US3522951A - Method for modifying conventional snow skiis to permit downhill skiing on smooth grassy slopes during non-winter periods - Google Patents

Method for modifying conventional snow skiis to permit downhill skiing on smooth grassy slopes during non-winter periods Download PDF

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US3522951A
US3522951A US759891A US3522951DA US3522951A US 3522951 A US3522951 A US 3522951A US 759891 A US759891 A US 759891A US 3522951D A US3522951D A US 3522951DA US 3522951 A US3522951 A US 3522951A
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roller
ski
skiis
smooth
permit
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Charles M Tyson
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CHARLES M TYSON
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CHARLES M TYSON
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    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63CSKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
    • A63C5/00Skis or snowboards
    • A63C5/035Skis or snowboards with ground engaging rolls or belts

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  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged rear view cross-section of the left roller-ski showing the heighth differential between roller-bearings and skate wheels;
  • roller-ski herein disclosed may be subject to mechanical modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention.
  • the concept of this invention is intended to include all obvious modifications and substitutions.
  • roller ski of claim 1 further comprising at least one roller mounting plate, the lower surfaces of said plate rotatably mounting a plurality of said ball-type rollers in mutualy spaced parallel rows; the upper surface of said plate afiixed to the lower surface of said ski member; said plate extending laterally along the lower surace of said ski member from the outer edge toward the inner edge thereof approximately two-thirds of the width of said ski member.

