WO2002051510A1

WO2002051510A1 - An improved snow-board binding

Info

Publication number: WO2002051510A1
Application number: PCT/IT2000/000546
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giuseppe De Bortoli; Thomas Delago
Original assignee: Nitro S.R.L.
Priority date: 2000-12-22
Filing date: 2000-12-22
Publication date: 2002-07-04

Abstract

A snowboard binding comprises a base (2) for supporting a shoe, on which a toe region (6) is defined, a plate-shaped toe element (7) associated removably with the base (2) in the toe region (6), in which the toe element (7) is at least partially adjustable relative to the base (2) along at least one axis (X) intersecting the base (2).

Description

An improved snow-board binding Technical field

The present invention relates to a snow-board binding according to the preamble to main Claim 1. Technological background

In the specific technical field of snow-board bindings a need has arisen to improve the functionality of the parts of the binding, in particular in order to increase the control of the snow-board by the snowboarder in order to achieve ever greater manoeuvrability and to achieve a quicker and more precise response of the equipment to stresses transmitted by the snowboarder ' s feet, by means of the binding.

It is known to provide, for example, in the front region of the base of the binding which is intended for supporting the toe portion of the footwear, a plate-shaped toe element which is mounted on the base so as to be movable to a limited extent along axes lying in a plane parallel to the base. The positioning of the toe element relative to the plane of the base is thus adjustable to a limited extent so as to vary the region of relative contact between the toe of the footwear and the front portion of the base of the binding. An example of a snow-board binding having the above-mentioned characteristics is known from US patent No. 6,113,114.

Description of the invention

The main object of the invention is to provide a snowboard binding which is designed structurally and functionally to improve functionality, particularly by improving the degree of manoeuvrability of the board in the region of the front portion of the binding, for a more precise control by the snowboarder than can be achieved with the bindings proposed by the prior art.

Another object is to provide a snow-board binding which accomplishes the above-mentioned tasks and which at the same time has a constructionally simplified and relatively light structure and can also be produced at low cost . These and other objects which will become clearer from the following description are achieved by the present invention by a snowboard binding formed in accordance with the appended claims . Brief description of the drawings

The characteristics and the advantages of the invention will become clearer from the following description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment thereof, described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a snow-board binding according to the invention,

- Figure 2 is a partial view, on an enlarged scale and sectioned on the line II-II of Figure 1, - Figures 3 and 4 are plan views of a detail of the binding of Figure 1 from above and from below, respectively,

- Figure 5 is a section taken on the line V-V of Figure 3, and

- Figures 6 and 7 are sections corresponding to that of Figure 2, showing the binding of the present invention in two respective different operative positions. Preferred embodiment of the invention

With reference initially to Figure 1, a snow-board binding formed in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated 1. The binding 1 comprises a base 2 for supporting a shoe or a shell of a boot, not shown, and a rear support element

3 which is shown only partially and is intended to support the rear portion of the user's foot above a heel region thereof .

The base 2 has a central circular through-hole 4 surrounded by a set of face teeth 5 for engaging in a corresponding set of complementary face teeth formed in a means (not shown) for fixing the binding to the board, for the adjustment of the angular position of the binding relative to the board in accordance with a conventional configuration.

Means of conventional structure which are not a subject of the present invention and are also not shown, are also provided for fastening the shoe to the binding 1.

A toe region 6 for the support of a corresponding front portion of the shoe is defined on the base 2 at the end longitudinally remote from the rear support 3 and close to the central opening 4. In this toe region 6, a plate-shaped toe element 7, associated removably with the base 2, is at least partially housed in a seat 8 which is formed in the base 2 and the characteristics and function of which will become clear from the following description.

The plate-shaped toe element 7 is defined between a first surface 9 for contacting and supporting the shoe and a second, opposite surface 10 which faces the base 2 in the region of the seat 8 in use.

Moreover, the surface 9 is shaped so as to be inclined to a plane P which contains the surface 10 and is substantially parallel to the base 2, so that the surface 9 constitutes a type of ramp for engaging a corresponding toe region of the shoe by contact.

