Dry land snowboard training device
AssigneeSam J. Mulay
InventorJohn D. Giorgio
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dry land snowboard training device is presented for simulating the balance and movement of a conventional snowboard on dry land, and in particular the balance and movement of a conventional snowboard on a wooden half pipe. The device comprises a unitary retrofit apparatus which can be mounted to a footboard or removably mounted to a conventional snowboard. The retrofit apparatus includes a frame, a support brace, and a series of housing assemblies which each contain a plurality of ball bearings. The device also incorporates a pair of inventive bindings which each comprise a hard plastic sole, with straps, and a support piece, with a strap, which is attached to the hard plastic sole with flexible cords.
Claims22
A dry land snowboard apparatus for simulating the balance and movement of a snowboard on a non-snow surface comprising:
- a substantially oblong shaped footboard having a top surface and a bottom surface;
- a frame member mounted to said bottom surface of said footboard, said frame member having a perimeter which substantially corresponds to the shape of said footboard;
- a support brace mounted inside of said frame member;
- and
- a plurality of roller assemblies mounted to said frame member for enabling omnidirectional movement of said footboard along the non-snow surface.
A dry land snow board for simulating the balance and movement of a snowboard on a non-snow surface comprising:
- a substantially oblong shaped footboard, of a same shape and size of said snowboard, having a top surface and a bottom surface;
- a frame member mounted to said bottom surface of said footboard having a perimeter which substantially corresponds to the shape of said footboard, said frame member comprising a lower horizontal member and a vertical upstanding member wherein said lower horizontal member is in contact with said bottom surface of said footboard;
- a support brace comprising a lateral member and a plurality of longitudinal members substantially uniformly spaced along a lengthwise aspect of said lateral member, said support brace being mounted inside of said frame member such that said support brace is in contact with said lower horizontal member of said frame member;
- and
- a plurality of roller assemblies each comprising a housing having a first end, a second end, a top surface, and a bottom surface, and a plurality of ball bearings contained in each said housing and extending beyond said top and bottom surfaces of each said housing, said roller assemblies being mounted to said frame member such that said roller assemblies are in contact with both said vertical upstanding member and said lower horizontal member of said frame member.
A method for simulating the balance and movement of a snowboard on a non-snow surface comprising the steps of:
- mounting a frame member to a bottom surface of a footboard having substantially the same shape and size of a snowboard;
- mounting a support brace inside of said frame member to allow for flexion across a longitudinal aspect of said snowboard and resist torsion flexion across a width of said snowboard;
- mounting a plurality of roller assemblies to said frame member;
- engaging a user's feet with a pair of bindings on a top surface of said snowboard;
- and
- employing an edge of said frame member by alternating balancing on a user's toes and heels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.