EP1358917A1 - Snowboard binding - Google Patents

Abstract

The binding (1) has front and rear straps (9,11) and a heel loop (3) extending between the side edges of a base (2), to secure the boot to the base. The front and rear straps include strap portions (18,19,23,24). An articulating lever is provided to one strap portion, and has a hooking protrusion that selectively engages a notch at the opposite strap portion. An Independent claim is also included for a snowboard.

Description

The present invention relates to fasteners intended to be mounted on surfboards, whose design makes them particularly ergonomic.

There are many types of surf bindings, each type being more specifically adapted to a particular practice.

Thus, with regard to so-called "artistic" surfing, more commonly known as the designation of “free style”, relatively flexible shoes are used allowing to the user a great freedom of movements, allowing strong variations of angle tibia in relation to the foot. Its qualities are particularly appreciated for the surfing on semi-cylindrical tracks better known under the name of "half smoking pipe ".

Thanks to the flexibility of his shoes, the surfer can adopt positions particularly inclined with respect to the board. The relative flexibility of the shoes also allows a good perception of the sensations coming from the board. The use of such flexible shoes however requires the use of fasteners which have a certain rigidity, in particular to resist the supports oriented towards the rear.

With regard to so-called "downhill" surfing, the requirements for accuracy of the curves are even more important and therefore the fasteners must have an even greater rigidity.

Thus, such fasteners have a mounting base on the board, and a rear gutter intended to receive the rear of the upper of the user's shoe and the supports of the back of the leg. Such a gutter can extend up to mid-height calf. A set of straps allows you to hold and tighten the shoe inside the binding. These straps usually pass over the forefoot and at the kick and connect the two sides of the base. More precisely, each strap generally consists of at least one flap which is attached to the side of the base. This flap can cooperate either with a complementary flap located on the other side of the base, either even with a hooking mechanism associated with the other side of the base.

To adjust the longitudinal position of the flap (s) on the shoe, at a level more or less high of the kick or more or less in front of the front end of the shoe, an intermediate piece is mounted on the base and has a capacity of pivoting along a substantially transverse axis relative to the base or relative on the lateral side of the shoe. The flap (s) are secured to this part intermediate.

Previous techniques

Conventionally, these flaps are made of a flexible material. Indeed, these flaps must be able to be offset on both sides of the fastener, to allow the user introduce his shoe into the binding, then close the flaps one on the other. Indeed, the flaps must be relatively flexible to be able to easily be offset, so as to free the central space of the base for the introduction of the shoe. Materials such as molded plastics and foams can be used.

However, too much flexibility of the flaps can make them fragile.

Due to the relative flexibility of the flaps, they have a tendency to fold over unexpectedly or to get stuck under the sole of the shoe or to get stuck between the gutter and the shoe, when the binding is subject to movements transverse, for example when threading the binding by the user or when carrying the surfboard.

This trend is further increased by the fact that the flaps are generally equipped with a cushion in their terminal portion, this cushion being intended to distribute and reduce the pressure exerted by the strap on the user's foot. The presence of this relatively large mass at the end of the flaps causes very easily the soft undulation of these. In addition, the hanging mechanism and its parts also have a mass to move the flaps in all the senses.

We know from document DE- 44.16.024 a surfboard binding with flaps are articulated with respect to the base. The flaps extend at the joint by rigid branches, integral and at right angles to the flaps, and being in the interior of the binding. These branches are likely to receive the support of the foot, when the user puts on the binding. The flaps are therefore automatically positioned above the shoe so that the user no longer has than to perform the operations of fitting the attachment means.

This solution proves to be complex and totally unsuitable for fasteners whose flaps have a pivoting capacity along a transverse axis with respect to the base. This solution also requires major modifications to the base and straps compared to an existing classic surf binding.

Statement of the invention

A first problem which the invention proposes to solve is that of obtaining rigidity of all the elements of the fastening, since these elements have a point of articulation. A second problem posed is to design a attachment that allows the user to put it on easily. A third problem is to remove the inconvenience caused to the user because the flaps have the possibility to present numerous untimely movements.

A snowboard binding, has a base and at least one strap formed of flaps each articulated with respect to one side of the base, and cooperating with each other to tighten the strap on a shoe.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the snowboard binding is characterized in that the flaps are formed by curved rigid parts. The ends of the curved rigid parts come opposite one another. One of the flaps is equipped with an articulated lever allowing the displacement of a hooked area. This hooked area is able to cooperate with a notched area formed on the face upper side of the opposite flap.

By rigid parts is meant parts which cannot deform under their own weight. In other words, due to its rigidity, the end of the flaps, fitted to the fasteners according to the invention, has only a circular trajectory relative to at the point of attachment to the base. It also means that the flap can no longer come hinder the maneuvers of the user. Even when the open binding is subjected to amplitude movements, the flaps retain their geometry and can be immediately used by the user, without having to put them back in form.

