Patent Publication Number: US-7896365-B2

Title: Articulated two-piece snowboard with rigid, flexible connector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to sporting boards and in particular to snowboards. 
     In the past, commercial snowboards have been limited in their ability to make sharp turns and maneuver over uneven surfaces and around moguls. In addition, known snowboards are awkward to store and transport. U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,091, filed by the inventor of the present invention, addressed the limitations of the one-piece snowboard by describing an articulated two-piece (or two section) snowboard. The sections are joined by a connector which allows horizontal (side to side) movement, and vertical (up and down) movement (although one embodiment substantially prevents vertical movement) of one section relative to the other section. The connector of the &#39;091 patent further provides only marginal resistance to twisting of one section relative to the other section, and as a result, the snowboard may be difficult to control. Both front and rear sections have a uniquely shaped convex bottom with ridges to facilitate movement through the snow, turning, and braking. The &#39;091 patent specifically describes a plurality of longitudinally running ribs and/or grooves on the bottom of each snowboard section. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,834,867, filed by the inventor of the present invention, describes a two-piece snowboard including a connector which behaves like a piece of vertical spring steel, still allowing flexing from side to side, while substantially preventing up and down flexing. Unfortunately, the lack of vertical flexing in some embodiments of the &#39;091 patent and in the &#39;867 patent in general, makes it difficult to follow much of the irregular terrain enjoyed by snowboard riders. The snowboard described in the &#39;867 patent also includes the bottom and ribs and/or grooves of the &#39;091 patent. Due to the shape of the bottom and the ribs of the snowboards described in the &#39;091 and &#39;867 patents, the ribs (and/or grooves) generally contact the snow surface while traveling in a straight line. Such contact may result in increased drag and thus limit snowboard speed. The &#39;091 patent and the &#39;867 patent are herein incorporated by reference. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing an articulated, two-piece snowboard with front and rear sections joined with a horizontally and vertically flexing, substantially non-twisting, connector, each section providing a platform for one foot. The bottom surface of each section is composed of two areas, a somewhat flat or concave riding platform which runs from front to back of each section for gliding in a straight line, and turning areas on the outside left and right sides of each section which do not continuously engage the snow when riding in a straight line. The turning areas do engage the snow when the rider rolls the snowboard to the left or right around its longitudinal axis. Preferably, the turning areas have one or more longitudinal turning ridges. In addition, when the snowboard is rolled far enough (i.e., beyond that required for engagement of the turning ridges) a hard outer stopping edge is engaged for the purpose of rapid slowing or stopping. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there are provided alternate embodiments providing ways to tune the performance of the snowboard to suit different conditions and riders, including various bottom shapes. In one alternate embodiment, the present invention is similar to known snowboards in construction and shape of bottom, but includes the connector according to the present invention. In another embodiment concerning the connector, the connector may be detachable from at least one section for the purpose of transporting the snowboard or for the purpose of substituting a section or connector with different characteristics. The connector may further be adjustable so that the rider may modify riding characteristics of the snowboard. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a connector to couple sections of the two-piece snowboard. The connector does not allow a noticeable twist (i.e., does not allow rotation or twisting of the sections about the connector axis in opposite directions), but does allow independent movement of the snowboard in the horizontal and vertical planes. The snowboard according to the present invention thus provides a smooth and enjoyable ride with enhanced capabilities, allowing the rider to glide over mounds of snow without a stiff connector preventing vertical flex between the connectors. In a preferred embodiment, the connector is one that functions similarly to a length of reinforced hydraulic hose. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is a top view of a two-piece snowboard according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a side view of the snowboard according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 1C  is a bottom view of the snowboard according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the snowboard taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed cross-sectional view of a connector according to the present invention, taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one end of the snowboard. 
         FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional view of the snowboard taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1B  with the snowboard flat. 
         FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of the snowboard taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1B  with the snowboard tilted for turning. 
         FIG. 5C  is a cross-sectional view of the snowboard taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1B  with the snowboard tiled for stopping. 
         FIG. 6A  is a bottom view of a snowboard according to the present invention with two ridges on each side of the snowboard. 
         FIG. 6B  is a bottom view of a snowboard according to the present invention with a smooth snowboard bottom. 
