SPLITBOARD BINDING APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS
In some embodiments, a binding apparatus is provided for use with a splitboard to convert the splitboard between a ride mode and a tour mode. Apparatus may include a binding interface that is configured to engage with multiple interfaces of a binding system. For example, a binding interface may be configured to engage with, or selectively attach to, two or more of a ride mode interface, a tour mode interface, a heel lock down interface, a heel riser interface, a riser and heel lock down interface, a crampon interface, and a snow shoe interface. A heel riser interface may comprise at least one height position configured to raise a user's heel while climbing an incline, such as a mountain or hill. The heel riser interface may also be configured to securely connect a heel of a binding interface to a splitboard.
This application claims the benefit of, and priority to, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/481,132, filed on Apr. 29, 2011, entitled “Splitboard Binding Apparatus,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELDThe present disclosure generally relates to split snowboards, also known as splitboards, and includes the disclosure of binding apparatus and systems relating to, or configured to be used with, a splitboard for converting the splitboard between a snowboard for riding downhill in ride mode and touring skis for climbing up hill in tour mode.
BACKGROUNDSplitboards are used for accessing backcountry terrain. Splitboards have a “ride mode” and a “tour mode.” In ride mode, the splitboard is configured with at least two skis held together to form a board similar to a snowboard with bindings mounted somewhat perpendicular to the edges of the splitboard. In ride mode, a user can ride the splitboard down a mountain or other decline, similar to a snowboard. In tour mode, the at least two skis of the splitboard are separated and configured with bindings that are typically mounted like a cross country free heel ski binding. In tour mode, a user normally attaches skins to create traction when climbing up a hill. In some instances, additional traction beyond what the skins provide is desirable and crampons are used. When a user reaches the top of the hill or desired location the user can change the splitboard from tour mode to ride mode and snowboard down the hill. There are relatively few inventions that provide this basic splitboard functionality.
With the growth of splitboarding in recent years, users seek more functionality similar to alpine touring ski set ups. Alpine touring ski set ups allow a user to skate ski out of flat areas such as cross country trails, forest service roads, frozen lakes, valley bottoms, etc. The ability to lock the heel of the binding down from a free heel configuration has been unique to alpine touring bindings as they are used for alpine skiing with the heel locked down. Splitboarders have attempted to find ways to lock their heels down in tour mode for applications such as skating out of flat areas, traversing, and side stepping. One way users have done this by lashing the heels of their bindings with rope or straps to attachments on the skis. However, this method requires substantial time to set up and still does not provide proper support to the user. Other users have gone away from using snowboard boots and started using ski boots to allow the use of existing alpine touring ski binding technology for the tour mode. The use of such bindings for the tour mode allows a user to tour lock their heels down when desired, but using ski boots for snowboarding is undesirable for many snowboarders. Ski boots typically prevent lateral ankle movements, dorsiflexion of the ankle, and plantarflexion of the ankle. Such constraints take away from the surfy feel of snowboarding. The transition for snowboarders to go from snowboard boots to ski boots is difficult. Additionally, mounting such alpine touring bindings to production splitboards typically involves the use of custom mounting brackets, which add additional weight to the splitboard.
SUMMARYSome embodiments provide an apparatus for use on a splitboard to convert the splitboard between a ride mode and a tour mode. The apparatus may comprise a binding interface that includes a first attachment portion, a second attachment portion generally opposing the first attachment portion, and a third attachment portion disposed generally between the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion. The binding interface may be configured to removably attach to a ride mode interface of a splitboard in a ride mode configuration and to removably attach to a tour mode interface of a splitboard in a tour mode configuration. The first attachment portion of the binding interface may be configured to engage the ride mode interface to secure a first portion of the binding interface to the ride mode interface. The second attachment portion of the binding interface may be configured to releasably couple a second portion of the binding interface to the ride mode interface such that the first portion of the binding interface generally opposes the second portion of the binding interface. The third attachment portion of the binding interface may be configured to engage more than one interface. In such embodiments, the binding interface securely joins splitboard halves to form a snowboard when the binding interface is attached to the ride mode interface.
In some embodiments, a system for use with a splitboard to convert the splitboard between a ride mode and a tour mode is provided. The system may comprise a binding interface and a heel riser interface. The binding interface may be configured to removably attach to a ride mode interface in a ride mode configuration and to removably attach to a tour mode interface in a tour mode configuration. The heel riser interface may comprise at least one height position configured to raise a user's heels while climbing. At least one component of the heel riser interface may also be configured to selectively lock a heel of the binding interface down when the binding interface is attached to the tour mode interface.
