Patents Assigned to The Burton Corporation
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Patent number: 7748729Abstract: A highback for controlling a gliding board, such as a snowboard, through leg movement of a rider. The highback is comprised of an upright support member including at least two portions that are to be contacted by and to support a rear portion of the rider's leg and that are movable relative to each other for setting a desired forward lean of the highback. The support member may include a lower portion with a pair of mounting locations for mounting the highback to a gliding board component, such as a snowboard binding, and an upper portion movably supported by the lower portion to vary the forward lean of the highback. The lower portion of the support member may be mounted to a snowboard binding baseplate for lateral rotation between a plurality of lateral positions. The highback may include a forward lean adjuster that prevents the upper portion from moving in the heel direction beyond a predetermined forward lean position.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2006Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: The Burton CorporationInventors: James D. Laughlin, David J. Dodge
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Publication number: 20100133787Abstract: A snowboard binding and hold-down device that may flex or move with the snowboard when ridden to minimize any impact on flex characteristics. The snowboard binding may be compatible with a variety of snowboard binding mount arrangements.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2008Publication date: June 3, 2010Applicant: The Burton CorporationInventors: Christopher C. Cunningham, Scott T. Keller
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Publication number: 20100133786Abstract: A snowboard binding and hold-down device that may flex or move with the snowboard when ridden to minimize any impact on flex characteristics. The snowboard binding may be compatible with a variety of snowboard binding mount arrangements.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2008Publication date: June 3, 2010Applicant: The Burton CorporationInventors: Christopher C. Cunningham, Scott T. Keller
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Publication number: 20100133788Abstract: A snowboard binding and hold-down device that may flex or move with the snowboard when ridden to minimize any impact on flex characteristics. The snowboard binding may be compatible with a variety of snowboard binding mount arrangements.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2008Publication date: June 3, 2010Applicant: The Burton CorporationInventors: Christopher C. Cunningham, Scott T. Keller
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Publication number: 20100101114Abstract: A snowboard boot incorporating techniques for making the process of tightening and loosening the laces of a snowboard boot more convenient for the wearer is disclosed. The snowboard boot may be provided with at least two independent lacing zones, the tensions of which are separately adjustable by the wearer. The zones may be secured by pulling on two laces, each of which tightens one of the two independent lacing zones. This arrangement allows the wearer to simultaneously tighten each zone, providing the wearer with the “feel” as though he or she is tightening a conventional single lacing zone snowboard boot. The laces may to be simultaneously, yet independently secured by a lace lock at the upper and/or forward region of the snowboard boot. Slack may be created to facilitate loosening of the snowboard boot and easy removal of a foot from the snowboard boot by unhooking the lace from the lace guide without a corresponding distance of lace traveling through the lace lock.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2010Publication date: April 29, 2010Applicant: THE BURTON CORPORATIONInventors: GREG REAGAN, CHRISTOPHER M. DOYLE, FLORIAN LANG, MAURIZIO MOLIN
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Patent number: 7694994Abstract: A binding or boot strap is provided that allows a rider to easily, rapidly and/or effectively tighten and/or loosen the strap about his or her boot. The strap includes a boot-engaging strap portion that engages with an engagement strap coupleable to the boot, as may be the case with boots used for step-in bindings, or to the binding, as may be the case with strap-type bindings. An arrangement for facilitating tightening/loosening of the two strap pieces so that a rider can slip his or her foot into or out from the boot or fasten the boot to or loosen it from a snowboard binding is also provided. In one embodiment, this arrangement includes a tightening element, such as for example a cord, lace or strap, suitably coupled to one or both strap portions such that a rider can pull on the tightening element to move the strap pieces relative to each other and tighten the strap.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2006Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: The Burton CorporationInventors: Florian Lang, Christopher Cunningham, Christopher Doyle, Gregory Aaron Dean, Scott Keller
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Patent number: 7686321Abstract: A highback is provided for controlling a gliding board, such as a snowboard, through leg movement of a rider. The highback is comprised of an upright support member to support a rear region of the rider's leg. The highback includes a textile-like material that extends across a portion of the support member to provide support for a portion of the rider's leg. The support member may have an opening therein with the textile-like material extending across the opening to assist in transmitting forces applied to that region of the support member as the rider presses against the highback during riding maneuvers. The textile-like material may help to distribute forces across a larger area of the rider's leg or boot so as to reduce pressure points against the rider's leg. The textile-like material may include one or more filaments, a fabric, or a fabric-like material that is coupled to the support member to support the rider's leg. The textile-like material may include a mesh fabric.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2006Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: The Burton CorporationInventors: Christopher C. Cunningham, Bryan S. Davis, Christopher M. Doyle, Edward Giard, Scott T. Keller, Kahlil Zaloom
