Laterally sliding roller ski

Abstract

A roller ski allowing the skier to slide laterally in a manner similar to a snow ski. The system includes at least one ski and it would attach one foot per ski. Each ski has an optionally height and longitudinal angularly adjustable center platform for fixturing the skier's foot with an optionally releasable ski binding system, an optionally height and longitudinal angularly adjustable front tip and rear tail for attaching at least four fixed wheels, and at least two biased pivoting casters which are all positioned along the center platform's longitudinal axis. The fixed wheels function similarly to conventional roller skate trucks. The casters rotate to align themselves with the direction of force exerted on the center platform. The casters are spring biased to align them selves with the longitudinal axis of the center platform. A height differential between the wheels and rollers enables the skier to transfer weight from one to the other, alternating between the carving and sliding characteristics of snow skis. Another option is at least one ski pole for increased ease of skier balance and self propulsion, with modified tips to accommodate more surfaces than just snow.

1 . A roller skiing device comprising: at least one substantially rigid ski structure, for supporting at least one foot of a user, the ski structure having a central longitudinal axis and the following components:
 [1] a center platform that the user stands upon;   [2] a front tip;   [3] a rear tail;   [4] first and second longitudinally spaced wheel assemblies attached to the ski, each wheel assembly including:
 [a] first and second laterally spaced fixed wheels respectively mounted for rotation about first and second rotational axes; 
 [b] fixed wheel mounting means attached to the front tip and rear tail, respectively and oriented generally transversely thereto, the fixed wheel mounting means being coupled to the first and second fixed wheels, respectively and being configured to maintain a first and second rotational axes of the fixed wheels in mutually parallel relation during steering of the ski structure, the fixed wheel mounting means being in mechanical communication with the center platform for steering the ski structure upon tilting of the center platform and being biased for defining a direction of travel along the longitudinal axis when the center platform is in a laterally non-tilted orientation, with the center platform extending substantially parallel, at a longitudinally adjustable angle, with respect to a supporting surface; 
 [c] at least two longitudinally spaced biased caster assemblies attached to the ski structure and extending downwardly therefrom, each caster assembly including at least one associated roller and being mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, each caster assembly being configured to bias the associated roller into a first and a second pivotal position; 
 [d] the biased caster assemblies being positioned along the central longitudinal axis, each biased caster assembly having a lower most surface positioned lower than a lower most surface of each of the fixed wheels; 
 [e] biased caster assembly mounting means attached to the front tip and rear tail, respectively wherein weight of the user is supported primarily by the biased caster assemblies when the center platform is in the laterally non-tilted orientation to permit movement of the ski structure in any direction of travel; 
   
       wherein the user may selectively cause an increased portion of their weight to be supported by one of the fixed wheels to thereby permit steering and speed control of the roller ski by movement of the fixed wheels relative to the center platform upon tilting of the center platform, and wherein each of the fixed wheels having a laterally outward directed surface, the distance between the outwardly directed surfaces of the first and second fixed wheels defining a wheelbase width, the ratio of the center platform height to the wheelbase width being less than 1.5. 
     
     
         2 . The roller skiing device according to  claim 1 , including an abrasion resistant coating on all external surfaces. 
     
     
         3 . The roller skiing device according to  claim 1 , including at least one ventilation hole and use of breathable materials. 
     
     
         4 . The roller skiing device according to  claim 1 , including at least one detached roller ski pole held by the user comprising:
 [1] a substantially rigid pole structure supporting the load of a user, having a central longitudinal axis;   [2] at least one of a longitudinally oriented hand grip and a wrist strap;   [3] a ski pole tip located at the bottom end of the pole.   
     
     
         5 . The roller skiing device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the center platform, front tip and rear tail are mounted for individual adjustability in their distance and longitudinal angle with respect to the ground. 
     
     
         6 . The roller skiing device according to  claim 1 , including at least one spacer adjacent at least one of the following elements: the center platform, front tip and rear tail, in order to accommodate at least one of the variations in distance and angle with respect to the ground and said elements. 
     
     
         7 . The roller skiing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the center platform, front tip and rear tail are configured as one integral non-adjustable ski structure. 
     
     
         8 . The roller skiing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fixed wheel mounting means comprise at least one axle. 
     
     
         9 . The roller skiing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second rotational axes are coincident. 
     
     
         10 . The roller skiing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second laterally spaced fixed wheels are respectively mounted for adjustability in the distance of their respective lateral spacing; 
     
     
         11 . The roller skiing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second fixed wheel assemblies are respectively mounted for adjustability in their respective longitudinal spacing; 
     
     
         12 . The roller skiing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second pivotal position of the roller is angularly displaced by 180° from the first pivotal position. 
     
     
         13 . The roller skiing device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the caster assemblies is configured to bias the associated roller into a first and second pivotal position. 
     
     
         14 . The roller skiing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second biased caster assemblies are respectively mounted for adjustability in their longitudinal spacing. 
     
     
         15 . The roller skiing device according to  claim 1 , wherein each roller has a lowermost surface normally positioned lower than a lowermost surface of each of the fixed wheels. 
     
     
         16 . The roller skiing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the position of the lowermost surfaces of the rollers is adjustable relative to the lowermost surfaces of the fixed wheels. 
     
     
         17 . The roller skiing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the user may cause an increased portion of their body weight to be applied on the ski structure in a vector whereby it permits release from the ski structure. 
     
     
         18 . The roller skiing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the biased caster assemblies are positioned along the central longitudinal axis, with at least one caster assembly longitudinally inboard of the fixed wheels. 
     
     
         19 . The roller skiing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the biased caster assemblies are positioned along the central longitudinal axis, with at least one caster assembly outboard of the fixed wheels. 
     
     
         20 . The roller skiing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the ski structure can be adjusted to engage in at least one ski and roller sport application. 
     
     
         21 . The roller skiing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the ski structure can be adjusted to accommodate differences in weight variation and distribution. 
     
     
         22 . The roller skiing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the user can utilize a ski style boot and releasable binding system. 
     
     
         23 . The roller skiing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the user can utilize a non-releasable boot and binding system.