Abstract: Automobile protective side-molding (renamed Power Ridges for this application) can be retrofitted onto wave riding vehicles to improve rider control and maximum speed. They do this by redirecting a portion of the fluid flow causing generation of forces which hold the vehicle down and increase its forward thrust.

Abstract: A sports board for surfing, snow sledding, and other sports, has a shaped polyethylene foam core to which a polyethylene film/polyethylene foam sheet laminate is heat laminated over substantially all the surfaces of the core. Frictional resistance between the board and surfaces on which the board is used is reduced, and the slick film outer skin provides an impervious outer surface to the board which resists puncturing and water absorption by the board.

Abstract: A flexible shield mountable on the rump of a user's body to protect the user from incurring bruises and abrasions while sliding down a hill. The shield comprises a skid plate and adjustable straps for releasably attaching the skid plate to the rump of the user. The skid plate is preferably a sheet of flexible plastic, substantially rectangular in planform, having a smooth posterior surface for sliding on snow or ice, and having its lower portion bifurcated by a vertical slit to facilitate walking with the shield in place. A waist strap is inserted through slits in the left and right upper corners of the skid plate. Left and right leg straps secure the lower portion of the skid plate to the user's legs. A crotch strap is inserted through a slit in a flap in the lower central portion of the skid plate, the two ends of the crotch strap passing between the legs and being connected to the ends of the waist strap.

Abstract: A lifesaving craft comprises a flat-bottomed elongate buoyant structure 91) which on its lower side is free from projections and on its upper side has a number of grab means (5, 17, 20) and means for keeping a person in distress on the craft. At least at one of its two opposite ends (11, 12) the craft has to projections (13, 13') extending in prolongation of the sides of the craft, between which projections a preferably gently curved recess (14) is provided to receive and center the person in distress when he is taken up on the craft.

Abstract: This is a sporting wishbone or Y-shaped board for supporting one or two riders in sliding over water or snow. The single bottom arm of the Y is as wide as the combined width of the two front arms of the Y plus the space in between, or approximately 16" to 18", being the total length of the sled 5' to 6'. The medial edges of the two front arms have a built up lip that gently starts from zero at their front tips and slowly becomes 3" to 4" tall near the crotch of the Y-shaped sled. At the very crotch, this built up lip is humped up 14" off the flat bed of the sled to form a racing bicycle seat-like cusp. The widest, single arm of the Y, smoothly curves upward towards the end of the sled forming a gentle letter S in longitudinal section, being the end of this curved up elevation approximately 14" over the flat bed of the sled.

Abstract: A recreational snow sled comprises an elongated molded plastic shell having a longitudinal central rib forming a U-shaped bottom channel of gradually increasing depth toward the rear of the sled. The sled is designed to carry a person seated in a kneeling position straddling the hump formed by the central channel. The rider is restrained at the knees by a strap running across the forward gunwales of the shell. When the sled is sliding downhill, the central channel tends to form a ridge of packed snow enhancing axial stability and maneuverability. The angle of attack may be controlled by leaning backwards so that the front of the sled is tilted up by the knee strap.

Abstract: A personal sled or luge is provided for use by an individual for sledding on snow or ice. The sled comprises a one piece jacket having front and back portions which is adapted to fit over the torso of a sledder. The jacket is open at its upper end to permit a sledder to be able to draw the jacket upwardly about his or her torso. The jacket further includes a crotch portion at its lower end which defines a pair of leg holes for accommodating the sledder's legs. A pair of arm holes are provided for accommodating the sledder's arms. Shoulder straps are provided for securing the sled to the sledder. The jacket is fabricated from a material with a low coefficient of friction relative to snow or ice. The material is preferably a thermoplastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene or a fabric such as nylon or polyester which is coated with a release agent such as, for example, a silicone release agent.

Abstract: A recreational light weight snow sled of molded plastic sheeting 4' to 5' long and 15" to 24" wide with a contoured bottom or bed to accomodate the user in different positions, primarily kneeling and sitting. The kneeling position offers a firm knee hold without the need of straps due to a pair of symmetrical recessed knee pockets molded out of the bed of the sled hull. The sitting position, with the user at the rear of the sled, is possible due to the rear section of the sled bed being fairly flat, while the sides of the sled bed have slightly recessed longitudinal sections or lanes to accomodate both extended legs. Finally, if the user were to lay on the sled, he/she will have a smooth and wide unobstructed, slightly protrudent mid-longitudinal section or lane to rest the chest and abdomen.

Abstract: A hand-toboggan to accommodate a seated or kneeling rider and having a bottom surface with a longitudinally extending medial portion and two opposite flanks upwardly and outwardly inclined from the medial portion, a pair of parallel longitudinally extending ribs bordering the medial portion, and a plurality of parallel inwardly curving ribs on each of said flanks to enable the rider to turn the toboggan in whichever direction he should lean.

