Binding system for an article used to glide on snow

A system for mounting a boot to an article for gliding on snow, comprising:

• a binding configured and arranged to be attached to the article for gliding on snow;
• and
• a boot configured to be supported by said binding;
• one of said binding and said boot including a locking component, the other of said binding and said boot including a binding engagement assembly having at least one member with an aperture formed therethrough, said aperture having a diameter sufficient to receive a portion of said locking component;
• wherein said at least one member is pivotally supported relative to said locking component so as to vary the relative size of said aperture to said locking component between a first relative size where said locking component is moveable within said aperture, and a second relative size where said locking component is no longer moveable within said aperture such that said locking component is secured to said member.

A system for mounting a boot to an article for gliding on snow, comprising:

• a binding configured and arranged to be attached to the article for gliding on snow;
• and
• a boot configured to be supported by said binding;
• one of said binding and said boot including a locking component, the other of said binding and said boot including a binding engagement assembly that is selectively releasable from said locking component, said binding engagement assembly having at least one member with an aperture formed therethrough, said aperture having a diameter sufficient to receive a portion of said locking component;
• wherein said at least one member and said locking component are constructed and arranged for relative movement therebetween so as to vary the relative size of said aperture to said locking component between a first relative size where said locking component is moveable within said aperture, and a second relative size where said locking component is no longer moveable within said aperture such that said locking component is secured to said member with a binding force, said binding force being increasable by decreasing the relative size of said aperture to said locking component from the second relative size to a third relative size;
• wherein said binding engagement assembly further includes an axle to support said at least one member, said axle having a first end and a second end, wherein said at least one member includes a first member and a second member, and wherein said second end extends through an opening in said second member, said opening being sized to closely match the shape of said second end so that said second member and said second end do not move independently.

A system for mounting a boot to an article for gliding on snow, comprising:

• a binding configured and arranged to be attached to the article for gliding on snow;
• a boot configured to be supported by said binding;
• one of said binding and said boot including a locking component, the other of said binding and said boot including a binding engagement assembly that is selectively releasable from said locking component, said binding engagement assembly having at least one member with an aperture formed therethrough, said aperture having a diameter sufficient to receive a portion of said locking component, wherein said binding engagement assembly further includes an axle to support said at least one member, said axle having a first end and a second end;
• wherein said at least one member and said locking component are constructed and arranged for relative movement therebetween so as to vary the relative size of said aperture to said locking component between a first relative size where said locking component is moveable within said aperture, and a second relative size where said locking component is no longer moveable within said aperture such that said locking component is secured to said member with a binding force, said binding force being increasable by decreasing the relative size of said aperture to said locking component from the second relative size to a third relative size;
• and
• a release mechanism having a release lever operatively connected to said axle such that actuation of said release lever causes rotation of said axle, which results in movement of said at least one member to adjust the relative size of said aperture toward said first relative size.

A system for mounting a boot to an article for gliding on snow, comprising:

• a binding configured and arranged to be attached to the article for gliding on snow;
• a boot configured to be supported by said binding;
• and
• a release mechanism operatively associated with said binding engagement assembly,
• one of said binding and said boot including a locking component, the other of said binding and said boot including a binding engagement assembly having at least one member with an aperture formed therethrough, said aperture having a diameter sufficient to receive a portion of said locking component;
• wherein said at least one member and said locking component are constructed and arranged for relative movement therebetween so as to vary the relative size of said aperture to said locking component between a first relative size where said locking component is moveable within said aperture, and a second relative size where said locking component is no longer moveable within said aperture such that said locking component is secured to said member, and actuation of said release mechanism adjusts the relative size of said aperture toward said first relative size.

A system for mounting a boot to an article for gliding on snow, comprising:

• a binding configured and arranged to be attached to the article for gliding on snow, the binding including a locking component;
• and
• a boot configured to be supported by said binding, the boot including a binding engagement assembly having at least one member with an aperture formed therethrough, said aperture having a diameter sufficient to receive a portion of said locking component;
• wherein said at least one member and said locking component are constructed and arranged for relative movement therebetween so as to vary the relative size of said aperture to said locking component between a first relative size where said locking component is moveable within said aperture, and a second relative size where said locking component is no longer moveable within said aperture such that said locking component is secured to said member, said aperture being disposed at an angle relative to a horizontal plane defined by a sole of said boot to establish said second relative size.

