"Device For Steering A Toboggan" US Patent No. 8,770,596 B2 registered trade name Sleboggan!

My Invention

My invention allows for the steerability and control of many of today’s snow slope amusement vehicles or devices. These devices go by many names such as, sledboards, sportsboards, snowsleds, sliding-recreational-devices, toboggans, snow-saucers, hand-toboggans etc.

Using my invention in conjunction with many of the above mentioned devices enables the operator of my invention to steer these devices while making or following a curved path down snow covered terrain including large gradients in a controlled and safe manner. The invention is of rigid construction and will not flex as it is being used by the operator. It also has three steel guide edges or runners attached to the bottom which makes it possible to steer on new snow, hard pack snow, or even ice. The steel guide edges or runners are secured by fiberglass, and the entire bottom of the invention is fiberglass. The fiberglass bottom reduces friction between the invention and the snow. The fiberglass bottom also helps to protect the bottom and adds to the stiffness and rigidity of the invention.

Should the operator of my invention follow or repeat the same path down a snow covered slope the snow will become more packed, the path will also deepen and take on characteristics similar to a bobsled run. This makes for a very exhilarating and exciting new winter sport I call slebogganing. Hence, I call my invention a sleboggan.

The uniqueness of my invention is the fact that one does not ride on the invention as they would on the aforementioned snow slope amusement vehicles or devices. To use my invention the operator lays flat, face downwards on a snow slope amusement vehicle or device and holds my invention by its two solid sturdy handles on the snow covered surface in front of them. This allows the user of my invention to manually direct their path down the snow covered hill. As they begin moving down the snow covered slope they can steer in any direction and choose their path down the snow covered terrain turning away from and avoiding any possible obstacles.

It is because of the invention’s stiffness and rigid construction, solid handles, and its steel edges or runners that make it possible for the operator to have positive control of their their trip down the snow covered gradient, and why they are able to steer safely away from potential hazards. Further, since they are in the prone position while using the invention it allows them to drag their feet for braking if needed. They can also brake to some degree by putting down pressure on the handles which forces the steel edges or runners on the bottom of the invention down into the snow or ice, causing the steel edges or runners to create additional drag and hence slowing their speed. If on a snow covered slope, and not following a previously made path or sleboggan run, the steel edges or runners also allow the operator not only to turn in either direction, but also to turn back up the slope or even stop.

Without my invention most of today’s amusement vehicles or devices have to be used on wide open slopes and yet they can still become quickly uncontrollable. The warning labels on many of these amusement vehicles or devices generally include a statement such as, "product has no brakes or steering." This severely limits where they can be safely used.. Additionally, many of these amusement vehicles or devices are made of flexible material and any molded ridges, ribs, or fins on the bottoms of most designs are to help keep the amusement vehicle or device going straight. For this reason it makes it very difficult or nearly impossible to avoid hazards in their paths. Furthermore, many of today’s amusement vehicles or devices do not or can not accommodate steel edges or runners, because of their design and or type of material used in there construction.

Additionally, few people who own amusement vehicles or devices have the luxury of a big wide open slop to sled on near their homes, and still fewer live near a facilities with a toboggan chute. In either case, most rides down snow covered hills using these amusement vehicles or devices only last for a few seconds. However, when using my invention the ride can often last for several minutes and best of all they do not have to maintain a straight or nearly straight course. Therefore, my invention opens up an infinite number of sledding locations and areas for people to toboggan on. If a location gets snow and has a hill my invention will work.

In conclusion, by being in the prone position on most any of these "non-steerable," non-braking," flexible amusement vehicles or devices, and using my invention one can transform their snow toy into a steerable and controllable snow toy, which can be used safely on most any place with a hill with snow on it. My invention will spark a new revolution in winter sports. The new revolution will be called Slebogganing.