UNIVERSAL SNOWBOARD BINDING
The invention is concerned with a snowboard binding that uniquely addresses two long-standing issues with snowboard bindings: (1) fast hands free entry, and (2) high level of mobility when the user's back foot is unstrapped from the binding. Generally, this application relates to snowboard bindings that enable hands-free entry and a higher level of mobility than is currently available when the user's back foot is unstrapped from the binding. The binding uses three distinct positions to address these issues: (1) the closed position, (2) the skate position, and (3) the open position.
None.
FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCHNone.
SEQUENCE LISTINGNone.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe invention is concerned with a snowboard binding that uniquely addresses two long-standing issues with snowboard bindings: (1) fast hands free entry, and (2) high level of mobility when the user's back foot is unstrapped from the binding.
It is known that other bindings use a similar subassembly, but with fewer parts and less functionality. It is also known that the various existing bindings on the market have limited individual aspects of functionality, which are all found in this new binding. Many bindings use a highback and a highback support to provide adjustable support to the boot, which forces the user's ankle to flex at an angle determined by the user. Some bindings allow for the highback to rotate downward so that the boot may be inserted into the binding without undoing the straps. Some use a highback that moves the ankle straps upward as it rotates downward.
However, it has not been possible heretofore to have one set of bindings with the above collective industry features and the new features depicted below that enable hands-free entry and increased mobility. Previously there has not been a mechanism by which the user can secure his boot in the binding without using his hands, but instead by stepping into the binding and pressing down with his boot to tighten the components of the binding about his boot—all without allowing snow to enter the space between the footbed and the baseplate. Bindings have not been available with a footbed as a separate moving part or with a rotation control disc or with separate clamping discs for the front and rear bindings, which made it impossible for the front binding to rotate as desired by the user about the front clamping disc to increase the user's mobility when his rear boot is unstrapped. Additionally, with current market bindings, it has not been possible to lock or unlock the bindings without the use of levers or ratchets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONGenerally, this application relates to snowboard bindings that enable hands free entry and a higher level of mobility than is currently available when the user's back foot is unstrapped from the binding. The binding uses three distinct positions to address these issues: (1) the closed position, (2) the skate position, and (3) the open position.
The closed position is the position of the binding while the user is snowboarding downhill. The spring-loaded locking pins extend from the footbed housing to the baseplate housing, preventing the parts of the binding from moving and keeping the user's boot securely locked in place. To unlock the binding to either the skate or open positions, other bindings require a ratchet or the user to switch a lever. This invention allows the user to pull a release cord that attaches to the locking pins while simultaneously lifting his boot up against the ankle cover.
The skate position is the position of the front binding while the user is pushing with his unstrapped rear foot. To transition to the skate position from the closed position, the user pulls the release cord and lifts his boot up against the ankle cover. He then rotates the binding forward up to 100-degrees and presses down on the major footbed to engage the locking pins with the skate housing so that he may face forward while he pushes with his rear foot. If the user wishes to return the front binding to the closed position from the skate position, he may re-rotate the front binding to its original orientation and press down on the major footbed to re-engage the locking pins with the baseplate housing. If instead he wishes to fully unlock the binding to the open position from the skate position, he need only lift his boot up against the ankle cover; it is not necessary for the user to again pull the release cord.
The open position is the position of the binding while the user's boot is unstrapped from the binding. From the closed position, the user pulls the release cord and lifts up with his boot against the ankle cover to open the binding and remove his boot from the binding. From the skate position, the user need only lift his boot up against the ankle cover to open the binding and remove his boot from the binding. To secure his boot in the binding, the user steps into the binding while it is in the open position, placing his toe against the front toe strap, and presses down on the major footbed until the locking pins engage with the appropriate housings for either the closed or skate positions.
The sum of these advantages unify with the novel article of the new snowboard binding, resulting in an invention that is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art support, either alone or in any combination thereof.
These, together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty characterizing the invention, are described with particularity in the claims herewith. A more comprehensive understanding of the features, operation and uses of the invention may be gleaned from reference to the enclosed drawings and descriptive matter further illustrating the preferred embodiments of the invention.
The embodiments described herein are illustrative of the invention, and it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description and drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. It should be further understood that the phraseology and terminology applied herein merely serve the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
In accordance with this invention, it is now possible for snowboard users to enter and lock into binding more quickly and hands free while still wearing a standard boot produced by any manufacturer. The use of a release cord, instead of lever and ratchets, also allows for a quicker and more convenient way to unlock the user's boot from the binding. Further, the new system enables the user to have a higher level of mobility than previously available when the user's back foot is unstrapped from the binding. The following is submitted to illustrate but not to limit this invention.
