WO2009092765A1

WO2009092765A1 - An improved snowboard binding

Info

Publication number: WO2009092765A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/050724
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gianni Piva; Roberto Gorza
Original assignee: Northwave S.R.L.
Priority date: 2008-01-23
Filing date: 2009-01-22
Publication date: 2009-07-30
Also published as: EP2231288A1; ITTV20080016A1

Abstract

A snowboard binding comprises a supporting base and a mounting assembly for connecting said base to the sliding board of a snowboard. The mounting assembly comprises a first mounting plate, suitable to engage with said base, and a second mounting plate, operatively associated to the sliding board of the snowboard. A locking device (24) is provided to mutually associate said first mounting plate and said second mounting plate.

Description

"AN IMPROVED SNOWBOARD BINDING" DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to the field of snowboard bindings. In particular, the present invention relates to a snowboard binding having improved characteristics in terms of ease and versatility o f use .

A snowboard typically comprises a board for sliding on snow and a pair of bindings, suitable to constrain the feet of the user to the sliding board, during sporting activity. Each binding is operatively connected to the sliding board by means of an appropriate mounting plate, generally circular in shape. This plate is housed in a seat produced in the base of the binding, so that a toothed edge thereof engages with a corresponding toothed edge of said housing.

The mounting plate comprises a plurality of through openings (for example slots or holes) suitable to receive appropriate fastening elements (such as screws or bolts), which engage with appropriate mounting seats that are produced on the top surface of the sliding board. These fastening elements connect the sliding board and the mounting plate solidly to each other, once the latter has been appropriately engaged with the base portion of the binding. In this way, the mounting plate exerts a retaining force to constrain the base of the binding to the sliding board. It is known how, while practicing snowboarding, it is often necessary to reposition the binding on the sliding board, for example depending on the style of snowboarding, on the type of snow, on the type of slope to be descended, or on other requirements of the user. For example, a maneuver that is performed very frequently is the adjustment of the angular position of the base of the binding with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sliding board. With bindings of the conventional type, the user must perform a laborious series of operations to make such an angular adjustment.

In fact, for each binding it is necessary to remove the fastening elements, raise the mounting plate, position the base in the new position desired, replace the mounting plate in its seat, insert the fastening elements in their seats to connect the mounting plate to the sliding board again. These operations are naturally difficult to perform in the presence of ice or snow or while wearing protective gloves.

Moreover, they require a non-negligible amount of time, taking account of the relatively high number of fastening elements (in general three or four) to be removed/repositioned for each binding. The duration of these operations becomes particularly critical where it is necessary to act very frequently on a sliding board or on a large number of sliding boards, as is the case, for example, in snowboard rental establishments.

In order to take account of the different needs of each user and to save space, the bindings of each sliding board must be mounted and removed respectively at the start and at the end of each rental period.

Repeating, for each sliding board, the laborious cycle of operations described above requires a considerable amount of time and the need to have numerous operators available, if the customer is to be offered an adequate service. Naturally, all this leads to relatively high operating costs.

The present invention is directed to overcome the prior art drawbacks and provide a snowboard binding, which presents considerable ease and versatility of use, which can be positioned on/removed from a snowboard with considerable ease and with a limited number of operations, which has a compact and sturdy structure and which is reliable and safe to use. The present invention thus provides to a snowboard binding according to the following claim

1.

The snowboard binding, according to the present invention, is provided with an improved assembly for mounting the supporting base thereof on the sliding board of the snowboard.

This mounting assembly comprises a first mounting plate, which is operatively associable with the base of the binding, and a second mounting plate, which is operatively associable with the sliding board and said first mounting plate.

To operatively couple the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate with each other, a locking device is provided, which can be easily activated by the user between an opening position and a locking position, and viceversa. When the first and second mounting plates are mechanically coupled, a retaining force is exerted on the base, which is capable of maintaining the base fixed on the sliding board at a selected operative position.

The base of the binding can therefore be advantageously positioned on/removed from the sliding board by simply acting on the locking device. As will be more apparent below, this fact allows drastic simplification of the operations to reposition the binding, while ensuring reliable and safe use, with evident advantages in terms of ease and versatility of use of the binding.

