Snowshoe With Pivoting Binding And Traction Skin
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Solution Overview
Problem
Backcountry snowboarders face challenges in traversing deep powder without chairlifts, requiring heavy and cumbersome secondary equipment like snowshoes or splitboards, which are inefficient and difficult to use, especially due to weight and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A snowshoe with a rigid board and adjustable binding mechanism that allows pivoting, providing traction through a skin, designed to be compact and lightweight, allowing users to glide through snow with minimal footprint, compatible with existing snowboard boots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If traditional snowshoes are used, then users can traverse deep snow, but the equipment is heavy and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The snowshoe is divided into a rigid board component and a separate skin component. The rigid board provides structural support and flotation, while the skin provides traction. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall weight while maintaining traversal efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid board snowshoe is designed to be compatible with both snowboard boots and ski boots through universal binding mechanisms. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate equipment for different boot types, reducing overall gear weight and improving ease of operation.
2Productivity
If telemark skis with skins are used, then users can glide up the mountain efficiently, but snowboarders must carry additional equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid board snowshoe serves multiple functions: it provides ascent efficiency similar to telemark skis with skins, and can be used by both snowboarders and skiers. The universal binding system accepts both snowboard and ski boots, eliminating the need for separate equipment and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the functions of traditional snowshoes, telemark skis, and skins into a single rigid board unit with integrated or attachable skin. This consolidation eliminates the need for snowboarders to carry separate snowshoes or telemark skis, reducing equipment quantity while maintaining ascent efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If splitboards are used, then users can separate the board for ascent, but the latching mechanism is difficult to operate with heavy gear
Solution Approach 1:
The snowshoe is segmented into a rigid board and a separate skin that can be easily attached or removed. This simple segmentation avoids complex latching mechanisms, making the equipment easy to operate even when the user is wearing heavy gear and gloves.
Solution Approach 2:
The skin is extracted as a separate, easily attachable component from the rigid board. This allows the skin to be quickly put on or taken off without complex mechanisms, significantly improving ease of operation in cold conditions with heavy gear.
4Adaptability or versatility
If asymmetrical splitboard skis are used, then users can traverse snow, but finding compatible skins becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid board is designed with asymmetrical bindings to accommodate both snowboard boots (strapped in) and ski boots (caged). This controlled asymmetry provides versatility while maintaining simple, standardized skin attachment points, reducing the complexity of finding compatible skins.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid board features universal skin attachment mechanisms that work with standard skins. This universality ensures easy compatibility without requiring users to search for specialized asymmetrical skins, simplifying the adaptability aspect while reducing device complexity.
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
Enables efficient and effective traversal of deep snow with reduced weight and effort, maintaining stability and traction, while being easier to use and store than traditional snowboarder equipment.
Implementation Method 1
traction is maintained between the board and snow through the use of a skin
Data Source
AI summary
A snowshoe provides a way for outdoor enthusiasts to traverse the backcountry effectively and efficiently. The snowshoe allows the user to glide through the snow like a cross-country ski, but with the minimal footprint of a traditional snowshoe. The snowshoe includes a board and a binding mechanism that secures the user to the board, but allows for a pivoting motion. The pivoting motion allows the user to ascend steep terrain by performing a motion similar to cross-country skiing.