When the flaps are in the closed position, placed above the fixing of the shoe, even when they are off the hook, they do not fall down untimely on either side of the shoe, without the user making any manipulation in this sense.

Preferably, the length of the link between the articulated lever and the zone hooked may be able to be adjusted. So these two flaps can for example come cover the surf boot when it is in place in the binding, so that the attachment is effected substantially at the median level of the shoe.

In order to provide both rigidity and comfort for the user, at least one of the flaps can be fitted on its underside with a cushion intended to come into contact with the shoe. The cushion can for example be placed under the flap comprising the zone notched.

The rigid curved pieces of the flaps each favorably include a hinge to rotate the flap to open and close the fastener. The articulation of the flaps can be done either directly on the mounting base, or level of a part itself fixed on the fixing. This intermediate piece can itself be articulated on the base, to allow pivoting of the strap relative to to a substantially transverse axis relative to the lateral side of the shoe.

In a particularly favorable manner, each flap can have two stable equilibrium positions. These two positions are an open position in which the flap is released from the front of the shoe, and a closed position in which the flap is folded over the front of the binding to cooperate with the attachment means. The articulation of the flap relative to the attachment is then arranged so that between these two positions, and without user intervention, the flap automatically moves to one of two stable positions.

Thus, the user must exert an effort of sufficient intensity to thwart the characteristic joint, and move the rigid flaps from a stable position to the other stable position.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a snowboard is characterized in that it comprises a fixing as described above.

Brief description of the figures

• la Figure 1 représente une vue arrière en perspective d'une fixation pour surf des neige selon l'invention ;
• la Figure 2 représente une vue avant de la fixation, avec une chaussure, et dont les sangles de fixation arrière ont été enlevées ; et
• la Figure 3 représente une vue en perspective de deux des rabats pour la fixation.

The invention will be clearly understood and its various advantages and various characteristics will become more apparent from the following description, from the nonlimiting exemplary embodiment, with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 shows a rear perspective view of a snowboard binding according to the invention;
• Figure 2 shows a front view of the binding, with a shoe, and from which the rear binding straps have been removed; and
• Figure 3 shows a perspective view of two of the flaps for attachment.

Detailed description of the invention

A binding (1) for a surf, comprises a base (2), intended to be mounted on the surfboard (not shown). At the rear of the base (2) is fixed a hoop rear (3) connecting two rear sides (4) of the base (2) passing behind the heel of the shoe (6).

This rear arch (3) receives a rear gutter (7) intended to come into contact with the rear part of the upper of the shoe (6), to receive the supports from the rear of the leg. The gutter (7) is pivotally mounted relative to the arch (3) by two axes pivot (8). Thanks to this arrangement, it is possible to fold the gutter (7) when the fastener (1) is no longer used, and thus limit its size and facilitate its storage.

Traditionally, such a fixing (1) comprises retaining means allowing to hold the shoe (6) of the user in the binding (1). These means retaining devices are in the form of two tightening straps (9 and 11). The first one of these tightening straps (9), called the front strap, is generally disposed at the front end of the binding (1), so as to cover the area (12) at the front of the shoe (6) at the toes. The second of these tightening straps (11), said rear strap, is generally disposed at the level of the instep (13) of the shoe (6).

The front strap (9) is fixed on two front sides (14) of the base (2). The front strap (9) is pivotally mounted relative to these front flanks (14) thanks to two pivot axes (16). To achieve this, two front intermediate pieces (17) are pivoting, secured, for example by screwing, on the inside of the front flanks (14), in the interior area of the binding (1). Note that the front strap (9) can also be mounted directly on the front sides (14), but then without capacity movement and therefore adjustment from front to back.

A front right flap (18) and a left front flap (19) constitute the front strap (9). The right front flap (18) and the left front flap (19) come opposite one with each other and cooperate with each other. Front hooking means (21) provided on these two front flaps right (18) and left (19) allow precise positioning of the flap front right (18) relative to the front left flap (19), and therefore the tightening of the shoe (6).

The rear strap (11) is fixed to the rear arch (3) of the base (2). The strap rear (11) is pivotally mounted relative to this hoop (3) thanks to the two axes of pivoting (8) already provided for tilting the gutter (7). To get this, two rear intermediate parts (22) are pivotable, secured, for example by screwing, on the outside of the hoop (3), in the area outside the fixing (1). We note that the rear strap (11) can also be mounted directly on the roll bar (3), but then without movement capacity and therefore adjustment from front to back.

