Abstract: Steering skis for snowmobiles and similar vehicles. The ski has a lower surface for contacting the snow and at least one upwardly curved lateral edge in a region of the ski used for support of the vehicle. The curved lateral edge defines a convex curved snow-engaging surface which merges smoothly with the lower surface of the ski. The curved edge generates lift during turning of the ski while minimizing drag characteristics of the ski. The ski is less likely to result in tipping during turns at high speed in deep snow, which improves the safety of the vehicle. The curved edge produces minimal drag while turning and this allows for more use of the lift generated by the ski.

Abstract: A vehicular snow ski is disclosed having an ultra high molecular weight polymer material for extended wear and an adjustable curvature tip end. The tip end is adjustable using a variable length turnbuckle for controlling the curvature and tension of the curved tip end. The radius of the curved tip end is changed to meet varying snow conditions encountered by an operator. The under side of the ski includes a plurality of concave surfaces extending longitudinally therealong for compacting snow and lifting the ski in the snow when moving therein. Two concave surfaces are recessed from a center concave surface to form two vertically oriented steering surfaces for controlling the direction of the ski in opposite directions. A wear bar with carbide inserts extends beyond the center concave surface for running on ice and other hard surfaces. Attached to the top surface is a shoe for mounting the ski to the suspension of a vehicle such as a snowmobile.

Abstract: An improved snowboard (10) having a convex bottom (44) with a flat area (28) formed therein to extend from the tail (16) to at least the nose (18) to facilitate balancing of the snowboard (10) and improve performance when cornering. An improved snowboard (23) illustrates the convex bottom (36) smoothly tapering into the body 34 at the longitudinal midpoint (50) to form a flat bottom (52) that then extends to the tip (44). To provide additional control and stability, a keel (56) extends from the flat bottom (52) a distance no further than the convex bottom (36) and having a width between 2% and 4% of the width of the body (34).

Abstract: A traction enhancement system (10) for a snowmobile (12) that includes a front plate member (14) and deflection plates (16) mounted ahead of the snowmobile body (18) for deflecting and compressing fresh, ungroomed snow to enhance traction, startability, and stability of the snowmobile in heavy and rough snow conditions. The front plate member (14) comprises an upper screen (40) offset ahead of a lower screen (42), with both screens being attached to the bumper (36) to angle downward toward the tail section (28) of the snowmobile (12). Each deflection plate (16) is bent along a longitudinal axis and mounted to the tip (32) of the skies (30) to deflect snow to either side of the skies (30). The front plate member (14) and the deflection plates (16) are slidably engaged within their respective receiving tubes (61) and (98), which are attached to the snowmobile (12) to facilitate quick and easy attachment and detachment.

Abstract: This is a device for locating the ski tips of a snowmobile by reflecting the beam of light from the headlight of the snowmobile back to the operator by a reflection material applied to the ski locator device and adjusting the locator to provide maximum reflection back to the operator.

Abstract: A vehicular snow ski is disclosed having an ultra high molecular weight polymer material for extended wear and an adjustable curvature tip end. The tip end is adjustable using a variable length turnbuckle for controlling the curvature and tension of the curved tip end. The radius of the curved tip end is changed to meet varying snow conditions encountered by an operator. The under surface of the ski includes a plurality of concave surfaces extending longitudinally therealong for compacting snow and lifting the ski in the snow when moving therein. Two concave surfaces are recessed from a center concave surface to form two vertically oriented steering surfaces for controlling the direction of the ski in opposite directions. A wear bar with carbide inserts extends beyond the center concave surface for running on ice and other hard surfaces. Attached to the top surface is a shoe for mounting the ski to the suspension of a vehicle such as a snowmobile.

Abstract: An improved sled provides a support member having an ice block removably coupled to its underside. The ice block is coupled to the support member by an adjustable retention means. A pair of support blocks are connected to the underside of the support member and have threaded holes disposed therethrough. Locking screws are placed through each of the holes, and are coupled to compression blocks. As the locking screws are turned, the compression blocks move inwardly, thereby gripping the ice block. As the ice melts, the locking screws can be tightened, so as to maintain a firm grip on the ice. In the preferred embodiment, the support member is formed in the shape of a seat.

