WO1998037933A1

WO1998037933A1 - Snowboard binding attachment

Info

Publication number: WO1998037933A1
Application number: PCT/AU1998/000117
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anthony Rex Boulton
Original assignee: Boulton Slider Pty. Ltd.
Priority date: 1997-02-25
Filing date: 1998-02-24
Publication date: 1998-09-03
Also published as: AUPO531297A0

Abstract

An apparatus for binding a boot (101) to a snowboard, the apparatus comprising a two part coupling means (103, 105). The first part of the coupling means (105) is secured to or integral with said snowboard and the second part of the coupling means (103) is secured to or integral with the boot (101), the parts being such that one may be engaged with the other by rectilinear movement substantially in a heel to toe direction of the boot. The apparatus further comprising a releasable latch means (107) to prevent such rectilinear movement.

Description

SNOWBOARD BINDING ATTACHMENT

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a binding apparatus, and in particular to a binding apparatus for binding a boot to a snowboard.

BACKGROUND

A number of known binding systems for attaching boots to snowboards are known. The earlier systems utilise plastic straps for strapping the boots to the snowboards, which are difficult to engage and release. Later binding systems were replaced by step-in bindings, such as those manufactured under the trade marks CLICKER and SWITCH. A disadvantage with such step-in bindings, is that when the user walks in snow, there is a tendency for snow to lodge and compact on the step-in boot coupling, which sometimes results in difficulty to attach the boot coupling to the board coupling.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In one aspect the present invention consists in an apparatus for binding a boot to a snowboard, said apparatus comprising a two part coupling means of which a first part is secured to or integral with said snowboard and a second part which is secured to or integral with said boot, characterised in that said parts being such that one may be engaged with the other by rectilinear movement substantially in a heel to toe direction of the boot, and said apparatus further comprising a releasable latch means to prevent such movement.

Preferably the first part of the coupling means has one or more rails slidably engagable with one or more guideways in the second part of the coupling means. Preferably the one or more rails of the first part of the coupling means is a longitudinal tongue member having at least one rounded end. Preferably the second part of the coupling means comprises a channel shaped member, and the grooves or guideways are dispose longitudinally therealong.

Preferably the latch means comprises one or more spring loaded pins housed within or mounted to the first part of the coupling means and engagable with respective one or more apertures in the second part of the coupling means.

Preferably the one or more spring loaded pins are biasedly actuated by manual operation.

Preferably the second part of the coupling means is located at least partially within an elongate recess longitudinally disposed within the sole of the boot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of an apparatus to bind a boot to a snow board of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the board coupling member of the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the board coupling member of the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the boot coupling member of the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the boot coupling member of the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1. Figure 6 is an enlarged end view of a second embodiment of an apparatus to bind a boot to a snow board of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a side^' view of the second embodiment of the apparatus to bind a boot to a snow board shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the apparatus to bind a boot to a snow board through VIII-VIII of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the second embodiment of the apparatus to bind a boot to a snow board shown in Figure 6.

Figure 10 is an underside view of the boot and boot coupling member of the second embodiment shown in Figure 6.

Figure 11 is an underside view of the second embodiment of the apparatus to bind a boot to a snow board shown in Figure 6.

Figure 12 is a plan view of the board coupling member of the second embodiment shown in Figure 6.

Figure 13 is an enlarged view of the board coupling member of the second embodiment .

Figure 14 is an underside view of the board coupling member attachment plate., which is a component of the board coupling member shown in Figure 12.

Figures 15 and 16 are plan views of the latch mechanism contained within the board coupling member shown in Figure 12, with the pins in the biasedly extended positions. Figure 15 is a similar view to that of Figure 16, however the hidden portion of an actuating lever is shown in phantom lines for clarity. Figure 17 is a plan views of the latch mechanism contained within the board coupling member shown in Figure 12, with the pins in the retracted position by actuation of the lever.

MODE OF CARRYING OUT INVENTION

Figures 1 -5 show a first embodiment of an apparatus to bind a boot to a snow board in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a cross section of a boot 1 , at right angles to its heel to toe direction, removably bound to a snowboard 2 by means of a binding apparatus.

The binding apparatus comprises a boot coupling member 3 secured to boot 1 by fasteners 4 and a board coupling member 5 secured to a snowboard 2 by screws

6. A spring loaded latch 7 is mounted on the board coupling member 5.

Figures 2 and 3 depict the board coupling member 5 removed from the snowboard 2. The board coupling member 5 comprises a metal plate 8 having a convexed front edge 23, a concave rear edge 24 and opposed longitudinally oriented channel shaped end portions 9 and 10, each of which forms a guideway

11 and 12, respectively. Spring loaded latch 7 is positioned longitudinally midway along plate 8 , and has a pin 30 biasedly housed in a latch housing 31 by means of a spring 32. Pin 30 projects through channel shaped end portion 10 such that a rounded pin end 13 is located in the guideway 12 with the other end 14 of the pin 30 projecting outwardly away from the plate 8. A ring 15 is attached to the pin

30 near end 14.

