Snowboard interface with an upper portion that translates and rotates relative to a lower portion

A snowboard interface comprising:

• a foot coupling member for coupling to a forward and rearward extending foot portion of a snowboard boot;
• a leg coupling member for coupling to an upwardly extending leg portion of a snowboard boot;
• a vertical position fixing mechanism that moves between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the leg coupling member can move vertically relative to the foot coupling member when the vertical position fixing mechanism is in the unlocked position, and wherein the leg coupling member is vertically fixed relative to the foot coupling member when the vertical position fixing mechanism is in the locked position;
• a coupling mechanism for coupling the leg coupling member to the foot coupling member so that the leg coupling member translates sideways relative to a vertical plane that extends in forward and rearward directions and rotates sideways relative to the foot coupling member around an axis that extends primarily in the forward and rearward directions such that the axis moves sideways as the leg coupling member rotates around the axis while the foot coupling member is stationary and the vertical position fixing mechanism is in the locked position;
• wherein the coupling mechanism includes a guide mechanism for guiding the movement of the leg coupling member relative to the foot coupling member so that the guide mechanism causes the axis to move sideways as the leg portion rotates around the axis while the heel portion is stationary and the vertical position fixing mechanism is in the locked position.

A snowboard boot comprising:

• a toe portion;
• a heel portion;
• a leg portion;
• a vertical position fixing mechanism that moves between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the leg portion can move vertically relative to the heel portion when the vertical position fixing mechanism is in the unlocked position, and wherein the leg portion is vertically fixed relative to the heel portion when the vertical position fixing mechanism is in the locked position;
• and
• a coupling mechanism for coupling the leg portion to the heel portion so that the leg portion pivots sideways around a rear pivot location disposed on a pivot axis that moves sideways as the leg portion pivots while the foot coupling member is stationary and the vertical position fixing mechanism is in the locked position, wherein the pivot axis extends primarily in a forward and rearward directions between the toe portion and the heel portion, and wherein the pivot axis continues to extend primarily in the forward and rearward directions as the pivot axis moves sideways.

A snowboard boot comprising:

• a toe portion;
• a heel portion;
• a leg portion;
• a coupling mechanism including a shaft disposed on one of the heel portion and the leg portion extending through an opening disposed on the other one of the heel portion and the leg portion so as to couple the leg portion to the heel portion;
• a vertical position fixing mechanism that moves between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the leg portion can move vertically relative to the heel portion when the vertical position fixing mechanism is in the unlocked position, and wherein the leg portion is vertically fixed relative to the heel portion when the vertical position fixing mechanism is in the locked position;
• and
• wherein the shaft and the opening are structured such that the leg portion pivots centered around an axis extending primarily in forward and rearward directions and located in a position spaced apart from the shaft while the heel portion is stationary and the vertical position is in the locked position, and such that the axis moves sideways as the leg portion rotates around the axis while the heel portion is stationary and the vertical position fixing mechanism is in the locked position.