US20120119456A1

US20120119456A1 - Ice sledding device

Info

Publication number: US20120119456A1
Application number: US13/294,836
Authority: US
Inventors: Yi Zhou; Tao Boyang Zhou
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-11-11
Filing date: 2011-11-11
Publication date: 2012-05-17

Abstract

An ice sledding device includes a blade mounted on a main body support. The main body support of the ice sledding device is formed with an inclined top surface for supporting the player during the normal user of the ice sledding device.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/412,704 which was filed on Nov. 11, 2010.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to a sporting device. More specifically, the invention relates to a winter sporting device combining the features of both winter skating sports and winter sliding sports. This invention provides an ice sledding device and a new winter sport.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The most popular ice sports nowadays are ice hockey, ice skating, speed skating, figure skating, ski, ice sledding, bobsleigh, luge, ice hockey sleigh. Most of these winter ice sports require a flat rink and move on the flat ice rink, but cannot do the down-hill movement. For example, skating requires a flat-rink and cannot do down-hill movement.
On the other hand, an ice sled requires a well-formed down-hill course. Ice sled cannot move on a flat rink. For example, Bobsleigh requires a well-designed ice course. Bobsleigh can only do the down-hill movement, but cannot move on a flat rink.
A new utility that combine the skating and ski together can be a new interesting winter sport.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments described below provide an ice sledding device and a new winter sport. More specifically, the Ice Sledding Device can have a blade mounted on a main body support. The main body support of the Ice Sledding Device can be formed with an inclined-top surface for supporting the player during the normal use of the Ice Sledding Device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description is set forth in connection with the attached drawing figures, which are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the drawing figures:

FIG. 1 is a Perspective View of Ice Sledding Device;

FIG. 2 is a Perspective Bottom View of Ice Sledding Device;

FIG. 3 is an Opening Position of the Ice Sledding Device;

FIG. 4 is a Right View of Ice Sledding Device in Opening Position;

FIG. 5 is a Right View of Ice Sledding Device;

FIG. 6 is a Back View of Ice Sledding Device;

FIG. 7 is a Front View of Ice Sledding Device;

FIG. 8 is a Top View of Ice Sledding Device;

FIG. 9 is a Bottom View of Ice Sledding Device;

FIG. 10 is a Blade;

FIG. 11 is a Front View of Blade Holder Measurement;

FIG. 12 is a Perspective View of Blade Holder;

FIG. 13 is a Right View of Blade Holder Strip;

FIG. 14 is a Front/Back Brace Measurement;

FIG. 15 is a Perspective View of Base Board;

FIG. 16 is a Perspective View of Height Adjuster;

FIG. 17 is a Perspective View of Shoe Holder;

FIG. 18 is a Blade Slot;

FIG. 19 is an Alternative Embodiment of the Ice Sledding Device;

FIG. 20 is a Bottom Perspective View of the Alternative Embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a Left View of the Alternative Embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a Front View of the Alternative Embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a Top View of the Alternative Embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a Perspective view of the measurement of the hinged Top Board;

FIG. 25 is a Top Board Adjuster of the Alternative Embodiment;

FIG. 26 is a Perspective View of the Jumper;

