Snowshoe

A system for walking using a collapsible snowshoe, comprising:

• a plurality of cross-bars crossing each other and being pivotally coupled to each other, wherein said cross-bars switch between an open position and a closed position, whereby in said open position, outermost tips of said cross-bars move away from one another, and in said closed position, said outermost tips of said cross-bars move toward each other, the pivotal coupling of the plurality of cross-bars is located between respective front and back portions of the cross-bars;
• an extendable supporting material secured to at least portions of said cross-bars and provides largest support area when said cross-bars are in said open position;
• and
• a frame-locking mechanism including
• a first portion being coupled to at least one of the first and second supporting cross-bars;
• wherein the frame-locking mechanism selectively secures said cross-bars in said open position.

A method for walking using a snowshoe, having

• a supporting cross-bar;
• another supporting cross-bar, the supporting cross-bar crossing and being pivotally coupled to the another supporting cross-bar, wherein the cross-bars alternate between an open position and a closed position, a pivotal coupling of the supporting cross bars is located between respective front and back portions of the supporting cross-bars
• a supporting material being coupled to the cross-bars and extends between the cross-bars, whereby the extended supporting material creates a surface for walking when the cross-bars are in the open position, and
• a frame-locking mechanism including
• a first portion being coupled to at least one of the supporting cross-bars;
• wherein the frame-locking mechanism selectively secures said cross-bars in said open position,
• the method comprising:
• extending cross-bars from the closed position to the open position;
• and
• securing the supporting material to the front portion of the cross-bars using the frame-locking mechanism.

A collapsible snowshoe comprising,

• a frame having
• a first supporting cross-bar crossing and being pivotally coupled to a second supporting cross-bar, wherein said cross-bars alternate between an open position and a closed position, the pivotal coupling of the first supporting cross-bar and the second supporting cross-bar is located between respective front and back portions of the supporting cross-bars;
• a first supporting material being coupled to said cross-bars and extends between said cross-bars, whereby said extended supporting material creates a support surface for walking when said cross-bars are in said open position;
• and
• a frame-locking mechanism including
• a first portion pivotally coupled to the first supporting cross-bar;
• a second portion pivotally coupled to the second supporting cross-bar;
• the first portion being pivotally coupled to the second portion, wherein upon the first portion and second portion interlock with one another to secure said cross-bars in said open position.