Patent Application
20110254239
The present invention relates to an angle adjuster for a snowboard binder, and more particularly, to an angle adjuster for a snowboard binder in which an angle of a binder is adjusted without difficulty and the binder is conveniently coupled to or decoupled from the snowboard and is firmly assembled to the snowboard.
In recent years, snowboarding has become one of popular winter sports. The snowboarding is similar to skiing in that a rider rides a snowboard along a hill covered by snow. The snowboard is similar to a small surfboard or a large skateboard without wheels in terms of external appearance. A person who rides a snowboard (“snowboarder”) locates his/her feet on the snowboard in a direction perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the snowboard. Like a ski, a snowboarder puts on special boots, which are fixed to the snowboard by a binding mechanism for safety of the snowboarder.
Generally, snowboarders put heir left foot in front of their right foot on the snowboard, and desire to adjust a binding installation angle depending on their snowboarding style, technical level and/or propensity. Also, some snowboarders desire to put their right foot in front of their left foot (so-called goofy style). To meet different snowboarding style, technical level or propensity of snowboarders, the binder is installed in the snowboard so that a snowboard may adjust an angle of his/her feet with respect to a lengthwise direction of the snowboard.
As shown in
However, to adjust an angle of the location of the snowboarder's feet, he/she should unscrew the screw 18 as much as needed and holds the adjusting disk 20 upward to separate the adjusting disk 20 and the uneven parts of the binder 40 and then adjusts the angle of the binder 40. Then, the snowboarder puts down the adjusting disk 20 to mate the adjusting disk 20 and the binder 40 and then fastens the screw 18 to firmly mount the binder 40 on the snowboard 16. Thus, it takes much time to adjust the angle of the binder 40 and a tool is necessary to unscrew or fasten the screw 18. Also, if the angle of the binder 40 is adjusted in the foregoing manner, the snowboarder should rotate the binder 40 with one hand while holding the adjusting disk 20 with the other hand.
The present invention has been made to solve the problems and it is an object of the present invention to provide an angle adjuster for a snowboard binder which is detachably attached to a fixation member fixed to the snowboard and adjusts an installation angle of the binder conveniently.
Also, it is another aspect of the present invention to provide an angle adjuster for a snowboard binder which improves locking force by locking a fixation member and a binder in a duplicate locking structure and prevents from being disassembled by an external shock.
Further, it is another aspect of the present invention to provide an angle adjuster for a snowboard binder which improves stable locking state by supporting a second projection piece of the binder by lower grooves of a fixation member in a location spaced from a first projection piece if an angle of the binder is adjusted to engage in part the first projection piece of the fixation member to upper grooves of the binder.
Further, it is another aspect of the present invention to provide an angle adjuster for a snowboard binder which prevents a coupling member from moving on an upper side of the binder and coupling with the fixation member when an angle of the binder is adjusted.
In order to achieve the object of the present invention, an angle adjuster for a snowboard binder comprises a fixation member which forms a first locking part on a plate face thereof and has first projection pieces protruding from at least both sides of an upper edge and fixed to a snowboard; a binder which comprises a base forms a through hole on a center thereof to insert the fixation member thereinto, a diaphragm that is formed in a vertical direction in both sides of the base, first combination grooves that are formed in a vertical direction in at least both sides of the through hole to insert the first projection pieces of the fixation member thereinto, and upper grooves that are formed along an upper edge of the through hole of the base to move the first projection pieces of the fixation member, and is rotatably assembled to the fixation member; and a coupling member which forms a second locking part on a lower surface thereof to mate with the first locking part of the fixation member and is assembled to an upper side of the binder.
The second locking part forms a plurality of concave and convex parts on an external surface thereof which protrudes from a lower center of the coupling member, and the first locking part is depressed from the center of the fixation member to insert the second locking part thereinto and forms concave and convex parts in an internal surface thereof to mate with the concave and convex parts of the second locking part.
The second locking part is shaped like a cone with its upper part cut and has a diameter of an front end that is smaller than a diameter of a rear end, and the first locking part is shaped corresponding to the second locking part so that the second locking part is inserted into and mates with the first locking part.
The binder forms second projection pieces from lower sides of the through hole in a location cross the first combination grooves, and the fixation member forms second combination grooves in a vertical direction in an external side thereof to insert the second projection pieces of the binder thereinto and forms lower grooves along a lower edge to move the second projection pieces.
