Back to results
US 9,327,181 B2Granted
Ski systems and methods and related toe binding mounts and associated quick-release locking mechanisms
OwnerLars Chickering-Ayersinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ski system includes a ski, a heel binding provided on an upper surface of the ski, a toe binding mount provided on the upper surface of the ski forward of the heel binding, a toe binding releasably mounted to the toe binding mount, and a quick-release locking mechanism for locking the toe binding to the toe binding mount. The quick-release locking mechanism is configured for release by hand.
Claims16
A ski system, comprising:
- a ski having an upper surface and a lower surface;
- a toe binding mount provided on the upper surface of the ski, the toe binding mount comprising a plurality of bolts that each has a shaft that is mounted in a respective threaded aperture in the ski and a head that is raised above the upper surface of the ski;
- a toe binding that is releasably mounted on the toe binding mount, the toe binding including a support plate that has a plurality of apertures, and
- a spring-biased stop that has a base that is mounted on the support plate, the spring-biased stop including an opening that is wider than the head of a first of the bolts that receives the head of the first of the bolts,
- wherein a first of the apertures in the support plate includes a receiving portion that is sized to receive the head of a respective one of the bolts and a locking portion that is wider than a shaft of the respective one of the bolts but narrower than the head of the respective one of the bolts, and
- wherein the spring-biased stop covers the receiving portion of the first of the apertures while the opening in the spring-biased stop exposes the locking portion of the first of the apertures.
3 more elements
A ski system, comprising:
- a ski having an upper surface and a lower surface;
- a toe binding mount provided on the upper surface of the ski, the toe binding mount comprising a plurality of bolts that each has a shaft that is mounted in a threaded aperture in the ski and a head that is raised above the upper surface of the ski;
- and
- a toe binding that is releasably mounted on the toe binding mount
- wherein the toe binding includes a support plate that has a plurality of apertures, and wherein the heads of the bolts are received within respective ones of the apertures when the toe binding is mounted on the ski,
- wherein each of the apertures in the support plate includes a receiving portion that is sized to receive the head of a respective one of the bolts and a locking portion that is wider than a shaft of the respective one of the bolts but narrower than the head of the respective one of the bolts,
- wherein the toe binding further includes at least one quick-release locking mechanism,
- wherein the at least one quick-release locking mechanism comprises a first elongated strip that has a base that is mounted on the support plate, the first elongated strip including an opening that is wider than the head of a first of the bolts
- wherein the at least one quick-release locking mechanism further comprises a second elongated strip that has a base that is mounted on the support plate, the second elongated strip including an opening that is wider than the head of a second of the bolts,
- wherein the toe binding is configured to be mounted onto the ski by placing the support plate on the upper surface of the ski so that the bolts are received in the respective receiving portions of the apertures in the support plats and then sliding the support plate along the ski so that the shafts of the bolts are received within the respective locking portions of the apertures, and
- wherein the opening in the first elongated strip exposes the locking portion of a first of the apertures while covering the receiving portion of the first of the apertures.
8 more elements
A ski system, comprising:
- a ski having an upper surface and a lower surface;
- a toe binding mount comprising a mounting structure that includes a head mounted on a shaft, the mounting structure extending upwardly from the upper surface of the ski;
- a toe binding that is configured to be releasably mounted on the toe binding mount, the toe binding including a support plate that has an a aperture that has a receiving portion that is sized to receive the head of the mounting structure and a locking portion that is wider than the shaft of the mounting structure but narrower than the head of the mounting structure;
- and
- a cantilevered member that covers the receiving portion of the aperture, the cantilevered member including an opening that exposes the locking portion of the aperture.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.