SNOWSHOE ACCESSORY

Abstract

A snowshoe accessory is provided. The snowshoe accessory can be purchased at low cost as an after-market device and be installed easily by the purchaser on his/her own snowshoes for upgrading them or snowshoes can also be purchased along with the snowshoe accessory already installed. The snowshoe accessory is to be installed on snowshoes having a tubular outside frame to provide lateral longitudinal crampons for preventing side-sliding. Lateral longitudinal crampons are disposed in a region proximate to the portion of the snowshoe where the weight of the snowshoer is applied—i.e., near the foot pivot system and the heel stand—and penetrate in the snow to efficiently prevent side-sliding when snowshoeing on a tilted snow surface for example and to provide additional traction. A snowshoe accessory without crampon can also be provided to provide spacing between the tubular frame and the ground in order to prevent early wear out of the pivot strap or the deck.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to snowshoes. More particularly, the invention relates to snowshoe accessories such as after-market accessories.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

Nowadays, snowshoes are typically made of a metallic frame which stretches a deck made of a plastic material, the function of which being to prevent the snowshoer from sinking in the snow. The metallic frame is typically tubular. A pivot strap allows the foot to tilt forwardly and backwardly about the snowshoe while snowshoeing and to recover its rest position at the end of the snowshoeing motion. Most snowshoes include crampons located under the toes of the snowshoer, for providing traction on the snow while snowshoeing uphill for example. Some recently introduced snowshoes also include longitudinal crampons for preventing side-sliding or providing additional traction. Longitudinal crampons may be located under the ball of the foot of the snowshoer or near his/her heel. Some older snowshoes would benefit from additional side-sliding or traction prevention for snowshoeing in steep trails.

SUMMARY

An aim of the present invention to provide a snowshoe accessory to be installed on a snowshoe having a tubular outside frame.

According to one aspect, a snowshoe accessory is provided. The snowshoe accessory can be purchased at low cost as an after-market device and be installed easily by the purchaser on his/her own snowshoes for upgrading them or snowshoes can also be purchased along with the snowshoe accessory already installed. The snowshoe accessory is to be installed on snowshoes having a tubular outside frame to provide lateral longitudinal crampons for preventing side-sliding. Lateral longitudinal crampons are disposed in a region proximate to the portion of the snowshoe where the weight of the snowshoer is applied—i.e., near the foot pivot system and the heel stand—and penetrate in the snow to efficiently prevent side-sliding when snowshoeing on a tilted snow surface for example and to provide additional traction. A snowshoe accessory without crampon can also be provided to provide spacing between the tubular frame and the ground in order to prevent early wear out of the pivot strap or the deck.

According to one aspect, the accessory has a spacing action between the tubular frame and the ground while snowshoeing such that the accessory is to engage the ground before the pivot strap. The pivot strap being spaced away from the ground, it is less likely to wear out due to friction engagement with the ground.

According to one aspect, there is provided a snowshoe accessory to be installed on an existing snowshoe having a platform and a tubular outside frame receiving the platform such that a pliable portion of the platform extends underneath the tubular outside frame. The accessory comprises a clip adapted to be releasably mounted about the tubular outside frame. An inside diameter of the clip has a dimension to substantially match an outside cross-sectional diameter of the tubular frame. The accessory further comprises a ground engaging part on the clip. The ground engaging part provides a spacing between the tubular frame and the ground, the spacing being greater than a thickness of the portion of the platform extending underneath the frame such that the ground engaging part contacts the ground before the portion of the platform while snowshoeing.

According to one aspect, there is provided an after-market lateral crampon that can be installed on an existing tubular frame snowshoe, to provide additional side-sliding prevention or additional traction for example.

According to one aspect, there is provided a snowshoe accessory to be installed on a snowshoe having a tubular outside frame. The accessory comprises a clip adapted to be mounted to a lateral portion of the tubular outside frame; a securing mechanism for fixedly securing the clip to the lateral portion; and a crampon extending outwardly of the clip for penetrating in snow while snowshoeing.