Description

Aug. 4, 1970 c. M. TYSON ,5
METHOD FOR MODIFYING CONVENTIONAL SNOW SKIIS TO PERMIT DOWNHILL SKIING ON SMOOTH GRASSY SLOPES DURING NON-WINTER PERIODS Filed Sept. 16. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 2
mvnmon CHARLES M. TYSON Q In 025% f5 ATTORNEYS Aug. 4, 1970 c. M. TYSON 3,522,951
METHOD FOR MODIFYING CONVENTIONAL SNOW SK TO PERMIT DOWNHILL SKIING ON SMOOTH GRASSY 5 ES DURING NON-WINTER PERIODS Filed Sept. 16, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvnmon CHARLES M. TYSON ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,522,951 Patented Aug. 4, 1970 METHOD FOR MODIFYING CONVENTIONAL SNOW SKIIS TO PERMIT DOWNHILL SKIING ON SMOOTH GRASSY SLOPES DURING NON- WINTER PERIODS Charles M. Tyson, 1300 Army-Navy Drive, Apt. 529, Arlington, Va. 22202 Filed Sept. 16, 1968, Ser. No. 759,891 Int. Cl. A63c 17/04 US. Cl. 280-111 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A modification of conventional downhill snow skiis in such a manner as to permit the wearer to engage in the sport of skiing during non-winter periods, on grassy slopes. The modification comprises an array of lightweight ball type rollers, roller-bearings and skate wheels afiixed to the running surface of the-skiis, said rollerbearings facilitating multi-directional skidding or sideslipping, and said skate wheels permitting controlled movement in a desired direction.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION The central idea is the modification of conventionally configured snow skiis by afiixing an array of small commercially produced roller-bearings and skate wheels to the running surface of the skiis in such a manner as to meet the object of providing a practical means for skiing during non-winter periods on reasonably smooth grassy slopes. The object of this invention encompasses two possible commercial applications:
(1) The manufacture of special summer skiis fitted at the factory with the required roller-bearings and skate wheels, and
(2) The production of a kit containing roller-bearing and skate wheel plates to be mounted by the individual on his own winter skiis, and then be removed at will.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The object of the roller-ski will be apparent with reference to the appended drawings and the following description wherein:
FIG. 1 shows the general configuration of a conventional snow ski with the roller-bearings and skate wheels mounted;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a section of the roller-ski showing a profile of the roller-bearings and skate wheels;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged rear view cross-section of the left roller-ski showing the heighth differential between roller-bearings and skate wheels;
'FIG. 4 afiords a bottom view of a section of the roller-ski showing the detailed array of roller-bearing and skate wheel plates;
FIG. 5 is a rear view cross-section of both skiis illustrating how weight on the skate wheels controls direction; and
FIG. 6 shows an optional method of mounting removable plates of roller-bearings and skate wheels.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the plate of FIG. 6 attached to a ski.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION Downhill skiing entails two general types of movements: (a) a skidding or slide-slipping movement in which the direction of movement is other than the direction of the skiis, and (b) a precisely controlled movement in a desired direction achieved by exerting the preponderance of body weight on the inner edge of the lower or downhill ski. In the roller-ski, an array of roller-bearings permits the necessary side-slipping movements, and a series of fixed skate wheels provides the means for. controlling movement in a particular direction. FIG. 1 shows the general silhouette of the conventional ski when equipped with such roller-bearings 2 and skate wheels 3. FIG. 2 is an enlargement of a portion of FIG. 1 and shows an exploded profile of the roller-bearing plate 4 and skate wheel plate 5 when affixed to the running surface of the ski. FIG. 3 is a rear view crosssection of the left ski illustrating the relative position and heighth of the roller-bearings 2 and skate wheels 3.
Roller-bearings Roller-bearing plates 4 consist of a series of lightweight hard plastic or Cycolac balls 2 approximately inch wide, Teflon-coated to insure minimum friction and fully encased to insure that dirt does not inhibit free rolling. (Well lubricated lightweight steel bearings are a feasible alternative, although the increase-d weight is a disadvantage to the skier.) Roller-bearing plates 4 are screwed into the bottom surface of the ski 6, and cover the outside two-thirds width of the ski and almost its entire length (FIG. 4). The specific number of roller-bearing rplates required is variable, depending upon the length of the skiis. However, by mounting the maximum number of roller-bearings to reduce the ground pressure of any single bearing, the weight of the skier will be sufficiently distributed to permit free multi-directional movement or side-slipping over most surfaces other than spongy ground, high grass, or rocky terrain.
Skate wheels Small steel or Cycolac skate wheels 3 are mounted on wheel plates 5, and affixed along the inside edge of each ski so that the wheel rolls in the longitudinal direction of the ski (FIG. 4). These skate wheels are /2 inch in diameter and have approximately inch of running surface or width. The skate wheels do not pivot or spring, but instead are rigidly mounted to run in a forward direction. Each wheel is mounted so that its running surface is approximately of an inch above the running surface of the adjacent roller-bearings (FIG. 3). This heighth differential insures that the skate wheels along the inside edge of the ski do not drag when the skier, with his weight on the center of the skiis, is using the roller-bearings for skidding or side-slipping. It is important to note that when the skier desires to slow his downhill movement and change direction by traversing laterally across the face of a slope, as shown in FIG. 5, he can do so by shifting his weight to the inner edge of the downhill ski 7, thus engaging the rigid skate wheels 3 which bite into the turf and prevent downhill side-slipping.
Mounting In the prefabricated roller-ski, the roller-bearing plates 4 and the skate wheel plates 5 are inset and screwed into the bottom surface 6 of the skiis to provide a flush smooth surface, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The skate wheel plate must include an unusually strong wheel fork and axle since the skate wheel is subjected to considerable weight and stress during any change in the skiers direction.
In the manually prepared or kit version of the rollerski shown in FIG. 6, double-length roller-bearing and skate wheel plates 8 include a series of hinged clamps 9 and set screws 10, to permit the individual to secure the plates to his conventional snow skiis 11.
It shoud be noted that in both versions of the rollerski, the required roller-bearings and skate wheels, as well as the plates and mounting devices, can be fabricated from commercial materials now in existence.
Preparation of skiing slope The roller-ski is not claimed as a substitute for the rapid and smooth type of downhill skiing experienced in snow, nor as a practical device for negotiating slopes which are completely unprepared. For optimum results with the roller-ski, slopes would have to be cleared of such obstacles to smooth running as surface tree roots, heavy deposits of rocks, and thick Weed growth. With reasonable preparation of this type, it is visualized that the roller-ski would afford both the ski resorts and the skier the advantage of several additional months of skiing each year, or perhaps year-round skiing in those areas where the ground remains firm.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the roller-ski herein disclosed may be subject to mechanical modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention. The concept of this invention is intended to include all obvious modifications and substitutions.
I claim:
1. A roller ski for use on reasonably smooth slopes in the absence of snow comprising:
(a) a ski member having an upper surface with bindings for attachment to a wearers foot, a lower sliding or running surface, and an inner and outer edge;
(b) a plurality of ball-type rollers rotatably afiixed to the outer portion of the lower surface of the said ski member;
(c) a plurality of skate wheels affixed to the lower surface of the said ski member, adjacent the inner edge thereof; said wheels disposed in longitudinal alignment, the axis of rotation of said wheels being perpendicular to longitudinal axis of said ski memher.
2. The roller ski of claim 1 further comprising at least one roller mounting plate, the lower surfaces of said plate rotatably mounting a plurality of said ball-type rollers in mutualy spaced parallel rows; the upper surface of said plate afiixed to the lower surface of said ski member; said plate extending laterally along the lower surace of said ski member from the outer edge toward the inner edge thereof approximately two-thirds of the width of said ski member.
3. The roller ski of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of said roller mounting plates affixed to the lower surface of said ski member, said plates being afiixed in mutually spaced relationship extending longitudinally from the head of said ski member to the toe thereof.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,253,012 8/1941 Benner et al. 2,485,756 10/ 1949 Meehan 2807.13
FOREIGN PATENTS 602,592 8/ 1960 Canada. 800,880 5/1936 France.
2,378 1910 Great Brat-aim. 21,056 1898 Great Britain. 443,881 1936 Great Britain.
BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner M. L. SMITH, Assistant Examiner
US759891A 1968-09-16 1968-09-16 Method for modifying conventional snow skiis to permit downhill skiing on smooth grassy slopes during non-winter periods Expired - Lifetime US3522951A (en)