Notwithstanding the presence of more than one mounting plate, the snowboard binding, according to the present invention, presents a particularly simple and compact structure, particularly suitable for industrial manufacture thereof at relatively limited costs. Further characteristics and advantages of the snowboard binding, according to the present invention, can be better understood by referring to the description below and to the accompanying drawings which are provided purely by way of non- limiting example, wherein: -5 figure 1 schematically represents a snowboard comprising a pair of snowboard bindings, according to a first embodiment of the present invention; and figure 2 schematically represents a partial exploded view of a snowboard binding shown in figure 1 ; and figures 3-4 schematically show two different partial exploded views of the snowboard 10 binding shown in figure 2; and figure 5 schematically shows a perspective view of two mounting plates of the snowboard binding shown in figure 2; and figures 6 and 8 show two sectional views of the mounting plates shown in figure 5; and figures 7 and 9 show two further partial sectional views of the mounting plates shown in 15 figure 5;and figure 10 schematically represents a partial exploded view of a snowboard binding, according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and figures 11-12 schematically show two different partial exploded views of the snowboard binding, shown in figure 10; and 0 figure 13 shows a sectional view of the plates of the snowboard binding shown in figure

10; and figures 14-16 schematically show partial views of a further portion of the snowboard binding shown in figure 10; and figure 17 schematically represents a snowboard comprising a pair of snowboard 5 bindings, according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to the aforesaid figures, the present invention relates to a snowboard binding 1.

Figures 1 and 17 show the use of a pair of bindings 1, according to the invention, on a sliding board 3 of a snowboard 500. 0 The board 3 extends longitudinally, according to a main longitudinal axis 31, and it comprises a lower sliding surface 32 and an upper surface 33, on which each binding 1 is mounted. The binding 1 , according to the present invention, comprises a supporting base 11 , which is operatively associable with the board 3 by means of a mounting assembly 2. The mounting assembly 2 comprises a first mounting plate 21 and a second mounting plate 22, preferably both circular in shape.

The base 11 is preferably made of thermoplastic material while the plates 21 and 22 can be made of thermoplastic or metal materials. The base 11, the plates 21 and 22 can be made of assembled parts of different materials. The base 11 comprises a first upper face 111, a first lower face 114 and a first housing cavity 112, passing through the thickness of the base 11 between the faces 111 and 114. The cavity 112 advantageously comprises a first toothed side wall 113 and is suitable to house the first plate 21. When the base is mounted on the sliding board 3, the lower face 114 thereof rests on the upper surface 33 of the sliding board 3. The plate 21 comprises a second upper face 211, a second lower face 212 and a second toothed side wall 215, along the outer side edge of the plate 21.

When the first cavity 112 houses the first plate 21, the toothed wall 215 of the plate 21 engages with the toothed side wall 113 of the base 11. To this aim, the walls 113 and 215 advantageously present toothings with mutually complementary profiles, for example truncated-cone shaped (as indicated in the figure) or stepped, so as to facilitate reciprocal mechanical coupling. Concurrent coupling between the walls 113 and 215 is further facilitated by arranging the teeth of the walls 113 and 115 with a same angle. The plate 21 preferably also comprises a second housing cavity 219, passing through the thickness of the plate 21 between the upper face 211 and the upper 2130 of the cavity 213. The cavity 219 is advantageously positioned in the central area of the plate 21, along a main alignment axis 100, when the biding is operatively positioned on the board 3. At the lower face 212, the second housing cavity 219 comprises a lower enlarged portion 219A, which is defined by a side wall 217 and an upper wall 2130. Said enlarged portion 219A is advantageously sized to house the second plate 22, preferably so that the latter is completely nested therein.

In order to facilitate the manufacturing process of the plate 21, the upper portion 219B of the cavity 219 may be defined by a cylindrical member 21 A that is inserted into a main body 21B, in which the enlarged portion 219A of the cavity 219 is obtained (figures 5 and 11). The parts 21A and 21B of the plate 21 may be of different materials, according to the needs. The second plate 22 comprises a third upper face 221, a third lower face 222, a side wall 227 and a third housing cavity 229 passing through the thickness of the plate 22 between the upper face 221 and the lower face 222.

The cavity 229 is also advantageously positioned in the central area of the plate 22, so as to be operatively aligned with the cavity 219 of the plate 21, along the axis 100. According to the invention, the mounting assembly 2 comprises also a locking device 24, which is mainly aimed at providing a mutual mechanical connection between the plates 21 and 22.