The angle adjuster for a snowboard binder further comprises a locking member which prevents the coupling member from being separated from the fixation member by fixing the coupling member to the fixation member with the first locking part and the second locking part mating with each other.
The locking member comprises a locking piece which is rotatably installed in an upper side of a guiding groove formed in the diaphragm of the binder and presses the upper surface of the projection of the coupling member to closely adhere the projection to the base.
The binder forms the guiding groove in a vertical direction in an internal surface of the diaphragm, and the coupling member forms a projection in both sides thereof to insert the projection into the guiding groove.
The binder forms an extension groove in an upper side of the guiding groove to communicate with the guiding groove in a horizontal direction.
The coupling member forms a folding handle on an upper surface thereof.
The coupling member forms a folding handle on an upper surface thereof.
The locking member forms coupling projections on lower sides thereof and comprises a rotating shaft which is rotatably installed in the coupling member, an insertion opening which is shaped like a rectangle and is formed in a plate face of the fixation member to insert the coupling projection of the rotating shaft thereinto, and a space which is formed in an internal area of the insertion opening to rate the coupling projection of the rotating shaft while being inserted into the insertion opening.
The rotating shaft forms a folding handle on an upper surface thereof.
As described above, the angle adjuster for a snowboard binder according to the present invention is detachably attached to a fixation member fixed to the snowboard and adjusts an installation angle of the binder conveniently.
Also, the angle adjuster for a snowboard binder according to the present invention improves locking force by locking a fixation member and a binder in a duplicate locking structure and prevents from being disassembled by an external shock.
Further, the angle adjuster for a snowboard binder according to the present invention improves stable locking state by supporting a second projection piece of the binder by lower grooves of a fixation member in a location spaced from a first projection piece if an angle of the binder is adjusted to engage in part the first projection piece of the fixation member to upper grooves of the binder.
Further, the angle adjuster for a snowboard binder according to the present invention prevents a coupling member from moving on an upper side of the binder and coupling with the fixation member when an angle of the binder is adjusted.
Prior to description, in several exemplary embodiments, like numerals refer to like elements with the same configuration which will be described in the first exemplary embodiment as a representative and other configurations which are different from those according to the first exemplary embodiment shall be described in other exemplary embodiments.
Hereinafter, an angle adjuster for a snowboard binder according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.
As shown therein, the angle adjuster for a snowboard binder according to the present invention includes a fixation member 110 which is fixed to an upper surface of a snowboard B; a binder 120 which is detachably assembled to the fixation member 110 to rotate; and a coupling member which is installed in an upper side of the binder 120 and is selectively coupled to the fixation member 110. The angle adjuster for a snowboard binder may further include a locking member 140 which is assembled to the binder 120 and fixes a location of the coupling member 130.
The fixation member 110 is shaped like a circular disk and has a first locking part 111 formed on a plate surface thereof. First projection pieces protrude from both sides of an upper edge of the fixation member 110 and second combination grooves 113 are formed in a vertical direction on an external side in a perpendicular direction of the first projection pieces 112. A lower groove 114 is formed in a lower edge of the fixation member 110 to communicate with the second combination grooves 113. The snowboard B is fixed to the fixation member 110 by a screw S penetrating a plate face of the snowboard B. The first locking part 112 includes a circular hole penetrating a center of the plate face. A diameter of an upper side of the first locking part 112 is large and a diameter of a lower part of the first locking part 112 is small and an internal surface of the first locking part 112 is inclined and a plurality of concave and convex parts is formed in a vertical direction in the inclined internal surface.
The binder 120 includes a base 121 which forms a through hole 123 on a center thereof to insert the fixation member 110 thereinto, a diaphragm 122 which is formed in a vertical direction in both sides of the base 121, first combination grooves 124 which are formed in a vertical direction in both sides of the through hole 123, upper grooves 125 which are formed in the upper edge of the through hole 123 and are connected to the first combination grooves 124, second projection pieces 126 which protrude from a lower edge of the through hole 123 in a perpendicular direction of the first combination grooves 124, a guiding groove 127 which is formed in a vertical direction in an internal surface of the diaphragm 122, and an extension groove 128 which is formed in a horizontal direction in an upper side of the guiding groove 127. A supporting shaft 122a is formed in an upper side of the guiding groove 127 and a stopper 122b protrudes from a lower side of the guiding groove 127.