Abstract: Approximately vertical side walls are equally curved inwardly to form a waistlike narrow portion in the elongated body. A substantially flat bottom contact surface curves convexly downward to form a fulcrum at the low point. The fulcrum aligns with the centerlines of both side curves. A major portion of each side curve intersects a major portion of the bottom fulcrum curve to form a curved turning edge, which contacts the snow for its entire length when the snow board is tilted back over the fulcrum and to one side for steering. Protruding above a top flat ride-on surface are a rear foot stop and a double front foot stop for wedging the foot therebetween. Pivotally secured to an axle through the front foot stop a U-shaped handle pivots up for a stand-up balance and steering hand lever and down below the ride-on surface for storage, for a sit-down hand grip or for no-handle stand-up riding. Additional side grips, handle hold-down and safety release binding are optional.

Abstract: A directionally controllable sled for downhill snow skiing has a unitary plastic body which includes a bottom member formed with a pair of downwardly and longitudinally extending elongated runners along opposite sides thereof. The pair of runners are spaced generally flat bottom surfaces and have inwardly facing plane control surfaces extending generally perpendicular to the bottom surfaces and intersecting along facing edges which are effective for directional control of the sled by the user during sled movement. The runners are formed with smoothly curved outwardly facing sides which are substantially less effective than the inwardly facing runner edges for directionally controlling the sled.

Abstract: The Toboggan Platform consists of a platform which may be connected to a snow toboggan on one side by means of a brace and two hinges. Opposite said hinges is a snow ski connected to said platform by bolts through said platform, two blocks and said ski. Atop said platform are: two knee braces connected to said platform by screws, an adjustable kicker plate communicating with said platform by two bolts through said plate having wing nuts on their top end and large washers on their opposite end, said kicker plate being adjustable by means of sliding said bolts through two slots in said platform, and a vertical support operably connected to said platform by means of a brace on one side, and two hinges having a common pin on the opposite side, enabling the removal of said vertical support.

Abstract: An amphibious sled has a body with a flexible frontal portion which is deformed inwardly and rearwardly to improve operational characteristics of the sled. In the water version, the flexible frontal portion is deformed downwardly, inwardly and rearwardly to act as catchers for waves and to aid in the propelling of the sled with water power. In land use, the frontal portion is deformed inwardly and upwardly.

Abstract: An aquatic toboggan slide has a trough like chute with side walls and a bed of closely spaced rollers, the toboggans discharging horizontally from the chute about 12-20 inches above a body of water so as to skip or plane over the water surface. The toboggans are of moulded plastic with a planing bottom surface and resilient seats spaced from the bottom surface to protect the user's spine against water impact shocks. The toboggans may be double walled and foam filled or single walled with transverse ribs in the bottom surface to stiffen the structure and enhance planing.

Abstract: A stretcher and litter combination, including a buoyant raft-like structure adapted for use as a rescue or recovery litter, and a buoyant stretcher. The litter has pontoons on either side of an elongated body section. The stretcher is in the form of an elongated board releasably secured to the body section of the litter.

Abstract: A vehicle for snow and ice which is ridden by standing thereon is provided with a boat-like hull section having a bottom and curved upwardly at its forward and after ends. At least two outer longitudinal runners are located on the outer portions of the bottom. Preferably, a center longitudinal runner is located between the outer runners and may extend to the forward and after ends of the hull section. To accommodate the feet of a rider, forward and after platform members are mounted on each end of the hull which members are preferably tilted upwardly. A center platform member is mounted atop the hull section between the forward and after platform members.In other embodiments, a portion of the center runner at its forward end is serrated to allow frontal pivoting and acrobatic exercises.

Abstract: A snow toboggan, or a flat bottomed sled, has a body with a curved forward portion. At its aft end, the sled is outfitted with a pair of hinged drag panels, each hinged independently to the body of the sled. On the underside of each panel is disposed one or more spikes which are capable of digging into the snow. Also on the underside of the body near its aft end is fixed a longitudinally oriented fin which is used to stabilize the forward motion of the sled. On the underside of the curved portion of the body is pivotably supported a pair of front stabilizing fins which are used to stabilize the sled when the sled is travelling across a hill or traversing a hill, to prevent the forward end from sliding down the hill. When not needed, these front stabilizing fins are rotated up out of the snow so that sharp turns can be maneuvered. Sharp turns are obtained by lowering one panel at a time by suitable means mounted in the body to allow the spikes thereunder to grip into the snow.

