SNOWBOARD ACCESSORY

Abstract

A snowboard accessory for engagement with a snowboard boot and a snowboard is described. The snowboard accessory includes a support pad including a top support pad surface and a bottom support pad surface. At least a portion of the support pad is magnetically active. The top support pad surface is configured for both magnetic and supporting engagement with at least a portion of a snowboard. An elongated anchoring strap extends laterally from the support pad and includes at least one strap end laterally spaced from the support pad. The elongate anchoring strap is removably attached to the bottom support pad surface. The at least one strap end is configured for securement to the snowboard boot.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/376,959, filed 19 Aug. 2016, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for use of a snowboard accessory and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for use of a snowboard accessory for engagement with a snowboard boot and a snowboard.

BACKGROUND

[0003] At a ski resort, a chair lift is typically used by snowboarders and skiers to ride to the top of the ski hill. When snowboarders board a chair lift, they are required to remove one boot from its snowboard binding, leaving the lead boot strapped into its binding on the snowboard. Once the snowboarder is on the chair lift, the snowboard naturally hangs freely from the attached lead boot, so the snowboarder often rests the detached end of the snowboard on the detached boot for support. This can result in damage to the detached snowboard boot as the sharp edge of the snowboard digs or cuts into the supporting detached boot. Additionally, snowboarders could experience discomfort as they hold their rear ankle in an upward position to prevent the snowboard from falling off of their supporting, detached boot.

SUMMARY

[0004] In an aspect, a snowboard accessory for engagement with a snowboard boot and a snowboard is described. The snowboard accessory includes a support pad including a top support pad surface and a bottom support pad surface. At least a portion of the support pad is magnetically active. The top support pad surface is configured for both magnetic and physical supporting engagement with at least a portion of a snowboard. An elongated anchoring strap extends laterally from the support pad and includes at least one strap end laterally spaced from the support pad. The elongate anchoring strap is removably attached to the bottom support pad surface. The at least one strap end is configured for securement to the snowboard boot.

[0005] In an aspect, a system for supporting a snowboard is described. The system includes a snowboard boot including a tongue, an outer boot form, and laces securing the outer boot form and extending across the tongue. A snowboard accessory for engagement with a snowboard boot and a snowboard includes a support pad having a top support pad surface and a bottom support pad surface. At least a portion of the support pad is magnetically active. The top support pad surface is configured for both magnetic and physical supporting engagement with at least a portion of the snowboard. An elongated anchoring strap extends laterally from the support pad and includes at least one strap end laterally spaced from the support pad. The elongate anchoring strap is removably attached to the bottom support pad surface. The at least one strap end is configured for securement to the snowboard boot.

[0006] In an aspect, a method for supporting a snowboard is described. The method includes providing a snowboard boot including a toe region, a tongue, an outer boot form, and laces securing the outer boot form and extending across the tongue. A snowboard accessory is provided, including a support pad having a top support pad surface and a bottom support pad surface. At least a portion of the support pad is magnetically active. The snowboard accessory includes an elongate anchoring strap extending laterally from the support pad and including at least one strap end laterally spaced from the support pad. The elongate anchoring strap is removably attached to the bottom support pad surface. A snowboard is provided. The snowboard accessory is secured to the snowboard boot. The support pad is maintained longitudinally atop the toe region of the snowboard boot. The top support surface is selectively magnetically and physically engaged with at least a portion of the snowboard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] For a better understanding, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0008] FIG. 1A is a perspective top view of a snowboard accessory;

[0009] FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 1A.

[0010] FIG. 2A is a bottom view of an element of the snowboard accessory of FIG. 1A;

[0011] FIG. 2B is a top view of an element of the snowboard accessory of FIG. 1A.

[0012] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a system of supporting a snowboard, including the snowboard accessory of FIG. 1A;

[0013] FIG. 3B is a perspective view of an alternate configuration of a system of supporting a snowboard, including the snowboard accessory of FIG. 1A;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a flowchart depicting a method for supporting a snowboard; and

[0015] FIG. 5 is a partial cutaway view of a snowboard engaged with the snowboard accessory of FIG. 1A.

DESCRIPTION OF ASPECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0016] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains.

[0017] As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" can include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," as used herein, can specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0018] As used herein, the term "and/or" can include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0019] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "on," "attached" to, "connected" to, "coupled" with, "contacting," etc., another element, it can be directly on, attached to, connected to, coupled with or contacting the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being, for example, "directly on," "directly attached" to, "directly connected" to, "directly coupled" with or "directly contacting" another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that references to a structure or feature that is disposed "directly adjacent" another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature, whereas a structure or feature that is disposed "adjacent" another feature might not have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.

