Snowboard binding

Abstract

A snowboard binding for securing a snowboard boot to a snowboard is disclosed. The snowboard binding includes a base plate that includes a lifted portion which is detached from the snowboard. The lifted portion elastically bends downward and provides cushioning effects such that an improved control and maneuverability of the snowboard is provided. An elastic plate, replaceable or not, may be inserted between the lifted portion and the snowboard so that additional control of the cushioning effects may be provided.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention generally relates to a snowboard binding for mounting a snowboard boot on a snowboard. More particularly, this invention relates to a snowboard binding which improves snowboard maneuverability including turning performance.

[0003] 2. Related Art

[0004] JP Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 11-206952 discloses a snowboard binding 7 and a snowboard boot 6 depicted in the attached FIG. 11 (prior art). The snowboard boot 6 is provided with a pair of side protrusions 65, 66 and a rear bar 64 which respectively engage with a pair of front receptors 77, 78 and a rear hook 75 provided on the corresponding portions of the snowboard binding 7 so that the snowboard boot 6 is securely received in the snowboard binding 7.

[0005] The attached FIG. 12 (prior art) depicts a binding plate 100 disclosed in JP Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-165560, which is to be fixedly mounted on a snowboard (not shown). This binding plate 100 is provided with a central opening 36 having a thickness which tapers toward the bottom surface of the binding plate 100, whose upper diameter is larger than its lower diameter. A correspondingly tapered and dimensioned press plate engages the tapered opening 36 from above to be fixedly secured on the snowboard.

[0006] The snowboard boot binding mechanisms shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 provide secure mounting of snowboard boots on snowboards, and facilitate certain angle or orientation adjustment of the snowboard boots relative to the snowboards. However, the snowboard boot binding mechanisms shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 are not expected to facilitate smooth motions of players' ankles which are important or essential to optimal snowboard maneuvering.

[0007] JP Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 9-253268 teaches another snowboard binding, including a base body having side portions and a bottom layer whose elasticity is greater than that of the side portions. This snowboard binding is described in the publication as capable of adequately absorbing physical shocks that the snowboard receives in use from the snowy ground.

[0008] The essential function of the elasticity of that base body appears to be to help provide easier fastening of snowboard boots onto the snowboard binding. The degree of flexion of the base body does not correspond to the energy of the physical force exerted by the user onto the snowboard. Sliding or turning performance of the snowboard is not specifically improved thereby. This particular structure is not readily applicable to popular step-in type binding mechanisms such as shown in the accompanied FIG. 13 (prior art).

[0009] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a snowboard binding which provides an optimal degree of freedom of motion to a player's foot so that a substantially improved maneuverability of the snowboard may be provided over conventional snowboard bindings.

[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide such freedom of motion under control so that a controlled maneuverability of the snowboard may be provided.

[0011] Other objects of the present invention will be readily apparent to the readers from the descriptions that follow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A snowboard binding of the present invention is comprised of a generally planar base plate and a plate support provided on the bottom surface of the base plate in addition to a snowboard boot mounting mechanism. The plate support is generally a cylindrical central support which is generally provided at a center of the bottom surface of the base plate. A pair of such snowboard bindings are secured to a snowboard generally in parallel to each other and normal to the longitudinal axis of the snowboard. Each snowboard binding is fixed to the snowboard generally by the central plate support.

[0013] In an embodiment, the base plate and the central support are integrally molded of a rigid-type plastic material which provides a degree of elasticity.

[0014] The snowboard binding of the present invention provides a degree of freedom of vertical or twisting motion to the foot or ankle of its user through utilization of a novel cushioning mechanism, improving maneuverability of the snowboard including its turning and sliding performance.

[0015] The novel cushioning mechanism of the present invention is provided by lifting or detaching a peripheral portion of the base plate from the top surface of the snowboard, providing a void or space between the lifted portion and the snowboard. The shape and position of such a lifted portion may be selectively provided on the base plate around the central support.

[0016] In an embodiment, a lifted portion of the base plate is provided corresponding to the thenar of a player (user), which is a very important portion of the snowboard binding in maneuvering or adequately controlling the snowboard for turning and sliding performances.

