ROTATABLE SNOWBOARD BINDING INTERFACE

A rotatable binding interface for a snowboard for facilitating usage of the snowboard in at least two different orientations is disclosed herein. The rotatable binding interface includes a fixed assembly that is coupled to a snowboard body. A rotatable assembly is coupled to the fixed assembly, wherein the rotatable assembly is configured to allow fitment of a binding thereon, wherein a user may rotate the rotatable assembly using a foot placed in the binding by applying a twisting motion drive to the rotatable assembly. The rotatable assembly is configured to be locked in at least two different orientations for the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to snowboards in general. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a binding interface for a snowboard that facilitates the usage of the snowboard in at least two different orientations.

2. Description of Related Prior Art

Snowboards are ridden standing sideways relative to the forward direction and orientation of the board. However, there are times when the snowboarder needs to traverse a distance that has no slope to it. This may be in or approaching the lift line, mounting the lift, or perhaps traversing the mountain from one groomed slope to another on a mostly horizontal snow-covered road. Typically, for these walking situations, the snowboarder will remove his or her trailing foot from the snowboard and walk with the leading foot still attached. Although this is the usual way to walk around, it can be quite clumsy and inconvenient.

Furthermore, while waiting in a lift line, one has an opportunity for talking with friends. Generally, people organize in the lift line two or three abreast. With a usual snowboard setup, the rider's leading foot is still attached to the board at an angle mostly orthogonal to the length of the board. If the rider is in a lift line with friends, communication is difficult because the riders will not naturally face each other. They will be talking to the back of each other, or they will attempt to twist their bodies around to catch a glimpse of each other's expressions.

Another important activity that is encountered during a normal day of snowboarding is mounting and riding the ski lift. This can be an awkward event with the addition of needing to coordinate how a mix of snowboarders and skiers will mount a lift at the same time. For example, with a typical snowboarder with a normal (left foot leading) stance riding the lift the board will hang with the longer section hanging from the left leg, angled mostly to the right. If the person on the right is a skier or a goofy rider, this may present a problem of equipment clanging together as the lift swings and sways its way to the top of the mountain.

Also, as the snowboarder is seated and riding the chairlift, the complete board, along with the empty binding, will be hanging from one leg. As mentioned, the longer heavier section hangs to one side. This produces an uneven twisting force on the knee. This often causes knee soreness during each ride up the mountain and the soreness accumulates during the day.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a snowboard and/or binding that is useful for both riding and walking and/or skating.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for managing a snowboard and/or binding for riding and walking and/or skating.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a rotatable binding interface for a snowboard for facilitating the usage of the snowboard in at least two different orientations. The rotatable binding interface includes a fixed assembly that is coupled to the snowboard body. A rotatable assembly is coupled to the fixed assembly, wherein the rotatable assembly is configured to allow fitment of a binding thereon, wherein a user may rotate the rotatable assembly using a boot placed in the binding by applying a twisting motion drive to the rotatable assembly. The rotatable assembly is configured to be selectively locked at one of at least two different orientations for the user, and a locking assembly locks the rotatable assembly in at least two different orientations.

A rotatable binding interface for a snowboard for facilitating usage of the snowboard in at least two different orientations is disclosed herein. The rotatable binding interface may include a fixed assembly capable of coupling to the snowboard body, and a rotatable assembly coupled to the fixed assembly, wherein the rotatable assembly allows fitment of a binding mounted thereon. A locking assembly may be securely disposed on the fixed assembly and configured to lock the rotatable assembly in at least two different orientations, preferably walking/skating, and riding.

A heel raise brake may be useful to facilitate walking by preventing the heel to rise too far and lose control of the board. Each step may engage the board via a heel raise brake which may be an extending tab set along a perimeter of a rotating base plate.

The base plate may be hingedly coupled to the rotating base plate, possibly by hinges located towards the front/tip of the foot. The upper hinge portion may mate complimentarily and into a receiving system on the base plate to mount the boot into the hinge and couple with the snowboard. The mare female orientation may be switched. The hinge is preferable releasable, to be met with a biased portion on the female end, with a release, such as a rotatable key which may use a slight ramp to force the spring-biased mount to push off and allow the hinge to dissociate (for removal of the foot). The male binding disc may be coupled into a biased latch.

The riding angle may be adjusted at any amount or angle, without predetermined increments as may be locked via user within a predetermined path.

When the rotatable assembly is positioned to where the boot is pointed along the long axis of the board, the heel of the boot is now “unlocked” and can be available to hinge upward at the force applied by the walking snowboarder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Example embodiments of the disclosure now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments are shown. The concepts discussed herein may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope to those of ordinary skill in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements but not necessarily the same or identical elements throughout.