The coupling member 130 includes a moving plate body 131 in which a projection 132 is formed in both sides thereof and is inserted into the guiding groove 127 of the binder 120 and is inserted between both diaphragms 122 of the binder 120.
The coupling member 130 further includes a second locking member 132 which is formed in a lower surface of the moving plate body 131 and mates with the first locking part 111 of the fixation member 110, and a handle 134 which is rotatably assembled to an upper surface of the moving plate body 131 and is folded. The second locking part 132 is shaped like a cone whose upper side is cut, and a diameter of an upper side of the second locking part 132 is large and a diameter of a lower side thereof is small. A plurality of concave and convex parts is formed in a vertical direction in an inclined external surface of the second locking part 132 to mate with concave and convex parts formed in the internal surface of the first locking part 111. Also, the moving plate body 131 preferably includes a transparent material so that a user examine a locking location of the second locking part 132 and the first locking part 111 of the fixation member 110 or to identify a scale of an angle formed in the base of the binder 120.
The locking member 140 includes a rotating part 141 which is rotatably assembled to a supporting shaft 122a formed in the diaphragm 122 of the binder 120, an a pressing piece 142 which extends from the rotating part 141 and presses an upper side of the projection 132 of the coupling member 130.
If the fixation member 111 and the binder 120 include a synthetic resin to process and manufacture a light snowboard, the first projection pieces 112 and the second projection pieces 126 include a metal plate and are fixed to an upper surface of the fixation member 110 and a lower surface of the binder 120, respectively, to prevent the coupling area from being damaged by an external shock and prevent the binder 120 from being separated from the fixation member 110 fixed to the snowboard B.
Hereinafter, an operation of the angle adjuster for a snowboard binder according to the first exemplary embodiment will be described.
While the fixation member 110 forming the first locking part 111 on its center is fixed to the snowboard B by the screw S penetrating the plate face of the fixation member 110 and the binder 120 having the base 121 forming the through hole 123 on its center is arranged in an upper side of the fixation member 110 as in
The second projection pieces 126 protruding from both sides of a lower side of the through hole 123 of the binder 120 are inserted into the lower grooves 114 formed in a lower edge of the fixation member 110 and provide strong coupling force by a duplicate coupling structure. Thus, the binder 120 is prevented from being separated from the fixation member 110 by an external shock.
Particularly, if the first projection pieces 112 of the fixation member 110 penetrate the first combination grooves 124 of the binder 120 and are held in part to the upper grooves 125 as in
As in
If a user adjusts the binder 120 to a desired angle by rotating the binder 120 and moves the coupling member 130 from the extension groove 128 to the guiding groove 127 and then in a lower direction as in
As in
If the binder 120 assembled to the fixation member 110 and mounted in the snowboard B is to be disassembled, such disassembly process is performed in a reverse order of the foregoing assembly order. That is, the locking member 140 is rotated to release the coupling member 130. The coupling member 130 is separated from the fixation member 110 by using the handle 134 formed in an upper side of the coupling member 130. Then, the coupling member 130 is located to the extension groove 128 provided in the upper side of the guide groove 127. Then, the binder 120 is rotated to locate the first projection pieces 112 of the fixation member 110 in the first combination grooves 124 and to locate the second projection pieces 126 of the binder 120 in the second combination grooves 113 of the fixation member 110. If the binder 120 is held upward, the binder 120 is separated from the fixation member 110.
Hereinafter, an angle adjuster for a snowboard binder according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described.
As shown therein, the angle adjuster for a snowboard binder according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention is different from the angle adjuster for a snowboard binder according to the first exemplary embodiment in that it includes a locking member 140′ which fixes a binder 120 to a fixation member 110 while the binder 120 is assembled to the fixation member 110 and its angle is adjusted.
That is, the fixation member 110 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a first locking part 111 which is formed in an upper central part of the fixation member 110, first projection pieces 112 which protrude from both sides of an upper edge, and second combination grooves 113 which are formed in a vertical direction in an external side in a perpendicular direction of the first projection pieces 112. The fixation member 110 is fixed to a snowboard B.
The binder 120 includes a base 121 which forms a through hole 123 into which the fixation member 110 is inserted, a diaphragm 122 which is formed in a vertical direction in both sides of the base 121, first combination grooves 124 which are formed in a vertical direction in at least both sides of the through hole 123 to insert first projection pieces 112 of the fixation member 110 thereinto, and upper grooves 125 which are formed along an upper edge of the through hole 123 of the base 121 to move the first projection pieces 112 of the fixation member 110. The binder 120 is rotatably assembled to the fixation member 110.