FIG. 27 is an Ice Sledding Device moving forward; and

FIG. 28 Ice Sledding Device turning right.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The Ice Sledding Device of the present invention combines the features of winter skating sports and winter sliding sports (such as ski, Bobsleigh, luge, or Skeleton) to provide a new winter sport. This is accomplished with a unique design of an Ice Sledding Device described below.
FIGS. 1 to 9 show various views of an Ice Sledding Device 100 formed according to the first embodiment. The Ice Sledding Device 100 comprises a main body support 1 and a blade 2 mounted on the main body support 1. For example, the main body support 1 of the Ice Sledding Device 100 can include one or more blade holders 3 a, 3 b for holding the blade 2.
The main body support 1 of the Ice Sledding Device 100 can be configured in various forms to support a player 27 (see FIGS. 27 and 28). For example, the main body support 1 can have a base board 6 formed as the chassis of the Ice Sledding Device 100. In one example, the blade 2 is mounted to the base board 6 through the blade holders 3 a, 3 b. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the blade holders 3 a, 3 b are mounted to the base board 6 through a Holder Strip 4 and Front and Back Braces 5 a, 5 b.
In the example shown in FIG. 1, the main body support 1 can have a top board 9 supported on the base board 6 in an inclined position to construct a sledding board. In one example, the front tip of the top board 9 can attached to the front tip of the base board 6. In another example, a height adjuster 8 is provided and attached to the base board 6 to support the top board 9 on the base board 6. The height adjuster 8 can be mounted to the base board 6 by various conventional fasteners, such as bolts and nuts.
In one example, the position of the top board 9 of the main body support 1 can be adjusted in relation to the base board 6 of the main body support 1. For example, the front tip of the top board 9 can attached to the front tip of the base board 6 by one or more hinges 7, as is shown in FIG. 1. The height adjuster 8 can adjust the height of the back portion of the top board 9 by inserting gadgets between the base board 6 and the height adjuster 8.
Details of the various components of the Ice Sledding Device 100, including Blade 2, Front and Back Blade Holders 3 a, 3 b, Holder Strip 4, Front and Back Braces 5 a, 5 b, Base Board 6, Hinge 7, Height Adjuster 8, Top Board 9, and Front and Back Shoe Holders 10 a, 10 b, are described below in connection with FIGS. 10 to 18.
As FIG. 10 shows, Blade 2 can be configured to be mounted to the main body support 1 of the Ice Sledding Device 100. For example, Blade 2 can be formed to have two fastening holes 11 a and 11 b in the upper front and the upper back portions of the blade 2. The fastening holes 11 a, 11 b allow the Blade 2 to be mounted to the main body support 1 of the Ice Sledding Device 100 through various fasteners, such as bolts. In one example, the blade 2 can be held in the two blade holder 3 a, 3 b and mounted thereto by two bolts and nuts of 3/32″ diameters. In another example, the two fastening holes 11 a and 11 b can be in the form of two chains of bolt slots to receive the fasteners in different positions of the two chains of bolt slots 11 a, 11 b. Such chains of bolt slots 11 a, 11 b can fine-tune the blade position and allow adjustment of the blade 2 back and forth to balance the Ice Sledding Device 100.
The Blade 2 can be formed to have various shapes. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the tip of Blade 2 is formed by three curves: Curve 12, Curve 14, and Curve 15. Curve 12 starts at the point 12 a. The tangent of Curve 12 at the starting point 12 a is the same line as the base edge 13 of the Blade 2. The end point 12 b of Curve 12 is the starting point of Curve 14. The tangents of Curve 12 and Curve 14 at Point 12 b are the same. The end point 14 a of Curve 14 is the starting point of Curve 15. The tangents of Curve 14 and Curve 15 at Point 14 b are the same.
The Blade 2 can be formed to have various lengths and thicknesses. The longer the Blade 2 is, the faster the ice sledding device 100 moves. A shorter Blade 2 can provide better maneuverability than the longer blade 2. In one example, the Blade 2 can be about 9 inches long. In another example, the Blade 2 can have a shorter length, such as about 8 inches long. In a further example, the Blade 2 can have a longer length, such as about 10 inches long. Additionally or alternatively, the thickness of the Blade 2 can determine the speed of the ice sledding device 100 during normal use. The thicker the Blade 2 is, the slower the ice sledding device 100 moves. For example, the thickness of the Blade 2 can be about 1/32″ thick. The thickness of the Blade 2 can be more than 1/32″.
In one example, the Blade 2 can be formed to be about 8.7″ long, 1.2″ high, and 0.039″ thick. The Curve 12 of the Blade 2 can start at the point 12 a about 3.1″ from the front tip of the Blade 2. The Blade 2 can be made of various materials, including but not limited to steel.
The Front and Back Blade Holders 3 a, 3 b of the main body support 1 can be similarly formed, only one of which will be described in details in connection with FIGS. 11 and 12.
The Blade Holder 3 can be configured in various forms for mounting the Blade 2 to the remaining portion of the main support body 1. For example, the blade holder 3 can have a top portion 16 to be mounted to the base board 6, either directly or through one or more additional mounting elements, including a Holder Strip 4 as is shown in FIG. 2. The blade holder 3 can also have a lower portion 18 configured to hold the blade 2 in place.
