SNOWBOARD BRAKE

BACKGROUND

L Field

Aspects of the invention relate generally to snowboard equipment, and more specifically to braking systems for snowboards.

2. Related Art Various devices have been implemented or described to reduce the potential of snowboards from inadvertently sliding away from a rider. One such arrangement includes a leash that attaches the snowboard to a rider's boot, though riders may not use the leash, for example, when hiking up terrain to start a run. Snowboard brake arrangements have also been proposed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a snowboard binding is provided. The binding includes a base adapted to receive a snowboard boot. The base has a heel-to-toe direction. A brake is pivotably coupled to the base about a mounting axis and is adapted to move between a retracted position and a braking position. The mounting axis extends substantially perpendicular to a heel-to-toe direction of the base.

In another embodiment, the binding includes a heel hoop coupled to the base. At least a portion of the brake is adapted to nest with the heel hoop when the brake is in the retracted position. In yet another embodiment, the brake is mounted to the base at a mounting location that is closer to one lateral side than the other lateral side.

In still another embodiment, a lock cooperates with the base and the brake and is adapted to secure the brake in the retracted position regardless of whether the boot is received within the base. In yet another embodiment, the brake is mounted to a sidewall of the base.

In still another embodiment, a snowboard binding is provided and includes a base adapted to receive a snowboard boot. The base defines a toe end. An adjustable toe ramp is slidably mounted to the toe end of the base. A brake, having a snow-engageable arm, is

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mounted to the toe ramp and is adapted to move rotatably and outwardly relative to the adjustable toe ramp between a retracted position and a braking position.

In still another embodiment, the brake includes an actuator and a snow-engageable arm. A linkage assembly having a plurality of links each pivotably connected to the brake and the base is provided. The assembly couples the brake and the base whereby a relatively small actuation movement of the actuator results in a relatively large deployment movement of the snow-engageable arm.

In another embodiment, the base is adapted to be mounted to the snowboard and is constructed and arranged to provide adjustment of a stance angle of the base relative to the snowboard. The brake is mounted to the base so that the brake moves with the base upon adjusting the stance angle.

Various embodiments of the present invention provide certain advantages. Not all embodiments of the invention share the same advantages and those that do may not share them under all circumstances. Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure of various embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, similar features are represented by the reference numerals. For purposes of clarity, not every component is labeled in every drawing. Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of one illustrative embodiment of a snowboard binding employing a snowboard brake;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the binding of FIG. 1;

FIGs. 3 A, 3 B and 3 C are partial perspective views of one illustrative embodiment of a snowboard brake mounted to a binding;

FIGs. 4A are 4B are partial perspective views of another illustrative embodiment of a snowboard brake mounted to a binding;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a snowboard with a pair of snowboard bindings mounted thereto;

FIGs. 6 A and 6B are partial perspective views of a binding including a lock arrangement for the snowboard brake;

FIGs. 7A, 7B and 7C are partial perspective views of another illustrative embodiment; and FIGs. 8 A and 8B are side views of yet another illustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including," "comprising," "having," "containing," "involving," and/or variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Aspects of the invention are described below with reference to illustrative embodiments. It should be understood that reference to these illustrative embodiments is not made to limit aspects of the invention in any way. Instead, illustrative embodiments are used to aid in the description and understanding of various aspects of the invention. Therefore, the following description is intended to be illustrative, not limiting. According to one aspect, a snowboard brake is employed to reduce the likelihood of a snowboard from sliding away from a rider when the rider's boot is not secured to the snowboard. The snowboard brake may be mounted to the snowboard binding and is constructed to move from a braking position to a retracted position when a boot is placed in the binding, as will be described in the illustrative embodiments below. In one embodiment, the brake may be mounted at the heel region of the snowboard binding. Other suitable locations for mounting the brake may be employed, as the present invention is not limited in this respect.

In one embodiment, the snowboard brake includes a heel pedal and a brake arm (also referred to as a snow-engageable arm). The brake is constructed and arranged such that the brake arm can be moved between a braking position and a retracted position upon activation of the heel pedal. In the braking position, at least a portion of the brake arm is below the gliding surface of the snowboard, thus allowing the brake arm to engage with the snow and to prevent the snowboard from freely sliding. In the retracted position, the brake arm is above

the snowboard surface, thus allowing the snowboard to slide freely. The brake arm is moved to the retracted position when the snowboard binding receives a snowboard boot. In this regard, the snowboard boot depresses the heel pedal, thus actuating the brake arm to the retracted position. Other suitable arrangements for actuating the brake may be employed, as the present invention is not limited in this respect.

