Snowboard brake

Abstract

A snowboard brake featuring a preferably curved blade member which translatably engages on a top surface of a mount. The mount is adapted for engagement to a snowboard. The blade is user deployable from a retracted position to a deployed position wherein the leading edge of the blade projects below the surface of the snowboard.

1 . A snowboard brake for a snow board having a top surface adapted for engagement to the feet of a rider, a bottom surface opposite said top surface and two side edges communicating between said top and bottom surfaces, comprising: 
 a base, said base having an upper surface and a lower surface;    said base adapted for a fixed engagement upon said top surface of said snowboard;    a blade, said blade having a center portion defined by a first edge, a second edge, and two side edges communicating therebetween;    means for translatable engagement of said blade to said base between a retracted position, and a deployed position;    said deployed position placing said first edge of said blade below a plane defined by said bottom surface of said snowboard;    said retracted position placing said leading edge above said plane; and    means to selectively hold said blade in said deployed position or said retracted position.    
   
   
       2 . The snowboard brake of  claim 1  additionally comprising: 
 said blade having a curved shape defined by a curve of said center portion between said two side edges.    
   
   
       3 . The snowboard brake of  claim 2  additionally comprising: 
 said leading edge positionable to said deployed position placing at least a portion of said leading edge, below said plane defined by said bottom surface and between said two side edges of said snowboard.    
   
   
       4 . The snowboard brake of  claim 2  additionally comprising: 
 said upper surface of said base having a curve adapted to accommodate translation of said blade having said curved shape, therearound.    
   
   
       5 . The snowboard brake of  claim 3  additionally comprising: 
 said upper surface of said base having a curve adapted to accommodate translation of said blade having said curved shape, therearound.    
   
   
       6 . The snowboard brake of  claim 1  wherein said means for translatable engagement provides translation along an axis substantially normal to said side edges of said snowboard.  
   
   
       7 . The snowboard brake of  claim 1  wherein said means for translatable engagement provides translation along an axis substantially diagonal to said side edges of said snowboard; 
 said translation along said diagonal axis providing a slicing motion along the leading edge of said blade, said slicing motion substantially parallel to said side edges.    
   
   
       8 . The snowboard brake of  claim 2  wherein said means for translatable engagement provides translation along an axis substantially normal to said side edges of said snowboard.  
   
   
       9 . The snowboard brake of  claim 2  wherein said means for translatable engagement provides translation along an axis substantially diagonal to said side edges of said snowboard; 
 said translation along said diagonal axis providing a slicing motion along the leading edge of said blade, said slicing motion substantially parallel to said side edges.    
   
   
       10 . The snowboard brake of  claim 3  wherein said means for translatable engagement provides translation along an axis substantially normal to said side edges of said snowboard.  
   
   
       11 . The snowboard brake of  claim 3  wherein said means for translatable engagement provides translation along an axis substantially diagonal to said side edges of said snowboard; 
 said translation along said diagonal axis providing a slicing motion along the leading edge of said blade, said slicing motion substantially parallel to said side edges.    
   
   
       12 . The snowboard brake of  claim 5  wherein said means for translatable engagement provides translation along an axis substantially normal to said side edges of said snowboard.  
   
   
       13 . The snowboard brake of  claim 5  wherein said means for translatable engagement provides translation along an axis substantially diagonal to said side edges of said snowboard; 
 said translation along said diagonal axis providing a slicing motion along the leading edge of said blade, said slicing motion substantially parallel to said side edges.    
   
   
       14 . The snowboard brake of  claim 12  wherein said means for translatable engagement of said blade to said base comprises: 
 a slot communicating through one of said upper surface of said base or said center portion of said blade;    a pin having a first end and having a second end, said pin having sidewall sized for translation in a communication through said slot, said pin projecting from a first end having in substantially fixed engagement with the other of said upper surface of said base or said center portion of said blade.    
   
   
       15 . The snowboard brake of  claim 13  wherein said means for translatable engagement of said blade to said base comprises: 
 a slot communicating through one of said upper surface of said base or said center portion of said blade;    a pin having a first end and having a second end, said pin having sidewall sized for translation in a communication through said slot, said pin projecting from a first end having in substantially fixed engagement with the other of said upper surface of said base or said center portion of said blade.    
   
   
       16 . The snowboard brake of  claim 14  wherein said means to selectively hold said blade in said deployed position or said retracted position comprises: 
 said second end of said pin having a threaded exterior;    a cooperating fastener having a threaded aperture engaged with said threaded exterior;    hand engageable means to-impart a rotational motion to one of said pin or said fastener; and    said rotational motion imparting a compression of said blade upon said base thereby providing a compressed frictional engagement therebetween.    
   
   
       17 . The snowboard brake of  claim 15  wherein said means to selectively hold said blade in said deployed position or said retracted position comprises: 
 said second end of said pin having a threaded exterior;    a cooperating fastener having a threaded aperture engaged with said threaded exterior;    hand engageable means to impart a rotational motion to one of said pin or said fastener; and    said rotational motion imparting a compression of said blade upon said base thereby providing a compressed frictional engagement therebetween.    
   
   
       18 . The snowboard brake of  claim 14  wherein said means for translatable engagement of said blade to said base comprises: 
 a slot communicating through said upper surface of said base with a cavity in said base;    a pin having a first end in substantially rotational through an aperture in said blade and a distal end communicating with said cavity through said slot;    a nut engaged to said second end of said pin;    hand engageable means to impart a rotational motion to said pin; and    said rotational motion imparting a compression of said blade upon said base between said first end of said pin and said nut.    
   
   
       19 . The snowboard brake of  claim 15  wherein said means for translatable engagement of said blade to said base comprises: 
 a slot communicating through said upper surface of said base with a cavity in said base;    a pin having a first end in substantially rotational through an aperture in said blade and a distal end communicating with said cavity through said slot;    a nut engaged to said second end of said pin;    hand engageable means to impart a rotational motion to said pin; and    said rotational motion imparting a compression of said blade upon said base between said first end of said pin and said nut.    
   
   
       20 . The snowboard brake of  claim 19  additionally comprising: 
 a plurality of apertures communicating through said blade; and    said apertures providing means to vent snow from an area between said base and said blade.