The locking device 24 is advantageously operated by the user and it mechanically connects the plates 21 and 22 in a reversible manner.

Preferably, the locking device 24 comprises a first portion 241, which comprises a cylindrical head 2410, from which a pin 2412 protrudes downwardly in a perpendicular position with respect to the head 2410.

The head 2410 may be provided with a seat 2411 for insertion of a manual tool usable by the user, such as a screwdriver.

Alternatively, a lever 2410A may be connected solidly with the head 2410 and the pin 2412, which can be easily activated by the user, without the use of tools.

The manoeuvre to operate the lever 2410A is quite simple. In a rest position, the lever 2410A lies on the upper surface 211 of the plate 21 and it is kept thereon by the weight of the user's foot, during the sporting activity. From said rest position, the lever 2410A may be rotated upwards and then operated by the user when the locking device 24 has to be activated. Then the lever 2410 may be rotated downwardly to achieve a rest position again.

The locking device 24 preferably comprises also a second portion 242 that mainly consists of a substantially cylindrical body 2421 provided with a through cavity 2420, suitable to receive the pin 2412 at least partially. The second portion 242 may comprise also a cylindrical hollow spacer 2422 positioned between the head 2410 and the cylindrical body 2421.

Moreover, the second portion 242 advantageously comprises a stop tooth 243, which projects laterally from the cylindrical body 2421.

Preferably, the locking device 24 also comprises a shaped washer 244 that is advantageously housed in an appropriate seat 218 on the upper surface 211 of the plate 21.

The locking device 24 is advantageously arranged to pass through the cavity 219 of the plate

21 and to be free to rotate therein, while remaining connected solidly or constrained to the plate 21.

For this purpose, during mounting of the locking device 24, the pin 2412 of the portion 241 is first made to pass respectively through the washer 244 and the upper portion 219B of the cavity 219 and is subsequently coupled with the cavity 2420 of the cylindrical body 2421 by means of a rotational riveting process or using a connecting pin 2424, which is aimed at mechanically connecting with the pin 2412.

The connection of the pin 2412 with the body 2420 thus ensures effective transmission to the second portion 242 of the motion imparted by the user to the first portion 241.

Further, the locking device 24 may form, with the plate 21, a single structure 210 that is ready for assembly.

In said structure 210, the locking device 24 remains free to rotate inside the cavity 219 of the plate 21. The second portion 242 of the locking device 24 advantageously projects downwardly from the upper wall 2130 of the enlarged portion 219A of the cavity 219, so as to act as a guide while assembling the plates 21 and 22.

The user preferably can reversibly move the locking device 24 between a locking position

(figures 9 and 13), in which it operates a mechanical connection between the plates 21 and 22, and an opening position (not shown), in which the plates 21 and 22 may be separated.

In order to block the locking device 24 in said locking position, securing means may be provided, which preferably comprise a first toothed edge 2415, obtained at the first portion

241 of the locking device 24, for example at the lever 2410A or at the cylindrical head 2410, and a second toothed edge 2115 that advantageously protrudes from the second upper face 211 of the first plate 21 (figure 1).

When the locking device 24 is turned in its locking position by the user, the first toothed edge

2415 engages the corresponding second toothed edge 2115, thus avoiding the accidental rotation of the locking device 24.

The engagement of the toothed edges 2415 and 2115 can for example be obtained by rotating the lever 2410A towards a resting position (i.e. towards the second upper face 211 of the first plate 21), when the locking device 24 has reached its locking position.

Both the toothed edges 2415 and 2115 are preferably slightly arc-shaped to facilitate mutual engagement.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention (figures 1-9), the plate 22 is autonomously fixed directly with the sliding board 3. To this aim, the mounting assembly 2 comprises first connection means 23.

The first connection means 23, preferably comprise a plurality of fastening elements, for example composed of screws or bolts.

The fastening elements 23 are preferably inserted through a plurality of through cavities 228 of the plate 22, preferably composed of slots extending along the main extension plane of the plate 22.

Preferably, the slots 228 are mutually aligned, according to their main direction of extension, as shown in the aforesaid figures 3 and 4.

To mount the plate 22 on the board 3, the fastening elements 23 are housed in appropriate mounting seats (not shown in figures 1-9), which are present at the surface 33 of the sliding board 3.