In one embodiment, the brake includes a pivot defining a mounting axis. The pivot is mounted to the binding such that the mounting axis is generally perpendicular to the heel-to-toe direction of the base of the snowboard binding. The brake may be mounted on the binding in a manner where the pivot is located either on the binding baseplate, the binding sidewall, or the binding heel hoop, provided that the pivot axis is oriented generally perpendicular to the heel-to-toe direction of the base. However, it should be appreciated that other suitable mounting locations and orientations may be employed, including mounting the brake such that the pivot axis is generally parallel to the heel-to-toe direction, as the present invention is not limited in this regard. In one embodiment, the brake is mounted to the binding base such that the brake moves with the binding as the rider adjusts the stance angle. In this regard, the brake is not mounted independently to the snowboard.

In one embodiment, the brake mounting location is disposed closer to one lateral side of the binding than the other side. This offset mounting arrangement may aid with brake deployment and effectiveness, especially when a binding is mounted to the board at a relatively high stance angle. Of course, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited in this respect, as other suitable mounting locations, such as symmetric mounting, may be employed.

In one embodiment, the brake is configured such that the brake arm nests with the heel hoop of the snowboard binding when the brake is in the retracted position. The term

"nest" and its variations are not to be construed in a limiting manner. In this regard, the brake arm can be shaped such that it generally conforms to the shape of the heel hoop when the brake is in the retracted position, although shaping the brake arm in this manner is not necessary for the brake to nest with the heel hoop, as other suitable shapes may be employed. In embodiments incorporating a nested brake arm configuration, a compact snowboard brake design is provided while snowboard performance is maintained. Other benefits may be derived from this embodiment, as the present invention is not limited in this respect.

In another embodiment, two snowboard bindings are mounted to a snowboard, with each binding including a brake. In one embodiment, the brake mounted on one of the bindings can be locked in the retracted position. In this regard, the pair of bindings includes a front binding and a rear binding, with the front binding mounted towards the tip of the board and the rear binding mounted towards the tail of the board. In one embodiment, the brake of the rear binding can be locked, such that the brake remains in a retracted position regardless of whether the binding receives a snowboard boot. This arrangement allows the rider to remove his or her boot from the rear snowboard binding without having the brake move to a braking position, such that the rear brake does not engage with the snow. The rider can then "skate" on the snowboard (i.e., glide on the snowboard with one snowboard boot secured in the front binding and the other boot free from the rear binding) without having the brake generate a drag force against the rider's desired skating direction, as may be necessary when traversing short distances and/or flat areas. It should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited in this regard, as both bindings may include a lock. Also, in one embodiment, only one binding includes a lock.

Alternatively, rather than provide each binding with a brake, in one embodiment, each binding and a brake is configured so that the rider can mount a brake on either one of the pair of bindings. Thus, if the rider chooses to skate with his or her rear foot out of the rear binding, then the rider could mount the brake to the front binding. In one embodiment, the brake is mounted at the front (i.e., toe end) of the binding. For example, the brake can be mounted to a toe ramp or to the sidewall of the base, or to an integral baseplate. The brake can move in a compound manner whereby it is adapted to rotate downward and translate outward relative to the binding between a retracted position and a braking position. In one embodiment, a plurality of links may be employed to mount the brake to the binding base in such a way that the resulting linkage assembly creates a mechanical advantage whereby a relatively small actuation movement results in a relatively large deployment movement of the snow engaging arm of the brake.

It should be appreciated that various combinations of the above-described features can be employed together; however the invention is not limited in this respect. Therefore, although the specific embodiments disclosed in the figures and described in detail below employ particular combinations of the above-discussed features, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited in this respect, as the various aspects of the present

invention can be employed separately, or in different combinations. Thus, the particular embodiments described in detail below are provided for illustrative purposes only.

