Patent Publication Number: US-6905133-B2

Title: Swivel mount for board bindings

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a swivel connector for securing foot bindings to a snowboard, an in-line wheel-mounted land board or the like. More particularly, it relates to a swivel connector that will permit the binding for the forward foot to be swivelled from a normal ride position which is angularly disposed relative to the longitudinal centerline of the snowboard to a position which is substantially aligned with the longitudinal centerline of the snowboard. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   During the normal use of a riding board such as a snowboard or an in-line wheel-mounted land board, the user places his or her feet in fore and aft bindings which are immovably secured to the board. The bindings are disposed at an angle to the longitudinal centerline of the board so that of necessity the user must adopt a side-forward stance. For propulsion on relatively flat terrain, for example in, the vicinity of a chairlift loading area, the normal procedure is to disengage the rear foot from its binding and to use this foot to propel the board. Since the forward binding holds the users foot and ankle at an angle to the direction of travel, the user must compensate by twisting the forward knee and the upper body into a face forward stance in order to maintain a constant direction of travel. Further, while riding on the chairlift, the board is positioned at an awkward and tiring angle from the users forward foot. 
   In the prior art, applicant is aware of U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,430 which issued to Reynolds on May 7, 1998, for a Dual-Locking Automatic Positioning Interface for a Snowboard Binding. Reynolds teaches a boot binding frame  20  clamped between a retainer slip disk  26  positioned on an upper surface of a boot binding frame  20  and a swivel ring  28  positioned on a lower surface. The boot binding frame  20  is fixedly secured to swivel ring  28  for rotational movement therewith, while slip disk  26  is non-rotatively mounted to the snowboard  12 . Thus swivel ring  28  and the boot binding frame  20  may be rotated relative to both snowboard  12  and slip disk  26 . Rotation between the respective pieces is permitted by a disk receptacle or aperture  34  formed in boot binding frame  20 . Since the boot binding frame requires a disk receptacle  34  of a substantial diameter, retrofitting of the Reynolds device to existing snowboard boot binding frames would have limited application and the most practicable application would be the purchase of new boot binding frames specifically designed to cooperate with his device. In the present invention the device is adapted for retrofit to existing binding frames as the components are located beneath the boot binding frame eliminating the need for an equivalent to the disk receptacle  34  of Reynolds, without precluding incorporation of the present invention with new binding frames. 
   Further, the locking mechanism  42  of Reynolds is detached from either slip disk  26  or swivel ring  28  and is separately mounted to snowboard  12 . Within locking mechanism  42  a spring urges locking detent coupler lever  44  into engagement with swivel ring  28 . To release lever  44  from engagement with the locking detents in swivel ring  28 , lever  44  is rotated in a direction which is rotationally opposite to the direction of rotation of the boot binding frame  20  when the frame is rotated toward the walking forward orientation, that is, the so-called Reynolds&#39; soft lock position. Thus, unlike in the present invention, the user kicking the lever to release the ride position lock does not thereby both unlock the swivel and apply angular momentum to the swivelling of the user&#39;s forward foot into the forward-walking position. 
   Further, unlike the present invention, operation of the locking mechanism  42  of Reynolds does not assist the user with repositioning of boot binding frame  20  according to the terrain or task at hand such as dismounting a lift or against increased resistance caused by snow and ice which may tend to clog the swivel mechanism during use. Further, Reynolds has locking positions, including the forward soft lock, which does not provide for the bi-directional range of rotational resistance of the forward-walking positions of the present invention. 
   It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a means for overcoming the difficulties encountered while trying to propel a board on relatively level terrain or in the vicinity of the chairlift boarding and dismount area or for use on a T-bar lift during boarding, dismount and transition. 
   A further object of this invention is to provide a swivel connector for securing the forward binding of a board so that the user may easily reposition his forward foot from a ride position to forward-walking positions. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The swivel mount for a board binding of the present invention includes a base mountable to an upper surface of a board, and a swivel plate rotatably mounted on the base for relative swivelling rotation of the swivel plate relative to the base between a ride position and forward-walking positions. The swivel plate may be a separate component from the binding or integrally mounted into, or formed as part of the binding. 
   When the swivel plate is in the ride position the binding is oriented generally perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the board. When the swivel plate is in the forward-walking positions, the binding is oriented to point a user&#39;s first foot, for example the forward foot, in the binding toward a front end of the board so as to generally form an acute angle between the binding and the longitudinal axis of the board. The forward-walking positions extend in a radial arc radially spaced from the ride position. 
