WO1997028676A2

WO1997028676A2 - Mobile interface system foot-snowboard

Info

Publication number: WO1997028676A2
Application number: PCT/IB1997/000799
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pancu Mihai Ionescu
Original assignee: Pancu Mihai Ionescu
Priority date: 1997-06-30
Filing date: 1997-06-30
Publication date: 1997-08-14
Also published as: AU3104197A; WO1997028676A3

Abstract

System of interface foot-snowboard (1) that provides a mobile connection between the shod foot (220) and the snowboard (10) or similar gliding board, either while riding or while resting. This connection forms a joint (300) that allows a movement of rotation in the horizontal plane and eventually small and limited tiltings and displacements. The rotation may be hindered under certain conditions or may be blocked in certain positions. The interface system takes different forms of application, as an independent device to be installed between a regular binding and the snowboard, as a device included into a binding, as a device included into a boot, or as a set of parts transforming an existing binding into such an interface system.

Description

MOBILE INTERFACE SYSTEM FOOT-SNOWBOARD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a system of interface foot-snowboard that assures the connection between the feet of the user and the snowboard or any similar gliding board, and give him the possibility to control conveniently the snowboard at any time, while riding, while pushing with one foot or while resting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The snowboard practice, also named snow-surfing, is a quite recent, but already well known sport, that uses a device named generally snowboard or snow-surf, that consists mainly of a large board having one or both ends rounded and curved upwards in order to allow it to glide easily on snow. While moving on snow by means' of this device, that is while riding, the sportsman, called snow- surfer or simply surfer, has his shod feet fixed on the snowboard by a pair of bindings, so that the assembly forms a fast interface system foot-snowboard. The position of the feet on the snowboard is generally oblique, that is the longitudinal axis of each foot forms an angle, to be referred as foot-angle, with the longitudinal axis of the snowboard. In the same time, the soles may be parallel to the snowboard or slightly inclined on their inner side, forming an angle, to be referred as sole-angle. Since the snowboard was created, it was endowed with a fast interface foot-snowboard, called generally binding, as for instance the ones presented in the US patent no.US- 5,344,179, in the Swiss patents no.CH-678397, no.CH-681062, in the German patent no.DE-3825681, in the European patent no.0-330-620 or in the PCT patent application no. WO- 89/ 1016 .

By the state-of-the art foot-snowboard interfaces, the adjustment of the foot-angle is possible only while the snowboard is not in use, by releasing a fastening device, changing the angle and re-fastening it again. The choice of this angles depends basically on the type of snowboard and of its intended use, of the direction of riding, as well as of each one's personal preference. In these respects, by an alpine type of snowboard, one directional, the angles will be of about 45° for the front foot and of about 60° for the back foot, while by a free style type of snowboard, bi¬ directional, these angles are closer to 90°. The sole- inclination is generally not adjustable and takes values between 0° and 10°, where 0° is preferred for bindings destined to be used with a small foot-angle.

With the small foot-angles position, the feet, especially the front one, are pointing rather forwards, providing a stronger support in that direction, while the body has to turn less in order to face the motion. This position is adequate when the main purpose is to ride at high speed, with large curves and little lateral dragging.

With the large foot-angles position, a stronger support is provided on the lateral direction, allowing quick changes of balance from one side to the other, while the surfer, more laterally turned, may use the bending possibilities of his body and legs for displacing the center of gravity towards the interior of the curve. This position is used when the main purposes are to do short and frequent changes of direction and to ride backwards in reasonable conditions.

A special case is the symmetrical foot-angles position, where the feet forms equal angles with the transversal axis of the snowboard. The main purpose is to have the possibility to ride backwards in the same conditions as forwards. The null angle position for the front foot would be very useful for the case when the snow-surfer pushes himself with the back foot on an almost flat track. However, as this position is not convenient for riding on usual snowboards, it cannot be chosen for a fast interface system, even if such an adjustment would be possible on certain types of bindings.

The null or near to null angle position for both feet is used on certain types of gliding boards, similar to the snowboard as form, dimensions and use, but they have always a fixed foot angle, so that they are destined for riding at high speed, with large curves and little lateral dragging. The different positions of the feet described above are required in order to correspond roughly to the position of the body during each situation. At its turn, the body position is determined by the laws of the motion, instinctively applied by the surfer, and it has to be reached regardless of the feet position. Important discordance between the actual feet position and that required by the body motion may result into a poor control of the snowboard and into an additional torsion of the legs and of the back-bone, leading to excessive tiredness and to a possible collapse.