Turning now to the figures, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, a binding 8 including a snowboard brake 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. As shown in FIG. 2, a snowboard boot B, shown in phantom, is mounted (in this case, strapped) to the binding. In one embodiment, the snowboard brake includes a brake arm (also referred to as a snow-engageable arm) 11. In one embodiment, the brake also includes a linkage 15 coupled to the brake arm. A heel pedal 20 may be employed, and if the linkage is employed, the heel pedal may be coupled to the linkage. The snowboard boot B, in particular the heel portion of the boot, engages the heel pedal 20. The brake may also include a pivot 22. In the embodiment shown, the heel pedal, linkage, pivot and brake arm are integrally formed. However, other suitable arrangements may be employed, as the present invention is not limited in this respect. As noted, it should be appreciated that the brake arm can be directly connected to the heel pedal without the use of a linkage. Also, the linkage 15 can be one or more individual links coupled and/or cooperating together, as the present invention is not limited in this respect.

An exemplary snowboard binding 8 includes a frame (also referred to as a base) 30, which in this example includes: a baseplate 32, lateral sidewalls 34 (only one of which is shown) and a heel hoop 40. It should be appreciated that the binding frame or base need not include any or all of these components of the binding, but instead is the structural component(s) of the binding to which other components may be a part of or attached to and is the component(s) of the binding that receives the snowboard boot. The baseplate 32 can be configured to accept a hold down disk 50 to secure the baseplate 32 to a snowboard 52. The hold down disk 50 also allows the rider to adjust the stance angle of the snowboard binding 8. It should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited in this respect, as other suitable arrangements for holding down the base may be employed. For example, no hold down disk need be used, and the baseplate may be directly secured to the board. Further, as mentioned, although a binding base with a baseplate, sidewalls and heel hoop is shown, the binding may be configured in other suitable ways, as the present invention is not limited in this respect. Thus, the binding base need not include a baseplate, heel hoop and/or sidewalls.

A highback 60 may be mounted to heel hoop 40 and can include a forward lean adjuster 70 to allow the rider to support the rear lower portion of the rider's leg and based on his or her riding preference. An ankle strap 80 (partially shown) and a toe strap 82 (partially

shown) are employed to secure a snowboard boot (not shown) in the binding. Although a strap binding is shown and described, a step-in binding may be employed. Other binding configurations may be implemented, as the present invention is not limited in this respect.

The brake 10 is attached in a manner such that the brake arm 11 can move between a retracted position (shown in solid lines in FIG. 1) and a braking position (shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1). The brake may be attached to any portion of the base, as the present invention is not limited in this respect. As will become apparent below, the brake may be attached to the base, heel hoop, sidewall, baseplate, or toe ramp. Continuing with reference to FIG. 1, in the braking position, at least a portion of the back and/or bottom edge 90 of the brake arm 11 is below the gliding surface 92 of the snowboard 52. In this position, the brake arm 11 contacts the snow to generate a drag force. The drag force reduces the opportunity for gaining speed. Further, because a portion of the brake arm is below the snowboard, the heel edge 94 of the snowboard may be lifted above the snow, causing the board to lean on the toe edge 96 of the snowboard. Lifting the snowboard onto the toe edge 96 can generate a drag force on the toe edge 96, causing the toe edge of the snowboard to plow into the snow and cause the board to flip over on its toe edge and tumble. Regardless of whether the snowboard plows into the snow or the board flips over, the brake effectively prevents the snowboard from further gaining speed.

The brake arm 11 can be implemented in any of numerous ways, and the present invention is not limited to any particular implementation. The brake arm 11 should be sufficiently strong to withstand the drag forces generated when the brake arm is in the braking position. In one embodiment, the brake arm 11 is formed from a material capable of withstanding high impact forces and stresses. The brake arm 11 can be made of materials including, but not limited to, polycarbonate, polyolefin, polyurethane, polyethylene, glass filled nylon, nylon, or stainless steel. Other suitable materials, or combinations of materials, capable of withstanding the high impact forces and stresses can also be used, as the present invention is not limited in this respect. Furthermore, the brake arm 11 can also incorporate additional features, such as, for example, serrated teeth on the bottom and or rear 90 edge to possibly provide a more effective braking interface. In one embodiment, the brake arm 11 is adapted to nest with heel hoop 40 of the binding when the brake is in the retracted position, whereby the brake arm 11 generally conforms to the shape of the heel hoop 40. In one embodiment, the brake arm 11 has an arc shape which generally corresponds to the arc shape of the heel hoop. In one embodiment, the

