Land vehicles – Runner vehicle – Standing occupant
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-04
2001-09-18
Camby, Richard M. (Department: 3661)
Land vehicles
Runner vehicle
Standing occupant
C280S607000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290243
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to rotationally adjustable snowboard bindings, and, more particularly, relates to such binding systems allowing rotational adjustment of the rider's boot while in the binding relative to the surface of a snowboard.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Snowboard bindings incorporate a central disk which is rigidly attached to the snowboard, the disk capturing and engaging a base plate of the binding through a central aperture therein. The base plate is thereby securely fastened to the snowboard. Snowboard binding designs are now available which allow the angular orientation of the base plate, and thus the angular orientation of a rider's foot held at the base plate, to be adjusted relative to the surface of the snowboard without requiring the removal of the binding from the snowboard (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,236,216, 5,354,088, 5,028,068). However, many of these designs require the removal of the boot from the binding in order to make the adjustment. Some allow the rotational adjustment while the boot remains secured at the base plate of the binding.
Rotationally adjustable bindings are highly desirable since use thereof allows a given rider's preferred orientation on the board to be readily established and or changed as conditions or preferences change without repositioning the entire binding, including binding fasteners anchored in the snowboard. This is particularly advantageous for equipment rental shops where frequent adjustments may be expected from one rental customer to the next, heretofore requiring removal of the binding fasteners from the board and reinsertion thereof corresponding to the new, preferred binding orientation resulting in undo wear and tear of inserts and at the surface of the snowboard and shorter rental equipment useful life.
Snowboard bindings that can be maintained in a substantially free rotational state are also advantageous allowing the rider to orient the binding so that the rider's foot is aligned parallel to the snowboard length (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,552). This establishes the board in a skating position which allows the rider to easily manipulate through ski lift lines and the like and to assume a more comfortable position while sitting on a lift chair. However, securement against release to the free rotational state must be provided. A system that allows such release by a single movement, action or force cannot be considered to be secure because of the possibility that any single force which will release the binding to free rotation can be replicated, and thus not precluded from inadvertent application, while a binding is in use (for example by collisions or use on particularly jarring or difficult terrain).
Heretofore known rotationally adjustable bindings have not provided a combination of features felt to be necessary to maximize the benefits of such bindings. Such bindings should combine ease of use (for example, allowing adjustment without boot removal and simplicity of switching from a free rotational state to a secure state, preferably a single action using the rider's rear, or free, boot), ability to maintain the binding in the free rotational state and adjustability of the level of resistance to rotation in that state, and security from inadvertent switching to the free rotational state from the secured, or stable, state. Further improvement could thus still be utilized.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides improved rotationally adjustable snowboard bindings and methods, and more particularly provides improved angular displacement control apparatus and methods for such bindings.
The apparatus and method provide a combination of features to maximize the benefits of such bindings, including ease of adjustment without boot removal and simplicity of switching from a free rotational state to a secured state (preferably a single action using the rider's rear, or free, boot), ability to maintain the binding in the free rotational state and adjustability of the level of resistance to rotation in that state, and security from inadvertent switching to the free rotational state from the secured, or stable, state.
Use of this invention provides for highly reliable securement of angular position of the binding to the snowboard, for quick, continuously adjustable, reorientation of the binding with respect to the snowboard without the necessity of removing or loosening the mounting screws or the rider's boot, and ease of return to an angularly secured position.
The angular displacement control apparatus includes an actuator at the binding having a portion that is movable between an engaged position and an unengaged position corresponding to a rotationally secured state of the binding and a substantially free rotational state of the binding, respectively. A latching mechanism is provided that acts at least at one of the positions to assure non-movement of the actuator portion absent active movement of the latching mechanism by a user.
The rotationally adjustable binding of this invention includes a disk and a base plate having an aperture therein, the disk and the base plate being relatively rotatable with either the disk or the base plate being anchored to the snowboard. A release and securement assembly is connected with the base plate for controlling relative angular displacement between the disk and base plate. The release and securement assembly includes a lever movable between positions corresponding to substantially free rotational and rotationally secured states of the disk and base plate, the latching mechanism acting in cooperation with the lever.
The method of this invention includes the steps of latching an actuator at the binding that is movable between an engaged position and an unengaged position corresponding to a rotationally secured state of the binding and a substantially free rotational state of the binding, respectively. At least at one of the positions non-movement of the actuator is assured by the latching absent active unlatching by a user.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved rotationally adjustable snowboard binding apparatus and method.
It is another object of this invention to provide improved angular displacement control for rotationally adjustable snowboard bindings.
It is another object of this invention to provide rotationally adjustable snowboard binding apparatus and methods that combine features necessary to maximize the benefits of such bindings.
It is another object of this invention to provide rotational adjustment of snowboard bindings wherein ease of use, ability to maintain the binding in the free rotational state, and security from inadvertent switching to the free rotational state from the secured, or stable, state are combined.
It is still another object of this invention to provide apparatus and methods for allowing rotational adjustment of a snowboard binding without boot removal and having simplicity of switching from a free rotational state to a secured state, preferably by a single action using the rider's free boot.
It is another object of this invention to reduce rider stress and fatigue while riding chair lifts and maneuvering through lift lines by allowing quick changes of board position as dictated by the situation at hand, while providing hands-free board reorientation and return to a secured angular binding position.
It is still another object of this invention to provide an angular displacement control apparatus for a rotationally adjustable snowboard binding that includes an actuator at the binding including a portion movable between an engaged position and an unengaged position corresponding to a rotationally secured state of the binding and a substantially free rotational state of the binding, respectively, and a latching mechanism acting at least at one of the positions to assure non-movement of the portion absent active movement of the latching mechanism by a user.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a rotationally adjustable binding f
BC Creations, Inc.
Burdick Harold A.
Camby Richard M.
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