Abstract: The invention relates to an ankle strap assembly for a snowboard binding. The strap assembly includes a middle strap portion having a stiffening panel with a longitudinal slot defining upper and lower rails, and at least one stiffening member that engages the upper and lower rails. The invention also relates to a method for adjusting the stiffness of a strap assembly for a snowboard binding.

Abstract: A snowboard binding (100) having a baseplate (110), a highback (118) attached to the baseplate, and a strap assembly (120) including an instep strap subassembly (124) pivotably attached to the baseplate on one side, and releasably attachable to a mounting strap (132) on the other side. The baseplate includes a lateral toe wall (116). The strap assembly includes a forefoot strap (140) having an upper leg (142) that engages the instep strap, optionally a medial leg (144) that attaches to the medial side of the baseplate, and a front leg (146) that engages a front end of the baseplate. The toe portion of the user's boot (90) is engaged by the forefoot strap. The user secures a boot to the binding with a single engagement mechanism, such as a ratchet buckle (130), which secures both the instep portion and the forefoot strap portions of the strap assembly.

Abstract: A boot binding for a snowshoe, suspended within the snowshoe for flexibility of the boot relative to the snowshoe in the pitch direction, has a binding footbed that is flexible and allows bending of the boot in the pitch directed, as steps are taken by the user.

Abstract: A binding for a snowshoe has, in several different embodiments, a pair of straps to draw the binding tight over a user's boot, the two straps reversing direction at side loop points and being secured to a pair of buckles on a floating tongue at the top of the binding, generally over the ball area of the foot. In one form the straps are anchored at toe points on the binding and extend back in a crossing, X configuration, as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,814,360. In another form the straps are shorter and do not cross, the forward ends being replaced with toe-cradling strap-like members that extend up and back and come together at a pivot connection with a tongue, in this case a shorter tongue, to which the two buckles are connected. The binding tends to open with release of the straps. In a third form the tongue is a larger, padded X-shaped flexible member under which the boot is slid to engage the binding.

Abstract: The invention is related to a helmet having an interior foam liner with at least two shell portions. The helmet includes an exterior in-mold shell portion covering a portion of the liner. The helmet also includes an exterior post-applied shell portion covering a portion of the liner that is not covered by the in-mold shell portion. The helmet includes conduits located between the liner and the post-applied shell portion for ventilation and air flow useful for removing the heat generated by a user.

Abstract: A skate includes a midskate hinge in the shoe to preferentially flex the shoe base at the metatarsal area, a forward hinge to allow the rear of the shoe to be raised in relation to the rear of the skate frame, and a third hinge to laterally stabilize the rear of the shoe as the shoe base is flexed.

Abstract: A boot, such as a snowboard boot, having an outer shell including a flexible upper and a harness assembly disposed in the outer shell. The harness assembly wraps about a user's ankle, includes a plurality of cord keepers. A cord—for example, a lace or a stainless steel cable—slidably engages the cord keepers, for tightening the harness about the user's ankle. A tensioning mechanism such as a spool mechanism or a lace keeper is attached to the flexible upper and engages the cord, such that the user can releasably tension the cord. The cord extends through an aperture in the outer shell whereby the user can tighten or loosen the harness without removing the boot. In an embodiment, the tensioning mechanism is a lace locker fixedly attached to the shell tongue, wherein the tongue includes apertures disposed near the bottom of the lace locker to slidably accommodate the cord.

Abstract: A gliding board such as a snowboard (100) having a core (130), a lower structural layer (132), an upper structural layer (134), a base element (138) attached under the lower structural layer, and a metal edge piece (136). A vibration-absorbing panel (120) is attached to the outer surface of the upper structural layer and a protective layer (140) is disposed over the vibration-absorbing panel and the upper structural layer. The vibration-absorbing panel is disposed in the binding attachment region (110) of the snowboard and is an integral and nonremovable part of the snowboard. The upper structural layer may include a recessed portion (235) that is sized to receive the vibration-absorbing panel, whereby the top surface of the snowboard does not have any protrusions. The snowboard includes an array of threaded inserts (152) for selective positioning and attachment of the binding base plate (150) to the snowboard over the vibration-absorbing panel.

Abstract: Eyewear, such as goggles, includes a frame, a lens supported by the frame, and an outrigger that is pivotally mounted to sides of the frame. An elastic band is mounted to the outrigger. The elastic band is made from two band arms that are connected on one end to form a loop, and at the opposite end, the arms have loose ends, but can be attached and detached from the outrigger. The attachable and detachable aspect of the band provides the opportunity to interchange the band when the band is worn or broken, or alternatively, a completely different style of band can be used with the eyewear. For example, a traditional looking band having a stretchable elastic textile band can be substituted for the band with two arms.

Abstract: A snowboard binding (100) is disclosed having a base plate (102) with a highback (120) pivotally attached. A locking lever (130) is disposed on the back of the highback for locking the highback in a generally upright position with a desired maximum forward lean. A flexible member such as a strap (140) or a panel (202), cord guide (204), and cord (206) attached to the highback and to the locking lever to facilitate moving the lever between an open position and a locked position. In an embodiment of the invention, the base plate includes a pair of oppositely-disposed, pivotable sidewalls (104) and the highback is attached to the base plate with a heel loop (112) that pivotably engages the sidewalls, such that straps (108, 110) mounted to the sidewalls move to engage the boot (90) when the highback is moved to an upright position.

