US-12623710-B2 - Kneelboard for transporting across a surface

US12623710B2US 12623710 B2US12623710 B2US 12623710B2US-12623710-B2

Abstract

The Kneelboard device is for transporting a user across a surface, including handrail parts, runners and a multi-point harness attached together upon a user's kneeling legs, thighs, calves and/or hips, that are configured to be operable for generally maintaining balance and control. A plurality of side wall section(s), a seat portion, and one or more shin well segment(s), wherein the one or more shin well segment(s) are configured to provide a resting position for a user's legs, knees, shins and/or feet. One or more instep portion(s), wherein the one or more instep portion(s) are configured to provide a resting position for a user's instep. A raised back edge portion disposed at an end of the device's interior, and a plurality of underside edge section(s) where each underside edge section may considerably taper inward to allow for at least one of a controlled steering, decelerating, and stopping.

Inventors

Christopher Bucklin

Assignees

Christopher Bucklin

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230825

Claims (20)

1 . A device comprising: at least one or more handrail part(s), said at least one or more handrail part(s) is/are configured to be operable for generally maintaining balance and control; wherein said at least one or more handrail part(s) comprise(s) at least one or more side handles; at least one or more side wall section(s), wherein said at least one or more side wall section(s) is/are configured to support said at least one or more side handle(s): a harness implement, said harness implement comprises at least two separate harnesses, and wherein said at least two separate harnesses are configured to engage each other; wherein each of said at least two separate harnesses is engaged to said at least one or more side wall section(s); a seat portion, said seat portion comprises a raised seat; at least one or more shin well segment(s), said at least one or more shin well segment(s) is/are configured to concave inward to the device, wherein at least one of said at least one or more shin well segment(s) and seat portion is/are configured to provide a resting position; at least one or more longitudinal runner(s), wherein said at least one or more longitudinal runner(s) is/are configured to be operable for keeping the device straight while transporting across a surface; at least one or more underside edge section(s), wherein said at least one or more underside edge section(s) is/are configured to taper inward, andwherein said at least one or more underside edge section(s) is/are configured to support at least one or more side wall section(s) at least one or more underside edge reinforcement(s), where said at least one or more underside edge reinforcement(s) is/are configured to affix on an outside of said at least one or more underside edge section(s); at least one or more instep portion(s), said at least one or more instep portion(s) comprise(s) at least one or more concave instep well portion(s), wherein said at least one or more concave instep well portion(s) is/are configured to provide a resting position; and wherein said device is operable for transporting a user across a surface.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein, each of said one or more underside edge section(s) that is/are configured to taper inward is/are operable for allowing at least one of a controlled steering, decelerating, and stopping, and wherein, each of said one or more underside edge section(s) is lined with said one or more underside edge reinforcement(s), said one or more underside edge reinforcement(s) comprise(s) at least one of a reinforcing strip, a rail(s), and stainless steel configured to be operable for allowing at least one of said controlled steering, decelerating, and stopping and/or assisting in carving turns and stopping in rough terrain.
3 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a raised back edge portion, wherein said raised back edge portion is configured to emanate or extend away from a surface toward a back of the device.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said one or more instep well portion(s) comprise at least one of, a concaved concave shape and instep well padding.
5 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more shin well shape padding for comfort and safety.
6 . The device of claim 1 , said one or more underside edge reinforcement(s) comprise(s) one or more metal rails and metal strips substantially bent at various angles to contour to said one or more underside edge(s) horizontally and/or vertically.
7 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a seat padding, wherein said seat padding is configured to cover said seat portion.
8 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a holding strap implement, wherein said holding strap is configured to be operable for allowing a user to carry said device.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each of said two separate harnesses is engaged to said side wall section along two points at a side of said side handle.
10 . The device of claim 9 , further comprising at least one or more harness fastener(s), wherein each of said one or more harness fastener(s) comprise: at least one of, a nut and bolt, a hook and loop, a belt latch and snap fastener; and at least one of, a washer, and a bolt plate configured to engage each harness fastener together or distribute load forces.
11 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising an instep padding for comfort and safety.
12 . A device comprising: at least one or more handle or handrail part(s), said one or more handle or handrail part(s) is configured to be operable for generally maintaining at least one of, stability, balance and control; at least one or more side wall section(s), wherein said at least one or more side wall section(s) is/are configured to support said at least one or more handle or handrail part(s); a seat portion, said seat portion comprises at least one of a raised and padded seat; at least one or more shin wells, said one or more shin wells is configured to provide a resting position; a device interior; a raised back edge portion being disposed at a proximate end of said device interior; a holding strap, wherein said holding strap comprises an adjustable holding strap that is configured to adjustably carry said device; a harness implement, said harness implement comprises at least two separate harnesses, and wherein said at least two separate harnesses are configured to engage each other; wherein each of said two separate harnesses is engaged to said at least one or more side wall section(s); at least one or more of underside edge section(s), each of said at least one or more underside edge sections is/are configured to taper inward being operable to allow for at least one of a controlled steering, decelerating, and stopping; at least one or more instep portion(s), said at least one or more instep portion(s) comprise(s) at least one or more concave instep well(s), wherein said one or more concave instep well(s) are configured to provide a resting position; at least one or more runner(s), wherein said one or more runner(s) is/are at least one or more runner(s), wherein said at least one or more runner(s) is/are; at least one or more underside edge reinforcements; and wherein said padded seat is configured to be operable for providing comfort and safety.
13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein said at least two harnesses are configured to be attached together.
14 . The device of claim 12 , further comprising a shin well padding that is configured to be operable for comfort and safety.
15 . A device comprising: at least one or more handle part(s), said at least one or more handle part(s) is/are configured to be operable for generally maintaining balance and control; at least one or more side wall section(s); wherein said at least one or more side wall section(s) is/are configured to support said at least one or more handle part(s); a seat portion, said seat portion comprises at least one of a raised and padded seat; one or more shin well segment(s), said one or more shin well segment(s) are configured to provide a resting position; a device interior; a raised back edge portion being disposed at a proximate end of said device interior; at least one or more underside edge section(s), wherein said at least one or more underside edge section(s) is/are configured to support said at least one or more side wall section(s), wherein each of said at least one or more underside edge section(s) is further configured to taper inward, and wherein each of said at least one or more underside edge section(s) configured to taper inward is/are operable to allow at least one of a controlled steering, decelerating, and stopping; at least one or more underside edge reinforcements; one or more instep portion(s), said one or more instep portion(s) comprise(s) at least one or more concave instep well(s), wherein said at least one or more concave instep well(s) is/are configured to provide a resting position; a harness or restraint implement, wherein said harness or restraint implement is configured to attach upon a user, said harness comprises at least two separate harnesses, and wherein said at least two separate harnesses are configured to engage each other; wherein each of said two separate harnesses is engaged to said at least one or more side wall section(s); and wherein said device is operable for transporting a user across a surface.
16 . The device of claim 15 , further comprising: one or more runner(s), wherein said one or more runner(s) is/are configured to be operable for keeping the device straight while transporting across a surface; one or more shin well shaped padding or foam for comfort and safety; a seat padding or foam for comfort and safety.
17 . The device of claim 15 , further comprising: a holding strap implement, wherein said holding strap being operable for allowing a user to carry said device; and an instep padding for comfort and safety.
18 . The device of claim 17 , wherein said holding strap implement comprises: an adjustable holding strap to adjustably carry said device; and a holding strap padding for carrying said device.
19 . The device of claim 15 , further comprising at least one or more harness fastener(s), each of said one or more harness fastener(s) comprise(s): a threaded harness fastener including at least one of, a nut and bolt, a hook and loop, a belt latch and snap fastener; and at least one of, a washer, and a bolt plate that is configured to engage the fastener together and/or distribute load forces.
20 . The device of claim 19 , further comprising a shin well padding that is configured to be operable for comfort and safety.

