BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the field of devices which a user can ride downhill on snowy or icy surfaces. More particularly, the invention relates to elongate board devices on which a user will stand to travel downhill on snow, the board having a generally vertical handle to be held by the user's hands, the bottom of the handle having a steering fin that projects beyond the underside of the board and into the snow such that as the user turns the handle, the steering fin's position is changed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the board, causing a directional change of the board and user to occur. Further, the vertical handle is movable in all three directions for ultimate maneuverability. As the vertical handle is moved toward the front or rear of the board, the control disk projects into the snow beneath the board causing a braking effect. Thus, with this invention a user can steer and brake simultaneously by using a simple vertical handle. Use of a single vertical handle to perform both steering and braking functions makes the invention easier, more efficient and more fun to use than prior art devices.

2. The Background Art

In the prior art, there have been numerous devices which a user can ride down a snowy or icy surface. The most popular of these include skis and snowboards. There has also been some work done concerning devices which a user would ride in a standing position and which have a handle for the user to grasp.

In U.S. Pat. No. 1,524,850, issued in the name of G. Van Dam on Feb. 3, 1925, a snow skate is disclosed that is intended to have one foot placed upon it and the other foot used to push the user along on the skate.

In U.S. Pat. No. 1,945,170, issued in the name of F. A. Wetzel on Jan. 30, 1934, a snow scooter is disclosed that has a supporting runner and a movable guide runner separately located in front of the supporting runner, the guide runner being operable through a steering post. The device is intended to have one foot placed on the supporting runner while using the other foot to propel himself across a snowy surface.

In U.S. Pat. No. 2,101,229, issued in the name of R. O. Anderson et al. on Dec. 7, 1937, an ice or snow scooter is disclosed having a ski portion, a guiding portion, the front of the ski portion with a guiding portion attached to it being movable right or left.

In U.S. Pat. No. 2,256,203, issued in the name of R. R. Hylan on Sep. 16, 1941, a scooter ski is disclosed having front and rear ski runners and a steering post member.

In U.S. Pat. No. 2,292,891, issued in the name of W. F. Moerlins on Aug. 11, 1942, a snow scooter is disclosed having steering and braking mechanisms.

In U.S. Pat. No. 2,513,199, issued in the name of G. J. Ohlhaver on Jun. 27, 1950, a scooter is disclosed having a ski runner, a portion of which is steerable for directional control.

In U.S. Pat. No. 2,593,974, issued in the name of R. P. Brown on Apr. 22, 1952, a ski sled is disclosed that has a pair of interconnected skis with steering and braking arrangements. Optional seating is provided.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,539,847, issued in the name of R. F. Shores on Sep. 22, 1970, a mono-ski is disclosed having a handlebar and a braking system operable from the handle bar.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,975 issued on Oct. 4, 1994 in the name of F. Petoud, a sliding apparatus for snow sports is disclosed that has a steering skid, a bearing ski and a handle for steering.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,126 issued on May 14, 1996 in the name of J. D. Myers, a snow or ski runner is disclosed having a user standing area, a movable handle, and foot-activated braking and steering mechanisms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a steerable snow scooter. It is a feature of the invention that in the preferred embodiment, a snow scooter is provided that has a board, a hole in the board for a control plate, a rudder on the bottom of the control plate and a control handle on top of the control plate, so that as the control handle is rotated, the rudder turns in the snow and steers the snow scooter. It is a consequent advantage of the invention that the snow scooter may be used safely to avoid obstacles, for a greater distance on a downhill run, and with greater enjoyment than many prior art devices.

It is an object of the invention to provide a snow scooter that combines a steering and braking mechanism. It is a feature of the invention that in the preferred embodiment, the steering mechanism may be angled by the control handle to cause the control plate to project below the bottom of the board, dragging the control plate through the snow and causing a braking effect. The steering mechanism is movable in all 3 directions to provide simultaneous steering and braking. Thus, both braking and steering are performed by a single set of components.

