Patent Publication Number: US-8979113-B1

Title: Combination carrying strap and tether for snowboards

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention pertains to snowboards and, more particularly, to a combination retractable carrying strap and tether for snowboards that attaches to the bindings thereof. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In recent times, snowboarding has become very popular among snow sport enthusiasts. Ski and snowboard resorts require snowboards to have a tether that is attachable to the boot. This is necessary to prevent the board from sailing out of control down the mountain during a fall or mishap. It is also common to observe that many snowboards feature a carrying strap, which slings about the shoulder of the user. 
     The present invention seeks to combine a tether and carrying strap into a single, retractable unit, which attaches to the binding of a snowboard. The retractable unit is provided with a mounting bracket, which is easily mountable to one of the bindings of a snowboard by means of a single screw, or a plurality of screws. Most bindings have screw holes for this purpose. 
     The combination tether and carrying strap is easily accessible by pulling on the hooking latch, which is attached to the retractable strap. The required length of strap is withdrawn from its receptacle unit. The hooking latch is attached to the laces of the boot or to a key ring attached to the laces of the boot in the tether mode, or it is attached to the other binding in the snowboard-carrying mode. In the snowboard-carrying mode, the attached strap is slung over the shoulder of the user. 
     DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
     Retractable tether mechanisms are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,682, issued to Jeffrey N. Hyman on Jan. 12, 1999 for SNOWBOARD STORAGE COMPARTMENT; U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,164, issued to Michael J. Shoemaker on May 11, 1999 for RETRACTABLE SURFBOARD LEASH; U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,056, issued to Ron Ozaki on May 18, 1999 for COMBINATION TETHER AND LOCKING DEVICE; U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,381, issued to Fahl et al. on Apr. 25, 2000 for RETRACTABLE SHOULDER STRAP BACKPACK; U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,719, issued to Stukas et al. on Feb. 27, 2001 for SNOWBOARD LOCKING DEVICE. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,088, issued Jun. 25, 1991 to Stuart, discloses a safety strap of the invention includes a fastener which is secured to a snowboard, and a length of cable, having a loop at each end thereof. One of the loops is secured to the fastener while the other end has an attachment device secured to it. A leg strap is worn by a snowboard user. The strap is secured about the user&#39;s leg and has a connection thereon for receiving the attachment device at the other end of the cable. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,374,645, issued Apr. 23, 2002 to Fontes, discloses a relatively simple locking device for sporting items such as skateboards, snowboards, snow skis, and the like. In one form of the locking device, the same includes a member which can be affixed to a wheel truck of a skateboard, binding of a snowboard, or binding of a snow ski, and includes a releasable cable which can be wrapped around a fixed or stationary object so as to secure the sporting item. In one embodiment, the cable can be extended and retracted from the body of the locking device. 
     None of these patents, however, teach the attachment of a retractable strap contained within a unit that is affixed to a snowboard binding for the purposes of both tethering and for carrying the snowboard. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a snowboard device is featured providing a safety tether and carrying strap combination. The device comprises a retraction unit that contains a spring-wound strap within its housing. The retractable unit has a flange for attaching the unit to one of the bindings of the snowboard. A screw or a plurality of screws is used to affix the flange, and hence the retraction unit, to the binding. 
     The combination tether and carrying strap is easily accessible by pulling on the hooking latch, which is attached to the retractable strap. A required length of the strap is withdrawn from its receptacle unit. The hooking latch is attached to the laces of the boot or to a key ring, which is attached to the laces of the boot in the tether mode, or it is attached to the other binding in the snowboard-carrying mode. In the snowboard-carrying mode, the attached strap is slung over the shoulder of the user. 
     An advantage of the present invention is to provide a combination tether and carrying strap for a snowboard. 
     It is another advantage to provide an improved tethering device for a snowboard. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent detailed description, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a three-dimensional perspective view of the combination tether and snowboard-carrying device; 
         FIG. 2  depicts an enlarged, in situ view of one of the bindings of the snowboard shown in  FIG. 1 , with a boot disposed therein, and the retractable unit of this invention affixed thereto as a tethering means; and 
         FIG. 3  shows an in situ view of a snowboard user carrying the snowboard using the tether-carrying strap device of this invention. 
     
    
    
     For purposes of brevity and clarity, like components and elements of the apparatus of this invention will bear the same designations or numbering throughout the figures. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Generally speaking, a combination device is featured for both tethering a snowboard to the boot of a user and for carrying the snowboard over the shoulder. The device comprises a retraction unit that contains a spring-wound strap within its housing. The retractable unit has a flange for attaching the unit to one of the bindings of the snowboard. A screw or a plurality of screws is used to affix the flange and, hence the retraction unit, to the binding. The combination tether and carrying strap is easily accessible by pulling on the hooking latch, which is attached to the retractable strap. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 1 , the retractable strap device of this invention, generally referred to as  10 , is shown. The retractable strap device  10  is affixed to the binding  12  of snowboard  15  by means of a flange  14  and securing screws  16  that fit into one or more screw holes  18 , as better observed with reference to  FIG. 3 . The retractable strap device  10  comprises a strap  20 , measuring ¾″ wide×43″ long, that is spring-biased in a wound position within the housing  22  and extends from an opening  24  in said housing  22 , as illustrated. A snap-hook  26  is attached to the distal end  28  of the strap  20 , for connection to either a boot  30  or to the opposite binding  13 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  respectively. 
     In the tethering mode, the strap  20  is attached to the boot  30  of a user. The snap-hook  26  attaches the strap  20  to the boot  30  by hooking onto the laces  32  of the boot  30  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The snap-hook  26  can also be hooked onto a key ring (not shown), which is looped around the laces  32  of boot  30 . In the snowboard-carrying mode, the snap-hook  26  may be secured to the opposite binding  13 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     The retractable unit  19  comprises the housing  22 , the strap  20  and an internal spring (not shown). The housing  22  contains the wound strap (not shown), and has an internal spring that biases the strap  20  to maintain a wound position and for retractably retrieving the strap  20  when extended from the housing  22 . The strap  20  can made of woven nylon mesh, and the snap-hook  26  can be made of metal or plastic. 
     Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention. 
     Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.