Step-in snowshoe binding system

#The present invention is generally related to the field of recreational and sporting equipment. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a step-in binding for a snowshoe.

#Recreational and sporting equipment are continually being improved to increase their safety, ergonomics and ease of use. For example, in recent years snowshoes have advanced from early embodiments that typically comprised heavy wooden frames, leather webbing and crude leather straps for fastening the snowshoes to footwear. Today, a typical snowshoe comprises a lightweight aluminum frame, polymer webbing and a binding that includes one or more nylon straps, such as instep and heel straps, and devices, such as D-rings and snap connectors, that simplify the task of securing the snowshoe to footwear.

#Unfortunately, snowshoe binding technology has generally lagged behind binding technology for other winter recreational and sporting equipment, such as alpine skis, cross-country skis and snowboards. Sophisticated step-in bindings, i.e., bindings that allow users to releasably secure the bindings to mating footwear simply by stepping into the bindings, for skis have been widely available for many years. Step-in bindings for snowboards have also become widely available, albeit more recently. Although the design parameters for step-in bindings for skis, snowboards and snowshoes may differ from one another, snowshoe users and makers alike could benefit from the addition of quality step-in bindings to snowshoes.

#For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show a form of the invention that is presently preferred. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a binding system of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the binding of the binding system of FIG. 1, with the engagement member removed;

#Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, FIG. 1 shows in accordance with the present invention a binding system, which is generally indicated by the numeral 20. Binding system 20 may be used to secure footwear 22 (FIG. 6), such as a boot, hiking shoe or the like, to a sporting, recreational or other type of device (not shown) that requires the device to be releasably secured to the footwear for its use. Examples of such a device include a snowshoe, a snowboard, an inline skate and a roller skate, among others. Binding system 20 includes a binding 24 that is securable to the device and an engagement member 26 that may be securable to footwear 22 and releasably engagable with the binding. Binding 24 may be referred to as a “step-in” binding, since all that is generally required of a user of binding system 20 to secure the device to footwear 22 is to step into binding 24 such that the binding properly engages, and thereby becomes removably secured to, engagement member 26. In addition to the ease of use, binding system 20 of the present invention has a number of additional desirable features that will become apparent from the following description.

#Referring to FIGS. 1-6, binding 24 comprises a toe member 28 and a heel member 30 that are attached to one another by an adjustment mechanism 32 that allows the distance between the toe and heel members to be adjusted to suit a variety of sizes of footwear 22. Upper surface 34 of toe member 28 is generally designed to contact toe region 36 and ball-of-the-foot region 38 of footwear 22. Similarly, upper surface 40 of heel member 30 is generally designed to contact heel 42 of footwear 22. Toe and heel members 28, 30 are preferably made of a relatively stiff material, such as plastic or metal. In the embodiment shown, wherein binding system 20 is intended for use with a snowshoe (see FIG. 6), toe and heel members 28, 30 are preferably made from a material that remains durable when subjected to cold weather temperatures, e.g., from about −30° F. or lower to about 32° F., that the binding system may be exposed to during use, e.g., plastic such as nylon or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).

#Binding system 20 shown in FIGS. 1-7 is designed to be used with certain devices, e.g., a snowshoe such as snowshoe 43 of FIG. 6, having a floatation device comprising a rigid frame and webbing. Accordingly, binding 24 may include a tie member 44 that engages toe member 28 and allows the binding to be pivotably attached to the frame of the device, e.g., snowshoe 43. Tie member 44 may have a loop 46 or other structure at each of its ends for receiving a strap (not shown) or other member extending between binding 24 and the frame of snowshoe 43 or other device to which the binding is attached. If binding system 20 is used with another type of device not constructed with a rigid frame and webbing or other device, such as a snowboard or a unitary molded snowshoe, the binding may be attached directly to a surface of the device, e.g., using mechanical fasteners, adhesive bonding or other means. One skilled in the art will recognize that any one of a variety of means may be provided for attaching binding 24 to a snowshoe or other device, such that an exhaustive list need not be presented herein. Additionally, if binding system 20 is used with a snowshoe, binding 24 may optionally include a crampon 48 to increase the traction of the snowshoe during use. Crampon 48 may be secured to toe member 28 with, e.g., mechanical fasteners 50, such as rivets, screws or nutted bolts, extending through apertures 52 in the crampon and corresponding apertures 54 in the toe member. Alternate apertures 56 may be provided in toe member 28 to permit the attachment of a crampon (not shown) having a fastener pattern different from the fastener pattern of crampon 48.