It is an object of the invention to provide a snow play device that is lightweight, inexpensive to manufacture and easy to use. The preferred embodiment of the invention uses lightweight blow molded plastic components that are inexpensive to make. The invented snow scooter is so simple in operation that even small children and uncoordinated persons can use it successfully and with great enjoyment.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the specification and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a user riding one embodiment of the invention down a snow-covered hill.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of one board of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows s perspective view of one steering handle and control disk of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the steering handle and control disk of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows a front view of the steering handle and control disk of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 shows a top view of a board of the invention.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of a board of the invention.

FIG. 9 shows a bottom view of a board of the invention.

FIG. 10 shows a side view of scooter of the invention with the control handle folded onto the board for storage, transportation or extreme braking.

FIG. 11 shows a side view of a scooter of the invention with the handle angled for hard braking.

FIG. 12 shows a side view of a scooter of the invention with the handle in the position for ordinary scooting down a snow-covered hill.

FIG. 13 shows a front view of the scooter of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 depicts a view of the scooter with a boot binding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, one preferred embodiment of the invented snow scooter 101 is shown. A user 102 is shown standing on the snow scooter 101 and proceeding down a snow covered hill 103. The user 102 is standing on the scooter elongate platform 104 and is gripping the control handle 105. Because the user 102 as depicted is jumping the snow scooter off of a cliff, operation of the steering and braking mechanisms are not depicted in this figure.

Referring to FIG. 2, a perspective view of the scooter 101 of FIG. 1 is depicted. The scooter 101 includes an elongate board or rider support platform 104 having a longitudinal axis 116 and a board first end 112 and a board second end 115. The board 104 has a board top 110 and a board bottom 112. At the board first end 112, an upwardly curved leading edge or upwardly curved frontal portion 111 is found. Preferably, at the board second end 115, another upwardly curved portion is also found. The board has a right side periphery 114 and a left side periphery 113 which may be straight and parallel to the axis 116, angled with resect to each other or with respect to the axis 116, or curved or otherwise non-linear. A hole 109 through the board 104 through its top 110 and through its bottom 112 serves as a receptacle for a control disk, control plate or steering mechanism 107. The hole 109 is preferably circular but may have another shape. At the outer periphery of the hole 109 are found two receptacles 108a and 108b for control rods formed or located on the control disk 107. On the top of the control disk there is a steering handle or control handle 105 with a handgrip or gripping handle 106 for a user to grasp in order to steer and brake the scooter 101. On the bottom of the control disk 107 is a fin or steering rudder (not shown). Preferably the control disk 107 and steering fin or steering rudder will be radiused to permit movement in all 3 directions within the hole 109. Movement in all 3 directions within the hole permits a user to simultaneously steer and brake the snow scooter.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the board 104 invention. From this view, the hole 109 is clearly shown with receptacles 108a and 108b for control rods on a control disk. Note that receptacles 108a and 108b are shown as being placed along the longitudinal axis. In the hole or receptacle 109, a control rod rotation groove 301 is shown in which control rods may rotate and which allows controlled rotation of a control plate or disk place in the receptacle 109. Once a disk with control rods is place in the receptacle 109 and the control rods are placed through the receptacles 108a and 108b, the disk may be rotated, preferably 45 to 90 degrees, and the board material that forms the control rod rotation groove 301 will keep the control rods in place and prevent the control disk form engaging in unwanted movement.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of one steering handle and control disk of the invention. FIG. 5 shows a side view of the steering handle and control disk of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 shows a front view of the steering handle and control disk of FIG. 4. Referring to these figures, a control plate or control disk or steering mechanism 401 is shown. The control disk 401 preferably has two control rods 402a and 402b on it for placement in the receptacles 108a and 108b. As explained above, once the control disk 401 is placed into receptacle 109 and rotated, the control rod rotation groove 301 will prevent the control plate 401 and handle 105 from inadvertently separating from the board 104. The control rods are preferably cylindrical in shape so that the handle 105 may be easily angularly adjusted with respect to the longitudinal axis of the board. Further, the handle 105 may be moved so that the control plate 401 moves in a direction that causes angular change of the fin or rudder 501 with respect to the board longitudinal axis. The control plate 401 and the fin or rudder 501 are preferably radiused to permit movement of the control plate 401 and fin or rudder 501 in all 3 directions. Thus, the handle 105 is moveable in all three directions to control both steering and braking simultaneously in order to achieve ultimate maneuverability. As the handle 105 is moved to cause angular adjustment of the fin 501 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the board 105, steering occurs. And as the handle 105 is moved toward the front or rear of the board 104, braking occurs. As the handle 105 is movable in all 3 directions, the handle 105 may be moved in a direction that causes (i) only steering, (ii) only braking, or (iii) simultaneous braking and steering. This provides the user with ultimate control and maneuverability of the snow scooter and results in a device that is safe, efficient and fun to use.

