Patents by Inventor Chris Karol

Chris Karol 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).

  • Patent number: 7152871
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system comprising at least one movable engaging member that, when engaged, secures a snowboarder's boot from vertical or horizontal movement is disclosed. In one embodiment, a binding system having two active sides is disclosed, allowing a snowboarder to engage the binding by stepping downwardly onto the binding mechanism, thus reversibly forcing tensioned engaging members between an extended and a retracted position and back to an extended position, thereby securing the snowboarder's boot to the upper surface of a snowboard. A preferred embodiment utilizes positioning keys that properly orientate a snowboarder's boot into binding engagement. Other embodiments include snowboard boots having active binding mechanisms positioned on the boot itself, such mechanisms engageable with static members secured to the surface of a snowboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Karol Designs, LLC
    Inventor: Chris Karol
  • Publication number: 20040201203
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system comprising at least one movable engaging member that, when engaged, secures a snowboarder's boot from vertical or horizontal movement is disclosed. In one embodiment, a binding system having two active sides is disclosed, allowing a snowboarder to engage the binding by stepping downwardly onto the binding mechanism, thus reversibly forcing tensioned engaging members between an extended and a retracted position and back to an extended position, thereby securing the snowboarder's boot to the upper surface of a snowboard. A preferred embodiment utilizes positioning keys that properly orientate a snowboarder's boot into binding engagement. Other embodiments include snowboard boots having active binding mechanisms positioned on the boot itself, such mechanisms engageable with static members secured to the surface of a snowboard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Applicant: Karol Designs, LLC.
    Inventor: Chris Karol
  • Patent number: 6802524
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system comprising at least one movable engaging member that, when engaged, secures a snowboarder's boot from vertical or horizontal movement is disclosed. In one embodiment, a binding system having two active sides is disclosed, allowing a snowboarder to engage the binding by stepping downwardly onto the binding mechanism, thus reversibly forcing tensioned engaging members between an extended and a retracted position and back to an extended position, thereby securing the snowboarder's boot to the upper surface of a snowboard. A preferred embodiment utilizes positioning keys that properly orientate a snowboarder's boot into binding engagement. Other embodiments include snowboard boots having active binding mechanisms positioned on the boot itself, such mechanisms engageable with static members secured to the surface of a snowboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Karol Designs, LLC
    Inventor: Chris Karol
  • Patent number: 6343809
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system comprising at least one movable engaging member that, when engaged, secures a snowboarder's boot from vertical or horizontal movement is disclosed. In one embodiment, a binding system having two active sides is disclosed, allowing a snowboarder to engage the binding by stepping downwardly onto the binding mechanism, thus reversibly forcing tensioned engaging members between an extended and a retracted position and back to an extended position, thereby securing the snowboarder's boot to the upper surface of a snowboard. A preferred embodiment utilizes positioning keys that properly orientate a snowboarder's boot into binding engagement. Other embodiments include snowboard boots having active binding mechanisms positioned on the boot itself, such mechanisms engageable with static members secured to the surface of a snowboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Karol Designs, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Chris Karol
  • Publication number: 20010045727
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system comprising at least one movable engaging member that, when engaged, secures a snowboarder's boot from vertical or horizontal movement is disclosed. In one embodiment, a binding system having two active sides is disclosed, allowing a snowboarder to engage the binding by stepping downwardly onto the binding mechanism, thus reversibly forcing tensioned engaging members between an extended and a retracted position and back to an extended position, thereby securing the snowboarder's boot to the upper surface of a snowboard. A preferred embodiment utilizes positioning keys that properly orientate a snowboarder's boot into binding engagement. Other embodiments include snowboard boots having active binding mechanisms positioned on the boot itself, such mechanisms engageable with static members secured to the surface of a snowboard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventor: Chris Karol
  • Patent number: 6308980
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system comprising at least one movable engaging member that, when engaged, secures a snowboarder's boot from vertical or horizontal movement. In one embodiment, a binding system has two active sides, allowing a snowboarder to engage the binding by stepping downwardly onto the binding mechanism, thus reversibly forcing tensioned engaging members between an extended and a retracted position and back to an extended position, thereby securing the snowboarder's boot to the upper surface of a snowboard. A preferred embodiment utilizes positioning keys that properly orientate a snowboarder's boot into binding engagement. Other embodiments include snowboard boots having active binding mechanisms positioned on the boot itself, such mechanisms engageable with static members secured to the surface of a snowboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Karol Designs, LLC
