AU2020201580A1 - Snowboard boot and binding - Google Patents

Abstract

A boot and binding system configured to increase the speed and ease of attaching the boot to the binding. The boot and binding system utilizes a force applied to the binding to activate grapples attached to the binding so they hook onto and tighten a strap assembly that is attached to the boot, the force applied to the grapples also pulls the heel of the boot firmly in to the heel cup of the binding. 2 1 23 4 7 /6 93 Fig. 1 2 1 6 23 4 00 'ZZ? 00 8 10 Fig. 2

Description

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Editorial Note 2020201580 There is only three pages of the description

DESCRIPTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This embodiment of the invention relates generally to snowboard boots and bindings. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved speed entry snowboard binding. It should be appreciated that whereas the embodiments herein have been described with reference to utilization for snowboards, the boot and binding may be applicable for other types of gliding boards, including snow skis, water skis, wakeboards, kite boards and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A snowboarder stands with both feet fixed to a single board, and the rider negotiates a path down a snow-covered slope.

The snowboarder wears boots that are attached to the snowboard by a pair of bindings.

The most common snowboard binding system utilizes two straps for securing the snowboard boot to the snowboard. One strap is for securing the toe portion of the boot and the second strap is for securing the ankle portion of the boot. The two-strap binding systems provide comfort, a high degree of maneuverability, and lateral flexibility. A two-strap binding system has one end of both of the toe and ankle strap held fast to the snowboard binding on either the lateral or the medial side so that the other end can pass over the toe or instep portion of the boot and be connected to a tensioning mechanism on the opposite side of the binding. A conventional two-strap binding system, therefore, requires that each strap be individually fastened to secure the boot to the snowboard. A snowboarder needs to release both straps to free their boot before approaching a ski lift and retention each strap to secure their boot after they exit the ski lift

There is a need to provide a more convenient system to speed up the process of getting in and out of a snowboard binding without sacrificing the benefits of a 2 strap binding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment of the invention a boot includes an ankle strap assembly and may also include a toe strap assembly.

The ankle strap assembly has a primary means of adjusting the tension around the user's ankle such as a ratchet or dial. The boot may be designed with an ankle strap assembly attached to the outer surface of the shell of the boot. The two ends of the ankle strap assembly are attached to either side of the boot toward the heel of the boot, each end having a peg positioned to be engaged buy the binding. Each end of the ankle strap assembly is attached to the boot so that it may only have freedom of movement in one direction, this movement allows the ends of the strap assembly to be pulled further toward the heel of the boot, in doing so tightening the ankle strap assembly around the ankle portion of the boot.

The binding which is attached to the snowboard or other gliding board includes two sides, a heel hoop and or highback and two grapples attached to either of the binding sides. The grapples correspond to the pegs on the boot ankle strap assembly, these grapples are aligned with the ankle strap pegs when the boot is placed inside the binding.

When a force is applied to the binding grapples they engage the pegs on the ankle strap assembly and retract toward the rear of the binding, the retracting motion pulls the ankle strap assembly tight around the users ankle and also pulls the boot firmly into the heal hoop or highback of the binding.

. The user is able to further adjust the tension of the ankle strap by adjusting the ratchet or dial on the strap assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the boot and strap assembly in the relaxed position

FIG. 2 is a side view of the boot and strap assembly in the relaxed position

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the boot and strap assembly in the tensioned position

FIG. 4 is a side view of the boot and strap assembly in the tensioned position

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the binding and grapples in the relaxed position

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the binding and grapples in the relaxed position

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the binding and grapples in the engaged position

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the binding and grapples in the engaged position

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the boot and binding with the grapples about to engage with the ankle strap assembly

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the boot and binding with the grapples engaged with the ankle strap assembly

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 and 2 illustrate an embodiment of the boot and strap assembly useful in the present invention. The boot includes an outer shell 1 having a toe end, a heel end, a lateral and a medial side and an instep 23, an inner liner 2 sits inside the outer shell and a strap assembly wrapping around the riders ankle, the strap assembly includes a lateral ladder 3, a medial ladder 4, a tensioning devise 5 and a flexible strap 6 wraps around the boot instep 23 bridging the lateral and medial ladders 3, 4. In this embodiment of the present invention the strap assembly is slidable attached to the boot outer shell 1 by a lateral pin 7 and a medial pin 8. The lateral pin 7 and a medial pin 8 protruding through elongated slots in the lateral and medial strap ladders 3, 4 allowing the ends of the strap assembly to be pulled further toward the heel of the boot.

