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US 8,469,372 B2Granted
Splitboard binding apparatus
OwnerBryce M. Kloster, Tyler G. Klosterinventors
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Abstract
The present disclosure includes a binding apparatus for use on a splitboard. The binding apparatus may be used to change the splitboard between a snowboard for riding downhill in a ride mode and touring skis for climbing up a hill in a tour mode. The binding apparatus can include at least one board joining device. The binding apparatus can also include a binding interface configured to receive a boot and selectively attach to a ride mode interface in a snowboard configuration and to a tour mode interface in a ski configuration.
Claims33
A binding apparatus for use on a splitboard to convert the splitboard between a ride mode and a tour mode, the binding apparatus comprising:
- a binding interface configured to receive a boot, the binding interface comprising a first discrete attachment portion and a second discrete attachment portion generally opposing the first discrete attachment portion;
- a ride mode interface configured to removably attach to the binding interface in a ride mode configuration;
- and
- a tour mode interface configured to removably attach to the binding interface in a tour mode configuration;
- wherein the binding interface is configured to removably attach to the ride mode interface and the tour mode interface;
- wherein the first discrete attachment portion of the binding interface is configured to engage the ride mode interface to secure the first discrete attachment portion of the binding interface to the ride mode interface without removing the first discrete attachment portion from the binding interface;
- wherein the second discrete attachment portion of the binding interface is configured to releasably couple the second discrete attachment portion of the binding interface to the ride mode interface without removing the second discrete attachment portion from the binding interface;
- wherein when the first discrete attachment portion and the second discrete attachment portion of the binding interface are coupled to the ride mode interface, the binding interface is caused to be substantially fixed to the ride mode interface during normal operation of the splitboard;
- wherein the removable binding interface when attached to the ride mode interface securely joins splitboard halves to form a snowboard.
6 more elements
A binding apparatus for use on a splitboard to convert the splitboard between a ride mode and a tour mode, the binding apparatus comprising:
- a binding interface configured to receive a boot, the binding interface comprising a first discrete attachment portion and a second discrete attachment portion generally opposing the first discrete attachment portion;
- a ride mode interface configured to removably attach to the binding interface in a ride mode configuration;
- and
- a tour mode interface configured to removably attach to the binding interface in a tour mode configuration;
- wherein the binding interface is configured to removably attach to the ride mode interface and the tour mode interface;
- wherein the first discrete attachment portion of the binding interface is configured to engage the ride mode interface to secure the first discrete attachment portion of the binding interface to the ride mode interface;
- wherein the second discrete attachment portion of the binding interface is configured to releasably couple the second discrete attachment portion of the binding interface to the ride mode interface without removing the second discrete attachment portion from the binding interface;
- wherein when the second discrete attachment portion of the binding interface is coupled to the ride mode interface the binding interface is configured to be substantially fixed to the ride mode interface during normal operation of the splitboard;
- wherein the removable binding interface when attached to the ride mode interface securely joins splitboard halves to form a snowboard;
- wherein the binding interface further comprises a toe side portion and a heel side portion and wherein the first discrete attachment portion is either part of the toe side portion or the heel side portion and the second discrete attachment portion is part of the side portion opposing the first discrete attachment portion;
- wherein the ride mode interface comprises at least one toe receiving mechanism mounted to a first or second ski and at least one heel receiving mechanism mounted to the other of the first and second skis, and wherein the toe receiving mechanism is configured to receive the first discrete attachment portion of the binding interface and the heel receiving mechanism is configured to receive the second discrete attachment portion of the binding interface;
- wherein the first discrete attachment portion of the binding interface comprises a fixed pin and the second discrete attachment portion of the binding interface comprises a retractable pin.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.