In general use, the footbed subassembly 101 mates with the highback subassembly 100 and the base subassembly 103. The major footbed 101 and the minor footbed 102 rest flush against the tower 104, which prevents snow from entering the space enclosed by the major footbed 101, minor footbed 102, tower 104, and baseplate 103. Additionally, the edge of the interior sidewall of the tower 104 is sharp so as to scrape any accumulated snow off the sidewall of the major footbed 101 as the binding closes. In the closed position, the tower 104 does not rise above the footbed 101 so the sharp edge of the interior sidewall of the tower 104 is not exposed. The release cord (depicted below) follows a path through the major footbed 101 to connect to the spring-loaded locking pins 105. When the binding is in the closed position, the user pulls on the release cord to slide the locking pins 105 from their positions in the baseplate 103 housing into their positions in the footbed 101 housing, allowing the binding to open when the user lifts his boot up against the ankle cover 107.
Most bindings use an ankle strap in combination with an ankle cover to secure the user's boot in the binding. In the universal snowboard binding, the ankle strap 106 mates with the highback 100. As the highback 100 rotates downward from the open position to the closed position, the ankle strap 106 is raised upward, which increases the amount of space between the ankle cover 107 and the major footbed 101 when the binding is in the open position compared to when the binding is in the closed and skate positions. The ankle strap 106 is prevented from rotating downward while the user's boot is unstrapped by the strap corner 108, which rests against the highback 100. As the user steps into the binding and presses down on the major footbed 101, the highback 100 rotates upward and the ankle strap 106 is lowered, which secures the user's boot between the highback 100 and the ankle cover 107.
Many bindings use a highback and a highback support to adjust the angle at which the high back forces the user's ankle to bend. Some bindings combine the highback and highback support into a single part, and some bindings combine the highback support and baseplate into a single part. Here, the highback support is a separate moving part from both the highback and the baseplate. In use, the highback support lock 202 mates with the highback support lock housing 204 to hold the highback 200 flush to the highback support 201. These features are designed such that if the user exerts enough force on the highback 200, the support lock 202 will distort from its normal shape and position to release the highback 200 and allow the highback 200 to rotate forward. This is useful for compacting the binding for storage or travel.
A separate highback lever is not often used in other bindings as part of the highback subassembly. Here, the highback support 201 mates with the highback levers 203 so that the user may adjust the angle at which the highback support 201 holds the highback 200 by tightening the highback levers 203 against the highback support 201, which is the angle at which the user's ankle will be held while the user's boot is inserted in the binding.
Further, most other bindings use a baseplate with teeth in combination with a clamping disc with teeth to secure the binding to the snowboard, and most employ teeth that angle upward rather than inward. Here, in the universal snowboard binding, the teeth 504 of the baseplate 501 angle inward and mate with the teeth of the rear clamping disc (depicted below) to prevent the rear binding from rotating. The teeth 504 of the baseplate 501 do not mate with the front clamping disc (depicted below), which allows the front binding to rotate about the front clamping disc when the front binding is in the “open” or “skate” position.
Most other bindings do not include a locking pin housing as part of the baseplate. Here, when the binding is in the closed position, the spring-loaded locking pins (depicted above) extend from footbed housing (depicted above), through the rear cutouts of the tower (depicted below), into the locking pin housing 505. There is also a bolt (depicted below) that extends from the tower into the locking pin housing 505, and slides forward and backward within the housing as the binding opens and closes. This bolt holds the rear of the tower securely against the baseplate 501.
Unlike the front clamping disc, the rear clamping disc does not include teeth on the top side of the clamping platform to mate with the rotation control disc, because the rear binding does not include a rotation control disc. The front clamping disc and rear clamping disc may be swapped from the left binding to the right binding so that the user may determine which of the left and right bindings will be the front and rear bindings, as further described herein.
Most other bindings fail to include a rotation control disc because other bindings do not rotate relative to the snowboard. In the universal snowboard binding, the rotation control disc 901 is used only in the front binding 904. The rotation control disc 901 mates with the front clamping disc (depicted above), located just below the rotation control disc and the major footbed (depicted above) and flush against the baseplate 905. The teeth 908 of the rotation control disc 901 mate with the teeth on the topside of the clamping platform of the front clamping disc (depicted above) to prevent the rotation control disc from rotating relative to the clamping disc. When the binding 904 is in the closed position, the orientation control feature 906 of the rotation control disc fits with the orientation control feature of the major footbed (depicted below), which prevents the front binding from rotating about the front clamping disc. When the binding is in the skate position, the orientation control feature of the major footbed rests against the skate platform 907 feature of the rotation control disc 901, which allows the binding to rotate about the front clamping disc. When the binding is in the open position, the orientation control feature of the major footbed does not contact the rotation control disc 901, which allows the binding to rotate freely about the center of the front clamping disc.
Other bindings do not use a separate front toe strap and top toe strap but rather combine the two straps into one, usually as a top toe strap or a toe cup. In the universal snowboard binding 1005, the top toe strap 1001 mates with the baseplate 1006 and the tower 1007. The top toe strap 1001 slides upward within the strap/tower housing (depicted above) of the baseplate 1006 as the binding 1005 opens, providing more space for the user to insert his boot. The top toe strap 1001 slides downward within the strap/tower housing of the baseplate 1006 as the binding 1005 closes, tightening the top toe strap around the user's boot.