         FIG. 6C  is a bottom view of a snowboard according to the present invention with one ridge on each side of the snowboard bottom, and a short center ridge. 
         FIG. 6D  is a bottom view of a snowboard according to the present invention with one ridge on each side of the snowboard bottom and two grooves on a platform surface of the snowboard bottom. 
         FIG. 7A  is a cross-sectional view of the snowboard bottom taken along line  7 A- 7 A of  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view of the snowboard bottom taken along line  7 B- 7 B of  FIG. 6B . 
         FIG. 7C  is a cross-sectional view of the snowboard bottom taken along line  7 C- 7 C of  FIG. 6C . 
         FIG. 7D  is a cross-sectional view of the snowboard bottom taken along line  7 D- 7 D of  FIG. 6D . 
         FIG. 7E  is a cross-sectional view of a concave snowboard bottom with ridges. 
         FIG. 8A  is a top view of a second embodiment of the two-piece snowboard according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 8B  is a side view of the second embodiment of the two-piece snowboard according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the two-piece snowboard taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8A . 
         FIG. 10A  is a top view of the second embodiment of the two-piece snowboard according to the present invention with a sleeve over a center portion of the snowboard. 
         FIG. 10B  is a bottom view of the second embodiment of the two-piece snowboard according to the present invention with the sleeve over the center portion of the snowboard. 
         FIG. 10C  is a side view of the second embodiment of the two-piece snowboard according to the present invention with a sleeve over a center portion of the snowboard. 
         FIG. 11  is a side of a section of the snowboard with a notch for the sleeve. 
         FIG. 12A  shows a top view of the snowboard with a collar residing over the connector for riding rails. 
         FIG. 12B  shows a side view of the snowboard with the collar residing over the connector for riding rails. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. 
     A top view of a snowboard  10  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1A  and a side view of the snowboard  10  is shown in  FIG. 1B . The snowboard  10  comprises a first section  11   a  and a second section  11   b  connected by a connector  12 . The sections  11   a  and  11   b  may be substantially identical or they may differ in size, shape or construction to alter the performance characteristics of the snowboard  10 . The sections  11   a  and  11   b  have outer (or leading) edges  18   a  and  18   b  respectively and trailing edges  17   a  and  17   b  respectively. 
     The connector  12  is embedded into connector housings  13   a  and  13   b  of the sections  11   a  and  11   b  respectively. Preferably between approximately one inch and approximately 12 inches of the connector  12  is exposed between the connector housings  13   a  and  13   b , and more preferably between approximately two inches and approximately five inches of the connector  12  is exposed between the connector housings  13   a  and  13   b , and most preferably approximately three inches of the connector  12  is exposed between the connector housings  13   a  and  13   b . The connector  12  preferably has a diameter between approximately 0.75 inches and approximately 1.75 inches, and more preferably has a diameter of approximately 1.5 inches. Binding mountings  21  reside on the top surfaces  15   a  and  15   b , providing for mounting bindings to the snowboard  10 . The binding mountings  21  are preferably in female thread inserts mounted or molded into the snowboard in a common pattern. 
     The shape of the snowboard  10 , when viewed from the top, is preferentially slightly wider towards the leading edges  16 a and  16 b and slightly more narrow towards the trailing edges  17   a  and  17   b  of the sections  11   a  and  11   b . A snowboard  10  rider places a first foot in a first binding mounted to a top surface  15   a  of the section  11   a  and a second foot in a second binding mounted to the top surface  15   b  of the section  11   b , preferably, with feet at angles to the longitudinal axis in a stance similar to that used by traditional snowboarders. 
     Some known two-piece snowboards, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,091 (in one embodiment) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,834,867, allow side to side movement of sections  11   a  with respect to the section  11   b , but do not allow up and down (i.e., vertical) movement. As a result, known two-piece snowboards do not allow a smooth ride over irregular terrain. In contrast, the snowboard  10  of the present invention allows vertical flex and thus provides a smoother more enjoyable ride, allowing the rider to glide over mounds of snow without a stiff connector preventing vertical flex between the sections  11   a  and  11   b . The &#39;091 and &#39;867 patents are incorporated by reference above. 
