Elevated Snow Glider Deck with Chatter-Absorbing Runner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional snowboards face challenges in controllability and ergonomic experience due to vibrations from uneven snow surfaces and the need for wide boards to accommodate foot size, leading to unwanted drag and balance issues.
Innovation Solution
A snow glider design featuring a longitudinally-extending runner with a central slot and chatter-absorbing means supporting a deck above it, providing directional control through a convex bottom surface and additional straight inner edges, allowing force transmission directly to the outer edges for enhanced control and reduced friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the snowboard width is increased to accommodate foot size, then the rider's foot can be positioned without drag, but the board experiences unwanted drag and balance issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent elevates the deck above the runner by using support means, creating a vertical dimension that separates the rider's foot positioning from the snow contact point. This allows the runner to be narrower (reducing drag) while the deck provides adequate foot placement area, resolving the contradiction between foot positioning and drag reduction.
2Ease of operation
If the snowboard width is increased to accommodate foot size, then the rider's foot can be positioned without drag, but the rider experiences balance issues
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing vertical elevation through support means, the patent creates a higher center of gravity that improves balance and stability. The separated deck and runner configuration allows for better weight distribution and rider control, addressing the balance issues associated with wider boards.
3Device complexity
If the runner contacts the snow directly, then the structure is simple, but the rider experiences vibrations and chatter from uneven snow surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The support means acts as an intermediary element between the runner and the deck, providing vibration isolation. This mediator absorbs and dampens the vibrations and chatter from uneven snow surfaces, preventing them from being transmitted to the rider, while maintaining relatively simple structural implementation.
4Ease of operation
If the deck is coupled to the runner at the outer periphery, then force transmission is direct for enhanced control, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the force transmission path by coupling the deck to the runner at specific outer periphery points rather than uniformly across the entire surface. This segmented approach creates direct force transmission paths for enhanced control while keeping the overall structure manageable through strategic mounting locations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The snow glider offers improved controllability and reduced friction, enabling quicker, smoother turns and enhanced rider feel by isolating vibrations and allowing weight transfer directly to the outer edges, independent of foot size, resulting in a more stable and responsive ride.
Implementation Method 1
chatter-absorbing means straddling the slot for supporting the deck above the runner... the vibration that the runner experiences caused by an uneven surface of snow
Data Source
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AI summary
A snow glider comprises a longitudinally-extending runner for supporting a rider on ridden snow and having a generally central, longitudinally-extending slot. The glider further comprises an elevated rider-supporting deck and chatter-absorbing means straddling the slot for supporting the deck above the runner. Preferably, the bottom surface of the runner is preferably generally convex across its width, with curved outer edges that provide directional control to the rider when turning, and at least one longitudinally-extending, generally straight longitudinally- extending inner edge adjacent the periphery of the slot for greater directional control when the rider is going straight. To enhance controllability, the deck of the preferred embodiment is preferably coupled to the runner near the runner's outer periphery so that the force exerted by the rider is transmitted from his/her feet directly to the outer edges of the runner. To further reduce frictional contact with the snow, the bottom surface of the runner is preferably dimpled.