Abstract: A child's seat comprising a bottom, armrests, a backrest and footrests, as well as means for mounting the seat on a bicycle. The bottom is provided with a forward extension adapted for attachment to a rear fork of the bicycle by means of a clamping member. The seat is characterized by a substantially U-shaped bracket rotatably attached to the bottom and containing the footrests. Said bracket has forked elements adapted to coact with clamping members attached releasably to the fork legs.

Abstract: A modified snowboard (10) having transverse channels (28) formed in a convex bottom (14) to facilitate movement through the snow. The sides (46) and (48) project beyond the bottom (38) of a snowboard (36) to form longitudinal grooves (54) with downwardly extending edges (56) to increase maneuverability and stability of the snowboard both at slow and high speeds. Upwardly projecting flanges (74) extend the length of the sides (64) and (66) of a snowboard (62) to prevent snow from moving over the top (72).

Abstract: A snowmobile including a body a pair of rear wheels with tires a motor for driving the rear wheel, an axis connected to a handle originally for a front wheel, and skid member mounted on the axis. The skid member comprises a skid, extending in the longitudinal direction of the body, bent upward in its front part, support members protuberantly provided on the upper surface of the skid, and rotatably connected to the axis and at least one fin, protuberantly provided on the under surface of the skid, extending front to rear from a position beneath the above mentioned support member, located at the substantial center in its longitudinal direction of the skid, and the length of the fin is set in a range of 40 to 60% of the length of the skid.

Abstract: A wheeled skate board is modified for skiing purposes by replacing the two sets of wheels with two pivotally attached skis.

Abstract: A vehicle mounted ancillary support equipment such as a support runner, foot or shoe for use with street sweepers, snow plows, snow blowers and the like is disclosed. The support runner includes a ground contacting portion, for support of brushes, blades, scoops and the like having wear resistant metal inserts compression mounted in cavities through the ground contacting portion of the runner, and a flexible mounting portion for maintaining the runner on the vehicle. The support runner is particularly adapted for longer and more even wear of the ground engaging surface of the runner while supporting the wear resistant inserts in such a way as to reduce the likelihood of fracturing and chipping.

Abstract: A cross country ski grooming device comprising a track sled adapted to be towed by a vehicle in the direction of the track and having a pair of spaced apart tracking elements on the underside of the sled oriented in the direction of the track. Each tracking element comprises an elongated body which is trapezoidal in cross section and has a pointed wedge at its front end. The present invention lies in the improvement of the structure of the tracking elements by displacing the forward wedge tips away from the longitudinal center line of each tracking element in the direction toward the space between the tracking elements. This reduces the amount of snow passing between the tracking elements as the device is moved through the snow, eliminating objectionable compacting of the center ridge between the ski tracks.

Abstract: Each sled runner or rail from a conventional snow sled is provided with a pair of skis for attachment thereto. In particular, the section of the sled which bends or twists in response to the sled handle has a sled ski attached thereto which corresponds to the length of the bending section while the remaining length of sled rail has a second, separate sled ski attached thereto. As a result, when the handle is actuated in the desired direction, the metal sled rails will bend in that direction and the section of sled ski attached thereto will easily be directed in the direction of the bent sled rail. In this way, control and maneuverability of the sled is greatly increased relative to the numerous single piece sled ski attachments typically found in the prior art.

Abstract: A ski scooter designed particularly to be used on snow which utilizes an arcuate frame assembly defining an elongated bottom wall from which extends a forward wall in an upward direction at the forward end of the bottom wall. Attached to the upper end of the forward wall is a handle assembly. The handle assembly is capable of movement in respect to the remaining arcuate frame through a shock absorbing assembly. A ski runner is attached at the bottom surface of the bottom wall and is capable of a limited longitudinal adjustment in respect thereto.