According to one aspect, there is provided a method for upgrading an existing snowshoe having a tubular outside frame receiving the platform such that a pliable portion of the platform extends underneath of the tubular outside frame. The method comprises: providing an aftermarket snowshoe accessory; and releasably mounting the snowshoe accessory to the tubular frame, the snowshoe accessory projecting from underneath the snowshoe beyond the portion of the platform such that the snowshoe accessory contacts the ground before the platform while snowshoeing.

According to one aspect, there is provided an aftermarket snowshoe accessory kit for upgrading an existing snowshoe having a tubular outside frame. The kit comprises a clip and a crampon. The clip is adapted to be releasably mounted to a lateral portion of the frame and comprising a securing mechanism for fixedly securing the clip to the lateral portion. The crampon is adapted to be removably mounted to the clip, the crampon extending outwardly of the clip when mounted thereto for penetrating in snow while snowshoeing.

According to one aspect, there is provided a snowshoe comprising a tubular outside frame receiving a platform mounted to the outside frame by folding a portion of the platform around a cross-section of the outside frame such that the pliable portion extends underneath the outside frame. The snowshoe further comprises a clip mounted about the outside frame in a region proximate to the portion of the platform, the clip having a thickness greater than a thickness of the portion extending underneath the outside frame, for providing a spacing between the outside frame and the ground while snowshoeing such that the clip is to engage the ground before the platform.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a snowshoe on which a snowshoe accessory is installed according to an example embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the snowshoe accessory shown in FIG. 1

FIG. 3 a lateral view of the snowshoe accessory of FIG. 2

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the snowshoe accessory taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a crampon forming part of the snowshoe accessory shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the crampon taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the snowshoe accessory of FIG. 2 wherein the crampon is not used.

It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a snowshoe 100 on which a snowshoe accessory 10 is removably mounted. Tubular outside frame-type snowshoes 100 typically have a tubular outside frame 102 which receives a platform 103 which is stretched by the structure provided by the tubular outside frame 102. The platform 103 comprises a deck 104. The deck 104 is typically attached to the outside frame 102 by providing a plurality of extensions 105 on the deck 104, at different positions along the outside frame 102. The extensions 105 are folded around a portion of the tubular outside frame 102 from the top to the underside of the snowshoe 100 and are then attached to the deck on its underside using snap fasteners. The foot of the snowshoer is attached to the snowshoe using a foot binding 106. The platform 103 also comprises a foot pivot strap 108 which links the foot binding 106 to the snowshoe 100 such that it is allowed to tilt forwardly and backwardly relative to the snowshoe 100. The pivot strap 108 is made of a resilient material to recover its rest position at the end of the snowshoeing motion. Furthermore, the pivot strap 108 is generally attached to the tubular outside frame 102 by folding its both ends around the opposite lateral portions of the frame, similarly to the attachment of the deck 104. A portion of the pivot strap 108 and a portion of the deck 104 consequently extend under the frame 102 and are in direct engagement with the ground when snowshoeing. This arrangement increases the chances of the pivot strap 108 and of the deck 104 to break or to wear out.

The snowshoe accessory 10 is preferably sold as an after-market device that can be purchased at low cost and be installed easily by the purchaser on his/her own snowshoes 100 for upgrading his/her snowshoes 100. The so-called after-market snowshoe accessory 10 is to be installed on snowshoes 100 having a tubular outside frame 102 to provide lateral longitudinal crampons 12 (FIG. 2) for preventing side-sliding or providing additional traction. As exemplified in FIG. 1, the snowshoe accessory can be installed on the frame 102 so as to locate the lateral longitudinal crampons 12 in a region proximate to the portion of the snowshoe 100 where the weight of the snowshoer is applied—i.e., near the pivot strap 108 and the heel stand 114—and penetrate in the snow to efficiently prevent side-sliding when snowshoeing on a tilted snow surface for example. The snowshoe accessory 10 can either be installed in front or behind the region where the pivot strap 108 is attached to the outside frame 102, but should preferably be installed in a region proximate to the portion of the snowshoe where the weight of the snowshoer is applied. The snowshoe accessory 10 may also be installed anywhere along the tubular outside frame 102. It is noted that snowshoes 100 may also be sold along with the snowshoe accessory 10 already installed thereon.