A right rear flap (23) and a left rear flap (24) constitute the strap rear (11). The right rear flap (23) and the left rear flap (24) come opposite with each other and cooperate with each other. Rear hooking means (26) provided on these two right (23) and left (24) rear flaps allow precise positioning of the right rear flap (23) relative to the left rear flap (24), and therefore the tightening of the shoe (6).

To allow the opening and closing operations of the front straps (9) and rear (11), the pivoting movements of the flaps (18, 19, 23 and 24) by relative to the base (2) are obtained by means of a hinge-forming articulation (27). AT one of their ends, opposite the attachment means (21, 26), the rigid parts curved right front flap (18), left front flap (19), right rear flap (23) and the left rear flap (24) each include a projection (28). This protuberance (28) is centered slightly swollen and hollow, hollow inside which can pass an axis (29). In addition, the two intermediate pieces front (17) and the two rear intermediate parts (22) include a double projection, enclosing the projection (28). This double projection is slightly swollen and hollow, double hollow inside which the axis (29) can pass.

The axis (29) secures the flaps (18, 19, 23 and 24) and the parts corresponding intermediaries (17, 22). To allow an opening movement and for closing the flaps (18, 19, 23 and 24), the axis (29) is thus substantially parallel to the front sides (14) of the base (2) or at the tangent to the hoop (3) at the level of the axis of pivot (8). The hinge joint (27) can also be bistable, for example example with a bulged area engaging with a flexible blade.

The front hooking means (21) are substantially identical to the means rear attachment (26). These front (21) and rear (26) attachment means include a hinged lever (31) at the free end of the left front flap (19) and the rear left flap (24). This articulated lever (31) pivots and allows the movement of a area ending with a hook (32). This hook (32) engages an area notched (33) formed on the upper face at the free end of the opposite flap, that is to say respectively the front right flap (18) and the right rear flap (23).

In order to allow an extremely fine tightening of the shoe (6), the length of the connection between the articulated lever (31) and the hook area (32) is adjustable. For it, a threaded rod (34), actuable by a screwdriver, rotates in a threaded housing corresponding (36).

According to the invention, the right front flap (18) and the left front flap (19) are each formed by a rigid curved part. According to the invention, the flap rear right (23) and the rear left flap (24) are each formed by a rigid piece curved.

The materials used for all the curved flaps (18, 19, 23, 24) have a rigidity close, for example, to that of shaped aluminum. The curved rigid parts are thus made of rigid molded polymer materials undeformable, or even aluminum. Curved rigid parts can be covered by an additional covering, of foam type, fabrics, ...

The radius of curvature of the right front flap (18) and the left front flap (19) substantially corresponds to the curvature of the area at the front (12) of the shoe (6). The radius of curvature of the right rear flap (23) and the left rear flap (24) corresponds substantially at the curvature of the instep (13) of the shoe (6).

In order to improve the comfort of the straps (9 and 11) of the binding (1), each of the front right flaps (18) and right rear flaps (23) includes a cushion (37). The cushion (37) is positioned on the underside coming into contact with the shoe (6). The cushion is arranged under the notched area (33).

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated. Many modifications can be made, without however go beyond the framework defined by the scope of the set of claims.

Claims (7)

Binding intended for snowboarding, comprising a base (2) and at least one strap (9, 11) formed of flaps each articulated with respect to one side of the base (2), and cooperating with each other to ensure the tightening the strap (9, 11) on a shoe (6), characterized in that the flaps are formed by rigid curved pieces (18, 19, 23, 24), the ends of which come opposite one of the other, and in that one of the flaps (19, 24) is equipped with an articulated lever (31) allowing the displacement of a hooked zone (32) able to cooperate with a notched zone (33) produced on the upper face of the opposite flap (18, 23). Attachment according to claim 1, characterized in that the length of the connection between the articulated lever (31) and the hooked area (32) is capable of being adjusted. Binding according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one of the flaps (18, 23) is equipped on its underside with a cushion (37) intended to come into contact with the shoe (6). Attachment according to claim 3, characterized in that the cushion (37) is arranged under the flap (18, 23) comprising the notched zone (33). Attachment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rigid curved parts of the flaps (18, 19, 23, 24) each comprise a hinge (27) enabling the flap (18, 19, 23, 24) to be pivoted to open and close the binding. Attachment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each flap (18, 19, 23, 24) has two stable equilibrium positions, namely an open position in which the flap (18, 19, 23, 24) is released from the front of the shoe (6), and a closed position in which the flap (18, 19, 23, 24) is folded down on the front of the binding to cooperate with attachment means (21, 26), the articulation of the flap (18, 19, 23, 24) relative to the fixing being arranged so that between these two positions, and without user intervention, the flap (18, 19, 23, 24 ) automatically moves to one of the two stable positions. Snowboard, characterized in that it comprises a binding (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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