Plate 8 has eight arcuate slots 33 through which screws 6 may extend to secure the board coupling member 5 to the snowboard 2. The arcuate slots 33 allow for the rotational positioning of the board coupling member 5 relative to the snowboard 2. Plate 8 also has holes 20 therein to reduce the weight of the board coupling member 5. Figures 4 and 5 depict the boot coupling member 3 removed from the boot 1. The boot coupling member 3 comprises a steel plate 16 having a convex toe edge 25, a concave heel edge 26 and opposed longitudinally oriented rails 17 and 18 at each end, each^" of which is shaped to be longitudinally inserted and slidable relative to guideways 11 and 12 of board coupling member 5, respectively. Rail

18 has a recess 19 positioned longitudinally midway along plate 16 and a bevelled lead edge 27 at one end thereof.

Plate 16 has four holes 21 through which fasteners 4 may extend to secure the boot coupling member 3 to the boot 1. Plate 16 also has hole 22 therein to reduce the weight of the boot coupling member 3. When fitted to the boot 1 , the boot coupling member 3 is oriented such that rail ends 17 and 18 are longitudinally disposed in a substantially heel to toe direction of the boot 1 , with convex toe edge 25 near the toe end of boot 1 and concave heel edge 26 near the heel end of boot 1.

When boot coupling member 3 and board coupling member 5 are fitted to the boot 1 and the snowboard 2, respectively, a user (not shown) wearing the boot 1 may bind the boot 1 to the snowboard 2 by inserting the rails 17 and 18 of the boot coupling member 3 , with the toe edge 25 leading into the guideways 11 and 12 of the board coupling member 5 from their ends near the concave rear edge 24, and sliding the rails 17 and 18 therealong in a substantially rectilinear movement in the heel to toe direction of the boot 1. As lead edge 27 of the rail 18 engages the end 13 of pin 30, it biasedly urges pin 30 in direction A, such that rail 18 may travel past the pin 30 along the guideway 12, as rail 17 also travels along the guideway 11. When the recess 19 of rail 18 aligns with the pin 30 during relative movement of the boot coupling member 3 and the board coupling member 5, the pin 30 is forced by spring 32 into recess 19, thereby locking and preventing any further relative rectilinear movement of boot coupling member 3 and board coupling member 5. The boot 1 is now restrained as the boot coupling member 3 cannot be lifted away from board coupling member 5 as channel shaped end portions 9 and 10 restrain rails 17 and 18, and pin 30 prevents rectlinear movement of the boot 1 relative to the snowboard 2.

Boot 1 can be released from the snowboard 2 by pulling the pin 30 in direction A, such that the end^"13 of pin 30 is removed from recess 19, and rails 17 and 18 of the boot coupling member 3 are thereby able to be withdrawn from guideways 11 and 12 of board coupling member 5. In order to easily allow the user to retract pin

30, a strap (not shown) or the like may be attached to ring 30 and is preferably attached about the leg of the user. Such a strap may also be used as a safety strap to prevent the user from being completely separated from the snowboard 2.

Figures 6-17 show a second embodiment of an apparatus to bind a boot to a snowboard in accordance with the present invention. Figure 6 shows an end view of the lower portion or sole of a boot 101 , at right angles to its heel to toe direction, removably bound to a board coupling member 105.

The binding apparatus comprises a boot coupling member 103 secured to boot 101 by fasteners 104 and a board coupling member 105, which is adapted to be secured to a snowboard(not shown). A spring loaded latch mechanism 107 is mounted within the board coupling member 105. The board coupling member 105 comprises a metal plate 108 which has eight arcuate slots 133 through which screws or other fasteners may extend to secure the board coupling member 105 to the snowboard. In a similar manner to the arcuate slots 33 of the first embodiment, the arcuate slots 133 allow for the rotational positioning of the board coupling member 105 relative to the snowboard.

The board coupling member 105 comprises of an upper cover plate 140 and support members 142, which support a longitudinal rail (tongue) member 141 having rounded free ends. The cover plate 140 is adapted to be secured to plate 108 by means of fasteners 150. The spring loaded latch mechanism 107 is mounted within a cavity 143 formed between the cover plate 140, rail member 141 , support members 142 and the plate 108. The latch mechanism 107 comprises spring loaded pins 130 biasedly maintained in opposed outward positions, as shown in Figures 15 and 16. The free ends of each pin 130 may be chamfered or rounded. The pins 130 project through respective holes (not shown) in support members 142 of board coupling 105, see Figure 13.

