Splitboard boot binding system with adjustable highback
AssigneeSpark R&D IP Holdings, LLC
InventorWilliam J Ritter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved highback adjustment system for a splitboard boot binding. A captive strut is mounted on the spine of the highback, the strut having a forward lean adjustor block such that rotation or sliding of the block lengthens or shortens the strut. The combination provides a broadly adjustable range of forward lean bias in small increments and the block is readily disengaged and stowed on the highback when not needed. Advantageously, the mechanism that can be operated and adjusted without tools, even with gloved hands, a significant benefit in winter conditions, and does not jam with snow. Methods of use of the improved forward lean adjustor and highback are also disclosed.
Claims17
A highback with forward lean adjustor for a boot binding system with heel cup and baseplate, the heel cup defining a posterior top lip thereon, the highback comprising:
- a) a highback body member having forward pivot ears configured to engage the heel cup and to pivot cooperatively thereon;
- b) said highback body member defining an anterior surface configured to engage the ankle of a rider, a posterior surface with vertical centerline, said posterior surface having pivot ears contralaterally disposed across said centerline with a transverse pivot pin mounted horizontally therebetween;
- c) an incompressible strut comprising a shaft member and an adjustor block, said strut having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is mounted on said transverse pivot pin and is rotatable on said vertical centerline, said second end is defined by an end slot on said adjustor block, said end slot defining a seat configured to engage the posterior top lip of the heel cup in a standing position, and further wherein said adjustor block is mounted on said shaft member such that said incompressible strut is fixed in length when seated on the heel cup and adjustably lengthened or shortened when disengaged therefrom;
- and,
- d) further wherein said incompressible strut is characterized in that lengthening said strut results in a positive increment in lean angle when said strut is seated on the heel cup and shortening said strut results in a negative increment in lean angle when seated on the heel cup, said lean angle thereby ranging from a positive forward lean angle to a negative forward lean angle, wherein a zero lean angle is defined by essentially a zero angle between said backside spine of said highback body member and a line perpendicular to the baseplate.
A method for adjusting a highback over a range of positive and negative lean angles, which comprises:
- (a) providing a splitboard boot binding system with baseplate for supporting a boot, toe and ankle straps, and heel cup, the heel cup having a posterior top lip;
- (b) providing a highback body member having forward pivot ears configured to engage the heel cup and to pivot cooperatively thereon, said highback body member having a anterior surface configured to engage a rider's ankle, a posterior surface with vertical centerline and a pair of pivot ears contrallaterally disposed on said centerline, said pivot ears defining a transverse pivot cradle with transverse pivot pin disposed therein;
- an incompressible strut having a rigid shaft member and an adjustor block, said shaft member having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is affixed to said transverse pivot pin in said pivot cradle and is rotatable on said vertical centerline between a standing, active engaged position and an inverted disengaged position;
- said adjustor block is rotatably or slideably mounted on said second end of said rigid shaft member such that said adjustor block can be positioned to lengthen or shorten said strut, said adjustor block comprises an end slot disposed endwise thereon;
- wherein said end slot is configured to seat on the posterior top lip of the heel cup when said strut is pivoted to said standing, active engaged position;
- and,
- c) lengthening or shortening the length of said strut by adjusting the position of said adjustor block on said rigid shaft member so as to adjust the forward lean angle of the pivotable highback over a range of forward lean angles from positive to negative, wherein a zero lean angle is defined essentially by a zero angle between said posterior surface of said highback body member and a line perpendicular to the baseplate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.