[0020] Spatially relative terms, such as "under," "below," "lower," "over," "upper" and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms can encompass different orientations of a device in use or operation, in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is inverted, elements described as "under" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "over" the other elements or features.

[0021] It will be understood that, although the terms "first," "second," etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. Thus, a "first" element discussed below could also be termed a "second" element without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure. The sequence of operations (or steps) is not limited to the order presented in the claims or figures unless specifically indicated otherwise.

[0022] The invention comprises, consists of, or consists essentially of the following features, in any combination.

[0023] FIGS. 1A and 1B depict a snowboard accessory 100 for engagement with a snowboard boot 302 and a snowboard 400. The snowboard accessory 100 comprises a support pad 102 including spaced top 104 and bottom 106 support pad surfaces, with at least a portion of the support pad 102 being magnetically active, and the top support pad surface 104 being configured for both magnetic and supporting engagement with at least a portion of the snowboard 400. The top support pad surface 104 and the bottom support pad surface 106 may be made of a durable plastic or metal composite, or from any other suitable material or combination of materials.

[0024] The snowboard accessory 100 further comprises an elongate anchoring strap 108 extending laterally from the support pad 102 and includes at least one strap end 110 laterally spaced from the support pad 102. The "lateral" direction, as used herein, is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and is the side-to-side direction, in the orientation of FIG. 1B, as opposed to the up-and-down direction of the longitudinal direction. The elongate anchoring strap 108 is removably attached to the bottom support pad surface 106. The elongate anchoring strap 108 and the at least one strap end 110 are configured for securement to the snowboard boot 302. The anchoring strap 108 may be comprised of a durable, flexible material (e.g., plastic or rubber) that is capable of maintaining its shape and may be malleable for manipulation when being secured to the snowboard boot 302.

[0025] The top support pad surface 104 includes a groove 112 for selectively accepting, and physically supporting, at least a portion of the snowboard 400. The groove 112 extends laterally across the top support pad surface 104. The groove 112 may have any suitable configuration to support the snowboard 400. The groove 112 may be configured to resist sliding of the snowboard 400 laterally relative to the top support pad surface 104.

[0026] The portion of the top support pad surface 104 adjacent to the groove 112 may be comprised of magnetic and nonmagnetic material or a composition thereof. In one embodiment, at least one magnetic component (shown schematically as 114 in FIG. 1B) may be located (e.g., embedded) within the support pad 102, between the top support pad surface 104 and the bottom support pad surface 106. The at least one magnetic component 114 of the snowboard accessory 100 may be comprised of one or more magnets. Furthermore, the at least one magnetic component 114 may have any desired shape, size, placement, orientation, or any other physical properties for a particular use environment. Likewise, in an embodiment where the at least one magnetic component 114 is comprised of multiple magnets, the magnets may each, and all collectively, have any desired shape, size, placement, configuration, or any other physical properties for a particular use environment. For example, the magnetic component may be comprised of two short magnets and one long magnet, with the long magnet in between the two small magnets.

[0027] The anchoring strap 108 may be configured to extend over the tongue 304 of the snowboard boot 302. The anchoring strap 108 may extend past the support pad 102. At least one strap end 110 is configured to extend laterally from the support pad 102. The at least one strap end 110 may extend past the edge of the support pad 102. In an embodiment where there are two or more strap ends 110, the two or more strap ends 110 may be configured to extend laterally from the support pad 102 in different, or even opposite, directions from each other, such as laterally in opposite directions across the tongue 304. The at least one strap end 110 may be sufficiently malleable to allow the ends to turn or bend up longitudinally to secure the snowboard accessory 100 in place as desired.

[0028] In another configuration, the at least one strap end 110 may extend longitudinally beneath the laces 308 of the snowboard boot 302 and extend up the length of the tongue 304. Yet another potential configuration may include a strap that wraps around either the outside of the ankle or foot of a snowboard boot 302, in place of the at least one strap end 110 that that fits beneath the laces 308. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand the minor adjustments that could be made to allow the snowboard accessory 100 to be used with any configuration of snowboard boot 302, without harm to the present invention.

