Snowboard shock-absorbing apparatus
AssigneePolar Design
InventorsMichael Timothy Higgins, Robert John Caputo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a shock-absorbing apparatus for use with a variety of snowboards and binding systems. The apparatus includes a binding platform, at least one bearing assembly coupled to the binding platform and the snowboard, and at least one biasing assembly coupled to the platform and the snowboard. Each bearing assembly and biasing assembly are responsive to mechanical energy encountered by the binding platform or the snowboard during use by enabling the binding platform to swivel/pivot from or move along an axis that intersects a top surface of the snowboard.
Claims16
A shock-absorbing apparatus for coupling a binding to a snowboard, the apparatus comprising:
- a plate, said plate adapted to have the binding firmly attached thereto;
- a bearing assembly coupling said plate to the snowboard, said bearing assembly including a threaded portion for engaging the snowboard and a spherical bearing assembly having a spherical portion and a sleeve, the sleeve surrounding at least a part of the spherical portion and being operatively coupled to the plate by engaging a wall of an aperture of the plate, said bearing assembly responsive to mechanical energy encountered by the binding or the snowboard during use by engaging the binding to pivot from or move along an axis orthogonal to a top surface of the snow board;
- and
- a biasing assembly biasing the plate away from the snowboard, said biasing assembly attached to said plate and oriented to press against the snowboard.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.