Something Completely Weird

[BCA]

For years I have had these kicking around and they have been a puzzle. I was once told they might be a sort of snow-shoe for walking across mine fields. I think that qualifies as Weird! Dated 1957, look British. The metal shoe plate is covered with a removable synthetic cover that has a 1-2" foam rubber pad on the bottom. Between the lower cover and the shoe plate is a removable inflatable bladder. Any ideas? Right now they are relegated to the shelf with the WW2 infant gas mask/cradle, War gas smelling kit and Vietnam-era Monkey Turd radio transmitter and miniature aluminum pigeon message canister. A mini Ripleys Believe-It-Or-Not display. Bear with me photo to follow.

[BCA]

What are these unusual snowshoe-like devices?

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Brian

I remember seeing a write up of these in Write up in Popular Mechanics or Science as a kid. Will search the back issues on line and see if I can find the story.

Sure would not want to be the lab rat that they tell to walk across a minefield to test them. Concept is sound but how would you be sure you had actually reduced the PSI contact force enough not to activate the trigger?

Cheers Phil

Findings so far: How about the patent https://www.google.com/patents/US6751892

Popular Mechanic search yielded 0 results, but then again the archive yielded 0 results for term "Jeep" so something is not working.

Search on Minefield Shoe yields a lot of info - https://www.google.com/search?q=snow...Minefield+shoe

Have fun reading, still would not want to be the person to test this on live mines.

[David Dunlop]

They look like ironing board covers for Hobbits.

David

[colin jones]

I reckon they're crop circle shoes or Yetti print makers

[horsa]

I'm with David, I was going to say experimental foxhole ironing boards. Part of the officer corps batmen's kit.