SNOWBOARD BINDING

Abstract

A snow board binding includes a base plate and a longitudinal frame that is pivotally attached to the front end of the base plate. A linkage is pivotally attached to the longitudinal frame. A strap, which is shaped complimentary to the front portion of the boot, has a front member that is connected to a front portion of the longitudinal frame and a rear member that is pivotally connected to the linkage. A heel cup defines a bottom rear pivot point that is pivotally attached to the base plate and defines a front pivot point that is pivotally attached to the linkage. The linkage is configured so that when downward force is applied to the longitudinal frame by the heel portion of the boot, the longitudinal frame pivots downwardly so as to be parallel with the base plate. The linkage is also configured to pull the strap downwardly, thereby securing the boot to the base plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a top perspective view of one embodiment of the invention in an engaged position.

FIG. 1B is a top perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A in a disengaged position.

FIG. 2A is a side elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A in a disengaged position.

FIG. 2B is a side elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A in an engaged position.

FIG. 3A is a left side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3B is a front side elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3C is a right side elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3D is a bottom side plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3E is a top side plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3F is a rear side elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a detail of a linkage employed in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A-3F

FIGS. 5A-5B are detail side elevational views of a locking mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of a strap.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a detail of the binding.

Claims

1. A snow board binding for securing a boot, having a front portion and a heel portion, to a snowboard having a securing mechanism attached thereto, comprising: a. a base plate having a back end, an opposite front end, a left side, an opposite right side and an engagement mechanism configured to be engageable with the securing mechanism to facilitate attachment of the base plate to the snowboard;b. a longitudinal frame that is pivotally attached to the front end of the base plate;c. a linkage that is pivotally attached to the longitudinal frame;d. a strap, having a front member that is connected to a front portion of the longitudinal frame and a rear member that is pivotally connected to the linkage, that is shaped complimentary to the front portion of the boot so as to receive the front portion of the boot between the strap and a portion of the base plate; ande. a heel cup, having a shape that is complimentary to the heel portion of the boot, that defines a bottom rear pivot point that is pivotally attached to the base plate and that defines a front pivot point that is pivotally attached to the linkage,

2. The snow board binding if claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism that is configured to secure the boot to the snow board binding during use.

3. The snow board binding if claim 1, wherein the base plate further comprises: a. a left stub extending upwardly from the base plate adjacent to the front end and the left side; andb. a right stub extending upwardly from the base plate adjacent to the front end and the right side.

4. The snow board binding if claim 3, wherein the longitudinal frame comprises a. a left longitudinal member, having a bottom edge, an opposite top edge, a front end and an opposite back end, that is pivotally attached to the left stub;b. a right longitudinal member, having a bottom edge, an opposite top edge, a front end and an opposite back end, that is pivotally attached to the right stub; andc. a lateral plate connecting the back end of the left longitudinal member to the back end of the right longitudinal member.

5. The snow board binding if claim 4, wherein the linkage comprises: a. a left link having a first pivot point that is pivotally attached to the left longitudinal member adjacent to the back end and a spaced-apart second pivot point that is pivotally attached to heel cup, the left link also including a left attachment point to which the rear member of the strap is attached, the left attachment point located on the left link in a place that causes downward force to be applied to the strap when a downward force is applied to the lateral plate; andb. a right link having a first pivot point that is pivotally attached to the right longitudinal member adjacent to the back end and a spaced-apart second pivot point that is pivotally attached to the heel cup, the right link also including a right attachment point to which the rear member of the strap is attached, the right attachment point located on the right link in a place that causes downward force to be applied to the strap when a downward force is applied to the lateral plate.

6. The binding of claim 4, wherein the base plate defines a step that is complimentary in shape to the lateral plate and placed so that when the binding is in use the base plate and the lateral plate form a flat surface upon which the boot rests.

7. The binding of claim 4, wherein the locking mechanism comprises: a. a latch member affixed to a selected one of the base plate, the left longitudinal member or the right longitudinal member;b. a hook member configured to engage the latch member so that the a left longitudinal member and the right longitudinal member are held against the base plate when the hook member is engaged with the latch member; andc. a spring member that exerts force on the hook member so that the hook member tends to be in engagement with the latch member unless a preselected force is applied to the hook member.

8. The binding of claim 1, further comprising a high back extending upwardly from the heel cup and configured to provide rear support to a top portion of the boot.

9. The binding of claim 1, wherein the strap comprises: a. a fore-foot member, configured for engagement with a fore-foot portion of the boot; andb. a mid-foot member, spaced-apart from the fore-foot member, configured for engagement with a mid-foot portion of the boot.

10. The binding of claim 1, wherein the strap comprises: a. an upper plate having a front end, an opposite rear end and a shape complimentary to a mid-foot portion of the boot;b. a rear ratcheting belt extending downwardly from the rear end of the upper plate, the rear ratcheting belt affixed to the linkage; andc. a front ratcheting belt extending downwardly from the front end of the upper plate, the front ratcheting belt affixed to a front portion of the left longitudinal member and to a front portion of the right longitudinal member.

11. The binding of claim 1, wherein the strap comprises a ratchet mechanism that is configured to allow secure tightening of the strap.

12. The binding of claim 1, wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a circular hole defined by the base plate, the base plate defining a circular a serrated area that is coaxial with the hole.

13. A binding for securing a boot, having a front portion and a heel portion, to a snowboard having a securing mechanism attached thereto, comprising: a. a base plate having a back end, an opposite front end, a left side, an opposite right side, a left linkage arm extending upwardly from the base plate adjacent to the back end and the left side, a right linkage arm extending upwardly from the base plate adjacent to the back end and the right side, a left stub extending upwardly from the base plate adjacent to the front end and the left side, a right stub extending upwardly from the base plate adjacent to the front end and the right side, and an engagement mechanism configured to be engageable with the securing mechanism to facilitate attachment of the base plate to the snowboard;b. a left longitudinal member, having a bottom edge, an opposite top edge, a front end and an opposite back end, that is pivotally attached to the left stub;c. a right longitudinal member, having a bottom edge, an opposite top edge, a front end and an opposite back end, that is pivotally attached to the right stub;d. a lateral plate connecting the back end of the left longitudinal member to the back end of the right longitudinal member;e. a left link having a first pivot point that is pivotally attached to the left longitudinal member adjacent to the back end and an opposite second pivot point, the left link also defining a left attachment point;f. a right link having a first pivot point that is pivotally attached to the right longitudinal member adjacent to the back end and an opposite second pivot point, the right link also defining a right attachment point;g. a strap connecting a portion of the left longitudinal member to the right longitudinal member and shaped so as to receive the front portion of the boot between the strap and a portion of the base plate, a rear portion of the strap also pivotally connected to the left link at the left attachment point and the right link at the right attachment point so that rotation of the left link and the right link due to downward movement of the left longitudinal member and the right longitudinal member causes the strap to be pushed toward the base plate;h. a heel cup, having a shape that is complimentary to the heel portion of the boot, that defines a left bottom rear pivot point that is pivotally attached to the left linkage arm extending upwardly from the base plate and a right bottom rear pivot point that is pivotally attached to the right linkage arm extending upwardly from the base plate, the heel cup also defining a left front pivot point that is pivotally attached to the second pivot point of the left link and a right front pivot point that is pivotally attached to the second pivot point of the right link; andi. a locking mechanism that is configured to secure the boot to the base plate during use,

14. The binding of claim 13, further comprising a high back extending upwardly from the heel cup and configured to provide rear support to a top portion of the boot.

15. The binding of claim 13, wherein the strap comprises: a. a fore-foot member, configured for engagement with a fore-foot portion of the boot; andb. a spaced-apart mid-foot member, configured for engagement with a mid-foot portion of the boot.

16. The binding of claim 13, wherein the strap comprises: a. an upper plate having a front end, an opposite rear end and a shape complimentary to a mid-foot portion of the boot;b. a rear ratcheting belt extending downwardly from the rear end of the upper plate, the rear ratcheting belt affixed to the left link and to the right link; andc. a front ratcheting belt extending downwardly from the front end of the upper plate, the front ratcheting belt affixed to a front portion of the left longitudinal member and to a front portion of the right longitudinal member.

17. The binding of claim 13, wherein the strap comprises a ratchet mechanism that is configured to allow secure tightening of the strap.

18. The binding of claim 13, wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a circular hole defined by the base plate, the base plate defining a circular a serrated area that is coaxial with the hole.

19. The binding of claim 13, wherein the locking mechanism comprises: a. a latch member affixed to a selected one of the base plate, the left longitudinal member or the right longitudinal member;b. a hook member configured to engage the latch member so that the a left longitudinal member and the right longitudinal member are held against the base plate when the hook member is engaged with the latch member;c. a spring member that exerts force on the hook member so that the hook member tends to be in engagement with the latch member unless a preselected force is applied to the hook member; andd. a release mechanism coupled to the locking mechanism that is configured to cause disengagement of the hook member from the latch member.

20. A method of making a snow board binding, comprising the actions of: a. pivotally attaching a front portion of a frame to a front portion of a base plate;b. attaching a front portion of the strap to a portion of the base plate, the strap having a shape that is complimentary to a foot portion of a boot;c. pivotally attaching a rear portion of a heel cup to a rear portion of the base plate;d. attaching a first end of a linkage to a rear portion of the strap, attaching an opposite second end of the linkage to a front portion of the heel cup and attaching a mid potion of the linkage to a rear portion of the frame, the length of the linkage chosen so that when a downward force is applied by the boot to the frame, the linkage pivots the heel cup toward the front of the frame and draws the rear portion of the strap downwardly, thereby engaging a portion of the boot with the strap; ande. attaching a securing mechanism to the base plate and the frame so that the securing mechanism is configured to hold the frame adjacent and parallel to the base plate when the boot is secured in the binding.