brake arm has an arc angle equal to or less than 180° and in one embodiment, the heel hoop has an arc angle equal to or less than 180°. In one embodiment illustrated in FIGs. 1, 2, 4A and 4B, the brake arm 11 can nest with the heel hoop adjacent the outside surface 98 of the heel hoop 40. In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIGs. 3A-3C, and 6A-6B, the brake arm 11 can nest with the heel hoop adjacent the inside surface 44 of the heel hoop. The brake arm may be arranged such that the top edge 100 of the brake arm 11 is located between the top edge 102 of the heel hoop and bottom edge 104 of the heel hoop. However, it should be noted that the shape and configuration of the brake arm is not limited to these arrangements and configurations. For yet another alternative embodiment, the brake arm can come to rest in the retracted position such that the top edge 100 of the brake arm 11 rests below the bottom edge 104 of the heel hoop, as shown in FIG. 5. Furthermore, it should also be noted that the brake arm does not need to conform to the shape of the heel hoop 40 in order to "nest" with the heel hoop.

Arranging the snowboard brake at the rear of the binding may provide a compact snowboard brake while maintaining the performance of the snowboard. For example, and without being limited, by nesting the brake arm 11 with the heel hoop 40, the snowboard brake will not contact the snow when the rider is on the heel side of the snowboard such as when in a heel-side turn. As such, the brake will not interfere with the rider's balance. The nested brake arm configuration can also provide an aesthetic benefit by essentially hiding or integrating the presence of the brake into the design of the snowboard binding.

As mentioned above, the snowboard brake includes an actuator 20, such as heel pedal 20. In one embodiment, the heel pedal 20 is received at the level of the baseplate 32. A recess 103 may be formed in the baseplate 32 to accommodate the heel pedal 20, thus providing a substantially uniform surface on the baseplate to receive the snowboard boot. This configuration allows the heel pedal 20 to move into the recess in the baseplate when the boot is in the binding and placement of the boot within the snowboard binding is not affected by the heel pedal. However, the present invention is not limited to this particular implementation. For example, the heel pedal can be mounted on the bottom edge of the heel hoop, such that the heel pedal is actuated by the snowboard boot between a substantially vertical position corresponding to the retracted position and a substantially horizontal position corresponding to the to the braking position. Such an embodiment would also allow the placement of the snowboard boot in a binding without being affected by a pedal. Further, the heel pedal can be mounted to the binding base at locations other than the baseplate, such

as when a baseplate-less binding is employed. Other suitable locations for the actuator may be employed, as the present invention is not limited in this respect. Also, other actuators, rather than a heel pedal may be employed.

In one embodiment, the brake pivots between the retracted and braking positions via pivot 22. In one embodiment, a pivot or mounting axis 106 of the pivot extends generally perpendicular to the heel-to-toe direction of the base (and, if provided, to the heel-to-toe direction of the binding baseplate). The pivot 22 can be located on the baseplate 32, the heel hoop 40, or the sidewall 34; however, the present invention is not limited in this regard, as the pivot 22 may be placed at other suitable locations, including a location whereby the rotation is generally parallel to the heel-to-toe direction of the base.

As mentioned, the binding is mounted to the snowboard so that the binding stance angle can be adjusted. In one embodiment, the brake is mounted to the binding base such that the brake moves with the binding as the rider adjusts the stance angle. That is, the brake is not mounted independently to the snowboard and instead is mounted to the binding and moves with the binding as the stance angle is adjusted.

In one embodiment, such as illustrated in FIGs. 3A-3C and 4A-4B, the brake 10 is mounted to the binding 8 at a location closer to one lateral side 34 than the other lateral side. This offset arrangement can aid in allowing the brake 10 to move to a braking position without interference from the heel edge 94 of the snowboard. In this regard, the offset brake mounting location may allow the brake arm 11 to better reach past the heel edge and engage the snow when the heel-to-toe direction of the base is not perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the snowboard 52 (i.e., when the stance angle of the binding is other than 0°). In one embodiment, the stance angle is less than approximately +/- 30°, and in another embodiment, the stance angle is less than approximately +/- 45°. However, the present invention is not limited in this regard, as the brake need not be mounted in this offset manner.

