Rachel K Lin

US Patent:

8171658, May 8, 2012

Filed:

Nov 24, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/313913

Inventors:

Rudy Lucas Samuels - San Francisco CA, US
Chris Barchet - Seattle WA, US
Dodd Grande - Seattle WA, US
Mark S. Williams - Seattle WA, US
Scott Youmans - Seattle WA, US
Rachel Lin - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

K-2 Corporation - Seattle WA

International Classification:

A43B 5/04
A43B 5/00

US Classification:

36124, 36122

Abstract:

A snowshoe of molded plastic material has a tail section with greater flexibility than the main body section, thereby allowing the tail to give and deform as the snowshoe tail is engaged against the terrain during the gait of the user. At the same time, the tail is stiff enough to provide flotation needed when the full weight of the user is on one snowshoe fully engaged against terrain, such as soft snow.

US Patent:

8474158, Jul 2, 2013

Filed:

Jan 21, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/657610

Inventors:

Rudy Lucas Samuels - Mill Valley CA, US
Chris Barchet - Seattle WA, US
Dodd Grande - Seattle WA, US
Rachel Lin - Seattle WA, US
Mark S. Williams - Burien WA, US
Scott Youmans - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

K-2 Corporation - Seattle WA

International Classification:

A43B 5/04

US Classification:

36123

Abstract:

A molded or plastic composite snowshoe is formed of two assembled sections, in a way that imparts flexibility to the snowshoe, allowing some degree of torsional twisting or warping flexibility so that the snowshoe adapts to uneven terrain. In a principal embodiment the molded snowshoe is divided into forward and aft sections along a line slightly behind the nose area and near the pivot axis in the case of a pitch-pivoting binding. Joints between sections are in narrow rims at left and right, at opposed sides of a large central opening for the crampon/binding and boot. The joints are designed to securely hold the forward and aft molded sections together but to allow a degree of torsion between them when needed. Steel structural traction rails extend across the joints but are constructed and secured to the snowshoe sections in a manner that preserves the desired flexibility.

US Patent:

20100132225, Jun 3, 2010

Filed:

Dec 2, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/315495

Inventors:

Rudy Lucas Samuels - San Francisco CA, US
Chris Barchet - Seattle WA, US
Dodd Grande - Seattle WA, US
Rachel Lin - Seattle WA, US
Mark S. Williams - Burien WA, US
Scott Youmans - Seattle WA, US

International Classification:

A43B 5/04

US Classification:

36124, 36125

Abstract:

A molded plastic snowshoe of the type with a boot binding permitting pivoting in the pitch direction has a boot heel contact area formed of a flexible material. This provides for a soft strike as the boot comes in contact with the snowshoe deck in each step, eliminating the noise that usually accompanies the heel strike on a hard deck, and also increases comfort in use of the snowshoe, with the hard strike feel eliminated. Another advantage is that with a cleat mounted at the bottom of the soft section of decking the snowshoe adapts better to irregularities of terrain since the heel cleat is essentially suspended relative to the stiffer molded portions of the snowshoe. The flexibly suspended heel cleat can be pushed down to engage with snow or ice despite the irregular surface of the terrain and the rigidness of the snowshoe deck surrounding the cleat area.