Method and apparatus for reducing body stress typically experienced by a snowboarder while on a chairlift

A Method and apparatus for reducing stress on the body (e.g., foot, ankle, hip, spine) of a snowboarder while sitting on a chairlift. The apparatus includes a boot binding assembly adapted for mounting on the top surface of a snowboard including a boot retention member hinged for movement between a closed position and an open position. For typical downhill snowboarding activity, a user will place the retention member in the closed position to orient the sole of the user's boot substantially parallel, i.e. against the snowboard top surface. For sitting on a chairlift, the user will place the retention member in the open position so as to allow the snowboard to pivot around the hinge and hang substantially vertically from the retention member thus avoiding stressful torques on the user's supporting limb.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Snowboard bindings function to attach a user's boots to the snowboard top surface with the boots oriented generally across the board's width, i.e., from toe edge to heel edge. Typically a board carries two bindings for respectively accommodating the user's left boot and right boot. The binding closest to the nose of the board is generally referred to as the front or lead binding and the binding closer to the tail of the board is generally referred to as the rear or hind binding. The bindings function to transfer a user's body movements to the board for enabling the user to control the board's traverse along a snow slope.

Prior to boarding a chairlift, a typical snowboarder releases his rear binding to free his rear foot to facilitate his movement along the flat ground and through lift lines to reach the chair boarding area. He then mounts the chair and rides it upslope with the snowboard suspended from the front binding typically oriented at an approximate 30-45 degree angle relative to the horizontal plane (i.e., perpendicular to gravity). The weight of the board supported at such an angle induces an external torque on the user's supporting limb potentially causing discomfort and, over time, stress injury.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for alleviating the discomfort and body stress experienced by a snowboard user when sitting on a chairlift. More particularly, the invention is directed to a method and apparatus for mitigating the stressful torques historically experienced by a user attributable to the weight and orientation of the board acting on the user's supporting limb. The reduction of such torques in accordance with the invention is achieved by a binding apparatus and method of use which orients the board during the chairlift ride so that it hangs substantially vertically from the user's supporting limb.

A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a binding assembly including a boot retention member hinged to a mounting plate configured for attachment to the top surface of a snowboard. The retention member is hinged to the mounting plate so as to allow the retention member to pivot between an open position orienting a user's boot sole substantially perpendicular to the board top surface and a closed position orienting the sole substantially parallel and adjacent to said board top surface. A latch mechanism enables the retention member to be locked in the closed position for use during normal snowboarding activity. An actuator, e.g., a lever accessible to the user, enables the user to readily release the latch mechanism when on the chairlift to allow the board to pivot around the hinge to the open position. In the open position, the board will hang substantially vertically from the hinge. This orientation mitigates stressful torques on the user's supporting limb. When exiting at the upper end of the chairlift ride, the user can manually relatch the retention member or apply his body weight to the retention member to cause the latch mechanism to automatically latch the retention member in the closed position.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Attention is initially directed toFIG.1which schematically depicts a typical snowboard chairlift system20comprised of a tow cable22and at least one lift chair24attached to the cable for transporting a snowboard user26up the snow slope28.FIG.1represents the user26at time T0just prior to mounting the chair24. The interval T1-T2represents the time the user is being transported up the slope and T3is the time just prior to the user exiting the chairlift.

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus which enables a user to suspend his snowboard30substantially vertically (FIG.2) during his upslope travel so as to avoid excessive stress on the user's supporting limb32. As will be described hereinafter with reference toFIGS.3-8, a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a binding assembly40mounted to the top surface42of snowboard30. The binding assembly40is characterized by a boot retention member44supported for selective movement relative to the board30between an open position (FIG.3) and a closed position (FIG.4). In the open position, the boot retention member44orients the user's boot45so the plane of the boot's sole46is substantially perpendicular to the snowboard top surface42, thus allowing the board to assume the substantially vertical orientation depicted inFIG.2. In the closed position, the retention member44orients the boot sole so as to be parallel and proximate to the snowboard top surface42so as to enable normal snowboard activity.

Attention is now directed toFIGS.3-8which illustrate a preferred binding assembly40in accordance with the invention mounted on an exemplary snowboard30near the board's nose end47. A rear binding (not shown) is typically mounted closer to the board's tail end. The snowboard30defines a top surface42extending from a nose end47to a tail end43. The board30also defines an under surface50for engaging a snow surface. The binding assembly40is comprised primarily of a boot retention member44hinged to a mounting plate54for pivotal movement between an open position (FIG.3) and a closed position (FIG.4).

The boot retention member44comprises a frame56defining a forward side wall58, a rearward side wall60, two or more boot support members62,64, and a heel support member66. The frame elements collectively encompass a volume for accommodating a user's snowboard boot45with the boot sole46bearing against the substantially planar surfaces of support members62,64. The boot can be secured in the frame56by a variety of well know devices generally referred to as binding and/or safety straps (not shown).

