Abstract:
A two-piece snowboard for controlled movement on snow and other media for gliding, comprising front and rear gliding members having binding devices for holding feet. A connecting device couples the front and rear gliding members. The connective device includes first and second connecting elements connected to one of the gliding members. In various embodiments at least one of the first and second connecting elements is rigid, and the further connecting element is able to rotate in at least one plane. Additionally, or alternatively, at least one of the first and second connecting elements includes at least two bearing elements. The bearing elements provide for movement about the horizontal axis transverse to a direction of travel and/or movement about the vertical axes of the bearing elements, and also provide for connection to the gliding members. The first and second connecting elements and the bearing elements are provided with a restoring torque.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a two-piece snowboard. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     A conventional two-piece snow board is described in German Published Patent Application No. 196 28 248. In this case, two gliding members are interconnected by an articulated linkage, which allows a flexible joint to rotate relatively to each gliding member, about a transverse axis parallel to the center axis. However, this snowboard only allows one to glide on snow to a very limited extent, since the two gliding members can move uncontrollably in the joints while riding. 
     German Patent No. 93 15 355 also describes a two-piece snowboard, which have individual gliding members joined by a connecting rod. The joints at the end of the connecting rod are attached in the space between the raised footprints for the user and the gliding members. The joints can freely pivot 360°, which results in high forces occurring while riding, rendering the two-piece snowboard unridable as well. In addition, the raised standing position of the user leads to a strong feeling of imbalance, due to shifting the center of gravity upwards. This situation is also not beneficial for riding in a controlled manner. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,051 describes two gliding members, which are joined to different rubber belts, bands, or similar connecting elements. The elastically designed connecting devices do not ensure that the selected distance between the gliding members for riding in a controlled manner is maintained. Such a device cannot be controlled purely by the muscle power of the user. 
     French Published Patent Application No. 27 39 297 describes a possibility for connecting mini skis, using one or more torsion rods or a rubber bearing between the rear end of the first mini ski and the front end of the second mini ski. In this context, the torsion rods are rigid or adjustable in the longitudinal direction with the ski elements, but are not connected to them by joints. Connecting the ski elements using a rubber bearing allows the front mini ski to rotate with respect to the rear mini ski, but does not allow the ski elements to move parallel to each other, which is useful for controlled cornering. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides the two-piece snowboard that may be controlled and inspected very easily. The snowboard is not exclusively controlled by the user shifting his or her body weight, but rather by the user rotating his or her legs. The possibility of controlling the snowboard to an exact degree allows the direction to be changed in a controlled manner, the ability of the user to balance not playing a crucial part in changing direction. In addition, the present invention provides a two-piece snowboard, which is provided with a snowboard-element connecting device in which restoring torques are integrated in joint elements, which are optimally and individually adapted to the specific riding situation, by means of quick adjustment, for all speed ranges in which the two-piece snowboard is moved. That is, the overall handling of the two-piece snowboard can be adjusted to be very stiff for fast downhill runs, and the joint elements can be adjusted loosely for turning at a tight curve radius. Two different quick adjustments are possible here. The first adjustment option exists at the main joint element, which can absorb torsion, bending, and compressive forces in three planes, and whose stiffness can be adjusted by a hand-operated knob. The second adjustment option exists in the region of the connecting lever of the connecting device. The range of motion and the restoring torque of the connecting lever in the horizontal plane can also be adjusted very quickly by a hand-operated knob, and can be adapted to the specific riding situations. The two possibilities for adjustment go so far, that the joints can reach their maximum available travel, and a rigid connection can be created between the gliding members and the connecting lever. The connecting device is then in the form of a rigid connection between the gliding members. The present invention also provides for devices, which are similar to bindings and bind the user to the board, to be integrated into the connecting device for the two snowboard elements. In this context, these binding-like devices can be designed for soft boots or for ski boots. It is crucial that both the binding-like device and the connecting device be jointly fastened to the snowboard. This yields efficiencies with regard to manufacturing. The necessary adjustments regarding different crotch measurements of persons of different size can be made economically, using a length adjustment device in the region of the connecting lever or fastening elements. 
