Snowboard accessory

Abstract

A snowboard accessory for engagement with a snowboard boot and a snowboard is described. The snowboard accessory includes a support pad including a top support pad surface and a bottom support pad surface. At least a portion of the support pad is magnetically active. The top support pad surface is configured for both magnetic and supporting engagement with at least a portion of a snowboard. An elongated anchoring strap extends laterally from the support pad and includes at least one strap end laterally spaced from the support pad. The elongate anchoring strap is removably attached to the bottom support pad surface. The at least one strap end is configured for securement to the snowboard boot.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A snowboard accessory for engagement with a snowboard boot and a snowboard, the snowboard accessory comprising:
 a support pad including a top support pad surface and a bottom support pad surface, at least a portion of the support pad being magnetically active, the top support pad surface being configured for both magnetic and physical supporting engagement with at least a portion of the snowboard; and   an elongate anchoring strap extending laterally from the support pad and including at least one strap end laterally spaced from the support pad, the elongate anchoring strap being removably attached to the bottom support pad surface;   wherein the at least one strap end is configured for securement to the snowboard boot.   
     
     
         2 . The snowboard accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the top support pad surface includes a groove for selectively accepting, and physically supporting, at least a portion of the snowboard, the groove resisting sliding of the snowboard laterally relative to the top support pad surface. 
     
     
         3 . The snowboard accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate anchoring strap is configured to extend over a tongue of the snowboard boot, and the at least one strap end is configured to extend laterally from the support pad, each of the at least one strap ends being configured to extend laterally in opposite directions. 
     
     
         4 . The snowboard accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the support pad includes a rotation mechanism for selective axial rotation of the support pad relative to the center of the support pad. 
     
     
         5 . The snowboard accessory of  claim 4  wherein the rotation mechanism includes a plurality of ridges protruding from the bottom support pad surface, each ridge being configured for selective engagement with at least one complementary notch in the elongate anchoring strap. 
     
     
         6 . A system for supporting a snowboard, the system including:
 a snowboard boot including a tongue, an outer boot form, and laces securing the outer boot form and extending across the tongue; and   a snowboard accessory for engagement with a snowboard boot and a snowboard, the snowboard accessory including:   a support pad including a top support pad surface, and a bottom support pad surface, at least a portion of the support pad being magnetically active, the top support pad surface being configured for both magnetic and physical supporting engagement with at least a portion of the snowboard; and   an elongate anchoring strap extending laterally from the support pad and including at least one strap end laterally spaced from the support pad, the elongate anchoring strap being removably attached to the bottom support pad surface;   wherein the at least one strap end is configured for securement to the snowboard boot.   
     
     
         7 . The system for supporting a snowboard of  claim 6 , wherein the elongate anchoring strap is secured beneath the laces of the snowboard boot. 
     
     
         8 . The system for supporting a snowboard of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one strap end extends laterally beneath the outer boot form. 
     
     
         9 . The system for supporting a snowboard of  claim 8 , wherein a force generated by tightened laces on the outer boot form longitudinally compresses the outer boot form onto the at least one strap end, and frictionally retains the at least one strap end beneath the outer boot form. 
     
     
         10 . A method for supporting a snowboard, the method comprising:
 providing a snowboard boot including a toe region, a tongue, an outer boot form, and laces securing the outer boot form and extending across the tongue;   providing a snowboard accessory including:
 a support pad having a top support pad surface and a bottom support pad surface, at least a portion of the support pad being magnetically active, the snowboard accessory including an elongate anchoring strap extending laterally from the support pad and including at least one strap end laterally spaced from the support pad, the elongate anchoring strap being removably attached to the bottom support pad surface; 
   providing a snowboard;   securing the snowboard accessory to the snowboard boot;   maintaining the support pad longitudinally atop the toe region of the snowboard boot; and   selectively magnetically and physically engaging the top support surface with at least a portion of the snowboard.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the securing step includes:
 arranging the elongate anchoring strap across the tongue of the snowboard boot and beneath the laces of the snowboard boot; and   securing the snowboard accessory to the snowboard boot by tightening the laces of the snowboard boot.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further including inserting the at least one strap end laterally beneath the outer boot form. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the snowboard accessory further includes a groove on the top support pad surface for selectively accepting, and physically supporting, at least a portion of the snowboard. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the snowboard accessory further includes a rotation mechanism for selective rotation of the support pad relative to the center of the support pad; the method further including positioning the rotation mechanism to an orientation that facilitates engagement of the groove on the top support pad surface of the snowboard accessory with at least a portion of the snowboard. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further including:
 engaging at least a portion of the snowboard with the groove on the top support pad surface of the support pad;
 physically and magnetically supporting the snowboard on the support pad.