[0029] FIGS. 2A and 2B depict elements of a rotation mechanism 200 for selective axial rotation of the support pad 102 relative to the center of the support pad 102. The rotation mechanism 200 includes a plurality of ridges 210 protruding from the bottom support pad surface 106, each ridge 210 being configured for selective engagement with at least one complementary notch 220 in the elongate anchoring strap 108.

[0030] The notches 220 may be arranged to allow for incremental rotation of the support pad 102 relative to the elongate anchoring strap 108 by set degrees, up to a maximum rotation amount. For example, the rotation mechanism 200 may allow for maximum rotation of 10 degrees in either direction, and may be adjusted in increments of 5 degrees. Therefore, such an embodiment would account for 5 positions: a position at 0 degrees, and two positions in each direction to allow for incremental rotation of 5 degrees. To accomplish this, such an embodiment might include a plurality of ridges 210 (four shown in FIG. 2A) protruding from the elongate anchoring strap 108, equally spaced along the circumference of the elongate anchoring strap 108, and four groups of corresponding notches 220 in the bottom support pad surface 106, each group comprising a plurality of ridges 210 and each group equally spaced along the circumference of the bottom support pad surface 106. Each ridge 210 may engage with a selected plurality of corresponding notch 220, providing for one of the available rotational positions.

[0031] The rotation mechanism 200 may include an attachment bore 230 configured to accept a means of attachment, such as a screw or pin (not shown). The attachment means may fasten the support pad 102 to the elongate anchoring strap 108. As the support pad 102 is tightened to the elongate anchoring strap 108 by the attachment means, the ridges 210 of the elongate anchoring strap 108 engage with the selected corresponding notches 220 of the bottom support pad surface 106 to lock the support pad 102 into the selected rotational position.

[0032] In another embodiment, the snowboard accessory 100 may include a rotation bearing (not shown), instead of the ridge 210 and notch 220 system of FIGS. 2A-2B, that allows the support pad 102 to rotate independently of (and optionally freely with respect to) the elongate anchoring strap 108 during use of the snowboard accessory 100.

[0033] FIGS. 3A and 3B depict a system 300 for supporting a snowboard 400. The system 300 includes a snowboard boot 302 including a tongue 304, an outer boot form 306, and laces 308 securing the outer boot form 306 and extending across the tongue 304, and a snowboard accessory 100 for engagement with the snowboard boot 302 and a snowboard 400.

[0034] FIG. 3A depicts the snowboard accessory 100 secured to the snowboard boot 302, where the elongate anchoring strap 108 is secured beneath the laces 308 and the at least one strap end 110 extends outside of the outer boot form 306. The force generated by tightened laces 308 longitudinally compresses the elongate anchoring strap 108 onto the tongue 304 and retains the elongate anchoring strap 108 beneath the laces 308.

[0035] An alternative configuration of the system 300 using the snowboard accessory 100 is depicted in FIG. 3B, where the elongate anchoring strap 108 is secured beneath the laces 308 of the snowboard boot 302, with the at least one strap end 110 extending laterally beneath the outer boot form 306, atop the wearer's foot. The force generated by tightened laces 308 on the outer boot form 306 longitudinally compresses the outer boot form 306 onto the at least one strap end 110, and frictionally retains the at least one strap end 110 between the outer boot form 306 and the wearer's foot.

[0036] FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart of a method for supporting a snowboard 400, and FIG. 5 depicts a resulting interaction between a snowboard accessory 100, a snowboard boot 302, and a snowboard 400. In first action block 402, the method begins by providing a snowboard boot 302. The snowboard boot 302 may include a toe region 310, a tongue 304, an outer boot form 306, and laces 308 securing the outer boot form 306 and extending across the tongue 304. The snowboard boot 302 may include other features, as well, and may be of any suitable form, size, color, or style.

[0037] In second action block 404, the method progresses by providing a snowboard accessory 100. The snowboard accessory 100 may include a support pad 102 having top 104 and bottom 106 support pad surfaces, at least a portion of the support pad 102 being magnetically active. The snowboard accessory 100 may also include an elongate anchoring strap 108 extending laterally from the support pad 102 and including at least one strap end 110 laterally spaced from the support pad 102. The elongate anchoring strap 108 may be removably attached to the bottom support pad surface 106. Additionally, the snowboard accessory 100 may include a groove 112 on the top support pad surface 104 for selectively accepting and physically supporting at least a portion of a snowboard 400.