Description

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF SEQUENCE LISTING PROVIDED AS A TEXT FILE Not applicable. FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not applicable. REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER LISTING APPENDIX Not applicable. COPYRIGHT NOTICE A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection by the author thereof. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure for the purposes of referencing as patent prior art, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office, patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. BACKGROUND OF THE RELEVANT PRIOR ART One or more embodiments of the invention generally relate to a transport apparatus for descending down slopes. More particularly, certain embodiments of the invention relate to a riding/transport apparatus or device designed to controllably descend slopes with a rider in a kneeling and/or seated position. The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon. The following is an example of a specific aspect in the prior art that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon. By way of educational background, another aspect of the prior art generally useful to be aware of is that while typical devices such as sleds, toboggans, inner tubes, plastic disks, etc. are available for activities like skiing and snowboarding, these devices generally do not offer steering and stopping control. And the ones with some types of steering capabilities are usually too heavy and unwieldy to be safely taken up a chairlift or similar ascension device by a rider. For example, such devices are generally intended to only be dragged or hauled up an ungroomed slope by a rider and then ridden down. Generally, skiing involves a participant tightly strapping fixed boots to skis as well as usually holding a ski pole in each hand. In its entirety, the equipment required for skiing is heavy, awkward, and expensive. When not strapped in, ski boots are difficult to walk in, heavy and often uncomfortable. Snowboarding boots are also heavy, expensive, and specialized just for snowboarding. Ultimately, both skiing and snowboarding involve a participant wearing specialized footwear and fastening them to an apparatus before traversing down a slope. There is a need for a device that requires no such attachment or extra implements where one simply gets on and rides and wears whatever footwear the rider chooses. There is a need to have the ability to controllably ride down the same slopes as with skis or a snowboard but in a different way (i.e., in a seated and kneeling position). There is a need to conveniently and controllably ride down a variety of slopes, including without limitation snow/ice-covered or sand-covered terrain, on an adjustable and detachable device. There is a need for a rider to have the freedom of wearing whatever footwear the rider chooses as well as the ability to use chairlifts or a similar ascension device safely while carrying such device, but if desired, the built-in ability to also conveniently hike up a slope one wishes to ride down. Note that walking up a snow/ice-covered or sand-covered slope in ski boots to ski down the same while holding skis and poles may be very difficult, and for walking up a slope in snowboard boots, one would likely need a snowboard carrier or sling to assist in hiking with the snowboard as there are no built-in straps to a snowboard. And, unlike skiing, no poles are needed. In view of the foregoing, it is clear that these traditional techniques are not perfect and leave room for more optimal approaches. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA WINGS The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements. FIG. 1 shows a front oblique view illustration of an exemplary transport device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 shows a side view illustration of an exemplary transport device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 shows a front view illustration of an exemplary transport device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 shows a back view illustration of an exemplary transport device, in accordance with an embodiment of t