The top portion 16 of the blade holder 3 can be configured in various forms to be mounted to the remaining portion of the main support body 1. In the example of FIG. 11, the blade holder 3 can be in a T-Shape. The top portion 16 of the T-shaped blade holder 3 can be formed to include a pair of wings 17 located on each side of the lower portion 18. In one example, the top portion 16 of the T-shaped blade holder 3 can be formed with a plurality of holes to allow compatible fasteners to pass through and mount the blade holder 3 to the remaining portion of the main support body 1. For example, one or more screw holes can be formed on each of the wings 17 of the T-shaped blade holder 3, through which screws can attach the blade holder 3 to the holder strip 4 fixed to the base board 6. In one example, such screws and screw holes can have a diameter of about 3/32″.
Additionally or alternatively, the lower portion 18 of the blade holder 3 can be formed to hold the blade 2. In one example, the lower portion 18 can be formed with one or more bolt holes 21, through which one or more pairs of bolts and nuts are mounted to secure the blade 2 to the lower portion 18 of the blade holder 3. For example, a fastening bolt can be inserted into a bolt hole 21 in the lower portion 18 and a fastening hole 11 a, 11 b on the blade 2 and fastened with a compatible nut, thereby holding the blade 2 to the lower portion 18 of the blade holder 3. In one example, the bolts and nuts can be about 3/32″ in diameter. In another example shown FIG. 11, the lower portion 18 of the T-shaped blade holder 3 can be in the form of a pair of holder clips 18 a, 18 b. The holder clips 18 a, 18 b are spaced from each other forming a gap 19 there between for receiving at least part of the blade 2 after the Ice Sledding Device 100 is assembled as is shown in FIG. 2.
The Blade Holder 3 can be formed to have various dimensions. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the top portion 16 of the T-shaped Blade Holder 3 is about 2.583″ long and 0.048″ thick. The left (right) wing 17 of the top portion 16 is about 1.205″ long. The holder clips 18 a, 18 b of the Blade Holder 3 can be about 0.838″ high and 0.059″ thick. The gap 19 between the holder clips 18 a, 18 b can be about 0.055 wide. In another example shown in FIG. 12, the width 20 of Blade Holder 3 can be 0.476″. The diameter of the bolt hole 21 in the holder clips 18 a, 18 b is about 0.043″.
The Blade Holder 3 can be made of various materials. In one example, the Blade Holder 3 can be made of a metal material, such as steel. The strength of the Blade Holder 3 is no less than 800 lbs.
FIG. 13 shows a holder strip 4 formed to support the blade holders 3 a, 3 b to the base board 6, as is shown in FIG. 2. The holder strip 4 can be made of various materials that can support a player 27 during the normal use of the Ice Sledding Device 100. In one example, the holder strip 4 is about 8.035″ long, 2.579″ wide, and 0.622″ thick. The lower corners of front end 22 a and the back end 22 b of the holder strip 4 can be rounded.
FIG. 14 shows a base brace 5 representing the Front and Back Braces 5 a, 5 b, which are similarly formed. The base brace 5 is configured to mount a Holder Strip 4 to the base board 6, as is shown in FIG. 2. The base brace 5 can be made of various materials to support a player 27 during the normal use of the Ice Sledding Device 100. In one example, the base brace 5 can be about 8.781″ long, 2.004″ wide, and 0.307 thick.
FIG. 15 shows a base board 6 as the chassis of the Ice Sledding Device 100. The base board 6 can be made of various materials to support a player 27 during the normal use of the Ice Sledding Device 100. In one example, the base board 6 can be about 10.000″ long, 9.000″ wide, and 0.500″ thick.
FIG. 16 shows a Height Adjuster 8 of the main body support 1. The Height Adjuster 8 can be made of various materials to support a play 27 during the normal use of the Ice Sledding Device 100. In one example, the Height Adjuster 8 can be about 9.000″ wide, 2.5000″ high, and 1.500″ thick.
FIG. 17 shows a Shoe Holder 10 representing the Front Shoe Holder 10 a and Back Shoe Holder 10 b. The Shoe Holder 10 can be formed in various configurations to hold a play 27 on the top board 9 during the normal use of the Ice Sledding Device 100. In the example shown in FIG. 17, the distance 24 between the end points of the Shoe Holder 10 can be about 4.192″. The Height 25 of the Shoe Holder 10 can be about 1.689″. The thickness 26 of the Shoe Holder 10 can be about 0.342″.
FIG. 18 shows a preferred embodiment of the Blade 2, in which a slot 38 is formed at the rear edge 42 of the blade 2. The slot 38 can have a triangle shape in the rear view of the Blade 2. In the example of FIG. 18, the slot 38 can be formed to have a height 39 of about 0.030″, a base width 41 of about 0.030″, and a longitudinal depth 40 is 0.600″. The slot 38 can facilitate the Ice Sledding Device 100 in making turns without side-sliding.
As one skilled in the art will appreciate, the Ice Sledding Device 100 and its various components, including Blade 2, Front and Back Blade Holders 3 a, 3 b, Holder Strip 4, Front and Back Braces 5 a, 5 b, Base Board 6, Hinge 7, Height Adjuster 8, Top Board 9, and/or Front and Back Shoe Holders 10 a, 10 b, can also be formed in various other forms as described below or developed later.
