This invention relates to a boot for attachment to a motive device such as a sliding or rolling device. More particularly, this invention relates to a boot for a sliding or rolling device such as a snow hoard.
The following references to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not intended to be, and are not to be construed as, statements or admissions of common general knowledge in the art. In particular, the following prior art discussion does not relate to what is commonly or well known by the person skilled in the art, but assists in the understanding of the inventive step of the present invention of which the identification of pertinent prior art proposals is but one part.
For convenience, this invention will be described primarily with exemplary reference to snowboard binding systems, although the skilled person will readily appreciate that various other, mainly sporting, applications may be made of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Descriptions of boot binding systems for snowboards currently available may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,689, U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,170 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,680 (Dodge, et al). These documents disclose a boot binding with a base to the supported on a snowboard. The base includes a circular opening in its centre which receives a disk shaped base plate. The base or hold-down plate may be secured to the hoard in several different positions on the board with the binding base assuming any position by rotation with respect to the hold-down plate. The hold-down plate is secured by screws received in holes in the hoard. This presents a problem in the various situations, sometimes unpredictable, when a user needs to adjust the orientation of the boot binding. This most obviously occurs preparatory to the user mounting a chairlift where the orientation of the boot binding would, if possible, be desirably changed to enable the user to sit comfortably and safely on the chairlift. Shortly before or alter the user alights from the chairlift, the boot binding is then adjusted to the orientation desired for snowboarding. However, this does not happen in practice because of the difficulty involved in such adjustments. The snowboarder must be resigned to travelling on the chairlift in an awkward position because convenient adjustment is not possible.
Another example where the difficulty of adjustment of the orientation of the boot binding presents itself is where the user desires to skate along. Such situations may arise where the slope is insufficiently steep to enable down-hill snowboarding or a slight incline must be traversed to get to the next downhill slope. Casual users who hire snowboarding gear from a ski hire store are generally required to decide on their feet position before they even get unto the ski slopes. Normally an experienced operator will adjust the boot bindings on the casual user's behalf. If the casual user discovers that a slightly or even radically different orientation would be more comfortable or may even prevent injury, the casual user has little option but to persist with the binding orientations set by the hire store operator. Even if a screwdriver is available on the slopes, ski hire equipment may be difficult to adjust due wear-related burring of the tool-engaging portions of the screws, nuts or bolts used to secure the base plate, not to mention the difficulties associated with the adjustment of ice-encased cold metal parts using cold hands.
The Applicant has previously described an improvement over curt-Lastly available snowboard binding arrangements in an International Patent Application having Publication No. WO 2005/014126 (Fletcher). This document describes a snowboard binding (3) including a binding base (11) having an aperture (14) therein for receiving a snowboard disc (50) used to secure the binding base to the snowboard (1). The perimeter of the aperture (14) includes a variable gap (22) and a clamp (104) is used to vary the size of the gap to enable movement ape binding base relative to the disk. The advantage of this arrangement over other prior art was the ability to easily adjust the snowboard boot's orientation by simply releasing the clamp and reorienting the binding base on the disc. One disadvantage of this and previous prior art proposals is that the disc arrangement did not allow snow to be cleared from the sole. The snow can tend to collect and compact around the binding disc and it is not easily cleared.
The prior art descriptions referred to above do not allow a user to conveniently and releasably secure the boot on a sliding or rolling device such as a snowboard without the aforementioned difficulties associated with in situ manipulation.
An object of the present invention is to ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative thereto.
Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention there is provided a boot for attachment to a motive device, the motive device including a body and anchor means attached to an upper surface of the body, the anchor means including at least one detent spaced from the body and having an underside surface, the base of the boot including a footbed on which a user's foot may directly or indirectly rest
characterized in that:
The motive device may include any suitable device for moving the wearer of the boot along, through or across a stratum, surface or medium. The motive device may be capable of sliding or rolling. The motive device may be a ski, snowboard, rollerboard, grass ski or the like. However, without limiting the foregoing, the invention is most suitably adapted to snowboarding. Accordingly, whilst the body may be plastic molded or metal cast in any of a variety of shapes, most typically the body will be substantially planar with at least one upturned, curved end corresponding to the front of the device. The device may be made of plastic, metal; cellulosic material such as layered wooden panels adhered with resin, fiberglass or any combination of the foregoing, keeping in mind that the temperatures that the device may be subject to in use could be around 0° C. or less for devices used in the snow and around 40° C. or more for devices used on potentially hot surfaces when exposed to intense sunlight, such as bitumen or concrete.
The anchor means may include any suitable physical recess and/or protrusion, magnetic or other detail or engaging device adapted to engage the engagement means. Preferably, the engagement means includes at least one lateral feature (Or engagement to a complementary lateral or recess feature on or in the boot. The anchor means may include at least one upper overhanging portion having an underside surface. The anchor means may include any physical or magnetic anchoring feature adapted to engage the boot.
In prior snowboarding devices, there is typically provided two sets of three or four threaded bores centrally located and corresponding to the intended locations of the user's boots. The prior art anchor means may accordingly include one or more correspondingly threaded bolts which are used to secure a board engaging member, typically a disc shaped plate such as that identified by reference numeral 50 in the Applicant's international application having Publication No. WO 2005/014126 referred to above.
Advantageously, in the present invention the disc may be dispensed with and the anchor means may comprise a set of one or more bolts. However, it will be appreciated by the skilled person that other anchor configurations may, in some circumstances, be desirable. Such configurations may utilize the securing option offered by the threaded bores found in standard and existing gram/boards. The bores may be used to mount an anchor to the device that uses threaded fasteners to secure the anchor to the device.
Preferably, the anchor means comprises a shaft or base that spaces the upper detent, such as the overhanging portion, from the upper surface of the body. Where the anchor means includes one or more bolts, the bolts may include a shaft optionally threaded and terminating at their respective upper ends with a bolt head. The bolt head may be axially asymmetrical so that the overhanging portion overhangs on only one side of the shaft or anchor base or at least does not completely surround the top end of the shaft. Alternatively, the overhanging portion may be coaxial with the shaft or anchor base and may have a larger footprint than the shalt or anchor base.
Preferably, the overhanging portion is generally round or elliptical, but may be polygonal in plan view in the manner of a typical bolt head, such as a hexagonal bolt head. The bolt head may be plate-shaped or may be beveled or tapered in some manner. For example, the bolt head may be circular in plait view and conical or frustoconical in general shape. In such arrangements, the anchor means may include key means to enable manipulation by a suitably adapted tool. For example, where the anchor means includes one or more bolts, the or each bolt head may include one or more recesses to co-act with a tool such as a screw driver or Allen key. The key means may require a specialized tool to prevent unauthorized interference or removal. The skilled person will appreciate that other fastening means, such as screws may also be used, provided that they have the necessary overhanging portion.
The underside surface of the overhanging portion may be flat, curved and/or inclined. The underside surface may include improved friction or gripping surface features, such as ribs, grooves, ridges, or irregular lines, protrusions or dimples, whereby to provide improved friction grip. Preferably, the underside surface is slightly outwardly, upwardly curved to more easily permit a corresponding engaging member to slide around or maims the underside surface until it comes into abutment at a settled and desired position.
The anchor means may be effective to remove compacted snow, ice and other debris from the opening(s) and cavity or cavities. The anchor means may be advantageously configured to scrape such debris from the opening(s) and cavity or cavities. For example, the overhanging portion may be configured to operate in the manner of a pick. Accordingly, the present invention may provide effective means to remove debris in a manner that prior art arrangements are not equipped to emulate. In a preferred embodiment, the anchor means comprises one or more bolts with bolt heads having peripheral edges well adapted to enable a wearer of the boot to scrape debris from the interior spaces of the boot base.
