BOOT-MOUNTED SNOWBOARD SUPPORT DEVICE

Abstract

A snowboard support device for use with a snowboard boot having a front surface and a back boot interface surface wherein the front surface has a groove, wherein the groove has a support surface, wherein above the groove is an upper lip and wherein below the groove is a lower lip, wherein the front surface has a flat perimeter, and wherein in the flat perimeter are at least two lace conduits suitable to connect the device to the laces of a snowboard boot. The support surface of the device engages with the edge of a snowboard to support the board while on a chairlift and to protect the dorsal side of the boot and its laces from damage by the metal edge of the snowboard.

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to protective devices for boots. In particular, the invention relates to devices that shield a snowboard boot from scuffing and support the snowboard as the user rides the chairlift.

2. Related Art

Snowboarding has evolved rapidly. What was once a minor sport has now joined mainstream sports. Yet snowboard riders have had to accustom themselves to using the physical plant that was developed for skiers. One hurdle for snowboarders is riding a chairlift, which was designed for easy on and off loading by skiers. The stance and binding system for snowboards is quite different from skis. Namely, the snowboard rider's feet are perpendicular to a single board, whereas a skier's feet are in-line with a pair of skis. As a result of these differences, a skier can move each foot independently to skate through lift lines and onto the chairlift, while a snowboarder has no such capability.

In order to ride chairlifts, snowboard riders must manually free one of the boots from its binding, and use this free boot as leverage to maneuver through the lift line and board the chairlift. Once on the chairlift, the board hangs from the fixed boot, straining the leg with the weight of the board. To alleviate this repetitive strain, boarders often rest the board on top of the free boot. Snowboards, however, have sharpened metal edges that are designed for carving turns in the snow and ice. As a consequence, the tops of snowboard boots, which are usually made of leather or fabric, often become marred and cut from repeated exposure to the board. Often the boot laces are damaged. Also, the metal edges of the snowboard may dull due to such repeated contact

One partial solution is a snowboard support and tether as described by Gomez et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,729. This invention comprises a harnessing system to support the board while riding the chairlift and to also tether the board to the rider. The user wears a harness that is composed of shoulder straps, a waist belt, and a strap that attaches to the snowboard. To ride a chair lift, the user gets on normally, but once aboard, the user cinches up the straps to support the weight of the snowboard. The weight is then distributed to the shoulder harness and waist belt, thereby alleviating some of the strain on the fixed boot.

Most prior art devices either have features that fail to do what the present invention does and are different from present invention and teach away from the present invention. There is no prior art device that does what the present invention does.

Examples of known prior art devices are described in the references listed below, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

U.S. Pat. Nos.:8,091,9017,575,2526,702,3286,457,7466,321,4706,247,728

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a boot-mounted snowboard support device, which is made of a tough rigid plastic, rubber, composite or metal material that intermediates between the snowboard and a conventional snowboard boot. During a chairlift ride, the snowboarder can rest the snowboard on the support device which is carried near the tongue of the free boot without fear of damaging the boot. Also, since the fixed boot will no longer have to carry the entire load of the snowboard, the strain on that leg, and also the potential for injury, will be reduced. Furthermore, because the snowboard support device is small and light-weight, it does not impair the biomechanical performance of the foot and boot or the mechanical function of the binding.

The snowboard support device comprises a front surface and a back boot interface surface wherein the front surface has a groove with a support surface and the back surface is essentially flat. The groove is defined by an upper lip and a lower lip, and the back surface has a connecting device suitable to connect the device to the tongue of a snowboard boot.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a snowboarder sitting on a chairlift, showing how a snowboard is conventionally supported.

FIG. 1 is a front elevated perspective view of a first embodiment of the snowboard support device.

FIG. 2 is side cutaway view of a first embodiment of the snowboard support device.

FIG. 3 is a back view of a first embodiment of the snowboard support device.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a second embodiment of the snowboard support device.

FIG. 5 is a side cut-away view of a second embodiment of the snowboard support device.

FIG. 6 is a back view of a second embodiment of the snowboard support device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the snowboard support device mounted on a snowboard boot.

