Snowshoe
AssigneeMountain Safety Research, Inc.
InventorWilliam E. Forrest
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A snowshoe (10) which provides improved sideslip protection, forward tracking guidance and overall stability is provided. The snowshoe (10) includes a convex flotation plate (12), side bars (14 and 16), a crampon (18) and a binding (20). The side bars (14 and 16) provide sideslip protection and rigidity which makes it possible to construct the flotation plate (12) from lightweight semi-rigid or somewhat flexible material. Channels (34, 36 and 38) are formed in a rear portion (40) of snowshoe (10) which, together with the convex flotation plate (12) and side bars (14 and 16), enhance forward tracking guidance as well as provide additional rigidity to the somewhat flexible flotation plate (12). The binding (20) includes straps (90, 92 and 94) and a one piece fabric foot wrap (96).
Claims10
A snowshoe, comprising:
- a) flotation means for providing a snow contact surface area, said flotation means having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface including a tip portion adjacent a leading edge of said flotation means and a rear portion adjacent a rear edge of said flotation means, said lower surface of said flotation means having formed therein at least one recessed channel having a forward channel end located in said rear portion of said flotation means, said channel further having a narrow width in relation to a width of said flotation means and extending along said rear portion to said rear edge of said flotation means, wherein, during forward travel, snow passes through said channel and exits said channel at said rear edge;
- and
- b) binding means for use in attaching said snowshoe to said wearer's foot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.