Abstract: A movable cable loop descent system comprises a cable for forming into a loop, a receiver for attachment to a structure having a receiver pulley for engaging the cable loop, a brake assembly, having a drive pulley for being rotated by the cable loop, the brake assembly for slowing a rate of travel of the cable loop and a carriage supporting a load for attachment to the cable loop at a point and for movement between the structure and the ground. A rotor and substantially parallel conductive frame is mounted on an axle through the drive pulley. Magnets on a surface of the rotor and/or the frame induce eddy currents, as they are relatively rotated, which create a rotational braking force controlling descent of the carriage and load. The brake assembly may be removably positioned by a drive-on anchor. The cable is removable and the system may form a kit.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a step-in, strapless snowboard binding. The snowboard binding is particularly useful for soft-shelled boots. The snowboard binding includes a receiving member and a locking member which move relative to one another to lock or unlock the boot relative to the binding. The receiving member has a motion control surface corresponding to each of a plurality of boot binding positions. The locking member engages a selected one of the control surfaces to lock the heel of the boot near a surface of the snowboard if snow is between the bottom of the heel and the surface. The locking member engages a different one of the control surfaces to lock the heel on the surface if there is no snow between the bottom and the surface.