In this respect, an alpine snowboard user will do less easily the short and frequent curves, mainly because his feet are turned forwards too much. The backward riding is very difficult, even with snowboards providing convenient rear ends, and it demands an important torsion of the legs and of the body. The pushing with the rear foot is also seriously compromised by the position of the front foot, not enough turned forwards, resulting into a tiresome activity, with poor balance and diminished efficiency.

A free style snowboard user will be disadvantaged while riding at higher speeds, mainly because his feet are not enough turned forwards. The backwards riding is reasonably possible, however, as in most of the cases the feet are turned slightly forwards, an additional torsion of the legs and body is necessary. The pushing with the rear foot is even more difficult than when using an alpine snowboard, due to the position of the front foot, almost perpendicular on the direction of riding, resulting into the same, but amplified drawbacks.

A particular problem appear when the surfer keeps only one foot attached to the snowboard, when he is exposed to the same danger to twist the leg as at skiing, due to the fact that the long device represent a lever able to transform a small force into a powerful torque applied on the leg, that could cause bad injuries in case of a wrong movement. While nowadays all the ski bindings have integrated systems to limit the torque, few types of snowboard bindings propose devices to prevent this kind of accident. The main reason is that such a device would complicate the system, leading to expensive and hard to sale products, while the covered risk refers only to a limited situation of use of the snowboard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As the snow-surfing became a mass sport, more and more people are practicing it in the same conditions as the alpine skiing; therefore, they need to use the same device for riding at higher speeds, to do small and frequent curves or to push themselves on flat tracks. As shown before, these different applications are difficult to achieve with the actual binding systems. The mobile interface system foot-snowboard, according to the invention, is based on the observation that the control of the motion while riding is assured mainly by the application of the surfer's dynamic forces on one side or another of the snowboard, forwards or backwards, and not by individual torques applied by the feet. Therefore, it appears excessive to fix the feet strongly against rotation, while the necessity is mainly to keep the snowboard attached to the soles and to control it firmly in the transversal and longitudinal planes. With both feet attached on the snowboard, the surfer may control it in the longitudinal plane by applying different forces on the two fulcru s. The control in the transversal plane shall be assured by limiting or by canceling the tilting of the sole in relation with the snowboard. The rotation in a horizontal or slightly inclined plane is possible, however, a certain rotation hindering may be necessary in order to provide a more stable application of the forces on the snowboard, as well as in order to allow the manipulation of the snowboard while is it attached only to one feet.

The mobile interface system foot-snowboard, according to the invention, presents the advantage, in comparison with the fast interfaces systems mentioned before, that the snow-surfer may adapt the position of his feet attached on the snowboard at any moment, while riding, while pushing with one foot or while resting, in order to place them in the momentarily most convenient position, while preserving the capability to control the snowboard properly, by means of a joint linking the two parts of the interface, namely the one solidary with the shod foot and the one solidary with the snowboard, so that a movement of relative rotation is possible, as well as eventually limited small tiltings and displacements in relation with a vertical or a slightly inclined axis. Besides, by means of a hindering device the snow-surfer may momentarily prevent the rotation and preserve the foot-angle, by applying a certain type of force or by adopting a certain position. Moreover, by means of a blocking device he may keep a selected position in any conditions.

Beside these advantages, the proposed system opens new possibilities of development of the snowboard activity, by offering to the skilled snow-surfers a further degree of liberty while practicing their favorite sport. An advantage of the proposed system is also the fact that the torque the snowboard can apply to the leg is either null or limited to the hindering device resisting moment, so that the risk of twisting a leg is greatly diminished without adding any expensive part.

A very practical advantage of the proposed system is that it can be applied easily to existing bindings, in order to transform them the into devices according to the invention.

Through the many possibilities of practical realization or application of the invention, several examples are presented in detail in the following description, featuring the main mobile interface system foot-snowboard according to the invention and some variants providing auxiliary characteristics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG.l features a snowboard endowed for each foot with a mobile interface system foot-snowboard, according to the invention.

FIG.2 represents the view A in FIG.l, enlarged, featuring a back view of the mobile interface system foot-snowboard, according to the invention.

FIG.3 represents the section B-B in FIG.l, enlarged, featuring a lateral view of the mobile interface system foot-snowboard, according to the invention.

FIG. represents the detail C in FIG.3, featuring a section through the said interface system.

FIG.5 features a similar detail as the one represented in FIG. , but for a variant of the mobile interface system that provides a pressing device, according to the invention.

FIG.6 features a similar view as the one represented in FIG. , but for a variant of the mobile interface system foot-snowboard that provides a blocking device, according to the invention. 7/28676 PCMB97/00799

7

FIG.7 represents the section D-D in FIG.6, featuring the same mobile interface system in a blocked position.