Each of said mounting seats can advantageously be composed of a threaded cavity suitable to receive a fastening element 23. As an alternatively, the mounting seats on the board 3 may be formed by appropriate retaining seats, projecting from each of which is a fastening element

23, such as a bolt held captive therein.

According to this embodiment of the present invention, the plate 22 is advantageously nested into the enlarged portion 219A of the cavity 219.

Preferably, the side wall 217, which defines the enlarged portion 219A, and the side wall 227 of the second plate 22 are toothed.

When the plate 21 houses the second plate 22, the toothed side wall 227 of the plate 22 engages with the toothed side wall 217. To facilitate this mechanical coupling, the side walls

227 and 217 advantageously present toothings with mutually complementary profiles, preferably oriented perpendicularly with respect to the planes of extension of the plates 21 and 22.

Further, the walls 217 and 227 advantageously have teeth with a same angle.

According to this embodiment of the present invention, the locking device 24 engages the second plate 22 to exert a force that provides mutual coupling between the plates 21 and 22.

Since the plate 21 is in turn coupled to the base 11 and plate 22 is fixed to the sliding board 3, this arrangement ensures the coupling of the base 11 to the sliding board 3.

The cavity 229 houses the second portion 242 of the locking device 22. For this purpose, it is dimensioned so as to house the body 2421 and presents a groove 2291 suitable to allow insertion of the tooth 243.

First engaging means are provided in the cavity 229 of the plate 22 for engaging the locking device 24.

The cavity 229 is defined by a side wall 230, on which said first engaging means are obtained.

In particular, said first engaging means comprise as a raised edge 232, which extends along the side wall 230 of the cavity 229.

Preferably, with respect to a rest point 231 of the tooth 243, when it is inserted in the groove 2291 of the cavity 229, the edge 232 extends according to a helical profile, advantageously with direction 235 (figure 5) to descend toward the bottom 233 of the cavity 229.

When the locking device 24 is rotated towards its locking position the stop tooth 243 follows the profile of the edge 232 until reaching a stop wall 234.

Preferably, the profile of the edge 232 is dimensioned so as to obtain a friction coefficient (static or dynamic as a function of the materials used) such as to prevent disengaging of the tooth 243 from the bottom 233 of the cavity 219, due to unavoidable vibrations or mechanical stresses which can occur during sporting activity.

On the other hand, the profile of the edge 232 is dimensioned so as to allow the tooth 243 to be raised again by rotating the locking device 24 towards its opening position.

The operations to mount the binding 1 , according to the mentioned first embodiment of the present invention, are now described in greater detail.

Firstly, the plate 22 is fastened to the sliding board 3 by means of the fastening elements 23.

Subsequently, the base 11 is positioned with the desired angle, with respect to the axis 31 of the sliding board 3. The base 11 is then arranged so that its lower face 114 rests on the surface

33 of the sliding board 3 and the plate 22, fastened to the sliding board, is positioned inside the cavity 112.

At this point the plate 21, on which the locking device 24 has advantageously already been mounted to form the assembly 210, as described above, is positioned. The plate 21 is initially placed on the plate 21 to facilitate insertion of the portion 242 of the locking device 24 inside the cavity 229. For this purpose, the locking device 24 can be rotated idle inside the cavity 219 in order to align the tooth 243 with the groove 2291 of the cavity

229.

After finding the correct alignment, the tooth 243 can slide along the groove 2291 until it rests against the helical side edge 232, at the rest point 231.

Thanks to the rotation, with a simple maneuver, of the head 2410 of the locking device 24 according to a locking direction, the tooth 243 slides along the edge 232, in the direction of the bottom 233 of the cavity 229.

Rotation of the locking device 24, and consequent downward sliding of the tooth 243, can continue until the tooth 243 is brought into contact with the stop wall 234.

The locking device 24 is now in its locking position, from which it cannot be released without further action by the user.

It should be noted how this downward sliding of the tooth 243 allows complete nesting of the plate 22 inside the plate 21. This insertion determines consequent reciprocal engaging of the toothed side walls 217 and

227 of the plates 21 and 22, preventing reciprocal rotation during sporting activity.

