Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for restraining movement of a snowboard.

Background to the Invention

The usual process for a snowboarder to engage their boots with a snowboard requires them to bend down and operate a strap mechanism to secure the boots to the board. Usually the front foot is kept engaged with the board until it is time to descend and the rear foot is then placed on the board. At this stage the snowboarder is generally positioned on a slope and once both feet are placed on the board, it is therefore likely that the board may start to slide down the slope.

It is possible to prevent the board sliding while engaging the rear boot by angling the board to dig an edge of the board into the snow. While this method will generally work, it can be difficult for a novice to achieve and also requires balancing at an angle that is tiring for the snowboarder. It is therefore most common for the snowboarder to simply sit down, engage the boots with the board and then stand back up.

The present invention relates to a device that can be provided on a snowboard to prevent movement of the snowboard while the boots are being engaged and can then be released.

Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a snowboard brake comprising:

a braking member moveable between a retracted position in which the braking member is located above a lower surface of the snowboard and an extended position in which a lower end of the braking member extends below the lower surface of the snowboard; and a latch mechanism in engagement with the braking member;

wherein when the braking member moves to the extended position, the latch mechanism retains the braking member in the extended position. Preferably the braking member is mounted adjacent an aperture in the snowboard such that applying a force by foot on an upper end of the braking member causes the braking member to move from the retracted position to the extended position through the aperture. Preferably a release mechanism is provided, the release mechanism being operable to allow the braking member to move back to the retracted position.

In a preferred embodiment, the braking member comprises an elongate member slidable longitudinally between the retracted and extended positions.

A housing is preferably provided comprising a base plate fixed to the upper surface of the snowboard and a flexible dome containing the latch mechanism and the release mechanism, wherein an upper end of the flexible dome engages with an upper end of the braking member such that applying a downward force to the upper end of the braking member deforms the flexible housing.

In a preferred embodiment, the braking member is provided with a flange extending outwardly from the upper end thereof and an upper end of the flexible dome includes an opening, the edge of which is received in a groove around the periphery of the flange.

In one embodiment, the base plate is fixed to the upper surface of the snowboard and has a central hole aligned with the aperture in the snowboard to receive the braking member. A cylindrical tube preferably extends from the base plate into the aperture in the snowboard, the cylindrical tube receiving the braking member. In a preferred embodiment, a spring is provided between the flange and the base plate such that movement of the braking member to the extended position compresses the spring and wherein the latch mechanism comprises one or more latch members slidable to engage with a groove in the braking member to hold the braking member in the extended position.

Preferably the latch members are slidably mounted in rails to move either towards or away from the braking member and biasing members are provided to move the latch members towards the braking member.

Preferably the release mechanism is operable to move the latch members away from the braking member so that the braking member may be moved back to the retracted position by the spring. The release mechanism preferably comprises a lever arm extending outwardly through the housing that engages with the latch members such that actuation of the lever moves the latch members away from the braking member. In one embodiment, the lever arm extends from a disc member mounted adjacent the base plate wherein the disc member includes lugs on a lower surface thereof that are received in slots in the latch members such that a tangential force applied to the lever arm rotates the disc member so that the lugs act on the slots thereby moving the latch members away from the braking member.

The snowboard brake is preferably provided with a locking mechanism to lock the braking member in the extended position. The locking mechanism may comprise a key barrel located within the braking member such that rotation of the key barrel with a key extends locking tabs outwardly from openings in the braking member to engage with the release mechanism, thereby preventing operation of the release mechanism. The key barrel is preferably provided with a keyhole for receiving the key in an upper end of the braking member.

In a preferred embodiment, the braking member comprises a cylindrical shaft.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an upper perspective view of a snowboard brake in accordance with the present invention on a snowboard;

Figure 2 is a side view of the snowboard brake of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is an upper perspective view of the snowboard brake of Figure 1 with the braking member in an extended position;

Figure 4 is a side view of the snowboard brake of Figure 1 with the braking member in the extended position;

Figure 5a is a side view of the snowboard brake of Figure 1 with the braking member in the retracted position;

Figure 5b is a side cross sectional view of the snowboard brake of Figure 1 with the braking member in the retracted position;

Figure 5c is a top view of the snowboard brake of Figure 1 with the braking member in the retracted position;

Figure 5d is an upper perspective view of the snowboard brake of Figure 1 with the braking member in the retracted position;