In one embodiment, the brake 10 is biased in direction A to a braking position, thus urging at least a portion of the brake arm 11 below the gliding surface 92 of the snowboard. When the snowboard binding 8 receives a snowboard boot, the boot contacts the heel pedal 20 causing the brake arm 11 to move against the biasing direction A to a retracted position. Once the snowboard boot is secured in the binding 8, the brake 10 remains in the retracted position until the snowboard boot is released from the binding. Upon release of the snowboard boot, the biasing force automatically moves the brake 10 in the biasing direction A towards the braking position.

The brake bias can be implemented in numerous ways and is not limited to any particular implementation. The brake biasing force should be sufficiently high to ensure that the brake moves to the braking position when the snowboard boot is released from the snowboard binding 8. Furthermore, the brake biasing force should also be sufficiently high to maintain the brake 10 in the braking position. However, the brake biasing force should not be so high such that the rider has difficulty actuating the brake 10 from the braking position to the retracted position when the rider's snowboard boot is received in the snowboard binding 30.

The brake bias can be generated by a brake biasing element 110, such as a torsional spring, attached between the binding 8 and the brake 10. The torsional spring is constructed and arranged to bias the brake 10 towards the braking position. More specifically, for example, one end of the torsional spring can engage to the baseplate 32 and the other end of the torsional spring can engage to the underside of the heel pedal 20. However, suitable alternative brake biasing arrangements can be used, as the present invention is not limited in this regard.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, a pair of snowboard bindings 8 is mounted to the snowboard 52. In this embodiment, one of the bindings includes the brake in a locked and retracted position. For example, the rear snowboard binding 8R has the brake in the locked retracted position and the front snowboard binding 8F includes a brake that can move to/from the braking position. This configuration allows the rider to be able to skate on the snowboard with the front boot secured in the binding and the rear boot not received in the rear binding. Because the brake on the rear binding is locked in the braking position, the rear brake will not interfere with the sliding of the snowboard when the rear foot is not received in the rear binding. This configuration is particularly useful when the rider mounts or dismounts from the ski lift. Furthermore, the brake on either snowboard binding can be locked into place, thus accommodating riders who prefer to have their right foot forward (i.e., a goofy stance) and riders who prefer to have their left foot forward (i.e., a regular stance).

The brake on the rear snowboard binding may be locked in the retracted position by securing the heel pedal 20 to the baseplate 32. The heel pedal 20 and baseplate 32 are constructed and arranged to accept a locking mechanism to secure the heel pedal and base pedal together. The locking mechanism can be, for example, a threaded fastener adapted to

hold the heel pedal together with the baseplate. However, alternative locking mechanisms can be implemented in any other suitable manner apparent to one of skill in the art.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIGs. 6A and 6B, the snowboard brake 10 includes a pin lock-out arrangement 120. As shown in FIG. 6A, the lock-out arrangement 120 includes a pin 122 that can be stowed in a corresponding receptacle 124 on the heel hoop 40. A mating through hole 126 is also formed on the brake arm 11. If a rider desires to lock the brake in the retracted position, the rider removes the pin 122 from the storage receptacle 124 and then inserts the pin 122 through the throughhole 126 in the brake arm 11 and into a locking hole (not shown) in the heel hoop, as shown in FIG. 6A. To prevent the pin 122 from inadvertent disengagement from either the storage receptacle 124 or the locking hole 128, a detect mechanism may be used. Other suitable arrangements may be employed, as the present invention is not limited in this respect. Also, to prevent inadvertent loss of the pin 122, the pin 122 may be tethered to the binding 8.

In one embodiment, a brake need only be mounted on one of the pair of snowboard bindings. The brake is mounted to either one of the pair of snowboard bindings to accommodate riders with different riding stance preferences (e.g. regular, goofy). This arrangement eliminates the need for the rider to secure a brake in the retracted position on the rear snowboard binding when the rider wishes to skate on the snowboard (i.e., the rider's front foot is secured in the front binding while the rear boot is free from the rear binding). The binding may include a corresponding arrangement allowing the brake 10 to be mounted to either one of the pair of bindings.

In one embodiment, the brake 10 can be retrofitted onto an existing snowboard binding. The brake can include a brake arm 11 and a heel pedal 20, both of which are coupled to a mounting base. The mounting base can be mounted to the binding, for example, with threaded fasteners adapted to securely hold the brake mounting base to a mounting location either on the binding base or to the heel hoop. The mounting base is secured to the snowboard binding such that the brake arm 11 can be moved between a retracted position and a braking position. Other mounting arrangements can be implemented as the present invention is not limited in this respect. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to mounting the brake to a mounting base; alternative brake mounting arrangements without a mounting base can also be implemented.

