This invention is directed toward a snow sled.
The invention is more particularly directed toward a snow sled having novel means for carrying a rider.
The invention is also more particularly directed toward a snow sled having improved steering means.
Snow sleds for riding down hills on snow are well known. The sleds usually have a platform supported by runners. The rider sits on the platform or lays on the platform on his stomach to ride the sled down the hill. In laying on the platform, the rider's hands and arms are usually in an uncomfortable position. If the sled has no steering means, the rider must awkwardly grip the sides of the sled. If steering means are provided as shown for example by U.S.
Pat. 3,862,766, the hands and arms are in a more comfortable position, but not in a position to distribute some of the rider's weight onto the front runner. Having some of the rider's weight distributed onto the front runner or runners would provide more control of the sled.
Most sleds have no steering means. Some sleds have a steerable front runner as shown for example by U.S. Pat. 3,862,766. This sled, with tandem runners, steers quite well since the rider can cause the edge of the runners to dig into the snow during turns by leaning into the turn. However, sleds with tandem runners are very hard to balance. Sleds with a pair of spaced-apart front runners and a rear runner provide better balance. However these sleds would be more difficult to steer because the runners would not normally ...2 - 2140~28 dig in when the sled is turned. The spaced-apart front runners prevent the rider from leaning to cause the edge of the runners to dig in to give a tighter turn. It is known to provide a sled with a mechanism that causes the front runners to dig in when turned to steer the sled. Such a sled is shown in U.S. Pat. 4,165,087.
However the mechanism required is quite complicated and costly.
Known snow sleds also do not have satisfactory brake means.
The brake means are quite expensive and/or ineffective. Known sleds also do not have shock absorbing means for absorbing bumps during the ride.
It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a snow sled having improved means for carrying a rider. It is more particularly the purpose of the present invention to provide a snow sled having improved means for carrying a rider in a manner to distribute his weight more effectively on the sled. It is another purpose of the present invention to provide a snow sled having improved steering means. It is a further purpose of the present invention to provide a snow sled that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and that has relatively few parts. It is yet another purpose of the present invention to provide a snow sled that is versatile being able to be used in an acrobatic manner, or to be ridden either lying down or sitting up. It is another purpose of the present invention to provide a snow sled with simple, effective, braking means and with simple, effective, shock ~` 2140328 absorbing means to provide a better ride.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a snow sled having a main runner, supporting a platform for a rider, and a pair of steering runners, one on each side of the front of the main runner. The steering runners are pivotally connected to the front of the main runner. A steering handle is provided on each steering runner to be held by the rider while he lies on the platform on his stomach so as to place the rider in the best position on the sled for both weight distribution and for steering.
Preferably means are provided on the steering runners just behind the handles for supporting the forearms of the rider while he grips the handles to ensure good weight distribution and a comfortable riding position.
The sled of the present invention is also provided with relatively simple tilt means which tilt the main runner on its side edge when the steering runners are steered to turn the snow sled.
The side edge of the main runner, when it is tilted, bites into the snow to provide sharper and more controlled turns.
The steering runners of the snow sled are rotatably mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis which axis is transverse to the long axis of the sled. Brake means are provided on the rear of the steering runners. The rider can pull up the steering handles rotating the steering runners to cause the brake means to brake the snow sled.
...4 The main runner of the snow sled has a shallow u-shape when viewed from the side and is attached at its ends to the platform.
The main runner is made of resilient material so that it can flex slightly between its ends thus absorbing bumps. Preferably, the main runner is attached to the platform with a sliding connection at one end permitting more flexure and thus more ability to absorb bumps.
The main runner preferably has a curved rear end. This permits a rider to pull the front of the snow sled up off the snow with the handles so as to ride the sled only on the curved rear end of the main runner in an acrobatic manner.
The invention is particularly directed toward a snow sled having a main runner with side edges, and a platform for carrying a rider on the main runner. Two spaced-apart front steering runners are provided, one on each side of the front of the main runner.