A system for mounting a boot to an article for gliding on snow, comprising:

• a binding configured and arranged to be attached to the article for gliding on snow;
• and
• a boot configured to be supported by said binding;
• one of said binding and said boot including a locking component, the other of said binding and said boot including a binding engagement assembly that is selectively releasable from said locking component, said binding engagement assembly having at least one member with an aperture formed therethrough, said aperture having a diameter sufficient to receive a portion of said locking component;
• wherein said at least one member and said locking component are constructed and arranged for relative movement therebetween so as to vary the relative size of said aperture to said locking component between a first relative size where said locking component is moveable within said aperture, and a second relative size where said locking component is no longer moveable within said aperture such that said locking component is secured to said member with a binding force, said binding force being increasable by decreasing the relative size of said aperture to said locking component from the second relative size to a third relative size;
• wherein said binding engagement assembly is disposed on said boot and said locking component is disposed on said binding;
• wherein said binding engagement assembly is at least partially disposed within a housing supported by said boot;
• wherein said housing is removably mounted to said boot;
• and
• wherein said housing is moveable between an extended position to form a first engagement member extending from said boot and a retracted position for reducing the profile of said boot.

A system for mounting a boot to an article for gliding on snow, comprising:

• a binding configured and arranged to be attached to the article for gliding on snow;
• and
• a boot configured to be supported by said binding;
• one of said binding and said boot including a locking component, the other of said binding and said boot including a binding engagement assembly that is selectively releasable from said locking component, said binding engagement assembly having at least one member with an aperture formed therethrough, said aperture having a diameter sufficient to receive a portion of said locking component;
• wherein said at least one member and said locking component are constructed and arranged for relative movement therebetween so as to vary the relative size of said aperture to said locking component between a first relative size where said locking component is moveable within said aperture, and a second relative size where said locking component is no longer moveable within said aperture such that said locking component is secured to said member with a binding force, said binding force being increasable by decreasing the relative size of said aperture to said locking component from the second relative size to a third relative size;
• wherein said binding engagement assembly is disposed on said boot and said locking component is disposed on said binding;
• wherein said binding includes a second engagement component and said boot includes a second binding engagement member configured and arranged to engage said second engagement component;
• and
• wherein said second binding engagement member is mounted to a ledge, said ledge being removably mountable to said boot.

A boot for use with an article for gliding on snow including a binding having a locking component, the boot comprising:

• a boot body including a toe portion and a heel portion;
• a binding engagement assembly supported by said boot body and having at least one member with an aperture extending therethrough, said aperture having a diameter sufficient to receive a portion of the locking component;
• and
• a release mechanism operatively associated with said binding engagement assembly,
• wherein said at least one member and the locking component are constructed and arranged for relative movement therebetween so as to vary the relative size of said aperture to the locking component between a first relative size where the locking component is moveable within said aperture, and a second relative size where the locking component is no longer moveable within said aperture such that the locking component is secured to said at least one member, and actuation of said release mechanism moves said at least one member to adjust the relative size of said aperture toward said first relative size.

A boot for use with an article for gliding on snow including a binding having a locking component, the boot comprising:

• a boot body including a toe portion and a heel portion;
• and
• a binding engagement assembly supported by said boot body and having at least one integral plate member with an aperture extending therethrough, said aperture having a diameter sufficient to receive a portion of the locking component;
• wherein said at least one integral member and the locking component are constructed and arranged for relative movement therebetween so as to vary the relative size of said aperture to the locking component between a first relative size where the locking component is moveable within said aperture, and a second relative size where the locking component is no longer moveable within said aperture such that the locking component is secured to said at least one member.

A boot for use with an article for gliding on snow including a binding having a locking component, the boot comprising:

• a boot body including a toe portion and a heel portion;
• and
• a binding engagement assembly supported by said boot body and having at least one member with an aperture extending therethrough, said aperture having a diameter sufficient to receive a portion of the locking component;
• wherein said at least one member is pivotally supported by said boot body such that said at least one member is pivotable relative to the locking component so as to vary the relative size of said aperture to the locking component between a first relative size where the locking component is moveable within said aperture, and a second relative size where the locking component is no longer moveable within said aperture such that the locking component is secured to said at least one member.

A boot for use with an article for gliding on snow including a binding having a locking component, the boot comprising:

• a boot body including a toe portion and a heel portion;
• and
• a binding engagement assembly supported by said boot body that is selectively releasable from the locking component, said binding engagement assembly having at least one member with an aperture extending therethrough, said aperture having a diameter sufficient to receive a portion of the locking component;
• wherein said at least one member and the locking component are constructed and arranged for relative movement therebetween so as to vary the relative size of said aperture to the locking component between a first relative size where the locking component is moveable within said aperture, and a second relative size where the locking component is no longer moveable within said aperture such that the locking component is secured to said at least one member with a binding force, said binding force being increasable by decreasing the relative size of said aperture to said locking component from the second relative size to a third relative size;
• wherein said binding engagement assembly further includes an axle to support said at least one member, said axle having a first end and a second end;
• wherein said at least one member includes a first member and a second member;
• and
• wherein said second end extends through an opening in said second member, said opening being sized to closely match the shape of said second end so that said second member and said second end do not move independently.

