Adjustable width ski

Abstract

An adjustable width ski can comprise a top plank and two bottom planks. The relationship between the top plank and the two bottom planks can be adjusted to increase the width of the ski. The ski can further comprise a fastener to secure the top and bottom planks in the different configurations. A user can adjust the width of the ski depending on the preferences of the user. The ski can further have a mechanical or electro-mechanical adjustment mechanism.

1 . An adjustable width ski comprising:
 a top plank; and   two half planks having substantially the same length as the top plank;   wherein the top plank is attached to the tops of the two half planks and the two half planks adjust outwardly from the sides of the top plank to form a base that has an adjustable width.   
   
   
       2 . The ski of  claim 1 , wherein the ski has a width of about 85 mm in a first position and about 135 mm in a second position. 
   
   
       3 . The ski of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment is an expansion of up to 150 to 160%. 
   
   
       4 . The ski of  claim 1 , wherein the entire width of the ski adjusts between 0-50 mm inclusive. 
   
   
       5 . The ski of  claim 1 , wherein the two half planks are mirror images of one another. 
   
   
       6 . The ski of  claim 1 , wherein the outward adjustment of the two half planks comprises a sliding outward from the center of the ski from a first position to a second position along the entire length of the ski. 
   
   
       7 . The ski of  claim 1 , configured for adjustment along the entire length of both sides of the ski. 
   
   
       8 . A snow slider comprising:
 a top portion; and   a bottom portion;   the snow slider having a first locked position and a second locked position, wherein in the first locked position the bottom portion has a first set width and in the second locked position the bottom portion has a second set width greater than the first set width.   
   
   
       9 . The snow slider of  claim 8 , wherein in the second locked position the bottom of the bottom portion and a bottom section of the top portion are configured to slide on snow. 
   
   
       10 . The snow slider of  claim 8 , wherein the snow slider is manually adjustable between the first locked position and the second locked position. 
   
   
       11 . The snow slider of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of slots and a plurality of fasteners, each fastener engaged in a slot and securing the top portion and the bottom portion in a preselected position, preselected between the first locked position and the second locked position. 
   
   
       12 . The snow slider of  claim 8 , further comprising a quick release, the quick release unlocking the snow slider from the preselected position and allowing . . . . 
   
   
       13 . The snow slider of  claim 12 , wherein the quick release comprises a cam and a lever that adjusts the position of the cam to tighten or loose the quick release. 
   
   
       14 . The snow slider of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of protrusions, each protrusion being within a slot forming a slidable joint. 
   
   
       15 . The snow slider of  claim 14 , wherein the slidable joint comprises a dovetail joint. 
   
   
       16 . The snow slider of  claim 11 , the slot having a first and second recess, corresponding with the first and second locked positions, respectively. 
   
   
       17 . The snow slider of  claim 11 , further comprising at least two channels and at least two keys, wherein the key fits into the channel in either the first position or the second position. 
   
   
       18 . The snow slider of  claim 17 , further comprising two keys and four channels, the two keys being on the bottom of the top portion and two channels being on one half of the bottom portion and two channels being on the other half of the bottom portion, each half having one inner channel and one outer channel, wherein the two inner most channels engage the two keys in the first position and the two outermost channels engage the two keys in the second position 
   
   
       19 . The snow slider of  claim 17 , wherein the channels comprise a V-shaped groove and the keys comprise a V-shaped protrusion. 
   
   
       20 . A board for sliding on snow comprising:
 an I-beam; and   two C-members on opposite sides of the I-beam, each C-member engaging a side of the I-beam and a part of the bottom of the I-beam.   
   
   
       21 . The board of  claim 20 , wherein the C-members are adjustable from a first position to a second position and the width of the board is greater in the second position than in the first position. 
   
   
       22 . The board of  claim 21 , further comprising an electro-mechanical adjustment mechanism. 
   
   
       23 . The board of  claim 21 , further comprising a mechanical adjustment mechanism. 
   
   
       24 . The board of  claim 23 , wherein the mechanical adjustment mechanism comprises a scissor mechanism controlled by a worm gear. 
   
   
       25 . The board of  claim 21 , further comprising a plurality of slots and a plurality of fasteners, each fastener engaged in a slot and securing the 1-beam and one of the C-members in a preselected position, preselected between the first position and the second position. 
   
   
       26 . A method of adjusting an adjustable width ski comprising:
 unlocking an adjustable width ski from a first position, the adjustable width ski comprising:
 a top portion; and 
 a bottom portion having two opposite sides and an adjustable width measured between the two opposite sides, the bottom portion having a first width in the first position and a second width in a second position, the second width being larger than the first width; 
   moving the two opposite sides outward and away from one another from the first position to the second position; and   locking the adjustable width ski in the second position.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the step of moving comprises sliding. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the step of moving comprises moving along a single plane 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the step of unlocking comprises releasing a quick release mechanism. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the step of locking comprises securing a quick release mechanism.