Nesting of the plate 22 in the cavity 21 also allows concurrent insertion of the plate 21 inside the cavity 112 of the base 11, with consequent reciprocal engaging of the toothed side walls

215 and 113. At this point, the mounting assembly 2 is able to maintain the base 11 connected solidly to the sliding board 3.

To remove or angularly displace the base 11 it is sufficient to rotate the locking device 11 in an opposite opening direction. In this manner the tooth 243 is raised from the bottom 233 of the cavity 229 to the rest point

231.

Once this raising has been completed, the assembly 210 composed of the plate 21 and of the locking device 24 can be removed with a simple upward movement, determining release of the base 11 from the sliding board 3. According to a second embodiment of the present invention (figures 10-17), the mounting assembly 2 comprises second connecting means 29 to connect the locking device 24 directly to the sliding board 3.

In this case, the locking device 24 engages the sliding board 3 to exert a force that provides mutual coupling between the plates 21 and 22. Since the plate 21 is in turn coupled to the base 11, this arrangement ensures the coupling of the base 11 to the sliding board 3.

The mentioned second connecting means advantageously comprise an insert member 291, which is solidly connected to the sliding board 3.

Preferably, the insert member 291 is buried (figure 15) in the structure of the sliding board 3 during the manufacturing process thereof. This ensures a high resistance to mechanical stresses.

As an alternative (not shown), the insert member 291 may be placed in a properly shaped slot, which is obtained at the upper surface 33 of the sliding board 3

The insert member 291 is aimed at defining at least a locking cavity 292 in proximity of the upper surface 33 of the sliding board 3. The locking cavity 292 is closed at the bottom 2921, which is internal to the structure of the sliding board 3 and has an upper groove 2920, which is properly shaped to let the second portion 242 of the locking device 24 be inserted in the locking cavity 292. In this way, the stop tooth 243 of the locking device 24 can be housed in the locking cavity 292.

The locking cavity 292 comprises second engaging means for engaging the locking device 24, in particular the stop tooth 243. Said second engaging means preferably comprise a raised edge 293, which extends along a side wall 294 of the locking cavity 292.

With respect to a rest point 2931 of the tooth 243, when it is inserted in the groove 2920 of the cavity 292, the edge 232 extends according to a helical profile, advantageously with direction 2350 (figure 5) to descend toward the bottom 233 of the cavity 229. When the locking device 24 is rotated towards its locking position the stop tooth 243 follows the profile of the edge 293 until reaching a stop point 2932.

The profile of the edge 293 is dimensioned so as to obtain a friction coefficient (static or dynamic as a function of the materials used) such as to prevent disengaging of the tooth 243 from the bottom 2921 of the cavity 292, due to unavoidable vibrations or mechanical stresses which can occur during sporting activity.

On the other hand, the profile of the edge 293 is dimensioned so as to allow the tooth 243 to be raised again by rotating the locking device 24 in an opening direction.

Preferably, the structure of the insert member 291 is shaped so as to define a plurality of locking cavities 292, when the insert member 291 is buried in structure of the sliding board 3, as shown in figure 15.

In this way, a plurality of connection points for the binding 1 may arranged on the sliding board 3 for anyone of the regions 36 where the feet of user have to be positioned.

This offers a higher flexibility in positioning the snowboard binding 1 along the main axis 31 of the sliding board 3, according to the user's needs.

According to this embodiment of the present invention, the second plate 22 is not autonomously fixed to the sliding board 3.

First guiding pins 92 project from the lower surface 222 of the second plate 22 for being inserted into first guiding holes 920, obtained at the upper surface 33 of the sliding board 3. In this manner, the plate 22 can merely rest on the sliding board 3 while remaining aligned with the axis 31 of the sliding board 33, without moving angularly. The plate 22 will be fixed to the sliding board 3 when the locking device 24 is moved in its locking position.

In order to make easier the arrangement of the mounting assembly 2, the first plate 21 comprises second guiding pins 91, which project from the upper wall 2130 of the enlarged portion 219A of the second cavity 219.

When the first plate 21 is placed on the sliding board 3 and the second plate 22 is nested into the enlarged portion 219A of the second cavity 219, the second guiding pins 91 pass through guiding openings 91 IA and 91 IB, which are properly arranged on the second plate 22.

