Boots – shoes – and leggings – Boots and shoes – Occupational or athletic shoe
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-15
2001-07-03
Sewell, Paul T. (Department: 3728)
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Boots and shoes
Occupational or athletic shoe
C036S117100, C036S117900, C036S118100, C036S050500, C024S685000, C024S715000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253467
ABSTRACT:
DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a snowboard boot including a strap mounting member for attaching an adjustable strap to the snowboard boot.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In the sport of snowboarding, bindings are utilized to secure a rider's boot, and hence foot, to a snowboard. Generally, three types of bindings have been employed. A first type of binding is adapted to be used with a hard shell boot that is similar to an alpine ski boot. Typically, hard-shell boots include a hard plastic molded shell that is mounted to the snowboard by a plate binding that includes adjustable rear and forward bails to engage the heel and toe portions of the boot, respectively. A second type of binding is adapted for use with a soft boot which, as the name suggests, is at least partially made of a softer, less rigid material than hard snowboard boots. Soft boots are generally favored by snowboard riders who “freeride” or perform “freestyle” (trick-oriented) snowboarding. Conventional soft boot bindings include a rigid high back piece into which the heel of the boot is placed, and one or more straps that secure the boot to the binding.
A third type of binding is a step-in binding for soft snowboard boots. Step-in bindings eliminate the need for straps attached to the binding and, instead, provide the convenience of a strapless system to secure the soft snowboard boot to the binding. Step-in systems typically include a soft boot having an interface disposed along the lower portion of the boot to engage the step-in binding. An example of such a binding system is disclosed in currently pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/584,053, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERFACING A SNOWBOARD BOOT TO A BINDING, filed Jan. 8, 1996 and commonly assigned to Burton Snowboards. To prevent a rider's foot, particularly the heel, from lifting within the boot in a step-in system, an ankle strap can be attached to the boot. at medial and lateral attachment points on the boot, to hold the rider's foot down in the bottom of the boot. An example of such a strap is disclosed in currently pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/619,358, entitled A SNOWBOARD BOOT AND BINDING STRAP, filed Mar. 21, 1996, incorporated herein by reference and also commonly assigned to Burton Snowboards.
Conventionally, ankle straps have been attached directly to the surface of the boot and have employed a ratcheting mechanism to tighten a first strap component on the medial side of the boot with a second strap component on the lateral side of the boot. The ratcheting mechanism typically includes a ratcheting buckle mounted to one strap component, and a toothed strap component adapted to engage therewith. When the straps are directly attached to the outer surface of the boot, one of the strap components may become wedged between the other and the outer surface of the boot when the strap is tightened, thereby creating uncomfortable pressure points on the rider's foot. This wedging action also makes tightening the strap more difficult because of the friction created between the lower strap component and the outer surface of the boot.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a boot having a mounting member that acts as an interface for attachment of a strap to the boot so that the strap can be readily tightened without creating uncomfortable pressure points.
SUMMARY
One illustrative embodiment of the invention is directed to a snowboard boot for use with a snowboard boot strap that is attachable thereto. The boot comprises a foot-shaped outer surface; and a strap mounting member that includes an attachment feature adapted to mount a portion of the strap to the snowboard boot, the strap mounting member including a base that is supported at the outer surface of the snowboard boot and a raised portion that protrudes from the base beyond the foot-shaped outer surface of the boot, the raised portion including the attachment feature.
Another illustrative embodiment of the invention is directed to a snowboard boot, comprising a boot upper having an outer surface; a sole; and an adjustable strap that is mounted to the outer surface of the boot upper, the strap being adjustable so that the strap can be selectively tightened and loosened over the outer surface of the boot upper. The outer surface of the boot upper is formed from at least first and second materials, the first material having a lower coefficient of friction than the second material, the first material being disposed to underlie a portion of the strap that is movable to tighten the strap.
A further illustrative embodiment of the invention is directed to a snowboard boot for use with an adjustable snowboard boot strap that is attachable thereto, the strap being adjustable so that the strap can be selectively tightened and loosened over the boot. The boot comprises a boot upper having an outer surface; a sole; and a strap mounting member that is mounted to the outer surface of the boot upper and includes an attachment feature adapted to mount a portion of the strap to the snowboard boot. The outer surface of the boot upper is formed from at least first and second materials, the first material having a lower coefficient of friction than the second material, the first material being disposed adjacent the strap mounting member and being adapted to underlie a portion of the strap that is movable to tighten the strap.
A further illustrative embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of attaching a strap to a snowboard boot, the strap including first and second strap components, the snowboard boot including a medial side, a lateral side and a foot-shaped outer surface. The method comprises steps of: (A) attaching a first end of the first strap component to a first mounting member disposed on one of the medial and lateral sides of the boot such that the first end of the first strap component is spaced from the foot-shaped outer surface of the boot; and (B) attaching the second strap component the other of the medial and lateral sides of the boot.
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K2 Snowboards 1997/1998 Product Catalog 1997, pp. 33 and 34, and accompanying digital photographs of the boot shown therein.
Curran Peter M.
Dodge David J.
Maravetz Paul T.
Phillips Frank
Reid Joshua S.
Sewell Paul T.
Stashick Anthony
The Burton Corporation
Wolf Greenfield & Sacks P.C.
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