The boot is preferably ankle high with sold support around the ankle region typical of ski, snowboarding, rollerboarding or rollerblading boots.
The footbed may include an insert, but preferably is a panel on which a wearer's foot directly rests and forms part of the structure of the base. The sole member refers to the ground-engaging panel or layer on the underside of the base and preferably includes tread or grip surface features. The sole member may be formed from a rubber, plastic leather, synthetic woven material or metal components and optimally a combination of two or more of these materials. In particular, the portion of the sole member defining the opening is made from a hard and abrasive-resistant material, such as light weight metal such as Aluminum or a light metal alloy, or plastic such as polypropylene or polycarbonate. Alternatively, the periphery of the opening may be defined by a downward wall forming an extension of the lower casing molding and the sole member made of rubber or other soft material may be formed or adhered to the lower casing around the downward depending wall defining the opening.
The base of the boot may be a unitary structure. The base may be integrally formed during manufacturer, such as by injection molding. The base may be made from suitable materials, such as rubber and/or plastic materials, preferably with good low temperature tolerance and performance such as where the device is to be used in snow or good high temperature tolerance and performance such as where the device is to be used in hot conditions.
Alternatively, the base may be a modular structure comprising separately formed components contained in a base casing the base casing may include a casing top supporting or forming at least part of the foot bed and the base casing may further include the sole member. The foot bed may be a separate, softer cushioned layer positioned above the casing top. The casing top may be a rigid and/or semi-flexible, substantially planar member. The casing top may extend substantially the full width and length of the base, so that the casing top may have a similar footprint to that of the boot base. The casing top may be made from a suitable plastic material.
The engagement means may be external to the boot and may directly or indirectly bear against the sole member in the engaged position. For example, the engagement means may include a slidable member or slide that may be located in use under the sole member and in the engaged position may hear against the underside of the sole member so that the base is caused to clamp upwardly against the underside surface or detent of the anchor means.
The engagement means is preferably mounted and/or contained on or in the boot. The base may also include the engagement means. Preferably, the base includes the slide. The slide may be moveable within a region, zone or plane substantially parallel to the sole member plane. The slide may be moveable between the non-engaged position and the engaged position. In the engaged position, the anchor underside surface or detent may abut the base. The engagement means is preferably located primarily in the base. However, the reciprocating means may be actuable from a position outside the base. For example, the reciprocating means may include actuation means in the form of slide, dial, handle, button or lever means adapted to toggle the reciprocating means between the non-engaged and engaged positions.
The actuation means may be located on the bridge, ankle area or on the heel of the boot. Preferably, the actuation means is located on the heel of the boot. Preferably, the actuation means includes a lever. The lever may be adapted to rotate about a pivot point, a pair of spaced pivot points, a pair of spaced, coaxial pivot points or may be adapted to slide whereby to activate the reciprocating means. Preferably, the actuating means is a pivotal lever located in and/or on the boot heel. Preferably, the actuating means is released to the non-engaged position by upward movement, so that, for example, the boot may release the snow hoard if the snow hoarder falls and slides feet-first down a slope.
The slide is preferably interposed between the casing top and the sole member. Movement of the slide through the slide plane is actuated by the actuating means. The movement of the actuating means is operable to cause the slide to travel through its plane or to move from one horizontal plane to another, substantially horizontal, plane. This movement may be achieved by any one of a number of mechanisms which will occur to the skilled person. In one example, the reciprocating means may include a rack and pinion arrangement. Preferably, the slide includes the rack. Still more preferably, the pinion is mounted on or forms part of a rotatable member operable by the user when the engagement means is in the non-engaged or the engaged position. Preferably, the rotatable member is the lever means adapted to rotate the pinion whose teeth co-operate with a rack on the slide. The rack may be integrally molded with the slide.
