Snowboard suspension system

Abstract

A snowboard suspension system which comprises a mounting plate ( 27 ) which is connected to a binding plate ( 29 ) via one or more hinges ( 26 ). One or more dampers ( 30 ) situated between the binding plate ( 29 ) and the mounting plate ( 27 ) serve to dampen any compressive forces. A connection plate ( 31 ) may be added to produce a compound system.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A snowboard suspension system comprising: 
 a binding plate with securing means for attaching a binding, a mounting plate with securing means for attachment to a snowboard, and a means for coupling said binding plate to said mounting plate which allows for relatively free substantially vertical movement of said binding, whereby said snowboard suspension system mitigates bumpy terrain and lessons the possibility of injury, while still allowing for optimal control.    
     
     
         2 . The snowboard suspension system of    claim 1    wherein said binding plate is coupled to said mounting plate by way of a spring hinge.  
     
     
         3 . The snowboard suspension system of    claim 1    wherein said binding plate is coupled to said mounting plate by way of a hinge, and a damping means affects movement between said binding plate and said mounting plates.  
     
     
         4 . The snowboard suspension system of    claim 1    wherein a canting means is placed between said snowboard and said binding, whereby the angle of said binding plate may be adjusted.  
     
     
         5 . The snowboard suspension system of    claim 1    wherein said binding plate is coupled to said mounting plate by way of a plurality of spring hinges and a plurality of connection plates.  
     
     
         6 . The snowboard suspension system of    claim 1    wherein said binding plate is connected to said mounting plate by way of a plurality of hinges and a plurality of connection plates, and a plurality of damping means affect vertical movement of said binding plate.  
     
     
         7 . The snowboard suspension system of    claim 1    wherein said binding plate is coupled to said mounting plate by way of a plurality of scissor arms.  
     
     
         8 . The snowboard suspension system of    claim 7    wherein a plurality of damping means are coupled to said scissor arms, affecting movement between said binding plate and said mounting plate.  
     
     
         9 . The snowboard suspension system of    claim 1    wherein said binding plate is coupled to said mounting plate by way of a plurality of telescoping means which allow for substantially vertical travel of said mounting plate.  
     
     
         10 . The snowboard suspension system of    claim 9    wherein a plurality of damping means are coupled to said telescoping means, affecting vertical movements of said binding plate.  
     
     
         11 . The snowboard suspension system of    claim 1    wherein said binding plate is coupled to said mounting plate by way of a plurality of slanted arms which allow for substantially vertical movement of said mounting plate.  
     
     
         12 . The snowboard suspension system of    claim 11    wherein a plurality of damping means are coupled to said slanted arms, affecting movement of said mounting plate.  
     
     
         13 . The snowboard suspension system of    claim 1    which incorporates a baffle means for preventing the accumulation of snow and ice, attached underneath said binding plate.  
     
     
         14 . The snowboard suspension system of    claim 1    which includes a bottom stop means for prevention of contact between said mounting plate said binding plate.  
     
     
         15 . The snowboard suspension system of claims  1 - 14  wherein said snowboard suspension systems are adjusted to fit a pair of downhill skiis by attaching each of said mounting plates to a ski instead of a snowboard.  
     
     
         16 . The snowboard suspension systems of claims  1 - 14  wherein said snowboard suspension systems are adapted to fit a pair of in-line roller skates, wherein instead of the binding plate having securing means for attachment to a binding, there are securing means for attachment to a skate boot, and instead of the mounting plate having securing means for attachment to a snowboard, there are securing means for attachment to a series of wheels, thereby allowing for substantially vertical travel of said wheels, while minimizing lateral deflection.  
     
     
         17 . The snowboard suspension system of    claim 16    consisting of said mounting plate and hinge assembly, further including a coupling means for attachment to a skate boot.  
     
     
         18 . The system of    claim 1    wherein the binding members and the mounting members take the form of plates.  
     
     
         19 . A snowboard suspension system for use with a snowboard that includes an elongate, flexible snow-planing member and dual elongate bindings for receiving a user's boots, with the long axis of the bindings being located at an angle relative to the long axis of the snow-planing member, the snowboard suspension system comprising: 
 dual suspension elements, each being coupled to a corresponding one of the dual bindings, each suspension element having a top surface, a bottom surface and a desired thickness, and being formed to compress a preselected amount when a suitable force is applied to either the top or bottom surface; and    joining means for coupling each suspension element to the snow-planing member so that both suspension elements are linked by the snowboard.    
     
     
         20 . The system of    claim 19    wherein the dual suspension elements each include a binding member with a long axis and securing means for attaching to a corresponding binding, and wherein the joining means takes the form of dual mounting members each with corresponding long axes and securing means for attaching to the snow-planing member so that the long axis of each mounting plate is at an angle relative to the long axis of the snow-planing member.  
     
     
         21 . A snowboard suspension system for use with a snowboard that includes an elongate, flexible snow-planing member and dual elongate bindings for receiving a user's boots, with the long axis of the bindings being located at an angle relative to the long axis of the snow-planing member, the snowboard suspension system comprising: 
 dual suspension elements, each being coupled to a corresponding one of the dual bindings, each suspension element having a top expanse, a bottom expanse and a middle region formed to compress upon application of a force and expand upon relaxation of the force, with compression and expansion of the middle region allowing for relative, bi-directional movement between the top expanse and bottom expanse, and each suspension element being constructed so that application of a downward force at any location on the top expanse will cause the entire top expanse to move toward the bottom expanse; and    joining means for coupling each suspension element to the snow-planing member so that both suspension elements are linked by the snowboard.