Snowshoe with molded tail piece

• US 20030126767A1
• Filed: 01/04/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: K2 Corporation (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: K2 Snowshoes, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Emerson, Daniel T., Messmer, Nathan J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,725,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/122
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 13/003 Means thereof for preventing slipping, e.g. crampons, e.g. on frame or shoe plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 13/005 Frames therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 13/006 Shoe support thereof, e.g. plate, movable relative to the frame

Abstract

A snowshoe having a tubular frame supporting a flexible deck has a molded tail piece connecting the tail ends of the tubular frame. The tail piece has two dowel members which are angled to form a rear apex, such that the tail ends of the tubular frame extend over the dowel members for secure connection. In addition, the molded tail piece has a connecting bracket extending forwardly, with a wide slot in which the tail of the stretched membrane decking is secured. In this way a rear support and connection point for the decking is provided by the tube end connector, while also providing tension on the tail piece retaining it in place without the need for fasteners.

Claims

1. A snowshoe with a flexible deck supported by a peripheral tubular frame, including a molded plastic tail piece having two fingers arranged in generally a V shape, the fingers having end portions dimensioned to fit within rear ends of the tubular peripheral frame to thus retain the rear frame ends together, and the molded tail piece further including a forward-extending central tab having a transverse slot, the deck membrane of the snowshoe having a tail end which passes through the slot, looping back forward to a connection with the deck membrane to thus form a closed loop of material passing through the slot, with the deck membrane being in tension such that the tail piece is pulled in a forward direction relative to snowshoe, retaining the fingers in the frame ends.

2. A tail piece for use on a snowshoe of the type having a deck membrane supported under tension by a peripheral tubular frame, comprising:

a molded plastic body having a rear end and having a pair of fingers extending in an angular relationship to one another, generally forming a V or U shape,

the fingers being sized to extend into the ends of the tubular frame,

and a tab integrally formed with the fingers and extending in a forward direction, the tab having an elongated transverse slot for receiving a tail end of a snowshoe decking such that the decking tail end passes through the slot and loops back forward relative to the snowshoe.

3. A tail piece according to claim 2, wherein the molded plastic material comprises nylon with glass fiber filling.

4. A tali piece according to claim 2, wherein the molded plastic material comprises nylon.