Abstract:
A kneeboard device supports the knees and feet of a person in a kneeling position on a snowboard deck for sliding down a snowy slope for recreational entertainment. A knee support engages and supports the person&#39;s knees above the deck while a foot support supports the person&#39;s feet. The knee support and foot support includes straps to attach the person&#39;s leg and foot to the knee support and foot support, respectively. The kneeboard device is controllable in direction and speed.

Description:
[0001]     This invention relates to winter recreational sports equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a new and improved kneeboard and kneeboard binding which permits a person to be secured to a kneeboard or snowboard deck in a kneeling position and thereby allows the person to slide down a snowy slope in a kneeling position with enhanced maneuverability for entertainment and enjoyment.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Skiing has been a popular winter recreational sport for decades. Snow skiing involves attaching a person&#39;s feet to two elongated structures or skis to allow the person to slide down a snow covered hill or ski slope at a ski resort. The skis each have a bottom surface with a low friction coating and a metal edge for carving into the snow to allow the person to turn and stop. Ski resorts have been developed to service skiers by maintaining the snow covered hills and providing lifts to carry the skiers from the bottom of the ski slope to the top of the ski slope. More recently, snow boarding has gained popularity and is now an accepted activity at resorts.  
         [0003]     People generally try other snow sports like snowboarding to have an experience that is different from skiing. Snowboarding involves sliding down the ski slope on a single board or snowboard deck similar to riding a skateboard or a surfboard because the person stands upright and sideways and leans forward or backward to turn. The snowboard has bindings that attach to the deck to secure the snowboard to the user&#39;s feet. Snowboards also have bottoms with low friction properties on snow, and edges for carving into snow for turning and stopping the snowboard.  
         [0004]     Other types of sports equipment used in winter recreational sports has evolved over the last century and continues to change into the future, but the alternative types of recreational equipment have not achieved popularity of skiing and snowboarding. Snowbikes allow people to sit down and steer a pair of handlebars like a bicycle when traveling down the slope. Mono-skis have a person standing with their feet next to one another facing down hill on a single ski like device.  
         [0005]     The expense of new equipment slows the evolution of winter sports equipment. New equipment such as snow bikes are relatively expensive and are not as widely available as traditional skis and snowboards. Rental shops are less likely to carry new types of equipment because of their initial cost and the risk that there will not be a sufficient number of rentals to pay for the equipment. Therefore someone wanting to try a new type of equipment is often required to purchase the new equipment. This is not a very appealing prospect for most people because the equipment may cost several hundred dollars, and the person may not even enjoy the experience of using the equipment.  
         [0006]     The inability to use some winter sports equipment at a ski resort is another impediment to the evolution of new equipment. Many new devices have substantially no controls for steering or stopping and are therefore unsuitable for use on a ski slope at a ski resort. Some of these types of devices lack an edge or other mechanism to carve into the slope for turning or stopping. Other of these devices are not adequately secured to the user, and can become dangerous projectiles speeding down the slope after coming free from the user in a crash. These types of devices are usually relegated to the sled hills.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     In general, the present invention pertains to a recreational device for attaching to a person for sliding down a ski slope. A kneeboard provides the user with a new and challenging experience by attaching a snowboard deck to the user while the user is in a kneeling position. The kneeboard binding attaches the legs and feet of the user to the snowboard deck with the user facing forward while traveling down the ski slope. The person uses their feet and legs to maneuver and stop and can bend their knees to shift their weight forward or rearward. Since the kneeboard binding can be attached to a standard snowboard deck, people who already have snowboards can detach the snowboard bindings from the deck and attach the kneeboard binding, thereby reducing the expense of kneeboarding by reusing the snowboard deck.  
         [0008]     In accordance with these considerations, the kneeboard device of the present invention is for attaching to a person so that the person can slide down a slope. The kneeboard device comprises a deck having an upper surface and a lower surface on the opposite side from the upper surface, with the lower surface having a relatively low frictional resistance with snow and having metal edging. The kneeboard device also includes a knee support connected to the deck for receiving and supporting a knee of the person, and a foot support connected to the deck for receiving and retaining a foot of the person.  
         [0009]     In another aspect of the present invention involves a kneeboard binding for attaching a person to a snowboard deck so that the person can slide down snow on a slope. The binding includes a knee support connected to the deck for receiving and supporting a knee of the person and a foot support connected to the deck for receiving a foot of the person. The binding can also include straps for connecting the person to the knee support and foot support.  