   A non-locking, non free-floating rotational resistance means cooperates between the swivel plate and the base for increasing rotational resistance above that of free-floating rotation but without locking of the swivel plate in a preset locking position when swivelling the swivel plate through the radial arc. The rotational resistance means provides resistance of a level between free-floating rotation having substantially no resistance to rotation, and locking rotational resistance requiring unlocking by a user&#39;s hand or second foot, for example the rearward foot, to permit rotation. 
   At least one ride position latch is provided for releasably locking the swivel plate in the ride position relative to the base upon rotational urging by the user&#39;s first foot when the first foot is in the binding or integral with the swivel plate so as to return the swivel plate from the forward walking position to the ride position. 
   An actuator is provided for releasing the ride position latch. The actuator is actuated by a force applied by the second foot in a first direction urging the swivel plate to swivel from said ride position to the forward-walking positions. 
   The actuator may comprise a flexible arm flexibly mounted to the swivel plate. The flexible arm may have a force receiving member at a first distal end thereof, the first distal end extending generally radially outwardly of the swivel plate. The ride position latch may comprise a first pawl mounted on the flexible arm and a detent member fixedly mounted relative to the upper surface of the board, for example mounted to the board or to the base. The detent member forms a detent. The first pawl is for releasably engaging the detent so as to releasably lock the swivel plate in the ride position. The flexible arm is actuable by a force applied generally in the first direction so as to flex relative to the swivel plate to thereby release the pawl from the engagement with the detent. 
   Alternatively, the ride position latch may comprise only a detent member fixedly mounted relative to the upper surface of the board, the detent member forming a detent, and the flexible arm releasably engaging the detent so as to releasably lock the swivel plate in the ride position. The force receiving member, upon receiving a force applied thereto in the direction of rotation of the swivel plate from the ride position to the forward-walking positions, flexes the flexible arm so as to disengage the flexible arm from the detent. Where the flexible arm flexes in the plane of the swivel plate, the force receiving member may be a rigid kick plate. 
   The force receiving member may be a lever for disengaging the flexible arm from the detent by flexing the flexible arm out of a plane containing the swivel plate. Such a force receiving member may be a rocker arm having a fulcrum engaging an upper surface of the detent member forming the detent. 
   The resistance means may comprise a second pawl and an array of pawl receivers lying in a rotational trajectory of the second pawl for mating with the second pawl. 
   The second pawl may be mounted on the swivel plate, and the array of pawl receivers may be formed in the base. Alternatively, the second pawl may be mounted on the base and the array of pawl receivers may be formed in the swivel plate. Further alternatively, the second pawl may be mounted on the actuator and the array of pawl receivers may be formed on the base. Alternatively, the second pawl may be mounted on the base and the array of pawl receivers may be formed on the actuator. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the swivel mount of the present invention mounted on a snowboard in a normal ride position. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the swivel mount of  FIG. 1  in a rotated forward-walking position, substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the snowboard. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the swivel mount of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken on line  4 — 4  of FIG.  2 . 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view, partially in section, illustrating the swivel mount of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view, partially in section, of the swivel mount of FIG.  2 . 
       FIG. 7  is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken on line  8 — 8  of FIG.  7 . 
       FIG. 9  is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  is a sectional view taken on line  10 — 10  of FIG.  9 . 
       FIG. 11  is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 12  is a sectional view taken on line  12 — 12  of FIG.  11 . 
       FIG. 13  is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 14  is a sectional view taken on line  14 — 14  of FIG.  13 . 
       FIG. 15  is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 16  is an enlarged view of the rotation arresting device of FIG.  15 . 
       FIG. 17  is a plan view, partially cut-away, illustrating the alternative rotation arresting device of  FIG. 15  incorporated into a binding of a snowboard. 
       FIG. 18  is an isometric view illustrating an alternative means for securing the swivel plate lever in the ride position. 
       FIG. 19  is a sectional view taken on line  19 — 19  of FIG.  18 . 
       FIG. 20  is a partial front view of a snowboard binding, illustrating one form of spring actuated braking lever. 
       FIG. 21  is an isometric view of an alternative form of spring actuated braking lever. 
       FIG. 22  is an enlarged isometric view of the alternative form of spring actuated braking lever of FIG.  21 . 
