Interface for enabling a splitboard binding to be mounted to any snowboard

An interface for enabling a splitboard binding to be mounted to any snowboard is provided. The interface includes a baseplate that includes a disc for mounting the baseplate to a snowboard. The disc is configured to correspond with a common snowboard binding hole pattern to thereby allow the baseplate to be mounted on most snowboards. The interface further includes a puck that is configured to mount to the top surface of the baseplate. The puck is configured to interlock with many types of splitboard bindings. In this way, splitboard bindings can be mounted to a snowboard.

BACKGROUND

A splitboard is a snowboard that splits into two halves. These halves can then be worn similar to cross-country skis (commonly referred to as “touring mode”) to thereby allow the snowboarder to ascend the mountain. After ascending to a desired location, the snowboarder can combine the halves to form a snowboard (commonly referred to as “riding mode”) for descending the mountain.

Interfaces have been developed to allow a “splitboard binding” to be mounted to the splitboard in both touring and riding modes. For touring mode, each half of the splitboard includes a touring bracket to which the front of the splitboard binding is coupled in a pivoting manner. Each splitboard half or the splitboard binding may also include a climbing bar (or heel riser, rest or lock) to provide support when climbing steeper terrain (i.e., when the heel is lifted substantially above the splitboard). For riding mode, two pairs of “pucks” or other structures are mounted on the splitboard so that the splitboard bindings can be coupled across the two halves. Typically, these pucks are configured to allow a slider plate or base plate of the splitboard binding to slide overtop and/or interlock with the pucks. In short, these interfaces allow the splitboard bindings to be quickly and easily moved between the touring and riding modes.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention extends to an interface for enabling a splitboard binding to be mounted to any snowboard. The interface includes a baseplate that includes a disc for mounting the baseplate to a snowboard. The disc is configured to correspond with the common snowboard binding hole patterns to thereby allow the baseplate to be mounted on most snowboards. The interface further includes a puck that is configured to mount to the top surface of the baseplate. The puck is configured to interlock with many types of splitboard bindings. In this way, splitboard bindings can be mounted to a snowboard.

In some cases, the baseplate can include a hole pattern that matches a bolt pattern of a traditional splitboard to thereby allow other providers' pucks/adapters to be coupled to the baseplate. In this way, the present invention can enable many types of splitboard bindings to be mounted to a traditional snowboard.

In some embodiments, the present invention is implemented as an interface for enabling a splitboard binding to be mounted to a snowboard. The interface includes: a baseplate having an opening; a disc configured to insert into the opening in the baseplate, the disc including holes by which the disc can be mounted to a snowboard via a binding hole pattern of the snowboard, the disc being configured to secure the baseplate to the snowboard when the disc is mounted to the snowboard; and a puck that is configured to mount to the baseplate, the puck being configured to receive and secure a splitboard binding.

In other embodiments, the present invention is implemented as an interface for enabling a splitboard binding to be mounted to a snowboard. The interface includes: a baseplate having an opening, the opening including a notched inward facing surface; a disc having a notched outward facing surface that interfaces with the notched inward facing surface, the disc including holes by which the disc can be mounted to a snowboard via a binding hole pattern of the snowboard; and a puck that is configured to mount to the baseplate, the puck being configured to receive and secure a splitboard binding.

In other embodiments, the present invention is implemented as an interface for enabling a splitboard binding to be mounted to a snowboard. The interface includes: a baseplate having an opening, the opening including an inward facing surface; a disc having an outward facing surface that interfaces with the inward facing surface to secure the baseplate to a snowboard when the disc is secured to the snowboard; and a puck that is configured to mount to the baseplate, the puck being configured to receive and secure a splitboard binding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As introduced in the background, unlike a traditional snowboard binding, a splitboard binding is configured to selectively mount to a splitboard in either the touring or riding mode. Accordingly, to use a splitboard, a snowboarder will not only need to invest in the splitboard itself, but will also need to invest in these specialized splitboard bindings. However, many snowboarders that use a splitboard, or at least those that use splitboard bindings, may still desire to ride their traditional snowboards. The present invention provides a way for snowboarders to use their splitboard bindings on their traditional snowboards.

FIGS. 1A-1Eillustrate various views of an interface100for enabling a splitboard binding to be mounted to any snowboard. Interface100includes a baseplate101, a puck102that is configured to mount to baseplate101via T-nuts104(or another suitable coupler) and bolts (not shown), and a disc103that is configured to be inserted into an opening in baseplate101and by which interface100is mounted to the snowboard.FIGS. 2A and 2Billustrate baseplate101in isolation, whileFIG. 2Cillustrates another embodiment of a baseplate201.FIGS. 3A-3C and 4A-4Cillustrate a disc103with different hole patterns.FIGS. 5A-5Cillustrate puck102in isolation.

