Back to results
US 12,076,636 B2Granted
Counter-rotating fin steering system for board sports
OwnerBrian Carrinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steering system for a snowboard includes two binding interface pods, one of which may be active and one of which may be passive. Rotation or tilting of a top plate of the active binding interface pod in response to rotation or tilting of the rider's steering foot causes counter-rotation of a steering fin under the rider's steering foot. The passive binding interface pod is responsive via a linkage between the active and passive binding interface pods to cause rotation of a steering fin under the rider's non-steering foot. Coordinated counter-rotation of the steering fins causes the board to turn in the direction of rotation of the rider's steering foot when the steering fins are unaligned. Optionally, both binding pods may be active in steering, i.e. enabling two footed steering.
Claims20
An apparatus for turning a sport board in response to foot dorsiflexion and plantarflexion, comprising:
- a first binding interface pod configured to be mounted on a longitudinal centerline of the board proximate to a first distal end, the first binding interface pod comprising a first axis pivotable first top plate configured to be positioned above a top of the board and a second axis rotatable first steering fin configured to extend from a bottom of the board, wherein the first axis is orthogonal to the second axis, the pivotable first top plate mechanically linked to the first steering fin such that the first steering fin counter-rotates in response to pivoting of the first top plate and rotates in response to counter-pivoting of the first top plate;
- a second binding interface pod configured to be mounted on the longitudinal centerline of the board in alignment with the first binding interface pod and proximate to a second distal end, the second binding interface pod comprising a stationary second top plate configured to be positioned above a top of the board and a rotatable second steering fin configured to extend from the bottom of the board;
- and
- a linkage that connects the first top plate with the second steering fin such that the second steering fin rotates responsive to pivoting of the first top plate and counter-rotates responsive to counter-pivoting of the first top plate,
- whereby alternating pivoting and counter-pivoting of the pivotable first top plate with dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of a first foot of a rider causes the sport board to be steered in S-shaped turns while a second foot of the rider remains stationary relative to the stationary second top plate and thereby facilitates maintenance of balance of the rider on the board during steering.
2 more elements
A method for turning a sport board in response to foot dorsiflexion and plantarflexion, comprising:
- steering the board in response to in response to dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of only one foot of a rider with a first pivotable binding interface pod configured to be mounted on a longitudinal centerline of the board proximate to a first distal end and a second binding interface pod configured to be mounted on the longitudinal centerline of the board in alignment with the first binding interface pod and proximate to a second distal end by:
- pivoting a first top plate of the first binding interface pod around a first axis responsive to dorsiflexion of a first foot of the rider and counter-pivoting the first top plate responsive to plantarflexion of the first foot of the rider;
- counter-rotating a first steering fin of the first binding interface pod in response to pivoting of the first top plate and rotating the first steering fin in response to counter-pivoting of the first top plate;
- rotating a second steering fin of the second binding interface pod in response to pivoting of the first top plate and counter-rotating the second steering fin in response to counter-pivoting of the first top plate;
- and
- maintaining a second foot of the rider stationary relative to the board with a stationary second top plate of the second binding interface pod,
- whereby alternating pivoting and counter-pivoting of the rotatable first top plate with dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of the first foot of the rider causes the sport board to be steered in S-shaped turns while the second foot of the rider remains stationary relative to the stationary second top plate, thereby facilitating maintenance of balance of the rider on the board during steering.
4 more elements
An apparatus for turning a sport board in response to foot dorsiflexion and plantarflexion, comprising:
- a first binding interface pod configured to be mounted on a longitudinal centerline of the board proximate to a first distal end, the first binding interface pod comprising a first axis pivotable first top plate configured to be positioned above a top of the board and a second axis rotatable first steering fin configured to extend from a bottom of the board, wherein the first axis is orthogonal to the second axis, the pivotable first top plate linked to the first steering fin such that the first steering fin counter-rotates in response to pivoting of the first top plate and rotates in response to counter-pivoting of the first top plate;
- a second binding interface pod configured to be mounted on the longitudinal centerline of the board in alignment with the first binding interface pod and proximate to a second distal end, the second binding interface pod comprising a third axis pivotable second top plate configured to be positioned above the top of the board and a fourth axis rotatable second steering fin configured to extend from the bottom of the board, wherein the third axis is orthogonal to the fourth axis, the pivotable second top plate linked to the second steering fin such that the second steering fin rotates in response to pivoting of the second top plate and counter-rotates in response to counter-pivoting of the second top plate;
- and
- a linkage that connects the first top plate with the second top plate such that the second top plate pivots responsive to pivoting of the first top plate and counter-pivots responsive to counter-pivoting of the first top plate,
- whereby alternating pivoting and counter-pivoting of the rotatable first top plate and second top plate with dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of first and second feet of a rider causes the sport board to be steered in S-shaped turns.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.