FIG.8 features a similar section as the one represented in FIG.4, but for a variant of the mobile interface system foot-snowboard endowed with a hindering device, according to the invention.

FIG.9 represents the section E-E in FIG.8, featuring further details of the said interface system.

FIG.10 features the same mobile interface system foot- snowboard represented in FIG.8, but in a tilted position.

FIG.11 represents the partial view F in the FIG.10, featuring the teeth profile.

FIG.12 features the same partial view as in FIG.11, but for a variant of the teeth profile. FIG.13 features a similar view as the one represented in FIG.8, but for a variant of the mobile interface system foot-snowboard that provides a blocking device, according to the invention.

FIG.14 features the same mobile interface system foot- snowboard represented in FIG.13, but in a blocked position.

FIG.15 features the same mobile interface system represented in FIG.8, but after having added a free rotation device, according to the invention.

FIG.16 features a similar section as in the FIG.9, but for a variant of the hindering device only partially indented.

FIG.17 features a mobile interface system foot-snowboard integrated in a binding, according to the invention.

FIG.18 features a mobile interface system foot-snowboard integrated in a boot, according to the invention.

FIG.19 represents the section G-G in FIG.18, featuring more details of the said interface system in the unlocked position.

FIG.20 features the same section in the FIG.19, but in the locked position.

FIG.21 features a top view of a binding of an usual type. FIG.22 represent the section H-H in FIG.21, featuring the main parts of the binding fastened on the snowboard.

FIG.23 features the same section as in the FIG.22, but after having been transformed into a mobile interface system foot-snowboard, according to the invention.

FIG.24 features the same mobile interface system foot- snowboard represented in FIG.23, but in a tilted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Preliminary remark concerning the signs of reference: for a better understanding of different embodiments of certain elements, a letter-suffixed reference and the simple reference are used to design elements functionally similar, as for instance 100a and 100.

Preliminary remark concerning the notions of "horizontal" and "vertical": all over in this description, the main plane of the snowboard is designed as the horizontal plane, while a plane perpendicular on that plane is designed as a vertical plane.

Preliminary remark concerning the notion "horizontal torque": in order to avoid any confusion with the vectorial representation of a twisting moment, here it is specified that the notion of "horizontal torque" used in the description designs a torque trying to provoke a rotation in the horizontal plane.

A general embodiment of the invention is presented in FIG.l, FIG.2 and FIG.3, where the mobile interface system foot-snowboard 1 is composed of a fixed unit 100, fastened on the snowboard 10 or being a part of the snowboard 10, and a mobile unit 200, attached firmly to the user's foot by means of usual bindings 20 and boots 220, or being part of the bindings 20 or of the boots 220. The mobile unit 200 is connected with the fixed unit 100 by means of a joint

300, that allows a movement of relative rotation of the two units 100 and 200 and eventually a reduced relative tilting or relative displacement, as well as an eventual hindering or blocking of this rotation. The foot-angle FA, as in FIG.l, is variable in both directions and may take any value. The sole-angle SA, as in FIG.2, may be null or have small values, generally less than 10°, and may be fixed or able to vary within the limits of the differential-sole- angle DSA, by providing a profiled surface of contact 101 either on the mobile unit 100, as in FIG.2, or on the fixed unit 200, or on both units 100 and 200.

The FIG. features the detail C in FIG.3, in longitudinal section, for a variant of the mobile interface system foot- snowboard, according to the invention, that will be referred as type-A interface. The binding 20, of an usual type, that by the state-of-the-art applications would be fixed directly on the snowboard 10 with the screws 29, is attached on the snowboard 10 by means of a pivoting device 30, composed mainly of a basis 31, a bolt 33 and a rotating plate 34. The basis 31 is fixed on the snowboard 10 with the screws 32, forming the fixed unit 100a. The screws 32 can be disposed as to correspond to the threaded holes existing usually on snowboards. The rotating plate 34 is fixed on the binding 20 with the screws 29, forming the mobile unit 200a. The basis 31 and the rotating plate 34 are attached one to the other by the bolt 33. The bolt 33, fixed on the basis 31 and the bored part 341 of the rotating plate 34 forms the joint 300a. By the bolt 33, thva threaded part 331 is of a smaller diameter than the shaft, so that it can be fastened into the basis 31 without diminishing the length of the said shaft. The small plays existing between the bolt 33 and the rotating plate 34 allow only a relative movement of rotation of the two parts. The head of the bolt 33 prevents the mobile unit 200a of detaching from the fixed unit 100a and makes it possible to transmit vertical forces to the snowboard.

