Freely rotatable binding for snowboarding and other single-board sports

Abstract

A freely rotatable binding base assembly for use on a board used in single-board sports such as snowboarding and slalom water skiing. A binding assembly mounted on and movably secured to the board, and is adapted to receive a conventional boot as worn by a rider. Additional features include a locking means for selectably blocking rotation, and a clutch for braking rotation by applying side loading to the board.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A single-board sport board boot binding, said boot binding comprising: 
 a bearing assembly for mounting to a surface of a single-board sport board, said mountable bearing assembly enabling freely rotatable movement about a first axis, wherein said first axis is perpendicular to the board surface; and    a plate, said plate freely rotatably mounted on the first bearing assembly, said mounted plate freely rotatable about the first axis.    
     
     
         2 . The boot binding of  claim 1 , said boot binding further comprising: 
 a cylindrical shaft wherein the plate is attached to the cylindrical shaft and wherein the cylindrical shaft is freely rotatably mounted on the bearing assembly, said mounted cylindrical shaft freely rotatable about the first axis.    
     
     
         3 . The boot binding of  claim 1 , said boot binding further comprising: 
 an engaging means for receiving a booted foot, wherein said engaging means is attached to said plate.    
     
     
         4 . The boot binding of  claim 1  wherein said bearing assembly is slidably mountable on the surface of the board, wherein the slidably mountable bearing assembly is slidably moveable fore and aft for a particular distance along a length of the board surface.  
     
     
         5 . The boot binding of  claim 1 , said boot binding further comprising: 
 a hinge assembly mounted to a top surface of said plate, said mounted hinge assembly enabling limited rocking movement about a second axis, wherein said second axis is parallel to the surface of the board, and wherein said second axis is perpendicular to the first axis.    
     
     
         6 . The boot binding of  claim 1 , said boot binding further comprising: 
 stationary and movable clutch portions for braking rotational movement, said clutch portions engageable by application of side loads to a mounted binding.    
     
     
         7 . A single board sport board, said board comprising: 
 a surface for receiving at least one boot binding, said surface comprising a fore position and an aft position; and    a first freely rotatable boot binding for receiving a booted foot, said first binding mounted in one of the fore position and aft position on the surface of the board, said mounted first binding freely rotatable about a first axis, wherein said first axis is perpendicular to the board surface.    
     
     
         8 . The board of  claim 7 , said board further comprising: 
 a second freely rotatable boot binding for receiving a booted foot, said second binding mounted in the other of the fore position and the aft position on the surface of the board, said mounted second binding freely rotatable about a second axis, wherein said second axis is perpendicular to the board surface.    
     
     
         9 . The board of  claim 7 , wherein the board has a length and wherein said first binding is slidably mounted on the surface of the board, wherein the slidably mounted first binding is slidably moveable fore and aft for a particular distance along the length of the board surface.  
     
     
         10 . The board of  claim 7 , wherein said first boot binding further comprising stationary and movable clutch portions for braking rotational movement, said clutch portions engageable by application of side loads to the mounted first boot binding.  
     
     
         11 . The board of  claim 7  wherein the board surface at the fore position comprises an upwardly sloping ramp.  
     
     
         12 . The board of  claim 11  wherein said first binding is slidably mounted on the sloping ramp surface of the board, wherein the slidably mounted first binding is slidably moveable upwardly and rearwardly for a particular distance along a length of the sloping ramp surface of the board.  
     
     
         13 . A single-board sport board and boot binding combination, said board and boot binding combination comprising: 
 a bearing assembly mounted to a surface of a board, said mounted bearing assembly enabling freely rotatable movement about a first axis, wherein said first axis is perpendicular to the board surface; and    a plate, said plate freely rotatably mounted on the first bearing assembly, said mounted plate freely rotatable about the first axis.    
     
     
         14 . The board and boot binding combination of  claim 13 , said board and boot binding combination further comprising: 
 a cylindrical shaft wherein the plate is attached to the cylindrical shaft and wherein the cylindrical shaft is freely rotatably mounted on the bearing assembly, said mounted cylindrical shaft freely rotatable about the first axis.    
     
     
         15 . The board and boot binding combination of  claim 13 , said board and boot binding combination further comprising: 
 an engaging means for receiving a booted foot, wherein said engaging means is attached to said plate.    
     
     
         16 . The board and boot binding combination of  claim 13 , wherein said bearing assembly is slidably mounted on the surface of the board, wherein the slidably mounted bearing assembly is slidably moveable fore and aft for a particular distance along a length of the board surface.  
     
     
         17 . The board and boot binding combination of  claim 13 , said board and boot binding combination further comprising: 
 a hinge assembly mounted to said plate, said mounted hinge assembly enabling rocking movement about a second axis, wherein said second axis is parallel to the surface of the board, and wherein said second axis is perpendicular to the first axis.    
     
     
         18 . The board and boot binding combination of  claim 13  wherein the board surface at the fore position comprises an upwardly sloping ramp.  
     
     
         19 . The board and boot binding combination of  claim 18  wherein said bearing assembly is slidably mounted on the sloping ramp surface of the board, wherein the slidably mounted bearing assembly is slidably moveable upwardly and rearwardly for a particular distance along a length of the sloping ramp surface of the board.