Abstract: A binding includes a suspension heel loop formed by an upper member pivotally connected to the base of the binding frame. The heel loop flexes or moves in a controlled manner with respect to the binding base at the heel end of the binding. A binding having the suspension heel loop provides greater maneuvering and board control, and thus improves rider performance, while providing shock and vibration absorption capabilities for increasing the overall comfort of the binding during use.

Abstract: A snowboard binding (100) is disclosed having a base plate (102) with a pair of oppositely disposed sidewalls (104), a heel loop (112) attached to the base plate, and a highback (120). The highback is attached to the heel loop such that the highback is pivotable about a virtual axis that is disposed away from the base plate and away from the highback. The virtual axis is preferably coaxial with the ankle's rotational axis for dorsiflexion. In an embodiment of the invention the highback includes arcuate slots (126) through which a bolt (132) and curved nut plate (130) attach the highback to the heel loop. The arcuate slot is preferably a circular arc centered on the desired virtual axis. In an embodiment of the invention, the heel loop intermediate portion (116) is curved about a transverse axis, and the heel portion (124) of the highback is similarly curved to generally nest with the heel loop.

Abstract: A binding includes a suspension heel loop formed by an upper member pivotally connected to the base of the binding frame. The heel loop flexes or moves in a controlled manner with respect to the binding base at the heel end of the binding. A binding having the suspension heel loop provides greater maneuvering and board control, and thus improves rider performance, while providing shock and vibration absorption capabilities for increasing the overall comfort of the binding during use.