As mentioned previously, to walk towards the lift line or traverse another non-sloped surface a user typically removes one foot from the snowboard while keeping the other foot firmly connected thereto still locked in the “riding angle”. It was envisaged that changing the orientation of the user's foot while such walking will make it very convenient for a user to walk while keeping one foot attached to the snowboard. To this end, the present disclosure envisages a snowboard that may be operated by the user in at least two different orientations. As used in the present disclosure, the term orientation refers to the orientation of the user with respect to the snowboard. The snowboard envisaged in the present disclosure allows the user to rotate one of the bindings such that the length of the user's foot is in line with the length of the snowboard. The typical orientation of the user's foot in the bindings of the conventional snowboard is at an angle orthogonal to the length of the snowboard, which causes discomfort and awkwardness while walking with the snowboard attached to one foot. When the orientation of the user's foot is in line with the length of the snowboard, as opposed to being at an angle or orthogonal to the length of the snowboard, walking with a snowboard attached to one leg is much easier and more convenient. Further, if the heel of the attached foot is allowed some motion upward as the user takes a step forward with the free foot, the step can be somewhat longer and more natural, and less awkward.

Referring toFIG.1andFIG.2, perspective views of two exemplary orientations of a snowboard100, according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, are illustrated. The snowboard100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, comprises a rotatable binding interface102on which a snowboard binding104is installed. As seen inFIG.1, the user U is using the snowboard100in a first orientation, wherein the first orientation is the orientation in which the foot of the user is at an angle or may even be orthogonal to the length of the snowboard100. This first orientation may be interchangeably referred to as the riding orientation hereinafter in the present disclosure. As seen inFIG.2, the user U is using the snowboard100in a second orientation, wherein the second orientation is the orientation in which the foot of the user is substantially in line with the length of the snowboard100, which makes it relatively easier for the user to walk while having the snowboard100attached to one of the user's legs. This second orientation may be interchangeably referred to as the walking/skating orientation hereinafter in the present disclosure.

Referring toFIGS.3-4, an exploded view of the rotatable binding interface is illustrated. The rotatable binding interface comprises a fixed assembly as would be coupled to a snowboard body. The present disclosure includes improvements over USPTO application Ser. No. 18/084,408 filed Dec. 19, 2022 by Inventor Frederick Lloyd (now U.S. Pat. No. 12,134,024), incorporated herein by reference. Improvements include a snap-in hinge as shown wherein binding220includes hinge thrust bearing205on male bearing250may fit into female bearing251to provide hinged binding system to allow for vertical rotation of boot binding on snowboard. The purpose of the hinge is one manner of coupling the rotatable assembly to the binding, and serves as an illustrative example of the mounting of the boot and binding to the rotatable assembly. However, the use of a hinge is but one manner of coupling the two (binding/boot and rotating) assemblies, which may otherwise be bound by a set of interlocking discs, pins, slides, fasteners, or other types of coupling mechanisms known in the art. Male bearing250includes hinge thrust bearing205to allow for positioning into hinge receiver bearing206in female bearing251. Binding latching surface210in male bearing250aligns with receiver latch tunnel210B to provide an axis of rotation. When connecting male and female bearings, binding strike plate207mates with receiver strike plate208. Receiver strike plate208is preferably biased or spring-biased inwardly to allow for the pressure of entering male bearing to cause strike plate208to recede and then extend out into axis. Receiver strike plate is set in hinge latch209borne by latch connectors212along biased latch assembly216. Hinge thrust bearing205fits into hinge receiver bearing206to provide for hinged engagement with rotating base plate274. A release mechanism to allow the hinge to release, after snapping in, the system may slide out, preferably vertically, via ramped release ring214. Ramped release ring may rest on ram thrust race213, which may receive thrust/force from the biased spring. Ramped release ring214includes latch release ramp211shaped with alternating extending walls and receiving walls so that rotation ninety degrees causes release of hinge by pressing on latch connector212on biased latch assembly216to allow for removal of receiver strike plate from binding strike plate. Either the entire latch connector is biased, or the receiver strike plate be biased, or both. When ramped release ring214is rotated ninety degrees, preferably manually via ramped release lever215, latch release ramp211forces biased latch assembly outward to provide space for release of male bearing250. A leash attachment loop217may be set on the side(s) of the rotating base plate164to provide attachment points to a boot retaining leash as is known in the art (not shown).

