Abstract: A staple driver actuator for a surgical stapler includes a base having at least one bottom surface. The bottom surface defines a plane and is configured to slide longitudinally relative to a stapling assembly of the surgical stapler. The staple driver actuator also includes at least one rail extending upwardly from the base. The at least one rail includes at least one rail cam surface, and the rail cam surface is inclined relative to the plane. The staple driver actuator further includes a first surface texture on a first portion of the staple driver actuator, and a second surface texture on a second portion of the staple driver actuator. The second surface texture is smoother than the first surface texture.

Abstract: A restricted, preferably spring elastic and dampened movability of transversal struts (5a, b) in the longitudinal direction (10) with respect to a skid (2a) supporting the transversal struts prevents a transmission and build-up of vibrations through the connection units (3) at the piece of winter sports equipment (1).

Abstract: Splitboard boot bindings for backcountry splitboarding. Each of a pair of soft-boot bindings is provided with an integral boot binding lower that conjoins the two halves of a splitboard without the additional weight or height of an adaptor mounting plate, upper binding baseplate or “tray”, and extra fasteners of the prior art. The boot binding lower is formed as a box girder and provides improved torsional stiffness for splitboard riding. When subjected to a torque applied by the rider, the bottom mediolateral edges of the box girders are configured to contactingly engage the top face of the splitboard, thereby dynamically coupling the rider's boot sole and the board via a single rigid structure. In a preferred embodiment, the web or “spacer” members of the box girder are characterized by an aspect ratio or contour height that is varied from heel to toe.

Abstract: The disclosure herein is directed toward systems and methods for supporting a person and enabling motion of a person across a surface of snow while satisfying the countervailing requirements of increasing surface area for weight-carrying capacity on soft snow and reducing the opposing forces, like for example drag and friction, in hard snow. More specifically, a snowboard described herein includes an inner edge and an outer edge, and allows the rider to control the amount of board-to-snow contact. This snowboard is configured to improve rider support, increase speed and enhance safety performance.

Abstract: A snow glider comprises a longitudinally-extending runner for supporting a rider on ridden snow and having a generally central, longitudinally-extending slot. The glider further comprises an elevated rider-supporting deck and chatter-absorbing means straddling the slot for supporting the deck above the runner. Preferably, the bottom surface of the runner is preferably generally convex across its width, with curved outer edges that provide directional control to the rider when turning, and at least one longitudinally-extending, generally straight longitudinally-extending inner edge adjacent the periphery of the slot for greater directional control when the rider is going straight. To enhance controllability, the deck of the preferred embodiment is preferably coupled to the runner near the runner's outer periphery so that the force exerted by the rider is transmitted from his/her feet directly to the outer edges of the runner.

Abstract: Splitboard boot bindings for backcountry splitboarding. Each of a pair of soft-boot bindings is provided with an integral boot binding lower that conjoins the two halves of a splitboard without the additional weight or height of an adaptor mounting plate, upper binding baseplate or “tray”, and extra fasteners of the prior art. The boot binding lower is formed as a modified sandwich box girder or modified monolithic box girder and provides improved torsional stiffness for splitboard riding. When subjected to a torque applied by the rider, the bottom mediolateral flanges of the box girders are configured to contactingly engage the top face of the splitboard, thereby dynamically coupling the rider's boot sole and the board via a single rigid structure. In a preferred embodiment, the web or “spacer” members are characterized by an aspect ratio or contour height that is varied from heel to toe.

Abstract: An ice skateboard comprising a skateboard having a top surface, a bottom surface, side edges, and a front and back section, said ice skateboard having an ice blade assembly attached to the bottom surface, said ice blade assembly comprising a mounting plate having at least one integral ice blade that extends outwardly at substantially right angles from said mounting plate.

Abstract: Improved boot bindings for backcountry splitboarding are disclosed. Each of a pair of soft-boot bindings has an integral boot binding lower that conjoins the two halves of a splitboard without the additional weight or height of an adaptor mounting plate and extra fasteners. Attached to the integral boot binding lower are the elements of a boot binding upper. The integral boot binding lower, in combination with upper boot bindings, provides improved torsional stiffness for splitboard riding. The integral boot binding lower further includes a toe pivot for free heel ski touring. The boot bindings can be readily detached from the ski touring position and reattached to the snowboard riding position, or vice versa, as is advantageous in backcountry touring and riding.

Abstract: A skateboard/ski combination wherein the four wheels of a traditional skateboard have been removed, while the skateboard trucks remain in place, and are then replaced with four ski apparatuses. An anchoring plate connects springs from the underside of the skateboard deck to the ski apparatus base that maintains a traditional ski shape, with rails that protrude outward from the front and rear of the ski base, still maintaining a traditional ski shovel shape. The ski base, which has a flat or concave surface perpendicular to the length of the ski, contains a radius positioned longitudinally to the ski length (rocker) that then transitions to a small radius at the front and rear of the skis, thereby providing a traditional ski shovel in the front and rear of the ski base. Metal or plastic rails are mounted to the ski base on opposing sides of the base in a vertical fashion, extending below the surface of the base.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an iceboard includes a plank having a first end and a second end and a first side and a second side. One or more supports are coupled to the first side of the plank and, one or more blades are coupled to the one or more supports, the blades operable to glide across an icy surface. The iceboard further includes a piece of frictional material coupled to the second side of the plank and operable to provide traction relative to the plank. The iceboard further includes a brake coupled to the first side of the plank adjacent a first end of the plank. In particular embodiments, the brake is operable to abrasively scrape the icy surface when applied to the icy surface.