Means for the localized clamping of the toe element 7 to the base 2 are generally indicated 11. The clamping means comprise a pair of screws 12 which extend through the base and can be screwed into engagement in respective nut elements 13. Each of the nut elements has an enlarged head 14 housed in a recess 15 in the surface 9 of the toe element and has a profile such as to prevent rotation of the nut 13 as a result of the tightening of the corresponding screw 12.

According to a main characteristic of the invention, the distance of the toe element 7 from the base 2 is at least partially adjustable along an axis intersecting the base and, more particularly, is adjustable along an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane P of the base 2. This axis is defined, for example, by the axis X of Figure 2.

Spacer means, generally indicated 16, are interposed between the plate-shaped toe element 7 and the base 2, for varying the relative distance between the toe element and the base along the axis X in an adjustable manner. The spacer means 16 comprise a pair of spacers 17 which have identical structures and only one of which will therefore be described in detail below. Each spacer 17 comprises a first portion and a second portion which are fixed to the toe element 7 and to the base 2, respectively, and are connected to one another by a male- and-female screw coupling 18, 19 of common axis X.

The screw 18 constituting the first portion of the spacer extends through a hole 20 extending through the toe element 7 and has a head 21 countersunk in a seat 22 of the toe element so as not to project beyond the profile of the surface 9 (Figure 2) . The screw 18 is restrained axially on the toe element 7 by means of a spring ring 23 clamped onto the shank of the screw and constituting a shoulder for clamping a portion 24 of the toe element against the head of the screw.

The second portion comprises an axially hollow bush 25 in which the female screw portion 19 is formed. The bush extends in a through-hole 26 of the base and has, at one end, an enlarged portion 27 housed and restrained in a seat 28 in the base. The portion 27 is in abutment with the seat 28 and has a polygonal peripheral profile corresponding to that of the housing seat and such as to constitute means for preventing rotation of the bush relative to the base. A plate-shaped element 29 is also provided for at least partially closing the seat 28 so as to be interposed between the enlarged portion 27 of the bush and the surface of the snow-board facing the binding.

By virtue of the male-and-female screw coupling between the first and second spacer portions, the length of the spacer 17 is adjustable and the distance between the toe element and the base can be adjusted by the snowboarder at will within a predetermined adjustment range.

In Figure 6, the binding 1 is shown in a first position in which the toe element 7 is close to the base 2 at the minimum adjustment distance corresponding to a thickness of the base 2 the measurement of which, measured at the tip of the binding, is indicated H_j. in the drawing. By rotating the screw 18 in the corresponding nut 19, the toe element 7 can be moved away from the base 2 by the preselected distance corresponding to an overall thickness of the binding the measurement of which is indicated H₂ in Figure 7 (H₂ is greater than H .

The adjustment described can be performed in each of the spacers 17 independently of one another so as to achieve differentiated adjustments according to the snowboarder ' s specific requirements.

Moreover, the spacers 17 are also positioned on opposite sides of a longitudinal median plane defined by an axis Y in the plan view of Figure 3. According to this configuration, it is possible to achieve an adjustability in the region in which the shoe is supported on lateral portions of the toe element 7 disposed on opposite sides of the axis Y, and this adjustment can be achieved in a differentiated manner in these portions. The toe element 7 is made of a resiliently deformable material so as to be movable away from and towards the base in the region of the spacers 17 whilst remaining connected to the base in the region of the points of localized clamping by means of the screw connections 12 , 13. A lip extending from the toe element 7 so as at least partially to cover the front portion of the base 2 of the binding is indicated 30.

The toe element 7 may also be formed with a reinforcement 31 at least partially incorporated in the toe element and made of a material having a greater elastic modulus than the material of which the toe element is made, particularly in the vicinity of the surface 9. The reinforcement 31 is continuous and is preferably co-moulded with the toe element. It is substantially C-shaped so as to connect the localized clamping . points (screws 12) and the spacers 17 to one another substantially without interruption, as shown in Figure 4. The screws 12, as well as the spacers 17, extend through the reinforcement 31 in respective pairs of through-holes .

