DETACHABLE TRACKED UNIT FOR POWERING SNOWBOARDS

Abstract

Detachable propelling apparatus to be fastened to a snowboard in order to propel it uphill. Said apparatus is equipped with foldable or removable tracks, being these tracks powered by either an engine, or a motor or a turbine. The apparatus is integral with an apt adjustable attachment plate, that is directly fastenable to the feet rests (boots attachments) holes of the snowboard. The invention is completed by a rucksack for transporting tracks and batteries, with an opportune frame for protecting the back of the wearer in case of fall and a remote control, in case equipped with movement sensors. The invention is a solution for the technical problem of powering a snowboard limiting the impact of such fixture on the snowboard itself.

Claims

1. Tracked apparatus, intended for powered snowboards, including at least one power unit in a central box (1) with at least one side motion power connector (2), being this apparatus characterized by the functional association of said box with at least one bottom plate (3), whose extremities have holes (4, 5) that can match, at least in part, the holes present in all snowboards for the boot attachment fixtures (6, 7), and by the link of said motion power connector (2) with a tracked unit (8).

2. Tracked power apparatus, as per previous claim, characterized by being said central box (1) equipped with two motion power connectors (3, 10) one on the right side and another on the left side, each one connected to the relevant tracked unit (8, 11).

3. Tracked power apparatus, as per either one or both previous claims, characterized by being each one of said motion power connectors (2, 10) independently operated by a power unit.

4. Tracked power apparatus, as per either one or more than one of the previous claims, characterized by being each one of said tracked units (8, 11) linked to a cantilever axle whose extremity (9, 12) can be mated to one of said motion power connectors (2, 10).

5. Tracked power apparatus, as per either one or more than one of the previous claims, characterized by being each one of said cantilever axles presenting an extremity (9, 12) able to transmit torque in both rotational directions.

6. Tracked power apparatus, as per either one or more than one of the previous claims, characterized by being each one of said cantilever axles presenting an extremity (9, 12) with a shape opposing a limited resistance to the disconnection of the track units (8, 11) from the motion power connectors.

7. Tracked power apparatus, as per either one or more than one of the previous claims, characterized by being said central box (1) slotted to and adjustable (sliding) on a front bottom plate (31) and a rear bottom plate (32), each one of these plates equipped with holes that can match, at least in part, the holes present, as a standard, in all snowboards for the front (6) and rear (7) boot attachment fixtures.

8. Tracked power apparatus, as per either one or more than one of the previous claims, characterized by being said sliding connection between the said central box (1) and the said front (31) and rear bottom plates (32) firmly lockable in any position via commonly used bolting items.

9. Tracked power apparatus, as per either one or more than one of the previous claims, characterized by being at least one of the power units controlled by a remote control pad (13), possibly wireless.

10. Tracked power apparatus, as per either one or more than one of the previous claims, characterized by being at least one of the power units constituted either by a motor or a piston or turbine engine, housed in said central box jointly with the energy source, being the latter either a battery pack or a fuel tank.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] An exploded view of the tracked apparatus relevant to the present patent application is given in FIG. 1: (3) is the mounting plate with the front (4) and rear (5) holes at least partially matching those already present on the snowboard for, respectively, the front (6) and rear (7) foot rest.

[0025] The main box (1) is visible above said plate (3); inside such box at least a powering unit is hosted, with a power transmission link (2, 10) on each side; to each link a profiled connector (9, 12) is locked, being this connector the opposite extremity of a shaft protruding from each track (8, 11).

[0026] A remote control unit (13) is connected via a cable to the main body of the invention.

[0027] A (partially) exploded top view is given in FIG. 2: it shows the same arrangement of FIG. 1.

[0028] A different arrangement for the same apparatus is shown in FIG. 3, where the main box (1) is slotted both to a front bottom plate (31) and a rear bottom plate (32); locking fixtures are used to secure the main box (1) in place with respect to the two front (31) and rear (32) plates, once these plates have been bolted trough the holes already present on the snowboard for, respectively, the front (6) and rear (7) foot rest.

[0029] FIGS. 4 to 10 show further details of the various versions of the apparatus according to the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Here, as an example not limiting the range of possible forms the invention can assume, a detailed description of the apparatus is given, relevant to the attached drawings; said description illustrates other characteristics of the invention and its implicit benefits.

[0031] A fully-fledged form of said invention includes a main central box (1), hosting at least a power unit, being the latter a motor, an engine or other type of power and motion source. The same box (1) opportunely hosts also the energy source for the power unit, e.g. a rechargeable battery (for an electric motor) or a fuel tank (for a combustion engine).

[0032] On each side of said main box (1) a power transmission link (2, 10) is located; each link drives the power shaft of the corresponding track (8, 11), through a power connector (9, 12).

[0033] A different version, slightly more difficult to use, can have just one power transmission link and one track, on one side only.

[0034] Very aptly, the two power transmission links can be independently powered, leading to an increased maneuverability, via a common power unit equipped with a differential transmission or a power distributor or similar known device, or via two independent power units, one for each track.

[0035] In its simplest form, suitable to all snowboards having the front (6) and rear (7) foot rest at the same distance between them, the unit main box (1) is mounted on a bottom plate (3) having front (4) and rear (5) holes that match, at least partially, the standard holes present in snowboards to secure the front (6) and rear (7) foot rest.

[0036] In a more evolved form, suitable to snowboards having the front (6) and rear (7) foot rest at various distance between them, the unit main box (1) is not mounted on a single bottom plate, but is slotted to and sliding on a bottom front plate (31) and a bottom rear plate (32). The bottom front and rear plates have holes that can be adjusted to match, at least partially, the holes present in snowboards for foot rests, whatever their span is.

[0037] Therefore the matching of the bottom plates (31, 32) with the snowboard can be adjusted with respect to the sliding main box (1). Once the bottom plates are fixed, the sliding of the main box is blocked with opportune locking devices. The maneuverability of the snowboard is improved by a remote control unit, e.g. a pad with a joystick connected via cable to the power unit; it is also possible to use a wireless connection, e.g. via an app on a smartphone.