The snowshoe accessory 10 provides a spacing action between the tubular frame 102 and the ground while snowshoeing such that the snowshoe accessory 10 is to engage the ground before the portion of the deck 104 extending under the outside frame 102. The snowshoe accessory 10 then provides the secondary action of preventing early wear out of the deck 104 by direct contact and abrasion by the ground. Snowshoes may use different foot pivot systems such as swivel arrangements but in the case of snowshoes using a pivot strap 108 as the foot pivot system, the snowshoe accessory 10 also engages the ground before the pivot strap 108. The snowshoe accessory 10 then provides the third action of preventing early wear out of the pivot strap 108 by direct contact and abrasion by the ground. Accordingly, the snowshoe accessory 10 can also be sold without the crampons 12 (see FIG. 7), to only provide the spacing action between the frame and the ground to prevent early wear out of the pivot strap 108 or the deck 104. In the embodiment described herein, the crampon 12 is an add-on of the snowshoe accessory 10. The snowshoe accessory 10 can be purchased with or without crampons 12, and the crampon 12 which is adapted to be installed to the snowshoe accessory 10 can be purchased subsequently to be installed on a no-crampon snowshoe accessory 10 or for replacing used crampons 12. The snowshoe accessories 10 are generally sold in sets of four units as one should be installed on each lateral side of each snowshoe of a pair. Various types of crampons may also be sold so that the user can upgrade the crampon 12 with another type of crampon as he/she wishes.

FIGS. 2 to 4 show the snowshoe accessory 10 equipped with a toothed crampon 12. The snowshoe accessory 10 comprises a clip having a frame engaging ring 14 which is open-ended for releasable clamping engagement about the tubular frame 102 of the snowshoe 100. The inside diameter of the ring 14 has a dimension that generally matches the outside cross-sectional diameter of the tubular frame 102 so that the ring 14 snugly surrounds the frame. The ring 14 is typically made of plastic but may also be made of aluminum for example.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the ring 14 comprises a top segment 18 and a bottom segment 20. The top and bottom segments 18 and 20 are provided at a first end thereof with complementary interlocking fittings. More particularly, the first end of the top ring segment 18 defines an inward bent which merges into a hook 26 for interlocking engagement in a corresponding hook receiving socket 24 defined in the underneath surface or outer surface of the bottom segment 20. The first end of the bottom segment 20 is, in turn, provided with a downwardly depending lip 25 which is received in a corresponding socket 27 formed between the bent and the hook 26 of the top segment 18. This configuration provides for a dual interlocking key engagement.

A securing mechanism 16 is provided at second opposed ends of the top and bottom segments 18 and 20 for releasably clamping the top and bottom segments 18 and 20 in a ring configuration about the tubular frame 102. The securing mechanism 16 comprises a pair of confronting flanges 28 extending laterally outwardly from the ring 14 at the open end thereof. More particularly, the two flanges 28 extend from respective second ends of the ring segments 18 and 20 and are used to close the ring 14 about the frame 102, as will be seen hereinafter. When the two ring segments 18 and 20 are assembled, the flanges 28 rest beside one another so that they define a gap therebetween. The flanges 28 are fastened toward one another using bolts and nuts (not shown) extending through aligned holes in both flanges 28. According to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4 a pair of side-by-side bolts are used to fasten the flanges 28 together.

When mounting the snowshoe accessory 10 about the outside frame 102 of a snowshoe 100, the top segment 18 is first engaged about the tubular frame 102, on the top part of the tube, and the bottom segment 20 is then assembled to the top segment 18 using the complementary interlocking fittings to define the ring 14. More specifically, the lip 25 engages its corresponding socket 27, while the hook 26 fits the hook receiving socket 24. The securing mechanism 16 is then used close the ring about the outside frame 102 and to tighten the ring 14 about the frame 102 to prevent rotation or sliding of the ring 14 about the frame 102. Accordingly, the flanges 28 are fastened toward one another using the bolts and nuts extending through aligned holes in both flanges 28. Fastening the flanges 28 toward one another using the bolts and nuts reduces the gap 30 and snuggly tighten the ring 14 about the frame 102.

