Patent Grant
8419043
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of sporting equipment. More particularly, it relates to an ergonomic mount for a sportsboard (e.g., a snowboard) used in an upright standing or kneeling position which has an ergonomic upper surface that reduces strain and wear on human joints.
2. Background of Related Art
Ergonomic foot mount concepts were first introduced by the present inventor as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,758 to Fournier. Corresponding disclosure is found in Canadian Patent No. CA 2302614, and French Patent No. EP-B-1007167, which matured from PCT International Patent Appl. No. PCT/IB98/01633, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, apparatus provides an ergonomic stance to a rider on a sportsboard, comprising a flexible wedge formed to mount over a top surface of a core of a sportsboard in a binding mounting area. The flexible wedge is shaped to angle a leg of a rider inward from a perpendicular position. A plurality of inserts are mounted through the flexible wedge. The plurality of inserts provide an area to mount a boot binding.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an ergonomic snowboard comprises a snowboard core, and a pair of flexibile binding wedges mounted directly to the snowboard core. An upper surface is formed over both the pair of flexibile binding wedges and an upper surface of the snowboard core. The flexible binding wedges have at least one transverse slot therein.
Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
Flexible wedges in accordance with the principles of the present invention provide an ergonomic snowboard that can be custom produced or mass produced with a one or multiple pieces core, with existing core machining/molding/forming machines, regardless of the material.
The flexible wedges provide an ergonomic snowboard that will give same if not superior structural performances as standard ergonomic snowboard or flat standard snowboards. The flexible wedges also provide an ergonomic snowboard to be produced according to personalized anthropometric measurements per target population or individual rider, custom postural with a standard ergonomic wedge geometry that can be placed on/in any snowboard shape or construction main body.
It is preferable that the ergonomic snowboard have a same look as other actual boards except for the postural wedges. It is also desired that the ergonomic sportsboard be lightweight, and have the same surface, contour and or edges construction and finish as otherwise conventional sportsboards (e.g., snowboards).
Ergonomic wedges, e.g., snowboard flexible wedges, in accordance with the principles of the present invention can be molded or machined from virtually any appropriate material. Tnut mounting inserts are preferably inserted from below the wedge into pre-molded holes. A cavity may be machined in the planar core below (regardless of the particular material) to receive the ergonomic wedge.
Importantly, the wedges have at least one, and preferably multiple, lateral slots cut through a significant thickness of the wedge, to provide lengthwise flexibility in the wedge when mounted to an underlying sportsboard (e.g., snowboard). The lateral, flexion slot is preferably, but need not necessarily, cut through a majority of the thickness of the wedge at any given point.
The wedges may be molded, thin glass reinforced resin wedges. They may be made lightweight using a suitable rib design underneath as shown in various figures, preferably having a standard angle that will fit on a main core body.
Tnut inserts, or any other suitable anchoring means, are preferably mounted at a 90 deg angle (i.e., perpendicular) to the upper surface of the wedge.
In a given embodiment, the ergonomic wedges are independent from a main core. The wedges may be made of the same or different material from that of the main core of the sportsboard.
A reinforcing layer may be mounted above the wedges placed onto the main core, though such reinforcing layer need not be used if the wedge is otherwise securely and firmly mounted to the core of the sportsboard. In any event, an upper surface (albeit not a major reinforcement layer) such as a plastic layer is formed or otherwise placed over the wedges on the main core.
The amount of flex provided by the flexion slots in the wedge may be adjusted with the use of flex adjustment bushings. The flex adjustment bushings may fully or only partially fill any given flexion slot. Flex adjustment bushings may be of variable compression, chosen by a manufacturer, retail shop or rider, to provide a rider with a more perfect amount of flexibility in the wedge. The flex adjustment bushings may be chosen based on a rider's weight and/or abilities, and/or they may be selected based on inherent flexible properties of the relevant snowboard to which the wedge is mounted.
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Preferably otherwise conventionally known reinforcement is in contact with the entire contour surface perimeter at a 90 degree angle or less, of the main core body, and/or between the main core body and the perimeter protection material, in the case of a main core body without total or partial contour protection (referred to as a cap snowboard).
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The main core body can have its entire perimeter or partial perimeter protected by a waterproof contour, generally of plastic or reinforced plastic, or any other impact resistant and waterproof material.
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As seen from above, flexible wedges can be of any shape, with or without chamfer angles or filets on contour walls and edges bellow or above etc. Flexible wedges may also have virtually any surface finish.
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The main core body can have slots or an orifice through it from the upper surface to the lower surface, the slot(s) being filled with a shear or impact resistant material to avoid undesired flexible wedge penetration into the main core body.
The flexion slots can be of any shape and dimensions and are located about the location of the wedges close to the perimeter of the main core body.
