Lighted child's snowshoe

Abstract

A snowshoe including a unitary molded polymer deck having a bottom surface defining a toe portion and a heel portion. The toe portion is divided from the heel portion. A toe panel together with the toe portion defines a generally enclosed space into which a lighting module including a battery, a switch; electrical leads and at least one electrically illuminated light source. The light module is substantially contained in the enclosed space and the at least one electrically illuminated light source is located in at least one light source pocket that passes through a portion of the unitary molded polymer deck such that the electrically illuminated light source is visible from above the deck. The switch selectively completes a circuit between the battery and the electrically illuminated light source upon actuation.

1 . A snowshoe comprising:
 a unitary molded polymer deck having a bottom surface defining a toe portion and a heel portion, the toe portion being divided from the heel portion   a toe panel which together with the toe portion defines a generally enclosed space;   a lighting module including a battery, a switch; electrical leads and at least one electrically illuminated light source, the light module being substantially contained in the enclosed space, the at least one electrically illuminated light source being located in at least one light source pocket that passes through a portion of the unitary molded polymer deck such that the electrically illuminated light source is visible from above the deck; and   the switch selectively completing a circuit between the battery and the electrically illuminated light source upon actuation.   
     
     
         2 . The snowshoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the unitary molded polymer deck, comprises a molded footbed and a surrounding peripheral portion extending outwardly away from the footbed. 
     
     
         3 . The snowshoe as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein footbed comprises a lower front portion and a raised rear portion, the lower front portion being recessed relative to the surrounding peripheral portion and the raised rear portion being elevated relative to the surrounding peripheral portion. 
     
     
         4 . The snowshoe as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the surrounding peripheral portion generally has the form of an animal track comprising toes and claws. 
     
     
         5 . The snowshoe as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the at least one light source pocket is located in at least one of the claws. 
     
     
         6 . The snowshoe as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a footbed wall, a toe perimeter wall and a heel perimeter wall. 
     
     
         7 . The snowshoe as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the footbed wall and the heel perimeter wall each comprise pegs integrally molded therein and extending downwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         8 . The snowshoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the toe panel further comprises toe grips integrally molded therein and extending downwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         9 . The snowshoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the switch is actuated by pressure or by impact. 
     
     
         10 . The snowshoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrically illuminated light source comprises four light emitting diodes and wherein the polymer deck comprises four claws and each of the four light emitting diodes is located in one of the four claws. 
     
     
         11 . A method of making a snowshoe deck, comprising:
 inserting a lighting module including a battery, a switch; electrical leads and at least one electrically illuminated light source into a toe portion of a unitary molded polymer deck having a bottom surface defining the toe portion and a heel portion, the toe portion being divided from the heel portion;   positioning the at least one electrically illuminated light source in at least one light source pocket that passes through a portion of the unitary molded polymer deck such that the electrically illuminated light source is visible from above the deck; and   securing a toe panel to the toe portion thereby enclosing at least the battery, the switch and the electrical leads in a generally enclosed space bounded by the toe panel and the toe portion.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising inserting a battery box of the lighting module into a light module enclosure within the generally enclosed space. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising securing the toe panel to the toe portion by application of a fastener. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising securing the toe panel to the toe portion by ultrasonic welding. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising selecting the switch to comprise a pressure actuated switch or an impact actuated switch. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising aligning a longitudinal rib and a toe perimeter wall of the toe portion with a perimeter wall of the toe panel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising aligning alignment pegs of one of the toe portion or the toe panel with alignment peg receivers of the other of the toe portion or the toe panel.