초록 ▼

A snowboard binding mechanism for securing a snowboard boot to a snowboard includes at least one moveable engagement member having an open position and at least one closed position. When in the closed position, the engagement member is biased toward the open position. As a result, when a snowboard b

A snowboard binding mechanism for securing a snowboard boot to a snowboard includes at least one moveable engagement member having an open position and at least one closed position. When in the closed position, the engagement member is biased toward the open position. As a result, when a snowboard boot is not disposed in the binding mechanism, the binding mechanism automatically moves to the open position. The engagement member may also function to compensate for snow, ice or debris accumulated beneath the boot. A single handle may be operatively connected to the engagement members to facilitate ease of removal of the snowboard boot from the binding by simply requiring actuation of the single handle to unlock the binding. A separate foot pedal may be operably coupled to the engagement member and is also employed to unlock the binding. The binding mechanism may also include a cocking feature that unlocks the binding mechanism without also causing the engagement members to move to open positions. A non-metallic heel hoop may be adjustably mounted to the base of a binding for movement in a forward and rearward direction relative to the base. The heel hoop is mounted at a location on the base such that no portion of the heel hoop extends forward of the engagement member. The heel hoop may also include a base portion that is adapted to at least partially underlie the sole of the boot when the boot is held within the binding.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A step-in snowboard binding for securing a snowboard boot to a snowboard, comprising:a base;a first strapless engagement member, moveably mounted to the base, adapted to engage a first lateral side of the snowboard boot at a section not forward of the in-step area;a second strapless engagement me

1. A step-in snowboard binding for securing a snowboard boot to a snowboard, comprising:a base;a first strapless engagement member, moveably mounted to the base, adapted to engage a first lateral side of the snowboard boot at a section not forward of the in-step area;a second strapless engagement member, mounted to the base opposite the first strapless engagement member and adapted to engage a second side of the snowboard boot at a section not forward of the in-step area;a heel hoop supported by the base; anda high-back leg support supported by the heel hoop. 2. The snowboard binding of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second strapless engagement members is arranged to engage a mid-section of the snowboard boot rearward of a ball area and forward of a heel area. 3. The snowboard binding of claim 1, wherein the first strapless engagement member is mounted for rotation relative to the base. 4. The snowboard binding of claim 3, wherein the first strapless engagement member is movable between at least one closed position wherein it secures the snowboard boot to the binding and an open position wherein it does not secure the snowboard boot to the binding. 5. The snowboard binding of claim 4, further including a spring that biases the first strapless engagement member from an intermediate position into the closed position. 6. The snowboard binding of claim 4, further including a spring that biases the first strapless engagement member and is adapted to maintain the first strapless engagement member in the open position. 7. The snowboard binding of claim 4, wherein the binding further includes a handle adapted to move the first strapless engagement member from the closed position to the open position, the handle being mechanically coupled to the first strapless engagement member, and being actuated downwardly towards the snowboard to move the first strapless engagement member from the closed position to the open position. 8. The snowboard binding of claim 4, further including a trigger mechanically coupled to the first strapless engagement member and adapted to move the first strapless engagement member from the open position to the closed position when the snowboard boot is stepped into the binding. 9. The snowboard binding of claim 8, wherein the trigger is adapted to pull the first strapless engagement member into engagement with the snowboard boot when the snowboard boot is stepped into the binding. 10. The snowboard binding of claim 8, wherein the trigger is adapted to be stepped on to move the first strapless engagement member into the closed position. 11. The snowboard binding of claim 8, wherein the trigger and the first strapless engagement member rotate together as a unit relative to the base. 12. The snowboard binding of claim 11, wherein the first strapless engagement member is rotationally fixed relative to the trigger. 13. The snowboard binding of claim 8, wherein the trigger is arranged to protrude further toward the second strapless engagement member than the first strapless engagement member does. 14. The snowboard binding of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second strapless engagement members is adapted to engage the snowboard boot at the in-step area. 15. The snowboard binding of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second strapless engagement members is mounted to the base for rotation about an axis that extends in a toe-to-heel direction of the binding. 16. The snowboard binding of claim 4, further including a first locking assembly adapted to lock the first strapless engagement member in the closed position. 