FIGS. 19 to 23 show an alternative embodiment of the Ice Sledding Device 200. In the alternative embodiment, the top board of the main body support 1′ has two separate board sections: the front board section 9 a′ and the back board section 9 b′ connected by a board hinge 12. The front tip of the front board section 9 a′ is attached to the tip of the base board 6 by one or more hinges 7. The tail of the back board section 9 b′ is supported on the height adjuster 8. In the example shown in FIG. 24, the front board section 9 a′ can be about 9.000″ wide, 4.250″ long, and 0.369″ thick. The back board section 9 b′ can be about 9.000″ wide, 6.418″ long, and 0.369″ thick. The diameter of the board hinge 12 can be about 0.332″. The Front and Back Shoe Holders 10 a, 10 b can be about 0.400″ thick.
A Top Board Adjuster 11 can be provided and positioned under the board hinge 12 to support the front and the back board sections 9 a′, 9 b′ of the top board. In one example, the top board adjuster 11 can be movably supported on the base board 6. Moving the top board adjuster 11 backward can lower the board hinge 12. Moving the top board adjuster 11 forward can raise the board hinge 12.
The top board adjuster 11 can be made of various materials to support a player 27 during the normal use of the Ice Sledding Device 200. In the example shown in FIG. 25, the top board adjuster 11 can be about 1.210″ wide, 3.312″ long, 1.375″ high in the higher end, and 0.604″ high in the lower end. The top board adjuster 11 is movably mounted on the base board 6. For example, the top board adjuster 11 can slide forward and backward to adjust the height of the top board 9 a′, 9 b′.
In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 19, the height adjuster 8 can be formed to have about 8″ width, 1″ thickness, and an adjustable height from about 5″ to 8″ or more.
In a preferred embodiment, a Jumper 13 can be provided and fixed in the middle of the front board section 9 a′. The jumper 13 formed on the Ice Sledding Device 200 can assist the player 27 in controlling the Ice Sledding Device 200 when sledding. For example, the player 27 can hold the jumper 13 between his feet and lift the Ice Sledding Device 200 to jump over barriers or gaps on ice tracks.
The jumper 13 can be configured in various forms to assist the player 27 in controlling the Ice Sledding Device 200 during its normal use. In one example as is shown in FIG. 26, the jumper 13 can have a top flange 13 f to form a T-shape, as is shown in FIG. 22. Additionally or alternatively, the Jumper 13 can have a variable height. As is shown in FIG. 21, the top flange 13 f of the jumper 13 can have a curved configuration, which can partially conform to footwear of the player 27. In one example, the lower end 32 of the jumper 13 can be about 1.350″ high, and the higher end of the jumper 13 can be about 1.808″.
The Ice Sledding Device 100, 200 can be used on various ice courses for sledding. For example, ice courses can be easily built in a backyard, while the courses of the prior art winter sliding sports cannot. The ice courses can have various shapes including any curves and straight lines. In one example, the width of the ice courses is about 2 feet wide.
To use Ice Sledding Device 100, 200, a player 27 will put the Ice Sledding Device 100, 200 on an ice course 29 so that the Blade 2 of the Ice Sledding Device 100, 200 is parallel to the ice course 29. The player 27 can step on the top board 9 the Ice Sledding Device 100, 200, with the help of a pair of sticks 28 a, 28 b, and place feet right inside the shoes holders 10 a, 10 b. When sledding, the player 27 can squat on the Ice Sledding Device 100, 200 to lower the gravity center of his body.
If the ice course 29 is a downhill course, the player 27 can slide down the ice course 29. If the ice course 29 is a flat course, the player 27 can move forward using a pair of sticks 28 a, 28 b. In one example, the sticks 28 a, 28 b can be around 3-4 feet long for the player 27 to use to balance and move forward on the ice course 29. FIG. 27 shows a player 27 riding on an Ice Sledding Device 100 and moving forward on the ice track 29 using a pair of sticks 28 a, 28 b. In one example, the player 27 can push the sticks 28 a, 28 b against the surface of the ice course 29.
To make turns on the ice course 29, the player 27 can move his body weight back to apply more force on the Height-Adjuster 8 with the player's heels. When doing so, the tail of the blade 2 is further pressed against the surface of the ice course 29. The slot 38 formed on the blade 2 (see FIG. 18) allows the blade 2 to slide firmly on the ice course 29. FIG. 28 shows a player 27 on an Ice Sledding Device 100 making a right turn by holding his right stick 28 a on the ice course 29 and pushing his left stick 28 b against the ice course 29. The player 27 can lean his body toward his right side.
To make a left turn on the ice course 29, the player 27 can hold the left stick 28 b on the ice course 29 and lean his body toward his left side.
To stop the Ice Sledding Device 100, the player 27 can use the pair of stick 28 a, 28 b to reduce the speed until the Ice Sledding Device 100 comes to a full stop. In the alternative, the player 27 can make a left or right turn to stop movement of the Ice Sledding Device 100.
Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A sporting device comprising:

a first support;

at least one blade coupled to a first side of the first support;

a top board having a first end coupled to a second side of the first support opposite the first side at a first height and a second end coupled to the second side of the first support at second first height,

wherein the second height is greater than the first height, forming an incline in a longitudinal direction of the blade.

2. The sporting device of claim 1, further comprising two foot supports arranged on the first side of the first support.

3. The sporting device of claim 1, wherein the at least one blade is arranged at a median of the first support.

4. The sporting device of claim 1, wherein the incline is adjustable.