Snowboard bench

Abstract

A snowboard bench and a method of using the same. The snowboard bench includes a footboard assembly and a backrest spaced a distance away from the footboard assembly. The footboard assembly includes a substantially horizontally-oriented platform and at least one ramp angling downwardly to the snow surface upon which the bench stands. A footboard extends outwardly away from the platform and is oriented at an angle relative to the platform. The snowboard bench may be positioned proximate a top of a chairlift. A snowboarder slides up a ramp and onto the platform with one foot strapped into a binding. They can hold onto provided handrails to steady themselves. The snowboarder may position their rear end against the backrest and place their snowboard on the angled footboard. Bending over they can strap their second foot into the snowboard's bindings and then slide down the ramp and back onto the snow.

1 . A snowboard bench comprising:
 a footboard assembly and a backrest spaced a distance away from the footboard assembly; wherein said footboard assembly includes:
 a platform oriented substantially horizontally; 
 a ramp extending outwardly from the platform in a first direction, said ramp being inclined downwardly away from the platform and towards a remote surface upon which the snowboard bench rests; and 
 a footboard extending outwardly from the platform in a second direction, said footboard being oriented at an angle relative to the platform. 
   
     
     
         2 . The snowboard bench according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle of the footboard relative to the platform is from about 10° up to about 30°. 
     
     
         3 . The snowboard bench according to  claim 1 , wherein the backrest is oriented at about from about 95° up to about 100° relative to an upper surface of the platform. 
     
     
         4 . The snowboard bench according to  claim 1 , wherein the backrest includes a back plate adapted to contact a snowboarder's rear end when the snowboarder places their snowboard upon the footboard. 
     
     
         5 . The snowboard bench according to  claim 4 , wherein the backrest further comprises a top plate positioned a distance vertically upwardly from the back plate; and wherein the top plate includes a base member adapted to support graphic or textual information thereon. 
     
     
         6 . The snowboard bench according to  claim 5 , wherein the top plate further includes a transparent cover that is removably positioned over the base member. 
     
     
         7 . The snowboard bench according to  claim 4 , wherein the backrest further comprises at least one handrail extending outwardly away from the backrest at an angle of from about 130° up to about 140° relative to the back plate. 
     
     
         8 . The snowboard bench according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one handrail is generally vertically oriented. 
     
     
         9 . The snowboard bench according to  claim 1 , further comprising a frame assembly; wherein the footboard assembly and the backrest are mounted to the frame assembly a distance longitudinally from each other. 
     
     
         10 . The snowboard bench according to  claim 9 , wherein the frame assembly includes a first rail and a second rail spaced laterally from each other; and wherein the platform and the footboard are engaged with and extend between the first rail and the second rail; and wherein the footboard is mounted longitudinally in front of the footboard. 
     
     
         11 . The snowboard bench according to  claim 10 , wherein a front end of each of the first rail and the second rail curves through a corner and forms a front upright; and wherein the corner has a curvature that is suitable for enabling the frame assembly and thereby the snowboard bench to slide across a snow or ice surface when towed. 
     
     
         12 . The snowboard bench according to  claim 10 , further comprising a handrail assembly engaged with the first and second rail; wherein the handrail assembly is located longitudinally in front of the footboard. 
     
     
         13 . The snowboard bench according to  claim 12 , wherein the handrail assembly includes a first section engaged with the first rail and a second section engaged with the second rail; wherein each of the first section and the second section includes a top portion that angles forwardly away from a generally vertically-oriented remaining portion of the respective first section or second section; and wherein the top portion of the first section is connected to the top portion of the second section by a crossbar. 
     
     
         14 . The snowboard bench according to  claim 13 , wherein each top portion angles away from the remaining portion of the respective one of the first or second section at an angle of from about 40° up to about 50° relative to the respective remaining portion. 
     
     
         15 . The snowboard bench according to  claim 9 , further comprising at least one support assembly engaged with the frame assembly and extending laterally outwardly from the first rail and the second rail, said at least one support assembly being adapted to contact a snow surface upon which the frame assembly rests. 
     
     
         16 . The snowboard bench according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one support assembly includes a tapered spike that extends outwardly from a snow-contacting surface of the at least one support assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The snowboard bench according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one support assembly is pivotally engaged with the first rail or the second rail. 
     
     
         18 . A method of strapping on snowboard bindings or removing snowboard bindings comprising:
 strapping a snowboarder's first foot into a first binding on a snowboard while leaving the snowboarder's second foot free of a second binding on the snowboard;   sliding, on the snowboard, up a first ramp of a snowboard bench and onto a horizontally oriented platform provided on the snowboard bench;   resting the snowboarder's rear end against a backrest of the snowboard bench, where the backrest is oriented at a first angle relative to the platform;   placing the snowboard onto a footboard of the snowboard bench, where the footboard is inclined at a second angle relative to the platform;   bending over and strapping the snowboarder's second foot into the second binding on the snowboard;   placing the snowboard back onto the platform; and   sliding down a first ramp or down a second ramp of the snowboard bench with the snowboard and onto a snow surface upon which the snowboard bench rests.   
     
     
         19 . The method as defined in  claim 18 , further comprising:
 grasping a handrail extending outwardly from the backrest when sliding onto the first ramp or when sliding off of the first ramp or the second ramp.   
     
     
         20 . The method as defined in  claim 18 , further comprising:
 grasping a portion of a handle placed a distance longitudinally in front of the backrest when sliding onto the first ramp or when sliding off of the first ramp or the second ramp.   
     
     
         21 . A method of clearing congestion proximate a top or a bottom of a chairlift on a ski hill; said method comprising:
 providing one or more snowboarding benches a distance from the top or the bottom of the chairlift;   directing snowboarders towards the one or more snowboarding benches when provided at the bottom of the chairlift to strap a first foot into a first binding on their snowboards; or   directing snowboarders towards the one or more snowboarding benches when provided at the top of the chairlift to strap a second foot into a second binding on their snowboards.   
     
     
         22 . The method as defined in  claim 21 , further comprising:
 providing graphic or textual information of interest to the snowboarders on a top plate of a backrest provided on each of the one or more snowboard benches.   
     
     
         23 . The method as defined in  claim 22 , further comprising:
 positioning the top plate on each of the one or more snowboard benches at a height that is located a distance above heads of most adult snowboarders.   
     
     
         24 . The method as defined in  claim 21 , further comprising:
 linking the one or more snowboard benches to each other; and   towing the linked one or more snowboard benches from the bottom of the chairlift up the ski hill and to the top of the chairlift.   
     
     
         25 . The method as defined in  claim 21 , further comprising:
 anchoring the one or more snowboard benches in place at the bottom of the chairlift or at the top of the chairlift.