Sliding device

Abstract

A sliding device provides a binding-free apparatus suitable for trick and other riding on snow, sand, ice and other surfaces. An elongated deck to support the rider is elevated from and attached to an elongated runner, which provides a surface that slides on the snow, sand, etc. The runner may be made more narrow than the deck to provide leverage for the rider to tilt the device onto an edge of the runner to steer the device. The runner may be provided with rocker and sidecut to improve turning. Longitudinal and/or lateral recesses may be provided to help position the device during tricks and maneuvers.

1 . A sliding device comprising: 
 a deck having an upper surface constructed and arranged to support a rider's two feet during use, the deck being elongated and having lateral sides, a deck length and a deck width;    a runner positioned below the deck and having a bottom surface constructed and arranged to contact and slide along a sliding surface, the runner being elongated and having lateral sides, upturned ends, a runner length, and a runner width that is less than the deck width near a central portion of the runner; and    a connecting portion between the deck and the runner that spaces the upper surface of the deck from the bottom surface of the runner;    wherein the deck, runner and connecting portion are unitarily formed as a single piece, and the deck and runner are arranged so that the lateral sides of deck overhang the runner at the central portion of the runner.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the runner includes upturned ends that merge with respective ends of the deck.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the runner is vertically spaced approximately 1.5 to 4 inches from the upper surface.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the deck width and the runner width are approximately equal at the ends of the runner.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the runner is fixed to the deck so the bottom surface of the runner only minimally flexes or moves independently of the upper surface of the deck.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the bottom surface of the runner is shaped to have a longitudinal rocker in the central portion.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface of the runner has a longitudinal rocker that approximates a portion of an ellipse.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the runner in the central portion includes a longitudinal recess.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the runner in the central portion includes a lateral recess.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the deck includes a portion that is concave in a lateral direction.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the deck includes upturned longitudinal ends.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the deck includes a gripping surface.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the runner width is approximately 0.4 to 0.8 times the deck width at a central portion of the runner, and the deck width is between 7 and 15 inches.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the runner has edges with sidecut.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the sidecut on both edges of the runner has a radius of approximately 500 cm.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the runner length and the deck length are approximately between 25 and 72 inches.  
     
     
         17 . A sliding device for supporting a rider when sliding on a surface, comprising: 
 a runner having first and second upturned ends, a runner width, a central portion between the upturned ends and a bottom surface that is constructed and arranged to contact a sliding surface;    a deck elevated from the runner, the deck having a deck width larger than the runner width at the central portion and an upper surface that supports a rider; and    a connecting portion securing the runner to the deck and constructed and arranged to transmit forces applied by a rider on the deck to the runner;    wherein a portion of the bottom surface of the runner in the central portion includes a longitudinal rocker.    
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the runner includes upturned ends that merge with respective ends of the deck.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the bottom surface of the runner is vertically spaced approximately 1.5 to 4 inches from the upper surface.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the deck width and the runner width are approximately equal at the ends of the runner.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the runner is fixed to the deck so the bottom surface of the runner only minimally flexes or moves independently of the upper surface of the deck.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface of the runner has a longitudinal rocker that approximates a portion of an ellipse.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the bottom surface of the runner in the central portion includes a longitudinal recess.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the bottom surface of the runner in the central portion includes a lateral recess.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the upper surface of the deck includes a portion that is concave in a lateral direction.  
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the deck includes upturned longitudinal ends.  
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the upper surface of the deck includes a gripping surface.  
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the runner width is approximately 0.4 to 0.8 times the deck width at a central portion of the runner, and the deck width is between 7 and 15 inches.  
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the runner has edges with sidecut.  
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the sidecut on both edges of the runner has a radius of approximately 500 cm.  
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein a runner length and a deck length are approximately between 25 and 72 inches.  
     
     
         32 . A sliding device for supporting a rider when sliding on a surface, comprising: 
 a runner having first and second upturned ends, a runner width, a central portion between the upturned ends and a bottom surface that is constructed and arranged to contact a sliding surface;    a deck elevated from the runner, the deck having a deck width larger than the runner width at the central portion and an upper surface that supports a rider; and    a connecting portion securing the runner to the deck so that forces applied by a rider on the deck are transmitted to the runner;    wherein a portion of the bottom surface of the runner in the central portion includes a lateral recess that extends across a width of the bottom surface.    
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the runner includes upturned ends that merge with respective ends of the deck.  
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the bottom surface of the runner is vertically spaced approximately 1.5 to 4 inches from the upper surface.  
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the deck width and the runner width are approximately equal at ends of the runner.  
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the runner is fixed to the deck so the bottom surface of the runner cannot flex or move independently of the upper surface of the deck.  
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein a portion of the bottom surface of the runner is shaped to have a longitudinal rocker in the central portion.  
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface of the runner in the central portion has a longitudinal rocker with an approximately elliptical shape.  
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the bottom surface of the runner in the central portion includes a longitudinal recess.  
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the upper surface of the deck includes a portion that is concave in a lateral direction.  
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the deck includes upturned longitudinal ends.  
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the upper surface of the deck includes a gripping surface.  
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the runner width is approximately 0.4 to 0.8 times the deck width at a central portion of the runner, and the deck width is between 7 and 15 inches.  
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the runner has edges with sidecut.  
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 44 , wherein the sidecut on both edges of the runner has a radius of approximately 500 cm.  
     
     
         46 . A sliding device comprising: 
 a deck with an upper surface constructed and arranged to support a rider's feet and upturned ends;    a runner with a bottom surface constructed and arranged to contact a sliding surface, upturned ends that merge with the upturned ends of the deck portion, and a central portion between the upturned ends, a width of the runner portion being less than a width of the deck at the central portion, the bottom surface having a longitudinal rocker and sidecut at edges of the runner portion; and    a connecting portion between the deck portion and the runner portion, the connection portion constructed and arranged to vertically space the bottom surface of the runner about 1.5 to 4 inches from the upper surface of the deck portion.    
     
     
         47 . A sliding device for supporting a rider when sliding on a surface, comprising: 
 a runner having first and second upturned ends, a central portion between the upturned ends, side edges having sidecut, and a bottom surface that is constructed and arranged to contact a sliding surface; and    a deck having an upper surface that supports a rider and transmits forces of the rider to the runner;    wherein a portion of the bottom surface of the runner in the central portion has a longitudinal rocker.