Apparatus, system, and method for a collapsing approach ski

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a collapsing approach ski for maneuvering over terrain in a climbing and sliding fashion, with a traction component operative below the sliding surface on the underside of the ski to facilitate climbing uphill without substantially interfering with sliding downhill. It combines the advantages of a snowshoe, including a large surface area, a toe cleat that claws into the terrain and a lifting of the front tip with each step, with the advantages of an approach ski, including a fibrous skin for added traction climbing uphill and an ability to slide down hill. A stretchable portion in the skin adjacent to a hinge in the ski permits the ski to be compactly collapsed without removing the skin, for easy packing and storage while not in use. For climbing up a steep incline, a removable fixed cleat provides added traction, and a heel riser reduces the strain on the lower leg and Achilles tendon region of the skier.

1 . A ski for maneuvering over terrain, the ski comprising:
 a plurality of ski segments, each ski segment having a sliding surface disposed at a bottom thereof;   a collapsing mechanism connecting the ski segments and allowing the ski segments to be arranged longitudinally for skiing and to be rearranged compactly for storage; and   a traction component connected to one or more of the ski segments and operative below the sliding surface thereof to facilitate climbing uphill but not substantially interfering with sliding downhill.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the traction component is operative entirely below the sliding surface. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the collapsing mechanism is comprised of one or more hinges. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the collapsing mechanism is telescoping. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the traction component comprises a skin having a skin segment removably coupled to the sliding surface of each of the plurality of ski segments and a stretchable portion adjacent to the collapsing mechanism connecting the skin segments so as to permit the ski segments to be collapsed together without removing the skin by allowing the skin to stretch. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the skin is fibrous, containing fibers having a rearward orientation so as to resist sliding backward while climbing uphill but not substantially interfering with sliding forward downhill. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the fibers are selected from the group consisting of nylon and mohair. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the skin segment is permanently coupled to the sliding surface of at least one ski segment. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a mechanism for locking open for maintaining the ski in a fully open deployed position. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a mechanism for locking closed for maintaining the ski in a fully compact collapsed position. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a footwear base, attached to an upper surface of the ski via a pivot joint on or about a toe end of the footwear base, so as to lift the ski with each step taken by a skier wearing footwear mounted upon the footwear base, allowing a heel end of the footwear to freely rotate up away from the upper surface with each step taken by the skier. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the pivot joint is comprised of an axle mounted transversely to the ski adjacent to the upper surface. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein a rail device is interposed between the footwear base and the upper surface thereby providing adjustable positioning of the footwear base along the ski as well as greater leverage for edge control of the ski when sliding downhill. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the traction component comprises a toe cleat, mounted on or about the toe end, extending over the ski, so as to grip the terrain in a clawing fashion below the sliding surface, rotating downward as the footwear pivots upward with each step taken by the skier. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising an adjustable heel riser attached to the upper surface under the heed end to reduce strain on lower leg and Achilles tendon of the skier climbing uphill. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the footwear base is mounted to the upper surface within a front half of the ski so as to keep a front tip of the ski up when lifted with each step taken by the skier. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the footwear base accepts different types of footwear. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , where in the footwear is selected from the group consisting of a soft-shelled boot and an AT boot. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the footwear base is removable from the ski so as to serve as a crampon on the footwear if one or more cleats are mounted thereon, and to permit nested stacking of a plurality of the skis. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the footwear base is integrated into the sole of the footwear thus obviating the need for a separate footwear base. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the traction component comprises a fixed cleat which may be temporarily attached below the sliding surface so as to resist sliding backward or sideways while climbing uphill and removed so as not to interfere with sliding forward downhill. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein there are three or more ski segments. 
   
   
       23 . A ski for maneuvering over terrain, the ski comprising:
 a plurality of ski segments, each ski segment having a sliding surface disposed at a bottom thereof;   a collapsing mechanism connecting the ski segments and allowing the ski segments to be arranged longitudinally for skiing and to be rearranged more compactly for storage;   a skin segment removably coupled to the sliding surface of each ski segment; and   a stretchable portion adjacent to the collapsing mechanism connecting the plurality of skin segments so as to permit the ski segments to be collapsed together without removing the skin by allowing the skin to stretch.   
   
   
       24 . An apparatus for maneuvering over terrain, comprising:
 a ski, having a sliding surface disposed at a bottom thereof;   a footwear base, attached to an upper surface of the ski via a pivot joint on or about a toe end of the footwear base, so as to lift the ski with each step taken by a skier wearing footwear mounted upon the footwear base, allowing a heel end of the footwear to freely rotate up away from the upper surface with each step taken by the skier; and   a toe cleat, mounted on or about the toe end, extending over the ski, so as to grip the terrain in a clawing fashion below the sliding surface, rotating downward as the footwear pivots upward with each step taken by the skier.   
   
   
       25 . A method for maneuvering over terrain, comprising the steps of:
 providing a ski which is collapsible, having a traction component which is operative below a sliding surface of the ski to facilitate climbing uphill but not substantially interfering with sliding downhill;   opening the ski into a fully open position;   enabling the traction component when climbing uphill;   disabling the traction component when sliding downhill;   collapsing the ski into a fully compact position; and   stowing the ski.