       FIG. 23  is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 24  is a sectional view taken on line  24 — 24  of FIG.  23 . 
       FIG. 25  is, in plan view, a further embodiment of the ride position latching mechanism of the swivel mount of the present invention. 
       FIG. 26  is, in partially cut-away perspective view, the ride position latch mechanism of FIG.  25 . 
       FIG. 27  is a cross-sectional view along line  27 — 27  in FIG.  26 . 
       FIG. 28  is a partially cut-away cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment ride position latch releasing mechanism corresponding to the view of FIG.  27 . 
       FIG. 29  is, in partially cut-away perspective view, a further alternative embodiment of the forward-walking position resistance mechanism of FIG.  25 . 
       FIG. 30  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  30 — 30  in FIG.  29 . 
       FIG. 31  is, in partially cut away plan view, a board braking mechanism mounted to a swivel plate according to the present invention when rotated into a forward walking position. 
       FIG. 32  is the view of  FIG. 31  with the swivel plate rotated into the in-line forward-walking position. 
       FIG. 33  is a cross-sectional view along line  33 — 33  in FIG.  31 . 
       FIGS. 34-36  correspond to  FIGS. 31-33  in an embodiment where the braking mechanism is mounted to the binding. 
       FIG. 37  is, in partially cut-away perspective view, a further embodiment of the ride position latch of the swivel mount of the present invention. 
       FIG. 38  is a partially cut-away cross-sectional view along line  38 — 38  in FIG.  37 . 
       FIG. 39  is, in partially cut-away perspective view, a further alternative embodiment of the present invention in the ride position. 
       FIG. 40  is the swivel mount of  FIG. 39  in a forward-walking position. 
       FIG. 41  is, in enlarged partially cut-away perspective view, an alternative embodiment of a ride position latch release. 
       FIG. 42  is a sectional view along line  42 — 42  in FIG.  41 . 
       FIG. 43  is the latch release of  FIG. 42  releasing the latch. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
   As used herein, reference to snowboard or board is meant to include all forms of riding boards whether for use on snow, or on soft or hard terrain, flat or rough, whether the board slides on its under-surface or rolls on wheels, tracks or other conveyor means. Further, as used herein, reference to a user&#39;s forward foot or rearward foot or reference to a forward binding or rearward binding are intended to be interchangeable. That is, although described in relation to the normal situation where a user removes the rear foot from the rear binding during use of an uphill lift or during flat terrain translation, the scope of the present invention is intended also to cover the reverse, where a user instead removes a forward foot from the forward binding. 
   As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , swivel mount  10  is mounted to upper surface  12   a  of a board  12  at the location where the forward binding  14  is to be mounted. Mount  10  has a relatively low side-on profile so as to be raised only minimally above upper surface  12   a . A user may choose to secure a disk shaped spacer (not shown) of similar thickness beneath the rear binding to provide a level stance. 
   As seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , connector  10  includes in one embodiment a swivel housing  16  which may be mounted to snowboard  12  by screws  16   a . Swivel housing  16  has a base  18  and an upstanding annular perimeter wall  20  which define a cavity  22  therebetween. Perimeter wall  20  is formed with annular shoulder  20   a  on its exterior surface. This results in a slightly recessed upstanding annular collar portion  20   b . Slot  24  in wall  20  is positioned between base  18  and shoulder  20   a , parallel to the base. 
   A swivel plate  30  is rotatably mounted within cavity  22  of housing  16 . A locking lever  32  projects laterally outward from plate  30 . Locking lever  32 , which in all embodiments of locking levers or arms herein may be manufactured from a resilient material such as spring steel or robust plastic, extends outward through slot  24  formed in perimeter wall  20 . Swivel plate  30  is formed with an inwardly turned annular shoulder  30   a  on the exterior surface, which results in an annular outer surface  30   b  defining an upper planar surface  33 . The upper edge of wall  20  extends slightly above annular shoulder  30   a  on swivel plate  30 . Upper planar face  33  has a plurality of threaded holes  34  enabling binding  14  to be rigidly bolted thereto. A recess  35  may be formed on the underside of swivel plate  30  to reduce surface area contact with base  18 . 
