Snowshoe accessory

Abstract

A snowshoe accessory is provided. The snowshoe accessory can be purchased at low cost as an after-market device and be installed easily by the purchaser on his/her own snowshoes for upgrading them or snowshoes can also be purchased along with the snowshoe accessory already installed. The snowshoe accessory is to be installed on snowshoes having a tubular outside frame to provide lateral longitudinal crampons for preventing side-sliding. Lateral longitudinal crampons are disposed in a region proximate to the portion of the snowshoe where the weight of the snowshoer is applied—i.e., near the foot pivot system and the heel stand—and penetrate in the snow to efficiently prevent side-sliding when snowshoeing on a tilted snow surface for example and to provide additional traction. A snowshoe accessory without crampon can also be provided to provide spacing between the tubular frame and the ground in order to prevent early wear out of the pivot strap or the deck.

1 . A snowshoe accessory to be installed on an existing snowshoe having a platform and a tubular outside frame receiving said platform such that a pliable portion of said platform extends underneath said tubular outside frame, said accessory comprising:
 a clip adapted to be releasably mounted about said tubular outside frame, an inside diameter of said clip having a dimension to substantially match an outside cross-sectional diameter of said tubular frame; and   a ground engaging part on said clip, said ground engaging part providing a spacing between said tubular frame and the ground, said spacing being greater than a thickness of said portion of said platform extending underneath said frame such that said ground engaging part contacts the ground before said portion of said platform while snowshoeing.   
   
   
       2 . The snowshoe accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a crampon and said clip comprising a crampon connection fitting, said crampon to be optionally installed on said clip using said fitting such that said crampon extends outwardly of said clip for penetrating in snow while snowshoeing. 
   
   
       3 . The snowshoe accessory as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said crampon connection fitting comprises a slit extending through said clip and a recess on an inside surface of said clip, and wherein said crampon has a ground engaging end which is substantially planar, and a clip fitting end, said crampon to be inserted through said slit such that said clip fitting end rests in said recess while said ground engaging end extends out of said clip though said slit. 
   
   
       4 . The snowshoe accessory as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said crampon further has at least one pin protruding from said clip fitting end and piercing an outside surface of said frame when said clip is secured about said frame. 
   
   
       5 . The snowshoe accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a securing mechanism for securing said clip on said frame. 
   
   
       6 . The snowshoe accessory as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said clip comprises an open-ended ring and said securing mechanism comprises flanges, one on each open end of said ring and outwardly extending from said ring, said flanges defining a gap therebetween, fastening said flanges toward one another to reduce said gap snuggly tightening said ring about said frame for preventing rotation of said clip about said frame. 
   
   
       7 . The snowshoe accessory as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said ring comprises a ring spacer to be optionally installed on an inside surface of said ring to match said inside diameter of said clip to said outside cross-sectional diameter of said tubular frame. 
   
   
       8 . The snowshoe accessory as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said ring comprises a first and a second ring segment having complementary interlocking fittings for connecting together to define said open-ended ring, said interlocking fittings and said flanges being disposed on opposite ends of each of said ring segments. 
   
   
       9 . The snowshoe accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said platform comprises a foot pivot strap. 
   
   
       10 . A snowshoe accessory to be installed on a snowshoe having a tubular outside frame, said accessory comprising:
 a clip adapted to be mounted to a lateral portion of said tubular outside frame;   a securing mechanism for fixedly securing said clip to said lateral portion; and   a crampon extending outwardly of said clip for penetrating in snow while snowshoeing.   
   
   
       11 . The snowshoe accessory as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said crampon is positioned longitudinally to the snowshoe. 
   
   
       12 . The snowshoe accessory as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said clip comprises an open-ended ring and said securing mechanism comprises flanges, one on each open end of said ring and outwardly extending from said ring, said flanges defining a gap therebetween, fastening said flanges toward one another to reduce said gap snuggly tightening said ring about said frame for preventing rotation of said clip about said frame. 
   
   
       13 . The snowshoe accessory as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said ring comprises a ring spacer to be optionally installed on an inside surface of said ring to match an inside diameter of said clip to an outside cross-sectional diameter of said tubular frame. 
   
   
       14 . The snowshoe accessory as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said clip comprises a crampon connection fitting, said crampon to be releasably installed on said clip using said fitting. 
   
   
       15 . The snowshoe accessory as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said crampon connection fitting comprises a slit through a side of said clip and a recess on an inside surface of said clip, and wherein said crampon has a ground engaging end which is substantially planar, and a clip fitting end, said crampon to be inserted through said slit such that said clip fitting end rests in said recess while said ground engaging end extends out of said clip through said slit. 
   
   
       16 . The snowshoe accessory as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said crampon further has at least one pin protruding from said clip fitting end and piercing an outside surface of said frame when said clip is secured about said frame. 
   
   
       17 . The snowshoe accessory as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said clip comprises an open-ended ring comprising a first and a second ring segment having complementary interlocking fittings for connecting together to define said open-ended ring. 
   
   
       18 . A method for upgrading an existing snowshoe having a tubular outside frame receiving said platform such that a pliable portion of said platform extends underneath of said tubular outside frame, said method comprising:
 providing an aftermarket snowshoe accessory; and   releasably mounting said snowshoe accessory to said tubular frame, the snowshoe accessory projecting from underneath the snowshoe beyond said portion of said platform such that said snowshoe accessory contacts the ground before said platform while snowshoeing.   
   
   
       19 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising:
 removably mounting a crampon to said snowshoe accessory such that said crampon extends outwardly of said snowshoe accessory for penetrating in snow while snowshoeing.   
   
   
       20 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said platform comprises a foot pivot strap and wherein said mounting comprises positioning said snowshoe accessory in a region proximate to said pivot strap. 
   
   
       21 . An aftermarket snowshoe accessory kit for upgrading an existing snowshoe having a tubular outside frame, said kit comprising:
 a clip adapted to be releasably mounted to a lateral portion of said frame and comprising a securing mechanism for fixedly securing said clip to said lateral portion; and   a crampon adapted to be removably mounted to said clip, said crampon extending outwardly of said clip when mounted thereto for penetrating in snow while snowshoeing.   
   
   
       22 . A snowshoe comprising:
 a tubular outside frame receiving a platform mounted to said outside frame by folding a portion of said platform around a cross-section of said outside frame such that said pliable portion extends underneath said outside frame; and   a clip mounted about said outside frame in a region proximate to said portion of said platform, said clip having a thickness greater than a thickness of said portion extending underneath said outside frame, for providing a spacing between said outside frame and the ground while snowshoeing such that said clip is to engage the ground before said platform.   
   
   
       23 . The snowshoe as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said platform comprises a foot pivot strap for allowing said snowshoe to tilt forwardly and backwardly about a foot of a snowshoer, said pivot strap being mounted to said outside frame by folding said pivot strap at both ends around respective lateral portions of said outside frame, said clip being mounted about said outside frame in a region proximate to said pivot strap.