The reciprocating means may include cam and/or ramp means to vertically shill the reciprocating means between the engaged and non-engaged positions by moving the slide horizontally through a first plane over ramp or cam means whereby to vertically lift or drop the slide relative to the first plane so that the slide vertically moves and slides into a different plane. The cam may be mounted on a rotatable member and comprise a rotatable eccentric bearing surface. Alternatively, the cam or ramp means may be located on different co-operating components, such as the slide and the sole member or another component of the base whereby to force the slide to ride up or down to toggle between the engaged and non-engaged positions.
The opening in the sole member is preferably adapted to receive the anchor means, at least to the extent of the overhanging portion or other detent. The engagement means may be in the form of a spring-release mechanism, such as may be found in cycling pedal cleats or nordic ski bindings where a spring loaded detent means traps a boot mounted bar or flange and may be released by deflection of the spring biased detent. Such a spring loaded detent mechanism is preferably adapted to engage the anchor means, such s as one or more bolt heads. Preferably, the opening includes at least one entry/exit track or passage and a locking aperture. The entry/exit track or passage may be used to permit the anchor means to enter the base cavity. The anchor means may then be adapted to move along a direction generally parallel to the plane of the sole member into the locking aperture wherein a base member slides underneath the overhanging portions or other detent means. The slide may then by forced underneath the locking base member to lift the locking base member into engagement with the overhanging portions by forcing the slide member to ride up the ramp or cam means. Preferably, the engagement means is releasable by the actuation, or release from a locked position, of the actuation means mounted on the boot. Preferably, the engagement means is located external to the base.
In a particularly preferred form of the invention, the boot comprises a highback mechanism to allow a user to vary the inclination of the rear wall ankle support relative to the vertical to suit the user's requirements. The highback mechanism may include a variety of mechanisms including components such as a hinged and/or spring biased pivotable wall. The highback mechanism preferably includes a rear wall against which a rotatable cam or ramped slide operates to bear against an inclinable wall. The highback mechanism is preferably located within the rear ankle wall cavity at the heel of the boot and has an actuation means, such as a lever, dial, button or slide accessible to the user to actuate the highback mechanism.
Preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention. In the drawings:
a is a schematic perspective view of a bolt anchor according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
h is a schematic to plan view of the bolt anchor shown in
c is a schematic side elevation of the bolt anchor shown in
a is a schematic perspective view of a bolt anchor according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
b is a schematic top plan view of the bolt anchor shown in
c is a schematic side elevation of the bolt anchor shown in
a is an upper perspective view of the fourth embodiment shown in
b is a lower perspective view of the fourth embodiment shown in
e is an end elevation of the fourth embodiment shown in
a is a rear view of a boot according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;
h is a right side view of the boot according to the sixth embodiment shown in
c is a front view of the boot according to the sixth embodiment shown in
d is a left side view of the boot according to the sixth embodiment shown in
c is an underside view of the boot according to the sixth embodiment shown in
a is a rear view of a boot according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;
b is a right side view of the boot according to the seventh embodiment shown in
c is a front view of the boot according to the seventh embodiment shown in
d is a left side view of the boot according to the seventh embodiment shown in
a is a rear view of a boot according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention;
h is a right side view of the boot according to the eighth embodiment shown in
c is a front view of the boot according to the eighth embodiment shown in
d is a left side view of the boot according to the eighth embodiment shown in
e is an underside view of the boot according to the eighth embodiment shown in
a is a left side view of a boot according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention;
b is a rear view of the boot according to the ninth embodiment shown in
c is a right side view of the boot according to the ninth embodiment shown in
d is an underside view of the boot according to the ninth embodiment shown in
a is a front perspective view of a boot according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention shown above a motive device in the form of a snowboard;
b is a rear perspective view of the boot according to the tenth embodiment resting on the snowboard;
c is a rear perspective view of the boot according to the tenth embodiment slid forward into a mounting position on the snowboard;
d is a rear perspective view of the boot according to the tenth embodiment in the mounting position in which the boot may be rotated freely about a vertical axis;
c is a rear perspective view of the boot according to the tenth embodiment in the mounting position in which actuation means in the form of a handle is lifted to engage the boot on the snowboard;
f is a rear perspective view of the boot according to the tenth embodiment in the engagement position in which the handle is lifted from its lowermost position to its uppermost position;
g is a rear perspective view of the boot according to the tenth embodiment in which a clip is flipped upwardly to lock the handle in the engaged position;
h is a rear perspective view of the boot according to the tenth embodiment in which the clip is flipped downwardly to unlock the handle, the handle is rotated downwardly to an unengaged position so that the boot may be rotated about the vertical axis for adjustment relative to the snowboard;
i is a front and lower perspective view of the boot according to the tenth embodiment; and
j is a perspective view of the boot according to the tenth embodiment on the snowboard.
