U.S. patent application number 09/754963 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-04 for snowshoe.
Invention is credited to Joseph, Mark.
Application Number | 20020083623 09/754963 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25037128 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020083623 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Joseph, Mark |
July 4, 2002 |
Snowshoe
Abstract
A snowshoe designed to create an impression of a unique shape in
the surface on which it engages. For example, the snowshoe may
include a lower surface which creates the impression of an animal
footprint in the snow. Other impressions may include fanciful or
legendary creatures, or other ornamental or unique shapes. The
snowshoe of the preferred embodiment has a body formed as a
one-piece molded plastic snowshoe with a binding attached on to
it.
Inventors: |
Joseph, Mark; (Aspen,
CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GLENN L WEBB
P.O. BOX 951
CONIFER
CO
80433
|
Family ID: |
25037128 |
Appl. No.: |
09/754963 |
Filed: |
January 4, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/122 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 3/00 20130101; A43C
15/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/122 |
International
Class: |
A43B 005/04 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A snowshoe, said snowshoe comprising: a body; and means on said
body forming an imprint of a unique shape in a surface upon which
said snowshoe is engaged.
2. The snowshoe of claim 1, wherein said body includes: an exterior
frame in the shape of an animal paw.
3. The snowshoe of claim 1 wherein said means on said body for
forming an imprint includes: an exterior frame in the shape of an
animal paw; and recessed portions in the lower surface of said body
adjacent said exterior frame.
4. The snowshoe of claim 1 wherein said means on said body for
forming an imprint includes: indentations in the lower surface of
said body forming the imprint of an animal paw print.
5. The snowshoe of claim 1 wherein said body further includes: an
upper surface formed in the shape of an animal paw; and means on
said upper surface for attaching the snowshoe to the foot of a
person.
6. The snowshoe of claim 1 wherein said snowshoe further includes:
an aperture extending through said body; a talon; and means for
pivotal attachment of said talon through said aperture.
7. The snowshoe of claim 1 where said means on said body forms an
imprint in the shape of a fanciful design.
8. The snowshoe of claim 1 wherein said means on said body forms an
imprint in the shape of an ornamental design.
9. The snowshoe of claim 1 wherein said means on said body forms an
imprint in the shape of an imaginary figure.
10. The snowshoe of claim 1 wherein said base is formed as a single
molded plastic unit.
11. A snowshoe, said snowshoe comprising: a molded plastic body
having an upper surface and a lower surface; binding means attached
to said upper surface; and means formed on said lower surface to
create an imprint of a unique shape in the surface on which said
snowshoe engages.
12. The snowshoe of claim 11 wherein said means formed on said
lower surface to create an imprint of a unique shape includes: a
plurality of recesses of differing depths and shapes.
13. The snowshoe of claim 11 wherein said means formed on said
lower surface to crate an imprint of a unique shape includes: said
unique shape is in the form of an animal footprint.
14. The snowshoe of claim 11 wherein said means formed on said
lower surface to crate an imprint of a unique shape includes: said
unique shape is in the form of a footprint of a fanciful
creature.
15. The snowshoe of claim 11 wherein said means formed on said
lower surface to crate an imprint of a unique shape includes: said
unique shape is in the form of a footprint of a legendary
creature.
16. The snowshoe of claim 11 wherein said means formed on said
lower surface to create an imprint of a unique shape includes: said
unique shape is in the form of an impression of an ornamental
design.
17. The snowshoe of claim 11 wherein said body includes: a
friction-engaging pad formed on said upper surface.
18. The snowshoe of claim 11 wherein said body includes: an outer
surface formed in the shape of said unique shape.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to the field of snowshoes and in
particular to snowshoes which provide amusement and
entertainment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Snowshoes have been used for centuries as an effective and
practical method for traversing snow fields. The evolution of
snowshoes have gone from the early "tennis racquet" design having a
wooden elliptical frame and sinew interlaced straps forming a
webbing to modem high strength aluminum alloy frames and
polyurethane coated deckings. Snowshoes have evolved from uses
derived from necessity into recreational use as well. These uses
include back country expeditions, sport uses such as racing,
recreational hiking and even emergency rescue uses. The image of a
traditional snowshoer as a rugged, back country expeditioneer has
changed to include not only sport enthusiasts but also recreational
users including children.