     In addition, the present invention allows one to move on flat terrain by wriggling the front and rear parts of the snowboard relatively to each other. A change of direction is even easier to control, i.e. more easily possible, when one is almost at rest or traveling uphill. Furthermore, the present invention allows the curve radius of the ridden curve to be controlled and changed at all times, without having to apply compression pressure to the snowboard end. The present invention can be disassembled very quickly for using a ski lift, so that each of the two snowboard parts remains on one foot of the user while riding the lift. This allows one to ride the lift decidedly more easily in comparison with conventional snowboards. If the user does not wish to separate the two halves of the ski, the present invention facilitates riding the ski lift by improving the ability to balance. In the same manner, the present invention can be quickly disassembled after use, into two or more parts, and can therefore be transported easily. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the two-piece snowboard according to the present invention having an exemplary connecting rod assembly that is connected to gliding members by exemplary connecting elements. 
     FIG. 2 shows another exemplary embodiment of the two-piece snowboard according to the present invention having an exemplary connecting device that is connected to gliding members by exemplary connecting elements and bearing elements. 
     FIG. 3 shows another exemplary embodiment of the two-piece snowboard according to the present invention having an exemplary connecting rod assembly having two parts joined by an exemplary connecting element ( 17 ), the two parts being joined to gliding members by exemplarily represented, connecting elements or fixed bearings. 
     FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal cross-section of an exemplary implementation of the connecting elements shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal cross-section of another implementation of the connecting elements. 
     FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal cross-section of a further implementation of the connecting elements. 
     FIG. 7 shows an exemplary embodiment of a locking arrangement for the connecting elements shown in FIGS. 4,  5  and  6 . A front view of a connecting element is represented. 
     FIG. 8 shows an exemplary embodiment of the two-piece snowboard according to the present invention having an exemplary connecting device which interconnects the gliding members. 
     FIG. 9 shows an exemplary embodiment of the two-piece snowboard according to the present invention having an exemplary connecting device which includes integrated, binding devices that interconnect the gliding members. 
     FIG. 10 shows a longitudinal cross-section of an exemplary embodiment of the connecting device. An adjustable joint element of connecting device for attachment to the gliding members is illustrated. 
     FIG. 11 shows a section along line A—A of FIG. 10 of a bearing block of the connecting rod assembly. 
     FIG. 12 shows a section along line B—B of FIG. 10 illustrating a cover of the connecting rod assembly, as well as a damping adjustment device for the lever. 
     FIG. 13 shows a electric adjusting device. 
     FIG. 14 shows a pneumatic adjusting device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment, where the two gliding members  1 ,  2  to which binding-like devices  3 ,  4  are attached are connected by a connecting rod assembly  5  and connecting elements  6 ,  7 . Connecting elements  6 ,  7  are fastened to gliding members  1 ,  2  on one side, and to the two ends of connecting rod assembly  5  on the other side. Connecting elements  6 ,  7  can be designed in a variety of ways. For example, the connecting elements  6 ,  7  can be designed as ball-head joints, which enable connecting rod assembly  5  to move relatively to gliding member  1 ,  2 , about both the vertical axis and the horizontal axis of connecting elements  6 ,  7 . In addition, one or two of the connecting elements  6 ,  7  can be designed so as to only allow a movement about the horizontal axis. Furthermore, connecting elements  6 ,  7  can be designed so as to permit connecting rod assembly  5  to move only relatively to gliding members  1 ,  2 , in a manner limited by the angle of rotation. 
     FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment, where the two gliding members  1 ,  2  to which binding-like devices  3 ,  4  are attached are joined by a connecting device  8  and connecting elements  9 ,  10 . Connecting elements  9 ,  10  are fastened to gliding members  1 ,  2  on one side, and to the ends of connecting device  8  on the other side. Connecting element  9  can be designed in a variety of ways. For example, connecting element  9  can be designed as a ball-head joint, so that connecting device  8  can move relatively to either gliding member  1  or gliding member  2  about both the vertical axis and the horizontal axis of connecting element  9 . In addition, connecting element  9  can be designed so as to only allow a movement about the horizontal axis. Furthermore, connecting element  9  can be designed so as to only allow connecting device to move relatively to gliding member  1  or gliding member  2 , in a manner limited by the angle of rotation. Connecting element  10  is designed so as to be joined to connecting device  8  by two bearing elements  11 ,  12 , in a hinge-like manner. In this context, it is possible for connecting device  8  to rotate about the horizontal axis of the bearing elements, transversely to the direction of travel. This enables gliding member  2  to move upwards and downwards with respect to gliding member  1 . In this context, bearing elements  11 ,  12  can be developed as freely rotatable bearings or as automatically resetting bearings, which only allow a limited angular motion. 
     FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment, where the two gliding members  1 ,  2  to which binding-like devices  3 ,  4  are attached are connected by a three-piece connecting rod. The connecting rod includes a front part  13 , a rear part  14 , and a connecting element  17  between front part  13  and rear part  14 . In this case, connecting element  17  is designed as a joint. This allows an angular motion between the rear part  14  and the front part  13  of the connecting rod, the rotational angle of the angular motion being limitable by end stops not described in further detail. It is also possible to design connecting element  17  so that, apart from the angular motion in the horizontal plane, i.e. about the vertical axis of the joint, front part  13  of the connecting rod can also move with respect to rear part  14  of the connecting rod, about the transverse horizontal axis of the joint. For example, such a motion is rendered possible by the use of rubber bearings in the region of the joint. In this context, connecting elements  15 ,  16  can be designed in such a manner, that a rigid connection exists between gliding members  1 ,  2  and the two parts of connecting rod  13 ,  14 , or that, alternatively, one connecting element  15  is designed to be rigid and the other connecting element  16  is designed as a joint, which allows front part ( 13 ) of the connecting rod to rotate with respect to gliding member  1  in at least one plane. 
     FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal section of an addition to the exemplary embodiment from FIGS. 1,  2 , and  3 . Connecting element  6 , which is represented by way of example, is rigidly connected  10  to gliding member  1  in a manner not described in detail. Bearing fastener  18  and limit stops  19 , which limit the angular motion of connecting rod assembly  5  in both the vertical and horizontal directions, are integrated in the housing of connecting element  6 . The ends of connecting rod assembly  5  are designed as ball-joint bearings  20 , which have a through-hole. Bearing fastener  18  joins connecting rod assembly  5  to the housing of connecting element  6 , via the through-hole of ball-joint bearing  20 . The described design of connecting element  6  can also apply to the other connecting elements  7 ,  9 ,  15 ,  16  described in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section of an addition to the exemplary embodiment from FIGS. 1 and 2. Connecting element  6 , which is represented by way of example, is rigidly connected to gliding member  1  in a manner not described in detail. Limit stops  19 , which limit the angular motion of connecting rod assembly  5  in both the vertical and horizontal directions, are integrated in the housing of connecting element  6 . In addition, the joint designed as a bearing pad  21  is integrated in the housing of connecting element  6 . The ends of connecting rod assembly  5  are rigidly connected to bearing pad  21 . Bearing pad  21  has a conventional design, i.e. a rubber bearing is provided with metal plates, which are vulcanized to its upper side and lower side, and to which threaded rods are attached. The connection to the housing of connecting element  6  and connecting rod assembly  5  is accomplished by a screw joint or another quick-release connection. The use of bearing pads  21  as a joint element only allows a limited angular motion to take place, and allows the bearing to be returned to its starting position automatically. The described design of connecting element  6  can also be applied to any of the other connecting elements  7 ,  9 ,  15 ,  16 . The hardness, elasticity and service life of the bearing pads may be varied by including different physical properties in the bearing pads. 
     FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section of a variant for the exemplary embodiments shown in FIG.  4  and FIG.  5 . In this case, connecting rod assembly  5  is joined to connecting element  6  via bearing element  21 ,  22 ,  23 . The bearing element includes a bearing pad  21 , which enables gliding members  1 ,  2  to move relatively to each other, about the transverse horizontal axis. The lower end of bearing pad  21  is joined to connecting element  6 . At the free, upper end of bearing pad  21 , a bearing sleeve  23  is placed between the threaded rod of bearing pad  21  and the connecting rod assembly  5 , and is secured by bearing cover  22  in such a manner, that connecting rod assembly  5  can rotate freely about the vertical axis of the bearing. The combination of a joint that can freely rotate about the vertical bearing axis, and a bearing pad  21  in the form of a joint element for movement about the transverse horizontal axis, allows, on one hand, only limited rotation about the tranverse horizontal axis and the automatic restoration of the bearing to its starting position, and on the other hand, unrestricted movement about the vertical axis of the bearing. The described design of connecting element  6  can also apply to any of the other connecting elements  7 ,  9 ,  15 , or  16 . 
     FIG. 7 shows a front view of an addition to the exemplary embodiment from FIGS. 4,  5 , and  6 . An exemplary locking element  24 ,  25  is represented which, by means of a rigid, but quickly releasable connection to connecting element  6 , limits the freedom of motion of connecting rod assembly  5  in such a manner, that connecting rod assembly  5  can only move relatively to gliding member  1 , about the vertical rotational axis of the joint, or about the transverse horizontal axis. This locking element  24 ,  25  can be subsequently attached to connecting element  6  by inserting it, so that the function of the joints can be changed within a short period of time. Locking element  24 ,  25  is designed in such a manner, that one element can optionally eliminate both types of rotational motion. Locking element  24 ,  25  can be further developed so as to allow no more angular motion, and produce a rigid connection between connecting rod assembly  5  and gliding member  1 . 
     FIG. 8 shows an exemplary embodiment in which the two gliding members  1 ,  2 , to which binding-like devices  3 ,  4  are attached, are interconnected by a connecting device  26 . Connecting device  26  is made of connecting rod assembly  31  and two adjustable joint elements  30 . The stiffness of each joint element  30  can be quickly adjusted, using two hand-operated knobs  32 ,  34 , respectively. In this context, joint elements  30  can be adjusted continuously or in steps, using hand-operated knobs  32 ,  34 . 
     FIG. 9 shows an exemplary embodiment in which the two gliding members  1 ,  2  are interconnected by a connecting device  27 . Binding devices  28 ,  29  are integrated at the front and rear ends of connecting device  27 , and the entire device is fastened to gliding members  1 ,  2 . In order to adjust the standing width to the measurements of different users, one can adjust the length in the middle region of connecting rod assembly  33 . As in the design of FIG. 1, the stiffness of each joint element  30  can be quickly adjusted, using two hand-operated knobs  32 ,  34 . In this context, joint elements  30  can be adjusted continuously or in steps, using hand-operated knobs  32 ,  34 . 
