Background
Generally, ski bindings are directly affixed to a supporting ski using a set of screws. Bindings are custom sized to the skier's boot/sole size, and once mounted, the bindings are effectively permanent. As a result, the current model for skis and bindings involves one pair of bindings for each individual pair of skis. A customer who purchases, adds, or otherwise desires to switch to an alternate pair of skis requires an additional set of costly bindings.
SUMMARY
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
One embodiment provides a transferrable mount system for a ski binding assembly having a toe portion and a heel portion. The transferrable mount system may include a base plate assembly configured to affix to a ski, the base plate assembly including a toe base plate and a heel base plate. The transferrable mount system may also include a mount plate assembly configured to affix to the ski binding assembly, the mount plate assembly including a toe mount plate and a heel mount plate, and a selective locking mechanism integrated within either the base plate assembly or the mount plate assembly, the locking mechanism configured to selectively couple the mount plate assembly with the base plate assembly.
Another embodiment provides a transferrable mounting system for mounting a ski boot to a ski via a releasable factory binding assembly. The transferrable mounting system may include a toe mount assembly configured to selectively secure a toe portion of the binding assembly to a front portion of the ski, the toe mount assembly comprising a toe base plate configured to affix to the front portion of the ski and a toe mount plate configured to affix to the toe portion of the binding assembly. The transferrable mounting system may also include a toe locking mechanism configured to releasably engage the toe mount plate with the toe base plate and a first hard stop adapted to prevent movement of the toe mount plate relative to the toe base plate in a forward direction toward a front end of the ski.
Yet another embodiment provides a method of transferring a ski binding assembly between skis. The method may include the steps of (1) affixing a toe portion of the ski binding assembly to a top surface of a toe mount plate and a heel portion of the ski binding assembly to a top surface of a heel mount plate; (2) affixing a bottom surface of a first toe base plate to a front portion of a first ski and a bottom surface of a first heel base plate to a rear portion of the first ski; (3) affixing a bottom surface of a second toe base plate to a front portion of a second ski and a bottom surface of a second heel base plate to a rear portion of the second ski; (4) removably mounting the ski binding assembly to the first ski by engaging the toe mount plate with the first toe base plate and the heel mount plate with the first heel base plate; and (5) transferring the ski binding assembly from the first ski to the second ski by (a) disengaging the toe mount plate from the first toe base plate and the heel mount plate from the first heel base plate; and (b) engaging the toe mount plate with the second toe base plate and the heel mount plate with the second heel base plate. The method may be accomplished manually and without the use of any type of tool.
Other embodiments are also disclosed.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the technology will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned from practice of the technology.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention, including the preferred embodiment, are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. Illustrative embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a transferrable mounting system for mounting a ski boot to a ski via a releasable factory binding assembly;
FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate exploded top and bottom views of one embodiment of a transferrable mounting system having an integrated locking mechanism;
FIGS. 2C-2D illustrate respective perspective views of the transferrable mounting system of FIGS. 2A-2B in disengaged and engaged positions;
FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate respective perspective views of another embodiment of a transferrable mounting system having an integrated locking mechanism in disengaged and engaged positions;
FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of a transferable mounting system having an integrated locking mechanism in a disengaged position;
FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate respective end views of an embodiment of a self-locking base plate, a self-locking mount plate, and self-locked base and mount plates of an embodiment of a transferrable mounting system;
FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate respective perspective views of an embodiment of a self-locking transferrable mounting system in disengaged, partially engaged, and engaged positions;
FIGS. 7A-7B illustrate respective bottom and top perspective views of an embodiment of a transferrable mount system incorporating one or more hard stops; and
FIG. 8 illustrates a flow chart depicting an exemplary method of using an embodiment of a transferrable mount system to transfer a factory binding assembly between multiple pairs of skis.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments are described more fully below in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the system and method. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
Various embodiments of the systems and methods described herein relate to a transferrable mount system for a factory ski binding assembly. The transferrable mount system provides an integrated and modular ski binding accessory that allows for complete versatility between ski bindings and the ski itself, freeing users from the current model, which requires one set of bindings for every pair of skis. Once mounted, existing bindings are effectively permanent, and skiers are forced to purchase a new set of bindings for every pair of skis they own, drastically increasing the cost of skiing and preventing skiers from enjoying flexibility in terms of using different skis for different snow and/or weather conditions or allowing different users to share skis. The transferrable mount system discussed herein allows skiers to purchase one set of bindings and transfer that same set of bindings from one pair of skis to any number of other pairs, reducing the total cost of the sport and increasing convenience to consumers. Ski manufacturers and retail sellers also experience sales benefits, which will be discussed in further detail below.
