Adjustable sled

Abstract

The invention relates to an adjustable sledge having a housing (1b) with an outer skiing structure (2b) and an inner seat structure (3b) for use by at least one user, said inner seat structure having two side walls (4b) each extending vertically on each side of one seat of said inner seat structure, said sledge further having a braking device actuated by at least one handle (14b) mounted on the side walls (4b), said adjustable sledge comprising an assembly (1c) having another inner seat structure (3c), said assembly being arranged to be reversibly mounted in the housing (1b) by covering the inner seat structure (3b) of the housing so as to have another seat configuration on said sledge, said assembly having at least one side structure (4c) arranged to prevent the handle (14b) actuating the braking device when said assembly is mounted in the housing (1b).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an adjustable sled, and a sled set having such an adjustable sled and a second sled.

[0002] In particular, the present invention is applicable to sleds used for recreational activities, especially enabling at least one user to ski on snow. Background Technology

[0003] Therefore, it is known that a sled has a shell and an inner seat structure, the shell having an external skiing structure, and the inner seat structure being used by at least one user.

[0004] To prevent snow from entering the housing during use, the inner seat structure has two side walls, as well as a front and rear wall. Each of the two side walls extends vertically to one side of the seat in the inner seat structure, and each of the front and rear walls has a free edge that is raised relative to the ski structure.

[0005] Advantageously, the shell can be molded into a single piece using injection molding of thermoplastic material, which facilitates manufacturing, thereby reducing costs, and the resulting sleds are lightweight, easy to use and transport, and especially easy for children to carry and use.

[0006] To enable the seated user to control the movement of the sled, the sled has a braking device actuated by at least one handle mounted on one of the side walls. In particular, it is known that the sled has a braking device equipped with two actuating handles, each mounted on a corresponding side wall, which the user can selectively actuate at least one of the handles to brake.

[0007] Furthermore, especially when another user is seated, the front wall has a device for connecting a rope or strap to allow the user to pull the sled on the ground. Therefore, adults can use the sled to teach children to ski.

[0008] Typically, the seats on these sleds are not sized for young children, especially infants. Therefore, care must be taken to prevent children from being thrown from the sled during use. Furthermore, young children may accidentally activate the brake levers, making the use of these sleds unpleasant.

[0009] Document FR-2 004 396 proposes a sled having the aforementioned shell and an assembly reversibly mounted in the shell to provide a seating configuration that allows a user in the seating configuration to bend or stretch their legs.

[0010] This solution is unsatisfactory because it neither allows the sled seat to be adapted to young children nor prevents the children from actuating the sled's brake handle.

[0011] The present invention aims to improve upon the prior art, and in particular to propose an adjustable sled that is easily and selectively adapted to the user’s size and / or age, especially to adults or young children. Summary of the Invention

[0012] To this end, the present invention first proposes an adjustable sled having a shell with an external skiing structure and an inner seat structure for use by at least one user, the inner seat structure having two side walls, each of which extends vertically on each side of a seat in the inner seat structure, the sled also having a braking device actuated by at least one handle mounted on the side wall, the adjustable sled being characterized in that it includes an assembly having another inner seat structure arranged to be reversibly mounted in the shell by covering the inner seat structure of the shell to provide another seating configuration on the sled, the assembly having at least one side structure arranged to prevent actuation of the handle of the braking device when the assembly is mounted in the shell.

[0013] Secondly, the present invention proposes a set of sleds having such an adjustable sled and a second sled having a second housing, the components being arranged to be reversibly installed in either housing in order to give the subject an alternative seating configuration. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are shown below:

[0015] - Figure 1 A side view schematically illustrates the assembly of the shell and components of a sled according to the present invention;

[0016] - Figure 2 The components are shown in a top perspective view. Figure 1 The image shows the three components of a sled.

[0017] - Figure 3a , 3b and 3c respectively according to the longitudinal vertical plane ( Figure 3a ), Figure 3a Horizontal and vertical planes XX ( Figure 3b )and Figure 3a The horizontal and vertical planes YY ( Figure 3c The sectional views of each show Figure 1 The image shows a set of sleds with their different, stacked components;

[0018] - Figure 4a , 4b Figures 4c and 4d show different steps for installing components on the shell of a sled as shown in the foregoing figures, in frontal perspective view. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrates an adjustable sled and a set of sleds having such an adjustable sled and a second sled.