[0003] The basic premise with snowshoes is the creation of a
"flotation" effect created by the dispersion of the wearer's weight
over a large area (relative to the wearer's feet). This flotation
effect allows the wearer to walk over the snow layers without
falling through. The shape of the snowshoes include the basic
"tennis racquet" design, substantially rectangular or oval designs
and asymmetrical elongated shapes. These snowshoes typically use a
structural frame, formed of high-strength aluminum alloys, a
polyurethane decking attached onto the frame, a binding secured
onto the frame or the decking and talons on the bottom to improve
traction. These snowshoes are designed for traversing the snow
fields, and primarily for use by adults.
[0004] There have been few snowshoes intended primarily for use by
children. While these prior snowshoes have been designed to be
lightweight for use by adults, they still are relative heavy and
cumbersome for children. Further, the attention span of many
children is not conducive for trekking or hiking. Thus it may be
difficult to keep children interested in the use of the snowshoes
without some type of additional amusement or entertainment
associated with the snowshoe experience.
[0005] One prior attempt at a child's snowshoe used a oval-shaped,
molded plastic body having a plurality of perforations formed
therein. This particular snowshoe, while light in weight, did not
afford any further amusement or entertainment to the child using
it. Also, this snowshoe design had a substantially flat,
oval-shaped body with a talon attached for traction purposes.
[0006] The prior snowshoes are intended for the function of
traversing snow fields. These prior snowshoes were not intended for
amusement purposes beyond hiking or running, particularly by
children, due to the expense and design of these snowshoes. The
prior snowshoes were not intended or capable of leaving unusual or
fanciful imprints in the snow for the purpose of amusement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides novel snowshoes that enable a
wearer, particularly a child, to be amused and entertained by their
use to enhance their snowshoeing experience. The snowshoes of the
present invention create a unique imprint in the snow or other
surface on which they are used. This unique imprint is enabled by
the design of the snowshoe. In a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, this novel snowshoe is formed of an integral,
molded plastic body with a binding attached thereto.
[0008] The novel snowshoe, in a preferred embodiment, has a general
shape in the form of an animal paw, although other shapes can be
used as well. A plurality of "toes" are formed on the front edge of
the snowshoe body with "claws" extending outwardly from each of the
toes. Raised knuckles are also formed on the toes as well. An
aperture is formed near the front portion of the snowshoe. A talon
is integrally formed on the snowshoe extending into the aperture.
The talon includes a reduced portion which forms a living hinge to
allow the talon to pivot into the aperture to increase traction.
Claws are formed on the lower edge of the talon. Mounting holes are
also created in the upper surface of the talon to attach the
binding to the snowshoe. A mounting stud is also formed on the
upper surface spaced from the aperture to engage the binding as
well. A rear surface pad is formed on the upper surface to provide
a gripping surface for the wearer's foot to keep the foot centered
on the snowshoe.
[0009] The sidewalls of the snowshoe body form the perimeter of the
animal paw print. The height of the sidewalls is important to
create the depth of the imprint. The lower surface of the snowshoe
body includes a plurality of recesses having differing depths from
other areas of the lower surface to provide the impression of the
animal paw print. For instance, the claws and knuckles and the
aperture have different depths of recesses to provide their
respective impressions in the snow. Various other raised walls
within the bottom of the snowshoe body provide additional recesses
to create the heel portion of the paw print also.
[0010] These structural features combine to form an animal paw
print when the snowshoe engages the snow or other surfaces. Other
shapes are provided within the scope of the present invention, such
as legendary creatures, monsters, aliens, and other fanciful or
ornamental shapes. The features of the present invention will
become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration
of the following detailed description of preferred and modified
forms of the present invention when taken together with the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of
the snowshoe of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bottom surface of the
snowshoe of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the snowshoe of FIG. 1 with
the binding attached.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] Referring in more detail to the drawings, as shown in FIGS.
1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is
described. Snowshoe 10 is illustrated in a preferred embodiment. It
is to be expressly understood that this embodiment is provided for
descriptive purposes only, and is not meant to limit the scope of
the inventive concept. Other shapes, modes and embodiments of the
present invention are included in the claimed invention. For
instance, other types of animal paws could be utilized as well as
fanciful figures, such as dinosaurs, abominable snowmen, monsters,
giants, or the like. Also, other unique or ornamental shapes can be
used as well under the inventive scope of the present
invention.