FIG. 8 is a side cut-away view of a snowboard, showing the second embodiment of the snowboard support device interposed between a snowboard and a snowboard boot.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are side cut-away views of a third, fourth and fifth embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

With reference to FIG. 1A, the prevailing method of riding the chairlift 29 indicates the potential for damage when the snowboard 13 is rested on the free boot 17. When riding a chairlift 29, a snowboarder releases the binding 19 to produce a free boot 17. The fixed boot 15 remains bound to the snowboard 13 during all phases of use. During repeated contact, the metal inside edge 27 of the snowboard 13 scuffs and cuts the dorsal surface of the free boot 17. Even though a majority of the free boot 17 remains in good condition, a prematurely worn dorsal surface, including damaged laces, severely diminishes the usefulness of the free boot 17.

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, a first embodiment of the present invention is a snowboard support device 50 having a front 62 and a back boot interface surface 58. Surface 58 is approximately flat and rectangular. On the front 62 is a groove 52 wherein the groove has a support surface 53. Defining the groove 52 is an upper lip 54 and a lower lip 56. The upper lip and the lower lip project outward approximately perpendicular to the surface 58, and are parallel to each other. In a preferred embodiment, the lower lip projects out further from the surface 58 farther than the upper lip. This makes it easier to engage the edge of a snowboard with the groove and to rest it on the support surface. In another preferred embodiment, the lower lip has a flat edge 53 rather than a pointed edge. In a preferred embodiment, the groove is curved, for example, a circular curve or a parabolic curve. As shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, in another preferred embodiment, the groove is an acute angle.

On the back boot interface surface 58 a connecting device 60, which can be a snap, a hook and loop fastener, a threaded fastener, or any other suitable fastening device. The connecting device 60 is used to connect the snowboard support device 50 to the tongue of a snowboarding boot.

The support device 50 can be made of a tough, rigid plastic, rubber, composite or metal material. The material must be weather-proof and tough enough not to be damaged by the metal edge of the snowboard. The size of the support device 50 is not critical. It should be large enough to easily rest the snowboard on it, yet not so large as to be cumbersome on the dorsal side of the boot. In a preferred embodiment, the support device 50 is approximately rectangular, and from about 1 to 2 inches long and about 1 to 2 inches wide. The upper lip and the lower lips are from about ¼ inch to 1 inch deep, and the groove should be from about 1 to 2 inches wide. In a preferred embodiment, the connecting device is 60 a portion of a two-part snap device, with the second part of the snap device attached to the tongue of the snowboard boot.

With reference to FIGS. 4-6, a second embodiment of the present invention, the support device 30 has a front surface 42 and a back boot interface surface 38. On the front 42 is a groove 32 wherein the groove has a support surface 33. Above the groove 32 is an upper lip 34 and below the groove is a lower lip 36. Around the support device 40 is a flat perimeter 44. On the perimeter 44 are at least two lace conduits 40. The support device 30 is attached to a snowboot by threading the laces of the boot through the conduits 40. In a preferred embodiment, the flat perimeter 44 is from about ½ to 1 inch wide.

As shown in FIG. 7, the second embodiment of the support device 30 is attached to the free boot 17 by threading the laces 46 through the lace conduit 40.

As shown in FIG. 8, the snowboard 13 is supported in the groove 32 of the support device 30 mounted on the free boot 17. The boot of the snowboarder is naturally angled back when the boarder is seated in the chairlift. The support device 30 engages with the board at an essentially horizontal position, which is easy for the boarder to maintain without stressing the joints or fatiguing the muscles. At the same time, the snowboard boot and laces are not damaged by the metal edge 27 of the snowboard.

The embodiments were chosen and described to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to persons who are skilled in the art. As various modifications could be made to the exemplary embodiments, as described above with reference to the corresponding illustrations, without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A snowboard support device comprising a front surface and a back boot interface surface wherein the front surface has a groove, wherein the groove has a support surface, wherein above the groove is an upper lip and wherein below the groove is a lower lip, wherein the back surface has a connecting device suitable to connect the device to the tongue of a snowboard boot.

2. A snowboard support device comprising a front surface and a back boot interface surface wherein the front surface has a groove, wherein the groove has a support surface, wherein above the groove is an upper lip and wherein below the groove is a lower lip, wherein the front surface has a flat perimeter, and wherein in the flat perimeter are at least two lace conduits suitable to connect the device to the laces of a snowboard boot.