The following description of preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to snowboard boots. However, the skilled person will appreciate that the invention has wider application to other boot binding systems, such as may be found in downhill, Nordic and grass skiing.
It will be appreciated that each of the items shown in
Referring to
The base 7 of the boot 1 includes a leveling spacer 5 providing a casing top for the base 7. The base 7 contains an engagement mechanism 60 actuated by a mechanical lever arm 41 having a lever arm lock 42, each supported on a heel cup molding 31 as will be described in greater detail with reference to
The internal mechanism assembly 60 includes the heel cup molding 31 which is mounted for pivoting to an inner boot 2 casing through apertures 12 in a side wall 13 of the heel cup molding 31. The lever arm 41 has, at its remote end, a spindle 14 that cooperates with a corresponding aperture 14a in the side wall 13.
The lever arm/lock 41,42 includes a cammed bearing pinion 15 cooperable with a rack 16 formed in the rear wall of the heel cup molding 31. By the action of the lever arm 41, the heel cup molding 31 rotates about the axis of aperture 14a and spindle 14 to reciprocally translate the curved base 17 substantially through a horizontal plane, for example parallel to the plane in which the leveling spacer 5 lies. The curved base 17 drives an engagement slider 18 mounted on ramps 10a formed in the body structure 10 to shift the engagement slider between respective substantially parallel and horizontal upper and lower planes to achieve engagement or disengagement with the anchor means.
With reference to
It can therefore be seen that as the highback slider 22 reciprocates substantially along a vertical path (limited by the upper and lower extent of the slot 26a) by the operation of the canned pinion 25a of the high back ratchet 23. This causes the internal high back 21 to vary in its vertical inclination by rotation about aperture 21b to enable adjustment of the high back 21 by a user.
Referring now to
The bolt 50 shown in
The bolt head 53 of the conical headed bolt 50 includes a curved underside surface 54 to permit improved sliding cooperation of an engagement slider with that surface 54. The underside surface 54 may have gripping surface features, such as radiating ribs or grooves whereby to grip the upper surface of an engaging member.
With reference to both bolts 50,50a shown in
The frusto-conical headed anchor 50a is an alternative anchor means. The top cropped upper portion 51a of the bolt head of 50a provides a recess for a key hole for cooperation with, for example, a standard or Phillips head screw driver, an Allen key or like tool. The underside 54a and the shall 52a of the alternative hull head 53a
The bolts 50,50a are typically mounted on the riding platform such as a snowboard (not shown) with their bolt heads 53,53a facing upwards and the shafts 52,52a aligned axially at right angles relative to the plane of the snowboard. The bolt heads 53,53a are spaced from the upper surface of the snowboard so that there is a gap of between 5 mm and 15 mm between the upper board surface and the bolt underside surfaces 54,54a. This gap is height adjustable to adapt to different binding arrangements, for example where the bolts 50,50a are threaded on their respective shafts 52, 52a. It will be appreciated that, typically, either bolt 50 or bolt 50a (or another anchor means) may be used, although only one type of bolt, either bolt 50 or 50a is preferably used in any one application to enable a single tool to be used. The typical array of bolts 50,50a on the snowboard will involve an array of a pair of spaced sets of four bolts 50, 50a (totaling eight bolts 50,50a), each set arranged in a square pattern. However, the skilled person will appreciate that other numbers and arrangements of bolts 50,50a are possible and preferable depending on the application. For example, it may be preferable to use a single anchor to engage the boot 1 where the anchor may comprise a single shaft and optionally multiple head features, or a pair of anchors or a triplet or more of the anchors to engage the boot 1, depending on the mechanical and loading requirements of the assembly. The bolts 50,50a are well-adapted to assist a user to remove compacted snow, ice and other debris from the cavity 8. To this end, the user may jam the boot down on the bolts 50,50a to knock the ice out of the boot 1. The bolt heads 53,53a have overhanging portions in the form of the bolt heads 53,53a that may be used as an ice pick to scrape away the debris.