Pivot means pivotally connect the steering runners to the front of the main runner. A steering handles is provided on each steering runner to allow the rider, who is on his stomach on the platform, to better distribute his weight on the sled while allowing him to easily steer the snow sled.
The invention is also particularly directed toward a snow sled having a main runner with side edges and a platform for carrying a rider on the main runner. Two steering runners are provided, one on each side of the front of the main runner. Pivot means pivotally ...5 ` 2140328 connect the steering runners to the front of the main runner. Tilt means are provided for automatically tilting the main runner when the steering runners are pivoted to turn the snow sled. The main runner is tilted onto its side edge that is nearest the center of the turn while the steering runners remain flat on the snow.
The invention will now be described in detail having reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the snow sled;
Fig. 2 is a side view of the snow sled;
Fig. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of the sled;
Fig. 4 is a detail side view of the rear of the sled;
Fig. 5 is a detail cross-section view of the front of the sled;
Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the pivot means;
Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the pivot means in a turn to the right;
Fig. 8 is a side view showing a rider braking the sled;
Fig. 9 is a side view showing a rider doing acrobatics with the sled; and Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the rider sitting on the sled.
The snow sled 1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, has a rider platform 3 supported by a single, rear, main runner 5. The main runner 5 is relatively wide. The snow sled includes a pair of ...6 21~0328 steering runners 7 connected by pivot means 9 to the front of the main runner 3, one steering runner 7 on each side of the main runner 3.
In more detail, as shown in Fig. 3, the platform 3 has a base 13 with downwardly extending stiffening ribs 15, 17 at its sides 19, 21. A pair of side panels 23, 25 extend outwardly and slightly upwardly from the sides 19, 21 of the base 13 at the rear portion of the base. The rider normally lays on the base on his stomach with his head slightly past the front of the base and with his legs extending past the rear of the base. The side panels 23, 25 provide lateral support for the rider's body during turning of the snow sled to help maintain the rider on the snow sled.
Connecting means are provided at the front and rear of the platform 3 for use in connecting the platform 3 to the main runner 5. The rear connecting means, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, includes a pair of u-shaped brackets 31, one on each side, fastened to the bottom rear of each stiffening rib 15, 17 by suitable fastening means (not shown). A cut-out 33 can be provided in the bottom rear of each rib 15, 17, the cut-out 33 forming, with the bracket 31, an elongated slot 35 for use in connecting the rear of the main runner 5 to the rear of the base 13 as will be described. The front connecting means comprise a pair downwardly depending, transversely spaced-apart, lugs 37 at the bottom front of the base 13 that can be fastened by suitable fastening means to the front of the main ...7 _ 21~3Z8 runner 5 as will be described.
The main runner 5, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, has a main, flat, running portion 41 with parallel side edges 43, 45 and a bottom running surface 47. The rear of the running portion 41 merges smoothly with an upwardly curved rear portion 49. Connecting means are provided at the top of the rear portion 49 for use in connecting the rear of the main runner 5 to the rear of the platform 3. The connecting means comprise connecting pins 53 extending transversely from the sides of the rear portion 49 adjacent its top edge 55.
The front of the running portion 41 merges smoothly with an upwardly curved front portion 59. The front portion 59 has a top portion 61 and a downwardly and forwardly angled front mounting portion 63. The bottom surface 65 of the front mounting portion 63 extends at an angle ~ of about forty five degrees as shown in Fig.
5. The angle can vary between thirty five degrees and fifty five degrees . Socket openings 67 are provided in the top of the top portion 61 for receiving the lugs 37 on the platform 3 as will be described.
The angled mounting portion 63 on the main runner 5 has a mounting plate 71 attached to its bottom surface 65 as shown in Fig. 5. The bottom surface 65 is slightly dished as shown at 75 so that a major portion of the mounting plate 71 is spaced a short distance from the bottom surface 65. The bottom edge portion 77 of ...8 ~1~0328 the mounting plate 71 is fastened by suitable fastening means 81 to the lower bottom part of the mounting portion 63. The upper edge portion 83 of the plate 71 is bent and fastened to the bottom 85 of the top portion 61 of the main runner 5 by suitable fastening means 87. The mounting plate 71 forms part of the pivot means 9 as will be described.