   A locking ring  36  having an annular upper surface  36   a  and a contiguous annular depending sidewall  36   b  is mounted over swivel housing  16 . Depending sidewall  36   b  slides over recessed upstanding annular collar portion  20   b  formed on perimeter wall  20  of swivel housing  16  until sidewall  36   b  contacts annular shoulder  20   a  and the upper face  33  of cylindrical swivel plate  30  projects slightly outwardly of upper surface  36   a  of locking ring  36 . Locking ring  36  is secured to housing  16  with setscrews  38 . Annular upper surface  36   a  extends radially inwardly so as to be in proximity to annular outer surface  30   b  of swivel plate  30  to inhibit snow and moisture incursion. 
   As seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , perimeter wall  20  has at least one primary detent  40  at a first end of slot  24  and a plurality of secondary detents or protrusions  40   a  formed at the opposite second end of slot  24 . Although only two primary detents  40  are illustrated, this is not intended to be limiting as it may be desirable to have more than merely one or two latching ride positions. Thus in all of the embodiments herein, it is expressly intended to be within the scope of the invention to include a plurality of ride position latches, radially spaced from one another, to allow for a user to select a desirable or comfortable ride position. 
   Locking lever  32  has oppositely disposed arcuately curved arms  44  and  44   a  which extend laterally outward of the lever, adjacent to wall  20 . A pawl  48  projects from the distal end of each of the arms for firmly engaging detents  40  and  40   a . Pawl  48  on arm  44  engages primary detent  40 . Pawl  48  on arm  44   a  engages secondary detents  40   a . Because binding  14  is mounted to swivel plate  30 , rotating lever  32  so as to engage pawls  48  with either detents  40  or  40   a  also correspondingly rotates binding  14 . Thus the binding may be rotated by a user so as to latch into a ride position when pawl  48  on arm  44  is mated behind primary detent  40 . Reference to the ride position herein connotes the normal angular orientation of bindings  14  for riding on the board, that is, substantially or generally perpendicular to longitudinal axis A′. 
     FIG. 5  illustrates binding  14  (in dotted outline) positioned at an angle ∝ relative to the longitudinal axis A′ of the snowboard  12 . Pawl  48  on arm  44  is latched behind detent  40 . Again, this angular orientation of binding  14  relative to board  12  is intended to indicate the normal “ride” position of a user&#39;s foot when the user is riding on the board with the user&#39;s foot mounted to the board by the binding. Unintended rotation in direction B of binding  14  out of the ride position, so as to point the foot of the user toward the front of the board along longitudinal axis A′ of snowboard  12 , i.e., so as to reduce angle ∝, is prevented by the engagement of pawl  48  on arm  44  with detent  40 . Rotation of binding  14  toward the longitudinal axis of snowboard  12 , is enabled by deflecting or bending or flexing locking lever  32  in direction B so as to rotate the binding about rotation axis B′. This may be accomplished for example by pushing against or kicking the radially outwardly distal end of lever  32  in direction B, against the inherent return biasing resiliency of the material such as spring steel from which the lever is manufactured. Where a plurality of primary detents  40  are provided radially spaced apart on wall  20 , the user may select the desired primary detent so as to select a desired angle for the side-forward stance ride position. 
   To ease mobility on the board when not riding, for example when on relatively flat terrain, or for example in the vicinity of the chairlift boarding or dismount area, or for use in association with a T-bar lift, and without entirely removing the board from the user&#39;s feet, normally only the user&#39;s rear foot is removed, that is, extracted from the rear binding. This frees the rear foot of the user to engage, for example by kicking in direction B, the distal end of locking lever  32 . Lever  32  is kicked on the side opposite to the intended direction of rotation of binding  14 . When kicked, lever  32  is deformed so as to rotate pawl  48  radially outwardly of wall  20 , to free latched contact of pawl  48  with detent  40 . Using either or both of the initial kicking force and continued foot pressure against lever  32 , binding  14  and swivel plate  30  are then further rotated in direction B to the toe forward or forward-walking positions or orientations of  FIG. 6  where angle ∝ is reduced from the ride position to an acute angle. The available range of motion will depend on the desired range of angular rotation desired for use in the forward walking positions as described better below. 
   In the forward-walking positions the user&#39;s forward foot and ankle in binding  14  is under less angular strain than in the ride position when the rear foot is used to peddle for forward motion. Accordingly, the detent and pawl securing binding  14  in the forward-walking positions need not provide, and it is not desirable that they provide, the same degree of angular retention or resistance to rotation as the corresponding detent and pawl for retention of the binding in the ride position. As illustrated, detents  40   a  are rounded, permitting rotation of binding  14  in a direction opposite to direction B without the need for foot pressure using the rear foot against locking lever  32 , that is, permitting rotation of binding  14  towards the ride position solely due to the force exerted by the user in rotating the forward foot so as to either adjust to the desired angle ∝ in the forward-walking position or to return the binding to latch into the board riding position. 