         [0010]     The present invention, in another aspect, involves attaching a person to a snowboard deck for recreational purposes. The person is supported on the snowboard deck by supporting a knee of the person with a knee support that is connected to the deck and by supporting a foot of the person with a foot support that is connected to the deck.  
         [0011]     A more complete appreciation of the scope of the present invention and the achievement of the above-noted beneficial aspects can be obtained by reference to the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are briefly summarized below, and by reference to the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a kneeboard and kneeboard bindings which incorporates the present invention shown in use by a person with a pair of poles on a snow covered slope.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the kneeboard and kneeboard bindings shown in  FIG. 1 , with leg straps shown detached from the kneeboard bindings.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of a knee support of the kneeboard bindings shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged side elevation view of the knee support shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged top plan view of the knee support shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of a base support of the knee support shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective view of a foot support of the kneeboard bindings shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged side elevation view of the foot support shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged top plan view of the foot support shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]     A kneeboard  20  incorporating the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . The kneeboard  20  is for attaching to a person or user  32  to allow the user  32  to slide down a ski slope  30  while positioned on his or her knees and facing down the slope  30 . The kneeboard  20  includes a conventional snowboard deck  28 , (a snowboard without the snowboard bindings), with a bottom surface (not shown) that contacts snow on the ski slope  30  and slides across the snow. The snowboard deck  28  also includes metallic edges  42  for controlling and maneuvering the kneeboard  20 . The edges  42  are preferably formed into the bottom of the deck  28  and are a conventional type used on snowboards for cutting into snow. A kneeboard binding  22  is for attaching the user  32  to a conventional snowboard deck  28 . The kneeboard in  FIG. 1  includes the deck  28  and the kneeboard bindings  22 . The kneeboard bindings  22  includes a knee support  24  and a foot support  26  which are mounted to the snowboard deck  28  in forward and rearward positions, respectively. The kneeboard is ridden down a snow covered hill or ski slope  30  by a person or user  32  that is positioned with their knees  36  on the knee support  24  and their feet  38  in the foot support  26 . The user  32  can have a pair of poles  40  to aid the user  32  in maneuvering.  
         [0022]     The user  32  rides the kneeboard  20  generally facing down the slope  30 . The kneeboard  20  is turned from one direction to another by leaning the deck  28  at an angle with respect to the surface of the ski slope  30 .  
         [0023]     The knee support  24  is secured to the deck  28  positioned forward and spaced apart from the foot support  26 . The knee support  24  contacts and restrains the knees  36  and shins of the user  32  in a position relative to the foot support  26  so that the foot support is aligned with the user&#39;s feet  38 .  
         [0024]     The foot support  26  is secured to the deck  28  rearward and spaced apart from the knee support  24 . In this position, the feet  38  of the user  32  are aligned with the foot support  26  when the knee support  24  is supporting the knees of the user  32 . Having the foot support  26  and knee support  24  longitudinally spaced apart allows the deck  28  to flex normally so that it can assist in absorbing bumps and help to turn.  
         [0025]     The kneeboard  20  is preferably attached to the user  32  with four straps, one strap around each calf and one strap around the heel of each of the feet  38 . When using the kneeboard  20 , the user  32  is typically dressed in warm winter clothes and wears a pair of heavy duty snowboarding type boots. The user  32  kneels onto the knee support  24  and the knees  36  are held to the knee support  24  by extending leg connectors or calf straps  50  and  52  over the user&#39;s calves and securing the calf straps  50  and  52  to the knee support  24 . The user&#39;s feet  38  are placed into the foot support  26  and foot connectors or foot straps  46  and  48  are extended over the heels of the feet  38  and secured to the foot support  26 . In this way, the kneeboard  20  is attached to the user  32  at the user&#39;s calves and feet  38 . This allows the user&#39;s knees  36  to bend and extend to position the user  32  kneeling on the kneeboard  20 , and allow the user  32  to raise or lower his or her body for maneuvering, to absorb bumps or to perform tricks.  
         [0026]     The kneeboard  20  also includes a safety strap  34  that is attached to the knee support  24  and extends to and wraps around the leg of the user  32 . The safety strap  34  is a conventional type safety strap that is required on snowboards and skis that do not have brakes.  
