SKIING DEVICE

Abstract

The skiing device has a platform and a first axle and a second axle. The first skid has a third axle and a fourth axle. The second skid has a fifth axle and a sixth axle. The first arm is rotatably attached to the first axle and the third axle. The 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 being greater than the distance d2.

Description

PRIOR APPLICATION

This is a US patent application that claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/909,951, filed 4 Apr. 2007.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The method relates to a skiing device.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

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.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the skiing device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the skiing device in a horizontal position;

FIG. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the skiing device in a tilted position;

FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the skiing device in a horizontal position;

FIG. 5 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the skiing device in a tilted position; and

FIG. 6 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the skiing device in a horizontal position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, the skiing device 10 of the present invention has a platform 12 connected to a pair of parallel skids 14, 16. The skiing device of the present invention enables the skier to take sharp turns in a comfortable way without sliding off the platform. In general, the more the skids are tilted relative to the horizontal plane the sharper turn may be accomplished by the skier using the skiing device of the present invention. The more the skids are tilted the more the skier must press down the middle part of the skids so that the sharp edges in the middle part of the skids may also engage the snow. This reduces the turning radius of the skids. In other words, by increasing the tilting angle of the skids a sharper turn may be accomplished.

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 FIG. 2, so the relative angle alpha1 and/or the angle alpha2 may change as the skiing device 10 is tilted.

For example, in FIG. 3, the angle alpha6 is smaller than the corresponding angle alpha4 and angle alpha 5. In other words, the skid 14 tilts at an angle alpha4 relative to the horizontal plane H and the skid 16 tilts at an angle alpha5 while the platform 12 tilts at an angle alpha6 relative to the horizontal plane H. More importantly, both the angle alpha4 and angle alpha5 are greater than the angle alpha6. This means it is not necessary to tilt the platform as much to accomplish the relatively large tilting angles alpha4 and alpha5 of the skids.

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 FIG. 3 the arm stopper 58 limits angle alpha2 from growing beyond the second maximum angle while alpha1 can adjust accordingly.

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.

FIGS. 4-5 shows a second embodiment of the skiing device of the present invention. The skiing device 100 is substantially similar to the skiing device 10 and only the main differences are discussed below. The device 100 has a first skid 114 and a second skid 116. The first arm 124 is rotatably attached to the first axle 120 and the third arm 140 is rotatably attached to the first axle 120. However, the third arm is not rotatable relative to the first arm 124 so the angle beta1 is fixed. Similarly, the second arm 132 is rotatably attached to the second axle 122 and the fourth arm 148 is rotatably attached to the second axle 122. However, the fourth arm is not rotatable relative to the second arm 132 so the angle beta2 is fixed.

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 FIG. 6, the skiing device 200 is virtually identical to the skiing device 100 and only the main differences are described below. The skid 214 has a seventh axle 250 that is connected to the axle 238 via a linking arm 252. Similarly, the skid 216 has an eight axle 254 that is connected to the axle 246 via a linking arm 256. In this way, the skiing device 200 operates in a way that is very similar to the skiing device 100 since the axles 238 and 246 move along a curved path as the skiing device is tilted.

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.

Claims

1. A skiing device, comprising:

a platform (12) having a first axle (20, 120) and a second axle (22, 122);

a first skid (14, 114) having a third axle (30) and a fourth axle (38, 138);

a second skid (16, 116) having a fifth axle (46) and a sixth axle (54);

a first arm (24, 124) having one end rotatably attached to the first axle (20, 120) and a second opposite end rotatably attached to the third axle (30);

a second arm (32, 132) having one end rotatably attached to the second axle (22, 122) and a second opposite end rotatably attached to the fourth axle (38, 138);

a third arm (40, 140) having one end rotatably attached to the first axle (20, 120) and a second opposite end rotatably attached to the fifth axle (46, 146);

a fourth arm (48, 148) having one end rotatably attached to the second axle (22, 122) and a second opposite end rotatably attached to the sixth axle (54);

the first axle (20, 120) being located a distance d1 from the second axle (22, 122);

the third axle (30) being located a distance d2 from the fourth axle (38, 138);

the fifth axle (46) being located a distance d2 from the sixth axle (54), the distance d1 being greater than the distance d2; and

means for tilting the platform (12) to an angle alpha6 relative to a horizontal plane (H) while the first and second arms tilting the first skid (14) to an angle alpha4 relative to the horizontal plane and the third and fourth arms tilting the second skid (16) to an angle alpha5 relative to the horizontal plane, the angle alpha4 and the angle alpha5 both being greater than the angle alpha6.

2. The skiing device according to claim 1 wherein the first arm (24, 124) being movable relative to the third arm (40, 140).

3. The skiing device according to claim 1 wherein the second arm (32) being movable relative to the fourth arm (48).

4. The skiing device according to claim 1 wherein the third axle (30) being at an adjustable distance from the fourth axle (38).

5. The skiing device according to claim 1 wherein the fifth axle (46) being at an adjustable distance from the sixth axle (54).

6. The skiing device according to claim 3 wherein a stopper (58) engages the fourth arm (48).

7. The skiing device according to claim 1 wherein the fourth axle (138) movable within a groove (160) and the second arm (132) is non-rotatable relative to the fourth arm (148).

8. The skiing device according to claim 1 wherein the fifth axle (146) movable within a groove (162) and the first arm (124) is non-rotatable relative to the third arm (140).

9. The skiing device according to claim 1 wherein the fourth axle (138) is in operative engagement with a first linking arm (252) rotatably connected to a seventh axle (250).

10. The skiing device according to claim 1 wherein the fifth axle (146) is in operative engagement with a second linking arm (256) rotatably connected to an eight axle (254).