Abstract: A size-adjustable in-line skate having a base carrying a plurality of wheels thereon. An upper is secured to a top surface of the base and defines a heel portion, a toe portion, and diametrically opposed side wall portions. The upper is supported by a support structure that includes a heel cup and a toe cup. The toe cup is secured to the toe portion of the upper and slideably coupled to the base so that the toe cup can slide longitudinally with respect to the base. An actuator is coupled to the toe cup and travels therewith. When the actuator is translated, engagement members on the actuator disengage with detents on the base to allow the toe cup to freely slide between longitudinal positions to adjust the shoe size of the skate.

Abstract: A snowboard (10) includes a central section (12) and tip and tail sections (14, 16). The snowboard includes a core (30) bordered within the central section along longitudinal edges by sidewall members (24). The snowboard includes upper and lower reinforcement layers (32, 34) covered by a top sheet (36) and a base (38). The outer surfaces (44) of the sidewall members (24) are exposed between the top sheet and the base within the central section of the board. In the tip and tail section of the board, the sidewall members are absent, with a cap formed by the top sheet and upper reinforcement layer extending to cover the perimeter edge of the core and join to the base. The board thus has a fully exposed sidewall construction in the central section and a capped construction in the tip and tail sections.

Abstract: A helmet with large vent openings includes a vent shield to prevent the penetration of foreign objects and a vent airflow regulator positioned over the vent shield so as to regulate the amount of airflow allowed within the interior of the helmet. The vent shield is attached to the foam liner during the in-mold process, while the vent airflow regulator is positioned behind the vent shield after the in-mold process in a post-applied manner. A foam insert is positioned behind the vent airflow regulator and also has vent openings.

Abstract: An article of footwear, such as a snowboard boot liner, made of deformable material has a rear tensioning system for reducing the volume of the footwear in the heel region. The footwear has a front tensioning system, such as a front lace, for closing an opening in the front of the footwear. A channeling element is positioned over the heel and a control element is secured to the footwear a distance away from the channeling element, for example, over the ankle or instep. A draw, such as a rear lace, winds through both the channeling element and the control element. Tightening the draw urges the control element toward the channeling element thereby reducing the volume of the footwear in the heel region. The draw may be tightened and locked independently or may have an eyelet through which a loop of the front lace may pass in order to transfer tensile forces from the front lace to the draw and maintain tension in the draw.

Abstract: A method of constructing a skate frame for an in-line skate is provided. The method includes forming a first skin on a mold and positioning core material on the first skin so that the core material does not contact the portions of the frame that receive load from the shoe portion. The method further includes forming a second skin over the first skin such that the core material is positioned and sealed between the first and second skins. The method further includes curing the frame.

Abstract: An improved sport goggle for skiing, motorcycling, paintball, racing, and other sports featuring clip-mounted side apertures communicating with the eye cavity of the goggle through adjacent venting apertures. Venting of the eye cavity of the sport goggle is aided by forming of the clip shape to create low pressure zones adjacent to the side venting apertures. The clips are rotationally attached to the goggle to provide an adjustable mount for the strap around heads or helmets while still forming the negative air pressure zone in all rotated positions. The clips may also be provided in a kit of differently dimensioned clips to adjust the negative air pressure venting characteristics of the clips and goggle to the intended sport or task.

Abstract: A binding includes a suspension heel loop formed by an upper member pivotally connected to the base of the binding frame. The heel loop flexes or moves in a controlled manner with respect to the binding base at the heel end of the binding. A binding having the suspension heel loop provides greater maneuvering and board control, and thus improves rider performance, while providing shock and vibration absorption capabilities for increasing the overall comfort of the binding during use.

Abstract: A lace locker (100, 200) is disclosed having a housing (110, 210) that may include an attachment flange (112, 212), and a cam lever (120, 220) pivotably attached to the housing, such that the cam lever is movable between a locking position and a release position. The lace locker receives a lace (96) that extends between a toothed cam portion (123, 223) of the cam lever and a front wall (114, 214) of the housing, such that in the locking position the lace locker clampingly engages the lace. A lever portion (122, 222) of the lace locker includes an aperture adapted to accommodate the lace. A biasing member such as a spring (230) may optionally be included to bias the lace locker toward the locking position. A cooperative lever tab (241) and housing aperture (243) may be provided to temporarily latch the lace locker in the release position.

Abstract: An improved sport goggle for skiing, motorcycling, paintball, racing, and other sports featuring apertures communicating with a pressurized air flow provided by focusing channels in a ledge projecting from the goggle body thereby increasing air flow into the eye cavity of the goggle through the apertures. Venting of the eye cavity of the sport goggle is aided by forming of the goggle body shape to create low pressure zones adjacent to side and top venting apertures that communicate with the eye cavity. During use by a user, wind and forward motion creates air flow onto the focusing channel which focuses the divergent entering air upon a point adjacent to lower intake apertures thereby increasing the air pressure entering the goggle. Air circulation through the eye cavity is additionally aided by the curved shape of the goggle body creating low pressure zones adjacent to venting apertures to pull air from the eye cavity thereby increasing air flow and eliminating fogging.

Abstract: A skate (200) having a frame (226) adapted to support a plurality of wheels (228) and a base (214) disposed above the frame. The base includes a platform (280) having a longitudinal rail (282) with a plurality of locking detents (288), and an upwardly extending guide tab (284). A separable semirigid toe cup (216) includes an elongate slit (254) therethrough, and slidably engages the rail of the base, such that the toe cup can be adjusted longitudinally. An angled channel (264) in the toe cup engages the guide tab, such that the width of the slit, and therefore the width of the toe cup, increases as the toe cup is moved to lengthen the skate. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a threaded post (302) extends transversely through the slit, permitting independent adjustment of the width of the toe cap.