Snowboard binding

A method of operating a snowboard binding that mounts a snowboard boot to a snowboard, the snowboard boot having at least one mating feature supported thereon, the binding including at least one engagement member and at least one lever to move the at least one engagement member from a closed position wherein the at least one engagement member secures the at least one mating feature in the binding in a first position, to a cocked open position wherein the at least one engagement member releases the at least one mating feature from the binding, the at least one engagement member being biased toward the closed position with a biasing force, the method comprising steps of:

• (a) actuating the at least one lever to overcome the biasing force and move the at least one engagement member from the closed position to the cocked open position while maintaining the at least one mating feature in the first position;
• (b) releasing the at least one lever while maintaining the at least one mating feature in the first position;
• and
• (c) removing the at least one mating feature from the first position, subsequent to the step (b).

A snowboard binding to mount a snowboard boot to a snowboard, the snowboard binding comprising:

• a base having a toe end and a heel end;
• at least one strapless engagement member movably supported by the base to secure the snowboard boot to the snowboard, the at least one strapless engagement member being movable between a plurality of locking positions on the base to secure the snowboard boot to the snowboard in a plurality of positions to accommodate varying thicknesses of snow accumulated between the snowboard boot and the snowboard;
• and
• a guide, supported by the base, that is adapted to guide the snowboard boot back toward the heel end of the base when the snowboard boot is stepped into the binding.

A snowboard binding to mount a snowboard boot to a snowboard the snowboard binding comprising:

• a base having a toe end and a heel end;
• at least one strapless engagement member, rotatably supported by the base about a pivot point, to secure the snowboard boot to the snowboard, the at least one strapless engagement member including an engagement surface that is adapted to engage a mating feature supported by the snowboard boot, the engagement surface including a plurality of surface portions spaced from the pivot point by varying amounts so that the engagement surface provides a plurality of locking positions for the mating feature relative to the pivot point for the at least one strapless engagement member;
• and
• a guide, supported by the base, that is adapted to guide the snowboard boot back toward the heel end of the base when the snowboard boot is stepped into the binding.

A snowboard binding to mount a snowboard boot to a snowboard, the snowboard boot having at least one mating feature supported thereon, the snowboard binding comprising:

• a base;
• at least one engagement member mounted to the base for movement between a closed position to engage the at least one mating feature and an open position to release the at least one mating feature;
• at least one lever that is adapted to move the at least one engagement member from the closed position to the open position;
• and
• a cocking mechanism that is adapted to maintain the at least one engagement member in a cocked open position upon release of the at least one lever, the cocking mechanism being responsive to the snowboard boot being stepped out of the binding to release the at least one engagement member from the cocked open position.