         [0027]     The knee support  24  includes an upper support portion  54  and a base  58 . The base  58  is connected between the upper support portion  54  and the deck  28  and attaches the support portion  54  to the deck  28 . The upper support  54  is contoured to engage and support the user&#39;s knees, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The upper support  54  includes a support shell  56  that is preferably formed from injection molded plastic. The support shell  56  can be made from other materials so long as the shell  56  is strong enough to support the weight of the user  32  under various conditions of use. The upper support  54  include left and right recessed channels  60  and  64 , ( FIG. 4 ), for receiving the user&#39;s left and right legs, respectively. The left and right channels  60  and  64  include left and right pads  62  and  66  respectively. The pads  62  and  66  include a foam material that is formed to cover a portion of the support shell  56  at the channels  60  and  64  and the pads  62  and  66  are covered with a durable flexible sheet covering. The channels  60  and  64  engage the knee and shin area of the user  32  in an area on the legs that is preferably from about midway between the user&#39;s knee  36  and foot  38  to the knee. The channels  60  and  64  restrain the user&#39;s legs from moving forward or side to side when the user is strapped in, and also distribute the weight of the user to provide a comfortable and secure connection to the kneeboard  20 .  
         [0028]     The left channel  60  includes a bottom portion  72 , with an inner side  74  and an outer side  76  on opposite transverse sides of the bottom portion  72  and extending away and upward from the bottom portion  72 . The right channel  64  is similarly configured with a bottom portion  78 , an inner side  80  and an outer side  82 . The inner sides  74  and  80  engage the insides of the user&#39;s legs and prevent the legs from moving transversely toward the center of the kneeboard  20 . The outer sides  76  and  82  engage the outsides of the user&#39;s legs and prevent them from moving transversely away from the center of the kneeboard  20 . This way by moving the user&#39;s legs, the user  32  can manipulate the kneeboard  20  to turn or stop.  
         [0029]     The left channel  60  includes a rounded knee cup  68  and the right channel  64  includes a rounded knee cup  70  that are at the forward or downhill end of the upper support  54 . The knee cups  64  and  68  engage the user&#39;s knees  36  to prevent the user from sliding forward in the kneeboard binding  22 . This is particularly important when the user is sliding down the hill and the kneeboard  20  encounters some resistance such as a bump, because the kneeboard  20  will tend to slow down quickly while the momentum of the user  32  tries to continue forward. Having the knee cups  64  and  68  makes the kneeboard  20  continue at the same rate as the user  32  so that the user  32  stays on the kneeboard  20 .  
         [0030]     Calf straps  50  and  52  restrain the left and right channels  60  and  64 , respectively, to the user  32 . The left calf strap  50  includes a left calf holder  84  with a shell  86  that is preferably injection molded plastic and is shaped to wrap part way around the user&#39;s calf. The left calf holder  84  also includes a calf holder pad  88  that is foam with a sheet material covering and which contacts the calf area of the user  32 . The left calf holder  84  is attached to the left channel at the inner side  74  with an inner strap  90  and to the outer side  76  with an upper buckle strap  85  and a lower buckle strap  87  that are connected together with an adjustable buckle  92 . The right calf strap  52  is similar to the left, with a calf holder  94 , a shell  96 , a pad  98 , an inner strap  100  and an adjustable buckle  102  which connects together an upper buckle strap  103  and a lower buckle strap  105 .  
         [0031]     The upper buckle strap  85  is connected at one end to the left calf holder  84  and at another end to the adjustable buckle  92 . The lower buckle strap  87  is connected at one end to the outer side  76  of the left channel  60 . The adjustable buckle  92  connects the upper buckle strap  85  to the lower buckle strap  87  at various points so that the outer side  76  and the left calf holder  84  can be secured together at varied distances. The adjustable buckle  102  interacts with the upper buckle strap  103  and the lower buckle strap  105  in the same manner as the adjustable buckle  92 . Alternatively, the adjustable buckles  92  and  102  can be attached directly to the left and right calf holders  84  and  94 , respectively, thereby eliminating the need for the upper buckle straps  85  and  103 .  
         [0032]     The adjustable buckles  92  and  102  adjust the position of the calf holders  84  and  94  to fit users with different sized calves. The buckles  92  and  102  are preferably a ratchet type that are used on snow board bindings, however other buckles or adjustable straps could also be used so long as they are strong enough to secure the user to the kneeboard  20 . The upper buckle straps  85  and  103  are connected to the left and right calf holders  84  and  94 , respectively, with pivot connections  106  and  107 . The lower buckle straps  87  and  105  are connected to the left and right outer sides  76  and  82 , respectively, with pivot connections  109  and  111 .  