In some embodiments, a heel lock down interface is provided for use with a splitboard binding attached to a tour mode of a splitboard binding apparatus. The heel lock down interface may comprise a heel riser system comprising at least one component. The at least one component of the heel riser system may be configured to lock the heel of the splitboard binding down to a splitboard ski.
For purposes of the present disclosure and summarizing distinctions from the prior art, certain aspects of the apparatus, systems, and methods have been described above and will be described further below. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such aspects may be present in any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the apparatus, systems, and methods may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one aspect or group of aspects as taught herein without necessarily achieving other aspects as may be taught or suggested herein. All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure herein disclosed.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the disclosed apparatus, systems, and methods will now be described in connection with embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, which are schematic and not necessarily to scale. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the apparatus, systems, and methods. The drawings include the following figures, which can be briefly described as follows:
Embodiments of the present disclosure include binding apparatus and systems for use on, or involving, a splitboard for converting the splitboard between a snowboard for riding downhill in ride mode and touring skis for climbing uphill in tour mode. In some embodiments, a splitboard binding apparatus and/or system can include a binding interface configured to receive a snowboard boot and removably and interchangeably attach to a ride mode interface and a tour mode interface, a ride mode interface for removably attaching the binding interface to the splitboard in a ride mode such that the binding interface is positioned in a snowboard stance, and a tour mode interface for pivotably and removably attaching the binding interface to the separated touring skis of the splitboard in a tour mode such that the binding interface is positioned in a touring stance.
As explained in more detail below, in some embodiments, while in the touring configuration, the binding interface can quickly and easily attach to a heel lock down interface for applications such as skating out of flat areas, traversing, or side stepping.
Existing splitboard systems lack heel lock down capability while alpine touring ski systems have the ability to lock the heel down. With the ability to lock the heel down, users of alpine touring ski gear can skate with less effort by being able to push off of the tips of their skis, using their skis like spring elements to propel them forward. Without the heel locked down, when a splitboarder tries to skate the ski pivots at the tour pivot thus not allowing the user to take advantage of the skis as spring elements to propel them forward with less energy. In addition to skating, a heel lock down allows a user to side step up steep terrain. The tour mode of most splitboards allows the skis' tips to rise with each step to keep them above the snow. Having the tips rise with each step makes it difficult to side step because the skis will not stay perpendicular to the fall line. With the use of a heel lock down a splitboarder can keep their skis perpendicular to the fall line and step up an incline, mountain, or hill more easily.
Major challenges to creating a heel lock down for a splitboard system include at least the following: (1) working within the existing mounting hole patterns on production splitboards; (2) adding the heel lock down without substantially increasing the system weight; (3) creating the heel lock down such that the user can easily engage or disengage the feature; (4) creating a heel lock down that does not add additional mechanical complexity and cost; and (5) and creating a heel lock down interface that does not take away from the overall performance and feel of snowboarding. An example of compromised feel or performance would be using alpine touring ski bindings for the tour mode and heel lock down feature, which requires a user to snowboard in stiff ski boots taking away from the snowboarding feel and performance. Embodiments of the unique designs described herein overcome these numerous challenges by creating features with multiple uses on either the binding interface or other interfaces.
In some embodiments, while in the touring configuration, the binding interface can also quickly and easily attach to a crampon without removing the binding interface from the tour mode interface.
Other splitboard systems on the market typically require removal of the binding interface from the tour mode interface to attach a crampon. The ability to quickly attach the crampon without removing the binding interface from the tour mode interface is very desirable because users can find themselves in icy situations where removal of the binding interface is not feasible or possible. An additional feature of some embodiments of the crampon is that it is fixed to the binding interface allowing it to be used as a boot crampon when the binding interface is not attached to the tour mode interface.
In some embodiments, the binding interface can also quickly and easily attach to a snow shoe without removing the binding interface from a user's boot. This allows the user to quickly and easily transfer from tour mode skis to snow shoes to climb terrain too steep to ascend with splitboard skis in tour mode.
In some embodiments, the binding interface is configured to engage with multiple interfaces of a binding system and/or apparatus. For example, a portion of the binding interface can be configured to engage with more than one interface of the binding system and/or apparatus. In some embodiments, a portion of the binding interface is configured to engage with, or selectively attach to, two or more of a ride mode interface, a tour mode interface, a heel lock down interface, a heel riser interface, a riser and heel lock down interface, a crampon interface, and a snow shoe interface. Advantageously, this allows the binding interface to engage with multiple interfaces of the binding system and/or apparatus by using minimal parts or components, thereby providing a binding interface that is relatively lightweight yet able to quickly and easily engage with different interfaces and provide enhanced functionality.