Figure 6a is a side view of the snowboard brake of Figure 1 with the braking member in the extended position;

Figure 6b is a side cross sectional view of the snowboard brake of Figure 1 with the braking member in the extended position;

Figure 6c is a top view of the snowboard brake of Figure 1 with the braking member in the extended position;

Figure 6d is an upper perspective view of the snowboard brake of Figure 1 with the braking member in the extended position; Figure 7a is an upper perspective view of the snowboard brake with the braking member in the retracted position and with the cover removed;

Figure 7b is an upper perspective view of the snowboard brake with the braking member in the extended position and with the cover removed;

Figure 8a is an upper perspective view of the snowboard brake with the braking member in the retracted position and with the cover and lever arm removed;

Figure 8b is an upper perspective view of the snowboard brake with the braking member in the extended position and with the cover and lever arm removed;

Figure 9a is an upper perspective view of the snowboard brake with the braking member in the extended position and with the cover removed;

Figure 9b is an upper perspective view of the snowboard brake with the braking member in the extended position and with the cover removed showing engagement of the locking mechanism;

Figure 9c is an upper perspective view of the snowboard brake with the braking member in the extended position showing engagement of the locking mechanism;

Figure 10 is an upper perspective view of a first stage of fitting a snowboard brake of the present invention to a snowboard;

Figure 11 is an upper perspective view of a second stage of fitting the snowboard brake to a snowboard;

Figure 12 is an upper perspective view of a third stage of fitting the snowboard brake to a snowboard; and

Figure 13 is an upper perspective view of a fourth stage of fitting the snowboard brake to a snowboard.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Referring to the Figures, there is shown a snowboard brake 10 for use on a snowboard 12. The snowboard brake 10 may be installed during construction of the snowboard 12 or may be retrofitted to an existing snowboard 12. The snowboard brake 10 comprises a braking member 14 moveable between a retracted position (as shown in Figures 1 and 2) and an extended position (as shown in Figures 3 and 4). The snowboard brake 10 is secured to the snowboard 12 adjacent an aperture 16 extending through the snowboard 12 from an upper surface 18 to a lower surface thereof 20. The snowboard brake 10 is secured such that in the extended position the braking member 14 extends through the aperture 16 below the lower surface 20 and in the retracted position the braking member 14 retracts above the lower surface 20 of the snowboard 12.

The braking member 14 of the snowboard brake 10 comprises an elongate member being a generally cylindrical shaft 22 mounted for longitudinal sliding movement through the aperture 16 which is circular in shape. In the extended position, a lower end 24 of the cylindrical shaft 22 extends through the aperture 16 below the lower surface 20. In the retracted position, the lower end 24 is located flush with the lower surface 20.

A housing 26 is provided secured to the upper surface 18 of the snowboard 12 around the aperture 16. The housing 26 comprises a circular base plate 28 and a flexible dome 30. The base plate 28 is generally flat and fixed to the upper surface 18 of the snowboard 12. The base plate 28 includes a central hole 32 aligned with the aperture 16 in the snowboard 12 which receives the braking member 14. A cylindrical tube 29 extends from the base plate 28 away from the housing 26, through which is received the braking member 14. The cylindrical tube 29 is of a length less than the thickness of the snowboard 12 such that the cylindrical tube 29 is fitted in use within the aperture 16.

The upper end 25 of the braking member 14 includes a circular flange 34 secured thereto. An upper end of the flexible dome 30 includes an opening, the edge of which is received in a groove 36 around the periphery of the circular flange 34. A lower edge of the flexible dome 30 is received in a groove 37 around the periphery of the base plate 28. In use, a snowboarder can move the braking member 14 from the retracted position to the extended position by stepping on the circular flange 34 on the upper end of the braking member 14, thereby pushing the braking member 14 downwardly. As can be seen in Figure 6, the flexible dome 30 deforms downwardly as the braking member 14 moves down to the extended position.

A spring 38 is provided within the housing 26 around the braking member 14. When the braking member 14 is depressed downwardly to the extended position, the spring 38 is compressed between the base plate 28 and the circular flange 34.

