Patents by Inventor David J. Dodge
David J. Dodge has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8453352Abstract: A sport boot, such as a snow ski boot, that includes a shell having a rigid foot portion. The foot portion includes a heel pocket and an instep region that is largely immovable relative to the heel pocket due to the rigidity of the foot portion. The boot also includes a highback support region that snugly engages the leg of a user during use. A heel-track is located on the dorsal side of the boot between the highback support region and the heel pocket. The heel-track provides a concave space that receives the user's heel when the user is putting-on and taking-off the boot to counter the relative immovability of the instep region of the boot against the engaging action of the user's foot. The sport boot can also include a special boot liner having an expandable dorsal region, and, optionally, other features that compliment the heel-track of the shell.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2009Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Perfect Storm Sports Technology, LLCInventor: David J. Dodge
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Patent number: 7810833Abstract: A ski boot binding securable to an alpine ski. The binding includes a heel unit having a base heel release threshold in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the ski to which the binding is attached. The heel unit includes a compensation mechanism that dynamically changes the base heel release threshold as a function of force conditions encountered by the ski during skiing.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2006Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Vermont Safety DevelopmentsInventors: Carl F. Ettlinger, David J. Dodge
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Patent number: 7762572Abstract: An alpine ski binding system for releasably securing a ski boot to a ski. The binding system includes a secondary toe release that provides an attenuated release threshold under lateral shear loading conditions that can cause anterior cruciate ligament injuries. The secondary toe release responds to a trigger that senses the lateral shear loads applied to the inside (medial) afterbody of the ski and triggers the secondary toe release to release the boot at an attenuated release torque. Lateral shear loads applied to the ski along the leading (medial) forebody and along the entire outside (lateral side) of the ski substantially do not cause the trigger to trip.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2009Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: Vermont Safety DevelopmentsInventors: Carl F. Ettlinger, David J. Dodge
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Patent number: 7762935Abstract: An exercise apparatus resistance unit includes flex members to bend to provide a resistance, a first end piece, a second end piece provided another end of the flex members to secure the flex members to rotate and translate within the body according to a bending motion of the flex members, a main pulley, and auxiliary pulleys rotatably provided on the first end piece. The resistance unit may provide a variable resistance.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2006Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Inventors: William C. Doble, David J. Dodge
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Publication number: 20100180471Abstract: A sport boot, such as a snow ski boot, that includes a shell having a rigid foot portion. The foot portion includes a heel pocket and an instep region that is largely immovable relative to the heel pocket due to the rigidity of the foot portion. The boot also includes a highback support region that snugly engages the leg of a user during use. A heel-track is located on the dorsal side of the boot between the highback support region and the heel pocket. The heel-track provides a concave space that receives the user's heel when the user is putting-on and taking-off the boot to counter the relative immovability of the instep region of the boot against the engaging action of the user's foot. The sport boot can also include a special boot liner having an expandable dorsal region, and, optionally, other features that compliment the heel-track of the shell.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2009Publication date: July 22, 2010Applicant: PERFECT STORM SPORTS TECHNOLOGY LLCInventor: David J. Dodge
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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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Patent number: 7726346Abstract: A tubular structural member that provides adjustable directional resistance to a device. When orientated in a certain manner with respect to the direction of use, the tubular structural member will provide a different stiffness to the device it is affixed. The tubular structural member may be integrated with these devices so that these devices can have adjustable resistance and stiffness.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2005Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Inventors: William C. Doble, David J. Dodge
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Publication number: 20090194971Abstract: An alpine ski binding system for releasably securing a ski boot to a ski. The binding system includes a secondary toe release that provides an attenuated release threshold under lateral shear loading conditions that can cause anterior cruciate ligament injuries. The secondary toe release responds to a trigger that senses the lateral shear loads applied to the inside (medial) afterbody of the ski and triggers the secondary toe release to release the boot at an attenuated release torque. Lateral shear loads applied to the ski along the leading (medial) forebody and along the entire outside (lateral side) of the ski substantially do not cause the trigger to trip.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2009Publication date: August 6, 2009Applicant: VERMONT SAFETY DEVELOPMENTSInventors: Carl F. Ettlinger, David J. Dodge
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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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Patent number: 7523953Abstract: An alpine ski binding system for releasably securing a ski boot to a ski. The binding system includes a secondary toe release that provides an attenuated release threshold under lateral shear loading conditions that can cause anterior cruciate ligament injuries. The secondary toe release responds to a trigger that senses the lateral shear loads applied to the inside (medial) afterbody of the ski and triggers the secondary toe release the boot at an attenuated release torque. Lateral shear loads applied to the ski along the leading (medial) forebody and along the entire outside (lateral side) of the ski substantially do not cause the trigger to trip.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2007Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: Vermont Safety DevelopmentsInventors: Carl F. Ettlinger, David J. Dodge
