Montana Patent of the Month – September 2022
Splitboards are a popular type of sports equipment for outdoor enthusiasts. It is essentially a snowboard that splits into two “skis” that can be used along with splitboard skins, which are a type of fabric that attaches to the bottom of these skis to provide support when climbing uphill. The skins are typically attached by clips but often cause skins to be improperly aligned, coupled too loosely, or stretched too tightly on the splitboard skis. In addition, current attachment accessories lack an adaptable nose clip and tail clip, preventing the skins from being used on multiple board shapes.
Spark R&D IP Holding, LLC (Spark R&D) is focused on providing sports lovers with high-quality and effective sports equipment and accessories. Their in-house design and manufacturing capabilities provide them with the flexibility to cater to niche customers within the splitboarding market.
Their development consists of an accessory kit that includes a tail clip that attaches to the front of the board, a nose clip for the back end of the board, and a stretcher to help lock in place the splitboard skin. What’s unique about their design is that it involves adjustable tail and nose clips complete with dual angled hooks and varying notches to fit any board shape. These clips cater to any position, angle, or tension necessary to ensure a perfect fit of the splitboard skin. Their stretcher is tear-resistant and stays flexible even in freezing temperatures. In addition, the stretcher securely grips the tail clips to ensure no slippage and is easy to grab, even with gloves on. This kit is easy to install and custom fits to every board, making this an ideal option for all sports enthusiasts.
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