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 (1 12) 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 snowboard binding (100) is disclosed having a base plate (102) with a pair of oppositely disposed sidewalls (104), a heel loop (112) attached to the base plate, and a highback (120). The highback is attached to the heel loop such that the highback is pivotable about a virtual axis that is disposed away from the base plate and away from the highback. The virtual axis is preferably coaxial with the ankle's rotational axis for dorsiflexion. In an embodiment of the invention the highback includes arcuate slots (126) through which a bolt (132) and curved nut plate (130) attach the highback to the heel loop. The arcuate slot is preferably a circular arc centered on the desired virtual axis. In an embodiment of the invention, the heel loop intermediate portion (116) is curved about a transverse axis, and the heel portion (124) of the highback is similarly curved to generally nest with the heel loop.

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 ratchet-type buckle (100) is disclosed for use with a ladder strap (80), wherein the buckle includes a toothed, barrel-shaped strap engagement member (140) that is rotatably mounted between oppositely disposed sidewalls (130) that are pivotally coupled to a base (110). The engagement member is positioned to drivably engage and hold the strap. A holding pawl (160) allows forward rotation and hinders backward rotation of the engagement member. A driving pawl (180) is incorporated into a lever assembly (170), which is pivotally coupled to the sidewalls, the driving pawl positioned to engage and rotate the engagement member teeth when the lever assembly is pivoted in a forward direction. The pivotal coupling of the sidewalls to the base permit the engagement member to be lifted away from the base, to release the strap. The sidewalls are preferably biased towards the base.

Abstract: A flexing base skate includes an upper shoe portion mounted on a base. The base includes a forefoot region secured to a forward frame segment carrying forward wheels. A heel region of the base is secured to a rearward frame segment that carries rearward wheels. A second embodiment provides a rigid full length frame and a base mounted at the forefoot region to the frame. The base flexes at a metatarsal portion, and forms an integral spring biasing the base against the frame. The base includes a guide for lateral alignment of the heel region with the frame. Another embodiment provides a forward frame segment carrying forward wheels and a rearward frame segment carrying rearward wheel.

Abstract: A boot (200), such as a snowboard boot, having a harness assembly (240) disposed in an outer shell (210). The harness defines a vamp gap and includes a plurality of cord keepers (268) disposed on either side of the gap. A cord—for example, a stainless steel cable (266)—slidably engages the cord keepers, for tightening the harness about the user's ankle. A tensioning mechanism (190) having a knob (192) is attached to the harness assembly and engages the cable, whereby the user can releasably tension the cable. An aperture (126) in the outer shell is adapted to receive the knob, whereby the user can tighten or loosen the harness without removing the boot. The cable may slidably engage the tongue (215) of the boot, such that tensioning the cable will bias the tongue inwardly, towards the user.

Abstract: A hydration pack is disclosed including a backpack (100), a bladder assembly (150), and a split belt assembly (130). The backpack includes a front panel (102) and a back panel (112) that are interconnected with baffle panels (140) to define a volume for receiving the bladder (151) of the bladder assembly. The split belt includes a lower belt portion (132L, 132R) and an upper belt portion (134L, 134R). The upper belt portion extends behind the backpack, over the bladder, thus compressing the fluid bladder and prevents it from shifting. In the disclosed embodiment, the split belt includes an elastic portion (138) that is retained in a keeper (139) disposed on the back panel. The back panel includes elongate straps (114L, 114R) that are slidably retained along the shoulder straps. A cover (120) is attached to the front panel and is attachable to the back panel.

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 roller skate includes an upper, including a substantially nonrigid upper portion secured to a base. A frame secured to the base carries a plurality of wheels. The substantially nonrigid upper portion is reinforced by a substantially rigid internal heel counter. An ankle support cuff assembly is pivotally secured to the internal heel counter. The ankle support cuff assembly includes a substantially rigid ankle support cuff that is pivotally secured on lateral and medial sides to the internal heel counter. Ankle pad lines the interior of the ankle support cuff. Ankle support cuff is fastened by a selectively securable fastener about the skater's ankle. The ankle support cuff assembly pivots freely in the forward and aft direction relative to the internal heel counter.

