Land vehicles – Skates – Shoe attaching means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-08
2001-10-16
Vanaman, Frank (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Skates
Shoe attaching means
C280S014220
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302428
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to snowboard step-in bindings and, in particular, to step-in bindings having a cam mechanism to releasably lock the soleholder in a locked position.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When snowboarders have their boots locked in the bindings on a snowboard, it is important that those bindings remain in the locked position until they are voluntarily released by the snowboarder. In a step-in binding, the snowboarder inserts the sole of his or her boot into a generally rotatable soleholder and steps down to lock the soleholder in place. It should remain locked in place even if there is snow on the snowboard. It would be dangerous if a snowboard binding were to inadvertently open while the snowboard is in use, since the snowboarder could become injured. A simple yet effective device for locking a snowboarder's boot on a snowboard which cannot be released unless done so by the snowboarder would be a useful device for this sport.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a stepin binding for a snowboard which locks the snowboarder in position on the snowboard and not being releasable unless the snowboarder deliberately releases the binding.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a step-in snowboard binding having the aforementioned characteristics and which is simple in construction and efficient in use.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a snowboard binding which operates to lock a snowboarder's boots in the binding even if there is snow on the sole plate upon which the boot is placed.
Other objects will be apparent from the description to follow and from the appended claims.
The invention provides an improved snowboard step-in binding, having a cam mechanism for controlling the rotation of the soleholder to releasably lock the soleholder in a locked position. The binding has a rotatable soleholder which mates with a longitudinal side of the sole of the boot. The rotatable soleholder is designed in the shape of a claw, and can tilt or rotate between two limit positions. There is a stationary soleholder which is attached permanently to the sole plate for the other side of the boot. A dual-action lever is hinged at the rotatable soleholder wherein one arm of this lever serves as an opening lever to arbitrarily move the soleholder from its locked position to its released position. The other arm is designed as a rotation lock, which is held in place by a spring used to force two cam surfaces against a locking member such as a bolt, which is fastened securely to a plate. These cam surfaces extend from a common apex.
From an intermediate position, this snowboard step-in binding provides two phases of motion caused by the apex of the rotation lock for the dual-action lever. Each of these phases of motion has a limit position. The force of the spring either causes or aids the motion into the respective limit positions. On the other hand, the force of the spring opposes motion to the intermediate position.
On one hand, this snowboard step-in binding prevents inadvertent opening of the binding once the boot is inserted, but on the other hand it also secures the sole of the boot to the sole plate even with a layer of snow present. For this purpose, a securing member is provided that prevents inadvertent return of the dual-action lever back over the intermediate position after it has moved into the locked position, which is located past the intermediate position. The arrangement is designed such that when the opening lever is used, the securing member is actuated along with it, which disengages the soleholder to release the boot. A special support spring is provided for the securing member.
The purpose of the invention is to create a common snowboard step-in binding that has a simplified construction while still meeting the required safety requirements.
This is accomplished in that, with reference to the apex between the two cam surfaces, the cam surface extending away from the fulcrum of the lever has an intermediate rest saddle or surface before it meets this apex.
If there is a force generated at the boot holder tending to open it, this force results in the rotation lock moving against the force of the spring. This motion ends when the resting cradle or surface comes to rest against the locking member.
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patent: 5722680 (1998-03-01), Dodge
patent: 5871226 (1999-02-01), Klubitschko et al.
patent: 5890730 (1999-04-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5971422 (1999-10-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5975557 (1999-11-01), Snoke et al.
patent: 6050589 (2000-04-01), Couderc et al.
patent: 195 44 696 (1997-06-01), None
patent: 192189 (1986-08-01), None
patent: 2689776 (1993-10-01), None
patent: WO 96/05894 (1996-02-01), None
Hochberg D. Peter
Holt William H.
Japana Co., Ltd.
Vanaman Frank
Vieyra Katherine R.
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