Patent Publication Number: US-6666797-B1

Title: Apparatus for the simulation of snowboard use

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a balancing board apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a snowboard simulator balancing board apparatus for closely simulating the act of snowboarding on dry land. The board is designed for practicing the balance and control movements necessary to effectively snowboard or carry out other related activities with similar methods of use. 
     Several apparatuses are known which have been used as dry land snowboard training devices. These devices use various mechanisms attempting to simulate actual snowboarding in real snow. 
     In the field of snowboard simulator balancing apparatuses, it has been well known to employ a board member or platform with various types of circular-shaped roller members thereunder. The user of the apparatus stands on the platform, feet apart, with the roller member positioned between the platform and the ground. The platform is often elongated and in a rectangular shape with rounded ends. 
     In these prior art apparatuses, the roller is placed underneath the board so that it&#39;s central axis is either perpendicular or longitudinal, depending on the respective design employed, to the longitudinal length of the board. In operation, the user places the platform on the roller and then stands on the platform with his or her feet being in a line which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal length of the platform. The roller is positioned below the platform with its central axis perpendicular or longitudinal to the line between the user&#39;s feet. To use the balancing board, the user rocks his or her body left to right to rock side-to-side on the roller in a see-saw-type fashion using the perpendicular roller, or front to back using the longitudinal roller. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,691 issued to Moscarello discloses a snowboard simulator balance apparatus which has a cylindrical roller that has an angled or tapered outer roller. The center of the roller has a large slot which allows it to engage a guide rail within the lower board surface. The board includes spacers between the upper and lower board surface. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,115 issued to Corcoran, discloses a snowboard simulator apparatus, which unlike U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,691, has a roller member running longitudinally along the board, which has two guide slots for engaging the guide or cross rails on the lower surface of the board. A pair of roller stop members, perpendicular to the guide rails, and located on the lower longitudinal edges of the board, prevent the escape of the longitudinally running roller from escaping laterally during use. The rolling travel of the member allows front-to-back action and pivot turn maneuvers experienced in actual snowboarding. 
     Additionally, other prior art methods have disclosed methods employing roller means other than the type of roller members discussed above. U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,364 issued to Eggenberger discloses a snowboard simulator board mounted on a cushion member which allows the stationary device to simulate tipping, sloping, and standing angles requiring acute balance in actual snowboarding. Between the cushion and the lower board surface is a bearing-type mechanism that allows the board to rotate on the cushion 360 degrees. A hard stop member is located on the nose end and a spring stop member on the tail end. 
     The prior art balancing boards have made attempts to improve the tracking and retention of a roller along its travel over the length of a balancing board. Various apparatuses have been attempted to achieve an improved fluid roll of a platform on a roller to further enhance performance. In addition, attempts have been made to ensure that the roller remains centered along the length of the board. Many of these apparatuses, or those incorporated by reference in the prior art disclose and further enhance the experience of a rocking side-to-side see-saw motion which is distinctly different than the motion actually experienced during snowboarding on real snow. 
     Additionally, boards with cushion members able to swivel 360 degrees or ball bearing methods attachable beneath simulated boards or in combination with actual boards, have been disclosed. However, no method in the prior art has employed different shaped rocking members at various positions within a simulated balancing board to more closely simulate the experience and motion of actual snowboarding when moving side to side. 
     Due to the demand for a snowboard simulator which can closely simulate snowboarding on real snow, it is desirable for a simulator apparatus to mimic the actual movement and experience of actual snowboarding. It is also desirable to have a snowboard simulator apparatus which can simulate as many different types of maneuvers and tricks which can be executed on a real snowboard on actual snow. 
     As can be seen from this discussion, it would be desirable to have a practice board simulator balancing apparatus for dry land use that allows the most realistic simulation of actual snowboarding on real snow. This balancing apparatus must be designed to be able to closely simulate the forward downslope, and pivoting and turning movements experienced during snowboarding in a simple and reliable fashion. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a method by which an individual can improve the skills necessary to control a snowboard without actually having to be at a ski hill. 
     It is an additional objective of the present invention to provide a method which allows potential snowboarders to practice and master these skills within the confines of their own homes. 
     It is a further objective of the present invention to provide such a method without having to incur the expenses that are normally associated with the process of learning to master the use of a snowboard. 