Abstract: An elongated thin flexible strip of plastic material is provided for removable securement beneath the ski of a snowmobile. The under surface of the strip is smoothly finished and has substantially no tendency to be subject to a build up of frozen snow thereon under certain temperature and snow conditions which cause snow to freeze to and build up on a metal snowmobile ski under surface. The strip includes longitudinally spaced opposite side tab portions by which elongated tension structure may be utilized to removably secure the strip to the underside of a snowmobile ski and further includes structure for embracingly engaging the usual elongated and longitudinally extending wear and steering bar which projects downwardly from the under surface of a snowmobile ski. Further, the strip is sufficiently flexible for the forward end thereof to project beyond the tip end of the associated snowmobile ski and to be bent back thereover.

Abstract: A system for quickly and replaceably securing snow surface sliders to a structural sled runner includes a slide rail fixedly secured to the bottom of the sled runner along both its longitudinally extending straight main portion and its upwardly curved front end portion and a snow surface slider removably mounted to the slide rail. The surface slider and slide rail have mating longitudinally extending dovetail portions to permit longitudinal sliding movement of the surface slider with respect to the sled runner. The dovetail portions of the slide rail and the surface slider are of construction and configuration such that the surface slider is removable from the slide rail by peeling the surface slider laterally off of the slide rail. The surface slider is held in position against longitudinal movement with respect to the sled runner by a releasable fastener proximate only an upper end of the curved front portion of the sled runner.

Abstract: A snow plow runner for supporting the blade of a snow plow above the abrasive surface of a roadway with the snow plow runner formed of a material of a first melting temperature and having a plurality of hardened pads formed of a material of a similar melting temperature to permit fusing the pads to the snow plow runner to provide a high abrasion resistant surface that permits the snow plow runners to be used over an extended period of time.

Abstract: In a steering ski, for a snowmobile, of the type having an elongated body continuous with an upturned forward tip, the improvement which comprises flares extending along the body and upturned at angles in the range between 30.degree. and 60.degree., the flares continuing around the forward tip in a downwardly concave arcuate lip configuration.

Abstract: An ice skate that provides exceptional lateral stability includes a boot having a sole plate extending longitudinally between the toe portion and the heel portion of the boot. A pair of adjustable shock absorbing mounting assemblies is joined to the toe portion and the heel portion of the sole plate. A pair of ice engaging members is provided, each secured to one of the shock absorber mounting assemblies. The ice engaging members extend transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the boot to provide high lateral stability. Projecting downwardly from the lower surfaces of the ice engaging members is a plurality of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending ribs which are adapted to slide on ice.

Abstract: A snow sled to be worn on the rider's body, the sled comprising forearm control runners for steering and braking, a chest plate, and thigh runners. Also provided is an adjustable apron between the chestplate and the thigh runners. Stability during operation is obtained by the rider assuming a prone position having a low center of gravity. Grooved ski edges on the sled's working surface increase sled stability and maneuverability.

Abstract: A ski mounting assembly for an aircraft landing gear having a ski with a pedestal attached to it to be placed on each side of the landing gear wheel and fork, an extended wheel axle to serve as an axle for the wheel, a mounting for the wheel in the landing gear fork and to serve as a pivotable support for the ski by extending through journals in the ski pedestals, a ski attitude control arm pivotably mounted on one end of the extended wheel axle and provided with a clamp to secure the ski attitude control arm to the landing gear fork, a stop attached to the ski attitude arm so as to act against the ski to limit the downward motion of the ski nose and a spring acting between the ski and the ski attitude control arm to urge the ski against the stop.

Abstract: A water or snow planing board, such as a surfboard, ski or toboggan, formed of two sheets of polymeric resin, which may be glass fiber reenforced, bonded together in co-mating peripheral lip portions to form a flat joining flange extending laterally outwardly around the periphery of the planing board, the bottom of the flange being co-planar laterally with the bottom of the planing board, and means for selectively controlling the buoyancy and weight of the planing board by admitting or expelling liquid therefrom is disclosed.