The portion 24 of the toe element provided for the axial restraint of the screw 18 by means of the spring ring 23 is formed in the reinforcement 31 so as to ensure greater stiffness and firmness of the relative clamping. The spring ring 23 is also preferably housed in a respective recess 32 in the reinforcement 31. The invention thus achieves the objects proposed, affording many advantages over known solutions.

A main advantage is that the snow-board binding according to the invention permits a precise adjustment of the distance of the toe element from the base, permitting an improved positioning of the shoe on the base of the binding, particularly along axes intersecting the base.

Another advantage is that the vertical adjustability of the binding enables the toe of the shoe to be moved away from the snow-board at will, thus preventing contact of the toe of the shoe with the snow which accumulates during sports activity.

Yet another advantage is that the adjustment of the distance of the toe element can be differentiated along the arc of the snowboarder' s toes so as to enable the most suitable support to be selected in each part of the toe portion of the user's foot.

Not the least advantage achieved by the structure of the male-and-female screw spacer of the invention is an adjustability of the distance of the toe element which is extremely precise and which can have a greater or lesser degree of precision according to the pitch of the thread selected for the male-and-female screw coupling of the spacer.

Claims

1. A snow-board binding comprising:

- a base (2) for supporting a shoe or boot, a toe region (6) being defined on the base, and - a plate-shaped toe element (7) associated removably with the base (2) in the toe region (6) , characterized in that the toe element (7) is at least partially adjustable relative to the base (2) along at least one axis (X) intersecting the base (2) . 2. A binding according to Claim 1 in which the plate-shaped (7) toe element is adjustable relative to the base (2) along an axis (X) substantially perpendicular the base (2) .

3. A binding according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, comprising adjustable spacer means (16) interposed between the plate- shaped toe element (7) and the base (2) for varying the relative distance between the toe element (7) and the base (2) along the at least one axis (X) in an adjustable manner. . A binding according to Claim 3 in which the spacer means (16) comprise at least one spacer (17) with a first portion and a second portion fixed to one and to the other of the toe element (7) and the base (2) , respectively, the portions being connected to one another by means of a male-and-female screw coupling (18, 19) .

5. A binding according to Claim 4 in which the first portion comprises a screw (18) which extends through the toe element

(7) , is restrained axially therein, and can be screwed into the second portion.

6. A binding according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 in which the second portion comprises an axially hollow bush (25) in which the female screw (19) is formed, the bush (25) being restrained in the base (2) and being engageable with the screw (18) by screwing.

7. A binding according to Claim 3 in which the spacer means (16) comprise a pair of spacers (17) according to one or more of Claims 4 to 6.

8. A binding according to Claim 7 in which the spacers (17) are adjustable independently of one another and are positioned on the toe element (7) , on opposite sides of a longitudinal median plane of the binding. 9. A binding according to any one of Claims 6 o 8 in which means are provided for preventing rotation of the bush (25) relative to the base (2) about the axis of the male-and- female screw coupling (18, 19) .

10. A binding according to Claim 9 in which the means for preventing rotation comprise a polygonal peripheral profile of an enlarged end portion (27) of the bush (25) .

11. A binding according to one or more of the preceding claims in which means (11) are provided for the localized clamping of the toe element (7) onto the base (2) and the toe element (7) is made of a resiliently deformable material so as to be movable at least partially and in an adjustable manner away from and towards the base (2) in the region of the spacers (17) .

12. A binding according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising a reinforcement (31) at least partially incorporated in the toe element (7) and made of a material having a greater elastic modulus than the material of which the toe element (7) is made.

13. A binding according to Claim 12 in which the reinforcement (31) is continuous.

14. A binding according to Claim 12 or Claim 13 in which the reinforcement (31) is co-moulded with the toe element (7) .

15. A binding according to any one of Claims 12 to 14 in which the reinforcement (31) is substantially plate-shaped and extends continuously at least between the spacers (17) .

16. A binding according to one or more of Claims 12 to 15 in which the reinforcement (31) extends in the toe element (7) without interruption between the spacers (17) and the points of localized clamping of the toe element (7) to the base (2) .

17. A binding according to one or more of Claims 12 to 16 in which the screws (18) extend through the reinforcement (31) in the toe element (7) .