[0038] The snowboard accessory 100 may also include a rotation mechanism 200 for selective rotation of the support pad 102 relative to the center of the support pad 102. The rotation mechanism 200 may then be positioned in an orientation that facilitates engagement of the groove 112 on the top support pad surface 104 of the snowboard accessory 100 with at least a portion of the snowboard 400. The rotation mechanism 200 may be rotated/actuated manually by action of the user and/or automatically, through engagement with the snowboard 400. The rotational orientation of the support pad 102 may be either preset before use of the snowboard accessory 100 for a single rotational position throughout use, or the support pad 102 could "swivel" or otherwise reorient rotationally during use, as desired.

[0039] In third action block 406, the method progresses by providing a snowboard 400. The snowboard 400 may be of any form, size, color, style, or the like. The snowboard 400 may include bindings that removably connect the snowboard boot 302 to the snowboard 400. The snowboard 400 may also have an edge surrounding the perimeter of the snowboard 400. The edge may be made of metal, such as a magnetically attractive metal material. However, the snowboard accessory 100 could also be used with a nonmagnetic edged snowboard 400.

[0040] In fourth action block 408, the method progresses by the snowboard accessory 100 being secured to the snowboard boot 302. Securing the snowboard accessory 100 to the snowboard boot 302 may include arranging the elongate anchoring strap 108 across the tongue 304 of the snowboard boot 302 and beneath the laces 308 of the snowboard boot 302, as shown in FIGS. 3A-3B. Securing the snowboard accessory 100 to the snowboard boot 302 may further include tightening the laces 308 of the snowboard boot 302. Additionally, securing the snowboard accessory 100 to the snowboard boot 302 may further include inserting the at least one strap end 110 laterally beneath the outer boot form 306, as shown in FIG. 3B.

[0041] In fifth action block 410 of FIG. 4, the support pad 102 is maintained atop the toe region 310 of the snowboard boot 302. In action block 412, the top support surface 104 is selectively magnetically and physically engaged with the snowboard 400. This can occur by engaging at least a portion of the snowboard 400 with the groove 112 on the top support pad surface 104 of the support pad 102. The support pad 102 may then be able to physically and/or magnetically support the snowboard 400 on the support pad 102.

[0042] In other words, to use the snowboard accessory 100, the snowboarder will reach the lift, disengage the snowboard boot 302 with the attached snowboard accessory 100 from the snowboard 400, and mount the lift. As depicted in FIG. 5, with the snowboard accessory 100 secured to the snowboard boot 302, the snowboarder will slip the heel-side edge of the snowboard 400 into the groove 112, where the groove 112 will either magnetically and/or physically hold the edge of the snowboard 400 in place, thus alleviating the discomfort to the user of excess weight hanging from the other snowboard boot 302 that is still bound to the snowboard 400. Once the lift has completed its ascent, the snowboarder will remove the edge of the snowboard 400 from the groove 112 by pulling the snowboard boot 302 with the snowboard accessory 100 away from the snowboard 400 (or vice versa). The snowboarder will then dismount the lift, reattach the snowboard boot 302 with the snowboard accessory 100 to the snowboard 400, and descend the slope on the snowboard 400.

[0043] While aspects of this disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the example aspects above, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various additional aspects may be contemplated. For example, the specific methods described above for using the apparatus are merely illustrative; one of ordinary skill in the art could readily determine any number of tools, sequences of steps, or other means/options for placing the above-described apparatus, or components thereof, into positions substantively similar to those shown and described herein. In an effort to maintain clarity in the Figures, certain ones of duplicative components shown have not been specifically numbered, but one of ordinary skill in the art will realize, based upon the components that were numbered, the element numbers which should be associated with the unnumbered components; no differentiation between similar components is intended or implied solely by the presence or absence of an element number in the Figures. Any of the described structures and components could be integrally formed as a single unitary or monolithic piece or made up of separate sub-components, with either of these formations involving any suitable stock or bespoke components and/or any suitable material or combinations of materials. Any of the described structures and components could be disposable or reusable as desired for a particular use environment. Any component could be provided with a user-perceptible marking to indicate a material, configuration, at least one dimension, or the like pertaining to that component, the user-perceptible marking potentially aiding a user in selecting one component from an array of similar components for a particular use environment. The term "substantially" is used herein to indicate a quality that is largely, but not necessarily wholly, that which is specified--a "substantial" quality admits of the potential for some relatively minor inclusion of a non-quality item. Though certain components described herein are shown as having specific geometric shapes, all structures of this disclosure may have any suitable shapes, sizes, configurations, relative relationships, cross-sectional areas, or any other physical characteristics as desirable for a particular application. Any structures or features described with reference to one aspect or configuration could be provided, singly or in combination with other structures or features, to any other aspect or configuration, as it would be impractical to describe each of the aspects and configurations discussed herein as having all of the options discussed with respect to all of the other aspects and configurations. A device or method incorporating any of these features should be understood to fall under the scope of this disclosure as determined based upon the claims below and any equivalents thereof.