     The connector  12  allows some lateral (right or left) flex and some vertical (up or down) flex, but preferably has a very high resistance to twisting. The connector  12  thus allows independent movement of the sections  11   a  and  11   b  in horizontal and vertical planes, but allows negligible rotation or twisting of the sections  11   a  and  11   b  about the connector  12  axis in opposite directions. 
     The connector  12  is preferably made from a material exhibiting substantially no twist in normal use (i.e., an amount of twist not noticeable to a rider). The following characterizes the physical characteristics of the connector  12  independent of the snow board. The connector  12  more preferably exhibits between approximately 0.001 degrees per inch-pound of torque and approximately 0.005 degree per inch-pound of torque, and most preferably exhibits between approximately 0.0015 degrees per inch-pound of torque and approximately 0.003 degree per inch-pound of torque. The flexure of the connector  12 , based on the ASTM Test Method D-790 and applying a force to the center of the connector supported by a six inch span, is preferably between approximately 0.001 inches of deflection per pound and approximately 0.006 inches of deflection per pound, and more preferably between approximately 0.0015 inches of deflection per pound and approximately 0.0045 inches of deflection per pound. 
     The above connector characteristics assume an approximately three inch separation of the sections  11   a  and  11   b . Equivalent characteristics may be obtained by using a stiffer connector  12  with a greater than three inch separation, or a less stiff connector  12  with a shorter separation, and snowboards with greater separation and a stiffer connector, or with lesser separation and a less stiff connector are intended to come within the scope of the present invention. Further, while most riders prefer a flexure between approximately 0.001 inches of deflection per pound and approximately 0.006 inches of deflection per pound, some more experienced or more aggressive riders, or when riding on some surfaces, for example moguls, greater flexure of the connector may be preferred. For example, flexure of up to approximately 0.012 inches of deflection per pound or even 0.018 inches of deflection per pound may be preferred by some riders or in some conditions. 
     The various flexures of the connector  12  provide a different ride or feel for the rider, and a connector  12  with less flexure may be more desirable for some conditions or riders, and a connector  12  with more flexure many be more desirable for other conditions or riders. The connector  12  is preferably substantially non-compressible in length, although a small amount of compression is allowable as long as the sections  11   a  and  11   b  do not contact as a result of compression of the connector  12 . An example of a suitable connector  12  is a length of reinforced hydraulic hose such as Parker Hannifin® 471ST-16 hose or a similar hose having two braids of steel wire. However, the present invention is not limited to a specific hose type, and suitable hoses may have zero to three braids of steel wire, and may be other hydraulic hose, air-conditioning hose, pneumatic hose, and the like. Any two-piece snowboard with a connector having physical characteristics similar to those described herein, or characteristics similar to the characteristics of the Parker Hannifin® 471ST-16 hose, is intended to come within the scope of the present invention. 
     The various flexures of the connector  12  provide a different ride or feel for the rider, and a connector  12  with less flexure may be more desirable for some conditions or riders, and a connector  12  with more flexure many be more desirable for other conditions or riders. The connector  12  is preferably substantially non-compressible in length, although a small amount of compression is allowable as long as the sections  11   a  and  11   b  do not contact as a result of compression of the connector  12 . An example of a suitable connector  12  is a length of reinforced hydraulic hose such as Parker Hannifin® 471ST-16 hose or a similar hose having two braids of steel wire. However, the present invention is not limited to a specific hose type, and suitable hoses may have zero to three braids (or layers) of steel wire reinforcement, and may be other hydraulic hose, air-conditioning hose, pneumatic hose, and the like. Any two-piece snowboard with a connector having physical characteristics similar to those described herein, or characteristics similar to the characteristics of the Parker Hannifin® 471ST-16 hose, is intended to come within the scope of the present invention. 
     A bottom view of the snowboard  10  is shown in  FIG. 1C . The snowboard  10  includes the bottom (or riding) surfaces  14   a  and  14   b  comprising platform portions  22   a  and  22   b  for straight riding and edge portions  23   a  and  23   b  having at least one control surface for turning and/or stopping. The platform portions  22   a  and  22   b , and the edge portions  23   a  and  23   b  are generally substantially identical (for example, within manufacturing tolerances), but may be different to suit specific rider preferences or uses. 
