SEATED SKIING OR SNOWBOARDING DEVICE

• US 20100109310A1
• Filed: 01/12/2010
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Erikka Gulbranson
• Original Assignee: Erikka Gulbranson
• Inventors: Gulbranson, Erikka
• Granted Patent: US 8,308,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/816
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/065 replacing in the binding the shoe by another device
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 5/03 Mono skis; Snowboards
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 13/043 having one single runner monoski A63C5/03

Abstract

A seated skiing device having an adjustable heel protrusion and a fixed toe protrusion is provided. The distance between the toe and heel protrusions are adjustable such that the seated the skiing device may engage toe and heel bindings of a snow ski set to a riders ski boot. In this manner, the seated skiing device is engageable to the snow ski of the rider without any additional tools. Also, a seated snowboarding device is disclosed herein. The seated snowboarding device is removably attachable to standard front and rear bindings of a snowboard.

Claims

1. A downhill snowboard device mountable to a snowboard having a front binding and a rear binding defining a binding distance therebetween, the downhill snowboard device comprising:

a frame;

a seat attached to the frame for allowing the rider to ride down a snow covered downhill terrain while seated on the seat;

a front portion attached to the frame and receivable in the front binding of the snowboard;

a rear portion attached to the frame and receivable in the rear binding of the snowboard, a snowboard device distance defined by the front and rear portions being adjustably settable to equal the binding distance;

wherein front and rear portions have a tongue slideably receivable into a groove so that the tongue may be positioned within the groove at any position for fine tuning the snowboard device distance, the front and rear portions operative to slide and lock into position so as to fit in the front and rear binding of the snowboard.

2. The downhill snowboard device of claim 1 further comprising a fastener insertable into an aperture formed in the front portion and an elongate slot formed in the rear portion wherein the fastener is slideably disposed within the elongate slot for adjusting the snowboard device distance so as to be equal to the binding distance and tightenable for setting the snowboard device distance.

3. The downhill snowboard device of claim 2 wherein the fastener is an overcenter fastener for quick release and adjustment of the protrusion distance.

4. The downhill snow device of claim 2 wherein the elongate slot is aligned longitudinally with the snowboard when the downhill snowboard device is mounted to the snowboard.

5. The downhill snowboard device of claim 1 further comprising a steering handle attached to the frame and disposed transversely with respect to the frame to balance and steer the downhill snowboard device down the snow covered downhill terrain.

6. The downhill snow device of claim 5 wherein the steering handle is rotateable so as to be flush with respect to the frame for carrying the downhill snowboard device.

7. A downhill snowboarding device mountable to a snowboard having a front binding and a rear binding defining a binding distance therebetween, the downhill snowboarding device comprising:

a frame defining a lower portion and an upper portion;

a seat attached to the frame for allowing the rider to ride down a snow covered downhill terrain while in a seated position, the seat being pivotally attached to the upper portion of the frame;

a front protrusion attached to the frame and receivable in one of the front and rear bindings of the snowboard;

a rear protrusion attached to the frame and receivable in one of the front and rear bindings of the snowboard; and

a shock absorber attached to the seat and the lower portion of the frame for absorbing shocks imparted to the downhill snowboarding device.

8. The downhill snowboarding device of claim 7 further comprising a steering handle attached to the upper portion of the frame and disposed transversely with respect to the frame to balance and steer the downhill snowboarding device down the snow covered downhill terrain.

9. The downhill snowboarding device of claim 8 wherein the steering handle is rotateable horizontally or vertically so as to be flush against the frame for carrying the downhill snowboarding device in a backpack.

10. The downhill snowboarding device of claim 7 further comprising a speaker attached to the frame and an input for receiving audio signals and transmitting the audio signals to the speaker.

11. The downhill snowboarding device of claim 7 further comprising an output system comprising:

an output device attached to the frame;

a sensor for producing a signal upon sensation of a condition, the sensor being in communication with the output device;

wherein the output device is actuated when the sensor senses the condition and transmits the signal to the output device.

12. The downhill snowboarding device of claim 11 wherein the output device is a speaker or a light.

13. The downhill snowboarding device of claim 11 wherein the sensor is a sound sensor, a light sensor, a speed sensor, a pressure sensor or an accelerometer.

14. The downhill snowboarding device of claim 7 further comprising a sound system comprising:

a speaker attached to the frame;

a mp3 player; and

an input which is operative to receive signals from the mp3 player, the input being in communication with the speaker.

15. The downhill snowboarding device of claim 7 further comprising a shock absorber attached to the seat and the frame for absorbing shocks imparted to the downhill snowboarding device.

16. The downhill snowboarding device of claim 7 wherein the rear protrusion is attached to an extension having a tongue and the frame has a receiver sized and configured to receive the tongue, the tongue having an elongate slot, the receiver having aligned apertures, and the downhill snowboarding device further comprising a fastener insertable into the aligned apertures and the elongate slot, the tongue being insertable into the receiver at selective depths and the fastener tightened such that a protrusion distance defined by the front and rear protrusions is fixed to the binding distance defined by the binding distance of the front and rear bindings.

17. The downhill snowboarding device of claim 7 wherein the upper portion of the frame is the upper half of the frame.