   Alternative embodiments for partially impeding or resisting the free-floating rotation of swivel plate  30  relative to the board once pawl  48  on locking lever  32  is freed from latched engagement behind detent  40 , and for retaining the swivel plate in a desired forward-walking position, are illustrated in  FIGS. 7 through 17 ,  FIGS. 23 through 30 , and  FIGS. 37 through 43 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 7 , lever  80 , integrally formed with swivel plate  80   a , has been rotated slightly in direction B by impact from the user&#39;s rear foot (not shown). The impact has resulted in a flexure of lever  80  about neck  81 , so as to translate pawl  82  and arm  80   b  in direction P resulting in disengaging pawl  82  from detent  84  mounted on lower plate  86 . In this position further rotation in direction B, toward the forward-walking positions, is accomplished by a twisting motion in direction B of the user&#39;s forward foot (not shown), i.e. the foot held within binding  14  when mounted on swivel plate  80   a.    
   Arm  90  extends from locking lever  80  in the plane of swivel plate  80   a . Arm  90  extends arcuately, generally in the direction of rotation B. Arm  90  has formed on its underside an array of recesses  92  (shown in dotted outline) which engage, so as to mate with, a protrusion or pawl  94  projecting from the upper surface of lower plate  86 . Protrusion  94  may as seen in  FIG. 8  be in the form of a cavity  94   a  containing a sphere, such as a ball bearing,  96 . Sphere  96  may be urged by spring  98  so as to project slightly from the open end of cavity  94   a  above the upper surface of lower plate  86 . Otherwise protrusion  94  may be a rigid projection or bump relying on the resiliency of arm  90  to allow sliding of the recesses into mating engagement with the projection or bump. As described herein, any protrusion, ball, sphere, bump or rigid projection intended to engage a mating recess or array of recesses, may also be collectively referred to as a pawl. 
   Engagement of sphere  96  with any one of recesses  92  impedes the free rotation of swivel plate  80   a  as the swivel plate is rotated through the arc defined by the length of the array of recesses  92 . This coincides with the desired arc of the forward-walking positions of binding  14 . Thus in the forward walking positions, the swivelling of swivel plate  80   a  and hence the orientation of the forward foot may be selected, and actively adjusted by the user to a comfortable toe forward orientation. 
   In  FIGS. 9 and 10  the arrangement of recesses  92  and protrusion  94  is reversed. Arm  90  contains protrusion  94 . In this embodiment, sphere  96  is urged by spring  98  to project slightly from the underside of arm  90  to resiliently engage recesses  92  formed on the upper surface of lower plate  86 . 
   As seen in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , arm  90  extends from locking lever  80  at a radius from the rotation axis B′ which exceeds the radius of the outer edge of bottom plate  86 . As locking lever  80  and arm  90  are rotated in direction B, protrusion  94  mounted on the upper surface of board  12  will be engaged. Sphere  96  engages recesses  92  on the underside of arm  90  to partially impede or lend resistance to the free-floating rotation of swivel plate  80   a  about axis B′. 
   Illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14  is an embodiment where arm  90  and locking lever  80  are integrally formed with the sole of binding  100  so as to project radially outwardly therefrom. Arm  90  has an array of recesses  92  formed on its underside. Rotation of the bindings  100 , in direction B, brings the circular trajectory of arm  90  into alignment with protrusion  94  projecting from the upper surface of board  12 . Frictional engagement of any one of the array of recesses  92  with sphere  96  partially impedes or resists the free-floating rotation of the binding and swivel plate relative to the base plate. 
   In  FIGS. 15 and 16  recess  102  formed adjacent to detent  84  frictionally engages convolutions  104  in opposed facing relation on the end of lever  80  adjacent swivel plate  80   a . Detent  84  is rigidly mounted to board  12  and pawl  82  must be rotated past recess  102 , in direction B, before convolutions  104  are brought into engagement so as to mate in succession with recess  102  as the swivel plate and binding are rotated through the radial are comprising the forward-walking positions. 
     FIG. 17  illustrates the device of  FIGS. 15 and 16  formed as part of a binding  100 . Binding  100  may be molded around a portion of lever  80  such as elongated arm  106 . It is expressly intended to be within the scope of the present invention that the swivel plate may be a separate component or an integral component integrally mounted or formed within the forward binding. 