Embodiments of the transferrable mount system feature a base plate assembly configured to permanently affix to a ski and a mount plate assembly configured to permanently affix to a factory binding assembly. The base plate and mount plate assemblies may be mated or locked into place either by employing a locking mechanism that is simply and efficiently integrated within either the base plate assembly and/or the mount plate assembly or, alternatively, the base and mount plate assemblies may be locked by leveraging selectively interlocking geometries of the base and mount plate assemblies, along with the rigidity of the ski boot secured within the mounted bindings against a set of hard stops within the base plate and/or mount plate assemblies.
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a transferrable mount system 10 for a ski binding assembly 12, as mounted between a ski 14 to the bottom and to a toe portion 16 and a heel portion 18 of factory boot binding assembly 12 to the top. In this embodiment, mount system 10 may include a base plate assembly 20 affixed to ski 14 and a mount plate assembly 22 affixed toe and heel portions 16, 18 of factory binding assembly 12. In further detail, base plate assembly 20 may include two base plates 24: one (toe) base plate 24 mounted to a forward or front portion of ski 14 along arrow A and another (heel) base plate 24 mounted to a rearward or rear portion of ski 14, opposite arrow A. Mount plate assembly 22 may include two mount plates 26: one (toe) mount plate 26 affixed to toe portion 16 of factory binding assembly 12 and another (heel) mount plate 26 affixed to heel portion 18 of factory binding assembly 12.
Embodiments of toe and heel base plates 24 may be identical and interchangeable with one another. Similarly, embodiments of toe and heel mount plates 26 may be identical and interchangeable with one another. To mount toe and heel portions 16, 18 of bindings 12 to ski 14, base and mount plates 24, 26 may be affixed to ski 14 and factory bindings 12, respectively, using any appropriate and/or traditional fastening mechanisms, such as, for example, adhesives, screws and/or other fasteners. Once attached to bindings 12, mount plates 26 may be selectively engaged and disengaged with base plates 24, and thus ski 14, via a number of locking mechanisms 28, described in further detail below. This selective engagement between mount plates 24 and base plates 26 allows binding assembly 12 to be transitioned between pairs of skis 14 with the simple addition of another set of base plates 24 attached to each new pair of skis 14.
FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate top and bottom exploded views of one embodiment of a transferrable mount system 10a, having a base plate 24a, a mount plate 26a, and an integrated locking mechanism 28a. In this embodiment, base plate 24a may include edge protrusions 30 configured to mate with and slide within guide channels 32 located along the longitudinal edges of mount plate 26a. Locking mechanism 28a may be formed of a mechanical toggle 34 that is rotatively coupled to an end of base plate 24a and may include an aperture 36 configured to capture a mating protrusion 38 that extends from an underside of base plate 26a, shown in FIG. 2B. To interlock base plate 24a and mount plate 26a, as shown in FIGS. 2C-2D, a user may align edge protrusions 30 of base plate 24a with guide channels 32 of mount plate 26a before sliding mount plate 26a toward toggle 34 along the direction of arrow B. Once mount plate 26a is seated, toggle 34 may be manually rotated about its center axis, as indicated by arrow C, such that aperture 36 captures protrusion and locks mount plate 26a in an engaged position above base plate 24a, as shown in FIG. 2D. Notably, locking mechanism 28a may be located at any appropriate position or end of base plate 24a and mount plate 26a. In addition, edge protrusions 30 and guide channels 32 may be reversed and/or configured in any appropriate manner.
FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate perspective views of another embodiment of a transferrable mount system 10b with respect to toe portion 16 of binding assembly 12. In this embodiment, transferrable mount system 10b may include a base plate 24b, a mount plate 26b, and an integrated locking mechanism 28b. In this embodiment, locking mechanism 28b may be formed of a mechanical toggle or slider 40. Slider 40 may be spring biased toward a locked or engaged position depicted by arrow D. In use, the user may manually press slider 40 in a direction opposite arrow D to move slider 40 into an unlocked or disengaged position in which mount plate 26b may be aligned with and slid into place over base plate 24b, as discussed above in relation to system 10a. Once mount plate 26b is in position over base plate 24b, the user may release slider 40, allowing slider 40 to automatically return or “spring back” into the locked position, where it may protrude through a retainment hole 42 formed in the longitudinal side of mount plate 26b, as shown in FIG. 3B. Thus, when mount plate 26b is positioned over base plate 24b, and when slider 40 is released into the locked position shown in FIG. 3B, mount plate 26b and base plate 24b are locked relative to one another. While FIGS. 3A-3B and the above discussion refer to slider 40 as disposed upon base plate 24b, it should be understood that the positioning of slider 40 and retainment hole 42 could be reversed, such that slider 40 is disposed upon mount plate 26b and retainment hole 42 is formed within base plate 24b. Slider 40 may be biased toward the locked position using any appropriate spring, including, for example, a coil spring or a leaf spring.
FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of a transferrable mount system 10c with respect to toe portion 16 of binding assembly 12. In this embodiment, mount system 10c may include a base plate 24c, a mount plate 26c, and an integrated locking mechanism 28c. In this embodiment, locking mechanism 28c may include a spring-biased cam shaft 44 that is disposed upon base plate 24c and configured such that it rotates along arrow E between a locked position that automatically engages with a retainment aperture 46 in mount plate 26c when the user is not manually restraining cam shaft 44 and an unlocked position that is disengaged from mount plate 26c, and shown in FIG. 4, thereby allowing mount plate 26c to be removed or slid away from the base plate 24c. Similar to the spring-biased slider locking mechanism discussed in relation to FIGS. 3A-3B above, cam shaft 44 may be located upon either base plate 24c, as shown in FIG. 4, or upon mount plate 26c, as appropriate and/or desired.
FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate end views of one embodiment of self-locking base and mount plates 24d, 26d that feature selectively interlocking geometries that mate to form a transferrable mount system 10d. In this embodiment, base plate 24d may be formed of a metal extrusion having a t-shaped cross-section 48, while mount plate 26d may be formed of a corresponding extrusion having a c-shaped cross-section 50 that is designed to “slide over” and envelop the t-shaped cross-section 48 of base plate 24d. In use, mount plate 26d may be attached to each of toe and heel portions 16, 18 of binding 12 (FIG. 1) and slid over base plate 24d, which may be attached to ski 14 (FIG. 1), until the two are frictionally nested as shown in FIG. 5C. In alternate embodiments, the cross-sections of base and mount plates 24d, 26d may be reversed. That is, base plate 24d may feature a c-shaped cross-section, and mount plate 26d may feature a t-shaped cross-section, such that the mount plate may slide into or within the “cup” of the base plate. Other embodiments may feature base and/or mount plates having any appropriate size, shape, type, and/or geometrical configuration.
FIG. 6A illustrates an exploded view of another embodiment of self-locking base and mount plates 24e, 26e that feature interlocking geometries that mate to form a transferrable mount system 10e. In this embodiment, base plate 24e may form a t-shaped cross section 52, with a number of tabs 54 formed in flanges 56 that extend outward on either side of t-shaped cross section 52. Mount plate 26e may form a c-shaped cross section 58 having a number of notches 60 formed in flanges 62 that extend inward on either side of c-shaped cross section 58. Tabs 54 of base plate 24e and notches 60 of mount plate 26e may be configured to interlock in that notches 60 on mount plate 26e may be aligned with tabs 54 in base plate 24e before mount plate 26e is dropped over base plate 24e and slid rearward to secure the c-shaped and u-shaped plates together via a friction fit, as shown in FIGS. 6B-6C.
To provide a positive lock for either the integrated locking mechanisms or the self-locking base and mount plate structures discussed above, each of the toe and heel base plates 24 may incorporate a hard stop. FIG. 7A shows a bottom perspective view of one embodiment of a transferrable mount system 10f attached to toe portion 16 of binding 12. In this embodiment, a toe base plate 24f may incorporate a hard or “positive” stop 64, which prevents mount plate 26f from sliding relative to base plate 24f in an outward direction toward the front end of the ski (not shown), as depicted by arrow F.
FIG. 7B illustrates the functionality of hard stop 64 across both toe portion 16 and heel portion 18 of binding 12. With respect to toe portion 16, positive stop 64 may be positioned to prevent the sliding of mount plate 26f relative to base plate 24f in the forward travel toward the front end of ski 14, in the direction of arrow F. Similarly, with respect to heel portion 18, positive stop 64 may be positioned to prevent travel of mount plate 26f relative to base plate 24f in the rearward travel direction toward the rear end of ski 14, opposite the direction of arrow F. That is, at the toe base plate/toe mount plate, the hard stop may prevent the toe mount plate from sliding relative to the toe base plate in a forward direction toward the front end of the ski. At the heel base plate/heel mount plate, the hard stop may prevent the heel mount plate from sliding relative to the heel base plate in a rearward direction toward the rear end of the ski. When a ski boot 66 is clicked into toe and heel portions 16, 18 of factory binding 12 (which are, in turn, attached to the toe and heel mount plates 26f), the toe and heel mount plates 26f are bounded in their respective outward travel directions by hard stops 64 and in their respective inward directions by ski boot 66 disposed therebetween. As a result, toe and heel mount plates 26f lock in relation to toe and heel base plates 24f without any type of external or integrated locking mechanism, further simplifying and streamlining the system design by reducing the number of moving parts. If desired and/or appropriate, an integrated locking mechanism of the type discussed above may be included.