Abstract: An ice skate blade having an elongated flat blade body defining opposed side walls and a support bottom edge having a slot in at least a forward half portion thereof intermediate the opposed side walls. The rear portion is a solid support portion.

Abstract: A snow vehicle has an undercarriage provided with two runners. The vehicle is of the type which operates on an incline under gravity, i.e. of the sled-type. The runners are spring mounted on the vehicle and an arrangement is provided for horizontally guiding the runners and in particular preventing their breaking-out in lateral direction. The arrangement has a long spring stroke but is of low overall construction and has a flat spring characteristic.

Abstract: The tip of a ski, particularly a racing ski, is streamlined. A shaped body is arranged on the upper surface of the ski tip. The bottom running surface of the ski terminates in a tip portion, which is bent forward and upward out of the running surface so as to provide guide stability to the ski. The upwardly bent portion has a generally triangular shaped surface. The triangular surface passes into a rounded, centrally longitudinally extending, air-dividing ridge. The ridge merges at both its lateral sides into concave side surfaces which appear like upwardly inclined sides, and these merge via a rounding, into the convexly rounded upper surface of the shaped body. The ridge has a point of inflection in its course with respect to the central longitudinal plane of the ski. The ski tip is developed in longitudinal section to have a curved form which appears like a thrush head or dolphin head.

Abstract: A simple and inexpensive to manufacture two piece sled which can be folded for storage and which has a single front steerable runner is disclosed. According to this invention, readily available steel tubing is bent and welded to form a back unit having two runners secured by support members. A deck for sitting or carrying a load is secured to the support members. In a similar manner, steel tubing is also bent and welded to form a single runner front unit which also has a deck. The single runner can be steered by handles also formed of the steel tubing. The front unit and the back unit are then joined at two pivotpoints such that the two units will fold together into a compact unit for storage.

Abstract: A modified skateboard has runners attached to existing trucks. Top and bottom rails of the runners are jointed and slotted to allow changing runner length upon turning. Mounts are slotted to accommodate varying axle base lengths of skateboard trucks and to permit shifting during turns. Right and left turns are achieved by shifting weight from side to side and shortening the runners and sliding the runners relative to the trucks. Runners are braced to keep rails perpendicular to the top of the board.

Abstract: A snow vehicle having a rider supporting generally elongate platform with a flexible strap member positioned along the longitudinal center line thereof for releasably receiving the feet of the rider. First and second truck members are secured to the under surface of the rider supporting member with first and second generally broadly dimensioned ski members secured to the first and second truck members, the truck members being configured for pivoting the ski members in response to shifting of the weight of the rider on the vehicle.

Abstract: In rotary-wing aircraft, a landing gear having two main skids connected to the aircraft structure by two cantilevered arcuate supports. Each skid has at least one flexible element capable of flexing resiliently upon contacting the ground.

Abstract: A removable ski extender for attachment to a ski tip is provided which comprises an arcuate snowfoil curved at one end thereof, an arcuate platform secured to the other end thereof and extending above said snowfoil and in the direction of said curved end, said platform having substantially the same curvature as said ski tip, lips attached to said arcuate platform for retainably mating with the edges of said ski tip, a bridge extending laterally across said other end of said snowfoil, and a securing device in said bridge for removably securing said ski tip to said arcuate platform.

Abstract: A snow ski apparatus has an occupant-supporting board, a forward runner with a running surface wider in its forward portion than its rear portion and a rear runner with a running surface narrower in its forward portion than in its rear portion. An axle pivotally connected to the board extends through flanges which lie longitudinally along the sides of the runners. Elastic tension means are connected to the runners to bias the runners toward longitudinal alignment with the board.A runner has an undersurface which intersects an inclined surface at an acute angle to form a biting edge to reduce lateral slippage when making a turn.The runners are molded with upstanding side flanges, and portions of such flanges are removed to modify the flex characteristics of the runner body.