According to one example embodiment, the splitboard binding apparatus 10 may include one or more board joining devices with a latch side 16 and a catch side 17 configured to join the first ski 11 to the second ski 12 to form a snowboard 13. The board joining devices with the latch side 16 and the catch side 17 may be connected to the skis 11, 12 and positioned at any point along the length thereof. In one implementation, a first board joining device with the latch side 16 and the catch side 17 can be positioned a distance away from the tips of the skis 11, 12 and a second board joining device with the latch side 16 and the catch side 17 can be positioned a distance away from the tails of the skis 11, 12. In further implementations, the splitboard binding apparatus 10 may include any number of board joining devices with the latch side 16 and the catch side 17 as desired, such as one board joining device with the latch side 16 and the catch side 17 or three or more board joining devices with the latch side 16 and the catch side 17 positioned at any point(s) along the length of the splitboard.
In further implementations, the splitboard binding apparatus 10 can include a nose clip 14 configured to couple the tips of the skis 11, 12 together. The nose clip 14 may be further configured to resist relative movement between the tips of the skis 11, 12 in at least one direction. In yet further embodiments, the splitboard binding apparatus can include a tail clip 15 configured to couple the tails of the skis 11, 12 together and resist relative movement between the tails of the skis in at least one direction. For example,
The splitboard binding apparatus 10 may also include one or more binding interfaces 40 configured to couple to a user's feet and/or boots and selectively attach to one or more additional interfaces of the splitboard binding apparatus 10 in a variety of configurations. In particular, as shown in
As shown in
In further implementations, the binding interfaces 40 can selectively couple to the separated skis 11, 12 in a touring stance. For example, the binding interfaces 40 may pivotally and removably attach to one or more tour mode interfaces 70 connected to the skis 11, 12. Accordingly, the tour mode interfaces 70 may allow the user to operate the skis 11, 12 in a tour mode, such as to ascend a slope or hill.
In some embodiments, a seam flange 39 for receiving a portion of the binding interface 40 can also be a separate component from toe receiving mechanism 31 and mounted to ski 11 or 12. The seam flange 39 can also be part of the heel receiving mechanism 32.
In particular,
In further embodiments, some or all of the features and components of the binding interface 40 can be integrated into a boot.
Numerous embodiments of the binding interface removably attaching to the ride mode interface may fall within the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein. For example, components of the binding interface 40 can function on either the toe side portion 44 of the binding interface 40 or the heel side portion 50 of the binding interface 40 without departing from the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein. Similarly, components of the ride mode interface 30 can function on either the toe receiving mechanism 31 or the heel receiving mechanism 32 without departing from the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.
In further implementations, the tour mode interface 70 can include a lever 73 and linkages 72 configured to operate, such as open and close, the tour mode interface 70. For example, a user can operate the lever 73 to engage and disengage the clip 71 to engage and disengage a pin or pins received within the recesses 74. In one implementation, the user can move the lever 73 to a closed position, as shown in
As shown in
Continuing with reference to
There can be numerous embodiments of a heel lock down feature engaging a binding interface. For example, some embodiments may include having the seam pin 52 of the heel side base portion 50 of the binding interface 40 attach to the first riser 92 of the riser and heel lock down interface 90. Other embodiments can have the heel lock down feature attach to the binding interface through rotation of components, clamping of components, and/or extension of components into one another. In some embodiments, portions of the binding interface, or the entire binding interface, can move to engage the heel lock down feature. In some embodiments, portions of the heel lock down feature, or the entire heel lock down feature, can move to engage the binding interface. Accordingly, it should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be modified, combined with, or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed apparatus, systems, and methods.
The binding apparatus and systems, and components thereof, disclosed herein and described in more detail above may be manufactured using any of a variety of materials and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, one or more metals, such as, for example, aluminum, stainless steel, steel, brass, titanium, alloys thereof, other similar metals, and/or combinations thereof may be used to manufacture one or more of the components of the splitboard binding apparatus and systems of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, one or more plastics may be used to manufacture one or more components of the splitboard binding apparatus and systems of the present disclosure. In yet further embodiments, carbon-reinforced materials, such as carbon-reinforced plastics, may be used to manufacture one or more components of the splitboard binding apparatus of the present disclosure. In additional embodiments, different components using different materials may be manufactured to achieve desired material characteristics for the different components and the splitboard binding apparatus as a whole.
