwardly.

Abstract: A three runner sled includes a single steerable front runner and two directionally fixed rear runners extending from a frame. The frame has a longitudinal backbone member with an elongate seat. Each rear runner has a knee rest somewhat forwardly positioned relative to the seat. Each rear runner also has a foot rest at its rearward end. This configuration results in a kneeling position for the sled operator, providing a relatively low center of gravity for the sled and operator, yet allowing the operator to readily shift his/her weight laterally for better balance and control. The telescoping steering column connecting the front runner to the sled frame includes an adjustable suspension. Independently actuated brakes are provided at the rearward ends of the rear runners, controlled by separate brake levers. Attachments may be provided for carrying the sled on a person's back, for convenient sled transport.

Abstract: A snowmobile ski suspension system for increasing the overall performance and adjustability of a snowmobile front suspension. The snowmobile ski suspension system includes a collar member attached to the chassis of the snowmobile, a torsion spring attached about the collar member, a first arm extending radially from the torsion spring engaging the ski support structure, a second arm extending radially from the torsion spring, and an adjustment member attached to the second arm for allowing adjustment of the stiffness of the torsion spring. The first arm may be attached at various locations along the ski support structure in various manners.

Abstract: A snowmobile ski suspension system for increasing the overall performance and adjustability of a snowmobile front suspension. The snowmobile ski suspension system includes a collar member attached to the chassis of the snowmobile, a torsion spring attached about the collar member, a first arm extending radially from the torsion spring engaging the ski support structure, a second arm extending radially from the torsion spring, and an adjustment member attached to the second arm for allowing adjustment of the stiffness of the torsion spring. The first arm may be attached at various locations along the ski support structure in various manners.

Abstract: A modified snowboard includes a multi-position binding system having at least two preset positions, including a first position where the user is able to control the snowboard under conventional use, and a second position where the user is able to rotate the binding systems to extend a guide blade through a slot from a recessed position within the core of the board. The blade when in use projects from the bottom surface to provide guide means to aid the user in controlling the direction of the snowboard during forward movement. A retractable guide blade for snowboards is also disclosed.

Abstract: A snowmobile design, including a modular front suspension system and a stabilizer assembly, a lightweight frame structure and a drive train that reduces the center of gravity of the snowmobile. The modular front suspension system for a snowmobile that is substantially self-contained and self-supporting. The present modular front suspension system is assembled around a primary support structure, such as an extrusion or other structural member. The primary support structure can be easily attached to, or detached from, the snowmobile frame. The modularity of the present suspension system decreases assembly costs. A stabilizer assembly extends through the center opening and is mechanically coupled to the ski spindle housings.

Abstract: A steering ski for a snowmobile is disclosed. The steering ski comprises a ski body and a wear bar connected to a ski bracket. The ski bracket is used to attach the ski to the balance of the snowmobile. The ski body also receives a reinforcing member that reinforces a portion of the ski body which is curved upwardly. Reinforcing ribs travel along the length of the ski body on an upper portion of the ski body. The sole of the ski body or lower surface includes a keel that expand in width from a forward-most portion and then decreases in width rearward of a juncture between a snow contacting portion of the ski body and the upwardly-extending portion of the ski body. A wear bar is positioned along the keel and depends below a lowermost portion of the keel rearward of the widest portion of the keel. The wear bar extends into the ski body through a forward aperture and a rearward aperture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a twist vehicle which includes three interchangeable driving devices, so that by changing the driving devices, the twist vehicle is capable of moving on different environments. The twist vehicle includes a changeable driving device connected to a twisting device, which is then connected to a steering device by a transmission device, so that when a clockwise and an anti-clockwise movements are imparted to the steering device, the twisting device turns correspondingly as a result, causing the twist vehicle to move on a flat ground, a snowy ground or water, depending on the selectively prearranged driving device of the twist vehicle.

Abstract: A front snowmobile suspension of the type having a ski carried at the front end of a trailing arm. The rear end of the trailing arm is pivotably secured to the chassis and the front end of the trailing arm is pivotably secured to the chassis by a pair of generally transversely mounted radius rods which in turn are pivotably secured to the chassis. Each radius rod has an inner end pivotably attached to the chassis and an outer end pivotably attached to the front end of the trailing arm. The outer ends of the radius rods are positioned forwardly of the inner ends of the radius rods a sufficient distance that the radius rods, viewed from the top, form an angle of at least about 15° with respect to a transverse plane that is perpendicular to the chassis centerline.

Abstract: A gravity driven steerable vehicle having wheels, or skis or a combination of wheels and skis for recreational use, most particularly on surfaces such as pavement, artificial hard-pack turf, mountain slopes, dirt roads, grass and hard-packed or non-packed snow. The vehicle has at least three (3) but preferably four (4) wheels, or skis or a combination of wheels and skis which may or may not be on independent axles one from the other and which may or may not be each independently shock suspended. There is also a steering mechanism for steering the vehicle and a driver compartment portion for containing a driver of the vehicle in a prone face-down and face-forward position. The vehicle is steerable by the driver from the prone face-down and face-forward position. The mechanism for suspension of the wheels and/or skis is configured to provide precise control in turns especially the carving of turns, by the skis, while descending on snow covered terrain.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a sled having independently steerable skis is provided. The apparatus provides a sled having skis that move in three distinct directions in response to a single control input. Each of the skis is independently controlled, and can be used in combination or individually to control the movement of the sled. The sled may be provided with a seat for carrying a human occupant, or alternatively may be remotely controlled using extended levers, or servo motors operated remotely, such as by a radio frequency remote controller. The method of the present invention comprises controlling a sled by providing a control input to a first ski of a sled, wherein the control input simultaneously pushes down the ski in relation to the frame, rotates a forward end of the ski towards the center of the sled, and rotates the ski about its longitudinal axis such that an outside edge of the ski moves towards the frame of the sled and an inside edge of the ski moves away from the sled.

Abstract: A linking system for linking a steering rod to a steering gear in a steerable vehicle. In particular, the steerable vehicle is a snowmobile having a frame, a pair of skis pivotally mounted on the frame, a handlebar rotatably mounted onto the frame, and a linking system for linking the handlebar to the skis for steering the snowmobile. The linking system comprises a drive sprocket mounted for common rotation with the steering rod. It also comprises a chain having a first end and a second end. The chain is trained about the drive sprocket. A pair of driven sprockets redirect the first and second ends of the chain. The chain is trained about the pair of driven sprockets. The system further comprises a sliding rod having a middle portion connected to the first and second ends of the chain, and a pair of end portions connected to the steering gear of the steerable vehicle.