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Preferably, the ends of the snowboard are mostly of round shape by multiple radiuses. As shown in
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The present invention provides exemplary flex adjustment bushings inserted into slots in wedged area, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The inventive modern ergonomic snowboard provides the best lower limbs posture and limitless maneuver possibilities. Unique features include a full ergonomic/biomechanic design methodoloty.
The slotted, flexible wedges in accordance with the present invention provide an adjustable segmented flex.
Preferably flexion slots are formed or otherwise provided in the upper surface of the flexible wedge. As disclosed, the flexion slots in the flexible wedges are preferably made to be linear. The flexion slots may be straight, or may be slightly radial (e.g., with a slot made with a long radius arc or any curved spline instead of a straight perpendicular grooves.) Slots can be with or without chamfer angles or filets on contour walls and edges bellow or above, there can be a discontinuity in the flexion slots.
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The present invention provides an ergonomic snowboard that can be custom produced or mass produced with a one or multiple pieces core, with existing core machining/molding/forming machines, regardless of the material, yet have added flexibility otherwise caused by the use of binding wedges. The flexibility wedges provide an ergonomic snowboard that provides the same if not superior structural performances as a standard ergonomic snowboard or flat standard snowboard.
The ergonomic snowboard may be produced according to personalized anthropometric measurements per target population or individual rider, custom postural with a standard ergonomic wedge geometry that can be placed on/in any snowboard shape or construction main body. It is preferable that the ergonomic snowboard has the same look as conventional snowboards, with the important and notable exception of the use of postural, flexibility wedges, e.g., having slots, in accordance with the present invention.
The ergonomic snowboard preferably has the same surface, contour and/or edges construction and finish as conventional snowboards. Using conventional inserts, the ergonomic snowboard may accommodate all conventional binding types.
The postural, flexibility wedges have angles preferably as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,758 (co-owned by the present inventor), but importantly have flexibility slots cut thereacross. The flexibility wedges may be machined or molded or cast in any material, reinforced or not by a covering material.
As shown, the flexibility wedges have a thick portion at one end that goes to nothing toward the other end in the lengthwise axis. The flexibility wedges are installed on a main core body with the thin portion toward the center of the main body.
The flexibility wedges having transverse slots have an upper planar surface or slightly curved surface that is at an angle from the gliding surface (e.g., snow or flat ground) (i.e., it is not 100% planar once the snowboard having flexibility wedges is removed from its manufacturing mould).
The angle of the upper surface of the flexibility wedges is between about 0.5 degrees to 20 degrees from a side view, and between about 1 to 10 degrees from a front aligned view.
The flexibility wedges have a lower contacting surface that is not necessarily planar, and not necessarily horizontal.
Wedges are formed or placed perpendicular or almost perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of the snowboard. The flexibility wedges include flexion slots or grooves in the upper surface that are made linear or slightly radial (flexion slot made with a long radius arc or any curved spline instead of straight perpendicular grooves.) The flexion slots can be with or without chamfer angles or filets on contour walls and edges bellow or above, so there can be a discontinuity between flexion slot or grooves.
There can be one, two or many machined or moulded openings in the upper wedge surface parallel from 0 to 15 degrees to the lengthwise axis parallel or not. Openings or slots do continue beyond the boundaries of the highest portion of the wedged snowboard surface, and do pierce the most exterior side wall or side surface enabling sliding effect for the anchoring system for the binding's system removal/installation, without dismantlement of the binding anchoring system or bindings screws. A plurality of binding anchoring hardware can be used to fit a corresponding plurality of lengthwise slots.
The flexibility wedges can be screwed in/on or glued to the reinforced and or finished surface of a snowboard, regardless of the shape of the surface of the core (w/pre-threaded holes).
As seen from above, flexibility wedges can be of any suitable circumferential shape, with or without chamfer angles or filets on contour walls and edges below or above etc, and they can have any suitable surface finish.
As seen from below, the flexibility wedge is a hollow structure with machined or moulded ribs, or multiples slots or drilled holes or any hollowing cavities for light weight and strong at specific area.
A centered, under portion exceeds the main body of the wedge to enable the insertion and alignment of the wedge in the receiving main body core or any core part or main core body of the snowboard.
This centered under portion that exceeds the main body of the wedge has it's lower surface parallel to the upper surface, and provides for adherence to the main core body and strength for the installation of long treaded T inserts, and the like.
For the attachment of the miscellaneous binding systems currently available to a finished snowboard including flexibility wedges on a core thereof, the flexibility wedges can have one hole or many holes in different patterns. The traversing holes are preferably always perpendicular to the above surface of the wedge, even if other reinforcement or surface material do cover the wedge. Thus, the binding inserts are NOT perpendicular to the lower surface of the snowboard, but instead ARE perpendicular to the upper surface of the flexibility wedge.