Some embodiments of the apparatus, systems, and methods disclosed herein may use or employ apparatus, systems, methods, components, or features disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/604,256, which was filed on Oct. 22, 2009 and was published as U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0102522 on Apr. 29, 2010, entitled “Splitboard Binding Apparatus,” the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Conditional language such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, are otherwise understood within the context as used in general to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments.
Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z to each be present.
It should be emphasized that many variations and modifications may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein, the elements of which are to be understood as being among other acceptable examples. Accordingly, it should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed apparatus, systems, and methods. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included and fall within the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.
Claims
1. An apparatus for use on a splitboard to convert the splitboard between a ride mode and a tour mode, the apparatus comprising:
- a binding interface comprising a first attachment portion, a second attachment portion generally opposing the first attachment portion, and a third attachment portion disposed generally between the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion;
- wherein the binding interface is configured to removably attach to a ride mode interface of a splitboard in a ride mode configuration and the binding interface is configured to removably attach to a tour mode interface of a splitboard in a tour mode configuration;
- wherein the first attachment portion of the binding interface is configured to engage the ride mode interface to secure a first portion of the binding interface to the ride mode interface;
- wherein the second attachment portion of the binding interface is configured to releasably couple a second portion of the binding interface to the ride mode interface such that the first portion of the binding interface generally opposes the second portion of the binding interface;
- wherein the third attachment portion of the binding interface is configured to engage more than one interface;
- wherein the binding interface securely joins splitboard halves to form a snowboard when the binding interface is attached to the ride mode interface.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third attachment portion of the binding interface is configured to selectively attach to the ride mode interface.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third attachment portion of the binding interface is configured to selectively attach to the tour mode interface.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the binding interface is configured to selectively attach to a heel lock down interface when the binding interface is attached to the tour mode interface.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third attachment portion of the binding interface is configured to selectively attach to a crampon interface.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third attachment portion of the binding interface is configured to engage two or more of the following interfaces: the ride mode interface, the tour mode interface, a heel lock down interface, a heel riser interface, a riser and heel lock down interface, a crampon interface, and a snow shoe interface.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the third attachment portion is configured to engage a single interface at a given time.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the third attachment portion is configured to engage multiple interfaces simultaneously.
9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the third attachment portion of the binding interface comprises a retractable pin.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ride mode interface includes at least one toe receiving mechanism mounted to a first or second ski and at least one heel receiving mechanism mounted to the other of the first and second ski, and wherein the first attachment portion of the binding interface is configured to engage the toe receiving mechanism of the ride mode interface and the second attachment portion of the binding interface is configured to engage the heel receiving mechanism of the ride mode interface.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the more than one engagement portion comprises the toe receiving mechanism and the heel receiving mechanism.
12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the third attachment portion of the binding interface is configured to engage the toe receiving mechanism at or near a seam of the splitboard.
13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the third attachment portion of the binding interface is configured to engage the heel receiving mechanism at or near a seam of the splitboard.
14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the third attachment portion of the binding interface is configured to engage the ride mode interface to define a preload such that a seam of the splitboard is substantially pulled up to the binding interface.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the binding interface is configured to receive a boot.
16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the binding interface is integral with a boot.
17. An system for use with a splitboard to convert the splitboard between a ride mode and a tour mode, the system comprising:
- a binding interface, wherein the binding interface is configured to removably attach to a ride mode interface of a splitboard in a ride mode configuration and the binding interface is configured to removably attach to a tour mode interface of a splitboard in a tour mode configuration; and
- a heel riser interface comprising at least one height position configured to raise a user's heels while climbing, wherein at least one component of the heel riser interface is also configured to selectively lock a heel of the binding interface down when the binding interface is attached to the tour mode interface.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the heel riser interface comprises a base portion and a climbing wire.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one component of the heel riser interface comprises the climbing wire.
20. A heel lock down interface for use with a splitboard binding attached to a tour mode of a splitboard binding apparatus, the heel lock down interface comprising a heel riser system comprising at least one component, wherein the at least one component of the heel riser system is configured to lock the heel of the splitboard binding down to a splitboard ski.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 27, 2012
Publication Date: Nov 1, 2012
Inventors: Bryce M. Kloster (Seattle, WA), Tyler G. Kloster (Snoqualmie, WA)
Application Number: 13/458,560
International Classification: A63C 1/04 (20060101); A63C 10/00 (20120101);