Furthermore, the snowshoe accessory 10 can be released from the outside frame 102 by loosening the securing mechanism 16 to disassemble the top and bottom segments 18 and 20 by disengaging the complementary interlocking fittings.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ring 14 may comprise a crampon connection fitting including an elongated transversal slit 34 (best shown in FIG. 7) extending through the bottom ring segment 20 and a crampon fitting recess 36 defined in the inside surface of the bottom ring segment 20, for releasably mounting the crampon 12 to the ring 14. Now referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the crampon 12 can be made from a plate of stainless steel having a ground, or snow, engaging end in the shape of three teeth 38 which are adapted to extend downwardly outwardly from the ring 14 to penetrate in snow when snowshoeing. The ground engaging end of the crampon plate has a width that generally corresponds to the length of the slit 34 in order to substantially prevent lateral movement of the crampon 12 relative to the ring 14. The teeth 38 not being directional, the same snowshoe accessory 10 can be used on both left and right sides of the snowshoe 100. The other end of the crampon 12 is bended at an angle of about 1200 relative to the teeth 38, to define a ring fitting end 40 which fits into the crampon fitting recess 36. The crampon 12 is mounted in the ring 14 by passing the teeth 38 through the slit 34 from the inside of the ring 14 and placing the ring fitting end 40 in the crampon fitting recess 36. It is understood that the crampon 12 is mounted to the bottom ring segment 20 before the same is secured to the top ring segment 18 in order to provide easy access to the slit 34 from the interior of the ring 14. When tightening the snowshoe accessory 10 on the frame 102, the ring fitting end 40 rests between the frame 102 and the ring 14 so that the surface of the ring fitting end 40 is snuggled against the outside surface of the frame 102. The ring fitting end 40 is curved to mold to the shape of the frame 102 which provides great lateral stability to the crampon 12.

Furthermore, the ring fitting end 40 has three sharp pins 42 protruding upwardly from the top surface of the ring fitting end 40 engaging the frame 102. When tightening the ring 14 about the frame 102 using the securing mechanism 16, the protruding pins 42 pierce through the outside surface of the frame 102 to provide improved stability of the crampon 12 and further prevent rotation or sliding of the ring 14 about the frame 102. As can be appreciated from FIG. 6, the pins 42 are preferably punched out in the plate leaving three corresponding embossed-like projections 43 on the underside of the ring fitting end 40. The embossed projections 43 are received in three corresponding notches or indents 45 defined in the crampon fitting recess 36 (see FIG. 7). Lateral reinforcing members 47 (FIG. 3) can also extend from the undersurface of the bottom segment to receive the ground engaging end portion of the crampon 12 therebetween. This arrangement reinforces the bottom segment 20 on both ends of the slit 34.

FIG. 7 shows the snowshoe accessory 10 without the crampon 12. As mentioned hereinabove, the ring 14 can be used without the crampon 12 to provide spacing between the ground and the frame 102 of the snowshoe 100 to protect from ground abrasion the pivot strap 108 and the portion of the deck 104 extending under the outside frame 104. The portion of the ring 12 that is positioned under the snowshoe 100 acts as a ground engaging part 44. The ground engaging part 44 provides the spacing between the frame 102 and the ground. The thickness of the ring 12 on the ground engaging part being greater that the thickness of the pivot strap 108 and of the thickness of the deck 104, the ground engaging part contacts the ground first while snowshoeing and provides the spacing action. It is noted that if the snowshoe accessory 10 is to be used without the crampon 12, there is no need to prevent rotation of the ring 14 about the frame 102 as the spacing action is provided independently of the angular position of the ring 14 about the frame 102. The ring 14 may then swivel about the frame 102.

It is noted that the crampon 12 could also be otherwise mounted to the ring 14. For example, in another embodiment, the crampon 12 is provided with a T-shaped end sliding into a longitudinal channel on the ring 14. In order to prevent the ring from rotating about the frame 102, the ring 14 could have pins protruding from its inside surface to the outside surface of the frame 102.