Abstract: A multi-edge snowboard includes multiple boards with attached bindings. A pivot mechanism that connects the bindings to the boards rotates each board, so that each board can provide an active edge that engages the snow during turning or stopping. The increase in the number of active edges relative to a conventional snowboard improves the performance of the multi-edge snowboard, while the binding structure retains the feel of a conventional snowboard.

Abstract: A collapsible snowboard pole is presented. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention a snowboard pole can be provided with a manually expandable and compressible shaft, a basket at the tip, and a handle at the top. The basket can slide between a lower tip-ward (distal) position for storage and an upper top-ward (proximal) position for use. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention the pole can be expanded to full length and disengaged from a docking mechanism located at the back of a snowboard with one hand, while a user is in motion on the snowboard. Once disengaged, the user can easily deploy the basket to its full upward extension for use. Additionally, a user can dock a collapsed pole and secure it in a docking mechanism, or can insert the pole tip in a docking mechanism, then collapse the pole and then secure it in the docking mechanism, all with one hand while in motion on the snowboard.

Abstract: A runner assembly housing a blade for an ice skateboard and rotatably connected to a truck assembly mounted to a bottom board surface thereof has an elastic biasing cord connecting a an elongate body housing a blade to the truck assembly or the skateboard for biasing the body towards a neutral position in which the blade is substantially parallel to the bottom board surface of the ice skateboard and faces away therefrom. The runner assembly has through openings defining body channels on opposing body ends of the body and through which the biasing cord extends when connected to the body ends, the biasing cord having protrusions for holding the biasing cord in the body channels. The biasing cords are releasably snappably connectable to the body ends by snappingly introducing the biasing cord into the body channels through open neck sections extending into the body channels.

Abstract: A snowmobile ski includes front and rear alignment points, which are preferably notches in the outer ribs of each of the skis. The notches facilitate alignment of the skis by receiving the end of a tape measure that is used to measure front and rear distances between corresponding front notches and corresponding rear notches of the skis. In one variant, the notches are equidistant from the skags to further simplify the task of aligning the skis.

Abstract: A snowskateboard includes a support deck having an upper side and a lower side opposite the upper side. First and second trucks are mounted to the lower side. The trucks include rotatable yokes having axles. A set of first runners is disposed over the first yoke axle. A set of second runners is disposed over the second yoke axle. A first biasing mount is mounted in each of the first runners and disposed over the first axle. The first biasing mounts each have first biasing members configured to bias in a torsional direction relative to the first truck axle. A second biasing mount is mounted in each of the second runners and is disposed over the second axle. The second biasing mounts each have second biasing members configured to bias in a torsional direction relative to the second axle.

Abstract: A snowboard-type ski system and apparatus utilizing two skis and rotary linkage to provide the skier with the natural feel of snowboarding and the response and control of two skis. The system coordinates and maintains parallel alignment, vertical motion, and consistent horizontal separation of the two skis through the use of two linkage cranks which rotate about an axis transverse to the direction of travel intended for the two skis. The linkage includes an elevated mounting assembly positioned between the two skis and above the snow upon which a skier may mount bindings. The points of attachment and rotation are between the skier's feet such that the point of attachment to the two skis is proximate to the ski manufacturer's intended loading point. The transverse rotary motion permits the two skis to cant with respect to one another, as the skier enjoys rough terrain, and maintains' natural motion and transfer of force between the two skis.

Abstract: A ski-snowboard device has a support board for the user and a plurality of ski pairs mounted to the underside of the board. The ski-snowboard has a steering and suspension system, connecting the skis in each pair, to provide paired steering and independent suspension. Each steering and suspension system preferably comprises two pivoting generally-V-shaped arms connecting the board to the skis, wherein the V-shaped arms are spaced apart at their top end connections to the board, and each connect to different portions of rocker members that hold the skis. The V-shaped arms pivot relative to the board, and the rocker members pivot relative to the arms and also relative to the skis. Shock-absorbing/biasing systems cushion vibrations and tune the suspension and steering. Thus, the skis move right and left, move to their inside edges, and swing forward and rearward, to properly steer the ski-snowboard right and left and up and down terrain, for enhanced handling and control by the user.

Abstract: A snowboard-type ski system and apparatus utilizing two skis and rotary linkage to provide the skier with the natural feel of snowboarding and the response and control of two skis. The system coordinates and maintains parallel alignment, vertical motion, and consistent horizontal separation of the two skis through the use of two linkage cranks which rotate about an axis transverse to the direction of travel intended for the two skis. The linkage includes an elevated mounting assembly positioned between the two skis and above the snow upon which a skier may mount bindings. The points of attachment and rotation are between the skier's feet such that the point of attachment to the two skis is proximate to the ski manufacturer's intended loading point. The transverse rotary motion permits the two skis to cant with respect to one another, as the skier enjoys rough terrain, and maintains' natural motion and transfer of force between the two skis.

Abstract: In the present invention, there is provided an ice skateboard comprising a bottom surface and trucks and axles mounted to the bottom surface. A set of runners is pivotally mounted to the axles. Each of the runners has a solid body, a bearing assembly, a metal blade mounted to the solid body and a centre of gravity between the bearing assembly and the metal blade. The maximum radial dimension of the runner about the bearing assembly is shorter than the distance of the axle from the bottom surface of the skateboard such that each runner is free to rotate about one of the axles to recede against the board. In another aspect, the metal blade of each runner is mounted in a slot and a cushion strip is mounted between the metal blade and the bottom surface of the slot for absorbing a vertical movement of the blade.