         [0033]     The overall length of the calf straps  50  and  52  are adjustable with the adjustable buckles  92  and  102  by adjusting the location at which the adjustable buckles  92  and  102  attach to the lower buckle straps  87  and  105 , respectively.  
         [0034]     The inner strap  90  is attached to the inner side  74  of the channel  60  with a pivot connection  91  and to the calf holder  84  with a pivot connection  93 . The inner strap  100  is attached to the inner side  80  with a pivot connection  95  and to the calf holder  94  with a pivot connection  97 . The pivot connections  91 ,  93 ,  106 ,  107 ,  109  and  111  attache to the channels  60  and  64  at attachment inserts  104 . The pivot connections  91 ,  93 ,  106 ,  107 ,  109  and  111  allows the calf holders  84  and  94  to pivot with respect to the channels  60  and  64 , and can be can be bolts, rivets or similar devices. Having the calf holders  84  and  94  connected to the upper support  54  with pivot connections allows the user to adjust the longitudinal position at which the calf holders  84  and  94  contact the calves of the user  32 . The longitudinal position of the calf holders  84  and  94  can also be used to hold the knees  36  in the knee cups  68  and  70 . By positioning the calf holders  84  and  94  rearward and tightening the buckles  92  and  102  more longitudinally forward force is applied to the user&#39;s legs and the knees  36  are more firmly engaged in the cups  68 .  
         [0035]     The buckles  92  and  102  adjust to tighten the calf holders  84  and  94  against the calves of the user  32 . Tightening the buckles causes the user&#39;s legs to be held in the channels  60  and  64  which secures the position of the knee and leg of the user with respect to the kneeboard  20 . The pivot connections  91 ,  95 ,  109  and  111  can also be adjusted forward or rearward by moving them from one buckle attachment insert  104  to another. The inserts  104  provide a secure fastening position for the pivot connections  91 ,  95 ,  109  and  111 , and are preferably made from a metal that is attached to the channels  60  and  64 . Adjusting the calf holders  84  and  94  forward or rearward allows the knee support  24  to be adjusted to fit smaller or larger users calves, and allows the kneeboard binding  22  to be adjusted for comfort.  
         [0036]     The base  58  is positioned between the shell  56  and the deck  28  and positions the shell  56  elevated above the surface of the deck  28  to position where the user  32  can lean and turn the deck  28 . The base  58  is attached to the upper support  54  with four screws  110  that extend through the shell  56  of the upper support  54  and screw into threaded inserts  112  in the base  58 . The base  58  is preferably injection molded from plastic includes a reinforcing metal plate (not shown) molded into the bottom  114  to strengthen the base  58  where it contacts the deck  28 . The base  58  is mounted to the deck  28  with mounting screws  108  that extend through the bottom  114  and the plate. The bottom  114  of the base  58  includes an area that is relatively large, extending nearly from one edge to the other of the deck  28 . The size of the bottom  114  provides for a larger area over which the user&#39;s weight is distributed. Distributing the user&#39;s weight over a relatively large area helps to prevent the deck  28  from becoming over stressed and breaking, especially when the user is leaning to one side and lateral force is applied. The width of the bottom  114  of the base  58  also decreases the leverage on relatively narrowly spaced mounting screws  108  which reduces the chance that a mounting screw  108  will be pulled out of the deck  28 .  
         [0037]     The bottom  114  includes a series of mounting holes  116  for mounting the base  58  to the deck  28  with the mounting screws  108 . Decks  28  are typically manufactured for either three screw or four screw binding attachment. The mounting holes  116  in the base bottom  114  can be in a rectangular type series for attaching to the deck  28  with four screws, as shown or can be arranged to align with three hole decks. The base bottom  114  includes more than enough holes  116  so that the base  58  can be mounted forward or rearward on the deck  28 , depending on if the rearward holes  116  are used or the forward holes  116  are used, respectively. Moving the base  58  forward or rearward moves the longitudinal position of the upper support  54  and the user  32  which thereby adjust the user&#39;s weight distribution on the kneeboard  20 . The longitudinal positioning of the base  58  also allows for adjustment to make the kneeboard binding  22  fit various sizes of users  32 . The base bottom  114  and the mounting screws  108  can be accessed through slots  118  and  120  in the upper support  54 , ( FIG. 4 ), or by removing the upper support  54  from the base  58 .  