FIG. 7 shows a top view of a board of the invention. FIG. 8 shows a side view of a board of the invention. FIG. 9 shows a bottom view of a board of the invention. Referring to these figures, components previously described can be seen. Also visible is a non-slip, high friction surface 701 which may include protrusions projecting from the board top 110. The surface 701 is intended to provide the user a place to firmly place his feet while using the board. Also depicted are optional metal edges 902 on the board and optional recessed channels or grooves 901 on the bottom of the board. Both the metal edges and the grooves enhance controllability of use of the board.

FIG. 10 shows a side view of scooter of the invention with the control handle folded onto the board for storage, transportation or extreme braking. FIG. 11 shows a side view of a scooter of the invention with the handle angled for hard braking. FIG. 12 shows a side view of a scooter of the invention with the handle in the position for ordinary scooting down a snow-covered hill. FIG. 13 shows a front view of the scooter of FIG. 12. Referring to these figures, components previously mentioned are depicted. It can be seen that the rudder 501 has a longitudinal axis 1001 at an angle .beta. with the longitudinal axis 116 of the board. When braking, the angle .beta. can be approximately that shown in FIG. 11. When the scooter is being used for non-braking travel, the position of the control handle 105 and rudder 501 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 is desired.

Referring to FIG. 14, an alternative embodiment of the snow scooter with a boot binding 1401 is shown. A textured surface 1402 is provided for placement of a second foot that will not be in the binding. The boot binding allows the scooter board to be firmly attached to one foot of the user. With the control handle removed, the user can take his snow scooter on a ski lift as a snow boarder would take his board. He can then ride the snow scooter downhill with or without his foot in the binding, as desired.

To use the snow scooter, the user should select an appropriate snow-covered hill, point the first end of the elongate board down the hill and stand on the elongate board. As he moves down the hill, he may steer the scooter by turning the control handle left or right which moves the rudder left or right, causing a steering action. To brake the snow scooter, the user need only move the control handle either upward toward the board front or first end or downward toward the board rear or elongate board second end. This will cause the control disk to drag in the snow, impeding the snow scooter's travel. The more the handle is lowered, the greater the braking action. The user may also simultaneously move the handle in a direction that causes steering and in a direction that causes braking. As simultaneous steering and braking are provided, ultimate maneuverability of the snow scooter is achieved.

The snow scooter control handle is removable. To remove the handle, simply rotate the handle until the control rods line up with their receptacles, and lift the control handle, control disk and control rods out of the board. Thus disassembled, the scooter may be easily stored.

The snow scooter may be made from many materials and according to many manufacturing methods, such as blow molding high density polyethylene, injection molding plastic or fiber reinforced plastic, fiberglass, filament winding and extrusion. The snow scooter could also be made from a wood or ceramic material.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the board is about 50 inches long, about 14 inches wide and about 1 inch thick. Instead of the longitudinal grooves on the board, it is possible to equip the board with a rearwardly mounted downwardly projecting fin.

It should be noted that the control handle provides not only a mechanism to actuate simultaneous steering and braking of the snow scooter, it also assists the user with balance and support. This is important for novice riders and can help them acquire the skills necessary to eventually become snowboard riders.

The steering rudder or fin is preferably tapered at both of its ends as shown in the figures. Alternatively, the fin may be of other shapes or configurations.

While the present invention has been described and illustrated in conjunction with a number of specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the principles of the invention as herein illustrated, described and claimed. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as only illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.