Methods for modifying friction between an object and ice or snow

1. A method of modifying friction between an object and ice/snow, comprising the steps of:

utilizing a heating element to apply a first pulse of thermal energy to an interface between the object and the ice/snow, the first pulse being sufficient to melt an interfacial layer of ice/snow adjacent the object; and

refreezing water forming the interfacial layer to form a first bond between the object and the ice/snow.

2. A method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of

utilizing a heating element to apply a second pulse of thermal energy, after the step of refreezing, to re-melt at least part of the interfacial layer and

refreezing the re-melted interfacial layer to form a second bond between the object and the ice/snow.

3. A method of claim 1 , the object comprising a tire, the heating element comprising a hot cylinder, the step of utilizing comprising pressing the hot cylinder against the tire.

4. A method of claim 3 , further comprising electrically heating the hot cylinder.

5. A method of claim 3 , the step of refreezing comprising pressing a cold cylinder against the tire.

6. A method of claim 1 , the object comprising a tire of a car, the step of refreezing comprising utilizing air conditioning of the car to cool the tire.

7. A method of claim 1 , the heating element comprising a metal heater, the step of utilizing comprising applying pulse power to the metal heater in thermal communication with the interface.

8. A method of claim 1 , the heating element being formed of a material with low heat capacity.

9. A method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of discharging a capacitor to the heating element.

10. A method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of charging the capacitor with a power supply.

11. A method of claim 10 , further comprising utilizing a switch to charge and respectively discharge the capacitor.

12. A method of claim 1 , the step of utilizing comprising coupling a hot plate through one or more holes to a slider base adjacent the ice/snow.

13. A method of claim 1 , the object comprising a ski, the step of utilizing comprising applying electrical pulse power to the heating element coupled with a base of the ski.

14. A method of claim 13 , further comprising activating braking action of the ski by one of a manual switch, a ski motion switch, an accelerometer, a pressure-activated switch, and a motion sensor.

15. A method of claim 1 , the object comprising a snowboard, the step of utilizing comprising applying pulsed electrical energy to one or more heating elements in the base of the snowboard.

16. A method of claim 1 , further comprising utilizing a portable battery as a source of energy for the step of utilizing.

17. A method of claim 1 , the step of utilizing comprising utilizing a pulse action lamp to heat the object.

18. A method of claim 17 , the object comprising a rotating tire, light from the lamp temporarily heating respective zones of the tire which melt the layer, rotation of the tire refreezing the layer.

19. A method of claim 1 , the object comprising a tire, the step of utilizing comprising utilizing a metal brush against the tire.

20. A method of claim 1 , the step of utilizing comprising utilizing a photoflash lamp illuminating through the object to the layer.

21. A method of claim 3 , the step of utilizing comprising utilizing a ear exhaust to heat the hot cylinder.

22. A method of claim 1 , the step of refreezing comprising utilizing a car air conditioner.

23. A method of claim 1 , the step of refreezing comprising utilizing a Peltier element.