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US 2004/0163868 A1Published application
Motorized snowboard
OwnerJames E. Decker JR.inventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for propelling a user over snow. The invention in one embodiment couples a propulsion unit behind a platform such as a snowboard. The propulsion section and snowboard are interconnected by a joint providing multiple degrees of rotational freedom. Preferably, the interconnection further includes one or more springs.
Claims23
An apparatus comprising:
- a snowboard having a front and a rear and adapted and configured for accepting a standing operator;
- a propulsion unit being adapted and configured for propelling said propulsion unit and said snowboard over snow, said propulsion unit having a front and a rear;
- a ball joint interconnecting the front of said propulsion unit to the rear of said snowboard, said ball joint permitting said snowboard to rotate about said propulsion unit with at least two degrees of rotational freedom;
- and
- a spring interconnecting said propulsion unit to said snowboard.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a user platform having a front and a rear and adapted and configured for accepting a standing operator;
- a propulsion unit and being adapted and configured for propelling said propulsion unit and said platform, said propulsion unit having a front and a rear, the front of said propulsion unit being behind the rear of said platform;
- a first spring interconnecting said propulsion unit to said platform and adapted and configured to apply a biasing force along a first axis, and a second spring interconnecting said propulsion unit to said platform and adapted and configured to apply a biasing force along a second axis, wherein the first axis is horizontally displaced from the second axis.
A method for propelling a platform over snow, comprising:
- providing a front platform to accept the feet of a standing operator and a propulsion unit;
- interconnecting the propulsion unit behind the front platform so that the front platform can rotate relative to the propulsion unit with at least two degrees of freedom;
- steering the front platform by movement of the feet to cause rotation of the platform relative to the propulsion unit;
- and
- biasing the propulsion unit relative to the front platform in a direction to return the propulsion unit to a location behind the front platform.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a snowboard having a front and a rear and adapted and configured for accepting a standing operator;
- a propulsion unit driving tracks adapted and configured for propelling said propulsion unit and said snowboard over snow, said propulsion unit having a front and a rear;
- a ball joint interconnecting the front of said propulsion unit to the rear of said snowboard, said ball joint permitting said snowboard to rotate about said propulsion unit with three degrees of freedom;
- and
- a dampener interconnecting said propulsion unit to said snowboard.
2 more elements
A method for propelling a platform over snow, comprising:
- providing a platform to accept an operator and a propulsion unit for the platform located behind said platform and aligned to an orientation relative to the platform;
- interconnecting the propulsion unit to the platform so that the platform can pivot relative to the propulsion unit;
- and
- biasing the propulsion unit relative to the platform to return to the orientation after the platform pivots relative to the propulsion unit.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.