Patent Application
20200368606
This invention relates to snowsport equipment such as snowboards, skis and sleds, and, more particularly, relates to apparatus and methods for positional stabilization of such equipment while in use on snow or ice.
The popularity of winter snowsports is booming worldwide. These sports include a variety of endeavors including skiing, snowboarding, sledding and the like utilizing a wide variety of equipment. Learning the sports and equipment utilization takes time and effort. Particularly, equipment use (mounting, dismounting and the like) can be discouraging to some. For example, with skis and snowboards, the process affixing the equipment bindings to the user's footwear can be a frustrating experience, particularly for those new to the sport, as the surface upon which they are endeavoring and the bottoms of the equipment are both slick which causes the equipment to move relatively easily as the user labors to establish connections.
These difficulties are particularly troubling for snowboarders because they have no way of bracing themselves (both feet are held at a single location) other than to sit, mount or dismount, and rise. Since they typically must release at least one binding each time they mount a resort lift, this can become tiring over the course of the day.
Some anchors or stops have been heretofore suggested to assist boarders in this regard (see U.S. Pat. No. 8,556,295 for example). Various means of braking a board have also been heretofore suggested (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,356,168, 5,816,602, 6,092,828, 9,205,321, 8,157,285, 8,286,989, 5,145,202, and 6,279,924 and U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2002/0175497, 2006/0071449, 2007/0075524, and 2007/0096432). Mechanisms for creating traction (skins and pads, for example) for use in a variety of applications are also known (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,474,853, 9,895,595, 2,326,802, 6,471,234, 8,215,568, 3,202,358, and 3,708,117, and U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2006/0082103 and 2006/0267332 for example). Tethers are used in conjunction with a number of these to prevent escape of the board (see the foregoing as well as U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005-0173917 for example).
While these various mechanisms have proved useful in some applications, they are not all readily adaptable for application to snowsport equipment of certain types where ongoing activity will occur. Those directly adapted for restriction of snowboard movement do not restrict lateral linear sliding as well as rotational movement. Most do not accommodate immediate deployment for momentary stabilization of the equipment during a particular operation and just as immediate disengagement. Finally a number of the heretofore known applications require permanent mountings on the equipment and/or are not readily storable during ongoing use of the equipment by the user at all. Further improvement could thus still be utilized.
This invention provides apparatus and methods for positionally stabilizing snowsport equipment such as snowboards, split boards, skis, mono-skis, sleds, skeletons, luges and the like having a linear edge while in use by a user on snow or ice. The apparatus includes a position establishing unit having an interface and a guide situated in an angular relation to one another. The interface is removably locatable between the equipment and the snow or ice while the guide is positionable adjacent to the linear edge of the equipment. A tether is connectable between the establishing unit and either the equipment or the user. The best mode of the apparatus shown herein is particularly well adapted for use in stabilizing a snowboard while in use but could be as easily adapted to other snowsport equipment.
The establishing unit interface includes top and bottom surfaces with retaining structure established thereat, a wedge formation and cleats projecting from the bottom surface. The tether is preferably a retractor and tether cord connectable to the retaining structure of the interface. The retractor houses a length of the cord and is adapted for user unspooling of a selected quantity of the cord and automatic selective respooling thereof.
The method of this invention includes the steps of establishing a selected equipment position and stabilizing the position using an interface removably locatable beneath the equipment between the equipment and the snow or ice, and maintaining the equipment at a selected location on the interface using a guide associated with the interface. The guide is positionable adjacent to the linear edge of the equipment, and the interface is tethered to one of the equipment and the user.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide apparatus and methods for positionally stabilizing snowsport equipment having a linear edge while in use by a user on snow or ice.
It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus and methods for positionally stabilizing a snowboard while in use by a user on snow or ice.
It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus and methods for positionally stabilizing a snowboard while in use by a user on snow or ice adapted for restriction of lateral linear sliding as well as rotational movement of the snowboard.
It is still another object of this invention to provide apparatus for positionally stabilizing snowsport equipment that accommodates immediate deployment and disengagement of the apparatus for momentary stabilization of the equipment during a particular operation.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide apparatus for positionally stabilizing snowsport equipment that requires no permanent mountings on the equipment and that is readily storable during ongoing use of the equipment by the user.
It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus for positionally stabilizing snowsport equipment having a linear edge while in use by a user on snow or ice that include a position establishing unit having an interface and a guide situated in an angular relation to one another, the interface removably locatable beneath the equipment between the equipment and the snow or ice, and the guide positionable adjacent the linear edge of the equipment, and a tether connectable between the establishing unit and one of the equipment and the user.
It is still another object of this invention to provide an apparatus for positionally stabilizing a snowboard having a linear edge while in use by a user on snow or ice that includes a position establishing unit having an interface and a guide situated in an angular relation to one another, the interface including top and bottom surfaces with retaining structure established thereat, a wedge formation and cleats projecting from the bottom surface, the interface removably locatable beneath the snowboard between the snowboard and the snow or ice with the guide positionable adjacent the linear edge of the snowboard, and a retractor and tether cord connectable between the retaining structure of the interface and one of the snowboard and the user, the retractor for housing a length of the cord and for user unspooling of a selected quantity of the cord and automatically selectively respooling the cord.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a method for positionally stabilizing snowsport equipment having a linear edge while in use by a user on snow or ice that includes the steps of establishing a selected equipment position and stabilizing the position using an interface removably locatable beneath the equipment between the equipment and the snow or ice, maintaining the equipment at a selected location on the interface by positioning a guide associated with the interface adjacent to the linear edge of the equipment, and tethering the interface to one of the equipment and the user.