     These objectives are accomplished by the use of a snowboard training apparatus which is designed to be used on any solid surface, such as a living room floor, and simulates the actual use of a snowboard on a ski hill. The training apparatus is made up of a plank-like board that roughly simulates a basic snowboard. Additionally, the lower surface of the board is equipped with a pair of laterally mounted rockers that extend downward from this surface. These rockers are configured in a triangular shape and having the point of the triangle facing downward at the center of the rocker. This configuration ensures that when the board is placed on a hard surface it rests on the rockers. 
     The training apparatus is employed by a user by placing it rockers down on a floor and mounting it by placing his back foot on the tail end of the board behind the rearmost rocker. This positioning of the back foot and placing one&#39;s weight on it lifts the front end of the board off the floor. The mounting process is then completed by placing one&#39;s forward foot on the forward end of the board directly over the front rocker. From this position, the user then bends his front knee and ankle thereby placing the majority of his weight on this front foot. This has the effect of forcing the front of the board down to come in contact with the floor and raising the rear off of the floor. Once these initial steps have been accomplished, the user obtains his neutral balance position over the center of the plank and it is this position upon which all other movements associated with the control of an actual snowboard are based. 
     From the neutral balance position the user can practice his balance and control over the orientation of the trainer. The key to the use of the present invention is learn how to make and control the small body movements that are essential in controlling a snowboard. Specifically, the use of the present invention allows the operator to learn that he can change the orientation of the board in relation to the rockers and their respective rocker points by manipulating his weight over the board. These changes in body position are exactly the same as those required to properly control a snowboard on a ski hill and so the unique design characteristics of the invention allow an individual to learn new or improve on existing snowboarding skills. 
     For a better understanding of the present invention reference should be made to the drawings and the description in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention which illustrates the manner in which an individual places his feet on the upper surface of the trainer in order to practice the skills necessary to master the use of a snowboard. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention illustrating the manner of construction of the lower surface of the trainer and specifically detailing the form and orientation of the board rockers. 
     FIG. 3 is a top elevation view of the present invention illustrating the general manner of construction of the training apparatus. 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom elevation view of the present invention illustrating its general manner of construction and the location of the board rockers. 
     FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the present invention illustrating the relative size of the board rockers in relation to the forward end of the trainer. 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the present invention illustrating the relative size of the board rockers in relation to the tail end of the trainer. 
     FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the present invention illustrating the orientation of the trainer when weight is positioned over its right side. 
     FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of the present invention illustrating the orientation of the trainer when weight is positioned over its left side. 
     FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the present invention illustrating the orientation of the trainer when weight is positioned over its center. 
     FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the board rocker is designed to have an elliptical contact surface. 
     FIG. 11 is a front elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the board rocker is designed to have a multi-stepped contact surface. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more specifically to FIGS. 3,  4 ,  5 , and  6 , the snowboard training apparatus  10  is made up of a generally flat plank  17  which is intended to closely approximate the size and feel of a real snowboard. The plank  17  itself is made up of the upper board surface  18  which provides the surface that the user engages to use the present invention. The upper board surface  18  is made up of three separate areas, the forward board end  20 , the board mid-section  28 , and the board tail end  22 . The practical distinction between these three areas of the plank  17  is that the orientation of the plank  17  can be greatly effected by focusing the user&#39;s weight in differing ways within them. In fact, this is the exact manner that one employs to control the direction of travel and the speed of a real snowboard. 
     The lower board surface  32  provides the point of attachment for the rear board rocker  24  and the front board rocker  26 . The rear and front board rockers,  24  and  26 , are mounted laterally across the width of the lower board surface  32  and extend downward therefrom. The rear and front board rockers,  24  and  26 , are mounted in positions which generally separate the board tail end  22  from the board mid-section  28  in the case of the rear board rocker  24  and the board mid-section  28  from the forward board end  20  in the case of the front board rocker  26 . This positioning of the rear and front board rockers,  24  and  26 , is pivotal to the use of the present invention as it effects the balance of the plank  17  during its use. 