Furthermore, the crampon 12 could be provided as a single claw or a set of independent claws, each mounted individually to the ring 14. The crampon 12 or the claws could also be hollowed to reduce the weight and the claws could be directional or not. The crampon 12 could also be disposed transversally to the snowshoe 100 instead of longitudinally or the crampon 12 could define T-shaped figure to include transversal and lateral teeth. The crampon 12 could also be integral with the ring 14, both crampon and ring being made of steel or plastic. Plastic crampons should however be made short to avoid breaking of the crampon. A steel-made crampon 12 could also be molded integrally to a plastic ring 14.

Instead of using the pins 42 on the ring fitting end 40 of the crampon 12, the snowshoe accessory 10 could be prevented from rotating about the frame 102 by inserting screws through the ring and toward the outside surface of the frame 102. A hole could also be provided transversally in the frame 102 to receive a screw inserted through the ring and the frame 102 to fix the snowshoe accessory 10 to the frame 102.

In order to adapt the snowshoe accessory 10 to various possible frame cross-sections, a ring spacer or ring spacers of various dimensions may be sold with the snowshoe accessory 10. The ring spacer is to be optionally installed on the inside surface of the ring 14 to match the inside diameter of the ring 14 to the outside cross-sectional diameter of the frame 102.

It is also understood that the top and bottom ring segments 18 and 20 could be interconnected to each other in various ways as long as it provides for the mounting of the ring 14 about the tubular frame 102. For instance, the top and bottom segments 18 and 20 could be pivotally interconnected to each other by means of a hinge, or the ring 14 could be made of an integral plastic solid piece having a weakened portion to provide a hinge allowing the ring 14 to open and close about the frame 102. Alternatively, the ring 14 could be provided in the form of a flexible one-piece C-shaped clip presenting sufficient flexibility for allowing the free open ends of the clip to be sufficiently spread-apart for allowing the passage of the tubular frame therebetween.

The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary only. The scope of the invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A snowshoe accessory to be installed on an existing snowshoe having a platform and a tubular outside frame receiving said platform such that a pliable portion of said platform extends underneath said tubular outside frame, said accessory comprising:

a clip adapted to be releasably mounted about said tubular outside frame, an inside diameter of said clip having a dimension to substantially match an outside cross-sectional diameter of said tubular frame; and

a ground engaging part on said clip, said ground engaging part providing a spacing between said tubular frame and the ground, said spacing being greater than a thickness of said portion of said platform extending underneath said frame such that said ground engaging part contacts the ground before said portion of said platform while snowshoeing.

2. The snowshoe accessory as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a crampon and said clip comprising a crampon connection fitting, said crampon to be optionally installed on said clip using said fitting such that said crampon extends outwardly of said clip for penetrating in snow while snowshoeing.

3. The snowshoe accessory as claimed in claim 2, wherein said crampon connection fitting comprises a slit extending through said clip and a recess on an inside surface of said clip, and wherein said crampon has a ground engaging end which is substantially planar, and a clip fitting end, said crampon to be inserted through said slit such that said clip fitting end rests in said recess while said ground engaging end extends out of said clip though said slit.

4. The snowshoe accessory as claimed in claim 3, wherein said crampon further has at least one pin protruding from said clip fitting end and piercing an outside surface of said frame when said clip is secured about said frame.

5. The snowshoe accessory as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a securing mechanism for securing said clip on said frame.

6. The snowshoe accessory as claimed in claim 5, wherein said clip comprises an open-ended ring and said securing mechanism comprises flanges, one on each open end of said ring and outwardly extending from said ring, said flanges defining a gap therebetween, fastening said flanges toward one another to reduce said gap snuggly tightening said ring about said frame for preventing rotation of said clip about said frame.

7. The snowshoe accessory as claimed in claim 6, wherein said ring comprises a ring spacer to be optionally installed on an inside surface of said ring to match said inside diameter of said clip to said outside cross-sectional diameter of said tubular frame.