The present disclosure may be useful with numerous bindings known in the art, as well as derivatives or alternatives thereto. However, for illustrative purposes, as shown, binding220may be similar to bindings of the prior art, including high back221, heel cup225, and also including optional features such as ankle strap mount223wherein binding includes footbed222and base plate226. Further improvements include the use of a lock/release handlebar172B to allow for ergonomic rotation of the knob172used to lock and release rotation of the binding. The foot lever132may also be improved via a release pull tab132A to allow for disassembly (e.g. for cleaning) parts of the release mechanism. Pulling the release pull tab136A rearward allows removal of tab and causes the components of the foot lever and binding lock mechanism to be freed for disassembly.

Hinged binding interface174, or274as is shown in various embodiments, may include locking formations174A, or otherwise. Receiver alignment notches203to complementarily interface with cog plate124and locking formations124A set thereon. Hinged binding interface274may also include features at the front, including tilt control tab201which may extend horizontally beyond plate to provide for an extending stop tab. Tilt control tab201extending beyond plate will move downwards as shoe heel is lifted in binding to interface with tilt control stop202on main base112. Tilt control stop may also be set in another feature of the invention, but must complementarily mate with tab to prevent overextension of toe drop as heel is lifted. The tilt control is intended prevent the snowboard from extending back too far when taking a step on a very slippery surface (when in walking/skating orientation). If the heel is allowed to raise too far, there is a higher likelihood of unwanted instability for the walking/skating user.

Tilt control tab may include a further vertical overhang to better form with rotation stops202B prevent horizontal rotation while the heel is lifted. This will prevent a situation where the binding is rotated and the hinged binding interface274is caught above the cog plate124at any other rotation angle.

Additional improvement may include, as previously disclosed, a cog plate with a complementary flashing. The binding alignment tab204is a more precise alignment device than the tilt control tab201mating with202B rotation stops. Binding alignment tab204may serve to reinforce the locked rotated position, and tab, by preventing or further preventing rotation of the rotatable assembly when locked. It comes into play when the hinged binding interface274approaches and is very close to horizontal and the openings on the hinged binding interface274allow the cogs124A of cog plate124to pass through, but not quite low enough for the cog formations174A to tightly maneuver beneath the cog formations124A. When the hinged binding interface274is close enough to horizontal, the twisting drive of the user's foot in the boot will rotate the rotatable assembly108toward the riding position angle. In such a manner, the cog plate when offset includes locking formations, which misalign with recesses in hinged binding interface274and ensure that any upward tilt motion is transferred to the board thus helping to provide predictable control over the tilt of the board for initiating and controlling turns, jumps, and spins, etc.

Hinged binding plate174may also include apertures, or holes intended to mate with various binding systems as are known in the art. Base plate may also be made of a flexible material, such as thin metal or plastic, to allow for intended, or natural, flexing of snowboard.

As previously disclosed in the incorporated reference, an advantageous aspect of the rotatable binding interface102is that the angle at which riding orientation may be varied by the user. When the riding position lock ring152is locked into riding position, the first angle can be conveniently adjusted. The user will first loosen the adjustment knob to allow changing binding interface orientation relative the snowboard. The user may use the twisting force from their foot to adjust and vary the position of the knob holding base116in the first slot114to vary the first angle between the walking/skating position lock ring158and the riding position lock ring152to a position that they are most comfortable in while riding the snowboard. When the connection of the lock bolt170is tightened, the twisting movement of the user's foot is still transferred to the riding position lock ring but this transmission of the motion does not influence the angle between the walking/skating position lock ring158and the riding position lock ring152. When the connection is tightened, this connection facilitates transmission of the twisting motion of the user's foot to the riding position lock ring152to adjust the position of the binding in to riding orientation to rotate the binding back to walking/skating mode or merely to use the twisting motion to control the board while riding. User may rotate the binding back to walking/skating mode or merely use the twisting motion to control the yaw of the board while riding. An advantageous aspect of such a feature is that the user can easily find the most comfortable angle to match their personal physical structure. People with past knee injuries can be very particular about their riding angles. Further, the precise angular adjustment can allow the user to vary their riding angle to match snow conditions. Twisting motion and force from the rider when locked is thereby transferred into a movement of the board, particularly the “yaw” angle of the board to allow for driven snowboarding as is known in the art. An advantageous aspect of such a feature is that the user can vary the amount of rotation required to switch between the walking and the riding orientations, thereby providing the user with several angle variations across the entire length of the a predetermined slot which may be form twenty degrees, more preferably about ninety-degrees, but as much as one hundred twenty degrees for improved riding foot orientation customization. The method of adjusting the riding angle is described. This serves as an improvement over previous hole and dowel systems known in the art that provide limited and coarse choices of riding angle. The method described allows an “infinite” choice of riding angles that can be easily adjusted on the slopes without tools, and that choice is “memorized” by the position of the outer “riding position” ring being tightened against the lower rotational plate using the knob172or ratcheting adjustment lever172B.