     FIGS. 18 and 19  illustrate an alternative form of locking detent for lever  80 . In this form, detent  84  is formed on a rotatable clip latch  108  mountable either to lower plate  86  or to the upper surface of the board. In the closed position, clip latch  108  clamps or grips a portion, for example the end of lever  80 , to retain binding  14  in the ride position. Clip  108  may be resiliently urged by a spring (not shown) to its closed position. 
     FIGS. 20 through 22  illustrate optional spring operated brake arms intended to prevent dismounted boards from careening downhill. A run-away board on a steep slope may attain a speed which may cause serious injury should the board collide with a person, or damage to the board should it strike a solid object. 
     FIG. 20  illustrates a brake mechanism  110  which is pivotally mounted to a board adjacent to a binding, for example a binding  100 . Brake  110  is held in a retracted position, as shown in broken lines, by securing the free end of a flexible tether  112  to a lace of a boot. Tether  112  may be resilient such as of elastic cord. Upon release of tether  112  from the boot lace, as would be the case when the user steps out of binding  100 , spring action pivots brake mechanism  110  to the deployed position illustrated in solid lines. Brake arm  114  is sufficiently long so that, in the deployed position, the downwardly projecting distal end portion of brake arm  114  extends sufficiently below the underside of the board to dig into the surface over which the board is riding to inhibit run-away of the board. 
   In  FIGS. 21 and 22  an alternative spring loaded braking mechanism  120  is shown having a pressure paddle  122  at one end of a rotatable shaft  124  and a brake arm  126  at the opposite end. Paddle  122  is rotated to elevate brake arm  126  so that paddle  122  lies within a heel cut-away portion of the binding. Placement of a foot within the binding maintains brake arm  126  in the elevated position. Removal of the foot from the binding allows 180 degree rotation of paddle  122  and brake arm  126  by action of spring  128  to extend the end portion of arm  126  below the underside of the board to dig into the terrain surface. 
   Illustrated in  FIGS. 23 and 24  is an embodiment which incorporates an integrally formed resistance device  130  within the sole of binding  100 . Rotation of the binding in direction B brings sphere  96 , protruding from resistance device  130 , into arcuate alignment with recesses  132  on bar  134 . Bar  134  is rigidly mounted on the upper surface of the board. Engagement of any one of the series of recesses  132  with spring-loaded sphere  96  partially impedes the free-floating rotation of the binding without fixedly locking rotation so that manual intervention by hand is needed to adjust the forward-walking position. 
     FIGS. 25-27  illustrate a further alternative embodiment of the swivel mount ride position latch mechanism. In particular, arm  140  extends resiliently from swivel plate  142  for rotation in direction B so as to rotate binding  14  relative to snowboard  12 . Arm  140  is illustrated latched in the ride position the distal end of arm  140  releasably snugly mated between opposed facing wedges  144   a  and  144   b . Wedges  144   a  and  144   b  are rigidly mounted to board  12  for example by fasteners such as bolts or screws  146 . Arm  140  may be unlatched from mating engagement between wedges  144   a  and  144   b  by a user lifting the distal end of arm.  140  against the return resilient biasing force of the arm, so as to lift it above the uppermost edge of  144   a  thereby allowing rotation of arm  140  in direction B over wedge  144   a . Lifting of arm  140  may be done by a user grasping and pulling upwardly on knob  147 . The use of knob  147  is not intended to be limiting and in a further embodiment is replaced by foot actuable device, for example where knob  147  is replaced by a toe cup (shown in dotted outline as a cut-away from the knob) mounted to the distal end of arm  140 . In this embodiment the rear foot of the user may be used to engage the toe cup and then simply lift the toe cup with the rear foot so as to disengage arm  140  from wedge  144   a  allowing the rear foot of the user to then urge arm  140  in direction B so as to rotate binding  14  into the forward-walking positions. 
   In the forward-walking positions, a downward protrusion from arm  140 , for example spring loaded ball  148 , engages recesses  150  in curved bar  152  mounted to board  12 . The resilient mating engagement of the protrusion such as spring loaded ball  148  from the bottom of arm  140  resiliently mates with recesses  150  as binding  14  is rotated in direction B by the rotation of the forward foot of the user and by reason also of any rotational momentum imparted by the rear foot of the user if used to unlatch arm  140  from the ride position. 