Although in the embodiments described above the brake is mounted at the heel end of the binding, the present invention is not limited in this regard, as other suitable mounting

locations may be employed. Thus, in one embodiment, the snowboard brake is disposed at the toe end of the binding, so that when deployed, the snowboard brake can engage with the snow by extending over the toe edge of the snowboard. In one embodiment, the snowboard brake is mounted to the toe end of the binding base, whether on the baseplate or on the sidewalls. In one embodiment, a snowboard brake 200 is mounted to a toe ramp 202 (also referred to as a gas pedal) at the front 204 of the binding 206, as shown in FIGs. 7A-7C.

In one embodiment, the toe ramp 202 is removably attached to the binding baseplate. Accordingly, as discussed above, when it is desired to mount the snowboard brake 200 to the front binding that is closest to the tip of the snowboard, then the toe ramp with the snowboard brake would be mounted to this forward binding. On the other hand, when the rider prefers to ride with his or her other foot in the forward binding, then the rider can simply switch the gas pedals of the two bindings so that again the gas pedal having the snowboard brake would be mounted to the binding closest to the tip of the snowboard. Such an arrangement can accommodate riders who prefer to have their right foot forward (i.e., a goofy stance) and riders who prefer to have their left foot forward (i.e., a regular stance). In one embodiment, the toe ramp is adjustable relative to the binding base such the toe ramp can be positioned in one of a plurality of positions along a heel-to-toe direction of the base.

Continuing with the illustrative embodiment shown in FIGs. 7A-7C, the snowboard brake includes a snow engaging arm 211 that is housed adjacent or within the toe ramp 202 and is adapted to be deployed forwardly from the toe ramp. A link 215 attaches the snow engaging arm 211 to the toe ramp 202, as shown in FIGs. 7B and 7C. The link 215 extends along a line generally parallel to the heel-toe direction of the binding, as the present invention is not limited in this respect as other suitable directions may be employed. The snowboard brake also includes an actuator, such as a trigger 220, that is adapted to be engaged by the toe end of the rider' s boot.

The snowboard brake 200, according to one embodiment, is adapted to operate in a manner whereby the snow engaging arm 211 simultaneously rotates and translates outwardly relative to the plane of the gas pedal. In this regard, the snowboard brake arm 211 can engage the snow over the toe edge 230 of the snowboard 232, as shown in FIG. 7C. Thus, a deployment mechanism (not shown), whether within the gas pedal or on the binding base, is arranged to cause the snow engaging arm 211 to translate outwardly (along arrow O) and rotate downwardly (along arrow R) to reach over the toe edge of the snowboard and engage the snow when a boot is removed from the binding. When the rider inserts his or her boot in

the binding, the boot engages the actuator, causing the brake to automatically move to the retracted position. That is, the snow engaging arm translates and rotates back toward the toe ramp.

As noted, the snowboard brake 200 is constructed so that the snow engaging arm can deploy outwardly and rotate downwardly toward the snow. The present invention is not limited to any particular way to accomplish this, however, in one embodiment, the link that couples the snow engaging arm to the front end of the snowboard binding or toe ramp may include a helical groove (not shown). The helical groove engages with a corresponding pin (not shown) that together cooperate to allow the snow engaging arm to rotate upon deployment. Other suitable arrangements for causing the snowboard brake to rotate may be employed, as the present invention is not limited in this regard.

To allow automatic deployment, the snowboard brake includes a biasing element (not shown) or arrangement that can bias the snow engaging arm into the deployed position. In one embodiment, a coil spring (not shown) is positioned behind the link. When the snowboard brake is in the retracted position, the coil spring is compressed to exert a biasing force toward the deployed position. When a snowboard boot is removed from the snowboard binding, the snowboard brake is free to deploy whereby the compression spring exerts a force to move the snowboard brake to the deployed position. As discussed above, to return the snowboard brake to the retracted position, upon entry of the snowboard binding with the user's boot, the user's toe end at the sole acts upon a foot pedal 220, which is connected to the link 215, to retract the snow engaging arm 211 against the bias of the spring to move the arm 211 to the retracted position.