The steering runners 7 are identical so only one will be described in detail. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, each steering runner has a short ski 91 with an upturned front tip 93 and an upturned rear end 95. A forwardly and upwardly extending steering handle 97 is provided on the front of the ski 91. A forearm rest 99, in the shape of a trough, is mounted on the ski. The forearm rest 99 has a bottom wall 101 and side walls 103, 105. The handle 97 preferably is attached to the front, center of the bottom wall 101 of the forearm rest 99. A brace 107 extends from the top of the handle 97 to the top, front portion of the inner side wall 103 to strengthen the structure. The rear portion of the inner side wall 103 extends upwardly as shown at 109 to form a bracket. A mounting pin 111 is fastened to the inner side of bracket 109. The forearm rest 99 is mounted on the center of the ski 91, with its bottom wall 101 flush on the top surface of the ski, with suitable fastening means (not shown). Preferably, the longitudinal position of the forearm rest 99 on the ski 91 can be adjusted by using adjustable fastening means.
. . .9 ~- 21~û328 Brake means 113 are provided on the upturned rear end 95 of the ski 91. The brake means 113 can comprise a series of sharp, parallel, ridges 115 formed in the bottom surface of the upturned rear end 95 with the ridges 115 extending across the width of the ski. The ridges 115 bite into the snow when the brake is operated as will be described.
The pivot means 9 for connecting the steering runners to the front of the main runner 5 has a cross member 121 as shown in Figs.
3, 5 and 6. The cross member 121 comprises a plate having a flat central portion 123 and two arm portions 125 extending slightly downwardly from opposite sides of the central portion 123. A
mounting block 127 is provided at the end of each arm 125. The block 127 has a semi-circular cutout 129 in its bottom surface 131 for receiving the mounting pin 111 on the ski 91. A bracket 133 fastens to the bottom surface 131 of the block 127 with fasteners 135 to rotatably lock the steering runner 7, via mounting pin 111, to the end of the cross member 121. When the steering runners 7 are attached to the ends of the cross member 121 they can rotate about the horizontal axis of the mounting pins 111.
Connecting means are provided for pivotally connecting the cross member 121 to the mounting portion 63 of the main runner 5.
The connecting means preferably has three headed pins 141A, 141B, 141C mounted on the upper surface of the center portion 123 of the cross member 121. The heads 143 of the pins 141 are removably . . . 10 10 .
attached by fasteners 145. The pins 141 are arranged in a triangle with two pins 141A and 141B at the top of the center portion 123 and the third pin 141C at the bottom of the center portion 123 between the top two pins 141A, 141B.
The connecting means include three slots 151, 153, 155 in the mounting plate 71. The top two slots 151, 153 curve down and slightly inwardly from their top ends 157, 159. The bottom slot 155 has a slightly raised central point 161 from which two wings 163, 165 extend slightly downwardly and out from each other. The ends 157, 159 and the central point 161 of the slots 151, 153, 155 form a triangle identical to the triangle formed by the pins 141.
The snow sled 1 is assembled by removing the heads 143 from the pins 141 and mounting the mounting plate 71 on the pins 141 with the pins 141 extending through the slots 151, 153, 155. The heads 143 are replaced with the fasteners 145. The mounting plate 71 is now mounted on the cross member 121 to form the pivot means 9. The mounting plate 71 is then mounted against the bottom of the angled mounting portion 63 on the main runner 5 by the fasteners 81, 85 to connect the cross member 121 to the main runner 5. At the same time, the platform 3 is mounted on the main runner 5 by inserting the lugs 37 into the sockets 65. The fasteners 85 that fasten the mounting plate 71 to the main runner 5 also connect the lugs 37 of the platform 3 to the main runner 5. The brackets 31 are fastened to the platform 3 to lock the pins 53 on the main runner 5 ...11 ~ 214û328 11 .
to the platform 3 at the rear. The steering runners 7 are fastened to the ends of the cross member 121 by the pins 111 and the brackets 133.
