Claims
- 1. A binding apparatus for securing a boot having a rearward portion and a forward portion to a snowboard having a longitudinal axis, the boot having a forward attachment member beneath the forward portion and a rearward attachment member beneath the rearward portion, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a rigid binding frame for attachment to the snowboard, said frame having a longitudinal axis generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the snowboard when attached thereto;
- (b) a first jaw secured to said frame opposite a first rigid member and substantially along said longitudinal axis of said frame for gasping at least one of the forward attachment member and the rearward attachment member between said first rigid member and said first jaw, said first jaw and said first rigid member defining a receiving portion the receives the at least one attachment member, said first jaw being movably attached to said frame for movement with respect to said frame and said boot, said first jaw disposed substantially along said longitudinal axis such that said first jaw is disposed beneath the boot when engaged with said attachment member, said first jaw extending at least partially over at least a portion of said attachment member when gasped therewith for holding said attachment member from substantial upward movement away from said binding frame;
- (c) a second jaw secured to said frame in a location spaced from said first jaw opposite a second rigid member and substantially along said longitudinal axis of said frame and defining a receiving portion for receiving and grasping the other of the forward attachment member and the rearward attachment member between the second rigid member and said second jaw; and
- (d) a release mechanism coupled to said first jaw for moving at least a portion of said first jaw away from at least one of the forward attachment member and the rearward attachment member to release the boot from between said first jaw and said first rigid member.
- 2. The binding apparatus of claim 1, wherein said release mechanism is coupled to said second jaw for opening said second jaw to release the boot from said second jaw.
- 3. The binding apparatus of claim 2, wherein said release mechanism simultaneously moves said first and second jaws away from said first and second rigid members.
- 4. The binding apparatus of claim 1, wherein said frame includes a binding plate coupled to said first and second jaws, said binding plate having a surface on which at least a portion of the boot rests and wherein said release mechanism is manually operable, said release mechanism including a lever extending to the side of said frame to be positioned adjacent the side of the boot when secured to said jaws, said lever being connected to said first jaw for moving said first jaw away from at least one of the attachment members, said jaws not releasing the attachment members unless said lever is manually moved.
- 5. The binding apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second jaw is fixed and does not move relative to said frame during release of the boot, the movement of said first jaw allowing both the first and the second attachment members to be released from said first and second jaws.
- 6. The binding apparatus of claim 1, wherein said release mechanism comprises a slide member attached to said first jaw and a lever pivotally attached to said slide member, movement of said lever causing sliding motion of said slide member and moving said first jaw.
- 7. The binding apparatus of claim 6, wherein said first rigid member forms a first static jaw secured to said frame adjacent said first jaw near the longitudinal axis of said frame, said first static jaw not moving relative to said frame, said first static jaw and said first jaw forming an opening for receiving at least one of the forward and the rearward attachment members of the boot.
- 8. A binding apparatus for securing a snowboard boot to a snowboard, the snowboard boot having first and second longitudinally spaced attachment members secured to the bottom of the boot, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a frame member securable to the snowboard, said frame member having a longitudinal axis, said frame member being adapted to be secured to the snowboard with said longitudinal axis positioned at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the snowboard;
- (b) first and second longitudinally spaced jaws, at least one of said first and second jaws being a movable jaw attached to said frame member generally parallel to said longitudinal axis of said frame member, each jaw being positioned on said frame member opposite an opposing frame structure on said frame, each said opposing frame structure and said opposing jaw forming a receiving portion having an opening into which a respective one of the first and second attachment members is placed and being engageable therewith; and
- (c) a jaw movement mechanism attached to said frame member and linked by a slide member to said movable jaw, said mechanism including a rigid arm disposed to the side of the frame member so as to extend to the side of the boat when the boot is secured by the jaw, movement of said arm causing said jaw to move relative to said opposing frame structure.
- 9. The binding apparatus of claim 8, wherein said opposing frame structure is in abutting relationship with said movable jaw when an attachment member is secured thereto.
- 10. The binding apparatus of claim 9, wherein said opposing frame structure is statically attached to said frame.
- 11. A snowboard binding apparatus comprising:
- (a) a boot defining a longitudinal axis and including a sole, said boot including first and second longitudinally spaced attachment members secured near the longitudinal axis thereof, each of said attachment members projecting downwardly from within a recess formed in said sole and being disposed beneath said sole;
- (b) a frame member securable to a snowboard;
- (c) first and second jaws, at least one of said jaws being a movable jaw attached to said frame member, each said jaw defining a receiving portion in cooperation with an opposing portion of said frame member and being positioned to receive and engage a respective one of said first and second attachment members of said boot through an opening of said receiving portion when positioned within said recess of said sole of said boot, each said jaw being disposed beneath said sole when engaging said first and second attachment members; and
- (d) a jaw movement mechanism attached to said frame member and coupled to said movable jaw, said jaw movement mechanism including a release arm extending to the side of said frame member and to the side of the boot when said attachment members are engaged by said first and second jaws.
- 12. A snowboard binding apparatus comprising:
- (a) a boot defining a longitudinal axis and including a sole with a recess therein, said boot including a first attachment member secured near the longitudinal axis thereof, said first attachment member projecting downwardly from within said recess of said sole and being disposed beneath said sole;
- a frame securable to a snowboard;
- (c) a movable jaw attached to said frame and together with a frame portion defining a receiving portion positioned to engage and receive said first attachment member of said boot within said recess of said sole of said boot, said movable jaw being disposed beneath said sole when engaging said first attachment member; and
- (d) a jaw movement mechanism attached to said frame and coupled to said movable jaw, said jaw movement mechanism including a release arm extending to the side of said frame and to the side of the boot when said boot is engaged by the movable jaw, wherein said boot sole further comprises flex pads secured alongside of the first attachment member, said flex pads being compressible and resilient to allow the boot to pivot side to side about said first attachment member when engaged by the movable jaw, said flex pads extending lower than said first attachment member.
- 13. The binding apparatus of claim 12, wherein said flex pads are removable and replaceable, such that flex pads of differing durometers may be used.
- 14. A snowboard binding apparatus comprising:
- (a) a boot defining a longitudinal axis and including a sole with a recess therein, said boot including a first attachment member secured near the longitudinal axis thereof, said first attachment member projecting downwardly from within said recess of said sole and being disposed beneath said sole;
- (b) a frame securable to a snowboard;
- (c) a movable jaw attached to said frame, said movable jaw forming a receiving portion with said frame that is positioned to engage said first attachment member of said boot within said recess of said sole of said boot, said movable jaw being disposed beneath said sole when engaging said first attachment member; and
- (d) a jaw movement mechanism attached to said frame and coupled to said movable jaw, said jaw movement mechanism including a release arm extending to the side of said frame and to the side of the boot when said boot is engaged by the movable jaw; and
- a second attachment member secured to said sole of said boot and a second jaw attached to said frame and forming a receiving portion with said frame that is engageable with and receives said second attachment member, said first attachment member being disposed beneath a generally rearward portion of said boot and said second attachment member disposed beneath a generally forward portion of said boot substantially along said longitudinal axis of said boot, said first and second attachment members projecting downwardly from beneath said sole, and said first and second jaws being disposed beneath said sole when engaged with said first and second attachment member.
- 15. The binding apparatus of claim 14, wherein said first attachment member comprises a first rod extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said sole of said boot.
- 16. The binding apparatus of claim 15, wherein said sole of said boot further comprises a rearward recess within which said first rod is held above the lowermost portion of said sole.
- 17. The binding apparatus of claim 15, wherein said second attachment member comprises a second rod extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said sole of said boot.
- 18. The binding apparatus of claim 15, wherein said second jaw is fixed relative to said frame.
- 19. The binding apparatus of claim 18, wherein said second jaw comprises a hook projecting upwardly from said frame, said second attachment member being engageable beneath said hook.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of the prior application Ser. No. 08/274,292, filed Jul. 12, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,477 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 08/127,584 filed Sep. 27, 1993; 08/120,629 filed Sep. 13, 1993 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,907; 08/100,745 filed Aug. 2, 1993 now abandoned; and 08/094,576 filed Jul. 19, 1993 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,466 the benefit of the filing dates of which are hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120.
US Referenced Citations (53)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
30 04 668 |
Aug 1981 |
DEX |
88 07 537 |
Sep 1988 |
DEX |
42 19 036 A1 |
Jan 1993 |
DEX |
Related Publications (3)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
120629 |
Sep 1993 |
|
|
100745 |
Aug 1993 |
|
|
94576 |
Jul 1993 |
|
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
274292 |
Jul 1994 |
|
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
127584 |
Sep 1993 |
|