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Cited By (32)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3827706A (en) * 1972-09-11 1974-08-06 P Milliman Wheeled skis
US4572528A (en) * 1983-05-10 1986-02-25 Mcbride Curtis J Grass ski
US4886298A (en) * 1987-11-30 1989-12-12 Shols Christopher B Roller ski
EP0384383A2 (en) * 1989-02-20 1990-08-29 Kouichi Nagahisa Sliding device
FR2655555A1 (en) * 1989-12-08 1991-06-14 Blanc Desire Removable running sole for skis
US5207454A (en) * 1992-03-20 1993-05-04 Karl Blankenburg In-line roller skate with ball rollers
US5312258A (en) * 1992-11-13 1994-05-17 Sam J. Mulay Dry land snowboard training device
US5409265A (en) * 1994-01-12 1995-04-25 Douglass; Sharon Skateboard with ball rollers
US5580074A (en) * 1995-05-04 1996-12-03 Moreno; Peter Wheel system for soft surfaces
WO1998016281A1 (en) * 1996-10-11 1998-04-23 Mearthane Products Corporation In-line wheeled skate for extreme skating
GB2325142A (en) * 1997-05-13 1998-11-18 Cheryl Ann Powell Activity shoe and attachable footwear
US5868408A (en) * 1996-12-17 1999-02-09 M & R Innovations Llc Turf board
US6123348A (en) * 1996-12-17 2000-09-26 M & R Innovations, Llc Brake system for downhill wheeled board
US6213480B1 (en) * 1999-06-30 2001-04-10 Juan Carlos Rodriguez Roller wheel slider
US6237960B1 (en) * 1994-03-01 2001-05-29 Siegfried Dornhofer Roller-type skiing device for negotiating a slope
US6293565B1 (en) * 1998-12-04 2001-09-25 Netminders, Inc. Roller hockey goalie skate
US6764082B2 (en) * 2002-02-20 2004-07-20 Mearthane Products Corporation Shoes for walking and rolling
US7063335B1 (en) * 2003-12-03 2006-06-20 Felix Galeev In-line roller skate
US20060279054A1 (en) * 2005-06-08 2006-12-14 Chung Chi D Transport device and method
US20080283311A1 (en) * 2006-02-24 2008-11-20 Tianfu Li Balanced ball vehicle
US20090126880A1 (en) * 2007-11-21 2009-05-21 Bradley Christian West Load Transporting Tarpaulin
US8146929B1 (en) 2009-01-28 2012-04-03 Chrispen Johnson Skateboard with bearings
US8850656B2 (en) 2012-06-26 2014-10-07 Luca Buttazzoni Castor assembly for a modular dolly
US8876145B1 (en) 2013-07-15 2014-11-04 Luca Buttazzoni Castor supported dolly assembly capable of being made from lightweight materials and so as to be disposable or severable
US8910955B1 (en) 2013-12-03 2014-12-16 Luca Buttazzoni Lightweight dolly assembly
US9010798B2 (en) 2012-07-23 2015-04-21 Luca Buttazzoni Self-contained dolly assembly
US20150335984A1 (en) * 2013-01-16 2015-11-26 Agility Blades Ltd. Roller skate blade and sharpening thereof
US9409585B2 (en) 2013-07-15 2016-08-09 Luca Buttazzoni Castor supported dolly assembly capable of being made from lightweight materials and of being used as a pallet assembly
US10053129B1 (en) * 2017-02-07 2018-08-21 Eddie Lee Turner, JR. Adjustable all-terrain dolly system and method
US20190118070A1 (en) * 2016-04-21 2019-04-25 Abilitier Inc. Ball skate sole structure, skating shoe, sandal structure, and skateboard
US11117608B2 (en) 2018-07-30 2021-09-14 Eddie Lee Turner, JR. All-terrain platform dolly
US11554802B2 (en) 2020-04-27 2023-01-17 Midwest Innovative Products Dolly