[0015] In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2,
snowshoe 10 includes a body 20 formed in the shape of a large
animal paw. Body 20 includes an upper surface 22, contoured side
surfaces 24 and lower surface 26. The exterior of the body 20 is
formed in the shape of a large animal paw by the contours of the
side surfaces 24, the four "toe" portions 32, 34, 36 38 and the
heel portion 50. The body 20, in this preferred embodiment, is
formed of a single plastic unit. It is to be expressly understood
that other materials could be used as well as in forming the body
20. Also, the body 20 can be formed in several pieces as well as in
one integral, unitary piece as described in the preferred
embodiment. It is to be expressly understood that any particular
animal paw or other fanciful, unique or ornamental design could be
used as the shape for snowshoe 10.
[0016] Claws 42, 44, 46, 48 extend outwardly from toe portions 32,
34, 36, 38, respectively. Raised knuckles 52, 54, 56 and 58 are
formed on the respective toe portions adjacent claws 42, 44, 46,
48. A raised rear pad 60 is formed or attached adjacent the rear of
body near heel portion 50. Rear pad 60 includes a plurality of
bumps 62 for providing friction engagement with the heel of the
footwear of the user. This assists in keeping the heel of the
wearer centered on the snowshoe.
[0017] Aperture 70 is formed in the body 20 near the knuckles of
the snowshoe. The toe of the footwear of the user is able to pivot
into the aperture 70, as discussed below. The sidewalls 74 extend
downward in the aperture 70 from the beveled edges 72. The shape of
the aperture 70 also forms the ball or footpad of the animal paw
print as described below. The snowshoe body 20 also includes a
talon 80 which serves to improve traction during use of the
snowshoe. Talon 80 is formed as an integral part of body 20. Claws
82, binding mounting holes 84 and hinge 86 are all formed as part
of talon 80. The hinge 86 includes a reduced thickness and width to
allow the talon 80 to pivot relative to body 20 to allow for
changes in terrain and walking motion.
[0018] A binding mounting stud 88 is formed as part of body 20
between aperture 70 and rear pad 60. A hole 90 extends through the
mounting stud 88. The binding 200, as shown in FIG. 3, attaches to
the body 20 by bolts 202, 204 extending through the binding 200 and
holes 84 in the talon 80 and by engaging with the mounting stud 88
and screw 206. The present invention is not limited to the specific
binding described herein.
[0019] The contoured side walls 24 of the body 20 extend downwardly
a height "h", from the beveled surface 28 of upper surface 22. In
the preferred embodiment, "h" ranges from about one-half inch to
one inch. Other heights can be used depending on the desired depth
of the imprint formed from the snowshoe.
[0020] The bottom 100 of the body 20, as shown in FIG. 3, includes
a recess 102 formed adjacent the interior of the sidewalls 24. The
sidewalls 24 in cooperation with the recess 102 create the outer
edges of the imprint from the snowshoes. The recesses 104, 106,
108, 110 of the claws have a lesser depth than does the recess 102
to define the imprint of the "claws" of the animal imprint.
Recesses 112, 114, 116, 118 of the knuckles also have a greater
depth than does the recess 102. These recesses cooperate to form
the animal footprint in the snow.
[0021] Inner sidewalls 120, 122 are formed in the recess 102 to
create cavities 124, 126. Cavity 124 forms the footpad of the
animal imprint while cavity 126 forms the heel of the paw of the
animal imprint. The aperture 70 extends through cavity 124 to allow
the talon 80 to pivot through for engaging the ground surface.
Likewise, the raised edges on inner sidewalls 130, 132 provide
additional engagement for traction. Other recesses, cavities and
sidewalls can be added or the existing structures altered to vary
the imprint formed by the snowshoe.
[0022] In use, the snowshoe 10 is attached to the footwear of the
wearer by the binding 200. As the weight of the wearer pushes the
snowshoe 10 downward to engage the snow or other surface, an
imprint of the lower surface 26 of the snowshoe 10 is formed in the
snow. This imprint is the reverse image of the lower surface
26.
[0023] Other shapes of the snowshoe may be created as well under
the scope of the present inventive concept. For example, the shape
of the snowshoe can be a unique shape which may signify some
imaginary creature or object, such as a monster, alien, legendary
creature, etc. Other snowshoes might signify a unique identifying
imprint that has significant to the wearer or others. The present
inventive concept, as set forth in the accompanying claims, covers
not only snowshoes which create an imprint in the form an animal
paw print, but other unique, fanciful or ornamental shapes which
provide entertainment and amusement.
* * * * *