[0044] Other aspects, objects, and advantages can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

Claims

1. A snowboard accessory for engagement with a snowboard boot and a snowboard, the snowboard accessory comprising: a support pad including a top support pad surface and a bottom support pad surface, at least a portion of the support pad being magnetically active, the top support pad surface being configured for both magnetic and physical supporting engagement with at least a portion of the snowboard; and an elongate anchoring strap extending laterally from the support pad and including at least one strap end laterally spaced from the support pad, the elongate anchoring strap being removably attached to the bottom support pad surface; wherein the at least one strap end is configured for securement to the snowboard boot.

2. The snowboard accessory of claim 1, wherein the top support pad surface includes a groove for selectively accepting, and physically supporting, at least a portion of the snowboard, the groove resisting sliding of the snowboard laterally relative to the top support pad surface.

3. The snowboard accessory of claim 1, wherein the elongate anchoring strap is configured to extend over a tongue of the snowboard boot, and the at least one strap end is configured to extend laterally from the support pad, each of the at least one strap ends being configured to extend laterally in opposite directions.

4. The snowboard accessory of claim 1, wherein the support pad includes a rotation mechanism for selective axial rotation of the support pad relative to the center of the support pad.

5. The snowboard accessory of claim 4 wherein the rotation mechanism includes a plurality of ridges protruding from the bottom support pad surface, each ridge being configured for selective engagement with at least one complementary notch in the elongate anchoring strap.

6. A system for supporting a snowboard, the system including: a snowboard boot including a tongue, an outer boot form, and laces securing the outer boot form and extending across the tongue; and a snowboard accessory for engagement with a snowboard boot and a snowboard, the snowboard accessory including: a support pad including a top support pad surface, and a bottom support pad surface, at least a portion of the support pad being magnetically active, the top support pad surface being configured for both magnetic and physical supporting engagement with at least a portion of the snowboard; and an elongate anchoring strap extending laterally from the support pad and including at least one strap end laterally spaced from the support pad, the elongate anchoring strap being removably attached to the bottom support pad surface; wherein the at least one strap end is configured for securement to the snowboard boot.

7. The system for supporting a snowboard of claim 6, wherein the elongate anchoring strap is secured beneath the laces of the snowboard boot.

8. The system for supporting a snowboard of claim 6, wherein the at least one strap end extends laterally beneath the outer boot form.

9. The system for supporting a snowboard of claim 8, wherein a force generated by tightened laces on the outer boot form longitudinally compresses the outer boot form onto the at least one strap end, and frictionally retains the at least one strap end beneath the outer boot form.

10. A method for supporting a snowboard, the method comprising: providing a snowboard boot including a toe region, a tongue, an outer boot form, and laces securing the outer boot form and extending across the tongue; providing a snowboard accessory including: a support pad having a top support pad surface and a bottom support pad surface, at least a portion of the support pad being magnetically active, the snowboard accessory including an elongate anchoring strap extending laterally from the support pad and including at least one strap end laterally spaced from the support pad, the elongate anchoring strap being removably attached to the bottom support pad surface; providing a snowboard; securing the snowboard accessory to the snowboard boot; maintaining the support pad longitudinally atop the toe region of the snowboard boot; and selectively magnetically and physically engaging the top support surface with at least a portion of the snowboard.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the securing step includes: arranging the elongate anchoring strap across the tongue of the snowboard boot and beneath the laces of the snowboard boot; and securing the snowboard accessory to the snowboard boot by tightening the laces of the snowboard boot.

12. The method of claim 11, further including inserting the at least one strap end laterally beneath the outer boot form.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the snowboard accessory further includes a groove on the top support pad surface for selectively accepting, and physically supporting, at least a portion of the snowboard.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the snowboard accessory further includes a rotation mechanism for selective rotation of the support pad relative to the center of the support pad; the method further including positioning the rotation mechanism to an orientation that facilitates engagement of the groove on the top support pad surface of the snowboard accessory with at least a portion of the snowboard.

15. The method of claim 14, further including: engaging at least a portion of the snowboard with the groove on the top support pad surface of the support pad; physically and magnetically supporting the snowboard on the support pad.