Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02205913 1997-05-26
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Legalized translation from Croatian
Dinko Starcevic
S. V. (~ice 8
T. 51000 Rijeka
U. Croatia
SNOWBOARD BlNDING WITH RELEASE MECHANISM
INVENTlON DESCRIPTION
1) Tl~C~NIC~L ARI~A CORRESPONDING TO THE INVENTION
This invention relates to ski bindings as wide area in consideration of
snowboard bindings as a very speci~tc technical field. According to the
International Patent Classification it is classifed as:
2) TEC~INICAL DEMAND
Being engaged in sport called snowboarding there still exists essential risk:
how to protect efficiently legs from serious injuries or fractures. Directly to
that problem we are also faced with the possibility of an undesirable effect:
releasing of the binding at harder board carving or harder board sl~rnming to
the slope, avoiding snowboarder's fall.
3) STATl~ OF THE PRIOI~ ART
All l~nown solutions are mainly based on principle of fLYcd connection
between the snowboarder and snowboard, which means that when the
snowboarder falls down, he will not be separated from the board. Bindings
are divided into two known categories: soft and hard type, where only the
hard ones have couple models with insuf~lcient ability of releasing at the
moment of fall. So, all circumstances are reduced to fixed bindings use,
which have no release characteristics, meaning that there is great risk fior
snowboarders to hurt their legs.
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4) IlWENTION ESSENCE EXPLICATION
Primarily, the goal of this invention is to enable safe binding to
snowboarders, allowing maximunn protection and reduction to the minimum
of risk factors.
The second aim is to put in use longer snowboards, which has been almost
impossible so far, due to fixed attachment to the board, and extremely high
~ risk of accidents
The next aim is to endure such binding which will be able to release the foot
only in critical moment of overloading or fall, but at the same time to achieve
compact and solid attachment to the board.
Further aims and advantages of this invention will be partly reviewed in the
following description and partly through invention use. Releasable
snowboard binding includes tWQ main complexes of elements: lower
complex attached with screws to the board, which intrudes with its ring-
shaped parts into the upper complex, achieving mechanical connection wi~h
the same, then the upper complex having the boot attached over its top,
encircling partly the lower complex. Elements of the upper complex as well
as the lower one are fastened together by welding joints where maximum
stiffness is achieved, then screw joints which allow several regulations and
adjustments. The essence of the invention is mechanical joint which
disconnects, releases, at overloaded force and establishes again by simple
pressing the upper complex over the top of the ring-shaped parts of the lower
complex.
5) DRAWINGS DESCRIlPTION
The folIowing drawings, being the part of invention description, illustrate in
the best way so far the invention performance and are very helpful for
explanation of basic invention principles.
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Figure I Spatial perspective of releasable snowboard binding in state of
complete assembly with cut of one symmetric quarter for better
layout of smaller elements
Figure 2 Spatial pcrspective of supporting part of upper complex (2) with
its elements which are welded together.
Figure 3 Spatial perspective of lower complex (13 with its compositlg
elements, where ~ and (1.2~ are welded together and attached
with screw joint to other parts
Figure 4 Spatial perspective of front boot holder
Figure 5 Spatial perspective of rear boot holder
Figure 6 Spatial perspective of holder of rubber support
Figure 7 Spatial perspective of rubber support
Figure 8 Spatial perspective of screw for booth holders
Figure 9 Spatial perspective of nut for boot holders attachment
Figure 10 Spatial perspective of all elements of upper complex in order of
installing in tubular elements (2.3) and (2.4)
Figure 11 Spatial perspective of buckle of front lboot holder
6~ DETAILED DI~SCRII'TION OF AT LEAST ONE ~IANNER OF
INVENTION PElRFORMANCES
Introduction into detailed performance of this invention is presented here
below, along with an example illustrated on attached drawings.
Referring to Fig. 1 it can be seen that releasable snowboard binding includes
two main complexes, I and 2, which have all other functionalk indispensable
elements attached. Lower complex 1, includes attaching plate 1.1 with screw
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holes and lower ring 1.2 welded to the plate. Friction ring 1.3 and upper ring
1.4 with four concave recesses set at 90 degrees distance in the horizontal
plane, all fastened together with screw 1.5 to the lower ring, all shown on the
Fig. 3. Upper complex 2, visible on Fig. 2, encircles its central ring 2.1 the
lower complex, is made from two tubular elements 2.3, two tubular elements
2.4 and the frame from four identical elements 2.2. All tabular elements are
set at 90 degrees distance in horizontal plane, precisely opposite to concave
recesses in the element 1.4 of lower complex. Tubular elements contain
inside alI indispensable parts to achieve direct mechanical connectivn of
upper and lower complex, beginning with pressing bolt 8, which precisely
fits into the recess in element 1.4, then spring ~, tense display 18 and tense
screw, all visible on Fig. 10. In two longer tubular elements 2.3 distant part
25 is placed in-between the spring and tense display. In all b~bular elements
2.3 and 2.4 there is safety ring 20 placed in its groove, just at the outer ends.
Rear boot holder 3 is placed on the upper complex 2, as well as the front boot
holder 4 with the buckle 5, all fastened together with screws 7 and nuts 6 in
the element regulation slots 2.2. The whole upper complex is leaning with its
ends on h~o rubber supports 17, which are fastened to their holders 16. As
shown on Fig. 1, 2, 3 and 5, this invention offers technical feasibility making
it possible that snowboarder's boot, attached to the upper complex, can be
released from the lower complex attached to the board. Boot sole is leaning
onto supporting part 2, being restraint in-between the rear boot holder 3 and
the buckle 5 on front boot holder. Required length is set up, as show~ on Fig.
1, with screws 6 and rluts 7, pushing along slots. Mechanical connection
between upper and lower complex is achieved by elements shown on rlg. 10,
placed in tubular elements 2.3 and 2.4 put in Ihe same order, where
tightening or loosing of the tense screw 19 is increasing or decreasing
releasing force respectively. If connection is displaced in the of fall, or
detaching the two complexes, then with very simple vertical pressing of
complex 2 over the upper ring 1.4, connection is restituted by dropping
pressing bolts into their recesses on the upper ring. ~s shown on Fig. 3,
friction ring is placed under the ring 1.4 and tightened with screw 1.5 and
achieves solid joint, but at the same time with loosing the crew it allows
horizontal twist adjustment in any desirable position.
For production of binding hard plastic is recommended for buckle 5 and distance
part 25, hard rubber for rubber support 17 and friction ring 1.3, and inox steel for
all the other parts. The length of binding or supporting complex 2 should not
exceed 200 mm, while the thickness should be 20 mm
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12) MODE OF II~VENTIOl~ APPLYING
This invention provides maximum snowboarding safety and opens new
potentials even in snowboard production: because of safety reasons a most
common length of snowboard is 1.4 m to 1.5 m, but never more than 1.7 m.
Now these limits may be moved towards bigger lengths which allow
smoother and more stable ride, very alike skiing.
~ Likewise it is possible to attach soft snowboard binding over the top, and
reunion advantages of soft binding with ma~imurn safety.
