Snowboard boot binding mechanism
AssigneeThe Burton Corporation
InventorDavid J. Dodge
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A snowboard boot binding mechanism includes a base member having a recessed channel. The first plate is slidably attached to the base member. A first pair of engagement rods are fixedly attached to the first plate. Each of the first pair of engagement rods has a head disposed at an axial end of the rod for selectively engaging and locking a fist bar attached to a first side of the snowboard boot. A second plate is fixedly attached to the base member. A second pair of engagement rods are fixedly attached to the second plate. Each of the second pair of engagement rods have a head disposed at an axial end of the rod for engaging and locking a second bar attached to a second side of the snowboard boot which is disposed opposite of the first side.
Claims97
In a snowboard binding for securing a snowboard boot to a snowboard, the snowboard binding including a base and an engagement apparatus adapted to non-automatically releasably engage a first side of the snowboard boot when the binding is in a closed configuration, the engagement apparatus comprising:
- a pair of engagement members supportable by the base, the pair of engagement members including first and second spaced apart engagement members adapted to separately engage first and second sections of the first side of the snowboard boot, while being spaced from a third section of the first side of the snowboard boot disposed therebetween to non-automatically releasably secure the boot, the second engagement member being disposed rearwardly of the first engagement member, the second engagement member being adapted to engage an instep area of the snowboard boot;
- and
- a handle mechanically coupled to the pair of engagement members, wherein the handle is pivoted in a first direction to close the binding, and wherein the engagement apparatus is constructed and arranged so that when the binding is closed, forces generated by the snowboard boot that tend to move the pair of spaced apart engagement members toward an open position tend to move the handle in the first direction.
A system comprising:
- a snowboard boot having first and second sides, the first side including at least one opening periphery that defines at least one opening in the first side, the at least one opening periphery having a top surface and a bottom surface;
- a binding that includes:
- a base adapted to receive the snowboard boot;
- a first engagement member supported by the base, the first engagement member being adapted to engage the at least one opening periphery on the first side of the snowboard boot when the binding is in a closed configuration, the first engagement member being adapted to only partially fill the at least one opening on the first side of the snowboard boot to ease engagement of the first engagement member with the at least one opening so that clearance is provided between the first engagement member and the top surface of the opening periphery when the binding is in the closed configuration, wherein the first engagement member includes a pair of engagement members including first and second spaced apart engagement surfaces adapted to separately engage the at least one opening on the first side of the snowboard boot;
- and
- a handle connected to the first engagement member, wherein the binding is constructed and arranged so that the handle is pivoted in a first direction to close the binding, and wherein the binding is further constructed and arranged so that when the binding is in the closed configuration, lifting forces generated by the snowboard boot that tend to move the first engagement member toward an open position tend to move the handle in the first direction.
In a snowboard binding for securing a snowboard boot to a snowboard, the snowboard binding including a base, an engagement apparatus, comprising:
- a first engagement member supportable by the base, the first engagement member being movable between an open position and a closed position respectively corresponding to an open and a closed configuration of the binding, wherein the first engagement member is adapted to engage a first side of the snowboard boot when the binding is in the closed configuration;
- and
- a handle mechanically coupled to the first engagement member so that actuation of the handle in a first direction moves the first engagement member from the open position to the closed position, and so that forces generated by the snowboard boot on the binding that tend to move the first engagement member toward the open position when the binding is in the closed configuration tend to move the handle in the first direction.
In a snowboard binding for securing a snowboard boot to a snowboard, the snowboard binding including a base and having an open configuration and a closed configuration, a locking apparatus comprising:
- a first engagement member mountable to the base for movement between an open position and a closed position respectively corresponding to the open and closed configurations of the binding, the first engagement member being adapted to engage a first lateral side of the snowboard boot when in the closed position;
- and
- an over-center locking mechanism that is mechanically coupled to the first engagement member and has an open state and a closed state respectively corresponding to the open and closed configurations of the binding, the over-center locking mechanism being arranged to lock the first engagement member in the closed position when the over-center locking mechanism is in the closed state, the over-center locking mechanism being constructed and arranged such that forces generated by the snowboard boot on the binding that tend to move the first engagement toward the open position when the binding is in the closed configuration act to maintain the over-center locking mechanism in the closed state.
A system comprising:
- a snowboard boot having first and second sides, the snowboard boot including an interface including a first portion extending along the first side of the snowboard boot, the first side including at least one opening periphery that defines at least one opening in the first side;
- and
- a binding that includes:
- a base adapted to receive the snowboard boot;
- a pair of engagement members supported by the base and including first and second spaced apart engagement members adapted to be separately disposed within the at least one opening and to engage first and second sections of the first portion of the interface while being spaced from a third section of the first portion of the interface disposed therebetween;
- and
- a handle mechanically coupled to the pair of engagement members, wherein the handle is pivoted in a first direction to close the binding, and wherein the engagement apparatus is constructed and arranged so that when the binding is closed, forces generated by the snowboard boot that tend to move the pair of spaced apart engagement members toward an open position tend to move the handle in the first direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.