         [0038]     A top  122  of the base  58  includes a shelf  124  that surrounds and defines an interior hollow  126  of the base  58 . The top  122  is smaller than the bottom  114  and the base  58  tapers from the bottom  114  to the top  122 . The inserts  112  are preferably molded into the shelf  124  and are positioned so that when the screws  110  are inserted through the upper support  54  they are not directly under the pads  62  and  66  in the bottom portions  72  and  78  of the channels  60  and  64 . Rather the screws are positioned under the pads  62  and  66  toward the inner sides  74  and  80  of the upper support  54  where there is less pressure from the legs so that the screws  110  do not create a point of discomfort for the user  32 .  
         [0039]     The base  58  positions the user  32  elevated above and away from the surface of the deck  28 . This allows the user  32  to make sharper turns by leaning the kneeboard  20  without dragging the knees  36  on the snow, than would be possible with the user  32  closer to the deck. The base  58  is also beneficial in that it provides the user  32  with greater leverage for turning the kneeboard  20  since the user  32  is elevated above the surface of the deck  28 . The base  58  can be made in many different heights depending on the desires of the user  32 . In addition, the base  58  can be made with a standard height and spacers, (not shown), could be inserted between the base  58  and the upper support  54  to raise the upper support  54  further from the deck  28 .  
         [0040]     In addition to supporting and attaching to the knees  36  of the user  32 , the kneeboard binding  22  attaches to the feet  38  of the user  32  with the foot support  26 . Attaching to the feet  38  gives the user  32  additional leverage on the kneeboard  20 , above that provided with just the knee support  24 , for maneuvering the kneeboard  20  when traveling down the slope  30  in order to make turns and to stop.  
         [0041]     The foot support  26 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , is preferably injection molded from plastic with a plate (not shown) integrally molded in a bottom  128  to provide structural strength for mounting to the deck  28 .  
         [0042]     The bottom  128  includes a front flange  130  and a rear flange  132  and also includes a series of mounting holes  134 . Four mounting screws  108  extend through the mounting holes  134  to secure the foot support  26  to the deck  28 . The mounting holes  134  are arranged in a series so that the foot support  26  can be mounted forward or rearward depending on if the rearward or forward mounting holes  134  are used, respectively. With the series of mounting holes  134 , the foot support  26  can be adjusted to fit users of different sizes by moving the foot support  26  closer or farther from the knee support  24 .  
         [0043]     In an alternative to mounting the foot support  26  with four mounting screws  108  in a rectangular pattern, the foot support  26  can be mounted with other numbers or patterns of mounting screws such as three. The mounting screws  108  that are in the front flange  130  are accessible in the front of the foot support  26 , the mounting screws  108  toward the middle of the foot support  26  are accessible through left and right toe holes  136  and  138 . The mounting holes can be round or slotted to provide more adjustment variations.  
         [0044]     The left and right toe holes  136  and  138  are for receiving the toe portion of the user&#39;s feet  38 . The toe holes  136  and  138  are shaped to receive the toe portion of boots of the user  32  and include a left back portion  140  and a right back portion  142  that alignment with and restrain the bottoms of the feet  38  of the user  32 . The toe holes  136  and  138  also include a left front portion  144  and a right front portion  146  for restraining the tops of the user&#39;s feet  38 .  
         [0045]     The back portions  140  and  142  prevent the feet  38  from moving out of the toe holes  136  and  138  in a rearward direction. The back portions  140  and  142  are angled slightly upward and rearward with respect to the bottom  128 , which allows the feet  38  of the user  32  to be angled slightly forward in a comfortable position that permits the users  32  feet  38  to press against the back portions  140  and  142  and allows the feet  38  to help the user  32  to shift weight from side to side and to turn. The back portions  140  and  142  are covered with grip tape  148  and  150 , respectively, also for aiding the user  32  in maneuvering the kneeboard  20 .  
         [0046]     The front portions  144  and  146  of the toe holes  136  and  138  are for retaining the tops of the user&#39;s feet  38 . The front portions  144  and  146  prevent the feet  38  from moving forward out of the toe holes  136  and  138 . To provide a comfortable and secure fit with boots, the front portions  144  and  146  include front pads  152  and  154 . The front pads  152  and  154  are preferably made from a foam type material with a sheet covering and extend around the inside of the toe holes  136  and  138  at the front portions  144  and  146 . In addition to providing a comfortable surface for the top of the feet  38  of the user  32 , the pads  152  and  154  also protect the boots from wear.  