While the coupling member 130 is inserted between the both diaphragm 122 of the binder 120, both sides of the moving plate body 131 are closely adhered to an internal surface of the diaphragm 122 to prevent a rotation of the coupling member 130. The coupling member 130 includes a second locking part 132 which is formed in a lower surface of the fixation member 110 and mates with the first locking part 111 of the fixation member 110 and is assembled to the fixation member 110 in an upper side of the binder 120.
In particular, the locking member 140 which fixes the coupling member 130 to the fixation member 110 includes a rotating shaft 143 which forms a coupling projection 143a in both sides of a lower part thereof and a folding handle 143b in an upper part thereof and is rotatably installed in a center of a moving plate body 131 of the coupling member 130, an insertion opening 144 which is shaped like a rectangle and is formed on a center of the fixation member 110 to insert the coupling projection 143a of the rotating shaft 143 thereinto, and a space 145 which is formed in an internal area of the insertion opening 144 so that the coupling projection 143a of the rotating shaft 143 rotates while being inserted into the insertion opening 144.
As shown therein, if the binder 120 is rotated while the fixation member 110 fixed to an upper surface of the snowboard B is arranged to be inserted into the through hole 123 formed in the base 121 of the binder 120, the first projection pieces 112 formed in both sides of the fixation member 110 are located in the upper grooves 125 formed in an internal circumference of the through hole 124 of the binder 120 and the binder 120 is rotatably assembled to the fixation member 110.
Then, a user adjusts the binder 120 to a desired angle and fixes the binder 120 to the fixation member 110 by using the coupling member 130 to thereby prevent the binder 120 from being rotated. The assembly structure of the second locking part 132 of the coupling member 130 and the first locking part 111 of the fixation member 110 is the same as that according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Thus, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
If the rotation of the binder 120 is restricted by the assembly of the coupling member 130 as above, the locking member 140′ is used to prevent the coupling member 130 and the fixation member 110 from being decoupled from each other.
Referring to the operation of the locking member 140′, a lower end of the rotating shaft 143 rotatably provided in a center of the moving plate body 131 of the coupling member 130 is inserted into the insertion opening 144 formed in a center of the fixation member 110 and is located in the space 145 inside the insertion opening 144 during a process of coupling the coupling member 130 to the fixation member 110.
A rotation angle of the rotating shaft 143 is adjusted so that the coupling projection 143a formed in lower sides of the rotating shaft 143 penetrates the insertion opening 144 and is inserted into the space 145 through the insertion opening 144 during an assembly process of the coupling member 130 and the fixation member 110.
If the rotating shaft 143 is rotated by approximately 90 degrees by using the handle 143b provided in an upper part of the rotating shaft 143 while the coupling projection 143a is located within the space 145, the coupling projection 143a in lower sides of the rotating shaft 143 is interfered with by a peripheral part on both sides of the insertion opening 144 and the coupling member 130 is prevented from being separated from the fixation member 110.
After the coupling member 130 is fixed to the fixation member 110, the handle 143b formed in the upper part of the rotating shaft 143 is rotated to be arranged in parallel with the moving plate body 131 of the coupling member 130. Then, the handle 143b is prevented from being interfered with by user's boots and the rotating shaft 143 is prevented from being rotated by the handle 143b while in use.
The locking member 140′ may be released in a reverse order of the locking order. If the rotating shaft 143 is rotated by approximately 90 degrees to separate the coupling projection 143a formed in the lower sides of the rotating shaft 143 upward through the insertion opening 144 in a rectangular shape, the coupling projection 143 at both sides conforms to the insertion opening 144 and the coupling member 130 may be separated from the fixation member 110.
Although a few exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the range of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.
The present invention relates to an angle adjuster for a snowboard binder, and more particularly, to an angle adjuster for a snowboard binder in which an angle of the binder is efficiently adjusted and the binder is detachably attached to the snowboard conveniently and is firmed assembled to the snowboard.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2008-0132263 | Dec 2008 | KR | national |
| 10-2009-0129476 | Dec 2009 | KR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/KR09/07726 | 12/23/2009 | WO | 00 | 6/23/2011 |