     Additionally, the rear and front board rocker,  24  and  26 , are constructed in such a manner so that they are essentially downwardly oriented triangles having the tips, or rocker points  34 , of these triangles being at the furthest point from the point of attachment of the rear and front board rockers,  24  and  26 , to the lower board surface  32 . The triangle portions of the rear and front board rockers,  24  and  26 , are extended away from the lower board surface  32  by the rocker sides  37 . The rocker sides  37  help to lift the invention off of the practice surface  36  which enhances the effectiveness of the invention&#39;s motion during training sessions. 
     The configuration of the rear and front board rockers,  24  and  26 , mean that their rocker points  34  are the primary points of contact between the invention and the surface upon which it is being used. The rear and front board rockers,  24  and  26 , also have two rocker edges  35  which essentially form the outer edges of the triangular shape of these components. These rocker edges  35  form the point of the rear and front board rockers,  24  and  26 , that keep the invention as a whole from rotating beyond. That is to say, the rockers edges  35  keep the plank  17  from pivoting too far to either side and therefore make the invention more stable and safer for people of limited snowboarding experience and ability. 
     The manner in which a snowboard user  12  employs the present invention to learn or practice their technique is further illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The present invention is employed by a snowboard user  12  by placing its rear and front board rockers,  24  and  26 , down on a practice surface  36  and placing his trailing foot  16  on the board tail end  22  on the upper board surface  18  just behind the rear board rocker  24 . This positioning of the trailing foot  16 , and the corresponding placement of one&#39;s weight on it, lifts the forward board end  20  off the practice surface  36 . The mounting process is then completed by placing one&#39;s lead foot  14  on the forward board end  20  directly over the front board rocker  26 . 
     From the above described position, the snowboard user  12  then bends his front knee and ankle which has the effect of placing the majority of his weight on his lead foot  14 . This forces the forward board end  20  down which in turn makes the front board rocker  26  come in contact with the practice surface  36  and raises the board tail end  22  off of the practice surface  36 . Once these initial steps have been accomplished, the snowboard user  12  obtains a neutral balance position over the center of the plank  17  and it is this position upon which all other movements associated with the control of an actual snowboard are based. 
     From the neutral balance position, the snowboard user  12  can practice his balance and control over the orientation of the invention&#39;s plank  17 . The manner in which these changes effect the orientation of the present invention in relation to the practice surface  36  are further illustrated in FIGS. 7,  8 , and  9 . These FIGS. illustrate the manner in which rear board rocker&#39;s  24  orientation can vary from having the rocker edge  35  on one side of the rear board rocker  24  being in contact with the practice surface  36  to having only the rocker point  34  in contact with it to having the rocker edge  35  on the other side of the rear board rocker  24  in contact with the practice surface  36 . Additionally, it is important to note that these illustrated principles applied to the rear board rocker  24  apply equally to the operations of the front board rocker  26 . 
     The key to the use of the present invention is learn how to make and control the small body movements that affect these positions in relation to the practice surface  36  that are essential in controlling a snowboard on a ski hill. These changes in body position are exactly the same as those required to properly control a snowboard on a ski hill and so the unique design characteristics of the invention allow an individual to learn new or improve on existing snowboarding skills without incurring the expenses or dangers of actually going to a ski hill. 
     An alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 10 in which an elliptical rocker  38  is employed instead of the triangular shaped rockers described above. The only difference in this embodiment to that as described above is that the rocker point  34  and rocker edges  35  of the previous embodiment have been replaced by a continuous elliptical rocker surface  46  which is the point of contact for the invention with the practice surface  36 . This design means that the invention&#39;s plank  17  can be continually rotated from side to side in a smooth and even manner without changing the effectiveness of the present invention and thus, provides an alternative for those users who desire it. 
     An additional alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 11 in which stepped rocker  40  is employed as opposed to the elliptical rocker  38  or the triangular shaped rockers described above. The distinguishing feature of this embodiment of the invention is that it has not only a centrally located primary rocker point  42 , but also has a pair of secondary rocker points  44 . These secondary rocker points  44  are located on either side of the primary rocker point  42  just outside of the midpoint between the primary rocker point  42  and the rocker edges  35 . This design provides two more specific points of balance in the secondary rocker points  44  which can be a helpful training aid for some users. Additionally, this design also does not change the overall effectiveness of the invention as to its primary purpose. 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.