8. The snowshoe accessory as claimed in claim 6, wherein said ring comprises a first and a second ring segment having complementary interlocking fittings for connecting together to define said open-ended ring, said interlocking fittings and said flanges being disposed on opposite ends of each of said ring segments.

9. The snowshoe accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein said platform comprises a foot pivot strap.

10. A snowshoe accessory to be installed on a snowshoe having a tubular outside frame, said accessory comprising:

a clip adapted to be mounted to a lateral portion of said tubular outside frame;

a securing mechanism for fixedly securing said clip to said lateral portion; and

a crampon extending outwardly of said clip for penetrating in snow while snowshoeing.

11. The snowshoe accessory as claimed in claim 10, wherein said crampon is positioned longitudinally to the snowshoe.

12. The snowshoe accessory as claimed in claim 10, wherein said clip comprises an open-ended ring and said securing mechanism comprises flanges, one on each open end of said ring and outwardly extending from said ring, said flanges defining a gap therebetween, fastening said flanges toward one another to reduce said gap snuggly tightening said ring about said frame for preventing rotation of said clip about said frame.

13. The snowshoe accessory as claimed in claim 12, wherein said ring comprises a ring spacer to be optionally installed on an inside surface of said ring to match an inside diameter of said clip to an outside cross-sectional diameter of said tubular frame.

14. The snowshoe accessory as claimed in claim 10, wherein said clip comprises a crampon connection fitting, said crampon to be releasably installed on said clip using said fitting.

15. The snowshoe accessory as claimed in claim 14, wherein said crampon connection fitting comprises a slit through a side of said clip and a recess on an inside surface of said clip, and wherein said crampon has a ground engaging end which is substantially planar, and a clip fitting end, said crampon to be inserted through said slit such that said clip fitting end rests in said recess while said ground engaging end extends out of said clip through said slit.

16. The snowshoe accessory as claimed in claim 15, wherein said crampon further has at least one pin protruding from said clip fitting end and piercing an outside surface of said frame when said clip is secured about said frame.

17. The snowshoe accessory as claimed in claim 10, wherein said clip comprises an open-ended ring comprising a first and a second ring segment having complementary interlocking fittings for connecting together to define said open-ended ring.

18. A method for upgrading an existing snowshoe having a tubular outside frame receiving said platform such that a pliable portion of said platform extends underneath of said tubular outside frame, said method comprising:

providing an aftermarket snowshoe accessory; and

releasably mounting said snowshoe accessory to said tubular frame, the snowshoe accessory projecting from underneath the snowshoe beyond said portion of said platform such that said snowshoe accessory contacts the ground before said platform while snowshoeing.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:

removably mounting a crampon to said snowshoe accessory such that said crampon extends outwardly of said snowshoe accessory for penetrating in snow while snowshoeing.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said platform comprises a foot pivot strap and wherein said mounting comprises positioning said snowshoe accessory in a region proximate to said pivot strap.

21. An aftermarket snowshoe accessory kit for upgrading an existing snowshoe having a tubular outside frame, said kit comprising:

a clip adapted to be releasably mounted to a lateral portion of said frame and comprising a securing mechanism for fixedly securing said clip to said lateral portion; and

a crampon adapted to be removably mounted to said clip, said crampon extending outwardly of said clip when mounted thereto for penetrating in snow while snowshoeing.

22. A snowshoe comprising:

a tubular outside frame receiving a platform mounted to said outside frame by folding a portion of said platform around a cross-section of said outside frame such that said pliable portion extends underneath said outside frame; and

a clip mounted about said outside frame in a region proximate to said portion of said platform, said clip having a thickness greater than a thickness of said portion extending underneath said outside frame, for providing a spacing between said outside frame and the ground while snowshoeing such that said clip is to engage the ground before said platform.

23. The snowshoe as claimed in claim 22, wherein said platform comprises a foot pivot strap for allowing said snowshoe to tilt forwardly and backwardly about a foot of a snowshoer, said pivot strap being mounted to said outside frame by folding said pivot strap at both ends around respective lateral portions of said outside frame, said clip being mounted about said outside frame in a region proximate to said pivot strap.