Land vehicles – Runner vehicle – Standing occupant
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-07
2001-09-04
Mai, Lanna (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Runner vehicle
Standing occupant
C280S618000, C280S613000, C280S607000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283482
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to bindings and, more particularly, to bindings with a tool-free selectively adjustable highback.
2. Related Art
Specially configured boards for gliding along a terrain are known, such as snowboards, snow skis, water skis, wake boards, surf boards and the like. For purposes of this patent, “gliding board” will refer generally to any of the foregoing boards as well as to other board-type devices which allow a rider to traverse a surface. For ease of understanding, however, and without limiting the scope of the invention, the inventive binding with a tool-free selectively adjustable highback for a gliding board to which this patent is addressed is discussed below particularly in connection with a snowboard. However, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited in this respect, and that the aspects of the present invention described below can be used in association with other types of gliding boards and other boards where a binding is employed to secure a person's feet to a board.
Snowboard binding systems may include an upright leg support member called a “highback” (also referred to as a “lowback” and as a “SKYBACK”). The leg support member acts as a lever that helps transmit forces directly to and from the board, allowing the rider to efficiently control the board through leg movement. For example, flexing one's legs rearward against the leg support member places the board on its heel edge, with a corresponding shift in weight and balance acting through the leg support member to complete a heelside turn. Typically, the leg support member abuts a heel hoop of the baseplate so that forces applied through the boot to the leg support member are transmitted through the baseplate into the board. The leg support member may be mounted on the binding for both pivoting of the leg support member in a heel-to-toe direction to position the leg support member in a desired position (referred to in snowboarding as “forward-lean”) and rotation about a vertical axis to maintain the leg support member substantially aligned with the heel-edge of the board for efficient heelside response (referred to in snowboarding as “lateral rotation”). The leg support member often times is connected to the baseplate via a screw and nut assembly. To disconnect or reorient the leg support member, a separate tool, such as a screwdriver, is required to loosen or remove the screw. The screw is then retightened after the leg support member has been reconnected and reoriented.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a binding system including a leg support member having an orientation relative to the binding that may be adjusted through actuation of a tool-free locking system. In one embodiment of the invention, the lateral position or rotation of the leg support member relative to the binding may be adjusted. In another embodiment of the invention, the forward lean, or angle, of the leg support member relative to the binding may be changed by the rider. In a still further embodiment, both the lateral rotation of the leg support member and the forward lean of the leg support member may be selectively controlled by the rider.
The binding includes a baseplate and a leg support member that is mounted for lateral rotation to the baseplate. A tool-free locking system couples the portion of the leg support member and the baseplate for selectively locking the portion of the leg support member to the baseplate without the use of a separate tool. The leg support member may be connected anywhere along the sidewall, including the heel hoop, the lower portion of the sidewall, or intermediate regions. The tool-free locking system is preferably of the quick-release type. Thus, the lateral position of the leg support member may be quickly adjusted.
In one embodiment, the tool-free locking system may include a cam. The cam has a locked position, wherein the cam causes a substantial compressive force between the leg support member and the baseplate, and an unlocked position, wherein the cam releases the substantial compressive force between the leg support member and the baseplate. The tool-free locking system may include a plate having a bearing surface cooperating with the cam. The plate may be disposed between the cam and the baseplate or the leg support member for distributing the compressive force. Further, a surface of the plate may include a plurality of ridges opposite the bearing surface. Similarly, the leg support member or the baseplate may include a plurality of ridges for matingly engaging the plurality of ridges formed on the surface of the plate.
In another embodiment, the tool-free locking system may be configured as over-center having a locked position which fixedly attaches the leg support member to the baseplate, and an unlocked position, where the leg support member is free to move relative to the baseplate. The system may also have an intermediate position where the system tends to move to one of the locked position or the unlocked position. The system may include an actuator to provide tactile feedback as the system transitions through the intermediate position.
Further features and advantages of the present invention as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
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PCT International Search Report for PCT/US 99/29004.
Burton catalog, Custom Freestyle bindings, and Freestyle bindings, pp. 29-30 (undated).
Mai Lanna
Phan Hau
The Burton Corporation
Wolf Greenfield & Sacks
LandOfFree
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