Land vehicles – Runner vehicle – Standing occupant
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-04
2001-06-26
Camby, Richard M. (Department: 3661)
Land vehicles
Runner vehicle
Standing occupant
C024S705000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250651
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an adjustable strap and, more particularly, to an adjustable strap for a binding or a boot.
2. Description of Related Art
Adjustable straps are commonly found in sports shoes or boots, such as in-line skates, ski boots, snowboard boots and the like, and in bindings for sport shoes or boots, such as snowboard and ski bindings. An adjustable strap typically includes a pair of strap portions that are adjustably secured to each other using a buckle, such as a ratchet buckle, that permits incremental tightening of the binding straps as well as quick release of the buckle and straps.
In many applications, the strap portions are separated from each other to completely loosen the strap. For example, a strap binding system for soft snowboard boots typically includes one or more straps for securing the boot to the snowboard. The strap portions are separated from each other to provide an opening for the rider to place his or her foot into the binding. The strap portions are then rejoined and tightened around the seated boot to securely hold the boot on the snowboard.
A day of riding may involve numerous occurrences of releasing and securing the binding strap because the user must remove the rear boot from its binding prior to ascending the mountain on the chair lift and then, upon exiting the chair lift, must reattach the rear boot and binding prior to the next ride down the trail. Securing the straps requires the user to rejoin the strap portions by inserting one of the strap portions through the buckle using both hands in the process. The ease in which a binding strap may be released and then secured is important in snowboarding.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved adjustable strap that limits separation of the strap portions from each other for quick and easy tightening and loosening of the strap.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the invention is directed to an adjustable strap comprising a first strap including a fastening device mounted at one end thereof and a second strap extending through the fastening device to adjustably attach the second strap to the first strap. The fastening device has a locking mode and a release mode. A stop is provided to limit withdrawal of the second strap through the fastening device when the fastening device is in the release mode to otherwise permit withdrawal of the second strap therethrough.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an adjustable strap comprising a first strap including a buckle mounted to the first strap at a first location thereon, and a second strap that is slidably received through the buckle to be adjustably secured to the first strap at the first location. The second strap is also slidably attached to the first strap at a second location that is spaced from the first location. A portion of the first and second straps overlap each other between the first and second locations, and the second strap is maintained substantially parallel to the first strap between the first and second locations.
A further embodiment of the invention is directed to a snowboard binding comprising a base plate that is mountable to a snowboard and is adapted to receive a boot, and an adjustable strap mounted to the base plate to extend across a portion thereof to secure the boot to the snowboard. The adjustable strap comprises a first strap including a buckle mounted at a first end thereof, and a second strap including an end portion extending through the fastening device to adjustably attach the second strap to the first strap. The buckle has a locking mode and a release mode. An anchor is slidably supported by the first strap with the end portion of the second strap being attached to the anchor to maintain the end portion in close proximity to the first strap and to limit withdrawal of the second strap through the buckle when the buckle is in the release mode to otherwise permit withdrawal of the second strap therethrough.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.
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Coulter Ryan
Doyle Christopher M.
Reuss Stefan
West Brian D.
Camby Richard M.
The Burton Corporation
Wolf Greenfield & Sacks P.C.
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