Multi-purpose combination snowshoe/ski

Abstract

A multi-purpose ski/snowshoe, with a winged frame, an articulated foot plate, and interchangeable bottom surface plugs is described. The multi-purpose ski/snowshoe may be configured in several ways, including a short ski, a short ski with heel-plate brake, and a fully articulated snowshoe. It may be reconfigured by a combination of reversing the winged frame, inverting or interchanging the bottom surface plug, or adjusting the point of articulation. This provides a highly efficient device for foot-powered transportation over a wide variety of winter landscapes.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A snowshoe comprising: 
 a peripheral platform;    a deck spanning an interior of the peripheral platform;    a portion for receiving a shoe of a user mounted on the deck wherein the portion fits in an aperture in the platform and wherein the portion pivots to allow a front of the portion and a rear of the portion to move in an upward motion and a downward motion; and    a plurality of traction portions which extend generally downward from a horizontal plane of the deck.    
     
     
         2 . The showshoe of    claim 1    wherein the platform includes a first portion in the front of the portion for receiving a shoe and a second portion in the rear of the portion for receiving a shoe and wherein a weight of the first portion is less than a weight of the second portion.  
     
     
         3 . The snowshoe of    claim 1    wherein the platform is multi-leveled.  
     
     
         4 . The snowshoe of    claim 1    wherein the plurality of traction portions.  
     
     
         5 . The showshoe of    claim 1    wherein the portion for receiving a shoe pivots and retards movement when pivoted and the plurality of longitudinal traction portions extend below the horizontal plane of the deck.  
     
     
         6 . A ski comprising: 
 a peripheral platform;    a deck spanning an interior of a peripheral platform;    a flat bottom surface of the deck, wherein the flat bottom portion is used to traverse a snow covered area; and    a portion for receiving a shoe of a user mounted on the deck wherein the portion pivots and retards movement when the portion extends downward below the flat bottom surface of the deck.    
     
     
         7 . The ski of    claim 4    wherein the platform includes a first portion in front of the portion for receiving a shoe and a second portion behind the portion for receiving a shoe and wherein the first portion is longer than the second portion.  
     
     
         8 . A combination snowshoe and ski comprising: 
 a peripheral platform;    a deck spanning an interior of a peripheral platform;    a portion for receiving a shoe of a user mounted on the deck;    a flat bottom surface of the deck, wherein the flat bottom portion is used to traverse a snow covered area, and    a removable plurality of traction portions which extend generally downward from the flat bottom surface of the deck.    
     
     
         9 . The combination snowshoe and ski of    claim 6    wherein the platform includes a first portion in front of the portion for receiving a shoe and a second portion behind the portion for receiving a shoe and wherein the first portion is longer than the second portion when in ski mode.  
     
     
         10 . The combination snowshoe and ski of    claim 6    wherein the platform includes a first portion in front of the portion for receiving a shoe and a second portion behind the portion for receiving a shoe and wherein the first portion is shorter than the second portion when in snowshoe mode.  
     
     
         11 . The combination snowshoe and ski of    claim 6    wherein the longitudinal traction portions are attached by means of a pivot pin which passes through the platform, through one of a plurality of holes in the longitudinal traction portion, and into a matching one of a plurality of holes in the opposite side of the platform whereby the platform has elevated extensions above and exterior to the deck of the platform.