Means are preferably provided for limiting the amount of rotation of the steering runners 7 about the axis of the pins 111.
These rotation limiting means 169, as shown in Fig. 5, can comprise a flange 171 extending radially out from the end of the pin 111. A
pair of spaced apart stop ribs 173, 175 are formed in the block 127 on either side of the cutout 129. The flange 171, abutting on either stop rib 173, 175, limits the amount of rotation of the steering runner 7.
The rider normally rides on the snow sled with his stomach on the platform 3 and with his forearms in the forearm rests 99 and his hands on the handles 97. Weight is partly transferred to the steering runners 7 by the forearms on the forearm rests 99. The snow sled is steered by moving the steering handles 7 to pivot the cross member 121 about the main runner 5 via the pins 141 and the slots 151, 153, 155. If the cross member 121 is turned to the right, as shown in Fig. 7, the upper right hand pin 14lA stays at the top end 157 of its slot 151 and the upper left hand pin 141B
slides down its slot 153. The bottom pin 141C slides from the central point 161 in its slot 155 out in its right hand wing 163.
The cross member 121 stays horizontal as it turns and the steering runners stay flat on the snow while turning. However the flat ...12 central portion 123 of the cross member 121, which is parallel to the mounting plate 71, cams the upper left side of the mounting plate 71 upwards thus tilting the left side of the platform 3 upwardly so that the sled rides on the right side edge 43 of the main running portion 41 of the main runner 5 which edge 43, being closest to the center of the turn, becomes the inner edge. With the snow sled riding on the inside edge 43 of the main runner S during a turn, the snow sled makes a sharper and more controlled turn with little side slip. The angled mounting portion 63 of the main runner 5 and the parallel central portion 123 of the cross member 121, in effect, form tilting means to tilt the main runner 5 when the cross member 121 rotates relative to the main runner 5 in turning. When the central portion 123 moves relative to the mounting portion 63 it will cause the mounting portion 63, and thus the platform 3, to tilt about either edge of the main runner.
Braking is easily accomplished by the rider when he pulls up the handles 97, as shown in Fig. 8, pivoting the skis 91 about pins 11, to have the rear end 95 of the skis 91 with the brake means 113 thereon bite into the snow. The higher the handles 97 are pulled, the more the skis rotate and the more the brake means 113 brake.
The elbows of the rider, adjacent the rear end 95 of the ski, help provide braking pressure. The longitudinal ajustability of the forearm rests 99 allows the elbows to be positioned adjacent the rear end of the ski.
...13 21~0328 The snow sled can be used acrobatically. By lifting the front end of the sled upwardly through the handles 97, as shown in Fig.
9, and by shifting his weight rearwardly, the rider can ride the snow sled on the curved rear portion 49 of the main runner 5. The rotation limiting means 169, limiting rotation of the steering runners 7, allows the rider to lift the front end of the sled. The rider can also ride the snow sled in a sitting position if desired, as shown in Fig. 10, sitting on the platform 3 with his feet in the forearm rests 99 and his hands on the side panels 23, 25. The snow sled can also be ridden forwards or backwards since both ends of the main and steering runners are upturned.
The main runner 5, having a shallow u-shape when viewed from the side, and molded from suitable plastic material, is somewhat resilient. Being connected at its ends to the platform 3, it acts as a spring to absorb shocks and bumps. Having the rear end of the main runner 5 slidably connected to the platform 3, via the pins 53 slidable in the slots 35, improves the ability of the main runner 5 to absorb shocks. The pins 53 would normally be located at the front end of the slots 35 but when the main runner 5 is flexed in a bump there is room for the pins to slide rearwardly allowing greater flexure of the main runner 5 and thus better shock absorbency.
All the parts of the snow sled, except perhaps for certain of the fastening means, can be molded from suitable plastic materials,