US 5,690,351 AGranted

Snowboard binding system

OwnerChris Karolinventor

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Abstract

A snowboard binding system comprising at least one moveable engaging member that, when engaged, secures a snowboarder's boot from vertical or horizontal movement. In one embodiment, a binding system has two active sides allowing a snowboarder to engage the binding by stepping downwardly onto the binding mechanism, thus reversibly forcing tensioned engaging members between an extended and a retracted position and back to an extended position, thereby securing the snowboarder's boot to the upper surface of a snowboard. Other embodiments include snowboard boots having active binding mechanisms positioned on the boot itself, such mechanisms engageable with static members secured to the surface of a snowboard. A further embodiment includes a snowboard boot having a pivotable calf support member and a pivotable, reversibly mounted high-back element.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A snowboard binding system, comprising:

a boot engaging plate having means for attaching said plate to a snowboard, said engaging plate having at least two laterally moveable engaging members, said engaging members being engageable to engagement receptacles located along lateral sides of a boot in a manner to secure said boot from moving in a vertical or horizontal position once said engaging members are engaged, said engaging members being moveable between a first engaging position and a second disengaging position, means for biasing said engaging members to said first engaging position, whereby vertical pressure caused by downward movement of said boot towards said engaging plate is sufficient to move said engaging members from said first position to said second position and back to said first position, thereby securing said boot to said engaging plate, and a release control member operably associated with at least one of said engaging members, said release control member being moveable between first and second positions, said first position being operable to permit said engaging members to move to said first engaging position and said second position being operable to move at least one of said engaging members to said second disengaging position for permitting said boot to be removed from said engaging plate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.