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB189821056A (en) * 1898-10-06 1899-08-05 Arthur Rogers Jenkins Improvements in Roller-skates.
GB191002378A (en) * 1910-01-31 1911-01-26 George Bean An Improved Rink Skate.
GB443881A (en) * 1934-05-31 1936-03-09 Jean Marie Constant Falke An improvements in and relating to skis
FR800880A (en) * 1935-04-23 1936-07-21 Sports and games apparatus
US2253012A (en) * 1940-02-17 1941-08-19 Dale A Benner Ski-skate
US2485756A (en) * 1946-12-16 1949-10-25 Reginald J Meehan Convertible ski
CA602592A (en) * 1960-08-02 Gubos Frank Rolling ski

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA602592A (en) * 1960-08-02 Gubos Frank Rolling ski
GB189821056A (en) * 1898-10-06 1899-08-05 Arthur Rogers Jenkins Improvements in Roller-skates.
GB191002378A (en) * 1910-01-31 1911-01-26 George Bean An Improved Rink Skate.
GB443881A (en) * 1934-05-31 1936-03-09 Jean Marie Constant Falke An improvements in and relating to skis
FR800880A (en) * 1935-04-23 1936-07-21 Sports and games apparatus
US2253012A (en) * 1940-02-17 1941-08-19 Dale A Benner Ski-skate
US2485756A (en) * 1946-12-16 1949-10-25 Reginald J Meehan Convertible ski

