Patent ID: 7270337
Filing Date: 2007-09-18
Classification: A63C

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for providing a pivoting member for attachment of a binding to the top surface of a snowboard, comprising: a) a bottom plate having top and bottom surfaces and a peripheral edge, wherein said bottom plate is adapted for mounting onto the top surface of the snowboard so that said bottom surface of said bottom plate is contiguous to the top surface of the snowboard; b) a top plate having top and bottom surfaces and a peripheral edge, wherein said top plate is adapted for rotatable connection to said bottom plate so that said bottom surface of said top plate is oriented toward said top surface of said bottom plate, wherein said top plate is adapted for having the binding of the snowboard connected thereto; c) a pivot disk having top and bottom surfaces and a peripheral edge, wherein said pivot disk is adapted for rotatable mounting between said top surface of said bottom plate and said bottom surface of said top plate wherein said top plate is connected to said pivot disk, so that said pivot disk and said top plate rotate together so that a foot of a user is perpendicular to the snowboard in a first foot position and parallel to the snowboard in a second foot position; and, d) means for locking said top plate whereby the top plate can be locked in said first or said second position and then released from said first or said second position and rotated to the other position; e) a top ring being disposed on said top surface of said peripheral edge of said pivot disk, said ring having top and bottom surfaces, wherein an overhang portion of said top ring extends beyond said peripheral edge of said pivot disk so that a bottom surface of said overhang portion is contiguous to said top portion of said peripheral edge of said bottom plate, wherein said overhang portion of said top ring is fastened to said peripheral edge of said bottom plate so that said top ring and said pivot disk are secured to said bottom plate; f) wherein said bottom plate has a centrally disposed shaft extending away from said top surface thereof toward said top plate, wherein said shaft has central female threads for receiving a mating male threaded fastener, wherein said shaft forms a race for a set of ball bearings, wherein said peripheral edge of said bottom plate forms a side wall extending upwards around said bottom plate, said side wall extending toward said top plate and having a top end thereon, wherein said bottom plate has a plurality of first holes therein, wherein fasteners extend through said first holes into the top surface of the snowboard so that said bottom plate is attached to the snowboard; g) wherein said peripheral edge of said top plate forms a side wall extending downwardly around said top plate, said side wall extending toward said bottom plate and having a bottom end thereon, wherein said top plate has a central second hole therein, wherein a threaded fastener extends through said second hole into said female threads of said shaft on said bottom plate so that said top plate is rotatably connected to said bottom plate, wherein said top plate has a plurality of third holes therein, wherein fasteners extend through said third holes into said top surface of said pivot disk so that said top plate is attached to said pivot disk.