Advantageously, the guiding openings 91 IA and 91 IB are angularly spaced (preferably with an angle of 45°) with respect to the second guiding pins 91 that project from the lower surface

222 of the plate 22.

The guiding pins 91 can be inserted into second guiding holes 910 obtained at the upper surface 33 of the sliding board 3.

The guiding holes 910 and 920 are arranged around each locking cavity 292 that is present at the upper surface 33 of the sliding board 3. They are also mutually angularly spaced of angles of 45° in order to make easier the assembly of the plates 21 and 22 in a selected position for the binding 1.

In order to facilitate the nesting between the plates 22 and 21, the plate 22 comprises third guiding pins 93, which project laterally from its side wall 227.

When the second plate 22 is nested into the enlarged portion 219A of the second cavity 219, the third guiding pins 93 are inserted into corresponding guiding seats 930 that are arranged at the side wall 217 that defines the enlarged portion 219A of the second cavity 219.

In order to further facilitate the nesting of the plates 22 and 21, the plate 22 may comprise an upper guiding dome 95, which projects upwardly from the upper surface 221 of the plate 22.

When nesting of the plates 22 and 21 is made, the guiding dome 95 is inserted into a corresponding guiding opening 950 that pass through the thickness of the plate 21 between the upper wall 2130 of the enlarged portion 219A of the second cavity 219 and the upper surface 211. The operations to mount the snowboard binding 1, according to the mentioned second embodiment of the present invention, are now described in greater detail.

Firstly, the plate 22 is positioned on the sliding board 3 by inserting the first guiding pins 92 into the first guiding holes 910, which are positioned around the locking cavity 292 corresponding to the position selected for the binding 1 on the sliding board 3. Subsequently, the base 11 of the binding 1 is positioned with a desired angle, with respect to the axis 31 of the sliding board 3.

The base 11 is then arranged so that its lower face 114 rests on the surface 33 of the sliding board and the plate 22 is positioned inside the cavity 112.

At this point the plate 21, on which the locking device 24 has advantageously already been mounted to form the assembly 210, as described above, is operatively positioned.

The plate 21 is initially placed on the plate 22 to facilitate insertion of the portion 242 of the locking device 24 inside the cavity 229 of the second plate 22 and into the selected locking cavity 292.

For this purpose, the locking device 24 can be rotated idle inside the cavity 219 in order to align the tooth 243 with the groove 2291 of the cavity 229 and the opening 2920 of the locking cavity 292.

When the alignment is achieved, the third guiding pins 93 can slide into the corresponding guiding seats 930 and the guiding dome 95 can slide into the corresponding guiding opening

950. Further, the second guiding pins 91 can easily slide through the guiding openings 91 IA and

91 IB of the second plate 22 and enter the second guiding holes 910 of the sliding board 3.

The stop tooth 243 of the locking device slides through the groove 2920 of the locking cavity

292 until it rests against the helical side edge 293, at the supporting point 2931. By rotating, with a simple maneuver, the lever 2410A of the locking device 24, according to a predefined locking direction, the tooth 243 slides along the edge 293 in the direction 2350 of the bottom 2921 of the cavity 292.

Rotation of the locking device 24, and consequent downward sliding of the tooth 243 can continue until the tooth 243 is brought at the stop point 2932. The locking device 24 is now in its locking position, from which it cannot be released without further action by the user.

In this position, the locking device 24 keeps the first plate 21 and the second plate 22 rigidly fixed to the sliding board 3.

The mounting assembly 2 is now able to maintain the base 11 solidly connected to the sliding board 3.

To remove or angularly displace the base 11 it is sufficient to rotate the locking device 11 in an opposite opening direction.

In this manner the tooth 243 is raised from the bottom 2921 of the cavity 292 to the rest point

2931. Once this raising has been completed, the assembly 210 composed of the plate 21 and of the locking device 24 can be removed with a simple upward movement, determining release of the base 11 from the sliding board 3.

The snowboard binding 1 may be subject to further variants, all falling within the scope of the invention. For example, the toothed side walls of the plates 21 and 22 could also have profiles differing from those shown, just as the shape of the plates 21 and 22 could be polygonal rather than circular.

According to a further embodiment (not shown), the locking device 24 could be produced so that it is always completely releasable from the plate 21. In this case, the cavity 219 may comprise an appropriate groove that allows passage of the tooth 243.