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Patent number: 7669880Abstract: A binding or boot strap is provided that allows a rider to easily, rapidly and/or effectively tighten and/or loosen the strap about his or her boot. The strap includes a boot-engaging strap portion that engages with an engagement strap coupleable to the boot, as may be the case with boots used for step-in bindings, or to the binding, as may be the case with strap-type bindings. An arrangement for facilitating tightening/loosening of the two strap pieces so that a rider can slip his or her foot into or out from the boot or fasten the boot to or loosen it from a snowboard binding is also provided. In one embodiment, this arrangement includes a tightening element, such as for example a cord, lace or strap, suitably coupled to one or both strap portions such that a rider can pull on the tightening element to move the strap pieces relative to each other and tighten the strap.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2005Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: The Burton CorporationInventors: Christopher Doyle, Ryan Larson, Gregory Dean, Florian Lang
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Publication number: 20100038885Abstract: A convertible toe strap for securing a toe area of a snowboarding boot is selectively and repeatedly convertible between different restraining configurations. The convertible toe strap includes a first configuration where one of toe lift or forward movement is resisted and a second configuration where both toe lift and forward movement is resisted.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2009Publication date: February 18, 2010Applicant: The Burton CorporationInventors: Christopher Cunningham, Christopher Doyle, Noah Decker, Bryan Davis
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Patent number: 7658019Abstract: A snowboard boot incorporating techniques for making the process of tightening and loosening the laces of a snowboard boot more convenient for the wearer is disclosed. The snowboard boot may be provided with at least two independent lacing zones, the tensions of which are separately adjustable by the wearer. The zones may be secured by pulling on two laces, each of which tightens one of the two independent lacing zones. This arrangement allows the wearer to simultaneously tighten each zone, providing the wearer with the “feel” as though he or she is tightening a conventional single lacing zone snowboard boot. The laces may be simultaneously, yet independently secured by a lace lock at the upper and/or forward region of the snowboard boot. Slack may be created to facilitate loosening of the snowboard boot and easy removal of a foot from the snowboard boot by unhooking the lace from the lace guide without a corresponding distance of lace traveling through the lace lock.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2008Date of Patent: February 9, 2010Assignee: The Burton CorporationInventors: Greg Reagan, Christopher M. Doyle, Florian Lang, Maurizio Molin
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Patent number: 7621542Abstract: A snowboard binding for securing a boot to a snowboard includes a base that is mounted on the snowboard. The base includes a base plate and a pair of side rails that extend upwardly from the base plate along lateral sides of the base plate. The snowboard binding further includes a high-back support secured to the pair of side rails. The high-back support is fabricated from a single piece of material and has a hinge formed therein to adjust a forward lean position of the high-back support. Additional design features and methods are disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2006Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: The Burton CorporationInventors: Alex Warburton, James Laughlin, Jared Eberhardt
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Patent number: 7618054Abstract: A convertible toe strap for securing a toe area of a snowboarding boot is selectively and repeatedly convertible between different restraining configurations. The convertible toe strap includes a first configuration where one of toe lift or forward movement is resisted and a second configuration where both toe lift and forward movement is resisted.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2005Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: The Burton CorporationInventors: Christopher Cunningham, Christopher Doyle, Noah Decker, Bryan Davis
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Patent number: 7614638Abstract: A convertible toe strap for securing a toe area of a snowboarding boot is selectively and repeatedly convertible between different restraining configurations. The convertible toe strap includes a first configuration where one of toe lift or forward movement is resisted and a second configuration where both toe lift and forward movement is resisted.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2004Date of Patent: November 10, 2009Assignee: The Burton CorporationInventors: Christopher Cunningham, Christopher Doyle, Noah Decker, Bryan Davis
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Publication number: 20090194972Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a gliding board binding, such as a snowboard binding. The binding may include an adjustment indicator that allows for determination of a longitudinal position of the base relative to a gliding board, heel-to-toe position of the base relative to a gliding board and/or an angular position of the base relative to a gliding board when the base is secured to the gliding board. The adjustment indicator may be included with a footbed that is removable from a binding base, e.g., that includes a foot engagement member to secure a rider's foot to the binding and board. A removable footbed may include a toe portion that is adjustable in position relative to a heel portion of the footbed. A gliding board may include a channel for mounting a binding that is arranged in the board core so that no portion of the board core is located on top or bottom sides of the channel, and instead so the top and bottom reinforcement layers are located above and below the channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2009Publication date: August 6, 2009Applicant: The Burton CorporationInventors: Kahlil Zaloom, Christopher C. Cunningham, Florian Lang, Matt Windt, Christopher M. Doyle, Richard William Wagner, JR., Ryan Larson, Gregory Aaron Dean, Greg Reagan