   It is to be understood that whether the downward protrusion from arm  140  is resiliently mated with recesses  150  because of the resilient bending of arm  140  or the resilient compression of spring  154  within housing  156 , the end result is that the relative position of binding  14  relative to board  12  may be adjusted by manual rotation of the user&#39;s forward foot so that the user may adjust into a comfortable forward-walking position depending on whether the user is forwardly translating by pedalling with the free rear foot, or exiting from a chair lift down an inclined ramp or otherwise in transit where temporarily the terrain is downwardly inclined so that the user may ride on the board, the terrain such that intermittent pedalling is still needed. Thus the user may quickly shift from a comfortable in-line forward-walking position to an angularly offset forward translating position while still remaining within the forward-walking range of positions. 
   During forward translation, when not pedalling, the rear foot may be placed on the board for example between the forward and rear bindings. Typically a no-slip pad is installed on the board between the bindings expressly for temporary frictional engagement between the board and the rear foot of the user. 
   Collectively herein, all of the so-called forward-walking positions, including the straight in-line position which is perhaps the most comfortable for forward transit using the rear foot to pedal the board in a forward motion, and what is described herein loosely as within an acute angle from the in-line position, are all encompassed within the generic term forward-walking positions. Consequently a user, once un-latched from the ride position, may enter the range of forward-walking positions immediately radially adjacent the ride position. Thus when exiting a chairlift the user may, for example while on the chairlift, have positioned the forward foot and binding into a position very close to the ride position. This gives the user a familiar ride feel when riding down the off ramp. Once off the ramp, the user may then latch into the ride position for downhill riding. 
   Thus the latch mechanism for holding binding  14  in the ride position will be located in a radial position relative to the swivel plate so as to not interfere with the resilient engagement of the rotational resistance mechanism engaged in the forward-walking positions. The latch mechanism also should not protrude from the board surface so as not to interfere with use of the board while either riding or translating when the binding is in the forward-walking positions. Consequently, where the ride position latch mechanism is an arm protruding from the swivel plate, generally the arm will be positioned radially spaced from the rotational resistance mechanism in the forward-walking positions. Thus as seen in  FIGS. 29 and 30 , the forward-walking position resistance mechanism includes curved bars  158  extending from arm  140 , each bar  158  having recesses  160  on its under surface so as to engage a protrusion protruding upwardly from board  12  such as spring loaded ball  162 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 28 , a foot operated release such as rocker arm  164  may be mounted to board  12  and employed to release arm  140  from between wedges  144   a  and  144   b . Thus, with cantilevered end  164   a  of rocker arm  164  positioned between the wedges and underneath the distal end of arm  140  when latched in the ride position, the rear foot of the user may be used to press down on upturned end  164   b  about fulcrum mount  166  so as to engage cantilevered end  164   a  with the underside of arm  140 . This elevates the distal end of arm  140  above wedge  144   a  allowing for rotation of the binding in direction B from the ride position into the forward-walking positions. 
     FIGS. 31-33  illustrate a board braking mechanism  170  mounted to swivel plate  172 . The brake mechanism has a resiliently urged arm  174  pivotally mounted for example for pivotal movement about spring  176  relative to base member  178  on swivel plate  172 . Within the range of typical ride positions such as illustrated in  FIGS. 31 and 32 , base member  178  extends from beneath binding  14  so as to dispose arm  174  for deployment over the left hand edge  12   b  of snowboard  12 . 
   Arm  174  may, without intending to be limiting, be bent into a Z-shape so that when foot pressure of a user&#39;s forward foot in binding  14  is removed from pressing down on end  174   a  of arm  174 , spring  176  then resiliently urges the opposite end  174   b  away from binding  14  into a downwardly disposed position engaging the terrain beneath board  12 . 
   In  FIGS. 34-36 , arm  174  operates in a similar fashion to the embodiment of  FIGS. 31-33 , but is however mounted directly to binding  14  instead of mounted to swivel plate  172 . 