[0020] The sled has a first shell 1a and a second shell 1b, each shell 1a, 1b having an external skiing structure 2a, 2b particularly adapted to snow and an internal seat structure 3a, 3b for use by at least one user.

[0021] Advantageously, the shells 1a and 1b have the same shape and arrangement, differing only in size, thus accommodating different numbers of users and / or users of different sizes and / or ages at the same time.

[0022] Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment, a sled set has a first sled and a second sled, the shell 1a of the first sled is suitable for an adult, and the shell 1b of the second sled is small in size and suitable for a child or teenager.

[0023] Each housing 1a, 1b is formed as a single piece by injection molding of a thermoplastic material. In the accompanying drawings, the two housings 1a, 1b are substantially rectangular in shape, and are particularly symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal vertical plane.

[0024] To prevent snow from entering the housings 1a and 1b during use, the two side walls 4a and 4b of each inner seat structure 3a and 3b extend vertically on one side of the seats 5a and 5b of the inner seat structure. The front walls 6a and 6b and the rear walls 7a and 7b of the inner seat structure each have a free edge, which is raised relative to the ski structure 2a and 2b.

[0025] As shown in the figure, the rear walls 7a and 7b extend substantially vertically behind the inner seat structures 3a and 3b. In addition, the front walls 6a and 6b extend from the front edge of the inner seat structures 3a and 3b in a substantially inclined direction to form a front edge that facilitates the movement of the sled on the snow.

[0026] The front walls 6a and 6b are also equipped with devices 8a and 8b for holding the sled and / or securing ropes or straps to the sled, so that, especially when another user is seated in the inner seat structure 3a and 3b, the user can pull the sled on the snow.

[0027] Advantageously, the geometry of the second shell 1b is arranged so that it can be stacked on top of the first shell 1a when the sled is not in use. This allows for limiting its volume, thereby facilitating storage and transport, especially placement in the luggage compartment of a vehicle.

[0028] In particular, the second housing 1b is arranged such that, during the period when the second housing is stacked on the first housing 1a, the second inner seat structure 3b is arranged on top of the first inner seat structure 3a.

[0029] Therefore, such as Figure 3b and 3c As shown, the sidewall 4b of the second housing 1b is arranged to be vertically supported on at least two regions 9 on one sidewall 4a of the first housing 1a, so as to stabilize their stacking.

[0030] Especially Figure 2 As shown, each inner seat structure 3a, 3b protrudes into its corresponding shell 1a, 1b. In particular, each shell 1a, 1b has a bottom 10a, 10b, on which the inner seat structure 3a, 3b protrudes and the outer skid structure 2a, 2b is formed below.

[0031] The inner seat structures 3a and 3b have rear seats 5a and 5b, which protrude from the bottoms 10a and 10b. The rear walls 7a and 7b have protruding vertical structures that form the backrests 11a and 11b of the seats. Furthermore, the inner seat structures 3a and 3b have central platforms 12a and 12b, which extend longitudinally between the front edge of the seats 5a and 5b and the upper edge of the front walls 6a and 6b. Two positions 13a and 13b are formed on either side of the platform, each accommodating one leg of the user.

[0032] To enable users to sit in seats 5a and 5b and control seat movement, each sled has a braking device actuated by at least one handle 14a and 14b mounted on the side walls 4a and 4b. As shown, each sled has a braking device with two actuating handles 14a and 14b, each handle mounted on one side wall 4a and 4b of the sled. The user can selectively actuate at least one of the handles to apply the brakes.

[0033] Each sidewall 4a, 4b has a recess 15a, 15b formed on the upper edge, the recess having a rear support surface 16a, 16b on which a brake handle 14a, 14b is mounted.

[0034] The sled also has a component 1c, which has an alternative inner seat structure 3c that is particularly suitable for young children and / or infants. The component is arranged to be reversibly installed in the housings 1a, 1b, covering the inner seat structures 3a, 3b of the housings, so as to have an alternative seating configuration on the sled.

