Personal Transportation Device and Method

Abstract

A personal transportation device, typically for use in snow, includes first and second foot boards and a boot binding assembly for each. Each foot board may have a reverse or zero camber, with the underside having a generally flat or convex central portion and upwardly and outwardly extending end portions, which acts to lift the end portions off of the riding surface during use thereby improving performance. In some examples, the boot binding assembly may be oriented generally parallel to the length or width. The central portion may have a convex v-shape region to create a vertex under the rider's foot. One or more longitudinally extending ribs may extend from the underside of the foot boards. The foot boards may include shock absorbing bumpers or riding-surface-engaging projections extending from the edges. Attraction or repulsion elements may also be used along the edges. A method for moving may also be used.

1 . A personal transportation device typically for use on a riding surface in snow conditions comprising:
 first and second foot boards, each foot board comprising:
 a length and a width, the length being longer than the width, the length being no greater than 32 inches; 
 a top side and an underside; 
 a circumferential edge joining the top side and the underside, the circumferential edge comprising first and second end edges, extending in the direction of the width, connected by first and second side edges, extending in the direction of the length; 
 each foot board having a reverse or zero camber with the underside having a generally flat or convex central portion and upwardly and outwardly extending end portions extending from the central portion to the first and second end edges, said reverse camber acting to lift the end portions off of the riding surface during use thereby improving performance of the personal transportation device; and 
 the underside comprising a weight bearing region, the central portion effectively constituting the entire weight bearing region; 
   a boot binding assembly at the top side of each foot board; and   the central portion comprising a foot/binding region directly beneath the boot binding assembly and spaced apart from the end portions.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the boot binding assembly comprises an adjustable position boot binding assembly placeable in first and second positions, the first position oriented generally parallel to the length and the second position oriented generally parallel to the width. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the underside of each foot board is convex to define a reverse camber for the foot board. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the central portion has a convex v-shape region creating a vertex under the rider's foot. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first side edges are configured to lie along a common side cut arc when the first end edge of the first foot board is positioned opposite the second end edge of the second foot board with the first and second end edges separated by a desired board spacing. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one rib extending from the underside and oriented generally parallel to the length. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the length is no greater than 24 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the length is between 10-24 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the end edges are not concave edges and the side edges are generally concave edges. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the side edges are generally concave edges. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein a portion of the generally concave side edges comprise convex, grip-enhancing regions. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a shock absorbing bumper along at least one of the end edges of at least one of the first and second foot boards. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a riding-surface-engaging projection extending from the circumferential edge when in a use condition, whereby walking-type travel is enhanced by the projection being engageable with the riding surface. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the projection extends from the side edge, whereby snowshoe-type travel, with the bindings place in the second position, is enhanced by the projection being engageable with the riding surface. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the projection is selectively placeable in the use condition. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 15 , wherein the projection is movably mounted to the foot board. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising attraction elements at chosen locations along the circumferential edges of the first and second foot boards to permit the first and second foot boards to be temporarily connected to one another. 
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising repulsion elements at chosen locations along the circumferential edges of the first and second foot boards to cause the chosen locations along the first and second foot boards to repulse one another. 
     
     
         19 . A personal transportation device typically for use on a riding surface in snow conditions comprising:
 first and second foot boards, each foot board comprising:
 a length and a width, the length being longer than the width; 
 the length being no greater than 32 inches; 
 a top side and an underside; 
 a circumferential edge joining the top side and the underside, the circumferential edge comprising first and second end edges, extending in the direction of the width, connected by first and second side edges, extending in the direction of the length; 
 the end edges being generally convex edges and the side edges being generally concave edges; and 
 a shock absorbing bumper along at least one of the end edges of at least one of the first and second foot boards; and 
   a boot binding assembly at the top side of each foot board.   
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein each foot board has a reverse or zero camber with the underside having a generally flat or convex central portion, said reverse camber acting to lift the end portions off of the riding surface during use thereby improving performance of the personal transportation device. 
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 19 , further comprising a riding-surface-engaging projection extending from the circumferential edge when in a use condition, the projection being selectively placeable in the use condition, whereby walking-type travel is enhanced by the projection being engageable with the riding surface. 
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein the projection extends from the side edge, whereby snowshoe-type travel, with the bindings place in the second position, is enhanced by the projection being engageable with the riding surface. 
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 19 , further comprising at least one rib extending from the underside and oriented generally parallel to the length. 
     
