Abstract: 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 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.

Abstract: A binding mechanism is used to securely couple board sections of a touring snowboard together. The binding mechanism includes a first interface mounted to at least one of first and second board sections and a second interface mounted to the base. A clamp is mounted to the first or second interface and is movable between a closed configuration, wherein the interfaces are adapted to engage with each other, and an open configuration wherein the interfaces are adapted to release each other. When in the open configuration, an amount of clearance exists between the interfaces. When the clamp is moved to the closed configuration, the amount of clearance is decreased to securely join the board sections together. The clamp may also exert a clamping force in at least two non-parallel directions to draw the board sections together. The clamp may also be employed to mount a snowboard boot binding to the board sections when in a snowboard mode, or to one of the board sections when in ascension mode.

Abstract: A core for incorporation into a gliding board, such as a snowboard. The core includes anisotropic structures that are oriented so that a principal axis is non-parallel to the orthogonal axes of the board. The core may be tuned to provide anisotropic structures with the load carrying ability specific to a localized region of the board.

Abstract: A core for incorporation into a gliding board, such as a snowboard. The core includes longitudinal and transverse core segments with long grain configurations that are combined to adjust the edge hold and maneuverability of the board to accommodate particular riding characteristics. The core segments include anisotropic structures that are oriented relative to the orthogonal axes of the board to achieve the desired core characteristics. The transverse core segments are located along the side edges of the core and oriented to tune to the core edges for a particular edge hold and overall board maneuverability.

Abstract: A binding strap for use in a soft boot snowboard binding is provided, the binding strap including a flexible, unitary binding member having an ankle section connected to a toe section by a midsection. The binding strap may be configured and dimensioned to preferably provide a rider with easy entry and exit from the strap. In addition, the shape and flexible nature of the binding makes it comfortable to use, while also allowing it to perform well by securely engaging the rider's boot to the snowboard. The unitary construction allows the binding strap to move in an integrated manner, while the surface area of the binding strap reduces pressure points by distributing pressure exerted by the binding over a relatively large surface area of the boot, and hence foot, of the rider.

Abstract: A baseplate for binding a foot to a board, particularly suitable for application as a snowboard binding baseplate, maybe tuned to provide a certain level and/or balance of one or more performance properties including, but not limited to power transmission, responsiveness, feel, and comfort. The binding baseplate may include localized regions of varying stiffness to provide a specific performance property. Consequently, the binding baseplate may include a specific stiffness characteristic at a location where the boot engagement members are mounted, providing a desired response of the binding baseplate to forces that may be generated by the rider during turns, landing jumps, and otherwise during riding.

Abstract: A snowboard binding for securing a boot to a board, comprising a base, a first engagement member that is supported by the base and adapted to engage a first lateral side of the boot, and a second engagement member, pivotally mounted to the base, that is adapted to engage a second lateral side of the boot opposite the first lateral side of the boot.

Abstract: A system is provided for automatically activating a boot-mountable highback between a walk mode and a ride position. In the walk mode, the highback is unrestrained, permitting the boot to flex freely, and consequently allowing the rider to walk comfortably. In the ride position, the highback is tilted toward the toe portion of a boot and prevented from movement in the heel direction beyond a preselected forward lean position, so that leg movement in the heel direction is transmitted through the highback into a gliding board. The highback is adjusted between the walk mode and the ride position simply by stepping into or out of a binding attached to a snowboard. Activation and deactivation of the highback may be achieved through direct or indirect interaction with a board-mounted actuator that may be attached to the binding. A forward lean adjuster may be provided that allows a rider to preselect the amount of forward lean attained when the highback is activated into the ride position.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a snowboard boot and a binding interface including an interface feature that is adapted to releasably engage with a snowboard binding. The binding interface is movably mounted to the boot so that the boot can flex in a side-to-side direction through an angle relative to the binding interface to provide side-to-side flexibility. In one embodiment, the binding interface is mounted to the boot at a pair of laterally spaced attachment points with a pair of strapless fasteners. In another embodiment, the binding interface is mounted to at least one attachment point and a portion of the boot is flexible between the attachment point and a side. In other embodiments, at least a portion of the interface feature does not protrude below the bottom surface of the boot, and the interface feature does not protrude beyond the sides of the boot.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a snowboard boot for use in a system for mounting a rider to a snowboard, the system comprising a snowboard binding to be mounted to the snowboard and an interface having at least one mating feature adapted to be releasably engaged by the snowboard binding, the interface including at least one strap adapted to releasably mount the interface to the snowboard boot. The snowboard boot comprises a boot upper and a sole including a recess, disposed rearwardly of the arch area, that is adapted to receive the interface so that the interface does not protrude below the sole when the interface is mounted to the snowboard boot. In another embodiment, the interface includes a base adapted to pass under the sole of the boot and having a non-planar contoured upper surface, and the boot recess periphery includes at least one bottom-facing non-planar contoured surface that is adapted to mate with the non-planar contoured upper surface of the interface.