[0017] In an embodiment, the void provided beneath the lifted portion is filled with an elastic plate which is generally made of an elastic plastic material including a rubber material. The elastic plate generally conforms to the spatial configuration of the void between the lifted portion and the top surface of the snowboard.

[0018] In another embodiment, the elastic plate is made replaceable. By changing elastic plates, e.g., from a harder type to a softer type, adjustment of the rigidity or elasticity of the elastic plate (thus the lifted portion thereon) and therefore the maneuverability of the snowboard is provided.

[0019] The snowboard binding mechanism of the present invention can be readily incorporated into a popular step-in type binding.

[0020] The present invention is further described hereunder, utilizing the accompanied drawings (FIGS. 1-10) and reference numerals used therein.

[0021] A snowboard binding 10 of the present invention is comprised of a base plate 11, a cylindrical central support 12 and snowboard boot securing means attached to the top surface of the base plate 11. The base plate 11 receives a snowboard boot 30 in the snowboard boot securing means. The base plate 11 is secured to a snowboard 20 by means of the central support 12 which is integrated with the bottom surface of the base plate 11 at a central portion of the base plate 11. Generally, the central support 12 receives and supports all weight resting on the base plate 11.

[0022] The base plate 11 includes a lifted portion 11a having a void or space thereunder, partially or fully in its periphery portion. The lifted portion 11a is detached from the top surface of the snowboard 20 and held a distant above the snowboard 20. The lifted portion 11a is generally provided fully or partially around the central support 12.

[0023] In an embodiment, the lifted portion 11a is made of a rigid material having a certain degree of elasticity, which can slightly bend downwardly to a degree which generally corresponds to the magnitude of the force (pressure) applied onto the lifted portion 11a from above.

[0024] A lifted portion 11a having a selected size and shape may be provided at a selected location of the base plate 11 according to a personal preference and snowboard performance desired. A lifted portion 11a may be provided at a heel portion and/or toe portion of the base plate 11. When a lifted portion 11a is provided at a toe portion, the lifted portion 11a may be advantageously provided around the thenar region of the user.

[0025] The lifted portion 11a of the base plate 11 may be supported with an elastic plate 13 filling the void created between the lifted portion 11a and the snowboard 20. The elastic plate 13 is made of an elastic material such as a rubber material or elastic plastic material such as a foam material.

[0026] The lifted portion 11a provided at a thenar portion of the base plate 11 with an elastic plate 13 underneath provides easily controllable leeway to the downward and twisting motion of the player's foot or ankle when the player applies extra pressure onto the lifted portion 11a of the base plate 11 during use of the snowboard 20, especially when he or she is making a turn. The pressed lifted portion 11a elastically bends downward even when the bottom of the snowboard boot 30 he or she is wearing is hard or resistant to deformation, providing freer movement or motion of his/her foot or ankle. Such freer motion of the player's feet greatly improves sliding and turning performances of the snowboard 20.

[0027] One of the most important portions as far as snowboard maneuvering is concerned is its thenar region. In an embodiment, only this thenar portion of the base plate 11 is a lifted portion 11a. This lifted portion 11a may or may not be supported by an elastic plate 13.

[0028] Advantageously, this elastic plate 13 is made replaceable, e.g., from a hard-type material for a relatively skilled player to a soft-type material for a relatively unskilled player including a child.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a player using a snowboard with a pair of snowboard bindings of the present invention mounted thereon;

[0030] FIG. 2 is a side-elevational view of a snowboard binding according to an embodiment of the present invention on which a snowboard boot is secured;

[0031] FIG. 3 is a side-elevational view showing part of the snowboard binding of FIG. 2;

[0032] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of FIG. 3;

[0033] FIG. 5 is a side-elevational view showing part of a snowboard binding according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of FIG. 5;

[0035] FIG. 7 is a side-elevational view showing part of a snowboard binding according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of FIG. 7;

[0037] FIG. 9 is a side view of an elastic plate of the present invention;

[0038] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of FIG. 9;

[0039] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a conventional boot and a conventional snowboard binding;

[0040] FIG. 12 is a side-elevational view of another conventional snowboard binding;

[0041] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a conventional step-in type snowboard binding and a conventional step-in type snowboard boot which matches that snowboard binding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] In FIG. 1, a player wearing a pair of snowboard boots 30 is using a snowboard 20 to which a pair of snowboard bindings 10 of the present invention respectively mounting the snowboard boots 30 thereon are attached.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a snowboard binding 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, on which a snowboard boot 30 is secured. The snowboard binding 10 comprises a base plate 11, a plate support or circular central support 12 and a boot securing mechanism (not shown). The base plate 11 is rigid enough to support the weight thereon but is also provided with certain elasticity. The circular central support 12 is rigid enough to support the weight placed on the base plate but is also provided with certain elasticity. The boot securing mechanism includes a high-back support 14. The central support 12 is integrally provided with the base plate 11 at a central portion of the base plate 11.

[0044] The snowboard binding 10 is secured to a snowboard 20 with the central support 12. The portion of the base plate 11 which is not directly held by the central support 12 is lifted and detached from the top surface of the snowboard 20. The detached portion or lifted portion 11a is slightly bendable downward elastically when an extra force is applied thereto, e.g., during turning, providing cushioning effects to the downward and twisting motions of the player's foot, which improves maneuverability of the snowboard 20.

[0045] The base plate 11 is provided with a press plate (not shown) at an internal portion which corresponds to the location of the central support 12 provided on the bottom surface of the base plate 11 so as to securely integrate the central support 12 with the base plate 11.

[0046] As is shown in FIG. 2, a peripheral portion around the central support 12 is lifted from the top surface of the snowboard 20, providing a lifted portion 11a. The lifted portion 11a is rigid enough to bear the weight placed thereon but is bendable downward elastically when an extra weight or torque is momentarily exerted on the lifted portion 11a.

[0047] The base plate 11 including the lifted portion 11a and the central support 12 (or plate support) may be molded integrally with a hard-type (but adequately elastic) plastic material.

[0048] FIG. 3 shows the snowboard binding 10 of FIG. 2 without the boot 30, and FIG. 4 shows the bottom side of the snowboard binding 10.

[0049] FIG. 5 shows a snowboard binding 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the lifted portion 11a is provided only around a thenar region of the base plate 11 as the thenar portion of the snowboard binding 10 is considered to be a most important portion in maneuvering the snowboard 20.

[0050] The remaining portion (other than the lifted portion 11a) around the central support 12 of the base plate 11 is provided in direct contact with the top surface of the snowboard 20 as is shown in FIG. 5. The bottom of this snowboard binding 10 is depicted in FIG. 6.

[0051] FIG. 7 shows a snowboard binding 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention, which is a modification of the snowboard binding of FIG. 5. This snowboard binding 10 further comprises an elastic plate 13 made of an elastic material such as a rubber material or foam material inserted underneath the lifted portion 11a. The elastic plate 13 provides additional support or cushioning effects to the lifted portion 11a and helps absorb the torque that the lifted portion 11a receives. Advantageously, the elastic plate 13 is made easily replaceable. Control of the overall elasticity of the lifted portion 11a with the elastic plate 13 underneath is provided by changing the elastic plates 13.

[0052] Use of the elastic plate 13 provides an additional advantage. Snow does not fill the space otherwise created underneath the lifted portion 11a without the elastic plate 13.

[0053] FIG. 8 shows the bottom side of the snowboard binding 10 of FIG. 7 having the elastic plate 13 (shaded portion) underneath the lifted portion 11a. FIG. 9 is a side view of the elastic plate 13 and FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the elastic plate 13.

[0054] It is to be understood that the embodiments provided hereinabove are all solely for the purpose of illustrating the present invention. Modifications and changes can be made thereto within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A snowboard binding to be attached to a snowboard, comprising a base plate having a first surface and a second surface and a plate support provided on the second surface of said base plate which supports a portion of said base plate, the snowboard binding further comprising a snowboard boot mounting mechanism provided on said first surface of said base plate, said base plate including a lifted portion around said plate support, which is detached from the snowboard and elastically bendable downward.

2. A snowboard binding according to claim 1, wherein said lifted portion is provided at a thenar portion of said base plate.

3. A snowboard binding of claim 1 or 2, further comprising an elastic plate inserted between said lifted portion and said snowboard.

4. A snowboard binding of claim 1 or 2, which is made into a step-in type binding.

5. A snowboard binding of claim 3, which is made into a step-in type binding.