Cited By (43)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3827706A (en) * 1972-09-11 1974-08-06 P Milliman Wheeled skis
US4572528A (en) * 1983-05-10 1986-02-25 Mcbride Curtis J Grass ski
US4886298A (en) * 1987-11-30 1989-12-12 Shols Christopher B Roller ski
EP0384383A2 (en) * 1989-02-20 1990-08-29 Kouichi Nagahisa Sliding device
EP0384383A3 (en) * 1989-02-20 1991-09-04 Kouichi Nagahisa Sliding device
FR2655555A1 (en) * 1989-12-08 1991-06-14 Blanc Desire Removable running sole for skis
US5207454A (en) * 1992-03-20 1993-05-04 Karl Blankenburg In-line roller skate with ball rollers
US5312258A (en) * 1992-11-13 1994-05-17 Sam J. Mulay Dry land snowboard training device
US5409265A (en) * 1994-01-12 1995-04-25 Douglass; Sharon Skateboard with ball rollers
US6237960B1 (en) * 1994-03-01 2001-05-29 Siegfried Dornhofer Roller-type skiing device for negotiating a slope
US5580074A (en) * 1995-05-04 1996-12-03 Moreno; Peter Wheel system for soft surfaces
WO1998016281A1 (en) * 1996-10-11 1998-04-23 Mearthane Products Corporation In-line wheeled skate for extreme skating
US5836591A (en) * 1996-10-11 1998-11-17 Mearthane Products Corporation In-line wheeled skate for extreme skating
US5967552A (en) * 1996-10-11 1999-10-19 Mearthane Products Corporation In-line wheeled skate
US5868408A (en) * 1996-12-17 1999-02-09 M & R Innovations Llc Turf board
US6123348A (en) * 1996-12-17 2000-09-26 M & R Innovations, Llc Brake system for downhill wheeled board
GB2325142A (en) * 1997-05-13 1998-11-18 Cheryl Ann Powell Activity shoe and attachable footwear
US6293565B1 (en) * 1998-12-04 2001-09-25 Netminders, Inc. Roller hockey goalie skate
US6213480B1 (en) * 1999-06-30 2001-04-10 Juan Carlos Rodriguez Roller wheel slider
US20040212160A1 (en) * 2002-02-20 2004-10-28 Mearthane Products Corporation, A Rhode Island Corporation Shoes for walking and rolling
US6764082B2 (en) * 2002-02-20 2004-07-20 Mearthane Products Corporation Shoes for walking and rolling
US7063335B1 (en) * 2003-12-03 2006-06-20 Felix Galeev In-line roller skate
US20060279054A1 (en) * 2005-06-08 2006-12-14 Chung Chi D Transport device and method
US20080283311A1 (en) * 2006-02-24 2008-11-20 Tianfu Li Balanced ball vehicle
US20090126880A1 (en) * 2007-11-21 2009-05-21 Bradley Christian West Load Transporting Tarpaulin
US8096566B2 (en) * 2007-11-21 2012-01-17 Bradley Christian West Load transporting tarpaulin
US8146929B1 (en) 2009-01-28 2012-04-03 Chrispen Johnson Skateboard with bearings
US9340222B2 (en) 2012-06-26 2016-05-17 Luca Buttazzoni Castor assembly for modular dolly and kit
US8850656B2 (en) 2012-06-26 2014-10-07 Luca Buttazzoni Castor assembly for a modular dolly
US9566993B2 (en) 2012-07-23 2017-02-14 Luca Buttazzoni Self-contained dolly assembly
US9010798B2 (en) 2012-07-23 2015-04-21 Luca Buttazzoni Self-contained dolly assembly
US9795860B2 (en) * 2013-01-16 2017-10-24 Agility Blades Ltd. Roller skate blade and sharpening thereof
US20150335984A1 (en) * 2013-01-16 2015-11-26 Agility Blades Ltd. Roller skate blade and sharpening thereof
US8876127B1 (en) 2013-07-15 2014-11-04 Luca Buttazzoni Castor supported dolly assembly capable of being made from lightweight materials and so as to be disposable or severable
US9409585B2 (en) 2013-07-15 2016-08-09 Luca Buttazzoni Castor supported dolly assembly capable of being made from lightweight materials and of being used as a pallet assembly
US8876145B1 (en) 2013-07-15 2014-11-04 Luca Buttazzoni Castor supported dolly assembly capable of being made from lightweight materials and so as to be disposable or severable
US8910955B1 (en) 2013-12-03 2014-12-16 Luca Buttazzoni Lightweight dolly assembly
US20190118070A1 (en) * 2016-04-21 2019-04-25 Abilitier Inc. Ball skate sole structure, skating shoe, sandal structure, and skateboard
US10625142B2 (en) * 2016-04-21 2020-04-21 Abilitier Inc. Ball skate sole structure, skating shoe, sandal structure, and skateboard
US10053129B1 (en) * 2017-02-07 2018-08-21 Eddie Lee Turner, JR. Adjustable all-terrain dolly system and method
US11117608B2 (en) 2018-07-30 2021-09-14 Eddie Lee Turner, JR. All-terrain platform dolly
US11584418B2 (en) 2018-07-30 2023-02-21 Eddie Lee Turner, JR. All-terrain platform dolly
US11554802B2 (en) 2020-04-27 2023-01-17 Midwest Innovative Products Dolly

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