FIG. 3 and 4 show the same boot and strap assembly as seen in FIG. 1 and 2, where the lateral and medial ladders 3, 4 of the strap assembly have been pulled toward the heel of the boot and further tightened around the riders ankle.

FIG. 5 and 6 illustrate an embodiment of the binding useful in the present invention. The binding adapted to receive a boot includes a lateral sidewall 11 and a medial sidewall 12, a heel hoop 13 which extends around the rider's heel and connects the heel-side ends of the sidewalls 11, 12. The binding highback 14 extends upward from the rear portion of the binding. A footbed 15 may be provided as a surface for the boot to sit atop. A cable 21 may connect a lever 18 to a lateral grapple 16 which pivots about pin 20 and a medial grapple 17 which pivots about pin 22 said lever pivots about a pin 19. The grapples 16, 17 are adapted to engage the pegs 9, 10 of the boot ankle strap assembly and pull the boot strap assembly tight around the riders ankle in a direction toward the binding heel hoop 13. The lever 18 and grapples 16, 17 are shown in the open position ready to accept a boot

FIG. 7 and 8 illustrate the same binding shown in FIG. 5 and 6 where the lever 18 has been moved to the upright position and the lateral and medial grapples 16, 17 have retracted toward the heel hoop 13 of the binding

FIG, 9 illustrates the boot positioned inside the binding where the strap assembly pegs 9, 10 are aligned with the binding grapples 16, 17 and the grapples 16, 17 are ready to engage the strap assembly pegs 9, 10.

FIG. 10 illustrates the same boot and binding system as in FIG. 9 wherein the lever 18 has been moved to the tightened position and the lateral and medial grapples 16, 17 have engaged the boot ankle strap assembly pegs 9, 10 and retracted toward the heel hoop 13. The retraction of grapples 16, 17 pulls the ankle strap assembly tight around the riders ankle and pulls the heel of the boot into the heel portion of the highback 14

Editorial Note 2020201580 There is only two pages of the claim

Claims (10)

1. A system for mounting a rider to a gliding board, the system comprising:

a boot having a heel region, a toe region, an instep, a lateral side and a medial side;

a strap assembly having a first end and a second end, said strap assembly disposed about said boot instep with said first end of said strap assembly slidably attached to said lateral side of said boot heal region and said second end of said strap assembly slidably attached to said medial side of said boot heal region, said first and second strap ends having freedom to slide toward the heel of said boot, a lateral peg attached to said strap assembly first end and a medial peg attached to said strap assembly second end;

a binding attached to a gliding board, the binding comprising a heel hoop, a lateral sidewall, and a medial sidewall;

a first grapple adapted to selectively engage said boot lateral peg attached to said binding lateral sidewall;

a second grapple adapted to selectively engage said boot medial peg attached to said binding medial sidewall; and

a means for urging said first and second grapples rearward toward the heel hoop so that said grapples engage said lateral and medial strap assembly pegs thereby tightening the strap assembly about said boot instep and securing said boot to said binding.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said binding further including a lever, the lever pivotably attached to the binding heel hoop and connected to the said grapples by a cable provides a means for urging said grapples toward the heel hoop.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said binding further including a highback and a lever, the lever pivotably attached to the highback and connected to the said grapples by a cable provides a means for urging said grapples toward the heel hoop.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said binding further including a lever, said lever actuated but the users body weight connected to the said grapples by a cable provides a means for urging said grapples toward the heel hoop.

5. An apparatus comprising:

a snowboard boot, the snowboard boot having a heel region, a toe region, a lateral side, a medial side and an instep; and

a strap having a first end and a second end said strap disposed about said boot instep with said first end of said strap slidably attached to said lateral side of said boot heal region and said second end of said strap slidably attached to said medial side of said boot heal region; whereby

the first and second strap ends have freedom to slide further toward the heel of said boot thereby tightening the strap about said boot instep.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said boot further includes an inner liner and said strap is disposed about said inner liner instep

7. An apparatus comprising:

a snowboard binding attached to a snowboard adapted to receive a snowboard boot, the binding having a heel hoop a lateral sidewall and a medial side wall;

a first grapple attached to said binding lateral sidewall;

a second grapple attached to said binding medial sidewall; and

a means for urging the first and second grapples toward the heel hoop

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said binding further including a lever, the lever pivotably attached to the binding heel hoop and connected to the said grapples by a cable provides a means for urging said grapples toward the heel hoop.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said binding further including a highback and a lever, the lever pivotably attached to the highback and connected to the said grapples by a cable provides a means for urging said grapples toward the heel hoop.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said binding further including a lever, said lever actuated but the users body weight connected to the said grapples by a cable provides a means for urging said grapples toward the heel hoop.