The front 1103 and rear bindings 1107 function distinctly in that the orientation of the front binding 1103 on the snowboard is dynamic such that the binding can rotate up to 100-degrees between the skate orientation and the normal (open or closed) orientation, whereas the rear binding 1107 is static and held in place. The user can choose which of the left and right bindings will be the front and rear bindings by swapping out the rear clamping disc 1106, the front clamping disc 1101, and the rotation control disc 1100. To swap out the discs on each binding, the user must partially disassemble the binding by unscrewing the toe bolt 1109 and the tower bolts 1110, and then he is able to lift up the front of the major footbed 1102 and swap out the discs.
To unlock the binding 1201 from closed 1200 position to either the skate 1204 or open 1205 position, the user pulls the release cord that attaches to the locking pins (depicted above) while simultaneously lifting his boot up against the ankle cover. If the user wishes to fully unlock the binding from the skate 1204 to the open 1205 position, he need only lift his boot up against the ankle cover; it is not necessary for the user to again pull the release cord.
As to further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of this invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention, the use of which results in a universal snowboard binding that:
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- enables convenient hands-free entry;
- enables greater mobility; and
- results in less time spent idling and more time spent snowboarding
Although the description presented heretofore contains specificities for the benefit of illustration, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but rather as illustrative examples of some of the several embodiments. Thus, the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples provided.
Claims
1. An adjustable, adaptable sports binding system comprising:
- a highback subassembly comprising an ankle support means, a highback having a highback support lock, a highback support having a highback support lock housing and a plurality of highback levers, said highback mating with the highback support via interconnection of the highback support lock with the highback support lock housing, the angle of said mating of the highback and highback support being determined and made adjustable by a user adjusting the highback levers, which are substantially oblong with a first end and a second end and attach via a lever attachment means at the first end to the highback and at the second end to the highback support;
- a footbed subassembly comprising a plurality of locking pins, a minor footbed and a major footbed having a release cord housing and a release cord means having an external portion and a plurality of internal attachment points, said release cord running through a release cord housing, said external portion positioned outside the release cord housing and said internal attachment points attached via attachment means to a plurality of spring-loaded locking pin, which are positioned within locking pin housings located on the sides of the footbed subassembly, said footbed subassembly connecting to the highback at a fixed angle via a connection means;
- a base subassembly comprising a baseplate having baseplate teeth, a baseplate housing and a strap/tower housing, a tower that mates with the highback and has a bolt housing, an open housing, a skate housing with rear cutouts, a rear clamping disc with teeth that rotatably interlace with the teeth of a rotation control disc which is positioned between the baseplate and the rear clamping disc and held in place with respect to the baseplate and rear clamping disc by a securing means, a top toe strap which mates with the baseplate and the tower, and a bolting means that serves to secure the tower against the baseplate, said base subassembly connecting to the footbed subassembly via a base connection means.
2. The adjustable, adaptable sports binding system of claim 1 further comprising: a front clamping disc that mates with the baseplate and with a rotation control disc having a bottom side with teeth, said front clamping disc having a top side with teeth which enable the front clamping disc to interact with the teeth of the rotation control disc thereby preventing the rotation control disc from rotating relative to the front clamping disc depending on the user's desired orientation.
3. (canceled)
4. (canceled)
5. The adjustable, adaptable sports binding system of claim 2, the binding having a skate position for rotating a user's boot to the skate orientation and a closed position for securing a boot in the closed orientation, wherein the binding is adapted to be shifted from the closed position to the skate position by the user simultaneously lifting the boot upward against the ankle cover and pulling the release means, thereby causing the spring-loaded locking pins to retract from the baseplate housing, and then rotating the user's boot to a desired angle.
8. The adjustable, adaptable sports binding system of claim 7, wherein the binding is adapted to be shifted from the skate position to the closed position by the user rotating the boot from the skate orientation to the closed orientation and pressing down on the major footbed until the locking pins reengage with the baseplate housing.
9. The adjustable, adaptable sports binding system of claim 1, the binding having an open position for accepting or releasing a boot and a closed position for securing a boot, wherein the binding is adapted to be shifted from the closed position to the open position by the user simultaneously lifting the user's boot up against the ankle cover and pulling the release means, thereby causing the spring-loaded locking pins to retract from the baseplate housing.
10. The adjustable, adaptable sports binding system of claim 9, wherein the binding is adapted to be shifted from the open position to the closed position by the user stepping his boot into the binding, placing the boot against the front toe strap and pressing down on the major footbed until the locking pins reengage with the baseplate housing.
11. The adjustable, adaptable sports binding system of claim 2, the binding having an open position for accepting or releasing a boot and a closed position for securing a boot, wherein the binding is adapted to be shifted from the closed position to the open position by the user simultaneously lifting the user's boot up against the ankle cover and pulling the release means, thereby causing the spring-loaded locking pins to retract from the baseplate housing.
12. The adjustable, adaptable sports binding system of claim 11, wherein the binding is adapted to be shifted from the open position to the closed position by the user stepping his boot into the binding, placing the boot against the front toe strap and pressing down on the major footbed until the locking pins reengage with the baseplate housing.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 22, 2014
Publication Date: Mar 24, 2016
Inventor: TIMOTHY HUGHES (Seattle, WA)
Application Number: 14/492,794