     
         24 . A personal transportation device typically for use on a riding surface in snow conditions comprising:
 first and second foot boards, each foot board comprising:
 a length and a width, the length being longer than the width, the length being no greater than 32 inches; 
 a top side and an underside; 
 a circumferential edge joining the top side and the underside, the circumferential edge comprising first and second end edges, extending in the direction of the width, connected by first and second side edges, extending in the direction of the length; 
 each foot board having a reverse or zero camber with the underside having a generally flat or convex central portion and upwardly and outwardly extending end portions extending from the central portion to the first and second end edges, said reverse camber acting to lift the end portions off of the riding surface during use thereby improving performance of the personal transportation device; 
 the underside comprising a weight bearing region, the central portion effectively constituting the entire weight bearing region; 
 a shock absorbing bumper along at least one of the end edges of at least one of the first and second foot boards; 
 a riding-surface-engaging projection extending from the circumferential edge when in a use condition, the projection being selectively placeable in the use condition, whereby walking-type travel is enhanced by the projection being engageable with the riding surface; 
 at least one rib extending from the underside and oriented generally parallel to the length; and 
 the side edges being generally concave side edges, the generally concave side edges comprising convex, grip-enhancing regions; and 
   a boot binding assembly at the top side of each foot board.   
     
     
         25 . The device according to  claim 24 , wherein the entire underside of each foot board is convex to define a reverse camber for the foot board. 
     
     
         26 . A method for moving over different riding surfaces under different snow conditions comprising:
 selecting a downhill stance for a first snow condition of a first riding surface;   securing a foot to the top side of first and second foot boards, each foot board having a length and a width with the length greater than the width, so each of the rider's feet is generally aligned with the length of the foot board in the downhill stance;   moving over the first riding surface in the downhill stance with the rider's feet pointed generally parallel to the length;   selecting a side-facing stance for a second snow condition of a second riding surface;   securing each foot to the top side of the first and second foot boards so each of the rider's feet is generally aligned with the width of the foot board in the side-facing stance; and   moving over the second riding surface in the side-facing stance with the rider's feet pointed generally parallel to the width.   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the second securing step is carried out with the first and second foot boards having generally concave side edges extending generally parallel to the length and generally convex end edges extending generally parallel to the width, and each foot board having a reverse or zero camber with the underside having a generally flat or convex central portion and upwardly and outwardly extending end portions extending from the central portion to the end edges. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the second moving step is carried out by alternatingly turning the rider's heels toward one another and the rider's toes towards one another thereby causing movement in the general direction of the width. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the first moving step is carried out with the toes of the rider's feet pointed forwardly and laterally outwardly and the rider's feet moving rearwardly and laterally outwardly in a generally ice skating type motion. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the second securing step is carried out with a riding-surface-engaging projection extending from at least one side edge, whereby walking-type travel is enhanced by the projection being engageable with the riding surface. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the first and second snow conditions are the same or different snow conditions and the first and second riding surfaces are the same or different riding surfaces. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising absorbing any impacts between opposed end edges of the first and second foot boards by a shock absorbing bumper along at least one of said end edges. 
     
     
         33 . A method for moving over different riding surfaces under different snow conditions comprising:
 selecting a downhill stance for a first snow condition of a first riding surface;   securing a foot to the top side of each of the first and second foot boards, each foot board having a length and a width with the length greater than the width, so each of the rider's feet is generally aligned with the length of the foot board in the downhill stance;   moving over the first riding surface in the downhill stance with the rider's feet pointed forwardly generally parallel to the length and laterally outwardly, the rider's feet moving rearwardly and laterally outwardly in a generally ice skating type motion;   selecting a side-facing stance for a second snow condition of a second riding surface;   securing a foot to the top side of each of the first and second foot boards so each of the rider's feet is generally aligned with the width of the foot board in the side-facing stance;   the second securing step being carried out with the first and second foot boards having generally concave side edges extending generally parallel to the length and generally convex end edges extending generally parallel to the width, and each foot board having a reverse or zero camber with the underside having a generally flat or convex central portion and upwardly and outwardly extending end portions extending from the central portion to the end edges;   moving over the second riding surface in the side-facing stance with the rider's feet pointed generally parallel to the width by alternatingly turning the rider's heels toward one another and the rider's toes towards one another thereby causing movement in the general direction of the width; and   absorbing any impacts between opposed end edges of the first and second foot boards by a shock absorbing bumper along at least one of said end edges.   
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the second securing step is carried out with a riding-surface-engaging projection extending from at least one side edge, whereby walking-type travel is enhanced by the projection being engageable with the riding surface.