Abstract: 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.

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 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety ski binding for a ski or a ski board. The safety binding, which has a front portion, a rear portion and the central portion therebetween, is generally mounted to the ski or the skiboard only via the central portion thereof. The binding is also capable of reacting to the friction between the boot and itself. The safety binding generally comprises a pair of plates which are moveable one in relation to the other. Front and heel holding cups, adapted to support and secure the boot, are also moveably mounted and attached to each plate. When the movement of the moveable plate reaches a certain threshold, the front and/or heel cups will rotate or translate and release the boot.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety ski binding for a ski or a ski board, which has central attaching means, and is capable of reacting to the friction between the boot and the binding. This is achieved by providing a pair of plates which are moveable one in relation to the other. A portion of the front and rear boot holding cups being moveably attached to each plate.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A snowboard boot binding mechanism includes a base member having a recessed channel. A first plate is slidably attached to the base member. A first pair of engagement rods are fixedly attached to the first plate. Each of the first pair of engagement rods has a head disposed at an axial end of the rod for selectively engaging and locking a first bar attached to a first side of the snowboard boot. A second plate is fixedly attached to the base member. A second pair of engagement rods are fixedly attached to the second plate. Each of the second pair of engagement rods have a head disposed at an axial end of the rod for engaging and locking a second bar attached to a second side of the snowboard boot which is disposed opposite to the first side.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety ski binding for a ski or a ski board, which has central attaching means, and is capable of reacting to the friction between the boot and the binding.

Abstract: A marine air conditioner (which may also be used as a heat pump) has a low volume to cooling capacity ratio, and high efficiency. A blower is connected to a shroud, and within the shroud are a water cooled tube-in-tube condenser coil and a raised lance fin evaporator coil. The condenser coil is mounted between the evaporator coil and the blower so that air is drawn past the evaporator coil, then past the condenser coil, and then discharged by the blower. The shroud and blower are mounted, along with a rotary compressor connected to the coils by refrigerant lines, in a condensate drain pan having side walls of 1.5 inches or more in height and a plurality of widely spaced drain plugs or fittings. The cooling water inlet and outlet for the condenser coil pass through a wall of the shroud, and the inlet is connected to a water pump below the water line of the boat in which the condensate pan is mounted.

Abstract: A snowboard binding system having a binding plate, the bottom of which is supported on a snowboard. The plate includes a circular opening in its center which receives a disk shaped hold-down plate. The hold-down plate may be secured to the board in several different positions on the board with the binding plate assuming any rotational position with respect to the hold-down plate. Additionally, a highback support attached at the rear of the binding plate may be rotated along an axis generally normal to the binding plate (and therefore the board) and secured in its rotated position, to enable a rider to transmit forces to the snowboard from a variety of stance positions.

Abstract: A snowboard binding system having a binding plate, the bottom of which is supported on a snowboard. The plate includes a circular opening in its center which receives a disk shaped hold-down plate. The hold-down plate may be secured to the board in several different positions on the board with the binding plate assuming any rotational position with respect to the hold-down plate. Additionally, a highback support attached at the rear of the binding plate may be rotated along an axis generally normal to the binding plate (and therefore the board) and secured in its rotated position, to enable a rider to transmit forces to the snowboard from a variety of stance positions.

Abstract: This ski boot of semi-rigid synthetic material has a lower portion (3) comprising the sole and at least one pair of opposite flaps (11, 12, 13, 14) controlled by means of a foot-tightening system. The flaps are covered by a vamp (5) attached or not to the front quarter (4) of the boot shaft. This front quarter (4) is allowed to bend forwards with respect to the vamp (5) and bears against a resilient member (29) mounted on or under the vamp so as to provide an elastic flexion of which the elasticity is adjustable. With this construction the skier's foot is properly held in the boot without impairing the boot tightness.