APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR A COLLAPSING APPROACH SKI
First Claim
1. A ski for maneuvering over terrain, the ski comprising:
- a plurality of ski segments, each ski segment having a sliding surface disposed at a bottom thereof;
a collapsing mechanism connecting the ski segments and allowing the ski segments to be arranged longitudinally for skiing and to be rearranged compactly for storage; and
a traction component connected to one or more of the ski segments and operative below the sliding surface thereof to facilitate climbing uphill but not substantially interfering with sliding downhill.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a collapsing approach ski for maneuvering over terrain in a climbing and sliding fashion, with a traction component operative below the sliding surface on the underside of the ski to facilitate climbing uphill without substantially interfering with sliding downhill. It combines the advantages of a snowshoe, including a large surface area, a toe cleat that claws into the terrain and a lifting of the front tip with each step, with the advantages of an approach ski, including a fibrous skin for added traction climbing uphill and an ability to slide down hill. A stretchable portion in the skin adjacent to a hinge in the ski permits the ski to be compactly collapsed without removing the skin, for easy packing and storage while not in use. For climbing up a steep incline, a removable fixed cleat provides added traction, and a heel riser reduces the strain on the lower leg and Achilles tendon region of the skier.
98 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A ski for maneuvering over terrain, the ski comprising:
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a plurality of ski segments, each ski segment having a sliding surface disposed at a bottom thereof; a collapsing mechanism connecting the ski segments and allowing the ski segments to be arranged longitudinally for skiing and to be rearranged compactly for storage; and a traction component connected to one or more of the ski segments and operative below the sliding surface thereof to facilitate climbing uphill but not substantially interfering with sliding downhill. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A ski for maneuvering over terrain, the ski comprising:
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a plurality of ski segments, each ski segment having a sliding surface disposed at a bottom thereof; a collapsing mechanism connecting the ski segments and allowing the ski segments to be arranged longitudinally for skiing and to be rearranged more compactly for storage; a skin segment removably coupled to the sliding surface of each ski segment; and a stretchable portion adjacent to the collapsing mechanism connecting the plurality of skin segments so as to permit the ski segments to be collapsed together without removing the skin by allowing the skin to stretch.
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24. An apparatus for maneuvering over terrain, comprising:
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a ski, having a sliding surface disposed at a bottom thereof; a footwear base, attached to an upper surface of the ski via a pivot joint on or about a toe end of the footwear base, so as to lift the ski with each step taken by a skier wearing footwear mounted upon the footwear base, allowing a heel end of the footwear to freely rotate up away from the upper surface with each step taken by the skier; and a toe cleat, mounted on or about the toe end, extending over the ski, so as to grip the terrain in a clawing fashion below the sliding surface, rotating downward as the footwear pivots upward with each step taken by the skier.
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25. A method for maneuvering over terrain, comprising the steps of:
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providing a ski which is collapsible, having a traction component which is operative below a sliding surface of the ski to facilitate climbing uphill but not substantially interfering with sliding downhill; opening the ski into a fully open position; enabling the traction component when climbing uphill; disabling the traction component when sliding downhill; collapsing the ski into a fully compact position; and stowing the ski.
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Specification