The sole or lower portion of the boot 101 has a recess 135 which runs longitudinally in a heel to toe direction. The boot coupling member 103, is located in a substantially central longitudinal position within the recess 135, and is secured to the boot 101 by fasteners 104.

The boot coupling member 103 is substantially channel shaped with two guideway members 117 and 118 longitudinally disposed and projecting from a base plate 136. Each guideway member 117 and 118 has a longitudinally disposed groove

1 1 1 adjacent to the junction of the respective guideway and plate 136. The grooves 111 are parallel to each other. The guideways 117 and 118 each have a respective hole 119 therethrough, which are longitudinally spaced apart. The plate 136 of boot coupling member 103, shown in Figure 10, is hidden from view in Figure 6, as it sits in a rectangular cavity moulded into elongate recess 135 of the boot 101.

When boot coupling member 103 and board coupling member 105 are fitted to the boot 101 and snowboard (not shown in Figures 6-17), respectively, a user (not shown) wearing boot 101 , may bind the boot 101 to the snowboard by longitudinally aligning recess 135 of boot 101 with rail member 141 and sliding the boot 101 in a heel to toe direction. The grooves 111 of boot coupling member 103 thereby slidably engage with respective side edges 137 of the rail member 141 of board coupling member 105, whilst support members 142 below rail member 141 are slidably guided by guideway members 117 and 118. During such slidable engagement between the coupling members 103 and 105, the spring loaded pins

130 are each biasedly urged inwardly by respective guideway members 117 and 118, such that the pins 130 may relatively move in the longitudinal heel to toe direction with respect to the boot 101. When the pins 130 each align with their respective holes 119 in guideway members 117 and 118, each pin 130 is forced by its respective spring 132 into its respective hole 119, thereby locking and preventing any further relative movement of boot coupling member 1O3 and the board coupling member 105. The boot 101 is now restrained as the boot coupling member 103 cannot be lifted away from the snowboard, as grooves 111 restrain rail member 141 of the boot 101 , and the pins 130 prevent rectilinear movement of the boot 101 relative to the snowboard.

Boot 101 can be released from the snow board by actuating lever 145 in direction B, see Figure 17, thereby retracting spring loaded pins 130 by means of a lever mechanism and allowing for rail member 141 to be removed from grooves 111 in a heel to toe direction.

An advantage of this embodiment is that any snow which has become compacted or lodged within the recess 135 and/or boot coupling member 103 is dislodged during engagement by rail member 141 of board coupling member 105.

The underside (or sole) of boot 101 has additional recesses 148 and raised portions 149, such that boot 101 may alternatively be used with other known boot/snowboard binding systems. One such known system is marketed under the trade mark SWITCH, and is manufactured by Switch Manufacturing of the United States of America. The recesses 148 allow for the SWITCH™ boot coupling to be positioned and fastened to the underside of boot 101 instead of the earlier described boot coupling 103.

In further not shown embodiments the various components of the apparatus for binding a boot to a snowboard may differ in shape, configuration and size. For instance, the boot coupling members 3 and 103 may be removably attached in various ways to the boot, or may in another not shown embodiment be integral with the boot. Similarly, the board coupling members 5 and 105 may be removably attached in various ways to the snowboard, or may in another not shown embodiment be integral with the snowboard. In another not shown embodiment, the rail member 141 of the board coupling 105 of the second embodiment, may be of a different length to that shown and may in an alternate embodiment have tapered and/or chamfered free ends. Likewise the channel shaped boot coupling 103 may differ in length to that shown and may for instance have at least portion thereof extending along a substantial length of the boot.

Furthermore, it should be understood that the boot coupling members and board coupling members may be made of any suitable metal, such as steel or aluminium, or any other suitable material.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus for binding a boot to a snowboard, said apparatus comprising a two part coupling means of which a first part is secured to or integral with said snowboard and a second part which is secured to or integral with said boot, characterised in that said parts being such that one may be engaged with the other by rectilinear movement substantially in a heel to toe direction of the boot, and said apparatus further comprising a releasable latch means to prevent such movement.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first part of the coupling means has one or more rails slidably engagable with one or more grooves or guideways in the second part of the coupling means.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said one or more rails of the first part of the coupling means is a longitudinal tongue member having at least one rounded free end.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second part of the coupling means comprises a channel shaped member, and said grooves or guideways are disposed longitudinally therealong.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the latch means comprises of one or more biasedly loaded pins housed within or mounted to the first part of the coupling means and engagable with respective one or more apertures in the second part of the coupling means.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the one or more spring loaded pins are actuated by manual operation.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second part of the coupling means is located at least partially with an elongate recess longitudinally disposed within the sole of the boot.