A boot for use with an article for gliding on snow including a binding having a locking component, the boot comprising:

• a boot body including a toe portion and a heel portion;
• a binding engagement assembly supported by said boot body that is selectively releasable from the locking component, said binding engagement assembly having at least one member with an aperture extending therethrough, said aperture having a diameter sufficient to receive a portion of the locking component, wherein said binding engagement assembly further includes an axle to support said at least one member, said axle having a first end and a second end;
• wherein said at least one member and the locking component are constructed and arranged for relative movement therebetween so as to vary the relative size of said aperture to the locking component between a first relative size where the locking component is moveable within said aperture, and a second relative size where the locking component is no longer moveable within said aperture such that the locking component is secured to said at least one member with a binding force, said binding force being increasable by decreasing the relative size of said aperture to said locking component from the second relative size to a third relative size;
• and
• a release mechanism having a release lever operatively connected to said axle such that actuation of said release lever causes rotation of said axle, which results in movement of said at least one member to adjust the relative size of said aperture toward said first relative size.

A boot for use with an article for gliding on snow including a binding having a locking component, the boot comprising:

• a boot body including a toe portion and a heel portion;
• and
• a binding engagement assembly supported by said boot body that is selectively releasable from the locking component, said binding engagement assembly having at least one member with an aperture extending therethrough, said aperture having a diameter sufficient to receive a portion of the locking component;
• wherein said at least one member and the locking component are constructed and arranged for relative movement therebetween so as to vary the relative size of said aperture to the locking component between a first relative size where the locking component is moveable within said aperture, and a second relative size where the locking component is no longer moveable within said aperture such that the locking component is secured to said at least one member with a binding force, said binding force being increasable by decreasing the relative size of said aperture to said locking component from the second relative size to a third relative size;
• wherein said binding engagement assembly is disposed at said heel portion of said boot body;
• wherein said binding engagement assembly is at least partially disposed within a housing supported by said boot;
• and
• wherein said housing is moveable between an extended position to form a first engagement member extending from said boot body and a retracted position for reducing the profile of said boot.

A boot for use with an article for gliding on snow including a binding having a locking component, the boot comprising:

• a boot body including a toe portion and a heel portion;
• a binding engagement assembly supported by said boot body that is selectively releasable from the locking component, said binding engagement assembly having at least one member with an aperture extending therethrough, said aperture having a diameter sufficient to receive a portion of the locking component;
• wherein said at least one member and the locking component are constructed and arranged for relative movement therebetween so as to vary the relative size of said aperture to the locking component between a first relative size where the locking component is moveable within said aperture, and a second relative size where the locking component is no longer moveable within said aperture such that the locking component is secured to said at least one member with a binding force, said binding force being increasable by decreasing the relative size of said aperture to said locking component from the second relative size to a third relative size;
• and
• a second binding engagement member supported by said boot body to engage a second engagement component supported by the binding;
• wherein said second binding engagement member is mounted to a ledge, said ledge being removably mountable to the boot body.

A method for releasably securing a boot to an article for gliding on snow, the method comprising steps of:

• providing a binding configured and arranged to be attached to the article for gliding on snow, said binding including a locking component;
• providing a boot including a binding engagement assembly having at least one member with an aperture extending at least partially therethrough, said aperture having a diameter sufficient to receive a portion of said locking component therethrough;
• providing a release mechanism operatively associated with said at least one member;
• and
• actuating said release mechanism to move said at least one member to vary the relative size of said aperture to said locking component between a first relative size where said locking component is moveable within said aperture, and a second relative size where said locking component is no longer moveable within said aperture, such that said locking component is secured to said at least one member.

A system for mounting a boot to an article for gliding on snow, comprising:

• a binding configured and arranged to be attached to the article for gliding on snow;
• and
• a boot configured to be supported by said binding;
• one of said binding and said boot including a locking component, the other of said binding and said boot including a binding engagement assembly having at least one member with an aperture formed therethrough, said aperture having a diameter sufficient to receive a portion of said locking component;
• wherein said at least one member and said locking component are constructed and arranged for relative movement therebetween so as to vary the relative size of said aperture to said locking component between a first relative size where said locking component is moveable within said aperture, and a second relative size where said locking component is no longer moveable within said aperture such that said locking component is secured to said member, the diameter of said aperture not varying between said first relative size and said second relative size.