Snowboard boot and binding strap

An apparatus comprising:

• a snowboard boot having an upper at least partially made of relatively soft material;
• a strap including a first end, a second end, and an adjustable fastener that is engageable with the second end to allow selective tightening and loosening of the strap;
• and
• attachment means for removably attaching the strap to the snowboard boot, the attachment means including means for enabling the first end of the strap to be attached, removed and reattached at a first attachment location of the snowboard boot, and means for enabling the adjustable fastener to be attached, removed and reattached at a second attachment location of the snowboard boot;
• wherein when the first end and the adjustable fastener are attached to the snowboard boot and the second end is engaged with the adjustable fastener, the strap extends across a portion of the snowboard boot, to inhibit a portion of a rider's foot from lifting in the snowboard boot;
• wherein the strap further includes a third end, and wherein the attachment means further includes means for enabling the third end of the strap to be attached, removed and reattached at a third attachment location of the snowboard boot.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a snowboard boot;
• a strap including a first end, a second end, and an adjustable fastener that is engageable with the second end to allow selective tightening and loosening of the strap;
• and
• attachment means for removably attaching the strap to the snowboard boot, the attachment means including means for enabling the first end of the strap to be attached, removed and reattached at a first attachment location of the snowboard boot, and means for enabling the adjustable fastener to be attached, removed and reattached at a second attachment location of the snowboard boot;
• wherein when the first end and the adjustable fastener are attached to the snowboard boot and the second end is engaged with the adjustable fastener, the strap extends across a portion of the snowboard boot, to inhibit a portion of a rider's foot from lifting in the snowboard boot;
• wherein the boot includes an instep area corresponding to an in step bone of a rider and the strap includes a first portion that extends above the instep area of the boot and a second portion that extends below the instep area, the first and second portions being separated by a gap defined therebetween, the gap being arranged to overlie the instep area of the boot so that the first and second portions of the strap avoid creation of a pressure point on the instep area of the boot;
• and
• wherein the strap is Y-shaped.

An apparatus comprising:

• a snowboard boot having an instep area corresponding to an instep bone of a rider;
• and
• a strap, attachable to the snowboard boot, to extend across a portion of the snowboard boot and inhibit a rider's heel from lifting in the snowboard boot, the strap including a first portion that extends above the instep area of the boot and a second portion that extends below the instep area, the first and second portions being separated by a gap defined therebetween, the gap being arranged to overlie the instep area of the boot so that the first and second portions of the strap avoid creation of a pressure point on the instep area of the boot;
• wherein the strap is Y-shaped.

An apparatus comprising:

• a snowboard boot:
• a strap including a first end, a second end, and an adjustable fastener that is engageable with the second end to allow selective tightening and loosening of the strap;
• and
• attachment means for removably attaching the strap to the snowboard boot, the attachment means including means for enabling the first end of the strap to be attached, removed and reattached at a first attachment location of the snowboard boot, and means for enabling the adjustable fastener to be attached, removed and reattached at a second attachment location of the snowboard boot;
• wherein when the first end and the adjustable fastener are attached to the snowboard boot and the second end is engaged with the adjustable fastener, the strap extends across a portion of the snowboard boot, to inhibit a portion of a rider's foot from lifting in the snowboard boot,
• wherein the boot includes an instep area corresponding to an in step bone of a rider and the strap includes a first portion that extends above the instep area of the boot and a second portion that extends below the instep area, the first and second portions being separated by a gap defined therebetween, the gap being arranged to overlie the instep area of the boot so that the first and second portions of the strap avoid creation of a pressure point on the instep area of the boot;
• wherein the gap defines an opening in the strap so that no portion of the strap overlies the instep area of the boot;
• and
• wherein the opening has a teardrop shape.

An apparatus comprising:

• a snowboard boot having an instep area corresponding to an instep bone of a rider;
• and a strap, attachable to the snowboard boot, to extend across a portion of the snowboard boot and inhibit a rider's heel from lifting in the snowboard boot, the strap including a first portion that extends above the instep area of the boot and a second portion that extends below the instep area, the first and second portions being separated by a gap defined therebetween, the gap being arranged to overlie the instep area of the boot so that the first and second portions of the strap avoid creation of a pressure point on the instep area of the boot;
• wherein the gap defines an opening in the strap so that the strap has no portion thereof that overlies the instep area of the boot;
• and
• wherein the opening has a teardrop shape.