[0035] Therefore, a set of skis for children to use and to accompany children as they grow is obtained. In particular, component 1c is arranged to be reversibly installed in either the first housing 1a or the second housing 1b, so as to have an alternative seating configuration.

[0036] To prevent young children sitting on the sled from accidentally actuating the braking devices 14a, 14b, especially when another user is dragging the sled on the ground, component 1c has at least one side structure 4c, which, when installed in the housings 1a, 1b, is arranged to prevent actuation of the brake handles 14a, 14b of the housings.

[0037] In the illustrated embodiment, component 1c has two side structures 4c, each side structure being arranged such that, during the assembly being mounted on housings 1a, 1b, the side structure prevents actuation of a corresponding brake handle 14a, 14b.

[0038] Another inner seat structure 3c is formed protrudingly in component 1c. In particular, component 1c has a rear wall 7c extending substantially vertically behind its inner seat structure 3c, especially in the peripheral continuation of each side structure 4c, the rear wall also forming the backrest 11c of the seat 5c of the inner seat structure.

[0039] To limit the danger of young children falling off the sled, component 1c has a safety belt 17 that secures the user seated in another inner seat structure 3c.

[0040] In the attached diagram, the seat belt 17 has:

[0041] - Two straps 17a, each with its upper end fixed to the upper part of the backrest 11c and its lower end equipped with a reversible fastening device.

[0042] - A ring 17b, which is fixed in front of the seat 5c, is arranged to receive the reversible fastening device of each strap 17a during the use of the seat belt.

[0043] Each side structure 4c has two vertically extending walls, an inner wall 18 and an outer wall 19, connected by an upper wall 20, which are arranged to cover a handle 14a, 14b during the mounting of the assembly 1c on a housing 1a, 1b.

[0044] Advantageously, walls 18, 19, and 20 are arranged such that, during the installation of component 1c in the housing, the side structure 4c can be held within the peripheral continuation of the side walls 4a and 4b of the housing 1a and 1b. This arrangement enhances the aesthetic appearance of the sled and avoids the formation of protrusions that could injure the user.

[0045] Component 1c has a reversible fastening device arranged to cooperate with auxiliary devices formed on housings 1a and 1b during the installation of component 1c in one of the housings.

[0046] One of the fixing device and the auxiliary device may have at least one snap-fit ​​connector 21, 22, which is integral with component 1c or housing 1a, 1b, and the other of the fixing device and the auxiliary device has a hole 23, 24 for receiving the snap-fit ​​connector.

[0047] Now refer to Figure 4a , 4b 4c and 4d illustrate that component 1c is mounted on a housing 1b suitable for children or teenagers. Meanwhile, not shown, component 1c can also be mounted on a housing 1a suitable for adults, for which the housing for adults has a similar fixing or assisting device as that for children or teenagers.

[0048] exist Figure 4b In the middle, component 1c and housing 1b respectively have fixing devices and auxiliary devices formed behind their respective inner seat structures 3b and 3c.

[0049] In particular, as shown in the enlarged view at the upper left of the figure, component 1c has a snap-fit ​​connector 21 formed below the lower edge of its rear wall 7c, and housing 1b has a hole 23 formed on the upper edge of the rear wall 7b, arranged to receive the snap-fit ​​connector.

[0050] Advantageously, component 1c may have two of the aforementioned snap-fit ​​connectors 21, and housing 1b may have two holes 23 formed on both sides of backrest 11b, arranged to accommodate one of the snap-fit ​​connectors respectively. Additionally, or supplementarily, component 1c and housing 1b, particularly on their rear walls 7b and 7c, each have a hole through which a strap passes and is fastened and secured.

[0051] like Figure 4b , 4c As shown in the enlarged view of 4d, each side structure 4c is equipped with a snap-fit ​​connector 22 at its front end, which is integral with the structure. Furthermore, each sidewall 4b of the housing 1b has an auxiliary hole 24 formed on the front support surface 25 of the recess 15b, and each snap-fit ​​connector 22 is arranged to engage with the hole 24 of the corresponding sidewall 4b during the installation of the assembly 1c in the housing 1b.

[0052] To install component 1c in housing 1b, the user first places the component on top of the housing so that another inner seat structure 3c is placed on top of the seat 5b of the housing, with snap-fit ​​connectors 21, 22 relative to their corresponding mounting holes 23, 24. Figure 4a , 4b ).

