Binding cleaner for Nordic ski boots
OwnerJacob Slaughterinventor
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Abstract
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for cleaning recesses in ski boots and installing such apparatuses on various surfaces are disclosed. A user may insert a portion of the apparatus that projects from the surface on which it is installed into a gap between a steel bar in their ski boot designed for use with a ski binding and the sole of the ski boot in order to clear the recess in which the steel bar is disposed.
Claims20
A system for dislodging material trapped in the binding receiving channel of Nordic ski boots, said channel having a width and including a binding securing bar in a front portion defining a bar opening with a height between the bar and boot sole, the system comprising a cleaning element including a base portion configured to be mounted to an upper ski surface, and a projecting portion projecting from said base portion, wherein:
- said projecting portion is configured and dimensioned to project at a fixed, acute angle from the upper ski surface when said base portion is mounted thereon;
- said projecting portion has a width less than the binding receiving channel width as to be insertable into and freely moveable through said channel for dislodging of material trapped therein;
- and
- said projecting portion has a thickness less than the bar opening height so as to be insertable therethrough for dislodging material trapped in the bar opening.
A method for dislodging material trapped in the binding receiving channel of Nordic ski boots, wherein said channel has a width and includes a binding securing bar extending across a front portion of the channel defining a bar opening with a height between the bar and boot sole, said method comprising:
- placing the ski boot, while on a wearer's foot, over a cleaning element mounted on a surface of a ski including a binding to which the boot is to be attached;
- lowering the boot onto the cleaning element with said cleaning element received in said binding receiving channel;
- and
- moving the boot forward at least one time with said cleaning element received in said binding receiving channel to dislodge material trapped in said channel.
An apparatus for dislodging material trapped in the binding receiving channel of Nordic ski boots, said apparatus comprising an element designed and configured to fixedly project from a surface at an angle, wherein said element is sized and shaped such that it can be inserted in a recess in a ski boot having a steel bar for interfacing with a binding on a ski such that said apparatus can extend between the steel bar and at least a portion of the sole of the ski boot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.