     FIG. 10 shows a longitudinal cross-section of an exemplary embodiment of connecting device  26 . Represented is an adjustable joint element  30  of connecting device  26  for attachment to gliding members  1 ,  2 . Connecting rod assembly  31  from FIG. 8 is made up of the component parts bearing block  310 , spring receptacle  311 , lever  312 , and cover  313 . Joint element  30  is made up of the component parts spring  35 , ball-joint head  36 , bolt  37 , threaded rod  38 , and rubber sleeve  39 . Bearing block  310  is connected to gliding member  1 ,  2 , and forms the lower part of connecting rod assembly  31 . In bearing block  310 , ball-joint head  36  and the end of spring  35  are secured in place by a screw  37 . In this case, bearing block  310  is designed to allow movement of ball-joint head  36 . The receptacle for fixing spring  35  in place is integrated in bearing block  310 . Ball-joint head  36  is permanently connected to a threaded rod  38 . To economize on space, threaded rod  38  is situated in the interior space of spring  35 . Hand-operated knob  32  is screwed onto the top end of threaded rod  38 . Spring  35  is enclosed by bearing block  310  and spring receptacle  311 . Cover  313  and spring receptacle  311  form the bearing housing for lever  312 , which is pivoted at hand-operated knob  32 . The arrangement of hand-operated knob  32 , which is free to rotate in the bearing housing made up of cover  313  and spring receptacle  311 , allows spring  35  to be prestressed. The spring constant of spring  35  can be changed by turning hand-operated knob  32 , which brings bearing block  310  and spring receptacle  311  together or separates them. When brought together completely, spring  35  reaches its maximum available travel, i.e. bearing block  310  and spring receptacle  311  are rigidly connected. The spring constant can be continuously adjusted by separating bearing block  310  and spring receptacle  311 . By securing it on both ends, spring  35  is designed as both a torsion, compression, and spiral spring. This arrangement creates an adjustable bearing element. Rubber sleeve  39  prevents dirt or snow from impairing the function of the joint element. 
     FIG. 11 shows an exemplary embodiment as an addition to FIG. 10. A section A—A through bearing block  310  of connecting rod assembly  31  is represented. In bearing block  310 , ball-joint head  36  and the lower end of spring  35  are secured in place by a screw  37 . 
     FIG. 12 shows an exemplary embodiment as an addition to FIG.  10 . Represented is a section B—B through cover  313  of connecting rod assembly  31 , and through damping adjustment device  400  for lever  312 . Lever  312  is pivoted at hand-operated knob  32 , which is connected to threaded rod  38 . Cover  313  is screwed to spring receptacle  311 . The free upper end of spring  35  is fixed in position in cover  313 . On the right side, cover  313  is provided with a rigid limit stop, which is above the level of lever  312  and is in the form of a maximum limit stop for lever  312 , and on the left side, the cover is provided with an adjustable limit stop and damping adjustment device  400 . Damping adjustment device  400  includes the component parts ball-joint head  40 , spring receptacles  41 , springs  42 , threaded spring receptacles  43 , threaded rod  44 , securing nut  45 , hand-operated knob  34 , and cotter pin  46 . Ball-head joint  40  is integrated in the free end of lever  312 . Threaded rod  44 , which is provided with a right-hand thread over one half of its length and a left-hand thread over the other half of its length, is freely pivoted in cover  313 . Hand-operated knob  34  is screwed onto one end of threaded rod  44 , and cotter pin  46  prevents it from rotating relatively to threaded rod  44 . A securing nut  45 , which is also prevented from rotating relatively to threaded rod  44 , is screwed onto the other end of threaded rod  44 . Spring elements made of spring receptacle  41 , spring  42 , and threaded spring receptacle  43  are situated on the respective sides, between ball-head joint  40  of lever  312 , and cover  313 . Threaded spring receptacles  43  are either provided with a left-hand thread or a right-hand thread, and are screwed onto threaded rod  44 . By turning hand-operated knob  34 , threaded spring receptacles  43  are moved inwards or outwards, so that springs  42  are compressed or relieved. In this manner, the initial stress in the springs can be adjusted, depending on the need and the riding situation. It is also possible to completely lock lever  312 , so that it cannot rotate any more. This creates a rigid connection between lever  312  and cover  313 . The damping adjustment device may include a combination of spring-damper units and adjustment of the damping adjustment device may be performed by a manual, electric or pneumatic adjusting device. Additionally, all connecting devices for the embodiments illustrated may be manufactured of at least one of aluminum, steel and plastic. FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of the adjusting device with an electric adjusting arrangement  401 . FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment of the adjusting device with a pneumatic adjusting arrangement  402 .