For the attachment of the miscellaneous binding systems currently available to a finished snowboard, the flexibility wedge can have one slot or many slots, long or short, parallel or not to the lengthwise axis of the snowboard. This enables movement of the threaded insert for them to move freely, allowing for micro adjustments. As disclosed, cavities created by the slots are always perpendicular to the above surface of the wedge, even if other reinforcement or surface material does cover the wedge.
The flexibility wedge can have an exceeding lower portion surface extrapolating toward the outside of it's perimeter for added contact to the main core body.
The flexibility wedges are located on the finished snowboard or main core body, at the very stance of a snowboarder according to it's anthropometry for the best postural position.
The main core and/or any other contacting core pieces can be made of any suitable known material or engineered material.
The upper surface of the main core body has a machined, or molded in, or grooved in, cavity or cavities to receive the lower portion of the flexibility wedges. This cavity can go all the way through the main core body in some case.
The core can have an added means of reinforcement between the flexibility wedges and the core receiving cavity.
The overall lower, under-core surface can also include hollow structure, with machined or molded ribs, or multiples slots or drilled holes or any hollowing cavities for light weight.
The upper surface of the main core body can be of any shape, most particularly composed of, e.g., 4 main depressions in thickness, two at the approx location of the middle wedges areas, and two for both ends. (E.g., thin at one end, thicker toward and close to the wedge front, thin toward the middle of the first wedge, then thicker toward the middle of the main core body, then thinner toward and about at the middle of the other wedge, then thicker passed the wedge and thinner toward the other far end of the main core body.) The upper variation in thickness is made from machined or molded surface curvature that are all tangent to avoid deflexion irregularities and or breakage of the body once merged with the wedges.
The same variation in thickness' purpose is to send compression forces from the thicker portion of the main core body to the middle of the wedges, and to enable the main core body to have a plurality of controlled flexion and torsion zones.
The main core body can have its entire perimeter or partial perimeter protected by waterproof contour, generally of plastic or reinforced plastic or any other impact resistant and waterproof material.
The main core body can have slots or orifice through it from the upper surface to the lower surface thus slot to be filled with a shear or impact resistant material avoiding wedge penetration into the main core body.
Slots can be of any shape and dimensions and are located about the location of the wedges close to the perimeter of the main core body.
Standard known reinforcement in contact with the entire contour surface perimeter at 90 degree angle or less, of the main core body, and, or between the main core body and the perimeter protection material, in case of main core body without total or partial contour protection (what is called cap snowboard).
Standard known reinforcement above the completed wedge and main core body assembly, the reinforcement goes above and around the wedge and also rest on the other previous reinforcement or in direct contact with the main core body.
Standard known reinforcement under the form of strips, above and around the lower edge of the wedges perimeter and up the contouring wedge' outside contour walls.
Standard known reinforcement under the form of strips above and in contact with the lower edge of the wedges at the bottom of the thickest portion of wedge for use with and when top sheet is installed direct on wedge (reinforcement in front of wedge at the bottom of the thicker portion).
Standard known reinforcement inserted in the main core body traversing slots at the wedges location (to avoid wedge penetration into the main core body, following harsh riding impact).
Standard known fiber reinforcement under the form of a plurality of strips and layers, above, around, under, wrapping the slots tracks (aluminum or plastic, or reinforced composite) or slot sub frame track, the anchoring system will slide in this track. Track are to be machine afterwards for more accuracy.
Standard known plastics materials, or thermoset materials available in the industry, may be used for the top or base, with or without cosmetics.
Any hydro formed or mold formed non-ferrous material may be used on the top or base, with or without cosmetics.
Surface materials can be reinforced or plain (e.g., reinforced thermoplastics), thermoformed or plain.
The snowboard may have one end wider than the other one (taper shape). The lateral cut or side cut may be made with a besier curve or 3 point mathematic spline (orange curves).
In addition to the spline, the ergonomic snowboard may have a straight line that starts about the middle of the wedge, all the way to about the widest point of the snowboard. This line is preferably always parallel to a similar straight line at the other opposite end, and mirrors the other side.
The flexibility wedge contours are preferably mostly round shape by multiple radiuses, and may also have some other multiple radiuses or any geometric shape protuberances on it's contour mostly at the end of the thicker portion.
As an additional feature, in accordance with the invention, rubber type material may be inserted into the flexibility slots to adjust the flexibility of the binding area of the snowboard. No insert would provide the most flexibility; a rubber insert fit snugly into one or more flexibility slots would dampen the flexibility accordingly, and a mostly solid insert fit snugly into one or more flexibility slots would severely dampen its flexibility.
While the invention has been described with reference to the exemplary embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications to the described embodiments of the invention without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.
The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/960,960 to Fournier, filed Oct. 22, 2007, entitled “Flexible Ergonomic Sportsboard Wedges”; and from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/071,479 to Fournier, filed May 1, 2008, entitled “Slotted Binding Mount for Snowboard with Mount Entry via Vertical Edge”, the entirety of both of which are explicitly incorporated herein by reference.
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