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lower outside edge of forward side wall58(closest to the board nose) carries one or more hinge barrels70(FIG.7) configured to align with hinge barrels72extending from the forward edge of mounting plate54. Although any of a variety of hinge structures can be employed in accordance with the invention, an exemplary embodiment preferably utilizes two separate hinge structures76,78(FIG.7) located proximate to the toe and heel regions of the boot retention member44. More particularly, each hinge structure76,78is preferably comprised of two mounting plate barrels72spaced to receive a retention member barrel70therebetween. The barrels of each of the hinge structures76,78are aligned to receive a locking pin80which extends through the respective barrel orifices and defines a hinge axis.

The hinge structures76,78are designed to preferably offer a range of approximately 0 to 125 degrees of rotational freedom around the hinge axis allowing the retention member52to pivot between the closed position (FIG.3) and the open position (FIG.4),

FIG.5depicts a preferred arrangement for mounting the aforementioned mounting plate54to the board top surface42. The mounting plate54includes a central aperture84defined by a peripheral wall85including a step offset86so as to define an upper wall portion90and a lower wall portion92. A disk plate94is attached to the board top surface, by suitable fasteners, e.g. screws (not shown) extending through slots95. The disk plate94extends through the mounting plate aperture84so as to bear against the step86to affix the mounting plate54to the board30. As is well known in the art, it is typical to allow for rotational adjustment of the mounting plate54around the disk plate94to achieve the user's preferred stance on the board.

A block100extends from the lower rearward side wall60of retention member44and defines a bay or cavity102configured to closely accommodate a latch member104when in the closed position. The latch member104is mounted in latch mechanism106for movement between a forward latched position and a rearward release position. The latch member104is preferably provided with an inclined forward surface108such that a downward force applied to the surface108forces the latch member104rearwardly toward the release position. A spring110(FIG.8) bears against the latch member104biasing it forward to the latched position and into the bay102in, block100when the retention member44is in the closed position (FIG.4). The latch mechanism106is preferably of a type frequently referred to as a “slam latch” and various configurations are commercially available (e.g., Sierra Pacific Engineering 315LSS-01).

The latch mechanism106includes an actuator112, e.g. a lever, which can be manually operated by a user to move the latch member104from the latched position to the release position. More particularly, by manually (via the user's hand or foot) rotating actuator112around pivot point114(clockwise inFIG.8), the latch member104will be moved rearwardly, against the force offered by spring110anchored against a wall of latch cover116, to withdraw the latch member from the block bay102. Withdrawal of the latch member104from the bay102frees the boot retention member44to pivot around the hinge axis defined by hinge structures76,78thus concurrently enabling the board30to swing to a substantially vertical orientation (FIG.2) with the board's top surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the plane of the user's boot sole46The hinge structures are preferably designed to assure that the board30swings open smoothly in controlled fashion, e.g., by proper choice of hinge structure material and/or dimensional tolerances

It should be noted that the lever actuator112extends rearwardly substantially parallel to the board top surface42. Thus, it can be readily accessed by the user manually applying a horizontal force to release the latch mechanism106.

With reference primarily toFIG.1, a preferred method of using embodiments of the invention include the following steps:

at time T0: Snowboarder26awaiting entry onto lift chair with binding assembly retention member44in the closed position. The slam latch106secures the retention member in the closed position.

at time T1: After mounting the chair, the user uses his hand or free foot to apply a horizontal force to lever112to pivot it about pivot point114to thus withdraw the latch member104from bay102thus allowing the retention member to rotate around the hinge axis, thus swinging the board30to the vertical orientation suspended from the users limb (FIG.2). Thereafter, the user will ride the chair upslope with the board30hanging substantially vertically to mitigate stress on the user's supporting limb, until approaching the exit at time T3.

at time T3: The user can place his free foot underneath the snowboard to pull it upward, and initiate the aforedescribed latching operation. As the retention member block100bears against the inclined surface108of the slam latch mechanism106, the latch member104will slide rearwardly against spring110to allow the retention member to fully seat against the mounting plate54. The spring110then automatically returns the latch member into the locking bay102. The user is then able to exit the lift with ease with full control restored for normal snowboard activity. Significantly, the user also has the option of exiting the lift with the retention member44in the open position and relying on the downward force of the user's weight to initiate the latching operation, i.e. block100bearing against the inclined surface108to slide latch member104rearwardly and position bay102to receive the latch member moved forward by spring110.

It should now be apparent that the invention described herein is broadly directed to a method and apparatus for relieving stress and discomfort previously experienced by a typical snowboarder when riding up a chairlift. It should be understood that the particular apparatus described represents a preferred embodiment and it is recognized that modifications and variations are likely to occur to those skilled in the art within the intended scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims. For example only, the hinge structures76,78and latch mechanism106can be implemented in a variety of different ways, all consistent with the teachings of the invention.