Snowboard mounting system

Abstract

A snowboard mounting system includes a first member attached to a snowboard and a second member attached to a snowboard binding and the two members may be selectively engageable and rotatable with one another. In one embodiment, the first member includes a lip portion arranged with a body portion to form a channel. The lip portion includes a slot that extends into the channel. The slot is configured to receive a toe portion of the second member as a heel portion of the second member is moved into the channel. Because the second member is attached to the snowboard binding, the rider may secure the binding to the snowboard by rotating the binding relative to the snowboard, which moves the toe portion away from the slot and into the channel. In a riding position, the snowboard binding is coupled to the snowboard, yet remains rotationally free with respect the snowboard.

1 . A snowboard mounting system comprising:
 a first engagement member fixed to a snowboard, the first engagement member having a channel with a receiving portion; and   a second engagement member attachable to a snowboard binding, the second engagement member having a body with a toe portion and a heal portion that are each releasably engageable with the channel of the first engagement member,   wherein a riding position of the snowboard includes the second engagement member vertically fixed and rotationally free with respect to the first engagement member.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving portion is complementarily shaped to receive the toe portion of the second engagement member. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the toe portion and the heal portion extend from the body of the second engagement member. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a disengaged position of the snowboard includes the toe portion sufficiently aligned with the receiving portion to permit vertical separation of the second engagement member from the first engagement member. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the toe portion and the heal portion are substantially the same thickness. 
   
   
       6 . A snowboard mounting system comprising:
 a first engagement member fixed to a snowboard, the first engagement member having a receiving portion; and   a second engagement member attachable to a snowboard binding, the second engagement member having an insertable portion that is selectively and releasably engageable with the receiving portion of the first engagement member,   wherein an engaged position includes the second engagement member fixedly coupled to the first engagement member, and   wherein a disengaged position includes the second engagement member being at least rotatable with respect to the first engagement member.   
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 an actuation mechanism for moving the insertable portion into the engaged position.   
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the actuation mechanism is a biasing member. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the receiving portion includes a channel formed in the first engagement member. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the insertable portion includes a detent pin in communication with a biasing member. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a cable coupled to the detent pin for placing the snowboard mounting system into the disengaged position.   
   
   
       12 . A snowboard mounting system comprising:
 a first engagement plate attachable to a snowboard, the first engagement plate having a lip portion arranged with a body portion to form a channel, the lip portion having a slot;   a snowboard binding configured to receive a footwear item; and   a second engagement plate attachable to the snowboard binding, the second engagement plate having first and second protruding portions, the first protruding portion configured to be received in the slot of the first engagement plate and the second protruding portion configured with a thickness to be received in the channel beneath the lip portion of the first engagement plate, the first and second protruding portions securable within the channel after the first protruding portion is rotated out of alignment with the slot.   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the lip portion and the body portion cooperate to form a C-shaped channel. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the first protruding portion and the slot are complementarily shaped. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the first and second protruding portions are substantially the same thickness. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the first engagement plate is fastened to the snowboard. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the second engagement plate is fastened to the snowboard binding.