Patents by Inventor James D. Laughlin

James D. Laughlin 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: 10278866
    Abstract: A support frame for releasably attaching a facemask to a goggle including at least one vent and its method of use are described. In one non-limiting embodiment, the support frame includes a nose bridge and two legs extending from the nose bridge. The nose bridge and the two legs are adapted and arranged to releasably attach the facemask to a bottom surface of the goggles. The nose bridge and two legs are arranged such that the at least one vent is unobstructed when the facemask is attached to the goggles by the support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: The Burton Corporation
    Inventors: Trevor J. Moore, James D. Laughlin
  • Publication number: 20150135419
    Abstract: A support frame for releasably attaching a facemask to a goggle including at least one vent and its method of use are disclosed. In one non-limiting embodiment, the support frame includes a nose bridge and two legs extending from the nose bridge. The nose bridge and the two legs are adapted and arranged to releasably attach the facemask to a bottom surface of the goggles. The nose bridge and two legs are arranged such that the at least one vent is unobstructed when the facemask is attached to the goggles by the support frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: The Burton Corporation
    Inventors: Trevor J. Moore, James D. Laughlin
  • Publication number: 20130185849
    Abstract: A goggle is disclosed that includes a frame having an opening with a top, a bottom, and opposite sides. A lens may be selectively removable from the opening even when the goggle is worn by an individual. To enable the removal of the lens, the lens may form a magnetic latch with at least one of the top, bottom, or opposite sides of the opening during insertion and removal. The frame may also include an overhang constructed and adapted to promote a pivoting movement of the magnetic latch and positioned over the magnetic latch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: The Burton Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Laughlin, Jeffrey A. Gilberti, Trevor J. Moore
  • Patent number: 7748729
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: The Burton Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Laughlin, David J. Dodge
  • Patent number: 7566062
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: The Burton Corporation
    Inventors: Stefan Reuss, David J. Dodge, Ryan Coulter, Markus Koller, James D. Laughlin, Brian West
  • Patent number: 7204495
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: The Burton Corporation
    Inventors: Stefan Reuss, David J. Dodge, Ryan Coulter, Markus Koller, James D. Laughlin, Brian West
  • Patent number: 7077403
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: The Burton Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Laughlin, David J. Dodge
  • Publication number: 20040207178
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: The Burton Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Laughlin, David J. Dodge
  • Patent number: 6736413
    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 highback may include a forward lean adjuster that that prevents the upper portion from moving in the heel direction beyond a predetermined forward lean position. The forward lean adjuster may be coupled to the upper portion and the lower portion of the highback to maintain the upper portion in the selected forward lean position independent of the gliding board component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: The Burton Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Laughlin, David J. Dodge
  • Publication number: 20030193151
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Stefan Reuss, David J. Dodge, Ryan Coulter, Markus Koller, James D. Laughlin, Brian West
  • Patent number: 6554296
    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 highback may include a forward lean adjuster that that prevents the upper portion from moving in the heel direction beyond a predetermined forward lean position. The forward lean adjuster may be coupled to the upper portion and the lower portion of the highback to maintain the upper portion in the selected forward lean position independent of the gliding board component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: The Burton Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Laughlin, David J. Dodge
  • Publication number: 20030075885
    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 highback may include a forward lean adjuster that that prevents the upper portion from moving in the heel direction beyond a predetermined forward lean position. The forward lean adjuster may be coupled to the upper portion and the lower portion of the highback to maintain the upper portion in the selected forward lean position independent of the gliding board component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: James D. Laughlin, David J. Dodge
  • Patent number: 6543793
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: The Burton Corporation
    Inventors: Stefan Reuss, David J. Dodge, Ryan Coulter, Markus Koller, James D. Laughlin, Brian West
  • Patent number: 6457736
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: The Burton Corporation
    Inventors: Paul T. Maravetz, David J. Dodge, Franklin S. Phillips, Steven C. McDonald, James D. Laughlin