In
The lower casing opening 62 is continuous with a pair of parallel entry/exit tracks 65 defined by walls 66 that are continuous with the lower casing's outer walls 64, the tracks 65 extending frontwards towards the toe region of the lower casing 61. In use, the lower casing 61 is placed over a set of bolts 50, 50a so that a pair of bolt heads 53,53a enter a first track 65a and a second pair of the boltheads 53, 53a enter a second track 65b. The user then moves his foot and the lower casing 61 forward so that the set of four bolts 50,50a slide into the aperture 62 so that the bolt heads 53, 53a are situated in the cavity 63. The bolt head undersurfaces 54,54a overhang lower casing walls 66a as described in greater detail below.
The binding arrangement 60a includes multiple layers of intermediate horse shoe shaped plates and foam dampeners (described in detail below) having a shape corresponding to the aperture 62 of the lower casing 61 and having side arms that rest directly or indirectly on the floor 67 of the lower owing 61, the free ends of the side anus in each case being spaced by a gap that corresponds to the positioning of the tracks 65. The intermediate plates also include combinations of ramp and cammed surfaces which combine together to vertically shift a generally horizontal riser plate 110 up or down as a slider plate 95 moves forward or hack by the actuation of a rear locking handle 70.
The binding arrangement 60a may require micro-adjustment to accommodate different bolt gaps (the distance between the underside surface 54,54a of the bolt 50,50a and the riding platform on which they are mounted) and variations in manufacturing tolerances. There is therefore provided a micro-adjustment slider 80 and attached adjustment block 85 with underside ramps 81 corresponding to the lower casing floor's 67 ramps 72. This serves to vary the height of the micro-adjustment slider 80 and, consequently, the slider plate 95 and riser plate 110. The adjustment block 85 has a keyhole 85a that cooperates with a corresponding protrusion 86 extending upwardly from a generally rectangular rear extension of the micro-adjustment slider 80. The keyhole 85a and the protrusion 86 enable attachment of the adjustment block 85 to the micro-adjustment slider 80. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, these components could be formed integrally. The adjustment block 85 rests in a channel 68 located centrally at the rear of the lower casing 61 and can be moved forward or backward in the channel 68 by adjustment of a threaded screw or lug 69 (obscured) extending through the rear wall 71 of the lower casing 61. It can therefore be seen that the plurality of shallow wedge-shaped ramps 81 on the underside surface of the micro-adjustment slider 80 cooperate with the corresponding ramps 72 located on the upper surface of the floor 67 to adjust the height of the slider plate 95. A lower foam seal 90 is interposed between the micro-adjustment slider 80 and the slider plate 95. The lower foam 90 performs a dampening function, improves the user's comfort and reduces shock or impact damage to the base components during use.
The slider plate 95 is integrally formed and includes a pair of side arms 96a, 96b extending forward towards the toe region and a pair of arms-like rack plates 97a, 97b extending rearward in the same plane as the side arms 96a,96b. Each rack of plates 97a, 97b includes a plurality of ridges 97 adapted to cooperate with corresponding circumferentially arranged ridges on pinions 98a, 98b mounted onto a lateral rotational shaft 131 of a central pivot 130 made of sintered metal or an alternative material of sufficient strength. The shaft 131 rests in half journals 132 formed in the side portions of the extended rear wall 75 of the lower casing 61. The journals are completed by corresponding top half journals 121 formed in the rear side walls 134 of a casing top 121.
The rear locking handle 70 pivots about the longitudinal axis of central pivot shaft 131 with which it is fixed by its respective arms 73a, 73b through square keyed apertures 74a, 74b to the correspondingly keyed ends 99 of the shaft 131. The shaft 131 is journaled for rotation in the journals 121,132 of the joined lower and top casings 61, 120. Rotation of the handle 70 causes rotation of the shaft 131 whereby the pinions 98a, 98b coact with the ridges 97 of the nicks 97a, 97b to slide the slider plate 95 forward or backward. The slider plate 95 has on the upper surfaces of its arms 96a, 96b a plurality of cam surfaces 100 that cooperate with corresponding ramps 111 on the underside of the riser plate 110, so that the reciprocal sliding movement of the slider plate 95 causes the riser plate 110 to rise or fall between engagement planes in which the cam surfaces 100 coincide with the underside ramps 111 to raise the riser plate 110 and non-engagement planes in which the cam surfaces 100 do not coincide with the underside ramps 111 whereby to lower the riser plate 110.
The internal peripheral edge of 112 of the riser plate 110 corresponding to the aperture 62 of the lower casing 61 includes a radially upwardly inclined ring having gripping surface features whereby to frictionally engage with the underside surface 54, 54a of the bolt 50,50a. The actuation of the handle 70 can therefore be used to move the riser plate 110 into engagement with the bolts 50,50a or to disengage from same.
In
Referring to
In
With reference to both
Referring to
With reference to
In
As best shown in
As shown in
The track's walls 66g are spaced to permit the entry or exit of the bolt heads with vertical to relative movement of the boot 180 and the snowboard 195. By contrast, the radius of the circular section 63g is dimensioned to trap the bolt heads 197 to permit rotation of the boot 180 about a vertical axis. This vertical axis is generally coaxial to the centre point of the circular section 63g. However, the circular section 63g dimensions prevent axial movement relative to the bolts 196 by trapping the bolt heads above the lip of the side wall defining the circular section 63g. Most particularly, the bolt heads are secured in a binding arrangement similar to that of binding arrangement 60 shown in
The binding arrangement within the boot 180 is actuated by actuation means handle 181 shown in
h shows the clip 182 being flipped downwardly to unlock the handle 181 so that it can be rotated downwardly to an unengaged position. The boot 180 may then be rotated about the vertical axis for adjustment relative to the snowboard 195 or slid backwards so that the bolts 196 sit in the tracks 65g, whereby the boots can be removed from the snowboard 195. Referring finally to
Throughout the specification the word “comprise” and its derivatives is intended to have an inclusive rather than exclusive meaning unless the context require's otherwise.
Orientational terms used in the specification and claims such as vertical, horizontal, top, bottom, upper and lower are to be interpreted as relational and are based on the premise that the component, item, article, apparatus, device or instrument will usually be considered in a particular orientation, typically with the sole member lower most.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations may be made to the methods of the invention described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
The invention can be described in terms of provisional claims that can assist the skilled reader in understanding the various aspects and preferments of the invention. However, these provisional claims are not to be construed as defining statements of the invention. It will be appreciated that other forms, aspects and preferred features of the invention and its embodiments described herein may ultimately be included in the claims defining the invention in the specifications of complete, international or national applications (or their subsequent corresponding patent grants) that may claim priority from the provisional application accompanying this specification. In this context, the following non-limiting claims assist to better describe the invention:
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2007902594 | May 2007 | AU | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/AU2008/000682 | 5/16/2008 | WO | 00 | 12/21/2009 |