Extendable nesting ski support

#The present invention relates to an extendable nesting ski support structure in which a relatively flat resilient ski element is placed in tension thereby extending the ski and supporting it. On pivoted brackets the thus supported skis are movable from a nested collapsed condition to an extended support position. The invention is of extreme utility in cargo hauling situations and where the cargo must be hauled over slippery and rough terrain as for example over ice, slush, snow and mixes thereof and including muddy and earth patches of ground. Thus, the structure of the present invention provides a convertible support beneath a bed or base and the structure can be lowered to ground surface or lifted up off of the ground surface by retracting or extending the runners.

#Most sleds or skid-like devices are equipped with runners of a very small width as they meet the earth or ice and snow approximating skate blades in their knife edge. The runners generally are of substantial length and they are in rigid support of a cargo or base or superstructure so that in use the cargo or material supported by the runners is subjected to severe shock loading as the runners are moved over rough and irregular terrain. Insofar as the applicant is aware none of the known structures having runners are alternately nestable against the surface to be supported and are extendable therefrom; none of the runner structures provide a shock absorption function in which the runners or skis flex under impact loading as they are subjected to deformation so that the load on the runners is cushioned; none of the prior sled-like devices, as known to applicant, have skis (of substantial width) which upon tensioning from one end are extended from the cargo base; and none provide smooth and flexible skis between hinged support brackets.

#The structures as claimed herein first found use in the ski supports for recreational structures such as erected and collapsed ice fishing shanties. Such shanties are dragged or pushed across terrain, ice and snow and are collapsed or disassembled repeatedly in moving from one selected site to another site.

#In the drawing:

#FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the ski structure of the present invention shown in support of a cargo carrying superstructure and in support of the base thereof and illustrating the extended condition of the ski elements and the alternate nested position in phantom-line and featuring the hinge relationship as between the fixed and movable ends of the pivot brackets.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ski and the support brackets and inverted from the position in FIG. 1 to indicate the forming of the integral ski-journal elements in the flexible and resilient ski and showing the two lock slots in spaced relation, the endmost forward slot serving the extended position of the ski and the rearmost or inboard slot serving the nested position at the lock.

#Referring to the Drawing and at first with respect to FIG. 1, the extendable nesting ski support structure 11 is shown in extended position (full line) and in nested position (phantom line), the ski element 12 shifting on the hinge brackets 13 from the base element or base structure 14 consisting of base plate 15 and ground support sills 16 in the nested position 17 to the extended position 18 as shown. The profile of FIG. 1 clearly indicates the deformation of the forward portion of the ski 12 in the extended position 18.

#The cargo or superstructure 19 as carried on the base structure 14 may comprise a box or a complex of stored and fixed elements to form, for example, a shelter such as an ice fishing shanty. The force arrows indicate the concurrent movement of the brackets 13 on the upper fixed pivots or hinges 20, and on the movable ski connected hinges 21, the latter collapsing nestably in position 17 between the sills 16 as shown in phantom line. A lock 22, preferably of the turn-to-lock type is selectively positioned through one or two openings, as will be seen as the ski element 12 is shifted longitudinally in elevation or nesting of the ski element 12. As is clear in the FIG. 1, as the flexible and resilient ski-element 12 is moved rearwardly, as shown, the curvilinear deformation 23 of the normally flat lying ski 12 forms a ramp-like upturned face or toe at the front of the ski element 12. At extension of ski 12 the positioning of the movable hinges or pivots 21 are secured, at locking of the ski 12, as shown in a very good and rigidly resilient manner in prevention of accidental collapse. Thus retained by the hinges 21 the ski element 12 provides a shock absorbing function while, as extended, the ski 12 is secured in place. The same rigid resilient and flexural properties of the ski 12 allows its nesting as shown in phantom line with the pivots or hinges 20 and 21 in substantially planar registry with the base element 15 as between the sills 16.

#In FIG. 2 the ski 12 is upended from the showing in FIG. 1 and the U-shaped general from of the brackets 13 are better appreciated. The brackets are preferably made of metal and especially heavy metal (steel) wire (1/4 inch DIA in the unit illustrated). The journalling of the cross bar portion 24 of the U-shaped brackets 13 are preferably journalled by integrally formed straps 25 as by lancing and heat softening with local forming, as shown, so that the formed and shaped brackets 13 do not project into the broad support plane surface or bottom of the skis 12. In the FIG. 2 the lock slots 26 and 27 through the thick stock of the ski 12 are both visible. The slightly upturned rear edge or heel 28 of the ski 12 is also seen in FIG. 2 and is also visible in FIG. 1. The out-turned pintel extensions 29 of the brackets 13 are in journal support in either the journals 20 as provided by openings in the sills 16 or by journal elements 30 of the strap type best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4. The strap type journal elements 30 are screwed as by screws 31 to the base structure 14.