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Patent number: 7291100Abstract: A sports apparatus provides a variable resistance to a user. A resilient panel can be adjusted for custom resistance. The resilient panel is provided with pulleys and cables arranged to deflect the panel when a user provides a force on the cable. The user can transmit force to the resilient panel by attaching a suitable exercise implement to the cable. The resilient can also be arranged as required by the type of exercise and for convenience.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2003Date of Patent: November 6, 2007Assignee: Alliance Design & Design Development Group, Inc.Inventors: David J. Dodge, Robert Walsh, William C. Doble
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Patent number: 7204495Abstract: 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: April 4, 2003Date of Patent: April 17, 2007Assignee: The Burton CorporationInventors: Stefan Reuss, David J. Dodge, Ryan Coulter, Markus Koller, James D. Laughlin, Brian West
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Patent number: 7140398Abstract: A tubular structural member that provides directional resistance. The tubular structural member has a flexural resistance that is greater in one direction than in another. The tubular structural member can be employed in variety of devices or structures so as to effect the overall stiffness of the device.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2003Date of Patent: November 28, 2006Assignee: Alliance Design and Development Group, Inc.Inventors: David J. Dodge, William C. Doble
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Patent number: 7077403Abstract: 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: May 10, 2004Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Assignee: The Burton CorporationInventors: James D. Laughlin, David J. Dodge
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Patent number: 7047673Abstract: A step-in binding system (20, 220) including a binding (24, 224) and an engagement member (26, 226) for securing a snowshoe to footwear (22). In one embodiment, the binding includes a pivotable latch (78) and a fixed latch (80), each having a pair of catches (116) for engaging a corresponding receiver (110) on the engagement member. The pivotable latch is pivotable between a closed position (CP) and an open position (OP) and is biased into the closed position by a helical rotational spring (100). The binding further includes an adjustment mechanism (32) extending between a toe member (28) and a heel member (30) that allows the distance between the toe and heel members to be selectively changed by a user. In another embodiment, the binding includes a pair of pivotable latches (278, 280), each biased into its closed position by two torsional rotational springs (300).Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2004Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: KZ Snowshoes, Inc.Inventor: David J. Dodge
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Patent number: 6817622Abstract: A mounting disk for holding a binding base plate through a central aperture in said base plate to the top surface of a snowboard. The binding plate may be secured in a plurality of rotational positions relative to the disk. The mounting disk may be secured in a plurality of linear positions along the width and/or length of the snowboard top surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2001Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Inventor: David J. Dodge
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Publication number: 20040207178Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2004Publication date: October 21, 2004Applicant: The Burton CorporationInventors: James D. Laughlin, David J. Dodge
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Publication number: 20040166999Abstract: A sports apparatus provides a variable resistance to a user. A resilient panel can be adjusted for custom resistance. The resilient panel is provided with pulleys and cables arranged to deflect the panel when a user provides a force on the cable. The user can transmit force to the resilient panel by attaching a suitable exercise implement to the cable. The resilient can also be arranged as required by the type of exercise and for convenience.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2003Publication date: August 26, 2004Inventors: David J. Dodge, Robert Walsh, William C. Doble
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Publication number: 20040150213Abstract: A step-in binding system (20, 220) including a binding (24, 224) and an engagement member (26, 226) for securing a snowshoe to footwear (22). In one embodiment, the binding includes a pivotable latch (78) and a fixed latch (80), each having a pair of catches (116) for engaging a corresponding receiver (110) on the engagement member. The pivotable latch is pivotable between a closed position (CP) and an open position (OP) and is biased into the closed position by a helical rotational spring (100). The binding further includes an adjustment mechanism (32) extending between a toe member (28) and a heel member (30) that allows the distance between the toe and heel members to be selectively changed by a user. In another embodiment, the binding includes a pair of pivotable latches (278, 280), each biased into its closed position by two torsional rotational springs (300).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2004Publication date: August 5, 2004Inventor: David J. Dodge
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Patent number: 6758488Abstract: A snowboard binding mechanism for securing a snowboard boot to a snowboard includes at least one moveable engagement member having an open position and at least one closed position. When in the closed position, the engagement member is biased toward the open position. As a result, when a snowboard boot is not disposed in the binding mechanism, the binding mechanism automatically moves to the open position. The engagement member may also function to compensate for snow, ice or debris accumulated beneath the boot. A single handle may be operatively connected to the engagement members to facilitate ease of removal of the snowboard boot from the binding by simply requiring actuation of the single handle to unlock the binding. A separate foot pedal may be operably coupled to the engagement member and is also employed to unlock the binding. The binding mechanism may also include a cocking feature that unlocks the binding mechanism without also causing the engagement members to move to open positions.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2003Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: The Burton CorporationInventors: James Laughlin, David J. Dodge