Abstract: An improved footrest on a surf-type single ski has a plurality of skid-resistant, generally L-shaped members, one positioned in front and the other behind the center line of the ski for receiving the feet of the skier in a readily removable relationship, preferably normal to the transverse axis of the ski. The ski member includes a longitudinal axis, a narrow width, a generally planar intermediate portion, a front portion extending mildly upwardly and inwardly from the intermediate portion to a front end, the intermediate portion and the front portion having a substantially rectangular cross section transverse to the longitudinal axis. The foot receiving L-shaped members include a plurality of recesses along the length thereof for accommodating snow and serving to clean the boot of the user. In an alternative embodiment, a ski of the type described has a metallic plate base member for sking on sand. An improved handle member may be provided.

Abstract: A sleigh having an inflatable body which is wedge-shaped at its forward portion and parallel-sided at its rear portion, the body being subdivided into three inflatable compartments by two spaced longitudinally extending interior webs which slant outwardly relative to one another in their downward directions. The forward ends of the upper edges of the webs are slightly higher than their rear ends. The upper surfaces of the two outer compartments bulge upwardly to a greater extent than the upper surface of the center compartment. Guide foils having longitudinally extending grooves are disposed below the three compartments at the rear end of the body, the foils associated with the outer two compartments being displaced inwardly relative to their respective compartment axes in the unloaded condition of the sleigh.

Abstract: A lawn litter sled for the purpose of hauling leaves, grass clippings, papers, twigs and other such matter. A precut, corrugated cardboard may be assembled into a rectangular, or other geometric form, sled that when filled with lawn litter may be easily dragged along the ground. The said apparatus has a folding loading panel which, when in a horizontal position, enables the user to sweep lawn litter into the said sled, then by positioning the loading panel into a vertical position and by pulling on a provided rope, the loading panel may be secured in a vertical position by frictional forces the loading panel is attached to side panels through which fold and hold the loading panel upright to secure the contents of the sled.

Abstract: The disclosed device is for transporting a person or other load down a snow slope. The frame is made up of upper and lower outer layers with structural foam sandwiched between them. A handle is provided at the front. A transverse hinge permits folding of a rear portion of the frame into a bottom pocket extending from the front to about half the length. Guide runners can be provided as profiling in the bottom or by separate attachment members. Snap fasteners can be provided for maintaining the folded condition.

Abstract: A multipurpose slide for supporting a human passenger during water and snow sports activities. The board has an enlongated, foam filled, seamless body of blow molded polyethylene. The top wall has formed therein a knee well to serve as a cockpit for the passenger, with the bottom of the knee well being covered with a foam pad. A strap passing through the body is used to secure the passenger to the surfboard. The bottom wall, or hull is formed such that the slide may be ridden forward, backward or maneuvered through spins or other similar maneuvers.

Abstract: A foldable toboggan, preferably formed of four rigid sections hinged together, in which the hinges are specially designed so as to provide spaces between the sections when folded for example to accommodate transverse reinforcements of the sections, and also preferably to accommodate a cushion which can remain on the sections when the toboggan is folded. The hinges are duplex type hinges having a central plate with its forward and rearward edges each hinged to a hinge plate secured to the respective section, the hinge plates being movable through at least 90.degree. relative to the central plate so that the sections can be folded into parallel side-by-side relationship. Where four sections are used, two of the hinges will be such as to allow the sections connected thereby to be folded with the tops facing each other, and the central plate of the hinge means provides sufficient space both for the transverse reinforcement of sections and for the cushion.

Abstract: A sled for use on snow, grass, sand, and the like, as well as on water. The sled has a body with a relatively sharply upswept prow which projects well above the rear end of the body and slopes upwardly in each lateral direction from a lower central keel rib on the body. The sled is towed by a line attached to the front end of the keel rib. This body shape provides protection for the rider, prevents the body from knifing into the surface over which the sled is moving, and permits steering control of the sled by leaning from side to side. Lines with or without an attached handle may be secured to the prow for use by the rider in maintaining his balance and steering the sled when being towed. The body may have an inclined ramp surface at the underside extending across the rear end of the body for producing a planing action which holds the prow down during motion of the sled through water.

Abstract: A sledge having a plastic, trough-shaped body consists of two halves releasably joined along a longitudinal, upright median plane. A binding on each half permits limited use of the separated halves like skis on a ski tow. The halves are quickly assembled at the top of the tow for downhill sledding for which they provide a seat and steering brakes.

Abstract: A self-uprighting tow sled designed to upright itself after spills. This sled generally comprises a unitary pre-formed hull having certain geometric configuration characteristics. This sled is pulled by a tow means positioned in the front thereof and below the center of gravity of the sled. As a result of the cooperative relationship between the sled, its particular geometric configuration, and the towing forces being below the center of gravity, the sled can be overturned during pulling and it will automatically upright itself.