   In the embodiment of  FIGS. 37 and 38 , arm  140  on swivel plate  172  is latched in the ride position within slide housing  180 . The cavity within slide housing  180  captures the distal end of arm  140  when slide housing  180  is slid radially inwardly relative to swivel plate  172  along linear track  182  formed within rigid member  184  extending from base  18 . In the embodiment illustrated, the forward-walking position resistance mechanism includes upwardly protruding pawls such as bumps or protrusions  186  in a curved array so as to engage a corresponding recess  188  formed on the underside of arm  140  as arm  140  is rotated in direction B from the ride position into the forward-walking positions. As before, it is not intended to be limiting that the pawl protrusions are mounted on the base plate and the recess on the swivel plate, as it is intended to be within the scope of the present invention that the recesses may be formed in the base plate and the pawl protrusion for mating with the recesses be formed on the swivel plate. 
   As seen in  FIGS. 39 and 40 , kick arm  200  has rigidly mounted at its distal end a kick plate  202 . The radially inward end of kick arm  200  is mounted to swivel plate  204  by resilient flex arm  206 . The amount of flexing of flex arm  206  when kick plate  202  is kicked by a user&#39;s rear foot is limited by stop arm  208  engaging the base arm  210  extending from the swivel plate. 
   Ride position latch pawl  212  protrudes radially inwardly from the inner end of kick arm  200  so as to engage one of the ride position detents  214  on the detent member  215  mounted to base plate  18 . The user selects which detent  214  to use, for example which is most comfortable or best suited to the desired board riding. 
   When kick arm  200  has been rotated in direction B from the ride position to the forward-walking position, pawl  218  mounted on the end of flex arm  220  engages a radially spaced array of recesses, convolutions, corrugations or teeth  222  radially spaced around base  18 . 
   Flange  224  extends rigidly from swivel plate  204  so as to engage stop  226  as binding  14  on swivel plate  204  is rotated into the in-line forward-walking position. 
   A secondary flex arm  228  may be provided which extends from the radially innermost end of kick arm  200 . Secondary pawl  230  is mounted at the distal end of secondary flex arm  228  so as to engage a protrusion mounted to base plate  18  or board  12  such as detent  214 . Secondary pawl  230  is radially spaced on secondary flex arm  228  so that, as kick arm  200  is rotating in direction B, secondary pawl  230  disengages from detent  214  once pawl  218  is in engagement with teeth  222 , that is, begins rotating through the forward-walking positions. Secondary pawl  230  thus provides tactile feedback to the user indicating for example the mid-range or the end of range of motion in the forward-walking positions. Over-rotation of secondary flex arm  228  is prevented by stop  216 . Pawl  230  may further provide a resiliently biased increase in rotational resistance as swivel plate is rotated in a direction opposite to direction B to indicate to the user that the binding has been rotated to, for example, the mid-range or the limit of travel within the forward-walking positions. If the user then desires to continue rotation of the binding so as to return to the ride position, the slightly increased rotational resistance provided by secondary pawl riding over detent  214  is overcome by the user deliberately twisting the forward foot. 
   In the embodiment of  FIGS. 41-43 , arm  140  on swivel plate  142  in the ride position is again mated behind wedge  144   a . In this embodiment however, instead of the use of a knob  146  or toe cup, or the use of a rocker arm to release the distal end of arm  140  from being latched in the ride position behind wedge  144   a , a rocker arm  190  is mounted to arm  140  for example by means of hinge  192  so as to extend over wedge  144   a  for rotation about axis C. Rocker arm  190  may be resiliently urged down onto wedges  144   a  by a spring (not shown). Rocker arm  190  has at its opposite end to hinge  192  an upturned toe catch  194  so that a force applied downwardly on toe catch  194  rotates rocker arm  190  about axis D, being the pivot point of fulcrum  196  resting on wedge  144   a . Rotation of rocker arm  190  about fulcrum  196  elevates arm  140  above wedge  144   a  so as to release arm  140  from latched engagement in the ride position behind wedge  144   a.    
   Thus for a user to unlatch binding  14  from the ride position, the toe of the user&#39;s rear foot may be used to engage toe catch  194  so as to both rotate rocker arm  190  about fulcrum  196  and, once arm  140  is released from behind wedge  144   a , to slide rocker arm  190  and thus arm  140  in direction B thereby assisting the rotation of binding  14  into the forward-walking positions. The pressing down onto toe catch  194  may be a discrete first movement by the user&#39;s rear foot then followed by a sliding of the rocker arm in direction B, or the movement by the user&#39;s rear foot may be a combined pressing down and sliding, for example so as to direct a force applied by the user&#39;s rear foot in direction A′ to simultaneously rotate rocker arm  190  freeing arm  140  and rotating arm  140  in direction B by reason of the force vector component in direction A. 
   As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.