As shown, baseplate101is rectangular in shape (although other shapes could be used) and includes a central opening101afor receiving disc103. The inward facing surface101a1of opening101ais notched to correspond with notches in the outward facing surface103aof disc103. The circular shape of disc103and opening101aallow disc103to be inserted at any rotational position while the corresponding notches prevent baseplate101from rotating relative to disc103once disc103is inserted into opening101aand mounted to the snowboard.

Disc103includes a number of holes103bthat are arranged in patterns that correspond with the various binding hole patterns commonly used on snowboards (e.g., 4×4, 2×4, 3D, Burton Channel, etc). Accordingly, by selecting a disc103with the appropriate hole pattern, interface100can be mounted to virtually any modern snowboard. Additionally, to allow interface100to be used on a vintage snowboard that employs the “5-bolt” hole pattern, each end of baseplate101can include arched arrangements of mounting holes101c(such as is shown inFIGS. 2A and 2B) or arched slots201c(such as is shown inFIG. 2C). Bolts can be inserted through mounting holes101cor arched slots201cinto the outer four holes of the 5-bolt hole pattern while a bolt can be inserted through a hole103bin disc103and into the center hole of the 5-bolt hole pattern.

InFIGS. 2A and 2B, there are three arched arrangements of mounting holes101cat each end while inFIG. 2C, there are three arched slots201cat each end. In either case, the spacing of the arched arrangements/slots allows baseplate101to be mounted to a snowboard with the vintage 5-bolt hole pattern in multiple positions so that the toe will be spaced a desirable distance from the edge of the snowboard. Likewise, the arched arrangements/slots allow baseplate101to be rotated so that the foot will be positioned at a desired angle.

Surface101a1of opening101ais angled outwardly while surface103aof disc103is angled inwardly such that baseplate101will be secured to the top surface of the snowboard once disc103is mounted. More specifically, as couplers (such as bolts) that extend through holes103bare tightened into the holes of a snowboard, surface103awill apply a downward force against surface101a1thereby sandwiching baseplate101between the snowboard and disc103. Prior to tightening disc103within opening101a, baseplate101can be rotated to a desired orientation relative to the snowboard so that the snowboarder's feet will be properly angled such as is shown inFIG. 7.

Puck102includes a top surface102a, a bottom surface102b, and opposing ledges102cthat extend lengthwise along puck102. In some embodiments, such as is shown inFIG. 5C, top surface102acan be wider than bottom surface102bthereby causing ledges102cto be formed along the underside of top surface102a. However, ledges102ccould be formed in another manner. Puck102can include holes102dthat extend through top and bottom surfaces102a/102band that align with corresponding holes101bin baseplate101(e.g., forming four corners of a rectangular shape).

Referring toFIG. 1A, T-nuts104(or another suitable coupler) can be positioned underneath baseplate101to extend through holes101bwhen baseplate101is secured to the snowboard. Then, bolts (or another type of fastener) can be inserted through holes102din puck102to engage with t-nuts104to thereby mount puck102to baseplate101with top surface102afacing upward away from the snowboard. Ledges102cwill therefore face downward towards the snowboard. The dimensions of ledges102ccan be configured to match the dimensions of the slider track or base plate of a splitboard binding so that the splitboard binding can be coupled to puck102. This will allow the splitboard binding to be used on a snowboard. For example, if the snowboarder has Voile splitboard bindings, the Voile Slider Track can slide overtop puck102to interlock underneath ledges102c.

In some embodiments, holes101bcan be configured to align with a bolt pattern of a traditional splitboard (i.e., in a 3.5 inch by 1 inch pattern). In such embodiments, other providers' pucks/adapters (which have a 3.5 inch by 1 inch bolt hole pattern) can be coupled to baseplate101/201in place of puck102. In this way, baseplate101/201can be used to mount the other providers' pucks/adapters to a traditional snowboard.

As shown inFIGS. 6A and 6B, in some embodiments, puck102may include arrays of holes102dthat allow puck102to be coupled to baseplate101in a number of relative positions. For example, inFIGS. 6A and 6B, each array includes three holes102d. When the center hole in each array is aligned with holes101b, puck102will align with baseplate101. In contrast when the leading or trailing hole in each array is aligned with holes101b, puck102will be offset relative to baseplate101towards the toe or heel respectively. Accordingly, by including an array of holes102d, the position of the riders toe relative to the edge of the snowboard can be adjusted without detaching baseplate101. Similarly, when puck102includes arrays of holes102d, baseplate101can be configured with a single arched slot201cat each end (or equally a single arched arrangement of holes101c). By including a single arched slot201c(or arched arrangement of holes101c), the length of baseplate101can be shortened to thereby ensure that it does not overhang the edge of the snowboard.