Land vehicles – Skates – Runner type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-23
2001-03-06
Camby, Richard M. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Skates
Runner type
C280S618000, C280S613000, C280S014210, C280S014240
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196569
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to snowboarding and more specifically to a binding mounting a boot to a snowboard so as to permit free rotation of the boot and thus the position of the rider's foot relative to the snowboard while the rider is snowboarding. The binding of the present invention also incorporates features which permit quick coupling and release of the boot to and from the snowboard at a rider selected angular stance position relative to the snowboard.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Snowboarding is a sport which combines aspects of surfing, skateboarding, and skiing. The snowboard is longer than a skateboard but shorter than a surfboard and is used as a single ski. Typically, bindings which receive the rider's boots are attached to the snowboard in a fixed position but do not have automatic release capability as do skis. Use of impact release bindings on a snowboard is considered to be undesirable because, unlike in skiing, both feet of the rider are on the same board and the release of only one foot could result in injury to the rider.
Fixed snowboard bindings known heretofore all prevent movement between the snowboard and boots and only permit manual release of the bindings at the location of the attachment of the bindings to the snowboard. This design permitting manual release of the bindings only at the location of the snowboard itself has resulted in injury and even death. For example, three snowboarders are known to have died, at least two by suffocation, because they were unable to reach and release their bindings after becoming buried and covered by snow. The snowboard becomes an anchor, restraining the escape of the rider, when covered by snow due to the inability to easily release from the binding.
The stance position of a rider's feet on the snowboard refers to the angular relationship formed between the midline (lengthwise) of the rider's foot and the midline (lengthwise) of the snowboard itself. The stance position is selected by the rider setting the bindings in a particular fixed relationship to the snowboard during downtime of the snowboard. The particular angle of the selected stance position is referred to in the number of degrees from a reference position in which the bindings are disposed crosswise or sideways to the length or midline of the snowboard. For example, “zero”, degrees refers the bindings being set at the reference position, extending straight across the snowboard from edge to edge. Setting the bindings away from the reference position toward the nose of the snowboard is an angle greater than zero degrees while setting the bindings away from the reference position but toward the tail of the snowboard is an angle less than zero degrees which will be identified with a negative (−) sign. Typically, the front foot binding is set at a stance position between 0° to 60° and the back foot binding is set at a stance position between −5° to 55°. Freestylers set their bindings at low angles to position themselves nearly sideways in a skate/surf stance for stability: front foot binding set between 0° to 20°, and back foot binding set between 5° to −15°. Alpine riders set their bindings at the higher angles closer to a skiing position for racing and aggressive carving: front foot binding set between 40° to 60°, and back foot binding set between 35° to 55°. Free riders set their angles somewhere inbetween for a combination of stability and aggressive carving: front foot binding set between 20° to 40°, and back foot binding set between 15° to 35°. Therefore, the selected set stance position is a compromise limiting the forces transmitted to the snowboard from one set position regardless of the terrain and various conditions encountered while riding.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The solution of the invention to the aforementioned problem is to provide a binding incorporating features which allow the stance position of the rider to change in a natural manner while snowboarding so as to accommodate skating, scooting, chairlift mounting, riding and dismounting, and various terrain encountered on the slope. These features of the binding mount the boot to the snowboard so as to permit the free rotation of the boot and thus the position of the rider's foot relative to the snowboard while the rider is snowboarding. Allowing a rider to transmit forces to the snowboard from any stance position, in a natural manner, improves maneuverability and stability of the rider and snowboard and allows the rider to instantly adjust to the style necessary for each situation encountered while riding.
Another solution of the invention is to provide a binding incorporating features which permit the rider to select the desired angular stance position relative to the snowboard. These features of the binding permit quick coupling and release of the boot to and from the snowboard at the rider-selected angular stance position.
According to one aspect of the invention, a binding includes an upper attachment connected to a boot, a lower attachment connected to a board, a coupler attached to one of the upper and lower attachments, and a coupling mount attached to the other of the upper and lower attachments. The coupling mount and the coupler are configured to automatically engage with each other to lock the upper attachment to the lower attachment when a user wearing the boot steps onto the lower attachment and to permit rotation of the upper attachment relative to the lower attachment when the upper attachment is locked to the lower attachment.
Additional features of the invention may include one or more of the following features.
A release actuator is provided to disengage the coupler and the coupling mount.
A lock is provided for locking the boot in a selected position relative to the board.
The coupler includes a collar and a sleeve positioned within the collar such that the collar is rotatable relative to the sleeve. The release actuator is attached to the collar and is actuated to rotate the collar to disengage the coupler from the coupling mount. A spring biases the collar against rotating. A locking mechanism locks the position of the collar.
The coupler includes ball bearings and the sleeve includes apertures in which the ball bearings are located. The collar has an inner wall defining a plurality of inner surfaces for contacting the ball bearings. The sleeve defines a passage for receiving the coupling mount. The ball bearing location within the sleeve apertures is affected by the presence of the coupling mount within the through hole. The coupler includes a spring and spring plunger located within the sleeve passage.
The coupling mount includes a circumferential channel in which the ball bearings are partly enclosed. The coupling mount is rotatable relative to the sleeve with the ball bearings sliding along the circumferential channel during rotation of the coupling mount.
The lower attachment includes an alignment ring with a slot cut-out. A lock attached to the boot is selectively positionable in the cut-out to lock the boot in a selected rotary position relative to the board. The lock is selectively positionable in the slot for permitting limited rotation of the boot relative to the board.
The alignment ring may include a plurality of cut-outs. The lower attachment further includes a spacer and a mounting plate. The alignment ring is locked in a selected position relative to the mounting plate.
A lower surface of the boot directly contacts a top surface of the board to permit forces to be directly applied from the boot to the top surface of the board.
The coupler is located substantially at a central part of the boot and the coupler mount is located substantially at a longitudinal centerline of the board.
According to another aspect of the invention, a coupling device is provided which includes an upper attachment connectable to a first member, a lower attachment connectable to a second member, a coupler attached to one of said upper and lower attachments, and a coupling mount attached to the other of said upper and lower attachmen
Berger Brant W.
Berger Richard W.
Camby Richard M.
Fish & Richardson PC
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