Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02258269 2005-03-30
.W 77471-29
. . - 1 -
SNOWBOARD BINDING
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
to 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 .
15 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
20 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,
25 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
30 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
35 are known to have died, at least two by suffocation,
because they were unable to reach and release their
CA 02258269 1998-12-23
WO 97/49464 PCT/US97/11019
- - 2 -
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
CA 02258269 1998-12-23
WO 97/49464 PCT/LTS97/11019
_ _ 3 _
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 snawboard 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
CA 02258269 1998-12-23
WO 97/49464 PCT/US97/11019
_ 4 _
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.
CA 02258269 1998-12-23
WO 97/49464 PCT/US97/11019
_ _ 5 _
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 attachments. The coupling mount and the coupler
are configured to engage with each other by a linear
motion to lock the upper attachment to 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. The
coupling movement and coupler are unlocked by a twisting
or rotary motion on a locking mechanism on the coupler.
According to another aspect of the invention, a
method of adjusting the rotary position of a boot
relative to a board is provided which includes the steps
of mounting the boot to the board such that the boot is
CA 02258269 2005-02-04
77471-29
- 6 -
locked to the board and in a first position, unlatching a
lock to permit the boot to rotate relative to the board
while the boot remains locked to the board, rotating the
boot, and latching the lock such that the boot fixed to the
board in a second position. The lock may also be left
unlatched to allow free rotation of the boot while remaining
locked to the board.
According to another aspect of the invention, a
method of adjusting the rotary position of a boot relative
to a board is provided which includes the steps of mounting
the boot to the board by stepping onto the board such that
the boot is latched to the board and fixed in a first
position, releasing the boot from the board by activating a
release actuator, and stepping again onto the board such
that the boot is locked to the board and fixed in a second
position.
Yet another aspect of the invention is to provide
a method of adjusting and locking the rotary position of a
boot relative to a board which includes the steps of
mounting the boot to the board by stepping onto the board
such that the boot is locked to the board but not
rotationally fixed and rotating the board relative to the
board until a spring-biased latch automatically engages a
stop to lock the boot in a fixed position.
According to yet another aspect of the invention,
there is provided a binding, comprising: an upper attachment
connectable to a boot, a lower attachment connectable to a
board, a coupler attached to one of said upper and lower
attachments, and a coupling mount attached to the other of
said upper and lower attachments, the coupling mount and the
coupler being configured to automatically engage with each
other to lock the upper attachment to the lower attachment
CA 02258269 2005-02-04
77471-29
- 6a -
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.
According to yet another aspect of the invention,
there is provided a coupling device, comprising: 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 attachments,
wherein the coupling mount and the coupler are configured to
engage and lock with each other with a linear motion to lock
the upper attachment to the lower attachment and to permit
rotation of said upper attachment relative to said lower
attachment when said upper attachment is locked to said
lower attachment; and wherein said coupler and coupling
mount are unlocked by a rotational motion on said coupler.
Advantages of the invention include quick coupling
step-in and release of the boot to the board, the capability
of rotating the boot relative to the board with the boot
locked to the board, and the capability of rotating the boot
to lock in a desired position relative to the board while
riding.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the
binding of the invention shown attached to a boot and a
snowboard.
CA 02258269 1998-12-23
WO 97/49464 PCT/US97/11019
_ _ ~ _
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an upper
attachment plate of the binding of Fig. 1; Fig. 2A is a
perspective view of an inner mount of the upper
attachment plate; Fig. 2B is a perspective view of an
outer housing of the upper attachment plate; Fig. 2C is
an exploded view of the upper attachment plate; and Fig.
2D is a cross-sectional view of an interlock ring of the
upper attachment plate.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a lower attachment
plate of the binding of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3A is an
exploded view of the lower attachment plate; and Fig. 3B
is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an
alignment ring of the lower attachment plate.
Fig. 4 is an illustration of the locking pawl of
the upper attachment plate.
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative
embodiment of the boot, binding, and snowboard in a
coupled position.
Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the bottom of the
boot of Fig. 5 with the binding in a released position.
Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a male connector,
board mounting plate and alignment ring of the binding of
Fig. 5.
Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a latch
mechanism, boot mounting plate and alignment ring of the
binding of Fig. 5.
Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the boot with
a coupling release mechanism of the binding of Fig. 5.
Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the boot
with an alignment release mechanism of the binding of
Fig. 5.
Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view of the boot with
inner plate stand-offs of the binding of Fig. 5.
Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the male
portion of the inner plate stand-off of Fig. 11.
CA 02258269 1998-12-23
WO 97149464 PCT/US97/11019
_ _ 8 _
Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the female
portion of the inner plate stand-off of Fig. 11.
Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the inner plate
stand-off of Fig. 11.
Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the boot mounting
plate of the binding of Fig. 5.
Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the snow
plunger of the binding of Fig. 5.
Fig. 17 is a top plan view of the snowboard
mounting plate of the binding of Fig. 5.
Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the female
coupler sleeve of the binding of Fig. 5.
Fig. 19 is a top plan view of the snap ring of the
binding of Fig. 5.
Fig. 20 is a plan view of eight ball bearings of
the binding of Fig. 5.
Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the outer
bearing collar of the binding of Fig. 5.
Fig. 22 is a top plan view of the outer bearing
collar of Fig. 21.
Fig. 23 is a side elevational view of the male
coupler of the binding of Fig. 5.
Fig. 24 is a top plan view of the male coupler of
Fig. 23.
Fig. 25 is a side elevational view of a pant
mounted release cable arrangement of the binding of Fig.
5.
Fig. 26 is a front elevational view of a modified
from of an accessory release and alignment pull cable of
the pant mounted release cable arrangement of Fig. 25.
Fig. 27 is a plan view of the accessory release
and alignment pull cable of Fig. 26.
CA 02258269 1998-12-23
WO 97/49464 PCT/US97/11019
_ _ g _
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Referring to Fig. 1, a snowboard binding 210
includes an upper attachment plate 212 connected to a
snowboot 214, a lower attachment plate 216 connected to a
snowboard 218, a coupler 220 attached to upper plate 212,
and a coupling mount 222 attached to lower plate 216.
Coupling mount 222 and coupler 220 automatically engage
with each other to lock upper plate 212 to the lower
plate 216 when a user wearing boot 214 steps onto lower
plate 216. With upper plate 212 locked to lower plate
216, upper plate 212 is free to rotate relative to lower
plate 216. Coupling mount 222 and coupler 220 are
disengaged simply by pulling up on a strap 224. This
releases upper plate 212 from lower plate 216 permitting
the user to step off of board 218.
Referring to Figs. 2-2B, upper plate 212 includes
an outer housing 230 and an inner mount 232. As shown in
Fig. 2A (in which inner mount 232 is shown upside down
relative to its orientation in Fig. 2 and 2C), inner
mount 232 includes a plurality of holes 250 for attaching
inner mount 232 to the sole 215 of boot 214 with screws
(not shown). Outer housing 230 is attached to inner
mount 232 by screws (not shown) accomodated by holes 252
of outer housing 230 and received in threaded holes 254
of inner mount 232.
Referring to Figs. 2A and 2C, coupler 220 includes
a female coupler sleeve 234 having an end 235 of reduced
diameter which is press fit within an opening 256 defined
by a circular section 257 of inner mount 232. Coupler
220 also includes an outer bearing collar 236 having a
through bore 238 defined by an inner wall 240. When
assembled, coupler sleeve 234 is located within bore 238
of collar 236 (Fig. 2A). Ball bearings 242 are located
in apertures 244 which extend through coupler sleeve 234.
With collar 236 placed over coupler sleeve 234 such that
CA 02258269 1998-12-23
WO 97/49464 PCT/US97/11019
- - 10 -
an end 246 of collar 236 abuts a shelf 248 of sleeve 234
defined by an area of increased diameter 249, ball
bearings 242 can contact inner wall 240 of collar 236.
It is the interaction between ball bearings 242 and inner
wall 240, described further below, which acts to lock
upper plate 212 to lower plate 216.
Collar 236 is trapped between inner mount 232 and
shelf 248 but remains rotatable relative to coupler
sleeve 234. Referring also to Fig. 2A, end 258 of
coupler sleeve 234 is received (not a press fit? within
an opening 260 of outer housing 230. An actuating handle
262 of collar 236, described further below, is located
within a cut-out 264 of outer housing 230. Also attached
to outer housing 230 is a locking pawl 380, described
further below.