Abstract: An adjustable binding system includes a frame and a highback pivotally coupled thereto. The highback includes a wing adjustably connected to a heel loop. The frame is adjustable via at least one length adjuster to provide adjustment of the toe to heel length of the frame so that the binding system can better accommodate varying sizes of boots. Additionally, the binding system is adjustable at the connection interface of the heel loop and the frame via forward lean adjusters to provide an adjustment of an angle of forward inclination between the highback and the frame. The binding system is further adjustable between the connection of the wing and the heel loop via a wing position adjuster to provide an adjustment of the height and medial to lateral positioning of the wing with respect to the heel loop. Each adjustment mechanism may be hand operated without the use of tools.

Abstract: Various structures designed to protect an in-line skate frame from direct impact with damaging and/or abrasive surfaces are disclosed. Such protective structures mount to the skate frame and may be manufactured from various materials, including metals, plastics, composites, and ceramics. Also disclosed are methods of preventing direct impacts to or abrasions of a skate frame using the disclosed protective structures.

Abstract: A snowboard boot (200) includes an upper boot (204) secured to an outsole (206). The boot upper includes a vamp opening (208) that is closed by a tongue (210) and a selectively securable vamp fastener (216). The tongue (210) carries a pocket (218) on a lower end (212) thereof, and first and second snap fasteners (222) on an upper end (214) thereof. A semi-rigid tongue stiffener (202) can be selectively secured to an anterior side of the tongue (210) utilizing the pocket and snap fasteners to selectively increase the stiffness of the boot and resistance to forward flexure by a predetermined degree.

Abstract: Skate frame (20) for an in-line skate (18) having shoe portion (22) and a plurality of wheels (24) capable of traversing a surface. Skate frame includes an elongate structural member comprised of a structural material having a first average density, the structural member having first and second sidewalls (62, 68). Structural member also includes shoe mounting portion (50) spanning between at least a portion of the upper ends of the sidewalls. Skate frame also includes core material (64) disposed within at least one of the first and second sidewalls or within the shoe-mounting portion. In an embodiment of the invention, threaded insert (602) is embedded in the core material of one sidewall, and an aligned tubular insert is installed in the opposite sidewall, such that the wheel axle (612) can be inserted through the tubular insert to engage the embedded threaded insert. In another embodiment, protective cap (770) protects and/or enhances the appearance of the skate frame.

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 flexing base skate (100) includes an upper shoe portion (12) mounted on a base (14). The base includes a forefoot region (20) secured to a forward frame segment (26) carrying forward wheels (18a, 18b). A heel region of the base is secured to a rearward frame segment (28) that carries rearward wheels (18c, 18d). A second embodiment (100) provides a rigid full length frame (112) and a base (104) mounted at the forefoot region (106) to the frame. The base flexes at a metatarsal portion (108), and forms an integral spring biasing the base against the frame. The base includes a guide (118) for lateral alignment of the heel region with the frame. Another embodiment (210) provides a forward frame segment (226) carrying forward wheels (218) and a rearward frame segment (228) carrying rearward wheel (218).

Abstract: A skate frame (20) for an in-line skate (18) having a shoe portion (22) and a plurality of longitudinally aligned wheels (24) capable of traversing a surface. The skate frame including an elongate carrier frame (70) having first and second sidewalls (52a and 52b) held in space parallel disposition by a first upper wall. The carrier frame having an open lower end spaced to receive the wheels therebetween. The skate frame also including an elongate outer shell (66) having first and second sidewalls and an open lower end. The sidewalls of the outer shell are spaced to receive the carrier frame therein, such that the sidewalls of the outer shell overlap at least a portion of the sidewalls of the carrier frame. A shear layer (68) is disposed between the carrier frame and the outer shell to absorb at least a portion of the vibrational energy transmitted from the surface to the shoe portion when the skate traverses the surface.

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 core (130, 230) for a gliding board (100) is disclosed having a forward shovel section (132), a middle waist section (134), and a rearward heel section (136). The shovel section and heel section are formed from a lower-density material than the waist section. In a particular embodiment, the core is formed from a plurality of elongate members (112) made by joining low-density wood sections (132, 136) to high-density middle sections (134). The sections may be joined using finger joints (140). A reinforcing member, such as an elongate bamboo member (114), may attach to the elongate members (112). The invention also encompasses skis (100) having such variable density cores (130).