Abstract: The invention is a garment lining that provides localized climate control. A first portion of the lining covers a kidney area of the wearer, a second portion of the lining covers the wearer's back, while a third portion is positioned relative to the underarms of the wearer. One or more performance properties of the lining is varied as between at least two or all three of the first, second and third portions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tool-free adjustment of a binding strap on a snowboard binding. A snowboard binding may include a base, at least one binding strap, and at least two strap mounting features, supported by the base, adapted to mount the at least one binding strap to the base in at least two mounting positions. The strap mounting features and the at least one binding strap may be configured to allow the at least one binding strap to be selectively moved between the at least two strap mounting positions without tools while the base is attached to a snowboard.

Abstract: An article of clothing, such as a hand covering, and method of making the same results in a leakproof and breathable article of clothing with good dexterity. The hand covering includes a body cavity for covering a palm and a dorsum of a hand and at least one seamed finger cavity, extending from the body cavity, for covering at least one finger. The finger cavity has a base adjacent the body cavity and a tip opposite the base. A seam extends between and includes the area of the base and the tip. A cut may be made in the hand covering so that a component of a tape sealing machine may be inserted therein to support the seam to be sealed. Once this seam is sealed, the cut is seamed and sealed. The hand covering may therefore sealed using a single tape sealing machine to effectively seal all seams while minimizing manufacturing costs.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a snowboard boot and a strap to hold down a rider's foot in the snowboard boot. The strap includes a tightening element attached to the snowboard boot, a strap body supported by the tightening element, and a closure device including a spool about which the tightening element is wrapped to tighten the strap down onto the snowboard boot. In one aspect, the closure device includes a body and an actuator that is rotatably mounted to the body and is coupled to the tightening element so that rotation of the actuator causes the tightening element to be drawn into the closure device body to tighten the strap.

Abstract: A fastening assembly and method for fastening a strap, such as a snowboard binding strap. A fastener may have guide members to facilitate the introduction of an engagement member with the fastener. The fastener may be attached to a strap to allow physical manipulation of the fastener, e.g., for alignment of the fastener with an engagement member, without requiring substantial movement of the strap.

Abstract: A snowboard boot and binding. In one embodiment, the binding comprises a base; a strapless engagement member that is mounted to the base and is arranged to engage with a forward region of the boot; and a strap that is mounted to the base and is arranged to engage with the boot to hold the heel end of the boot in the binding. In another embodiment, the binding comprises a strapless engagement member that is biased for movement relative to the base, is adapted to engage the boot, and is mounted to the base at a position that is arranged to underlie the boot sole. In a further embodiment, the binding comprises a strapless engagement member that is arranged to underlie the boot sole and that has a toe-facing opening to receive a corresponding mating feature on the boot. In another embodiment, a snowboard boot is provided that comprises a sole having an opening in its bottom surface, and a patch that is attached to the sole and is arranged to cover the opening in the sole.

Abstract: A tool-free system includes a tool-free forward-lean adjuster that securely positions a leg support member in a desired forward-lean position and a latch coupled to the forward-lean adjuster that secures the leg support member to the binding to prevent toe-edge travel. Quick and convenient adjustment of the forward-lean of the leg support member may be performed without the use of a separate tool. The latch may be latched and unlatched without disturbing the selected forward-lean adjustment because actuation of the latch occurs independently of actuation of the forward-lean adjuster.

Abstract: A tongue construction for footwear is configured with a tongue and a stiffener that is able to move relative to the tongue, thereby resisting pinching of the rider's foot as the boot is flexed. As a result, footwear having desired stiffness while substantially reducing discomfort, especially during flexing of the footwear is provided. By allowing the stiffener to slide rather than bend, or at least to reduce the extent of bending of the stiffener, pinching of the dorsal area near the ankle may be minimized as may be digging of the stiffener into the dorsal area near the toe. Consequently, a soft or hybrid snowboard boot is provided that provides both enhanced power transmission as well as improved wearer comfort.

Abstract: A snowboard boot including at least one recess adapted to mate with a corresponding engagement member on a binding, and an interface for interfacing a snowboard boot to a binding. The interface comprises a body having at least one recess arranged to be disposed along an outer surface of the snowboard boot, the recess being adapted to mate with a corresponding engagement member on the binding. The interface may be molded of a non-metallic material and bonded to a snowboard boot.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a system for mounting a rider to a snowboard, and an interface for use in such a system. The system comprises a snowboard boot, a snowboard binding and an interface having at least one mating feature adapted to be releasably engaged by the snowboard binding. The interface further includes at least one strap adapted to mount the interface to the snowboard boot. The outer sole of the snowboard boot includes a recess rearward of the arch area that is adapted to receive the interface so that the interface does not protrude below the outer sole when the interface is mounted to the snowboard boot. In another embodiment, the interface includes a base that is adapted to pass under the sole of the snowboard boot, the base having a non-planar contoured upper surface that is adapted to fit within a recess in a sole of the snowboard boot.