    Inventor: Chris Karol
  • Patent number: 6302427
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system comprising at least one movable engaging member that, when engaged, secures a snowboarder's boot from vertical or horizontal movement. In one embodiment, the binding system has two active sides, allowing a snowboarder to engage the binding by stepping downwardly onto the binding mechanism, thus reversibly forcing tensioned engaging members between an extended and a retracted position and back to an extended position, thereby securing the snowboarder's boot to the upper surface of a snowboard. A preferred embodiment utilizes positioning keys that properly orientate a snowboarder's boot into binding engagement. Other embodiments include snowboard boots having active binding mechanisms positioned on the boot itself, such mechanisms engageable with static members secured to the surface of a snowboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Karol Designs, LLC
    Inventor: Chris Karol
  • Publication number: 20010024028
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system comprising at least one movable engaging member that, when engaged, secures a snowboarder's boot from vertical or horizontal movement is disclosed. In one embodiment, a binding system having two active sides is disclosed, allowing a snowboarder to engage the binding by stepping downwardly onto the binding mechanism, thus reversibly forcing tensioned engaging members between an extended and a retracted position and back to an extended position, thereby securing the snowboarder's boot to the upper surface of a snowboard. A preferred embodiment utilizes positioning keys that properly orientate a snowboarder's boot into binding engagement. Other embodiments include snowboard boots having active binding mechanisms positioned on the boot itself, such mechanisms engageable with static members secured to the surface of a snowboard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Applicant: Karol Designs, LLC
    Inventor: Chris Karol
  • Patent number: 6290250
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system comprising at least one movable engaging member that, when engaged, secures a snowboarder's boot from vertical or horizontal movement. In one embodiment, the binding system has two active sides, allowing a snowboarder to engage the binding by stepping downwardly onto the binding mechanism, thus reversibly forcing tensioned engaging members between an extended and a retracted position and back to an extended position, thereby securing the snowboarder's boot to the upper surface of a snowboard. A preferred embodiment utilizes positioning keys that properly orientate a snowboarder's boot into binding engagement. Other embodiments include snowboard boots having active binding mechanisms positioned on the boot itself, such mechanisms engageable with static members secured to the surface of a snowboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Inventor: Chris Karol
  • Publication number: 20010019199
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system comprising at least one movable engaging member that, when engaged, secures a snowboarder's boot from vertical or horizontal movement is disclosed. In one embodiment, a binding system having two active sides is disclosed, allowing a snowboarder to engage the binding by stepping downwardly onto the binding mechanism, thus reversibly forcing tensioned engaging members between an extended and a retracted position and back to an extended position, thereby securing the snowboarder's boot to the upper surface of a snowboard. A preferred embodiment utilizes positioning keys that properly orientate a snowboarder's boot into binding engagement. Other embodiments include snowboard boots having active binding mechanisms positioned on the boot itself, such mechanisms engageable with static members secured to the surface of a snowboard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Inventor: Chris Karol
  • Patent number: 6113127
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system comprising at least one movable engaging member that, when engaged, secures a snowboarder's boot from vertical or horizontal movement. In one embodiment, the binding system has two active sides, allowing a snowboarder to engage the binding by stepping downwardly onto the binding mechanism, thus reversibly forcing tensioned engaging members between an extended and a retracted position and back to an extended position, thereby securing the snowboarder's boot to the upper surface of a snowboard. A preferred embodiment utilizes positioning keys that properly orientate a snowboarder's boot into binding engagement. Other embodiments include snowboard boots having active binding mechanisms positioned on the boot itself, such mechanisms engageable with static members secured to the surface of a snowboard. One snowboard boot has a calf support member and a reversibly mounted high-back element, as well as a canting system for adjusting angular orientation of a snowboarder's foot position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Inventor: Chris Karol
  • Patent number: 5690351
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system comprising at least one moveable engaging member that, when engaged, secures a snowboarder's boot from vertical or horizontal movement. In one embodiment, a binding system has two active sides allowing a snowboarder to engage the binding by stepping downwardly onto the binding mechanism, thus reversibly forcing tensioned engaging members between an extended and a retracted position and back to an extended position, thereby securing the snowboarder's boot to the upper surface of a snowboard. Other embodiments include snowboard boots having active binding mechanisms positioned on the boot itself, such mechanisms engageable with static members secured to the surface of a snowboard. A further embodiment includes a snowboard boot having a pivotable calf support member and a pivotable, reversibly mounted high-back element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: Chris Karol