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 snowshoe of  claim 1  wherein the platform includes a first portion in the front of the portion for receiving shoe and a second portion in the rear of the portion for receiving the shoe and wherein a weight of the first portion is less that a weight of the second portion  
     
     
         3 . The snowshoe of  claim 1  wherein the platform in multi-leveled.  
     
     
         4 . The snowshoe of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of traction portions extends above a bottom surface of the platform.  
     
     
         5 . The snowshoe of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of traction portions extends below a bottom surface of the platform to allow engagement of a ground surface.  
     
     
         6 . The snowshoe of  claim 5  further including a locking pin to allow the front of the portion for receiving the shoe to adjustably pivot downward below the bottom surface of the platform and wherein the locking pin prevents the rear portion of the portion for receiving the shoe from extending below the bottom surface of the platform.  
     
     
         7 . The snowshoe 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.  
     
     
         8 . 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.    
     
     
         9 . The ski of  claim 8  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.  
     
     
         10 . The ski of  claim 8  further including a restricting device restricting the portion for receiving the shoe to pivot up to an adjustable level.  
     
     
         11 . The ski of  claim 8  further including a restricting device preventing the portion for receiving the shoe from pivoting.  
     
     
         12 . 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.    
     
     
         13 . The combination snowshoe and ski of  claim 12  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.  
     
     
         14 . The combination snowshoe and ski of  claim 12  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.  
     
     
         15 . The combination snowshoe and ski of  claim 12  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.