     The platform portions  22   a  and  22   b  preferably comprise substantially flat or slightly concave surfaces and extend lengthwise along the riding surfaces  14   a  and  14   b  creating a stable platform for the rider of the snowboard  10 , and more preferably comprise a flat surface. A flat surface tends to provide a faster ride for experienced riders, and a concave surface tends to provide better control for inexperienced riders. The platform portions  22   a  and  22   b  are pointed out by left and right dashed lines  24 , for visualization purposes only. The platform portions  22   a  and  22   b  preferably extend approximately 75% of the width of the riding surfaces  14   a  and  14   b , although the actual percent of width may depend on the length and width of the riding surfaces  14   a  and  14   b , and the platform portions  22   a  and  22   b  preferably reside over the longitudinal snowboard centerline  28  and more preferably are centered on the riding surfaces  14   a  and  14   b . The lowest point(s) on the platform portions  22   a  and  22   b  are preferably lower (closer to the snow) than leading edges  16   a  and  16   b , and trailing edges  17   a  and  17   b  (see  FIGS. 1A and 1B ). 
     In one embodiment, the platform portions  22   a  and  22   b  are substantially smooth, and in another embodiment, the platform portions  22   a  and  22   b  include ridges  26  (see  FIGS. 6C and 6D ). The ridges may comprise one or two well pronounced ridges, or a larger number of less pronounced ridges, or some graduation or combination of one or two well pronounced ridges and a large number of less pronounced ridges. The ridges preferably extend downward between 1/64 inch and approximately one inch, and more preferably extend downward between approximately ⅛ inch and approximately ⅜ inch. Additionally, corrugated surfaces  25  may be provided on the platform portions  22   a  and  22   b  proximal to the connector  12 , which corrugated surfaces  25  may comprise a multiplicity of grooves or ridges which may have sharp edges or rounded edges. 
     Continuing with  FIG.1C , the edge portions  23   a  and  23   b  include control surfaces preferably comprising stopping edges  20  and generally including ridges  26 . The stopping edges  20  are preferably sharp and engage the snow when the snowboard  10  is tilted about its longitudinal axis (or centerline)  28  for the purpose of slowing or stopping. The stopping edges  20  are preferably a separate material strip that is inserted and secured with adhesive or molded into the outer edges  18   a  and  18   b  extending between the leading edges  16   a  and  16   b , and trailing edges  17   a  and  17   b . The stopping edges  20  also may serve to reinforce the edges  18   a  and  18   b  of the snowboard  10 . The ridges  26  are preferably a separate material which is inserted and secured with adhesive or molded into the edge portions  23   a  and  23   b , generally for turning, and may be partially covered by the material covering the snowboard exterior. The separate material preferably is a hard material with characteristics similar to the hardness, stiffness, and abrasion resistance of steel. For example, the separate material may be a metal, or a composite hybrid plastic such as carbon fiber/kevlar composite. 
     Still continuing with  FIG. 1C , the one or more turning ridges (or protrusions)  26  may extend longitudinally along the bottom surfaces of the snowboard  10 , positioned outside the riding platform boundaries  24  (e.g., in the edge portions  23   a  and  23   b ) and between the boundaries  24  and the stopping edges  20 . The turning ridges  26  are preferably substantially parallel to the stopping edges  20 . The ridges  26  are preferably angled out, with the front of the ridge  26  farther from the longitudinal centerline  28  of the snowboard  10  than the rear of the ridge  26 , moving away from the connector  12 . 
     The ridges  26  are not effectively engaged, and do not substantially dig into the snow, until a rider tilts (or tips) the snowboard  10  to one side. Tipping the snowboard  10  to one side around its longitudinal axis  28  causes the turning ridge  26  to engage the snow, and causes the snowboard  10  to turn in the direction the snowboard has tipped. Some riders may further prefer either the addition of the short ridges (see  FIGS. 6C and 7C ) or the addition of grooves (see  FIGS. 6D and 7D ) on the platform portions  22   a  and  22   b  in order to provide greater directional control, but these additions are not required. 
     The stopping edges  20  and/or the ridges  26  may be fixed or may be adjustable. For example, adjusting screws may be included inside the sections  11   a  and  11   b , which adjusting screws engage the stopping edges  20  and/or the ridges  26  wherein turning the screws extend or retract the stopping edges  20  and/or the ridges  26 . 
