A support assembly for use with snow sports boards includes a base configured to be attached to the snow sports board. A frame has a first portion extending downward and a second portion extending rearward from the first portion. A seat is mounted on the second portion of the frame. A shock absorber extends between the base and the first portion of the frame. During use, the support assembly is configured to support a rider sitting on the seat in a face-forward position with the rider's knees vertically below and forward of the rider's hips.

The present invention relates to a snowboard binding for coupling a snowboard shoe to a snowboard, comprising a baseplate, which is designed to be attached by means of a fastening device to a snowboard and to sit flat against same, a highback, which extends substantially perpendicularly to the baseplate, a toe strap, and an instep strap. The snowboard binding according to the invention is formed in two parts, wherein the baseplate and the toe strap are associated with a first module and the highback and the instep strap are associated with a second module. A coupling unit is provided, by means of which the first module and the second module can be releasably coupled to one another, the first module being designed to remain on the snowboard in a decoupled state and the second module being designed to remain on the snowboard shoe in the decoupled state.

A snowboard binding that enables a snowboard to hang nearly vertically on a user's foot includes a board base attachable to a snowboard, the board base having a generally planar configuration and a hinge, a hardened boot attachable to the user's foot, the hardened boot having a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The hinge attaches the first lateral side of the hardened boot to the board base and a latch attached to the second lateral side. The hinge and latch cooperate to enable the snowboard binding to selectively move from a first configuration where the latch engages both the board base and the hardened boot and align to align the hardened boot and the board base in a planar arrangement, to a second configuration where the latch releases the board base from the hardened boot.

A snowboard hook including a flat bottom component, to be secured to a top surface of a snowboard, and a curved top component, wherein a bottom edge of the curved top component is orthogonally coupled to a first edge of the flat bottom component. The curved top component includes: a vertical portion, including the bottom edge of the curved top component; and a horizontal portion, wherein the horizontal portion protrudes in a curved manner from the vertical portion to an approximately horizontal position near a top edge of the curved top component.

A snowboard hook including a flat bottom component, to be secured to a top surface of a snowboard, and a curved top component, wherein a bottom edge of the curved top component is orthogonally coupled to a first edge of the flat bottom component. The curved top component includes: a vertical portion, including the bottom edge of the curved top component; and a horizontal portion, wherein the horizontal portion protrudes in a curved manner from the vertical portion to an approximately horizontal position near a top edge of the curved top component.

A binding apparatus for a snowboard is provided including a base plate having a pivot portion, an elongate arm member, and a cuff member for receiving a portion of a rider's boot or leg. The base plate may be affixed to the snowboard such that a boot may be coupled to a footbed thereof at an angle relative to the lateral axis of the snowboard. The elongate arm member is pivotably coupled to the pivot portion of the base plate at a first end portion thereof, and the cuff member is coupled to the elongate arm member. The elongate arm member is configured to pivotably rotate about an axis of rotation of the pivot portion such that the elongate arm member and cuff member coupled thereto are capable of moving fore and aft of a lateral axis of a snowboard.

An apparatus for automatically adjusting tension on retention member to hold multiple objects together. Examples include using retention apparatus to obtain optimal fit and use of a human wearable item such as article of footwear. Sensors may be used to sense changes in movement of the article of footwear, of the person wearing it, or of a third object such as a vehicle carrying the person. A retention member may surround at least a portion of the objects, and an actuator may be included that automatically rotates a rotating member such as a gear or pulley that may be coupled to the retention member. The rotating member may be configured to automatically adjust tension on the retention member many times per second based on control signals from control logic responsive to the sensors.

An apparatus for automatically adjusting tension on retention member to hold multiple objects together. Examples include using retention apparatus to obtain optimal fit and use of a human wearable item such as article of footwear. Sensors may be used to sense changes in movement of the article of footwear, of the person wearing it, or of a third object such as a vehicle carrying the person. A retention member may surround at least a portion of the objects, and an actuator may be included that automatically rotates a rotating member such as a gear or pulley that may be coupled to the retention member. The rotating member may be configured to automatically adjust tension on the retention member many times per second based on control signals from control logic responsive to the sensors.

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for positionally stabilizing snowsport equipment such as snowboards while in use on snow or ice. The apparatus includes a position establishing unit having an interface and a guide situated in an angular relation to one another and a tether connectable between the establishing unit and either the equipment or an article associated with the user.

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for positionally stabilizing snowsport equipment such as snowboards while in use on snow or ice. The apparatus includes a position establishing unit having an interface and a guide situated in an angular relation to one another and a tether connectable between the establishing unit and either the equipment or an article associated with the user.