Coupler sleeve 234 defines a passage 270 (Fig. 2A)
in which a spring 272 (Fig. 2C) is located, for example,
a wave spring formed of spring stainless steel
manufactured by Smally of Wheeling, Illinois, part number
C087-M6-517. A spring plunger 274 is slidably received
within passage 270 and circumferentially surrounds spring
272. Passage 270 does not extend all the way through
coupler sleeve 234 but terminates in a smaller diameter
opening 273. Referring also to Fig. 2D, an interlock
ring 280 is press fit within opening 273 such that a
surface 282 of the ring is flush with a surface 284 of
coupler sleeve 234. A screw 286 is received within
through bore 288 of ring 280 and rests on a shelf 290 of
through bore 288. Spring plunger 274 includes an
internally threaded shaft 292 in which screw 286 is
threaded. When force is applied to spring plunger 274
along arrow 294, the spring plunger moves against the
force applied by spring 272, compressing the spring, and
screw 286 slides within through bore 288.
CA 02258269 1998-12-23
WO 97/49464 PCT/US97/11019
- - 11 -
Referring to Figs. 3 and 3A, lower plate 216
includes a spacer or board guard 300, an alignment ring
302, and a mounting plate 304. To attach lower plate 216
to board 218, screws 306 are provided which pass through
screw slots 308, 310 in mounting plate 304 and board
guard 300, respectively, and screw into binding mount
holes (not shown) in board 218. An edge 312 of mounting
plate 304 abuts against a shelf 314 of alignment ring 302
trapping the alignment ring between mounting plate 304
and board guard 300 when lower plate 216 is attached to
board 218.
With board guard 300, alignment ring 302, and
mounting plate 304 assembled as shown in Fig. 3, a bolt
316 attached to board guard 300 extends through a hole
318 in mounting plate 304. Coupling mount 222 defines a
threaded through bore 320 and is attached to lower plate
216 by threading it onto bolt 316. Alignment ring 302
includes three cut-outs 322, 324, 326, described further
below. Alternatively, alignment ring 302 includes a
plurality of cut-outs 327 as shown in Fig. 3B. Board
guard 300 may be omitted from lower plate 216.
Alternatively, one or more board guards may be used as
spacers to adjust the tightness between the board and
boot.
Turning now to the locking action of coupler 220.
Referring again to Fig. 2C, with spring plunger 274
located in coupler sleeve 234, a wall 340 of spring
plunger 274 acts to bias ball bearings 242 radially
outward within apertures 244 and against inner wall 240
of collar 236. Inner wall 240 includes outermost
surfaces 342, ramped surfaces 344, and innermost surfaces
346. With ball bearings 242 biased outward, collar 236
is forced to rotate such that it is the ramped surfaces
344 of inner wall 240 and not innermost surfaces 346
which abut ball bearings 242.
CA 02258269 1998-12-23
WO 97/49464 PCT/US97/11019
- 12 -
Referring again to Fig. 2A, an extension spring
350, for example, formed of spring stainless steel and
having an outer diameter of 0.240", a length of 1.000",
and a wire diameter of 0.040", applies a force to handle
262 of collar 236 acting against the outward force
applied by spring plunger 274. The force applied by
extension spring 350 to handle 262 acts to rotate collar
236 in the opposite direction as that of spring plunger
274 toward a position in which innermost surfaces 246 of
inner wall 240 abut ball bearings 242. A pin 351
attached to inner mount 232 slides within a slot 353 of
arm 262 to limit the travel of collar 236.
When attaching boot 214 to board 218, coupling
mount 222 is used to apply force along arrow 294 to
spring plunger 274 acting against spring 272. This axial
load pushes spring plunger 274 further into coupler 234
and past ball bearings 242, and locates coupling mount
222 in passage 270. With spring 350 acting to rotate
collar 236 such that innermost surfaces 246 abut ball
bearings 242 biasing ball bearings 242 inward, the ball
bearings 242 are forced into a circumferential channel
352 (Fig. 3a) in cylindrical coupling mount 222. The
action of spring 350 effectively locks coupling mount 222
in passage 270 by biasing ball bearings 242 inward into
channel 352. With upper plate 212 thus locked to lower
plate 216, the upper plate is still free to rotate
relative to the lower plate because of sliding contact
between ball bearings 242 and channel 352.