     A cross-sectional view of the snowboard  10  taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1A  is shown in  FIG. 2 . The sections  11   a  and  11   b  are preferably made using injection molding, and preferably comprise a polymer resin or any material providing the necessary strength, shape and durability. The sections  11   a  and  11   b  may further include an insert of lightweight material which can be used within the mold to reduce weight. The sections  11   a  and  11   b  may still further include inserts of a reinforcing material to better hold binding mountings  21  residing in the sections  11   a  and  11   b  (see  FIG. 1A ). Alternatively, the sections  11   a  and  11   b  may comprise an inner core of foam, wood, composite, honeycomb or a similar material, with an outer layer which is a composite resin, but the outer layer may be any material which helps to provide a durable outer layer of adequate strength such as an injection molded plastic, a roto-molded plastic, a composite, a metal, carbon fiber, fiber glass or any other similar material. It is anticipated that snowboards may be made from various materials, and any two-piece snowboard made from any materials or combination of materials, wherein the sections of the snowboard are connected by a connector  12  according to the present invention, or wherein the riding surfaces includes platform surfaces and edge portions as described herein, is intended to come within the scope of the present invention. 
     A detailed cross-sectional view of the connector  12  is shown in  FIG. 3 , the connector  12  preferentially comprising a connector shell  32 , a connector fill  34  residing inside the connector shell  32 , and connector fasteners  30 . The shell  32  is preferably a reinforced hydraulic hose, for example Parker Hannifin® 471ST-16 hose or the like, and preferably has an outside diameter of approximately 0.75 inches to approximately 1.75 inches, and more preferably has an outside diameter of approximately 1.5 inches. Further, any material with similar characteristics may be used. The fill  34  is preferably neoprene rubber, silicon, urethane or another rubber or material with similar characteristics, and is more preferably neoprene rubber. Alternatively, the connector  12  may be hollow. The fastener  30  is preferably a solid metal cylinder with diameter D and length L. The length L is preferably approximately 2 ⅛ inches, and the diameter D is preferably approximately ⅜ inch. The fasteners  30  are inserted through the connector  12  and is molded into place, encapsulated by the connector housings  13   a  and  13   b . The fasteners  30  may be metal, an Ultra-High Molecular Weight (UHMW) plastic, a carbon fiber, or any sufficiently strong material. The connector  12  may further comprise a molded composite product with similar characteristics to connector of present invention. 
     A perspective view of the section  11   a , the housing  13   a , and a portion of the connector  12  is shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     A cross-sectional view of the snowboard  10  in a flat attitude taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1B  is shown in  FIG. 5A . The platform portion  22   b  of the snowboard  10  is in contact with the snow  36 , thus providing a low friction contact for a fast ride. While the snowboard  10  is in a flat attitude, the ridges  26 , and the stopping edges  20  are not in substantial contact with the snow (i.e., are not in sufficient contact with the snow to noticeably affect the ride). A second cross-sectional view of the snowboard  10  in a moderately rolled (or tipped) attitude taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1B  is shown in  FIG. 5B . The ridge  26  on the left side of the snowboard  10  is now in contact with the snow  36  to provide a left turn through the cooperation of the ridges  26  on the first and second sections  11   a  and  11   b  with the snow surface  36 . A third cross-sectional view of the snowboard  10  in a significantly rolled attitude taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1B  is shown in  FIG. 5C . The ridge  26  and the stopping edge  20  on the left side of the snowboard  10  are now in contact with the snow  36  to provide braking for the snowboard. 
     Several alternative embodiments of the snowboard  10  comprising variations in the snowboard bottom  10   b  are anticipated for specialized uses. A first alternative embodiment of the snowboard  10   a  is shown in  FIG. 6A . The snowboard  10   a  had two ridges  26   a  and  26   b  in place of the single ridge  26 . The ridges (or other bottom features) may be designed to be removable and/or changeable to allow the rider to customize the bottom surface of each section for snow conditions or for rider preference. For example, ridges set at a greater angle from the longitudinal axis would provide a rider with more extreme turning capabilities. 
