BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Background—Field of Invention
This invention relates to gliding boards such as snowboards and is a device that attaches to the snowboard which in turn is used to assist in the steering of the snowboard while exiting the chairlift when one foot is free and unbound by the snowboard binding.
2. Background—Discussion of Prior Art
Currently there is not prior art that is similar to this invention. The closest related devices which exist on the market today are known as “Stomp Pads”. Stomp pads are devices which attach to the top face of the snowboard generally located in the area between the front and back snowboard boot binding.
It is important to understand the problem the invention solves to better understand the disadvantages the stomp pad has when compared to the invention of the Snowboard Control Lever. When a Snowboarder stands in line and approaches the chair lift, the snowboarder is required to remove one foot (boot) from the secure snowboard binding to better enable the snowboarder to control their movement while boarding the chair lift. Upon reaching the top of the lift, the snowboarder must exit the chair and attempt to steer their snowboard away from the chair lift unloading area. Once the Snowboarder attempts to exit the chair lift, controlling the snowboard is very difficult with only one foot secure to a snowboard binding and the other foot free from its binding. This configuration results in steering difficulties and increases the chance of injury caused by falling or running into other Snowboarders immediately upon exiting the chair lift.
Stomp pads are currently used by snowboarders in an attempt to give the snowboarder control of their free unbound foot while exiting the chair lift. The stomp pad offers an area to rest the free unbound foot while exiting. It achieves this level of control by increasing the friction between the bottom of the snowboard boot and the top surface of the snowboard. This increased friction area only allows for minimal control to the snowboarder. The major disadvantage is that the control is limited to horizontal slippage across the top surface of the snowboard and offers no maneuvering control. For a snowboarder to be in control of their snowboard, they must have the ability to acquire a front side or back side edge. The stomp pad offers no means of leverage for the snowboarder to efficiently acquire this critical edge control.
Therefore, because of the above mentioned disadvantages of the current option for control, there is a need for a device which offers leverage control and in turn effective steering of the snowboard while exiting the chair lift. The subject invention solves the above mentioned problem with the following objects and advantages as described herein.
SUMMARY of the Invention
In view of the foregoing, it is a primary object of the subject invention to provide a snowboarder with a leveraging like apparatus that when disposed to or made part of a snowboard or snowboard binding, provides a means for acquiring snowboard edge control and steering of the snowboard while one foot is free and unbound from a snowboard binding when exiting the chair lift.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a top view of the “Snowboard Control Lever” with adjustable mounting plate in its “Goofy Configuration”;
FIG. 2 shows a top view of the “Snowboard Control Lever” with adjustable mounting plate in its “Goofy Configuration” according to FIG. 1 positioned on snowboard, with free unbound snowboard boot in operating position;
FIG. 3 shows a front view of the “Snowboard Control Lever” with adjustable mounting plate according to FIG. 2 in its “Goofy Configuration” positioned on snowboard, with toe of free unbound snowboard boot in operating position;
FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the “Snowboard Control Lever” with adjustable mounting plate in its “Goofy Configuration”;
FIG. 5 shows a top-left perspective view of the “Snowboard Control Lever” with adjustable mounting plate in its “Goofy Configuration”; and
FIG. 6 shows another embodiment form of the “Snowboard Control Lever” with adjustable mounting plate in its “Normal Configuration”.
DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS
1 Control lever
2 Adjustable mounting plate
3 Adjustable mounting slots
4 Control lever mounting screws
5 Snowboard boot
6 Snowboard boot toe
7 Snowboard binding base plate
8 Snowboard top surface
9 Snowboard front side edge
10 Snowboard back side edge
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 1 and 2 shows a top view, as well as FIG. 5 showing a top left perspective view of the “Snowboard Control Lever” in its “Goofy Configuration”, representing a first embodiment form comprising of a elongated extended lever like apparatus known as a control lever 1 and a adjustable mounting plate 2. The embodiment of the lever like apparatus is shown in FIG. 1 where the control lever 1 is arranged so as to be articulated parallel to the longest edge of the adjustable mounting plate 2 starting in the bottom right corner of the adjustable mounting plate 2 extending past the top right corner of the adjustable mounting plate 2 before the control lever 1 then forms upward approximately 2.75 inches before again forming outwardly, perpendicular to and away from the base of the control lever 1 in a distance of approximately 3.5 inches before again changing direction slight downward another 1.5 inches and terminating, all of which comprise of the control lever 1. As observed in FIG. 4, the control lever 1 attaches to the longest running straight edge of the adjustable mounting plate 2 by (4) separate control lever mounting screws 4. Each of the control lever mounting screws 4 are recessed into the adjustable mounting plate so that the heads of the control lever mounting screws 4 flush out with the bottom side of the adjustable mounting plate 2 so that the bottom side of the adjustable mounting plate 2 positions flush with the snowboard top surface 8 as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIGS. 2 and 3 show a top and front view respectively of the above embodiment, comprising of a control lever 1 and the adjustable mounting plate 2 attached to each other by (4) separate control lever mounting screws 4 to comprise of the whole unit known as a “Snowboard Control Lever”. FIGS. 2 and 3 shows the above mentioned adjustable mounting plate 2 resting flush with the snowboard top surface 8 and positioned directly under the snowboard binding base plate 7. FIG. 2 further shows the adjustable mounting plate 2 with its adjustable mounting slots 3 positioned directly under the snowboard binding base plate 7 so that the screws securing the snowboard binding itself through the snowboard binding base plate 7 shall now pass through the snowboard binding base plate 7, adjustable mounting plate 2 and further into the existing screw slots of the existing snow board top surface 8. Once the existing screws from the snowboard binding base plate 7 are tightened, the adjustable mounting plate 2 becomes sandwiched and secured between the snowboard binding base plate 7 and the snowboard top surface 8. Once the above described embodiment is disposed to or made part of the snowboard top surface as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the control lever 1 provides means for a steering device used by the free unbound booted foot of the snowboarder urging said lever like apparatus to assist snowboard edge control. The control lever 1 may be formed by conventional machining and molding techniques for use of high tinsel strength plastics or bending machines using light weight metals such as extruded carbide aluminum. The material should be strong enough to assist the snowboard onto a snowboard front side edge 9 or snowboard back side edge 10 without deforming yet light weight so as to not add excessive weight to the overall weight of the snowboard. The “Snowboard Control Lever” can also be manufactured in an assortment of colors and finishes using the process of anodizing. This process offers a stronger more durable finish to aluminum material.