To further insure that upper plate 212 is locked
to lower plate 216, i.e., to prevent rotation of collar
236 allowing ball bearings 242 to move outward, locking
pawl 380 is provided with a pin 382 which is received
within a hole 384 in collar 236 when collar 236 is
positioned such that its innermost surfaces 346 abut ball
bearings 242.
CA 02258269 1998-12-23
WO 97/49464 PCT/iTS97/11019
- - 13 -
Referring also to Fig. 4, locking pawl 380 is
mounted within a cut-out 385 in outer housing 230 by a
pivot post 386. Pivot post 386 extends through a hole
388 in a cover 390 and is press fit into a stud 392 in
outer housing 230. An extension spring 394, for example,
formed of spring stainless steel and having an outer
diameter of 0.860", a length of 1.125", and a wire
diameter of 0.029", acts to bias pawl 380 to rotate about
post 386 such that pin 382 is located within collar hole
384 when the pin and hole are aligned.
To remove boot 214 from board 218, the user pulls
on strap 224 which is attached to a cable 360 (Fig. 2A).
Cable 360 is located within channels 370, 372 in outer
housing 230. Cable 360 is connected at one end 361 to
arm 262 by screw 362. Cable 360 is connected at its
opposite end 363 to pawl 380. Pulling on cable 360
rotates collar 236 such that outermost surfaces 324 of
collar 236 are aligned with ball bearings 242, and
rotates pawl 380 such that pin 382 exits collar hole 384,
thus unlocking coupling mount 222 from coupler 220.
Thus, decoupling is accomplished by a rotational motion
on collar 236. By pulling up on boot 214, ball bearings
242 are forced out of channel 352 in coupling mount 222
and boot 214 can be removed from board 218.
Referring again to Fig. 1, outer housing 230
includes a lock 400 for rotationally locking boot 214
relative to board 218. The user actuates lock 400 with a
handle 402. Referring to Figs. 2A and 2B, lock 400
includes a plunger 404 received in a side arm 406 of
outer housing 230. Rotating handle 402 causes plunger
404 to slide within side arm 406 by the action of an
extension spring 405, for example, formed of spring
stainless steel and having an outer diameter of 0.240", a
length of 1.000", and a wire diameter of 0.040". In its
CA 02258269 1998-12-23
WO 97/49464 PCT/US97/11019
- - 14 -
extended position, plunger 404 extends beyond the bottom
surface 408 of outer housing 230.
Referring again to Fig. 3, plunger 404 may be
extended when it is aligned with one of cut-outs 322,
324, 326. This acts to limit the amount boot 214 can be
rotated relative to board 218 by the length of the cut-
outs. With plunger 414 located in cut-out 322, the boot
is rotationally fixed. Alignment ring 302 can be
adjusted to the desired degree of foot angle. The cut-
outs permit the choice of boot angle, for example, so
that either the left or right boot can be the lead down
the hill. Alignment ring 302 can also be interchanged
with alignment rings having different width of cut-outs
to permit further customization.
Referring now to Figs. 5-10 of the drawings, there
is shown an exemplary embodiment of a rotatable quick
coupling and release binding 15 of the present invention.
The binding 15 is employed between the boot 20 and the
snowboard 10. The binding 15 permits the boot 20 and
thus the foot of the rider to be adjustable rotated from
one stance position to 20°, 30°, 40° angular positions
relative thereto as determined by slotted positions
selected by the rider on the alignment ring 104 of the
binding 15. However, rotations is not limited to these
pre-slotted alignment holes 106 but can rotate 360 by
simply attaching the release ring 95 of the binding 16 to
a release ring hook 96 mounted on the side of the boot 20
allowing unlimited rotation while snow boarding.