[0053] Then, in order to complete the installation, the user should proceed as follows:

[0054] - Slide component 1c slightly forward so that each front snap-fit ​​connector 22 fits into its corresponding hole 24. Figure 4c );as well as

[0055] - Fold the rear wall 7c of component 1c downward onto the rear wall 7b of housing 1b so that the rear snap-fit ​​connector 21 is fitted into the rear hole 23. Figure 4d ).

Claims

1. An adjustable sled having a shell with an external skiing structure and an inner seat structure for use by at least one user, the inner seat structure having two side walls, each of the two side walls extending vertically to one side of a seat in the inner seat structure, the sled also having a braking device actuated by at least one actuation handle mounted on the side wall, the adjustable sled being characterized in that it includes a component (1c) having another inner seat structure, the component being arranged to be reversibly mounted in the shell by covering the inner seat structure of the shell to provide another seating configuration on the sled, the component having at least one side structure (4c) when the component is mounted in the shell, the at least one side structure being arranged to prevent actuation of the actuation handle of the braking device.

2. The adjustable sled according to claim 1, characterized in that, The braking device has two actuation handles, each actuation handle is mounted on a corresponding side wall, and the assembly (1c) has two side structures (4c), each side structure is arranged to prevent actuation of a corresponding actuation handle when the assembly is mounted in the housing.

3. The adjustable sled according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The component (1c) has a reversible fastening device arranged to cooperate with an auxiliary device formed on the housing during the installation of the component in the housing.

4. The adjustable sled according to claim 3, characterized in that, The side structure (4c) has a front end equipped with a reversible fastening device, which is arranged to cooperate with an auxiliary device formed on the corresponding side wall during the installation of the component (1c) in the housing.

5. The adjustable sled according to claim 3, characterized in that, The component (1c) and the housing each have a reversible fixing device and an auxiliary device formed behind their respective inner seat structures.

6. The adjustable sled according to claim 3, characterized in that, One of the reversible fixing device and the auxiliary device has a snap-fit ​​connector, and the other of the reversible fixing device and the auxiliary device has a hole for receiving the snap-fit ​​connector.

7. The adjustable sled according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the component (1c) and the housing have holes through which a strip is threaded and fastened for secure fastening.

8. The adjustable sled according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner seat structure and another inner seat structure are each formed protrudingly in the corresponding housing and component (1c).

9. The adjustable sled according to claim 8, characterized in that, Both the component (1c) and the housing have substantially vertically extending rear walls behind the respective inner seat structures of the component and the housing, the rear walls forming the backrest of the seat of the inner seat structure.

10. The adjustable sled according to claim 1, characterized in that, The component (1c) has a seat belt (17) for securing the user seated in another interior seating structure.

11. The adjustable sled according to claim 1, characterized in that, The side structure (4c) has two vertically extending walls, an inner wall (18) and an outer wall (19), connected by an upper wall (20), which are arranged to cover the actuation handle during assembly (1c) installation in the housing.

12. The adjustable sled according to claim 1, characterized in that, The side structure (4c) of the component (1c) is arranged such that, during the installation of the component in the housing, the side structure of the component is held in the peripheral continuation of the side wall of the housing.

13. A sled, characterized in that, It has an adjustable sled according to any one of claims 1 to 12 and a second sled having a second housing, wherein the component (1c) is arranged to be reversibly mounted in either the housing of the adjustable sled or the second housing of the second sled, so as to give either housing an alternative seating configuration.

14. A sled according to claim 13, characterized in that, The second housing has a second inner seat structure and two side walls, each of which extends on the seat side of the second inner seat structure, and a braking device actuated by at least one actuating handle mounted on one of the two side walls. The assembly (1c) is arranged to prevent actuation of the actuating handle during assembly installation in the second housing.

15. A sled according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that, The geometry of the second shell is arranged such that it can be stacked on the shell of the adjustable sled when the set of sleds is not in use.

16. A sled according to claim 15, characterized in that, The second housing is arranged such that, during the period when the second housing is stacked on the housing of the adjustable sled, the second inner seat structure is arranged on top of the inner seat structure of the adjustable sled.

Images