         [0047]     The toe holes  136  and  138  also include exterior side walls  156  and  158  and a divider wall  160  that is between the toe holes  136  and  138 . The exterior side wall  156  creates the transversely outside wall of the left toe hole  136  and the exterior side wall  158  creates the transversely outside wall of the right toe hole  138 . The side walls  156  and  158  prevent the feet  38  of the user  32  from moving out of the toe holes  136  and  138  transversely away from foot support  26 . The divider wall  160  forms the inner wall of the toe holes  136  and  138  and prevents the feet  38  of the user  32  from moving inward toward one another.  
         [0048]     The toe holes  136  and  138  are preferably deep enough so that when the feet  38  are inserted into the holes  136  and  138 , the feet  38  cannot move substantially horizontally. That is to say, the feet  38  are only movable vertically up and out of the toe holes  136  and  138 . To complete the restraint of the user&#39;s feet  38 , the foot support  26  utilizes the foot straps  46  and  48  to prevent the feet  38  from moving vertically out of the toe holes  136  and  138 .  
         [0049]     The foot straps  46  and  48  extend around the heels of the feet  38  to prevent them from moving out of the toe holes  136  and  138 . The left foot strap  46  includes an inner foot strap  170 , a heel holder  166 , an adjustable buckle  162  and an outer strap  172 . The inner foot strap  170  is connected at one end to the divider wall  160  at a pivot connection  174  and at another end to the heel holder  166 . The adjustable buckle  162  is attached to the heel holder  166  and adjustably connected to the outer strap  172  which is connected to the exterior side wall  156  with a pivot connection  176 . The right foot strap  48  includes an inner foot strap  178 , a heel holder  168 , an adjustable buckle  164  and an outer strap  180 . The inner foot strap  178  is connected at one end to the divider wall  160  at a pivot connection  182  and at another other end to the heel holder  168 . The adjustable buckle  164  is attached to the heel holder  168  and adjustably connected to the outer strap  180  which is connected to the exterior side wall  158  with a pivot connection  184 .  
         [0050]     The overall length of the left and right foot straps  46  and  48  are adjustable by adjusting the position at which the adjustable buckles  162  and  164  attach to the outer straps  172  and  180 , respectively.  
         [0051]     The pivoting connection of the foot straps  46  and  48  allows a certain amount of longitudinal movement of the heels of the boots  42  and  44  while still holding the boots  42  and  44  in the toe holes  136  and  138 .  
         [0052]     The adjustable buckles  162  and  164  are preferably the same type as the adjustable buckles  92  and  102  on the knee support  24 . The buckles  162  and  164  restrain the feet  38  from vertical movement when buckled and allow the removal or placement of the feet  38  in the toe holes  136  and  138  when un-buckled.  
         [0053]     The foot straps  46  and  48  include the heel holders  166  and  168  which are wider than the remaining portion of the foot straps  46  and  48 . The left and right heel holders  166  and  168  distribute the pressure created on the heels of the feet  38  for effectively holding the feet  38  of the user  32  in the toe holes  136  and  138 .  
         [0054]     While the kneeboard binding  22  preferably uses four straps, foot straps  46  and  48  and the calf straps  50  and  52 , the kneeboard binding  22  can also use three or even two straps. To use three straps, either the foot straps  46  and  48  or the calf straps  50  and  52  are replaced with a single strap that secures both of the knees or feet. If two straps are used then the foot straps  46  and  48  are replaced with one strap and the calf straps  50  and  52  are replaced with another single strap. In either case, two strap or three strap, each of the straps can include a single buckle.  
         [0055]     Having four straps is beneficial because it allows the user  32  to detach one leg from the kneeboard  20  while leaving the other leg attached. With one leg free and one leg attached to the kneeboard  20 , the user can walk to a ski lift without undue difficulty. With one leg free, the user  32  can stand upright with one foot on the ground and the other foot in the toe hole  136  or  138 , depending on if it is the right or left foot  36  in the foot support  26 . The user  32  walks on the free foot  36  like normally, and uses the rearward end of the kneeboard  20  on the ground to support his or her weight from the non-free leg.  
         [0056]     The distance between the knee support  24  and the foot support  26  is adjustable to fit a variety of users  32  and this adjustment can also accommodate a range of weight distribution preferences. The straps  46 ,  48 ,  50  and  52  are also adjustable to adapt to the user&#39;s needs for different calf and foot sizes. In the manner described the kneeboard binding  22  permits a snowboard deck  28  to be connected to a person in a kneeling position. The user  32  can manipulate his or her weight to maneuver the deck  28  on the slope  30 .  
         [0057]     A presently preferred embodiment of the present invention and many of its improvements have been described with a degree of particularity. This description is a preferred example of implementing the invention, and is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the following claims.