17. The snowboard binding of claim 16, wherein the first locking assembly has an open state and a closed state respectively corresponding to the open and closed positions of the first strapless engagement member, the first locking assembly being arranged to lock the first strapless engagement member in the closed position when the locking assembly is in the closed state, the first locking asse mbly being constructed and arranged such that forces acting on the binding that tend to move the first engagement member toward the open position when the boot is secured to the binding act to maintain the locking assembly in the closed state. 18. The snowboard binding of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second strapless engagement members is adapted to engage the snowboard boot at approximately a center of a length of the snowboard boot. 19. The snowboard binding of claim 1, wherein the base has a baseplate adapted to be mounted to the snowboard, and wherein the binding is constructed and arranged to enable the high-back leg support to be mounted to the binding in at least two positions having different rotational orientations about an axis that is substantially normal to the baseplate. 20. The snowboard binding of claim 1, wherein a position of the heel hoop is adjustable relative to the first and second strapless engagement members to accommodate different sizes of the snowboard boot. 21. The snowboard binding of claim 1, wherein the base includes a baseplate adapted to be mounted to the snowboard, and the high-back leg support is supported by the heel hoop so that a surface of the heel hoop that engages with the high-back leg support to resist rearward rotation thereof is raised up from the baseplate. 22. The snowboard binding of claim 1, further including a forward lean adjuster to adjust forward lean of the high-back leg support. 23. The snowboard binding of claim 1, wherein the heel hoop is mounted to the base at a pair of attachment points on a first lateral side of the base. 24. The snowboard binding of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second strapless engagement members is adapted to cooperate with a corresponding mating feature on the boot. 25. The snowboard binding of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second strapless engagement members includes a pair of engagement fingers adapted to engage the first lateral side of the boot, the pair of engagement fingers including a front engagement finger and a rear engagement finger, the pair of engagement fingers each being mounted to the base for movement between an open position and a closed position. 26. The snowboard binding of claim 25, wherein the pair of engagement fingers both engage in a mid-section area of the snowboard boot. 27. The snowboard binding of claim 25, wherein the pair of engagement fingers engages the snowboard boot not forward of the in-step area. 28. The snowboard binding of claim 1, in combination with the snowboard boot. 29. The combination of claim 28, wherein the boot has first and second openings adapted to receive the first and second strapless engagement members. 30. The combination of claim 28, wherein the boot is free of a mating feature to engage with the binding in an area behind a heel of the boot. 31. The combination of claim 28, wherein the boot is free of a mating feature to engage with the binding in an area other than the mid-section area. 32. The combination of claim 28, wherein the boot is flexible forward of a ball area to facilitate walking. 33. The combination of claim 28, wherein the binding includes a first trigger mechanically coupled to the first strapless engagement member and adapted to move the first one strapless engagement member from an open position to a closed position when the snowboard boot is stepped into the binding, and wherein the boot has a recess adapted to receive the trigger. 34. The combination of claim 28, wherein the boot is a soft snowboard boot. 35. The combination of claim 28, wherein the snowboard boot comprises a molded plastic interface that carries engagement features adapted to engage with the first and second strapless engagement members. 36. The combination of claim 35, wherein the snowboard boot comprises an inner sole and an outer sole, and wherein at least a portion of the interface is disposed between the inner sole and the outer sole. 37. The combination of claim 35, wherei n the interface has a plurality of reinforcing ribs disposed in a mid-section area of the boot. 38. The combination of claim 35, wherein the interface comprises at least one feature, disposed at approximately a ball area of the foot, to facilitate bending of the interface. 39. The combination of claim 35, further comprising an ankle strap mounted to the interface. 40. The combination of claim 28, wherein the snowboard boot comprises a molded plastic interface, and wherein the combination further comprises an ankle strap mounted to the interface. 41. The combination of claim 40, wherein the snowboard boot comprises an inner sole and an outer sole, and wherein at least a portion of the interface is disposed between the inner sole and the outer sole. 42. The combination of claim 40, wherein the interface has a plurality of reinforcing ribs disposed in a mid-section area of the boot. 43. The combination of claim 40, wherein the interface comprises at least one feature, disposed at approximately a ball area of the foot, to facilitate bending of the interface. 44. The snowboard binding of claim 1, wherein the first strapless engagement member is arranged to engage the in-step area of the snowboard boot. 45. The combination of claim 35, wherein the interface comprises at least one flex notch, disposed at approximately a ball area of the foot, to facilitate bending of the interface. 