While the self-locking base and mount plates are described in relation to FIGS. 5A-5C and 6A-6C as having particular configurations, it should be understood that the self-locking base and mount plates may have any appropriate size, shape, and/or configuration. For example, while the hard stops are described as being disposed upon the toe and heel base plates, the hard stops may be disposed upon the toe and heel mount plates, as appropriate.
FIG. 8 provides a flowchart depicting an exemplary method 100 of transferring factory bindings 12 between skis 14 using an embodiment of the transferrable mount system 10. Method 100 initiates when a user permanently affixes a single set of toe and heel mount plates 26 to right and left factory binding assemblies 12 (102) and affixes respective first and second sets of toe and heel base plates 24 to at least first and second pairs of right and left skis 14 (104). Affixing base plates 24 and mount plates 26 to the skis and the bindings may be accomplished in any appropriate manner using traditional tools, materials, and methods (e.g., a vice, hand drill, hand tap, glue, screws, screwdriver, etc.). Once the base and mount plates 24, 26 are affixed to the skis and the bindings, respectively, the user may removably mount factory bindings upon the first pair of skis by interlocking the mount plates 26 to the first set of base plates 24 via any of the manual and tool-free locking mechanisms discussed above (106). To switch or transfer the bindings to the second set of skis, the user may easily detach the factory bindings from the first pair of skis by disengaging the single set of mount plates 26 from the first set of base plates 24 (108), before transferring the bindings to the second pair of skis by positioning the bindings in relation to the second pair of skis and removably mounting the attached mount plates 26 to the second set of base plates 24 attached to the second pair of skis (110). An unlimited number of ski pairs may be leveraged using the same bindings by simply adding an additional set of base plates to each additional pair of skis. The user may then transfer the factory bindings between ski pairs in seconds without the use of tools.
Employing embodiments of the transferrable ski binding mount system discussed above leads to a number of benefits for the user/skier, as well as for manufacturers and retail sellers of skis and bindings. As discussed above, the user need only purchase an additional base plate assembly for each new pair of skis before employing the same set of bindings across multiple different pairs of skis, each outfitted with an inexpensive base plate assembly. By attaching a single set of bindings to the toe and heel mount plates and, in turn, attaching and detaching the mount plates to and from the base plates attached to each set of skis, the transferrable mount system allows users to easily, quickly, and securely switch bindings from ski to ski, providing a more efficient, inexpensive, and seamless ski experience. In addition, because the design seamlessly integrates a self-contained locking mechanism or does not require a locking mechanism at all (by relying on the hard stops, the interconnecting geometries of the base and mount plates, and/or the rigidity of the boot between the heel and toe portions of the binding to lock the mount plates in place upon the base plates), the transferrable mount system minimizes moving parts and/or removable parts while still maintaining a sophisticated toe/heel design that allows for flexion of the ski between the skier's heel and toe.
Beyond providing convenience and cost savings to skiers, the transferrable mount system significantly increases profit potential for ski manufacturers from an increase in the number of total skis sold. This benefit stems from the fact that profit margins on skis are significantly higher than profit margins on bindings. Skis are less intensive and expensive to build, contain more cost-effective materials, and have much higher manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRPs). Rather than maintaining a one-to-one ratio between skis and bindings, the transferrable mount system allows ski manufactures to sell numerous sets of skis to each consumer or to “double dip” on consumers. This bolsters the bottom line, which is compounded because skis are the more profitable product. Also, when demand for skis is high, manufacturers may maintain higher sell-in prices to retailers.
On the retailer level, customers who would currently consider the purchase of a new pair of skis are deterred by the high cost of bindings. With this inhibitor removed, the demand increases, and retailers may sell product at MSRP, rather than offering steep incentives and discounts, allowing retailers to sell more skis at higher margins.
Although the above embodiments have been described in language that is specific to certain structures, elements, compositions, and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the technology defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures, elements, compositions and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed technology. Since many embodiments of the technology can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
Patent Application
20170246527
