Land vehicles – Skates – Shoe attaching means
Reexamination Certificate
1997-04-21
2001-09-04
Rice, Kenneth R. (Department: 2167)
Land vehicles
Skates
Shoe attaching means
C280S014230, C280S011360
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283492
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the sport of snowboarding and the boots and bindings used. More specifically, the present invention relates to an energy absorbing and releasing element, or energy transfer element, used in conjunction with a forward lean adjustment element and is incorporated into snowboard boots and bindings, thereby providing a more functional system that improves overall riding performance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Snowboarding is becoming increasingly popular in recent years. Various types of snowboards are currently on the market along with various types of snowboard boots and binding systems. One example of a snowboard boot binding system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,689, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. In this patent, a binding plate is supported on a snowboard and a highback support is attached to the rear of the binding plate. The highback support can be rotated along an axis generally normal to the binding plate and secured in its rotated position so that a rider can transmit forces to the snowboard from a variety of stances.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present inventor has recognized that the snowboard boot binding systems of the prior art are still in need of refinement in order to be enable riders to realize the full potential of their snowboards. Accordingly, the present invention was developed and is based upon an energy absorbing and releasing element such as a spring device, spring combination, or strap, which is designed and intended to make a snowboard more responsive, more stable, and easier to control at higher speeds or under greater amounts of pressure. Also, “on hill” adjustability of both the forward lean and the pre-tension is made possible by the present invention. This allows a rider to set the desired angle of forward lean and the desired stiffness according to the weight flex of his or her snowboard and the ever changing riding conditions.
Furthermore, the apparatus constructed according to the present invention can be incorporated into snowboard bindings and boots in several different ways. It can be molded into the highback (heel and leg support), fit as an after-market attachment, or housed within the base plate (snowboard boot sole support) of the binding along either side of the boot or on either side of the heel. It can also be incorporated into a step-in system in the same fashion, except that in this case it becomes part of the internal skeleton of the boot and not the binding.
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Jasmin Lynda C.
Mattingly Stanger & Malur, P.C.
Rice Kenneth R.
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