Operation—FIGS. 2 and 3
The above mentioned embodiment as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in the “Goofy position” is designed so that the Snowboarder can kick their unbound snowboard boot toe 6 under the control lever 2 either while on the chair lift or upon exiting the chair lift to use as a control lever to assist the snow boarder in acquiring edge control for steering and stopping. The lever aspect of the “Snowboard Control Lever” is designed and positioned slightly over the snowboard front side edge 9. This allows for the snowboard boot toe 6 when positioned under the control lever 1 to overhang the snowboard allowing the snowboard boot toe 6 to drag into the snow when snowboarder urges the snowboard on its snowboard front side edge 9. This action creates an increased drag friction and edge control, aiding in decreasing the acceleration of the snowboard while maneuvering toward the left. The control lever 1 also allows the snowboarder to steer the snowboard by applying upward pressure on the control lever 1 with the snowboard boot toe 6, aiding the operator to urge the snowboard onto its back side edge 10 as seen in FIG. 3. This described action allows for increased maneuvering and stopping control towards the opposite side. Once the Snowboarder has successfully steered away from potential obstacles near the chair lift exit area, the Snowboarder can further use the device to assist in controlling the board to a final stop, and then simply remove their snowboard boot 5 from the back end of the “Snowboard Control Lever” device.
Additional Embodiments—FIG. 6
FIG. 6 shows an additional embodiment with a top view of the “Snowboard Control Lever” in a “Normal Configuration”. The normal configuration is simply a mirror image of the “Goofy Configuration” as described in the first embodiment.
Alternative Embodiments
FIG. 3 There are various possibilities with regard to the relative attachment of the Snowboard control lever 1. The elongated extended levering like apparatus otherwise known as the control lever 1 could be attached to or molded as an appendage to the snowboard binding base plate 7 or the snowboard binding directly, or retracted from binding directly eliminating the need for the adjustable mounting plate 2. The advantage of using the adjustable mounting plate 2 to attach the control lever 1 to the snowboard top surface 8 is that the levering apparatus can be attached to existing snowboard and boot binding systems.
CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE
Accordingly, the reader will see that the “Snowboard Control Lever” of the various embodiments, when disposed to or made part of a snowboard or snowboard binding, provides means for a steering device used by the free unbound booted foot of the snowboarder urging the lever like apparatus to assist snowboard front and back edge control. Furthermore, the “Snowboard Control Lever” has additional advantages of:
- It permits the snowboarder to rest the control lever 1 portion of the “Snowboard Control Lever” on the free unbound Snowboard boot toe 6 of the snowboarder while riding on the chair lift. The advantage of this is two fold. First it allows the weight of the snowboard to rest and distribute evenly between the bound foot and the unbound boot toe for a more comfortable position while riding on the chair lift. Second, while still resting the snowboard control lever on the free unbound boot toe, it allows the snowboarder to be in position to simply stand up and begin urging the control lever with the free unbound booted foot to steer the snowboard safely immediately upon exiting the chairlift.
- Since there is nothing physically holding the heal of the free unbound snowboard boot in place like that of the snowboard boot toe 6, the snowboarder can simply step backwards out of the leverage hold power of the control lever 1 upon safely controlling the snowboard to a stop.
- The control lever cannot be clogged with snow preventing its operation. If snow does pile up on the snowboard top surface 8 or around the snowboard control lever 1, the snowboarders boot toe can still enter the levering position of the snowboard control lever 1 simultaneously while clear out excess snow through the front side and urging the lever for snowboard edge control.
- The elongated control lever 1 can also be used as a carrying handle to assist in holding and carrying the snowboard when not in use.
While the foregoing description and drawings represent the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the control lever 1 can have other shapes, such as oval, flat, triangular, etc. The adjustable mounting plate 2 can also have other shapes such as square, circular, rectangular, ect. The adjustable mounting plate 2 can also be attached to the control lever 1 by other means such as welding, rivets, solid molding, ect. The adjustable mounting plate 2 can be eliminated completely by attaching or extruding the control lever 1 directly as part of the snowboard boot binding base plate 7 or made to retract from the frame of the snowboard boot binding base plate 7.
Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.
Patent Application
20150290525
