Snowboard tether device

Abstract

A snowboard tether device comprising a base unit and a movable part. The base unit is affixed to a snowboard, and the movable part is connected to the base unit by a retractable cable. The cable is wound around a cable spool located inside the base unit. The base unit comprises a retractor housing that houses a retractor spring that causes the cable to retract. The base unit comprises a receiving area with a magnet, and the movable part comprises a magnet that is attracted to the magnet on the receiving area of the base unit. When the tether device is in use, the magnet on the movable part is coupled to a pocket token.

1 . A snowboard tether device comprising a base unit and a movable part;
 wherein the base unit is affixed to a snowboard;   wherein the movable part is connected to the base unit by a retractable cable;   wherein the cable is wound around a cable spool located inside the base unit;   wherein the base unit comprises a retractor housing that houses a retractor spring that causes the cable to retract;   wherein the base unit comprises a receiving area;   wherein the receiving area comprises a magnet; and   wherein the movable part comprises a magnet that is attracted to the magnet on the receiving area of the base unit.   
     
     
         2 . The snowboard tether device of  claim 1 , wherein the movable part comprises a center portion around which the cable is wound;
 wherein the movable part comprises an inner support member;   wherein the inner support member comprises a bracket, and the bracket comprises a slot; and   wherein the cable is inserted into the slot in the bracket to secure it when the tether device is in use.   
     
     
         3 . The snowboard tether device of  claim 1 , wherein the base unit comprises a spool, and wherein the cable spool and retractor housing are both part of the spool located inside the base unit. 
     
     
         4 . The snowboard tether device of  claim 3 , wherein the base unit comprises a spool post piece;
 wherein the spool post piece comprises a base plate with a center and a spool post that extends vertically upward from the center of the base plate;   wherein the spool comprises a center and an opening that runs vertically throughout the center of the spool; and   wherein the spool post is inserted into the opening in the spool.   
     
     
         5 . The snowboard tether device of  claim 4 , wherein the base unit comprises a spool cover;
 wherein the spool cover comprises a ceiling with a center and a bearing part that extends downward from the center of the ceiling; and   wherein the spool post is fastened to the bearing part with a screw.   
     
     
         6 . The snowboard tether device of  claim 5 , wherein the base plate of the spool piece comprises a perimeter, and the spool post piece comprises a vertical extension that extends vertically upward from the perimeter of the base plate;
 wherein the spool cover comprises a perimeter and a vertical port on the perimeter of the spool cover;   wherein the vertical extension of the spool post piece extends upward inside of the vertical port of the spool cover;   wherein the vertical extension comprises an uppermost edge that forms a floor of an aperture through which the cable extends;   wherein the vertical port comprises an uppermost edge that forms a ceiling of the aperture through which the cable extends;   wherein the receiving area of the base unit comprises a rear wall; and   wherein the cable is guided by the floor and ceiling formed by the vertical extension and the vertical port so that it exits the base unit via a cable port on the rear wall of the receiving area.   
     
     
         7 . The snowboard tether device of  claim 4 , wherein the retractor housing comprises a channel;
 wherein the spool post comprises a slot;   wherein the retractor spring comprises two ends; and   wherein one end of the retractor spring is inserted into the slot in the spool post, and the other end of the retractor spring is inserted into the channel in the retractor housing.   
     
     
         8 . The snowboard tether device of  claim 2 , wherein the cable comprises two ends;
 wherein one end of the cable extends through an aperture in the cable spool and is secured therein; and   wherein the other end of the cable extends through an aperture in the center portion of the movable part and is secured with a cable plug.   
     
     
         9 . The snowboard tether device of  claim 8 , wherein the movable part comprises an underside with a well; and
 wherein the cable plug is located inside the well on the underside of the movable part.   
     
     
         10 . The snowboard tether device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pull that is attached to the movable part by a piece of nylon webbing. 
     
     
         11 . The snowboard tether device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pocket token;
 wherein the pocket token comprises a magnet and a knob;   wherein the movable part comprises an underside with a well;   wherein the knob on the pocket token is sized so as to fit within the well of the movable part;   wherein the magnet of the movable part surrounds the well on the underside of the movable part;   wherein the magnet of the pocket token surrounds the knob on the pocket token; and   wherein when the knob on the pocket token is inserted into the well on the underside of the movable part, the magnets of the movable part and pocket token are attracted to each other, thereby holding the pocket token in place against the underside of the movable part.   
     
     
         12 . The snowboard tether device of  claim 11 , wherein the pocket token comprises a bottle opener. 
     
     
         13 . The snowboard tether device of  claim 1 , wherein the base unit and the movable part each comprises an outer housing; and
 wherein the outer housing of the base unit and movable part are comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic elastomer, urethane and vinyl.   
     
     
         14 . The snowboard tether device of  claim 2 , wherein the inner support member is comprised of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene. 
     
     
         15 . The snowboard tether device of  claim 1 , wherein the movable part comprises a perimeter; and
 wherein the perimeter of the movable device comprises a plurality of indentations that serve as finger grips.   
     
     
         16 . The snowboard tether device of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet of the movable device is in the form of a ring;
 wherein the movable part and the magnet of the movable part each has an outer diameter;   wherein the outer diameter of the magnet is less than the outer diameter of the movable part;   wherein the movable part has a bottom surface; and   wherein the magnet is embedded into the bottom surface of the movable part.   
     
     
         17 . The snowboard tether device of  claim 1 , wherein the movable part is sized so that at least a portion of the movable part fits into the receiving area of the base unit; and
 wherein when the movable part is situated in the receiving area of the base unit, a portion of the magnet on the movable part is situated directly on top of the magnet in the receiving area of the base unit.   
     
     
         18 . The snowboard tether device of  claim 1 , wherein the base unit comprises a bottom surface; and
 wherein the base unit is adhered to the snowboard with an adhesive backing on the bottom surface of the base unit.   
     
     
         19 . The snowboard tether device of  claim 1 , wherein when the movable part is pulled away from the base unit, tension is created in the retractor spring; and
 wherein when the movable part is released, the retractor spring automatically retracts, thereby rewinding the cable around the cable spool and pulling the movable part back to the base unit.   
     
     
         20 . The snowboard tether device of  claim 4 , wherein the spool post piece serves as an axis about which the spool rotates. 
     
     
         21 . The snowboard tether device of  claim 2 , wherein the center portion of the movable part comprises a top part; and
 wherein the top part of the center portion is configured to represent a logo.   
     
     
         22 . The snowboard tether device of  claim 21 , further comprising a separately molded logo part that sits on top of the top part of the center portion of the movable part. 
     
     
         23 . The snowboard tether device of  claim 2 , wherein the movable part comprises an outer housing;
 wherein the outer housing of the movable part comprises a slot; and   wherein the slot on the outer housing of the movable part is horizontally aligned with the slot in the bracket of the inner support member.