Other suitable arrangements for deploying and retracting the snow engaging arm may be employed as the present invention is not limited in this regard. In addition, while automatic deployment of the brake in some embodiments is employed, automatic retraction of the brake may not be used, as the present invention is not limited in this respect. Thus, in such embodiments, the rider would manually reset the snowboard brake to its retracted position. In this regard, the brake is cocked and ready to be automatically deployed upon removal of the boot from the binding. As can be seen in the figures, the link 215 is offset from the center portion of the snow engaging arm 211. In this manner, as the snow engaging arm rotates about the axis of the link, a relatively greater portion 212 of the snow engaging arm can rotate down to engage the snow.

In one embodiment, the snow engaging arm 211 is shaped to conform to the front end of the snowboard binding. In the illustrative examples shown, the snow engaging arm is arcuately shaped so that when it is in the retracted mode, the snow engaging arm can conform with the arcuate shape front end 204 of the snowboard binding 206 or gas pedal 202. In one embodiment, the snow engaging arm is able to nest with the front end of the snowboard binding when in the retracted position.

In some embodiments, it may be necessary to configure the snowboard brake so that it can reach beyond the edge of the snowboard and contact the snow. This may be accomplished in any suitable manner, as the present invention is not limited in this regard. In one embodiment, a linkage assembly includes a plurality of links each pivotably connected to the brake and the base. The assembly couples the brake and the base whereby a relatively small actuation movement of the actuator results in a relatively large deployment movement of the snow engaging arm. For example, as shown in FIGs. 8 A and 8B, the snowboard brake 248 includes an arm 250 that is connected to an actuator 252, such as the pedal, through a linkage 254a, 254b. In the example shown, a four bar linkage is used to deploy the snowboard brake. Employing a linkage such as the four bar linkage may provide a mechanical advantage whereby movement of the actuator upon removal of the rider's boot is magnified through the action of the linkage whereby the snow engaging arm can extend further than as compared to an arrangement where the snow engaging arm is attached directly to the brake pedal through a single link. Although a four bar linkage is shown, other suitable four bar linkages or other arrangements may be employed, as the present invention is not limited in this respect.

In the embodiment shown in FIGs. 8A and 8B, the snowboard brake 248 includes a first link 254a pivotably coupled to the heel hoop 260 at pin 255, a snow engaging arm 250 pivotably connected to the first link 254a at pin 256, and a second link 254b pivotably connected to the snow engaging arm 250 at pin 259 located at about the mid-point of the snow engaging arm. The second link 254b is attached to the brake actuator 252, in this case, a foot pedal, and is pivotably attached to a lower portion of the heel hoop at pin 258. Thus, as seen in FIG. 8A when the snowboard brake 248 is in the retracted position and the foot pedal 252 is in a position that is generally parallel to the base of the binding, the snow engaging arm 250 is held close to the heel portion of the snowboard binding. When the boot is removed from the snowboard binding, the heel pedal is free to rotate (e.g., clockwise in FIG. 8B) and, through the linkage arrangement, the snow engaging arm 250 is adapted to

rotate counter clockwise outwardly from the binding heel area so as to extend beyond the snowboard 280 to engage the snow. In the embodiment shown, the snowboard brake with the binding base thus forms a four bar linkage to retract or deploy the snow engaging arm.

Although the linkage arrangement with the mechanical advantage is shown at the heel end of the binding, the present invention is not limited in this regard, as a suitable linkage having a mechanical advantage may be employed to deploy the brake from a toe end of the binding.

Various snowboard binding configurations can be used with the snowboard brake. In one embodiment, for example, a binding without a baseplate can be used. The baseplate-less binding can include a pair of sidewalls with suitable flanges to secure the binding to the board. In another embodiment, the binding need not have lateral sidewalls, rather the binding merely includes lateral sides. In yet another embodiment, a binding without a heel hoop can be employed. Also, a step-in binding (strapless binding) can be used, instead of the strap- type binding discussed herein. Other binding mounting arrangements can be implemented, as the present invention is not limited in this respect.

It should be understood that the foregoing descriptions of the invention is intended merely to be illustrative thereof and that other embodiments, modifications, and equivalents of the invention are within the scope of the invention recited in the claims appended hereto. Further, although each embodiment described above includes certain features, the invention is not limited in this respect. Thus, one or more of the above-described or other features of the brake or methods of use, may be employed singularly or in any suitable combination as the present invention is not limited to a specific embodiment. What is claimed is: