The present invention relates to snowboards. More specifically, a snowboard binding for securing a wearer's foot to the snowboard that permits selectively rotating the binding and securing the binding in a desired angular position is provided by some examples of the invention. Additionally, a retractable fin for a snowboard is provided by some examples of the invention.
Presently available snowboard bindings are intended to secure the users boot to the snowboard in the proper position for snowboarding, with both of the user's feet pointed towards one side of the snowboard. Although this foot position works well for snowboarding, it does not work well for attempting to walk with the snowboard before and after descending the slope. Although rotatable bindings are known, they are not necessarily user-friendly.
An example of a presently known snowboard binding is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,603, which was issued to B. Borsoi on Oct. 6, 1998. This patent discloses a snowboard binding having a circular plate that is rotatably secured to the base. No means of securing the base in a desired position with respect to the circular plate is disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,945, which was issued to P. R. Acuna, Jr. on Mar. 2, 1999, discloses an angularly adjustable snowboard boot mounting. The mounting includes a top disk fitting within a substantially circular upper cavity of the base of the binding. A base disk fits within a substantially circular lower cavity of the boot binding, and is mounted to the snowboard. The base disk includes raised ridges that engage complementary channels defined within the body of the binding. The bottom surface of the top disk and the wall of the upper cavity in the binding base also have complementary teeth that engage each other. The top disk, main body, and base disk or joined by a vertical shaft. A lever is provided at the top of the vertical shaft. A spring is positioned between the main body of the top disk, biasing the top disk and main body away from each other. Moving the lever from the open position to the closed position compresses the spring, causing the corresponding teeth in the top disk, bottom disk, and base to engage each other. When the lever is moved from the closed to the open position, a cam releases the tension in the vertical shaft, creating a gap between the upper surface of the top disk and the top lever. The angle of the main body with respect to the board can then be adjusted, and the top lever closed. The location of the top lever underneath the wearer's foot requires that the binding be removed from the wearer's foot in order to manipulate the lever.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,488, which was issued to R. Gorza et al. on Sep. 7, 1999, discloses an angular adjustment device for a snowboard binding. The device includes a disk having teeth about its periphery, and which is rigidly secured to the snowboard. The base of the binding is rotatably associated with the disk. The base includes a pair of pawls on each side of the disk, which are structured to engage the teeth of the disk, and which are spring biased towards the disk. An actuation ring surrounds the disk, and includes angled surfaces that are structured to interact with corresponding angled surfaces on the pawls, so that rotation of the actuation ring pushes the pawls out of engagement with the disk. Rotation of the actuation ring is controlled by a lever, with a gear operatively connected to the end of the lever's shaft. The gear interacts with teeth on the actuation ring to rotate the actuation ring upon activation of the lever. This device does not include a means of resisting accidental activation of the lever.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,290,785, which was issued to P. A. Dixon on Nov. 6, 2007, discloses an angular adjustment mechanism for snowboard bindings. The device includes an upper plate and upper gear coupling secured to the boot binding, and a lower retainer and lower gear coupling secured to the snowboard. A wave washer disposed above the upper gear coupling biases the upper gear coupling into engagement with the lower gear coupling, resisting rotation of the binding. The user can rotate the binding by raising their foot to bring the upper gear coupling and lower gear coupling out of engagement.
EP 0 761 261 discloses numerous variations of a rotating binding for a snowboard. The bindings include a disk that is rigidly connected to the snowboard, and a binding having a base that is rotatably connected to the disk. One example includes a pawl that is hingedly secured to the base, and includes teeth for engaging holes defined within the disk. As another alternative, a horizontally pivoting pawl may include one portion having a tooth that engages corresponding teeth defined at the edge of the disk, and a second portion that protrudes from the binding for manipulation by the user. This pawl is spring biased towards the disk. Yet another example includes a semicircular pawl having teeth defined along its concave edge, with this pawl being spring biased towards the disk. A rod connected to one end of the pawl protrudes from the base, and maybe pushed inward by the user to push the pawl away from the disk to rotate the binding. A lever may be provided at the end of this rod that is actuated by the user. A further example includes a worm gear that engages teeth around the edge of the disk, so that adjusting the angle of the binding is accomplished by rotating the worm gear. Yet another example includes teeth defined on the top surface of the disk, and a spring biased block having teeth on its bottom surface engaging the teeth on the disk. A lever having an eccentric element may be used to raise or lower the block, and to secure the block against the disk. As another variation of this embodiment, a pushbutton mechanism may be used to retract a spring biased engagement from the block. Some of these devices do not permit rotation of the binding without removing the user's foot. Other devices do not appear to provide significant resistance to accidental activation.
Accordingly, there is a need for a rotating binding for a snowboard that permits rotation of the binding without removing the user's foot from the binding. There is an additional need for a rotating binding for snowboard that resists unintentional rotation of the binding. There is a further need for a snowboard having retractable fins that may be extended below the snowboard when desired for walking with one's foot within the snowboard binding, thus facilitating walking by permitting desired movement of the snowboard while resisting undesired movement of the snowboard.
The above needs are met by a rotatable binding assembly for a binding for a sliding recreational device. The sliding recreational device has a top surface and the binding has a base defining a bottom surface. The rotatable binding assembly comprises a disk having a periphery. The disk is secured to one of the top surface of the recreational device or the bottom surface of the base. The rotatable binding assembly further comprises a frame. The frame defines an aperture that is structured to receive the disk therein. The frame is secured to or forms a portion of the other of the top surface of the recreational device or the bottom surface of the base. The rotatable binding assembly additionally comprises a disk engagement member movably secured to the frame. The disk engagement member defines a disk engaging end that is structured to resist movement of the frame relative to the disk when the disk engaging end abuts the disk. The disk engagement member is movable between a first position wherein the disk engaging end abuts the disk, and a second position wherein the disk engaging end is separated from the disk. The rotatable binding assembly further includes an actuation member movably secured to the disk engagement member. The actuation member is movable between a first position wherein movement of the disk engaging member is resisted, and a second position wherein movement of the disk engagement member is permitted. The actuation member is further structured so that, when the actuation member is in its second position, movement of the disk engagement member towards or away from the disk is accomplished by moving the actuation member.
The binding may be rotated by grasping the actuation member, moving the actuation member in a first direction to permit movement of the disk engagement member, moving the actuation member in a second direction to move the disk engagement member away from the disk, and rotating the binding. Once the binding is in a desired rotational position, the actuation member is moved in a third direction to move the disk engagement member towards the disk, and the actuation member is then moved in a fourth direction to resist movement of the disk engagement member.
The above needs are further met by a retractable fin assembly for a sliding recreational device. The sliding recreational device has a top surface and a bottom surface. The retractable fin assembly comprises at least one fin movably mounted on the sliding recreational device. The fin is movable between an extended position wherein the fin extends below the bottom surface of the recreational device, and a retracted position wherein the fin does not extend below the bottom surface of the recreational device.
The above needs are also met by a sliding recreational device having a rotatable binding assembly as well as a retractable fin assembly. The sliding recreational device has a top surface and a bottom surface. The rotatable binding assembly comprises a disk having a periphery. The disk is secured to one of the top surface of the recreational device or the bottom surface of the base. The rotatable binding assembly also includes a frame. The frame defines an aperture that is structured to receive the disk therein. The frame is secured to or forms a portion of the other of the top surface of the recreational device or the bottom surface of the base. The rotatable binding assembly additionally comprises a disk engagement member movably secured to the frame. The disk engagement member defines a disk engaging end that is structured to resist movement of the frame relative to the disk when the disk engaging end abuts the disk. The disk engagement member is movable between a first position wherein the disk engaging end abuts the disk, and a second position wherein the disk engaging end is separated from the disk. The rotatable binding additionally includes an actuation member movably secured to the disk engagement member. The actuation member is movable between a first position wherein movement of the disk engaging member is resisted, and a second position wherein movement of the disk engagement member is permitted. The actuation member is further structured so that, when the actuation member is in its second position, movement of the disk engagement member towards or away from the disk is accomplished by moving the actuation member.
The binding may be rotated by grasping the actuation member, moving the actuation member in a first direction to permit movement of the disk engagement member, moving the actuation member in a second direction to move the disk engagement member away from the disk, and rotating the binding. Once the desired position is reached, the actuation member is moved in a third direction to move the disk engagement member towards the disk, and then the actuation member is moved in a fourth direction to resist movement of the disk engagement member.
The sliding recreational device also comprises a retractable fin assembly. The retractable fin assembly comprises at least one fin movably mounted on the sliding recreational device. The fin is movable between an extended position wherein the fin extends below the bottom surface of the recreational device, and a retracted position wherein the fin does not extend below the bottom surface of the recreational device.
These and other aspects of the invention will become more apparent through the following description and drawings.
Referring to the drawings, a rotation device for a binding for a sliding recreational device such as a snowboard.
Referring to
The gear 16 is best illustrated in
The base plate 20 is best illustrated in
The lever 22 includes both an inner portion 44 (
Referring to
The assembled rotation device 24 is best illustrated in
A modified rotation device 10A is illustrated in
The base plate 20A includes a generally central cutout 26A for receiving the gear 16A. The base plate 20A also includes a cutout 27A corresponding to the projection 19 of the gear 16A. In the illustrated example, the cutout 27A forms a portion of the cutout 26A, extending around about the periphery of about half of the cutout 26A, and defining a limit 29A, 29B at each end. In the illustrated example, the cutout 27A does not extend completely through the base plate 20A. The base plate 20A also defines a cutout 23A for receiving a lever 22 as described above, including a limit 31A for limiting rotation of the lever 22 past its gear-engaging position, and a limit 31B for limiting rotation of the lever 22 past its gear-disengaging position. As before, the pin 78 provides a pivot point for the lever 22.
To provide rotatability to the binding 14, the rotation device 10 is provided between the binding mounting plate 12 and snowboard 2. In the illustrated example, the gear 16 is positioned below the binding mounting plate 12, and fastened to the ring 71 using pins passing through the gear 16 and ring 17, with the binding mounting plate 12 sandwiched therebetween. The base plate 20 is secured to the top surface of the snowboard 2. The plate 75 is placed on top of ring 71, and fastened to the snowboard 2 in the manner described above. With the rotation device 10 thus secured between the snowboard 2 and binding 14, the binding 14 can be rotated as described below.
The gear 16 in the illustrated example is attached to the binding mounting plate 12. The gear 16 is disposed within the cutout 26, thereby bringing the teeth 18 into engagement with the gear engaging end 28 of the lever 22. When the gear engaging end 28 engages the teeth 18, rotation between the base plate 20 and binding mounting plate 12 is resisted. With the components as illustrated in
As shown in
In some examples, the outer portion 46 of the lever 22 may be biased towards its retracted position, in some examples by a spring.
Other means of providing for rotation between the gear 16 and base plate 20 may be provided. For example, the adjacent members that rotate with respect to each other could be a pair of disks (which need not be round) that include adjacent surfaces that are structured to frictionally engage each other, or to include ridges that engage each other, when the disks are pressed together, and to rotate with respect to each other when compression is removed, in a manner similar to a clutch arrangement. As another alternative, either of the two adjacent rotating members can include pins that fit within holes defined within the other rotating member when in the desired position with respect to each other, for example, the gear 16 can include pins, and the base plate 20 can include corresponding holes. When the two components are compressed together in a correct position, rotation is resisted. Otherwise, rotation is permitted.
The user of a snowboard will typically ride the snowboard with the user's feet generally perpendicular to the direction of the snowboard. Prior snowboard bindings are designed for use of the snowboard with the binding in this configuration. However, this position of the snowboard with respect to the user's feet makes walking awkward, and can cause the snowboard to bang the skis or feet of a person riding next to the snowboard user on a chair lift. The ability to rotate the binding with respect to the snowboard so that the user's foot is parallel to the snowboard when walking or riding a chair lift makes these activities easier and more convenient for the user. The present rotation device provides a means of rotating the binding with respect to the snowboard as desired by the user.
To assist with walking with the snowboard, some examples may provide a retractable fin assembly 6, which is best illustrated in
Referring back to
In the illustrated example of the retractable fin assembly six, the rod 130 is biased towards the ends 132, 134 of the slots 126, 128 by at least one spring. In the illustrated example, a pair of springs 140, 142 extends between the rod 130 and a pair of brackets 144, 146, respectively, each of which is secured to the snowboard 2. A latch 148 includes a base 150 that is secured to the snowboard 2, and a curved arm 152 pivotally secured to the base 150. The curved arm 152 defines an outwardly facing convex surface 154 and an inwardly facing concave surface 156. The curved arm also includes an upward projection 157 to facilitate raising the arm 152 as described below. When the rod 130 is pulled towards the latch 148, the rod striking the convex surface 154 causes the arm 152 to pivot away from the snowboard 2, permitting the rod 130 to pass under the arm 152 and into the latch 148. The arm 152 is then lowered by gravity, and the concave surface 156 retains the rod 130 within the latch 148, thus retaining the fins 88, 90 in their extended position of
When the user is riding a ski lift with the snowboard, the user can have the forward binding attached to their boot and have the board rotated so that it is oriented forward and backward rather than sideways, where the board will not strike the skis of other ski lift riders. Upon exiting the ski lift, the user can extend the fins to facilitate walking with the snowboard. Once the user reaches the top of a slope, the user can retract the fins, rotate the rotatable binding into a conventional snowboarding position, strap their other foot into the conventional binding, and proceed down the slope. Upon reaching the bottom of the slope, the user can unstrap the conventional binding, rotate the rotating binding, extend the fins, and easily walk with the board.
Although the illustrated example utilizes a pivoting fin, those skilled in the art will realize that minor modification of the above-described retractable fins could result in a linearly moving retractable fin.
A variety of modifications to the above-described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure. For example, the base plate 20 may be eliminated, with the binding secured directly to the remainder of the invention. As another example, the features of the base plate 20 could be provided directly on a snowboard with which the binding is used. Thus, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. The particular embodiments disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention. The appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, should be referenced to indicate the scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/318,754, filed Apr. 5, 2016, and entitled “Rotation Device for Snowboard Binding,” as well as U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/338,488, filed May 18, 2016, and entitled “Rotation Device for Snowboard Binding.”
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5667237 | Lauer | Sep 1997 | A |
5669630 | Perkins | Sep 1997 | A |
5791678 | Perlman | Aug 1998 | A |
5816603 | Borsoi | Oct 1998 | A |
5876045 | Acuna, Jr. | Mar 1999 | A |
5947488 | Gorza | Sep 1999 | A |
6022041 | Dailey | Feb 2000 | A |
6056312 | Hogstedt | May 2000 | A |
6102430 | Reynolds | Aug 2000 | A |
6318749 | Eglitis et al. | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6742801 | Dodge | Jun 2004 | B1 |
7290785 | Dixon | Nov 2007 | B2 |
7837219 | Cordes | Nov 2010 | B1 |
8371591 | Hwongbo | Feb 2013 | B2 |
9072959 | Bernal Bascunana | Jul 2015 | B2 |
10065102 | Reguis | Sep 2018 | B2 |
10105586 | Olsen-Lund | Oct 2018 | B1 |
20020063404 | Lafond | May 2002 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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0 761 261 | Mar 1997 | EP |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20180078845 A1 | Mar 2018 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62318754 | Apr 2016 | US | |
62338488 | May 2016 | US |