46. The snowboard binding of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second strapless engagement members is adapted to engage the snowboard boot rearward of a ball area and forward of a heel area of the snowboard boot. 47. A step-in snowboard binding for securing a snowboard boot to a snowboard, the binding comprising:a base adapted to receive the snowboard boot;a first strapless engagement member, moveably mounted to the base, adapted to engage a first lateral side of the snowboard boot at a section not forward of the in-step area;a second strapless engagement member, mounted to the base opposite the first strapless engagement member and adapted to engage a second side of the snowboard boot at a section not forward of the in-step area; anda heel hoop adapted to receive a heel of the snowboard boot, the heel hoop being adjustably mounted to the base to enable adjustment of a distance separating the heel hoop and the at least one strapless engagement member in a length direction of the binding to enable the binding to accommodate different sizes of the snowboard boot. 48. The snowboard binding of claim 47, further including a high-back leg support supported by the heel hoop. 49. The snowboard binding of claim 48, wherein the base includes a base surface adapted to be substantially parallel to a sole of the snowboard boot when the boot is secured in the binding, and wherein the binding is constructed and arranged to enable the high-back leg support to be mounted to the base in at least two positions having different rotational orientations about an axis that is substantially normal to the base surface. 50. The snowboard binding of claim 48, wherein each of the first and second strapless engagement members is mounted to the base at a mounting location spaced from the heel hoop and the high-back leg support. 51. The snowboard binding of claim 47, wherein the binding is free of an engagement member to engage the snowboard boot forward of a mid-section of the snowboard boot. 52. The snowboard binding of claim 47, wherein each of the first and second strapless engagement members is mounted for rotation relative to the base. 53. The snowboard binding of claim 47, further including a first locking assembly adapted to lock the first strapless engagement member in a closed position to secure the boot in the binding. 54. The snowboard binding of claim 47, wherein each of the first and second strapless engagement members is mounted to the base for rotation about an axis that extends in a toe-to-heel direction of the binding. 55. The snowboard binding of claim 53, wherei n the first strapless engagement member is mounted to the base for movement between an open position and the closed position, wherein the locking assembly has an open state and a closed state respectively corresponding to the open and closed positions of the first strapless engagement member, the first locking assembly being arranged to lock the first strapless engagement member in the closed position when the locking assembly is in the closed state, the first locking assembly being constructed and arranged such that forces acting on the binding that tend to move the first engagement member toward the open position when the boot is secured to the binding act to maintain the locking assembly in the closed state. 56. The snowboard binding of claim 47, wherein the first and second strapless engagement members each is adapted to engage the snowboard boot at approximately a center of a length of the snowboard boot. 57. The snowboard binding of claim 47, wherein the first strapless engagement member is mounted to the base for movement between an open position and a closed position wherein the first strapless engagement member is adapted to engage the first lateral side of the snowboard boot, and wherein the snowboard binding further includes a lever mechanically coupled to the first strapless engagement member and adapted to move the first strapless engagement member from the closed position to the open position, wherein the lever is pivotally mounted relative to the base, and the binding is constructed and arranged so that when the lever is pivoted downwardly toward the snowboard, the first strapless engagement member is moved toward the open position. 58. The snowboard binding of claim 47, wherein the first strapless engagement member is mounted to the base for movement between an open position and a closed position wherein the first strapless engagement member is adapted to engage the first lateral side of the snowboard boot, and wherein the snowboard binding further includes a trigger mechanically coupled to the first strapless engagement member and adapted to move the first strapless engagement member from the open to the closed position when the snowboard boot is stepped into the binding. 59. The snowboard binding of claim 58, wherein the trigger and the first strapless engagement member are part of a unitary component. 60. The snowboard binding of claim 58, wherein the trigger has an open state and a closed state respectively corresponding to the open and closed positions of the first strapless engagement member, the trigger being arranged to underlie a sole of the snowboard boot when the trigger is in the closed state. 61. The snowboard binding of claim 58, wherein the trigger has an open state and a closed state respectively corresponding to the open and closed positions of the first strapless engagement member, the trigger extending substantially parallel to the base when in the closed state. 62. The snowboard binding of claim 58, wherein the first strapless engagement member and the trigger are rotationally fixed, such that the first strapless engagement member and the trigger pivot together as a unit relative to the base. 63. The snowboard binding of claim 58, wherein the first strapless engagement member and the trigger are pivotally mounted to the base about a common pivot axis. 64. The snowboard binding of claim 47, wherein each of the first and second strapless engagement members includes a pair of engagement fingers mounted to the base for movement between an open position and a closed position and adapted to engage the boot when in the closed position, each pair of engagement fingers including a front engagement finger and a rear engagement finger, the front and rear engagement fingers being spaced apart and adapted to separately engage first and second sections of a same side of the snowboard boot while being spaced from a third section of the side of the snowboard boot disposed therebetween. 