     A second alternative embodiment of the snowboard  10   b  is shown in  FIG. 6B . The ridge  26  is absent from the snowboard  10   b . A third alternative embodiment of the snowboard  10   c  is shown in  FIG. 6C . The snowboard  10   c  included the ridges  26 , and additionally center ridges  38  near the connector  12 . A fourth alternative embodiment of the snowboard  10   d  is shown in  FIG. 6D . The snowboard  10   d  retains the ridges  26  and additionally a pair of grooves  40  residing on the platforms  22   a  and  22   b  (see  FIG. 1C .) running about the length of the ridges  26 , and near the outside edges of the platform regions  22   a  and  22   b , and may improve directional control in some conditions, and may provide preferred riding characteristics for some riders. The grooves  40  may be rectangular, oval, triangular, or some other shape. The depth of the grooves can vary from very shallow too deep. The number of grooves can vary from one groove to many grooves. The length of the grooves can vary from very short to the full length of the section bottom. The grooves can be placed on only one section or on both sections and can be in different patterns on each section. 
     Cross-sectional view of the alternative snowboards  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c , and  10   d  taking along lines  7 A- 7 A,  7 B- 7 B,  7 C- 7 C, and  7 D- 7 D are shown in  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B,  7 C, and  7 D, respectively. The snowboard  10   a  with the ridges  26   a  and  26   b  are shown in cross-section in  FIG. 7A . The snowboard  10   b  with a concave bottom  42  and without ridges is shown in  FIG. 7B . The snowboard  10   c  with ridges  26  and center ridge  38  is shown in  FIG. 7C . The snowboard  10   d  with ridges  26  and grooves  40  is shown in  FIG. 7D . A snowboard  10   e  with a concave bottom  42  and a pair of ridges  38  on the platform portions  22   a  and  22   b  (see  FIG. 1C ) is shown in  FIG. 7E . Other snowboards are contemplated with a combination of ridges and groove suitable for particular snow conditions or rider preferences, and any snowboard with a connector having the physical flexure characteristics of the connector  12  described above, is intended to come within the scope of the present invention. 
     A top view of an alternative embodiment of a snowboard  50  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 8A , and a bottom view of the snowboard  50  is shown in  FIG. 8B . A cross-sectional view of the snowboard  50  taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8A  is shown in  FIG. 9 . The snowboard  50  comprises sections  52   a  and  52   b  which are similar to known one-piece snowboards and may include turning edges or ridges. The sections  52   a  and  52   b  are connected by a connector  54 . The connector  54  is attached to the sections  52   a  and  52   b  by connector receptacles  56  and fasteners  58  passing through the receptacles  56  and connector  54 . The connector  54  is preferably physically similar to the connector  12  above. The fasteners  58  are preferably bolts. 
     A top view of the snowboard  50  is shown in  FIG. 10A  with a sleeve  60  residing over a center portion  51  of the snowboard  50 , a bottom view of the snowboard  50  with the sleeve  60  is shown in  FIG. 10B , and a side view of the snowboard  50  with the sleeve  60  is shown in  FIG. 10C . The sleeve  60  may be cut out for the connector  54  and receptacles  56 , or the fasteners  58  may pass through the sleeve  60 . Providing the sleeve  60  may prevent snow from compacting between the sections  52   a  and  52   b , and around the connector  54 . The sleeve  60  is preferably made from a durable, flexible, slippery material. 
     A snowboard section  62  with an indentation  64  in the bottom surface is shown in  FIG. 11 . The section  62  may be used with the sleeve  60 , and the indentation  64  may have a depth of approximately the thickness of the sleeve  60  to provide a flat surface when the sleeve  60  is over the center portion  51  of the snowboard  50 . 
     A top view of the snowboard  10  with a rail collar  70  residing over the connector  12  for riding rails is shown in  FIG. 12A , and a side view of the snowboard  10  with the rail collar  70  residing over the connector  12  is shown in  FIG. 12B . The rail collar  70  may be placed over the connector  12  by separating one of the sections  11   a  or  11   b  from the connector  12  and sliding the rail collar  70  over the connector  12 , for example, the rail collar  70  may comprise one or more doughnut shaped collars. Alternatively, the rail collar  70  may be a two-piece rail collar assembled over the connector  12  without separating one of the sections  11   a  or  11   b  from the connector  12 . The rail collar  70  is preferably made from composite strips of hard, non-flexible composite material, aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the snowboard  10 . The strips may reside on the underside of the collar  70  and be embedded in a collar body made from a more flexible material. The strips are preferably a hard vinyl or urethane, Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMW), a hard-abrasive resistant composite, or the like. The collar body is preferably a urethane, a rubber, or the like. 