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Patent number: 7566062Abstract: A highback for controlling a gliding board, such as a snowboard, through leg movement of a rider. The highback is comprised of at least two distinct materials with different stiffnesses to achieve a desired blend of stiffness and flexibility. The highback may employ a material of greater stiffness in one or more regions to provide high force transmission between the rider and the board. The highback may employ a material of lesser stiffness in one or more regions where flexibility is desired for more gradual power transmission, comfort and/or to facilitate highback adjustability. The arrangement of the different materials provides a lightweight highback with a relatively sleek profile having selected regions of stiffness and/or flexibility.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2007Date of Patent: July 28, 2009Assignee: The Burton CorporationInventors: Stefan Reuss, David J. Dodge, Ryan Coulter, Markus Koller, James D. Laughlin, Brian West
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Publication number: 20090152835Abstract: A binding or boot strap is provided that allows a rider to easily, rapidly and/or effectively tighten and/or loosen the strap about his or her boot. The strap includes a boot-engaging strap portion that engages with an engagement strap coupleable to the boot, as may be the case with boots used for step-in bindings, or to the binding, as may be the case with strap-type bindings. An arrangement for facilitating tightening/loosening of the two strap pieces so that a rider can slip his or her foot into or out from the boot or fasten the boot to or loosen it from a snowboard binding is also provided. In one embodiment, this arrangement includes a tightening element, such as for example a cord, lace or strap, suitably coupled to one or both strap portions such that a rider can pull on the tightening element to move the strap pieces relative to each other and tighten the strap.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2009Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicant: The Burton CorporationInventors: Christopher Cunningham, Christopher Doyle, Gregory Dean, Florian Lang, Scott Keller, Matt Windt
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Patent number: 7516976Abstract: A binding or boot strap is provided that allows a rider to easily, rapidly and/or effectively tighten and/or loosen the strap about his or her boot. The strap includes a boot-engaging strap portion that engages with an engagement strap coupleable to the boot, as may be the case with boots used for step-in bindings, or to the binding, as may be the case with strap-type bindings. An arrangement for facilitating tightening/loosening of the two strap pieces so that a rider can slip his or her foot into or out from the boot or fasten the boot to or loosen it from a snowboard binding is also provided. In one embodiment, this arrangement includes a tightening element, such as for example a cord, lace or strap, suitably coupled to one or both strap portions such that a rider can pull on the tightening element to move the strap pieces relative to each other and tighten the strap.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2005Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: The Burton CorporationInventors: Christopher Cunningham, Christopher Doyle, Gregory Dean, Florian Lang, Scott Keller, Matt Windt
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Publication number: 20090019734Abstract: A snowboard boot incorporating techniques for making the process of tightening and loosening the laces of a snowboard boot more convenient for the wearer is disclosed. The snowboard boot may be provided with at least two independent lacing zones, the tensions of which are separately adjustable by the wearer. The zones may be secured by pulling on two laces, each of which tightens one of the two independent lacing zones. This arrangement allows the wearer to simultaneously tighten each zone, providing the wearer with the “feel” as though he or she is tightening a conventional single lacing zone snowboard boot. The laces may be simultaneously, yet independently secured by a lace lock at the upper and/or forward region of the snowboard boot. Slack may be created to facilitate loosening of the snowboard boot and easy removal of a foot from the snowboard boot by unhooking the lace from the lace guide without a corresponding distance of lace traveling through the lace lock.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2008Publication date: January 22, 2009Applicant: The Burton CorporationInventors: Greg Reagan, Christopher M. Doyle, Florian Lang, Maurizio Molin
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Patent number: 7451998Abstract: Method and apparatus for indicating gliding board features using an indicator adjacent an attachment point on the board used to secure an associated component, such as a binding, to the board. The indicator may indicate a board type (beginner, expert, etc.), a component used in the board (e.g., a core material used), a supplier of the board, a rider stance location, or other feature. Indicators may be located adjacent an opening of an attachment point, such as a hole in a threaded insert or slot of a channel embedded in a board body.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2006Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: The Burton CorporationInventor: Richard William Wagner, Jr.
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Publication number: 20080235995Abstract: A snowboard boot incorporating techniques for making the process of tightening and loosening the laces of a snowboard boot more convenient for the wearer is disclosed. The snowboard boot may be provided with at least two independent lacing zones, the tensions of which are separately adjustable by the wearer. The zones may be secured by pulling on two laces, each of which tightens one of the two independent lacing zones. This arrangement allows the wearer to simultaneously tighten each zone, providing the wearer with the “feel” as though he or she is tightening a conventional single lacing zone snowboard boot. The laces may be simultaneously, yet independently secured by a lace lock at the upper and/or forward region of the snowboard boot. Slack may be created to facilitate loosening of the snowboard boot and easy removal of a foot from the snowboard boot by unhooking the lace from the lace guide without a corresponding distance of lace traveling through the lace lock.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2008Publication date: October 2, 2008Applicant: The Burton CorporationInventors: Greg REAGAN, Christopher M. DOYLE, Florian LANG, Maurizio MOLIN