With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent to one skilled in the art as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and methods substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention are meant to be included as come within the scope of the claims.
The accompanying drawings illustrate a complete embodiment of the invention according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:
Apparatus 11 of this invention as illustrated in the FIGURES is adapted for positionally stabilizing, against both from lateral linear sliding and rotational movement, snowsport equipment such as snowboards, split boards, skis, mono-skis, sleds, skeletons, luges and the like while in use by a user of the equipment. All such equipment is characterized by a linear edge at the equipment (edge 13 of snowboard 15 as shown in
Apparatus 11 includes position establishing unit 17 having interface 19 and guide 21 situated in an angular relation (preferably substantially perpendicular) to one another. Tether assemblage 23 (preferably a primary and secondary tether cord or cable as discussed hereinafter) is connectable between establishing unit 17 and either the equipment or the user (or, preferably, an article associated with the user such as a ski boot or snowboard boot 25 as seen in
Cleats 39 extend parallel to one another across bottom surface 31 of platform 27. Most of cleats 39 are standard sized relative to one another. However, cleat 39A adjacent to platform end 41 is larger, both in width and length of projection from bottom surface 31, than standard sized cleats 39. Wedge formation 37 is essentially a ramp structure (see
Cleats 39/39A are provided to dig into the snow and thus prevent forward and rearward equipment slipping movement. Opening 35 is likewise provided to increase surface retention to prevent linear slipping movement in all lateral directions by allowing compacted snow to rise into the hole responsive to downward pressure applied by weight of the user. Wedge formation 37 further restricts forward and rearward equipment slipping movement when downward force is applied. The combination of opening 35, wedge formation 37 and rearward cleat 39A essential trap snow therebetween when applied in such a way as to inhibit (in association with cleats 39 and guide 21) both lateral and rotational movement of the equipment/snowboard.
Top surface 29 of interface/platform 19/27 is positioned in contact with the equipment (snowboard 15 for example as shown in
Preferred measurements of the various structures identified above are best expressed relative to diameter X of the semicircle defining platform 27 (see
Retractor unit 57 and tether cord or cable assemblage 23 are affixed at retaining structure 33 of interface 19 at one terminus and to either equipment/snowboard 15 or the user (via boot 25 for example) at another terminus. Retractor unit 57 can be any of a number of known automatic cable/cord retracting units available in commerce and includes housing 59 for maintaining a spooled length of cord 61 therein readily unspooled by a user pulling on free end 63 of cord 61 (essentially by grasping and pulling on unit 17. The cord is automatically respooled when released as is known with such devices. Retractor unit 57 is preferably provided with mounting clip 65 when used snowboards or skis for mounting of unit 57 on a ski or snowboard boot. A cable clip or cord crimp 67 is used at end 63 to maintain cord 61 at retaining structure 33 (looped therethrough). Similar such clips or crimps are used to secure tether ends as shown in the FIGURES.
Secondary safety tether cord or cable 71 is connected at one end at end 63 of cord 61 via clip assemblage 73. Spring hook clip assemblage 75 at its opposite end accommodates securement at a wearable item associated with the user (such as boot 25 (see
Turning attention now to
Guide 21 serves dual purposes of restricting rotational movement of the equipment in combination with other elements and preventing unit 17 from sliding completely under the equipment. The method further includes using tether cord or cable 61 having a length and selectively extending and retracting cord 61 from a location, for example by user unspooling a selected quantity of the cord and thereafter selectively respooling the cord. Unit 17 is preferably secondarily tethered to the equipment or user.
Parallel ridges at top surface 29 of interface 19 are formed during manufacture. Enhanced traction at the interface 19 is created by at least one of establishing plurality of cleats at surface 31 of the interface 19, establishing opening 35 through interface 19, and/or establishing wedge formation 37 at a surface 31.
In use with snowboard equipment, apparatus 11 is attached to an inside edge of the user's front boot at clip 65 and retractor unit 57. During snowboarding, apparatus 11 is held close to the users boot 25 (
If gearing up, the snowboarder now can fasten the free trailing foot into the empty snowboard binding and secure it (the reverse operation of the snowboarder is stopping or mounting a lift). Once the snowboarder's free foot is secure, the snowboarder can maneuver the front of the snowboard off unit 17 by balancing on the back edge of the snowboard and lifting the front edge or hopping off it. When unit 17 is free it will retract back up towards the side of boot 25.
As may be appreciated from the foregoing, improved means for restricting undesired movement of snowsport equipment during user operations has been provided. The apparatus of this invention is relatively inexpensive to produce, unit 17 being formed (injection molded) from a single piece of flexible material such as neoprene, synthetic rubber materials, rubber, semi rigid but flexible plastics or the like. There are no parts fixed to unit 19 aside from the tether assemblage attached at a single opening through the unit. Cord/cables are preferably heavy nylon cord, though any suitable cord or cable material could be utilized. While tethering is shown in association with a user's boot, all retractors and cords could instead be affixed at a permanent location established on the equipment.
