Snowshoe

Abstract

A snowshoe comprising a deck having an upper surface and a bottom surface, the deck being longer than it is wide, and defining a longitudinal travel direction along its length; a boot binding mounted to the deck to hold a boot such that the boot can pivot in its toe area about a pivot axis that is above the deck and transverse to the longitudinal travel direction, to allow the heel to come off the upper surface of the deck while maintaining the toe above or on the deck upper surface; and one or more rails projecting from the bottom surface of the deck and extending along the travel direction, to stabilize the showshoe.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A snowshoe with a deck having an upper surface and a bottom surface, and a boot binding mounted to the deck to hold a boot such that the boot can pivot in its toe area about a pivot axis that is above the deck and transverse to the longitudinal travel direction, to allow the heel to come off the upper surface of the deck while maintaining the toe above or on the deck upper surface, comprising: 
 the deck being longer than it is wide, and defining a longitudinal travel direction along its length; and    one or more rails projecting from the bottom surface of the deck and extending along the travel direction, to stabilize the showshoe.    
     
     
         2 . The snowshoe of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more cleats extendable below the bottom surface of the deck.  
     
     
         3 . The snowshoe of  claim 2 , further comprising a mechanism for extending each cleat below the bottom surface of the deck, and retracting each cleat above the bottom surface of the deck.  
     
     
         4 . The snowshoe of  claim 3 , wherein the mechanism is operated by a movable member on the top of the deck.  
     
     
         5 . The snowshoe of  claim 3 , wherein the mechanism includes a rack and pinion cleat positioning device.  
     
     
         6 . The snowshoe of  claim 2 , wherein there are at least two cleats.  
     
     
         7 . The snowshoe of  claim 6 , wherein there are at least three cleats, two closer to the front of the deck and one closer to the rear of the deck.  
     
     
         8 . The snowshoe of  claim 2 , wherein at least one cleat is proximate a rail.  
     
     
         9 . The snowshoe of  claim 1 , comprising at least two parallel rails.  
     
     
         10 . The snowshoe of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rails extend along at least most of the length of the deck.  
     
     
         11 . The snowshoe of  claim 1 , wherein the deck has wider front and rear portions and a more narrow mid portion.  
     
     
         12 . The snowshoe of  claim 11 , wherein the boot binding is in the mid-portion of the deck.  
     
     
         13 . The snowshoe of  claim 2 , wherein the cleats define a generally “V” shaped cross section, with the narrow portion facing forward.  
     
     
         14 . A snowshoe, comprising: 
 a deck having an upper surface and a bottom surface, the deck being longer than it is wide, and defining a longitudinal travel direction along its length;    a boot binding mounted to the deck to hold a boot such that the boot can pivot in its toe area about a pivot axis that is above the deck and transverse to the longitudinal travel direction, to allow the heel to come off the upper surface of the deck while maintaining the toe above or on the deck upper surface;    one or more rails projecting from the bottom surface of the deck and extending along the travel direction, to stabilize the snowshoe; and    one or more cleats extendable below the bottom surface of the deck.    
     
     
         15 . A snowshoe, comprising: 
 a deck having an upper surface and a bottom surface, the deck being longer than it is wide, and defining a longitudinal travel direction along its length;    a boot binding mounted to the deck to hold a boot such that the boot can pivot in its toe area about a pivot axis that is above the deck and transverse to the longitudinal travel direction, to allow the heel to come off the upper surface of the deck while maintaining the toe above or on the deck upper surface;    at least two rails projecting from the bottom surface of the deck and extending along the travel direction, to stabilize the snowshoe;    at least two cleats extendable below the bottom surface of the deck; and    a mechanism for extending each cleat below the bottom surface of the deck, and retracting each cleat above the bottom surface of the deck..