An apparatus comprising:

• a snowboard boot having an upper at least partially made of relatively soft material;
• a strap, including a first end, a second end, and an adjustable fastener that is engageable with the second end to allow selective tightening and loosening of the strap;
• and
• an attachment system to removably attach the strap to the snowboard boot, the attachment system including a first fastener engageable with the first end of the strap so that the first end of the strap can be attached, removed and reattached at a first attachment location of the snowboard boot using the first fastener, and a second fastener engageable with the adjustable fastener such that the adjustable fastener can be attached, removed and reattached at a second attachment location of the snowboard boot using the second fastener;
• wherein when the first end and the adjustable fastener are attached to the snowboard boot and the second end is engaged with the adjustable fastener, the strap extends across a portion of the snowboard boot to inhibit a portion of a rider's foot from lifting in the snowboard boot;
• wherein the strap further includes a third end, and wherein the attachment system includes a third fastener engageable with the third end of the strap so that the third end of the strap can be attached, removed and reattached at a third attachment location of the snowboard boot.

An apparatus comprising:

• a snowboard boot having an upper at least partially made of relatively soft material;
• a strap, including a first end, a second end, and an adjustable fastener that is engageable with the second end to allow selective tightening and loosening of the strap;
• and
• an attachment system to removably attach the strap to the snowboard boot, the attachment system including a first fastener engageable with the first end of the strap so that the first end of the strap can be attached, removed and reattached at a first attachment location of the snowboard boot using the first fastener, and a second fastener engageable with the adjustable fastener such that the adjustable fastener can be attached, removed and reattached at a second attachment location of the snowboard boot using the second fastener;
• wherein when the first end and the adjustable fastener are attached to the snowboard boot and the second end is engaged with the adjustable fastener, the strap extends across a portion of the snowboard boot to inhibit a portion of a rider's foot from lifting in the snowboard boot;
• wherein the boot includes an instep area corresponding to an instep bone of the rider and the strap includes a load bearing component having a first load bearing portion that extends above the instep area of the boot and a second load bearing portion that extends below the instep area, the first and second load bearing portions being separated by a gap in the load bearing component, the gap being arranged to overlie the instep area of the boot so that the load bearing component avoids creation of a pressure point on the instep area of the boot.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a snowboard boot;
• a strap, including a first end, a second end, and an adjustable fastener that is engageable with the second end to allow selective tightening and loosening of the strap;
• and
• an attachment system to removably attach the strap to the snowboard boot, the attachment system including a first fastener engageable with the first end of the strap so that the first end of the strap can be attached, removed and reattached at a first attachment location of the snowboard boot using the first fastener, and a second fastener engageable with the adjustable fastener such that the adjustable fastener can be attached, removed and reattached at a second attachment location of the snowboard boot using the second fastener;
• wherein when the first end and the adjustable fastener are attached to the snowboard boot and the second end is engaged with the adjustable fastener, the strap extends across a portion of the snowboard boot to inhibit a portion of a rider's foot from lifting in the snowboard boot;
• wherein the boot includes an instep area corresponding to an instep bone of the rider and the strap includes a load bearing component having a first load bearing portion that extends above the instep area of the boot and a second load bearing portion that extends below the instep area, the first and second load bearing portions being separated by a gap in the load bearing component, the gap being arranged to overlie the instep area of the boot so that the load bearing component avoids creation of a pressure point on the instep area of the boot;
• and
• wherein the strap is Y-shaped.

An apparatus comprising:

• a snowboard boot;
• a strap, including a first end, a second end, and an adjustable fastener that is engageable with the second end to allow selective tightening and loosening of the strap;
• and
• an attachment system to removably attach the strap to the snowboard boot, the attachment system including a first fastener engageable with the first end of the strap so that the first end of the strap can be attached, removed and reattached at a first attachment location of the snowboard boot and a second fastener engageable with the adjustable fastener such that the adjustable fastener can be attached, removed and reattached at a second attachment location of the snowboard boot;
• wherein when the first end and the adjustable fastener are attached to the snowboard boot and the second end is engaged with the adjustable fastener, the strap extends across a portion of the snowboard boot to inhibit a portion of a rider's foot from lifting in the snowboard boot;
• wherein the boot includes an instep area corresponding to an instep bone of the rider and the strap includes a load bearing component having a first load bearing portion that extends above the instep area of the boot and a second load bearing portion that extends below the instep area, the first and second load bearing portions being separated by a gap in the load bearing component, the gap being arranged to overlie the instep area of the boot so that the load bearing component avoids creation of a pressure point on the instep area of the boot;
• wherein the gap defines an opening in the strap so that the strap has no portion thereof that overlies the instep area of the boot;
• and
• wherein the opening has a teardrop shape.

A method of attaching a strap to a snowboard boot to inhibit a rider's heel from lifting in the snowboard boot, the snowboard boot having an instep area corresponding to an instep bone of the rider, the strap having a load bearing component including first and second load bearing portions and a gap disposed therebetween, the method comprising steps of:

• disposing the first load bearing portion along the boot at a first portion above the instep area of the boot;
• disposing the second load bearing portion along the boot at a second portion below the instep area of the boot;
• and
• positioning the gap over the instep area of the boot so that the load bearing component of the strap avoids creation of a pressure point on the instep area of the boot.