Referring to Fig. 5, there is illustrated the
exemplary embodiment of the binding 15 which basically
includes: (1) upper attachment means formed by an inner
boot plate 30, snow plunger spring plate 40 and boot
mounting plate 50 mounted to the bottom of the snowboot
20; (2) lower attachment means formed by a board mounting
plate 100 mounted to the top of the snowboard 10; (3)
CA 02258269 1998-12-23
WO 97/49464 PCT/US97/11019
- 15 -
bearing means rotatably coupling the upper attachment
means with the lower attachment means to permit rotation
of the snowboot 20 relative to the snowboard 10, the
bearing means being formed by a female coupler sleeve 60
secured to the boot mounting plate 60 and an outer
bearing collar 70 surrounding and secured to the female
coupler sleeve 60; (4) releasing means having a binding
release cable 80 attached to the outer bearing collar 70
of the bearing means which when pulled moves the outer
bearing collar 70 to an unlocked position and when
released allows the outer bearing collar 70 to return to
a locked position; and (5) latching means formed by a
latch mechanism 90 mounted to the boot mounting plate 50
of the lower attachment means and having a latch release
cable 92 which when pulled unlatches from the board
mounting plate 100 and permits changing of the angular
stance position of the rider to a free rotation
condition. The board mounting plate 100 is rotatably
coupled to the boot mounting plate 50 via ball bearings
64 of the bearing means which are rollably supported
between the female coupler sleeve 60 of the bearing means
and a central male coupler 102 of the board mounting
plate 100 which also forms part of the bearing means.
As seen in Figs. 5, 6, 11, 16 and 17, the upper
securement means of the binding 15 also includes mounting
screws 51 which secure the boot mounting plate 50 and the
snow plunger plate 40 to the bottom of the snowboot 20.
The snow plunger plate 40 has a raised circular area
attaching a tapered spring 41 and plunger 42.
As seen in Figs. 5 and 18, the female coupler
sleeve 60 of the bearing means has a shoulder 61 and is
secured to the boot mounting plate 50 by swedging 62 to
the recessed center hole 53 in the plate 50. The female
coupler sleeve 60 has tapered ball bearing holes 63
CA 02258269 1998-12-23
WO 97/49464 PCT/US97/11019
- 16 -
defined therein allowing the ball bearings 64 to travel
inwardly without falling out.
As seen in Figs. 5, 6 and 18-22, the bearing means
also includes a snap ring 66 and stop pin 65. The outer
bearing collar 70 is held to the female coupler sleeve 60
by the snap ring 66 and is rotatable relative to the
female coupler sleeve 60 through a preset arc of rotation
established by the stop pin 65 fixed to and extending
from the female coupler sleeve 60 and fitting into a stop
pin notch 71 formed in the top annular edge of the outer
bearing collar 70. The outer bearing collar 70 has
interior circumferentially spaced grooves 72 which allow
the ball bearings 64 to roll into an open position when
the binding release cable 80 of the releasing means is
pulled. Upon release of the binding release cable 80,
the collar spring 73 of the bearing means returns the
outer bearing collar 70 back to the locked position.
The releasing means also includes a screw 82
attaching the binding release cable 80 to the outer
bearing collar 70. The screw 82 is held by threads 74
formed in the outer bearing collar 70 diagonally opposite
from the spring hole 75 defined therein. The binding
release collar 80 runs through an outer sleeve 83 of the
releasing means which is secured to the boot mounting
plate 50 by a clamp-down bracket 82 attached by one of
the mounting screws 51 to the plate 50. The binding
release cable 80 and outer sleeve 83 run through the
outer edge of the boot mounting plate 50 (see Fig. 6) and
then are routed through the boot sleeve 85 mounted along
the exterior side of the snowboot 20. A ring 86 of the
releasing means attached to the end of the binding
release cable 80 extending above the boot sleeve 85. The
collar spring 73 is secured to the boot mounting plate 50
by tow of the mounting screws 51 (see Fig. 6) and has an
CA 02258269 1998-12-23
WO 97/49464 PCT/US97/11019
- 17 -
end which projects into the spring hole 75 defined in the
periphery of the outer bearing collar 70.
Referring to Figs. 5, 7, 8, 15, 23 and 24, the
lower securement means also includes mounting screws 104
which mount the board mounting plate 100 of the lower
securement means to the top surface of the snowboard 10,
and a male mounting bolt 101 which extends upwardly
through a hole 107 in the board mounting plate 100.