Abstract: Snow ski apparatus that can be removably attached to a standard roller skate board or form part of a roller skate board arrangement. The apparatus includes a fore ski section and a rear ski section in longitudinal alignment to be connected respectively to the front axle and the rear axle of a roller skate board. As each axle of the skate board is mounted for limited turning movement, the ski sections of the resulting ski board can be manipulated in substantially the same manner as the rollers of an ordinary roller skate board. The adjacent ends of the ski sections are interconnected by a resilient connector.

Abstract: A skateboard ski apparatus wherein a skateboard platform and related skate trucks are combined with removable ski shoes, the ski shoe having a substantially flat body member provided on its lower surface with parallel runners, and on its upper surface with support ribs adapted to either receive wheels of an existing skateboard or the axles of the wheel-truck assembly. The forward end of the preferred arrangement of the ski shoe includes an upwardly turned end to allow the apparatus to slide over the snow. A second arrangement includes a ski shoe having both ends adapted with upturned ends so that the skateboard ski can be used in either a backward or forward direction.

Abstract: A power driven ski-bob having a frame supported by a front steerable ski and a rear power driven ski sub-assembly, the rear end of which is forceably biased downwards to improve traction and steerability.

Abstract: A snowmobile ski including an elongate plywood body member and a flexible, air-impervious material covering the bottom surface of the body member. The body has a generally upwardly curved forward end and a width substantially greater than conventional snowmobile skis to provide support in soft snow, slush, ice, and the like. The flexible material covering the bottom surface of the body member is attached, and hermetically sealed, to the bottom surface along the outer margins and a longitudinal center line of the body member by a thin metal strap and a series of spaced bolts.

Abstract: A ski-sled attachment device for use secured to the bottom of the runners of a conventional snow sled which includes a base member of a configuration similar to a conventional snow ski which is generally flat and extends longitudinally to be adapted to be detachably secured to a sled runner to provide a wide surface to facilitate sledding in soft snow, the base member including a forward section which may include laterally extending channels in the upper surface thereof to aid in upward flexing to facilitate conforming of the base member to the upwardly curved contour of a conventional sled runner, the device including a plurality of locking means positioned along the upper surface of the base member to detachably secure the base member to the sled runner, each locking means being formed by a pair of tab members extending upwardly from the upper surface of the base member to define therebetween a guide means to receive the sled runner, the tab members including a laterally defined aperture therethrough, the d

Abstract: A steering keel for a snowmobile ski including a longitudinally extending wear bar adapted to be mounted on the underside of the ski and having downwardly converging, elongate side faces, a hardened wear rail mounted on the underside of said wear bar and having elongate, downwardly converging, edge defining side faces which abut, and are in alignment with, the downwardly converging side faces of the wear bar to enhance the penetration of the steering keel into the surface being traversed.

Abstract: A bicycle frame equipped with two, in line, runner attachments and a thrust producing device for use on snow or ice.

Abstract: Device attachable to snowmobiles and other ice and snow vehicles which comprise an endless track or belt and a slide rail. The device engages ice, snow or water on the surface alongside the vehicle and throws or directs such aqueous material against the slide rail and portions of the belt adjacent the slide rail to lubricate the interface between the slide rail and belt.

Abstract: In combination with a motorized snow vehicle having frame means, drive track means for propelling the vehicle, and controllable turning ski means for controllably turning the vehicle, an elongated rod secured along the bottom of the ski means with the axis thereof extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis. The shank portion of the rod has a generally radially extending slot formed therein to provide an axially arranged slot disposed along the base running surface of the rod and extending along the length of the shank portion. The rod is further provided with means for securing the rod to the underside of the ski. The rods are preferably formed of hardened steel so as to enhance the wear characteristics of the rod.

Abstract: A snowmobile ski comprising a longitudinal runner and a keel, mounted on the underside of the runner, including a wear bar engageable with a surface to be traversed, a pair of clamps removably connected to the underside of the runner for releasably clamping opposite sides of the wear bar, and longitudinal key members locking the wear bar to the clamps to selectively prevent relative vertical movement of the wear bar and the clamps.