Land vehicles – Skates – Shoe attaching means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-11
2001-09-04
Vanaman, Frank (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Skates
Shoe attaching means
C280S014210, C280S633000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283495
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a system for preventing toe-edge travel of a hi-back.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A snowboard rider controls the board by flexing and moving her legs relative to the toe or heel edge. To help translate the rider's movements, a snowboard binding oftentimes is provided with an upright member called a hi-back, illustrated in
FIG. 1
, which includes a heel cup that receives the heel of the snowboard boot. Flexing her legs forward will create an upward force on the heel cup which helps influence the board to shift onto the toe edge and as the rider leans forward the force is transmitted along the hi-back and binding to the board to complete the turn. Similarly, flexing her legs rearward against the hi-back puts the board on the heel side edge and a corresponding transfer in weight and balance finishes the heel side turn.
To accommodate the legs angled forward snowboarding stance, the hi-back typically is inclined relative to the board, in a position referred to as the “forward lean”. A forward lean adjuster, such as a slidable block or other incrementally adjustable member, typically is provided on the hi-back to allow the rider to selectively regulate the angle of the hi-back for comfort and control. The variable position block acts as a stop against a heel hoop of the binding base plate, limiting the rearward pivoting of the hi-back beyond the desired forward lean setting. On the other hand, the forward lean adjusting block does not prevent the hi-back from traveling away from the heel hoop, such as when the board is placed on the toe edge. Migration of the hi-back out of contact with the heel hoop, sometimes referred to as toe-edge travel, may decrease the translation of rider motion to the board as compared to when the hi-back is in abutting contact with the base plate, such as when the forward lean stop block is flush against the heel hoop.
It is known to provide a hi-back
10
with a flat rectangular bail
12
that seats within a pair of centrally located vertical slots
14
on the heel hoop of the binding base plate to prevent hi-back migration, as illustrated in FIG.
1
. The prior art arrangement, however, does not accommodate lateral rotation of the hi-back. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,190, assigned to The Burton Corporation, also the assignee of the present application, snowboard bindings oftentimes are positioned at an angle to the axis of the board (such as 45°, for example) which may reduce heel side turning response since the turning force is not transmitted perpendicularly to the edge of the board. To compensate for the bindings stance, the '190 patent discloses an arrangement for laterally rotating the hi-back independent of the binding plate so that it presents a surface relatively parallel to the edge of the board. improving response particularly on heel side turns.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a system for preventing toe-edge travel of a hi-back which may be mounted for lateral rotation to a snowboard binding and selectively arranged in a predetermined forward lean. The stabilized hi-back enhances the interaction of snowboard, boot and binding, facilitating a rider's anticipation, initiation and completion of heel-side and toe-side turns as well as the rider's sense and feel for the snowboard. With the hi-back maintained in a constant position, the force generated by flexing of the rider's legs is quickly translated to the board particularly when shifting from a toe edge to a heel edge, increasing responsiveness of the snowboard to a rider's movements. In the inventive arrangement, toggling or travel of the hi-back between toe and heel edges is precluded. Consequently, the hi-back is already in the original forward lean position when the rider begins to shift from the toe to the heel edge, providing efficient translation of the rider's movements along the hi-back, base plate and board. Clamping the hi-back to the base plate may enhance the fit of the heel hoop and the hi-back, potentially yielding increased comfort and control.
The system includes a latch with a curved, preferably upturned, locking portion for engaging the snowboard binding base plate and a support or body constructed and arranged for supporting the latch on the snowboard hi-back. The upturned or hook configuration of the locking tip allows the latch to connect with the heel hoop of the binding plate regardless of the lateral rotation of the hi-back, allowing the rider to arrange the hi-back parallel to the edge of the board for quick response in heel-side turns while still securing the hi-back against toe side travel out of a pre-set forward lean. The latch may include a bail and may be Y-shaped, T-shaped, or assume another shape or construction that is sufficient to clamp the hi-back to the binding base plate. Preferably, the support for the latch includes a forward lean adjuster such as a stop block which is modified to include the latch. A handle, such as a lever, may be provided to facilitate moving the locking tip of the latch into and out of engagement with the binding base plate. The present invention also includes a hi-back constructed and arranged with a latch for restraining the hi-back from migrating out of the pre-set forward lean. The hi-back may include lateral arms for mounting the hi-back to a snowboard binding base plate for toe to heel edge pivoting as well as lateral rotation. The latch, preferably in combination with a forward lean adjuster, may be flush mounted in a recess in an upright body portion of the hi-back to provide a reduced profile, avoiding heel side drag. A shin strap may be mounted to the hi-back to increase medial flex and carving control.
The present invention also includes a snowboard binding plate that is especially configured for engagement with a latch having a locking tip. The plate includes a base having a toe end and a heel end for receiving a snowboard boot and a heel hoop which mounts a hi-back for lateral rotation and toe to heel end pivoting. The heel hoop is adapted to securely receive the upturned end of the latch, preventing migration of the hi-back during toe side turns. A groove preferably extends laterally and continuously from a central region of the heel hoop so that the latch may be engageable with the heel hoop throughout the full range of lateral rotation of the hi-back. The groove may be provided in an underside of the heel hoop or in a flange that extends therefrom.
The present invention also includes an assembly of a hi-back and a snowboard binding plate, the hi-back having a latch with a curved, preferably upturned, locking portion mounted on a forward lean adjuster, such as a stop block. The hi-back is pivotally and rotatably mounted to a snowboard binding plate and may be placed in a selected forward lean by manipulation of the forward lean adjuster. A heel hoop in the plate may include a groove that is adapted to securely receive the locking tip of the latch, clamping the loop between the locking tip and the contacting face of the stop block so that the hi-back is precluded from shifting out of the forward lean setting as the board is turned on the toe edge.
The present invention further includes a hi-back constructed and mounted to a base plate for lateral rotation between a first position and a second position and which is engageable to said base plate in said first position and said second position to prevent toe-edge travel of the hi-back.
It is an object of the invention to provide a system for preventing toe-edge travel of a hi-back.
It is another object of the invention to provide a hi-back having a system for preventing toe-edge travel of the hi-back which is operational in selective lateral rotational position of the hi-back.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a snowboard binding which permits a snowboard rider to exercise optimal control of both toe-side and heel-side turning regardless of the preferred stance of the rider. It is yet another object of the invention to provide a snowboard bind
The Burton Corporation
Vanaman Frank
Wolf Greenfield & Sacks P.C.
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