The locking device 24 may have a structure different from those represented and it may comprise for example a properly shaped screw while the edges 232 and 293 may have also different profiles from those described.

It has been seen how the snowboard binding 1 , according to the present invention, allows to achieve the set aim and the objects.

The snowboard binding 1 allows performance of the maneuver for angular positioning of the base 11, simply by acting on the locking device 24. This allows the obtaining of a drastic reduction in the time required to reposition/remove/mount the base 11, with considerably benefits for the user in terms of ease and versatility of use.

The snowboard binding 1 is particularly suitable for use on snowboards intended for rental. At the start of each rental period, the operator can very rapidly mount the base 11 in the position desired by the customer, fastening the plate 21 appropriately with the aid of the locking device 24. At the end of each rental period the plate 21 and the base 11 can be removed with the same rapidity, acting on the locking device 24.

The advantages in terms of reduction in times and operating costs are evident. The snowboard binding 1 is characterized by a very compact structure. Nesting of the plate 22 inside the plate 21 allows to limit the overall size of the binding and to achieve a high level of safety and reliability.

Finally, as can be appreciated from the above, the snowboard binding 1 presents a very simple structure, which makes it particularly suitable for industrial production at competitive costs.

Claims

1. A snowboard binding (1) comprising a supporting base (11) to support the user's foot and a mounting assembly (2) to operatively associate said base with a sliding board (3) of a snowboard (500), said mounting assembly comprising at least a first mounting plate (21), which is operatively associable with said base, characterized in that said mounting assembly comprises at least a second mounting plate (22), which is operatively associable with said sliding board and said first mounting plate, a locking device (24) being provided to mutually couple said first mounting plate and said second mounting plate.

2. A snowboard binding according to claim 1, characterized in that said locking device comprises at least a first portion (241), which can be operated by the user, and a second portion (242), which is operatively connectable to said first portion.

3. A snowboard binding according to 2, characterized in that the second portion (242) of said locking device comprises a main cylindrical body (2421) and a stop tooth (243), which protrudes laterally with respect to said main cylindrical body.

4. A snowboard binding, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said base comprises a first upper face (111), a first lower face (114) and a first housing cavity (112) passing through the thickness of said base between said first upper face and said first lower face, said first housing cavity comprising a first toothed side wall (113).

5. A snowboard binding, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first mounting plate comprises a second upper face (211), a second lower face (212), a second housing cavity (219) passing through the thickness of said first mounting plate between said second upper face and said second lower face, and a second toothed side wall (215).

6. A snowboard binding according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second mounting plate comprises a third upper face (221), a third lower face (222) and a third housing cavity (229) passing through the thickness of said second mounting plate between said third upper face and said third lower face.

7. A snowboard binding according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that said first housing cavity (113) at least partly houses said first mounting plate, so that said first toothed side wall (113) at least partly engages with said second toothed side wall (215).

8. A snowboard binding, according to claims 5 and 6, characterized in that said second housing cavity comprises a lower enlarged portion (219A) at said second lower face, which is aimed at housing at least partially said second mounting plate.

9. A snowboard binding, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises securing means for blocking said locking device in a locking position, said securing means comprising a first toothed edge (2415), which is engageable with a corresponding second toothed edge (2115) of the second upper face of said first mounting plate.

10. A snowboard binding according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said mounting assembly comprises first connecting means (23) to connect said second mounting plate with said sliding board.

11. A snowboard binding, according to claim 10, characterized in that the third housing cavity of said second plate comprises first engaging means for engaging said locking device.

12. A snowboard binding, according to claim 11, said first engaging means comprise a raised edge (232) which extends along a side wall (230) of said third housing cavity (229), according to a helical profile.

13. A snowboard binding according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said mounting assembly comprises second connecting means to connect said locking device with said sliding board.

14. A snowboard binding, according to claim 13, characterized in that said second connecting means comprise an insert member (291), which is solidly connected to said sliding board, said insert member defining at least a locking cavity (292) for said locking device, said locking cavity comprising second engaging means for engaging said locking device.

15. A snowboard binding, according to claim 14, characterized in that said second engaging means comprise a raised edge (293) which extends along a side wall (294) of said locking cavity (292), according to a helical profile.

16. A snowboard (500) characterized by comprising at least one snowboard binding (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims.