Snowboard binding coupling

Abstract

A rotable snowboard binding coupling includes a circular base plate, a binding plate and a locking assembly. The base plate includes at least two slots in a circular arc having countersinks at their openings on the lower surface of the base plate and a plurality of indexing bores in a circular arc. The binding plate is connected to the base plate in rotation about an axis coincident with the circular arc of the slots with connectors countersunk in the slots. The locking assembly includes a locking pin selectively moveable from a raised position, clear of the lower surface of the binding plate, and not restricting rotation of the binding plate relative to the base plate, to a lowered position extending below the lower surface of the binding plate for engagement into the indexing bores such that the binding plate may not rotate relative to the base plate.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to snowboard bindings. In particular, it relates to couplings for snowboard bindings which rotate in relation to the snowboard.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] It is well known that when snowboarding along a flattened surface it is desirable to rotate the forward foot in relation to the snowboard without having to remove the boot and rebinding while the rear foot is used to peddle the snowboard in a similar fashion as skate boarding. A solution is to provide a rotatable binding that can be easily rotated in relation to the snowboard without rebinding.

[0006] Up to now a few examples of such bindings exist. One example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,088, to Vetter et al., discloses a coupling for releasable mounting of a boot with a boot binding to a turntable which is adjustably secured to a snowboard. The boot binding includes a plurality of extending lock pins each with a shoe releasably locking into arcuate slots in the turntable. The boot binding is directed to the coupling with a set of guide pins protruding from the boot binding. Also extending from the boot binding plate is a latch pin held under spring bias which when aligned in a hole position, fits into one of several latch pin holes in the turntable.

[0007] Another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,584, to Sabol, discloses a rotatable plate fitting over a protruding circular guide post on a base plate secured to a snowboard. A cap plate extends through the binding and rotatable plate openings to contact to guide post with screws or bolts passing through mating holes to the snowboard. An elevated rim around the cap plate fits within a circular groove of the boot binding to allow the binding and rotatable plate to rotate relative to the cap plate.

[0008] Other such examples include U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,749, to Eglitis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,578, to Anderson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,346, to Keller, U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,755, to Metzger et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,128, to McKenzie et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,799 to Dawes et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,729, to Bayer et al.

[0009] While the foregoing examples offer some utility, a major disadvantage in the design of rotatable snowboard bindings lies in the fact that snow, ice and debris tend to accumulate in a variety of component parts such as cap plates, holes, indexing platforms, and slots which are used to accomplish the rotable connection between base plates, attached to the snowboard, and binding plates attached to the bindings. Thus, it is desirable to provide a rotable coupling for a snowboard binding which is simple in manufacture and which is designed to resist the accumulation of snow, ice and debris. The present invention satisfies these needs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a coupling for a snowboard binding which is simple in manufacture and comprised of a minimum of components parts.

[0011] It is another object of the invention to provide a coupling for a snowboard binding which is resistant to the accumulation of snow and ice while in use.

[0012] To overcome the problems of the prior art methods and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, briefly, a snowboard binding coupling is provided for a snowboard having a top side, including a circular base plate having a central rotational axis, an upper surface and a lower surface including a plurality snowboard mating holes having a countersink at the upper surface and at least two slots positioned in a circular arc about the rotational axis, the slots having a countersink at the lower surfaces of the base plate, and a plurality of indexing bores positioned in a circular arc about the rotational axis, a binding plate, connected to the base plate in rotation about an axis of rotation coincident with the circular arc of the slots, having an upper and a lower surface, the lower surface of the binding plate in frictional contact to the upper surface of the base plate with a connector means countersunk in the slots, the binding plate further comprising a plurality of access bores for tool access to the mating holes, and a plurality of mounting holes for mounting a snowboard binding to the coupling, and a locking assembly means including locking pin for travel within a central bore in a locking housing mounted to the binding plate, the locking pin selectively moveable from a raised position, clear of the lower surface of the binding plate, and not restricting rotation of the binding plate relative to the base plate, to a lowered position extending below the lower surface of the binding plate for engagement into the indexing bores of the base plate such that the binding plate may not rotate relative to the base plate.

[0013] Additional advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows and in part will be obvious from that description or can be learned from practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention can be realized and obtained by the apparatus particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and which constitute a part of the specification, illustrate at least one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, explain the principles of the invention.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the present invention mounted to the top surface of a snowboard.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a prospective view of one embodiment of the present invention for use with a snowboard binding having four mounting holes.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a prospective view of a second embodiment of the present invention for use with a snowboard binding having three mounting holes.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective bottom view of the present invention showing the preferred countersink in the slots.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a top view of the present invention mounted to the upper surface of a snowboard showing it locked at a maximum degree of angular rotation.

[0020] FIG. 6 is a top view of the present invention mounted to the upper surface of a snowboard showing it locked at an intermediate degree of angular rotation.

[0021] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention showing detail of assembly.

[0022] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the present invention along section 8 of FIG. 6 with the lock pin head engaged in an indexing hole.

[0023] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the latch pin assembly with the lock pin head disengaged from an indexing hole which allows for rotation of the coupling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Unless specifically defined otherwise, all technical or scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. As defined herein the term countersink means a funnel or bored enlargement at the outer end of a drilled hole or slot for the reception of a screw, bolt or rivet head so that the faces will be level with the surface. The term countersunk when referring to a hole or slot means having a counter sink, and when referring to a screw, bolt or rivet means having a head set in a countersink.

[0025] Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described. Reference now will be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals represent like features.

[0026] The invention is a rotatable coupling 10 for a snowboard boot binding 8 having a pair of rigid plates 20, 30 which may be fit to a standard snowboard 5 and a standard snowboard boot binding 8. A base plate 30 is adapted to be secured to the snowboard 5 through countersink mating holes 35 drilled through the base plate 30 to match the standard holes in the snowboard 5. The base plate 30 and snowboard 5 are secured together by mounting screws 37 or bolts countersunk into the mating holes 35. In this manner, the face of the mounting screws 37 and the upper surface of the base plate 30 are flush. Tool access holes 22 are drilled through the binding plate 20 in alignment with the mounting screws 37 for threading the screws 37 into the snowboard.

[0027] The rotatable binding plate 20 is adapted for receiving a standard snowboard binding 8. The binding plate 20 is secured to the base plate 30 with either bolts, rivets, or screws 34 countersunk through at least two slots 32 bored in a circular arc about a common central axis in the base 30 and binding 20 plates. The slots 32 have a countersink at their openings on the lower surface of the base plate 30 so that the screw heads 34 remain flush with the lower surface of the base plate 34 where it fastens to the snowboard 5. In the preferred embodiment, the countersunk slots are funnel shaped to resist the accumulation of snow and ice. The binding plate 20 may, but need not, have a central hole having a countersink at its opening on the lower surface of the base plate 30 to further secure the base plate 30 to the binding plate 20 with a screw 36. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the slots 32 allow a measure of angular adjustment 9 of the binding plate 20 in relation to the snowboard 5 when operated under different levels of terrain.

[0028] A locking pin assembly 40 includes a housing 41 with a upper concentric hole in one end and an open opposite end defining a cylindrical cavity therein. The housing 41 is preferably fastened to the binding plate with two screws 42, but may be fastened by means of a weld, bolt, or rivet. The assembly further includes a locking pin with a rod 46 extending out of the housing 41 upper concentric hole and an enlarged head 48 on the rod 46 inside, but extending out of, the housing 41 and slidably fit in the housing 40 in a manner of a piston in a cylinder. Around the locking pin rod 46 is a spring 50 extending within the cylinder cavity maintaining the locking pin head 48 under a bias. In the rod end 46 extending out of the cylinder is a keeper ring 44 larger than the cylinder upper hole to keep the rod 46 from falling out of the cylinder under the spring bias within, and for the user to easily reach with his hand. The locking pin head 48 extends through a hole 52 in the binding plate 20 for engagement in the indexing holes 38. As shown in FIG. 9, in operation, the keeper ring 44, when pulled upwardly disengages the locking pin head 48 from the indexing holes 38 to allow for rotation of the binding plate. As shown in FIG. 8, upon releasing the keeper ring 44 the spring bias causes the locking pin head 48 to engage within any of the indexing holes 38 in alignment with the locking pin head 48 which locks the snowboard binding at the desired angle to the snowboard.

[0029] The base 30 and binding plates 20 and the locking assembly 40 of the present invention are preferably fabricated of a durable water resistant material, such as a composite, non-rusting metal plate, or molded or injectable plastic. The locking pin rod 46 and head 48 are preferably constructed of a single strong metal such as stainless steel.

[0030] While the present invention has been described in connection with the illustrated embodiments, it will be appreciated and understood that modifications may be made without departing, from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A snowboard binding coupling for a snowboard, comprising:

(a) a circular base plate having a central rotational axis, an upper surface and a lower surface including a plurality snowboard mating holes having a countersink at the upper surface and at least two slots positioned in a circular arc about the rotational axis, the slots having a countersink at the lower surfaces of the base plate, and a plurality of indexing bores positioned in a circular arc about the rotational axis;

(b) a binding plate, connected to the base plate in rotation about an axis of rotation coincident with the circular arc of the slots, having an upper and a lower surface, the lower surface of the binding plate in frictional contact to the upper surface of the base plate with a connector means countersunk in the slots, the binding plate further comprising a plurality of access bores for tool access to the mating holes, and a plurality of mounting holes for mounting a snowboard binding to the coupling; and

(c) a locking assembly means including locking pin for travel within a central bore in a locking housing mounted to the binding plate, the locking pin selectively moveable from a raised position, clear of the lower surface of the binding plate, and not restricting rotation of the binding plate relative to the base plate, to a lowered position extending below the lower surface of the binding plate for engagement into the indexing bores of the base plate such that the binding plate may not rotate relative to the base plate.

2. The snowboard binding coupling according to claim 1, further including a central bore at the rotational axis of the base plate having a countersink at the lower surface of the base plate for rotatably mounting the base plate to the binding plate.

3. The snowboard binding coupling according to claim 1 wherein the countersinks are funnel-shaped enlargements at an outer end of holes and slots for the reception of a screw, bolt, or rivet head.