Pivoting footwear systems and, configurable traction systems

Abstract

A device is disclosed that traverses snow and ice covered terrain. The device includes footwear that has the ability to mount directly to a sliding device or snowshoe and pivot without the need of a mounting plate or base plate. The footwear may also be configured for use in snowboard boot retaining bindings. The footwear may have strapless and detachable crampons. Additionally, the crampons may have a coating for repelling snow and ice covering exterior surfaces of the crampon. A configurable crampon may additionally be joined to a rear portion of the footwear. Furthermore, a mounting plate with a toe cleat and heel cleat are disclosed as being removably coupled with the mounting plate able to be attached to sliding or snowshoe devices in a quick-release manner and quick connecting manner. Also disclosed is a movable traction system that may be raised and lowered through a sliding surface.

1 . A device for traversing over snow and ice covered terrain, the device comprising:
 a ski with a mechanism that can removably couple footwear directly to the ski engaging at least one outside perimeter of footwear and at least one are directly on the ski to releasably couple the footwear to the ski.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a ski which has a mounting area for the said footwear and the footwear containing a pivotal mounting axis in its surface area. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising a footwear that has at least one axis to pivot on a the ski. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising pivotally equipped footwear in its surface area that may be mounted to a snowshoe that is configured to accept pivotally equipped footwear and pivot with the heel of the footwear moving in an upward and downward motion without the use of a mounting plate for the footwear to rest on. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the footwear is able to mount directly to a plurality of apparatuses that traverse over snow and ice covered terrain without the use of a base plate or mounting plate. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein a snowboard boot may have optional locking means built in the sole preventing the heel from moving in an up and down motion. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the footwear may have optional locking means in the heel to prevent the pivoting the heel from moving up and down. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the ski has a plurality of axes attachment holes. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the footwear can detachably mount to a group consisting of a snowshoe, ski, snowshoe ski hybrid and split-board by means of at least one spring loaded pivotally equipped detachably coupled axis. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot axis attachment hardware consists of an apparatus that may move through the perimeter of the footwear sole and device the footwear is coupling to. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the footwear contains a snowshoe pivot mounting area and an approach ski pivot mounting area in the same footwear. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein a strapless toe crampon containing traction cleats and coupling means able to mount to the front half of footwear in a quick-attach manner and also a quick-release manner. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein a independently functional strapless toe crampon under the ball of the foot toe containing traction cleats and coupling means can optionally couple to a heel crampon portion containing traction cleats and coupling means forming one conventional crampon unit 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the footwear has at least one axis mounting hole through the sole in which an axle may move through to mount the foot in a pivotally equipped position or an unlocked position in which the axle may move through the axis mounting hole allowing the footwear to be dismounted and mounted to the group consisting of a ski, snowshoe, crampon, and snowshoe ski hybrid. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the snowboard boot has at least one pivotal axis in its surface area which to mount allowing the heel to move up and down. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the footwear can be manufactured for the group consisting of a snowboard boot, hiking boot, or shoe. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the devices for traversing over snow and ice from the group consisting of a snowshoe, ski, snowboard, crampon, snowshoe ski hybrid, and mounting plate are equipped to accept mounted footwear with at least one pivotally equipped axis built into the footwear. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein at least one ski pivot axis located on the ski is spring loaded and may be manipulated from open to close modes and uses footwear that has pivoting means in the surface area of the footwear. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring loaded pivot axis is located in the snowboard boot design. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the snowboard boot axis may be locked or unlocked in a quick-release quick-attach fashion from a group consisting of a snowshoe, ski, crampon, split-board, and snowshoe ski hybrid. 
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the pivotally enabled detachably coupled axis may be found on the surface area of footwear from the group consisting of a snowboard boot, shoe, or hiking boot, and may be locked or unlocked in a quick-release manner from the group consisting of a snowshoe, crampon, snowshoe ski hybrid, or split-board. 
   
   
       22 . A device for traversing over snow and ice covered terrain, the device comprising:
 footwear having a surface area to protect a human foot; and,   a pivot axis in the design of the footwear enabling the footwear to pivot on a pivoting axis system within its own surface area creating an upward and downward motion of the foot wear heel; and,   detachable coupling means for the footwear directly to and from the surface of the device that moves over snow and ice.   
   
   
       23 . A mounting plate for winter footwear to be mounted to; and:
 a front traction portion that is detachable and attachable in a quick-release manner under the ball of the foot region of the mounting plate; and,   a rear heel traction portion of the mounting plate that is detachable and attachable in a quick release manner.