Land vehicles – Ski or skate appliance or attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-02
2001-09-18
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Ski or skate appliance or attachment
C280S814000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290260
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to snowboarding and more particularly to a method and apparatus for supporting a snowboard when an individual is on a chairlift.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The sport of snowboarding has become increasingly popular, with the snowboarder transporting the snowboard to the top of a mountain or hill by virtue of the use of a chairlift. In most cases chairlifts which can accommodate snowboards do not have specially designed snowboard footrests which results in the snowboard dangling from one of the individual's feet while riding the chairlift. The individual seeks to transport the snowboard by inserting one of his feet into one binding and leaving the other foot out of the other binding, as the other binding is too far away to support the board using two feet.
There is therefore a need to be able to support a snowboard while the individual is riding a chairlift, be it a double, triple or quadruple chairlift. Moreover, the device which enables the transport of the snowboard should not be limited by the size of the snowboard or the age of the snowboarder.
It will appreciated that in the prior art various methods have been utilized in an effort to support the dangling snowboard during chair-lifting to the top of the mountain. The purpose of the prior art devices is to be able to support the snowboard during chairlift usage.
It will be noted that young children cannot bear the weight of a snowboard on a chairlift for a very long without a bar or foot rest provided for the support of the snowboard.
In an effort to support the snowboard while chair-lifting, in the past a simple toe strap was screwed on to the top of the snowboard between the two bindings. However the screwing of the strap onto the snowboard weakens the snowboard, invalidating the snowboard's warranties. Additionally, these straps get in the way while snowboarding or getting off a chairlift.
Another way for supporting the board during chair lifting was to provide a garter belt type arrangement. The garter belt was velcroed around the top of the calf and connected to one of the bindings by a cable or cord. It was the purpose of the calf to support the dangling end of the snowboard, with the garter attached to the binding through a cord or like device.
It will be appreciated that this type of support for the snowboard is not very comfortable. Moreover the velcro in general gets packed with snow limiting its effectiveness and possibly resulting in an accidental release which causes a sudden drop of the board resulting in tremendous pressure on the knee and ankle. Such a product is called SkyStrap and is manufactured by System Attic, Inc.
It will be appreciated that the SkyStrap in its garter type configuration utilizes a cord not a flat strap and does not even out the pressure on the legs. Moreover, this device does not serve as a footrest for the leg. Further, the device is not easily detached from the binding such that after descending from the chairlift, detachment is not a simple matter.
It will also be noted that the SkyStrap attached to the back of the binding creating an angle which is uncomfortable in the support of the snowboard. Moreover, the garter end to be released is actually put under one's thigh which is uncomfortable and can lead to accidental release.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In contradistinction to the above methods for supporting a snowboard while on a chairlift, in the subject method, a webbed loop strap is slipped over the free end of the snowboard and is looped over the individual's knee or thigh such that the individual supports the free end of the snowboard by virtue of the co-action of the strap with the board in conjunction with the free foot pressing on the top of the board to tension the strap. Thus when the individual seeks to transport the board on a chairlift, he slips one of his feet in one of the bindings and slips the loop over the free end of the board. The loop is supported by the knee or thigh of the individual's other leg. It will be noted that in one embodiment the webbed strap is provided with a quick disconnect buckle such that when the individual reaches the top of the chair lift, unclipping the buckle causes the strap to fall away from the board at which point it is retrieved and put in the individual's pocket.
Thus the strap is not permanently attached to the board as is the aforementioned toe strap. Nor is the strap attached to a binding as is the garter type device.
The strap, since it is not structurally secured to the snowboard has no effect on the board warranty and provides a comfortable way of supporting the dangling portion of the board when the individual's foot is in the binding supporting one end of the board.
The subject method and apparatus, termed a joint saver, is conveniently stored in the individual's pocket when not in use and can always fasten and unfasten instantly regardless of weather conditions. It also adjusts instantly to all board sizes as well as body sizes since the loop can be adjusted in length. It can be used with snowboards of regular or so-called goofy foot stances, meaning right foot forward or left foot forward. It will be noted that each snowboarder chooses his or her preference with respect to the bindings.
More particularly in one embodiment, the strap is an eight foot long nylon webbing loop strap, one-inch wide, with the thickness being one to two millimeters. The ends of the strap slide into a quick release buckle, in one embodiment a one-inch standard fastening buckle.
In operation, the snowboarder gets on a chairlift with one of his feet in one binding. The snowboarder takes the loop strap webbing out of his pocket and drapes the strap over the free end of the board and then under the back of the board. He then passes the loop over his free leg and snaps the buckle together. Snowboarder then cinches the strap to a perfect fit, which can be done regardless of the chairlift configuration or the size and age of the snowboarder.
It will be appreciated that the strap takes the load off of the leg which bears the entire weight of the snowboard originally and distributes it across the top of the other leg, e.g. at the knee or thigh. The snowboard can now take the foot which was originally dangling and place it on the top of the snowboard. With proper placement of the strap, the leg associated with the foot which is placed in the snowboard binding now has the majority of the weight relieved from it and borne by the strap over the individual's knee or thigh.
The subject method of the snowboard transport relieves knee pain, ankle pain, hip pain and toe pain normally associated with chairlift usage. Moreover, young children who cannot bear the weight of a snowboard on a chairlift for a very long time without a bar or footrest can now carry their boards up the mountain in relative comfort. It will also be appreciated that if the chairlift is provided with a footrest, these footrests do not easily adjust to fit small children or very large adults. The result is that one can suspend ones snowboard with one foot in the binding and without the dangling, since the board is supported by the strap regardless of the existence of or the position of a footrest.
In summary, a method and apparatus for preventing injury to an individual who seeks to transport a snowboard on a chairlift includes providing a detachable loop strap which encircles a portion of the snowboard and goes over the individual's knee and/or thigh such that when the individual has one foot in the snowboard binding at one end, the dangling portion of the board is supported by the loop strap over the individual's knee or thigh. In one embodiment, the strap is neither attached to the board nor to the knee or thigh, but rather is looped around both to support the snowboard. Upon reaching the top of the chairlift, the board is released merely by unbuckling and removing the looped strap. One of the advantages of the loop strap is that it prevents ankle and knee injury due to the dangling of the board f
Johnson Brian L.
Tendler Robert K
Winner Tony
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