Laterally flexible snowboard binding system

Abstract

The new snowboard bindings allow the snowboard rider to change the angle of the boot attachment for the purpose of accomplishing more "tricks". Each binding has a board anchor plate (15), a boot anchor (26), a biasing unit (21), and a locking unit (22). The board anchor plate (15) can include an angle set plate (16) to enable the rider to change the binding alignment on the snowboard. The usual straps (59and 60) are attached to the boot anchor (26) and a heel holder (29) are used to lock the boot in place. A biasing unit (21) (50A) utilizes one or more hinges (32 and 33) (50)(67) and a biasing mechanism. The biasing mechanism can be a coiled spring(s) (23)(68), an elastomeric wedge (40), a leaf spring (47), and/or a torsion bar (51), etc. The biasing mechanism forces the board anchor plate (15) and the boot anchor (26) into parallel alignment. This alignment can be changed by the user by releasing the board anchor plate (15) and the boot anchor (26) from parallel alignment by retracting the locking pin (24).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.