     Other structure and materials are contemplated for the connector, for example, a molded connector may be used. The molded connector preferably comprises a flexible composite with or without an insert such as carbon rod, hydraulic hose, UHMW rods or any other material that adds stiffness, flexibility or strength. The connector may further be removably connected to allow disconnection and reconnection from the snowboard sections. The connector may also be adjustable so that the rider may modify flex characteristics of the snowboard. For example, the connector may be adjustable in two ways: lengthening of the connector to accommodate riders of different length strides (for example, a short person may prefer a shorter connector) and making the connector more flexible or less flexible. The flexure may be adjusted by disassembling one of the sections  11   a  or  11   b  from the connector  12 , and inserting a more stiff or less stiff insert into the connector  12 , or placing a collar over the connector  12 . Another method for increasing stiffness is to clamp a split collar over the connector  12 . A more flexible connector would be better used for freestyle riding and a more stiff connector would usually be preferred for fast downhill riding (to decrease the chance of the paddles getting out of alignment and causing a fall) 
     Methods of use of a two-piece snowboard according to the present invention are described as follows. To ride in a straight line, the rider keeps the snowboard  10  flat with the platform surfaces  22   a  and  22   b  (see  FIG. 1C ) in contact with the snow. Preferably, the ridges  26  are out of contact with the snow, or do not substantially engage the snow, when riding in a straight line, resulting in a faster, smoother and more stable ride without drag and/or interference from the ridges  26 . 
     To turn left, the rider tips the snowboard  10  around the longitudinal axis  28  (see  FIG. 1C ) by leaning to the left, engaging at least one ridge  26 , and causing the snowboard to turn left.  FIG. 5B  illustrates the engagement of the ridge  26  in snow surface  36  while in a left turn; the snowboard is tipped left around the longitudinal axis  28  until the ridge  27  engages the snow  36  sufficiently to facilitate a left turn. A right turn is similarly accomplished by tilting the snowboard to the right. The rider also has the option of pointing the board by turning it with his feet. 
     To reduce speed or stop, the rider may turn the snowboard perpendicular to the direction of travel using the rider&#39;s feet, and then tilt the snowboard back around its longitudinal axis  28  to dig the ridges  26  or the ridges  26  and the stopping edge  20 , into the snow, for example, tilt the snowboard farther than for turning.  FIG. 5C  illustrates the engagement of stopping edge  20  for the purpose of slowing or stopping the snowboard  10 , wherein the snowboard  10  is tipped beyond the position illustrated in  FIG. 5B  until the stopping edge  20  engages the snow  36  sufficiently to slow or stop the snowboard  10 . More specifically, stopping from slow speeds is easily done by turning the snowboard uphill, or by turning the rider&#39;s feet so that the snowboard is perpendicular to the direction of travel. When going faster, the rider may use his feet to turn the snowboard so that the snowboard is perpendicular to the direction of travel, just like is done with a conventional one piece snowboard, and then, for moderate speeds, the snowboard may be stopped by tipping and engaging the first ridge (turning ridge) or, for faster speeds or for steep slopes, the snowboard must be tipped farther back to engage the stopping edge. 
     An important addition to the present invention that was not included in my previous patents is the incorporation of preferentially hard stopping edges along the left and right sides of each section, constructed such that they dig in and grip the snow. 
     A rider may accomplish a controlled descent on a slope using the ridges  26  and/or the stopping edges  20  (see  FIG. 1C ). The snowboard  10  may be turned perpendicular to a path of descent down the slope and the rider may control his speed and/or stop by controlling the amount of engagement of the ridges  26  and/or the stopping edges  20  with the snow, for example by tilting the snowboard to dig the uphill edge into the snow. 
     The snowboard  10  may be designed for a targeted snow condition, and when riding under other than the targeted snow conditions, it would be expected that the ridges and/or stopping edges would engage the snow more or less when riding in a straight line, than described herein. 
     While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.