Rear cleat for a snowshoe

Abstract

An improved snowshoe includes a frame at least partially covered by a membrane, a front claw, and biased mounting means for pivotally attaching the front claw to the frame at an offset relative to a neutral frame plane. The biased mounting permits the user's foot to pivot the front claw downward increasing friction with the underlying terrain, but also urges the snowshoe to pivot toward an angle restoring the offset when the snowshoe is lifted. This results in the back of the snowshoe being urged downward, minimizing snow throwing by the snowshoe back, without producing dragging. At the same time, the front of the snowshoe is urged upward, tending not to trip the user. The biased mounting means preferably includes at least one resilient strap attached to the frame and, at the strap center, to the front claw. The preferred embodiment includes a rear cleat mounted to the upper membrane surface, and including at least one wall projecting downward through the membrane. This rear cleat minimizes snowshoe skating and allows the snowshoe to be used confidently downhill. Alternatively, a rear cleat may be mounted to the back and/or sides of the snowshoe frame. Further, a rear cleat according to the present invention may be retrofitted to an existing snowshoe to minimize rear sway and allow confident downhill use. Alternatively, a rear cleat according to the present invention may be retrofitted to the user's boot.