The housing 26 of the snowboard brake 10 also includes a latch mechanism to retain the braking member 14 in the extended position and a release mechanism operable to allow the braking member 14 to move back to the retracted position. The latch mechanism includes a pair of latch members 40 mounted to the base plate 28. The latch members 40 are generally flat plates mounted on opposed sides of the braking member 14. The latch members 40 are mounted for sliding movement either towards or away from the braking member 14 by opposed side edges being received in a pair of rails 42. First ends of the latch members 40, being the ends adjacent the braking member 14, are arcuate in shape and second opposite ends each engage with a respective biasing member 46 secured to the base plate 28. The biasing members 46 provide a force against the latch members 40 to move the latch members 40 towards the braking member 14. The braking member 14 includes a groove 48 around the periphery thereof adjacent the upper end such that when the braking member 14 has moved to the extended position, the first ends of the latch members 40 are moved into the groove 48 and prevent the braking member 14 moving upwardly towards the retracted position. That is, the latch members 40 lock the braking member 14 in the extended position.

The release mechanism comprises a lever arm 50 extending outwardly through the housing 26 that engages with the latch members 40 such that actuation of the lever arm 50 moves the latch members 40 out of engagement with the groove 48. The braking member 14 is then free to move upwardly to the retracted position under the force of the spring 38. The lever arm 50 extends radially from a disc member 52 mounted adjacent the base plate 28 having a central hole through which is received the braking member 14. The disc member 52 includes lugs on a lower surface thereof that are received in slots 54 in the latch members 40. A force applied to the lever arm 50 in a direction tangential to the base plate 28 thereby rotates the disc member 52 and the lugs act on the slots 54 such that the latch members 40 are moved away from the braking member 14.

In use, the snowboard brake 10 is fitted to the snowboard generally centrally between the positions of the snowboarder's boots. The snowboarder is expected to keep the front boot secured to the snowboard 12 in the usual manner for moving into position on the slope. When it is required to engage the rear boot, the snowboarder steps on the upper end of the braking member 14 with the rear foot, pushing it to the extended position. The lower end of the braking member 14 extends through the aperture 16 and is driven into the snow preventing the snowboard 12 from sliding. The snowboarder can then engage his rear foot. Once the rear boot is engaged, the snowboarder can bend down and operate the lever arm 50 to retract the braking member 14 to allow use of the snowboard.

The ability to push the braking member 14 directly downwardly through the aperture 16 into the snow with the foot allows the body weight of the snowboarder to be used to drive in the braking member 14. This allows sufficient force to drive the braking member 14 through relatively compacted snow as would often be found in areas where snowboards and skis are used.

It will be appreciated that the snowboard brake 10 may also be activated at other times when the snowboarder does not have their boots engaged with the snowboard 12 simply to prevent the snowboard 12 sliding away. The lower end of the cylindrical braking member 14 is preferably a flat circular surface as shown to reduce the likelihood of injury should a person be struck by the braking member 14. The snowboard brake 10 is also provided with a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is provided to lock the braking member 14 in the extended position such that it can only be unlocked with the use of a suitable access device. In the embodiment shown, the locking mechanism comprises a key barrel 60 located within the braking member 14. The key barrel 60 receives a suitable key 62 through a keyhole 64 accessible in the upper surface of the flange 34. The key barrel 60 includes locking tabs 66 that extend outwardly from openings provided adjacent the groove 48 when the key barrel 60 is rotated to the locked position with the key 62. The locking tabs 66 are received in notches in the disc member 52 to prevent rotational movement of the disc member 52. Therefore, rotating the key barrel 60 to the locked position prevents movement of the lever arm 50 and thereby prevents the release of the latching members 40. Operation of the key barrel 60 with the key 62 will allow the locking tabs 66 to be retracted and thereby allow use of the lever arm 50 to retract the braking member 14.

Figures 10 to 13 show the process for retrofitting a snowboard brake of the present invention to a snowboard 12. As shown in Figure 10, the aperture 16 is first drilled into the snowboard 12 with a hole saw. A sheet of adhesive paper 70 is then placed over the aperture 16 on the lower surface 20 of the snowboard 12 (as shown in Figure 11). From the upper surface 18, resin is poured into the aperture 16 (as shown in Figure 12) and the snowboard brake 10 is then placed into position in the aperture 16 (as shown in Figure 13). A sealing sheet (not shown) may be provided over the end of the tube 29 with the braking member 14 in the retracted position to prevent ingress of resin during the setting process.

It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.