Snow skate grind lock

Abstract

The snow skate is a product with a similar appearance to a skateboard. The primary difference being the mini-ski on the bottom that allows for use on the snow. The freestyle maneuvers performed on the snow skate mimic those on a skateboard. Flip tricks, grabs, and slides are all possible with the current setups on the market today. The current setups do not allow for locking of these slides/grinds. My product, the snow skate grind lock, will have a more skateboard-like feel by allowing the rider to lock into slides and grinds. On a skateboard locking into grinds and slides is accomplished through the use of the bottom of the truck's hangar, the wheels, the baseplate of the trucks, and the bottom of the deck. The bottom of the truck's hanger and the bottom of the skateboard deck are both covered by the preexisting snow skate mini-ski. The wedge of the snow skate grind lock imitates the wheels and the baseplate on the skateboard. The bottom of the skateboard truck's hanger with the inside wall of the wheels and the base of the deck with the baseplate of the truck both form near 90° angles. The addition of the snow skate grind lock will allow similar 90° angles for locking slides and grinds. Using four snow skate grind locks (placed much like that of skateboard wheels) will allow for the most skateboard-like trick potential. When riding over snow the wedges will rise up as the ground pushes on the spring. Other ideas such as pivoting or sliding the entire device onto the top of the snow skate mini-ski will allow unhindered freeriding.

1 . A device mounted to the trucks or either deck of a snow skate, roughly consisting of a downward pointing extension apparatus with a means of tension pushing it towards the ground.