Spacers 103 are used under the central threaded male
coupler 102 of the board mounting plate 100 to allow
adjustment of the tightness between the snowboard 10 and
the snowboot 20. The outer adjustment ring 104 of the
lower securement means is held down by the board mounting
plate 100 allowing the alignment ring 104 to be rotated
and affixed to the desired alignment slot/hole 106.
Referring to Figs. 6, 8 and 10, the latch
mechanism 90 of the latching means is mounted to the
threaded latch hole 54 in the periphery of the boot
mounting plate 50 and extends therefrom toward the board
mounting plate 100. A vertically movable plunger 90A of
the latch mechanism 90 is aligned with the rotatably
adjustable alignment ring 104 and therefore the selected
alignment slot/hole 106. The latching means also has a
latch release cable 92 routed through a sleeve 93 and a
boot sleeve 94 mounted along an exterior side of the
snowboot 20. A latch ring 95 is disposed above the boot
sleeve 94 and affixed to the end of the latch release
cable 92 for the rider to use for pulling on to remove
the plunger 90A from the selected slot/hole 106 in the
alignment ring 104 so as to change the angular stance
position to a free rotation 360° condition, and to stay
in this free rotation condition by placing the ring 95
over a release ring hook 96 mounted to the side of the
snowboot 20 above the boot sleeve 94.
CA 02258269 1998-12-23
WO 97/49464 PCT/US97/11019
- - 18 -
Plunger 90A can be set in the up (unlatched)
position. When plunger 90A in the down (latched)
position it is under spring tension. The rider can thus
use the step-on coupler-decoupler action in conjunction
with the position of latch mechanism 90 in several ways.
The rider may step on the board with the latch in
the down position to couple the boot to the board and
engage the latch with a selected slot 106. Adjustment to
a different boot position can be accomplished by moving
the latch to the up position, without disengaging the
coupler, rotating the boot to a new position, and moving
the latch to the down position to engage on a different
slot 106.
The rider may also adjust position of the boot by
using only the step-on action of the coupler. With the
latch in the down position, the rider may step-on the
board to couple the boot to the board and engage the
latch with a selected slot 106. Adjustment to a
different position can be accomplished by disengaging the
coupler and stepping on the board again with the boot in
a different rotational position to re-couple to the board
and engage the latch with a different slot 106.
The rider may also step on the board with the
latch in the down position without aligning the plunger
90A with a slot 106. The boot will then be coupled to
the board, but there will be some rotational freedom of
the boot. The rider may then rotate the boot, while
coupled to the board, until the plunger 90A engages on a
slot 106. Since the plunger 90A is under spring tension,
it will automatically latch into the first slot 106
encountered during the rotational movement of the boot.
Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate the female coupler
sleeve 50 being located near the central part of the boot
and the user's foot. For 360° rotation of the female
coupler sleeve 50, the male coupler 102 is positioned
CA 02258269 1998-12-23
WO 97/49464 PCT/US97/11019
- - 19 -
near the longitudinal centerline of the board. With this
arrangement, any overhangs of the heels and toes of a
user's boot over the edges of a board are kept equal.
The female coupler engages the male coupler such that a
lower surface of the user's boot directly contacts a top
surface of the snowboard. This allows forces to be
directed from the ball and heel of a user's boot and foot
to be transmitted directly to the surface of the board.
Fig. 25 illustrates an arrangement 110 wherein
extension of the binding release cable SO is mounted to a
pant leg so as to be more accessible to the rider in case
of an incident where the rider becomes buried in the snow
and is unable to reach to the boot but is able to reach
to the lower leg. The cable so may be extended, for
example, to a higher location on the upper leg or hips,
if desired, and attached elsewhere on a garment of the
rider. Figs. 26 and 27 show an alternative or modified
form of the arrangement of Fig. 25 wherein an accessory
release and alignment pull cable 111 is provided across
the front of the boot.
While the above-described embodiments show a
centrally mounted step-on coupler on the boot used with a
single coupling mount on the board, it will be resized
that multiple couplers may be used. For example, two
step-on couplers may be used, one at the toe and one at
the heel of the boot. The coupling mount may comprise a
ring, accommodating the two corresponding mounts to mate
with the couplers on the toe and heel. The ring may be
slidably engaged with a central mounting plate, thus
providing rotational movement of the boot while coupled
to the board.
What is claimed is:
