초록 ▼

A snowboard binding system is provided that is relatively easy to step-in and step-out of. The snowboard binding has a base member, a front binding member movably coupled the base member between a release position and a latched position, and a pair of rear binding members coupled to lateral sides of

A snowboard binding system is provided that is relatively easy to step-in and step-out of. The snowboard binding has a base member, a front binding member movably coupled the base member between a release position and a latched position, and a pair of rear binding members coupled to lateral sides of the base member. The rear binding members have latch members movable relative to the base member to selectively hold the rear catch portions of a snowboard boot. The latch members are arranged to move laterally apart relative to each other upon application of a force direction substantially towards the base member. The first and second latch members are arranged to selectively hold the catch members in a plurality of engagement positions having different heights above the base member.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A snowboard binding comprising: a base member including a base plate adapted to be coupled to a top surface of a snowboard and a side attachment portion extending upwardly from said base plate, said base plate having a front portion, a rear portion and a longitudinal axis extending between said

1. A snowboard binding comprising: a base member including a base plate adapted to be coupled to a top surface of a snowboard and a side attachment portion extending upwardly from said base plate, said base plate having a front portion, a rear portion and a longitudinal axis extending between said front and rear portions, said side attachment portion being located at said rear portion; and a rear binding member coupled to said side attachment portion at a first lateral side of said rear portion of said base plate to extend inwardly toward said longitudinal axis into a snowboard boot receiving area above said base plate, said rear binding member including a latch member movable relative to said base member, said latch member being pivotally supported about a pivot axis substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis to selectively engage a heel portion of the snowboard boot, said latch member being arranged to move downwardly toward said base member and laterally outwardly away from said longitudinal axis upon application of a force on said latch member in a direction substantially towards said base member by the snowboard boot, and to move upwardly away from said base member and laterally inwardly upon removal of said force, said rear binding member being configured and arranged without a lever portion that extends away from said longitudinal axis out of said boot receiving area beyond said side attachment portion to release said rear binding member. 2. A snowboard binding comprising: a base member including a base plate adapted to be coupled to a top surface of a snowboard and first and second side attachment portions extending upwardly from said base plate, said base plate having a front portion, a rear portion and a longitudinal axis extending between said front and rear portions, said first and second side attachment portions being located at said rear portion; a first rear binding member coupled to said first side attachment portion at a first lateral side of said rear portion of said base plate to extend inwardly toward said longitudinal axis into a snowboard boot receiving area above said base plate, said first rear binding member including a first latch member movable relative to said base member, said first latch member being pivotally supported about a first pivot axis substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, said first latch member being configured to engage a first rear catch portion of a snowboard boot; and a second rear binding member coupled to said second side attachment portion at a second lateral side of said rear portion of said base plate to extend inwardly toward said longitudinal axis into said snowboard boot receiving area above said base plate, said second rear binding member including a second latch member movable relative to said base member, said second latch member being pivotally supported about a second pivot axis substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, said second latch member being configured to engage a second rear catch portion of the snowboard boot, said first and second latch members being arranged to move downwardly toward said base member and laterally outwardly away from each other and away from said longitudinal axis upon application of a force on said first and second latch members in the direction substantially towards said base member by the snowboard boot, and to move upwardly away from said base member and laterally inwardly upon removal of said force, said first and second rear binding members being configured and arranged without lever portions that extend away from said first and second longitudinal axes out of said boot receiving area beyond said first and second side attachment portions to release said first and second rear binding members, respectively. 3. A snowboard binding according to claim 2, further comprising a front binding member movably coupled to said front portion of said base member between a release position and a l atched position. 4. A snowboard binding according to claim 2, wherein said first and second latch members are arranged to move laterally apart relative to each other from first and second initial positions to first and second guide positions upon application of said force on said first and second latch members in said direction substantially towards said base member. 5. A snowboard binding according to claim 4, wherein said first latch member is arranged to move from said first guide position to a first locking position to selectively hold the first rear catch portion of the snowboard boot; and said second latch member is arranged to move from said second guide position to a second locking position to selectively hold the second rear catch portion of the snowboard boot. 6. A snowboard binding according to claim 2, wherein said first and second latch members are normally urged to first and second initial positions by first and second biasing members, respectively. 7. A snowboard binding according to claim 2, wherein said first and second latch members are first and second pawls that are normally urged by first and second biasing members from first and second guide positions to first and second locking positions, respectively, said first pawl includes a first locking surface and a first guide surface, said second pawl includes a second locking surface and a second guide surface. 8. A snowboard binding according to claim 7, wherein said first pawl is pivotally supported about said first pivot axis, and said second pawl is pivotally supported about said second pivot axis. 9. A snowboard binding according to claim 2, wherein said base plate includes a mounting portion with said first and second side attachment portions extending perpendicularly from said mounting portion. 10. A snowboard binding according to claim 9, wherein said base member further includes a highback support extending upwardly relative to said rear portion of said base member. 11. The snowboard binding according to claim 1, further comprising a front binding member movably coupled to said front portion of said base plate between a release position and a latched position, said front binding member including a connecting portion coupled to said front portion of said base member and a binding flange extending from said connecting portion that is arranged to move in a forward and downward direction relative to said base member when moving from said latched position to said release position relative to said longitudinal axis, said binding flange being arranged and configured to limit upward movement of a front catch of the snowboard boot in said latched position and said connecting portion extending from a forward end of said binding flange in said latched position such that said connecting portion is configured to limit forward movement of the front catch of the snowboard boot along said longitudinal axis in said latched position. 12. A snowboard binding according to claim 11, wherein said front binding member includes a front pawl urged in a rear direction to said latched position by a front biasing member that applies an urging force on said front pawl, and a release lever coupled to said front pawl to move said front pawl from said latched position to said release position upon application of a force on said release lever that is greater than said urging force of said front biasing member. 13. A snowboard binding according to claim 11, wherein said front binding member is longitudinally adjustable relative to said front portion of said base member such that said front binding member can be selectively coupled at different longitudinal positions relative to said base member. 14. A snowboard binding according to claim 13, wherein said rear binding member is longitudinally adjustable relative to said rear portion of said base member such that said rear binding member can be selectively coupled at different longitudinal positions relative to s aid base member. 15. A snowboard binding according to claim 1, wherein said rear binding member is longitudinally adjustable relative to said rear portion of said base member such that said rear binding member can be selectively coupled at different longitudinal positions relative to said base member. 16. A snowboard binding according to claim 2, wherein said first and second side attachment portions have first and second support members that are slanted upwardly and outwardly relative to said base plate, respectively. 17. A snowboard binding according to claim 16, wherein said support members are part of a heel cup with a highback support mounted thereto. 18. A snowboard binding system, comprising: a snowboard boot having a sole portion, a front catch portion located at a front part of said sole portion, a first rear catch portion located at a first lateral side of said sole portion and a second rear catch portion located at a second lateral side of said sole portion; and a snowboard binding configured to be releasably coupled to said snowboard boot, said snowboard binding including a base member including a base elate adapted to be coupled to a top surface of a snowboard and first and second side attachment portions extending upwardly from said base plate, said base elate having a front portion, a rear portion and a longitudinal axis extending between said front and rear portions, said first and second side attachment portions being located at said rear portion;a front binding member movably coupled to said front portion of said base member between a release position and a latched position to selectively hold said front catch portion;a first rear binding member coupled to said first side attachment portion at a first lateral side of said rear portion of said base elate to extend inwardly toward said longitudinal axis into a snowboard boot receiving area above said base plate, said first rear binding member including a first latch member movable relative to said base member to selectively hold said first rear catch portion of said snowboard boot; anda second rear binding member coupled to said second side attachment portion at a second lateral side of said rear portion of said base plate to extend inwardly toward said longitudinal axis into said snowboard boot receiving area above said base plate, said second rear binding member including a second latch member movable relative to said base member to selectively hold said second rear catch portion of said snowboard boot,said first and second latch members being arranged to move downwardly toward said base member and laterally away from each other and away from said longitudinal axis upon application of a force on said first and second latch members in a direction substantially towards said base member by said snowboard boot, and to move upwardly away from said base member and laterally inwardly upon removal of said force,said first and second rear binding members being configured and arranged without lever portions that extend away from said first and second longitudinal axes out of said boot receiving area beyond said first and second side attachment portions to release said first and second rear binding members, respectively.19. A snowboard binding system according to claim 18, wherein said first and second latch members are normally urged to first and second initial positions by first and second biasing members, respectively. 20. A snowboard binding system according to claim 19, wherein said first latch member is pivotally supported about a first pivot axis, and said second latch member is pivotally supported about a second pivot axis. 21. A snowboard binding system according to claim 20, wherein said first and second pivot axes are arranged substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said base member. 22. A snowboard binding system according to claim 21, wherein said first and second latch members have first and second elongated locking surfaces , respectively, that are arranged substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said base member. 23. A snowboard binding system according to claim 21, wherein said first and second latch members have first and second elongated locking surfaces, respectively, that diverge relative to said longitudinal axis of said base member as said first and second elongated locking surfaces extend from said rear portion of said base member towards said front portion of said base member. 24. A snowboard binding system according to claim 20, wherein said first and second pivot axes diverge relative to said longitudinal axis of said base member as said first and second pivot axes extend from said rear portion of said base member towards said front portion of said base member. 25. A snowboard binding system according to claim 24, wherein said first and second latch members have first and second elongated locking surfaces, respectively, that are arranged substantially parallel to said first and second pivot axes, respectively, such that said first and second elongated locking surfaces diverge relative to said longitudinal axis of said base member as said first and second elongated locking surfaces extend from said rear portion of said base member towards said front portion of said base member. 26. A snowboard binding system according to claim 18, wherein said first and second latch members are first and second pawls that are normally urged by first and second biasing members from first and second guide positions to first and second locking positions, respectively, said first pawl includes a first locking surface and a first guide surface, said second pawl includes a second locking surface and a second guide surface. 27. A snowboard binding system according to claim 26, wherein said first pawl is pivotally supported about a first pivot axis, and said second pawl is pivotally supported about a second pivot axis. 28. A snowboard binding system according to claim 27, wherein said base plate includes a mounting portion with said side attachment portions extending perpendicularly from said mounting portion. 29. A snowboard binding system according to claim 28, wherein said base member further includes a highback support extending upwardly relative to said rear portion of said base member. 30. A snowboard binding system according to claim 29, wherein said first and second pivot axes are arranged substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said base plate. 31. A snowboard binding system according to claim 30, wherein said front binding member includes a front pawl urged to said latched position by a front biasing member that applies an urging force on said front pawl, and a release lever coupled to said front pawl to move said front pawl from said latched position to said release position upon application of a force on said release lever that is greater said urging force of said front biasing member. 32. A snowboard binding system according to claim 18, wherein said first latch member is arranged to hold said first rear catch portion at a plurality of different heights relative to said base member; and said second latch member is arranged to hold said second rear catch portion at a plurality of different heights relative to said base member. 33. A snowboard binding system comprising: a snowboard hoot having a sole portion, a front catch portion located at a front part of said sole portion, a first rear catch portion located at a first lateral side of said sole portion and a second rear catch portion located at a second lateral side of said sole portion, said first rear catch portion including a plurality of first notches and said second rear catch portion including a plurality of second notches; and a snowboard binding configured to be releasably coupled to said snowboard boot, said snowboard binding including a base member having a front portion, a rear portion and a longitudinal axis extending between said f ront and rear portions;a front binding member movably coupled to said front portion of said base member between a release position and a latched position to selectively hold said front catch portion;a first rear binding member coupled to a first lateral side of said rear portion of said base member, said first rear binding member including a first latch member movable relative to said base member to selectively hold said first rear catch portion of said snowboard boot, said first latch member being arranged to hold said first rear catch portion at a plurality of different heights relative to said base member; anda second rear binding member coupled to a second lateral side of said rear portion of said base member, said second rear binding member including a second latch member movable relative to said base member to selectively hold said second rear catch portion of said snowboard boot, said second latch member being arranged to hold said second rear catch portion at a plurality of different heights relative to said base member,said first and second latch members being arranged to move downwardly toward said base member and laterally away from each other and away from said longitudinal axis upon application of a force on said first and second latch members in a direction substantially towards said base member by said snowboard boot.34. A snowboard binding system according to claim 33, wherein said first notches are located at a first lateral side of said snowboard boot; and said second notches are located at a second lateral side of said snowboard boot such that said second notches face in a substantially opposite direction from said first notches. 35. A snowboard binding system according to claim 34, wherein said first notches are elongated in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said base member; and said second notches are elongated in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said base member. 36. A snowboard binding system according to claim 18, wherein said front binding member is longitudinally adjustable relative to said front portion of said base member such that said front binding member can be selectively coupled at different longitudinal positions relative to said base member. 37. A snowboard binding system according to claim 36, wherein said first and second rear binding members are longitudinally adjustable relative to said rear portion of said base member such that said first and second rear binding members can be selectively coupled at different longitudinal positions relative to said base member. 38. A snowboard binding system according to claim 18, wherein said first and second rear binding members are longitudinally adjustable relative to said rear portion of said base member such that said first and second rear binding members can be selectively coupled at different longitudinal positions relative to said base member. 39. A snowboard binding system according to claim 18, wherein said first and second side attachment portions have first and second support members that are slanted upwardly and outwardly relative to said base plate, respectively. 40. A snowboard binding system according to claim 39, wherein said support members are part of a heel cup with a highback support mounted thereto. 41. A snowboard binding system, comprising: a snowboard boot having a sole portion, a front catch portion located at a front part of said sole portion, a first rear catch portion located at a first lateral side of said sole portion and a second rear catch portion located at a second lateral side of said sole portion, said first rear catch portion including a pair of substantially parallel first notches located at different heights relative to each other and said second rear catch portion including a pair of substantially parallel second notches located at different heights relative to each other; and a snowboard binding configured to be releasably coupled to said snowboard boot, said snowboard binding including a base member having a front portion, a rear portion and a longitudinal axis extending between said front and rear portions;a front binding member movably coupled to said front portion of said base member between a release position and a latched position to selectively hold said front catch portion;a first rear binding member coupled to a first lateral side of said rear portion of said base member, said first rear binding member including a first latch member movable relative to said base member to selectively engage said first rear catch of said snowboard boot; anda second rear binding member coupled to a second lateral side of said rear portion of said base member, said second rear binding member including a second latch member movable relative to said base member to selectively engage said second rear catch of said snowboard boot,said first and second latch members being arranged to initially move laterally apart relative to each other to guide positions upon application of a force on said first and second latch members in a direction substantially towards said base member by said snowboard boot,said first and second latch members being further arranged to subsequently move laterally towards each other to locked positions upon removal of said force such that said first and second latch members engage one of said first notches and one of said second notches, respectively, when in said locked positions,said first latch being engagable within each of said first notches and said second latch being engagable within each of said second notches to selectively couple said snowboard boot to said snowboard binding at two predetermined heights relative to said snowboard binding.42. The snowboard binding system according to claim 18, wherein said first and second latch members and said first and second rear catch portions are configured to allow forward longitudinal movement of said snowboard boot relative to said first and second latch members when said first and second latch members are holding said first and second rear catch portions respectively, and said front binding member and said front catch portion are configured to limit longitudinal movement of said front catch portion in a forward direction along said longitudinal axis when said front binding member is in said latched position holding said front catch portion. 43. A snowboard binding according to claim 1, further comprising a front binding member movably coupled to said front portion of said base member between a release position and a latched position.