The friction between the basis 31 and the rotating plate 34 gives the possibility to transmit small horizontal torques to the snowboard, that may be helpful for the stability of the system in certain circumstances. The friction effect may be varied in an several ways, for instance by choosing a convenient pair of materials or a certain roughness of the parts in contact, or by adding a pressing device 45, featured in FIG.5, or simply by varying the diameter D of the contact surface.

A rotation blocking device 50 may be added to the system, as the one featured in FIG.6 and FIG.7, composed of a translating cylindrical key 51 and a set of corresponding holes 52 bored in the rotating plate 34c. In the position I m FIG.6, the blocking device 50 do not interfere with the rotating plate 34c, while in the position II in the FIG. the key 51 is engaged into a hole 52 in order to fix the rotating plate 34c in the corresponding position. In spite of the fact that it needs a manual intervention, such a blocking device allows a quick change of the foot-angle while riding, while pushing or while resting, and can be useful to certain snow-surfers preferring a fast link with their snowboard.

The FIG.8 and FIG.9 feature the detail C in FIG.3, in longitudinal section, for a variant of the mobile interface system foot-snowboard, according to the invention, that will be referred as type-B interface. In comparison with the type-A interface featured above, the type-B interface may transmit bigger horizontal torques by means of a hindering device 40. This hindering device 40 is composed of two indented rings 41 and 42 situated respectively on the fixed unit lOOd and on the mobile unit 200d, one against the other, with a small gap between them, and a joint 300d allowing small vertical swivelings, beside the horizontal rotation, due to the enlarged plays between the bolt 33d and the bored part 341d. The mobile unit 200d may rotate freely when it is in a horizontal position, as in FIG.8. By applying an eccentric vertical force on the mobile unit 200d, this unit will tilt until the indented rings 41 and 42 engage into each other, as featured in the FIG.10 and FIG.11. In this position, the type-B interface is able to transmit important horizontal torques. The form of the teeth is determinant for the ratio between the resisting horizontal torque and the necessary vertical force applied on the indented area. More the sides of the teeth are inclined, higher this ratio is and bigger is the resisting horizontal torque corresponding to the same vertical force. For rectangular teeth, as featured in FIG.12, the type-B interface may be blocked by merely keeping the mobile unit 200d in the tilted position, with no further effort.

A rotation blocking device 50e may be added to the system, as the one featured in FIG.13 and FIG.14, composed of a translating inclined key 51 that can be engaged between the teeth of the indented rings 41e and 42e. In the position I of FIG.13, the blocking device 50e do not interfere with the hindering system 40e, while in the position II of the FIG.14 the key 51 is engaged into the teeth to block the rotation and the tilting of the rotating plate 34e. In spite of the fact that it needs a manual intervention, such a blocking device allows a quick change of the foot-angle while riding, while pushing or while resting, and can be useful to certain snow-surfers preferring a fast link with their snowboard.

The FIG.15 features an adaptation of the type-B interface, described above, in order to transform it into a type-A interface, according to the invention, by inserting a flat ring spacer 43 between the indented rings 41e and 42e, so that they cannot engage into each other.

By installing different spacers smaller than a full ring, or by simply not indenting certain portions of the indented rings 41e and 42e, the tilting of the mobile unit 200e may be canceled only for certain foot-angles, so that the mobile interface system may be of type-A for these angles and of type-B for the other positions. The FIG.16 features a similar section as in the FIG.9, but for a variant of the hindering device only partially indented 41f, so that the interface system, according to the invention, acts as a type-A interface when the foot-angle FA is in the angular field A and as a type-B interface when the foot-angle is in the angular field B.

Due to the possibility of adaptation featured above, it results that the type-B interface system foot-snowboard represents a more general and more practical embodiment of the invention.

The FIG.17 features a mobile interface system foot- snowboard, according to the invention, mounted on a snowboard 10, where the mobile unit 200g is integrated with the binding, forming an only part able to fix the boot directly on. The fixed unit 100 and the joint 300 may be of any type and variant according to the invention.

The FIG.18, FIG.19 and FIG.20 feature a mobile interface system foot-snowboard, according to the invention, where the mobile unit 200h is integrated with the boot 220h, forming an only part, detachable from the fixed unit lOOh, due to dismountable joint 300h. Any usual solution may be adopting for the dismountable joint 300h, as for instance the one featured in the FIG.19 and FIG.20, where the head 333h of the bolt 33h may be locked or unlocked in the T- shaped bored part 341h by the locker 90. In the position I in the FIG.19, the bolt 33h may enter and get out freely in the bore 341h, while in the FIG.20, it is locked inside by the locker 90 displaced in the pos II. The indented parts 41h may be integrated for a type-B interface.

The FIG.21 and FIG.22 feature a binding of an usual type, composed of an adjustable body 22, that may be placed at different angles DA, that is fastened on the snowboard 10 by a central part 21, by means of corresponding indented rings 41i and 42i, firmly engaged into each other. The

FIG.23 features the same binding transformed into a mobile interface system foot-snowboard, according to the invention, by a very simple mean, namely by inserting a spacer 23 under the central part 21, which becomes the fixed unit lOOi, forming the joint 300i with the body 22, which becomes a mobile unit 200i. The thickness of the spacer 23 must be big enough for creating a play 26 between the indented parts 41i and 42i. A gliding pad 24 was added in order to provide the desired friction effect and to protect the surface of the snowboard. The FIG.24 features the same system in FIG.23, which is a type-B interface, in a tilted position, where the indented parts 41i and 42i are engaged one into the other and the rotation movement is hindered.

The interface system in FIG.23 may be transformed into a type-A interface by inserting the spacer 25 between the indented parts, preventing the teeth to engage ones into the others and allowing a free relative rotation of the mobile unit 200i.

Claims

1. Mobile interface system foot-snowboard (1) destined to attach the foot of the snow-surfer on the snowboard (10) or on a similar gliding board in order to make possible the control of the said snowboard (10) or of the said gliding board by the said snow-surfer in any circumstances, while riding, while pushing with one foot or while resting, comprising a fixed unit (100), meant to be solidary with the said snowboard by means of a fastening device, and a mobile unit (200) , meant to be solidary with the foot by means of a binding and a boot, characterized in that the said mobile unit (200) is linked with the said fixed unit (100) by parts forming a joint (300) , so that the said mobile unit (200) has the possibility to turn around an axis perpendicular or close to the perpendicular on the said snowboard (10) and eventually to do small limited tiltings and displacements determined by the profile of contact and the plays between the said mobile unit (200) and the said fixed unit (100) .

2. Mobile interface system foot-snowboard according to the claim 1, characterized in that the surface of contact between the mobile unit (200) and the fixed unit (100) are endowed with friction reinforcing means like friction materials or pressure devices (45), so that the snow-surfer may be opposed a limited resistance while trying to rotate the said mobile unit (200) .

3. Mobile interface system foot-snowboard according to the claim 1, characterized in that between the fixed unit (100) and the mobile unit (200) a hindering device is mounted, composed of one or several pairs of coupling parts (41, 42) fixed on, or being part of the two units (100, 200), that can be engaged or disengaged by changing the position of the mobile unit (200) or by varying the force applied on the coupling, so that the rotation of the mobile unit can be restricted or released at any moment.

4. Mobile interface system foot-snowboard according to the claim 3, characterized in that between the coupling parts (41, 42) a spacer (43) is inserted, so that the said coupling parts (41, 42) cannot engage one into the other and the mobile unit (200) may always turn without restriction.

5. Mobile interface system foot-snowboard according to the claim 1, characterized in that between the fixed unit (100) and the mobile unit (200) a blocking device is mounted, composed of one or several pairs of coupling parts (51, 52) fixed on, or being part of the two units (100, 200) , that can be engaged or disengaged by the snow-surfer, so that the rotation of the mobile unit can be blocked or released at any moment.

6. Mobile interface system foot-snowboard according to the claim 1, comprising a binding for fixing the boot, characterized in that the mobile unit (200) and the said binding (20) forms an only part, so that the said boot is fastened directly on the mobile unit (200) .

7. Mobile interface system foot-snowboard according to the claim 1, comprising a boot (220) for the snow-surfer, characterized in that the mobile unit (200) is integrated in the said boot (220) and characterized in that the joint (300) is a quick dismountable assembly, comprising a locker (90) that if it is released allow to the rotating and fixed parts of the joint to be mounted and dismounted freely, so that the surfer can attach and detach his shod foot to and from the snowboard.

8. Set of parts destined to transform a snowboard binding into a mobile interface system foot-snowboard according to the claim 1, characterized in that the said set comprises one or several spacers (23) to be inserted between the fastened parts (21, 22), so that a play (26) is created between the fixed part (21) and the adjustable part (22) which becomes a mobile unit, also characterized in that the said set comprises a gliding pad (24) providing the desired friction effect for the rotation of the said mobile unit and characterized in that the said set comprises also a spacer (25) , thinner than the said play (26) , to be inserted between the moving parts (21, 22), so that an unhindered rotation may be possible.