65. The snowboard bin ding of claim 64, wherein the front engagement finger is arranged to engage the in-step area of the snowboard boot. 66. The snowboard binding of claim 64, wherein each of the front and rear engagement fingers is arranged to engage the in-step area of the snowboard boot. 67. The snowboard binding of claim 47, in combination with the snowboard boot. 68. The combination of claim 67, wherein the snowboard boot includes an interface disposed on the snowboard boot, the first and second strapless engagement members being adapted to engage the interface to secure the snowboard boot to the binding. 69. The combination of claim 68, wherein the interface is attached to the sole of the snowboard boot. 70. The combination of claim 68, wherein the interface includes first and second openings for receiving the first and second strapless engagement members. 71. The combination of claim 70, wherein the first opening is disposed substantially in-line with the first lateral side of the snowboard boot and the second opening is disposed substantially in-line with the second lateral side of the snowboard boot. 72. The combination of claim 67, wherein the boot is a soft snowboard boot. 73. The combination of claim 67, wherein the snowboard boot comprises a molded plastic interface that carries first and second engagement features that are adapted to engage with the first and second strapless engagement members. 74. The combination of claim 73, wherein the snowboard boot comprises an inner sole and an outer sole, and wherein at least a portion of the interface is disposed between the inner sole and the outer sole. 75. The combination of claim 73, wherein the interface has a plurality of reinforcing ribs disposed in a mid-section area of the boot. 76. The combination of claim 73, wherein the interface comprises at least one feature, disposed at approximately a ball area of the foot, to facilitate bending of the interface. 77. The combination of claim 73, further comprising an ankle strap mounted to the interface. 78. The combination of claim 67, wherein the snowboard boot comprises a molded plastic interface, and wherein the combination further comprises an ankle strap mounted to the interface. 79. The combination of claim 78, wherein the snowboard boot comprises an inner sole and an outer sole, and wherein at least a portion of the interface is disposed between the inner sole and the outer sole. 80. The combination of claim 78, wherein the interface has a plurality of reinforcing ribs disposed in a mid-section area of the boot. 81. The combination of claim 78, wherein the interface comprises at least one feature, disposed at approximately a ball area of the foot, to facilitate bending of the interface. 82. The combination of claim 73, wherein the interface comprises at least one flex notch, disposed at approximately a ball area of the foot, to facilitate bending of the interface. 83. The snowboard binding of claim 47, wherein each of the first and second strapless engagement members is adapted to engage the snowboard boot rearward of a ball area and forward of a heel area of the snowboard boot. 84. A system comprising:a snowboard boot; anda step-in snowboard binding for securing the snowboard boot to a snowboard, the snowboard binding comprising:a base having a baseplate adapted to be mounted to the snowboard;a first strapless engagement member that is moveably mounted to the base between a first open position and a first closed position in which the first strapless engagement member is adapted to engage a first lateral side of the snowboard boot at a section not forward of the in-step area, the first strapless engagement member being mounted for rotation relative to the base about a first axis that extends substantially in a heel-to-toe direction of the binding;a first trigger mechanically coupled to the first strapless engagement member and adapted to be stepped on by the boot when the boot is stepped into the binding and to pull the first straples s engagement member from the first open position to the first closed position, wherein the first trigger is arranged to protrude further toward a centerline of the binding than the first strapless engagement member;a second strapless engagement member that is moveably mounted to the base between a second open position and a second closed position in which the second strapless engagement member is adapted to engage a second lateral side of the snowboard boot at a section not forward of the in-step area, the second strapless engagement member being mounted for rotation relative to the base about a second axis that extends substantially in a heel-to-toe direction of the binding;a second trigger mechanically coupled to the second strapless engagement member and adapted to be stepped on by the boot when the boot is stepped into the binding and to pull the second strapless engagement member from the second open position to the second closed position, wherein the second trigger is arranged to protrude further toward the centerline of the binding than the second strapless engagement member;a heel hoop that is adjustably mounted to the base to accommodate different sizes of the snowboard boot; anda high-back leg support supported by the heel hoop;wherein the binding is constructed and arranged to enable the high-back leg support to be mounted to the binding in at least two positions having different rotational orientations about an axis that is substantially normal to the baseplate; andwherein the boot has first and second openings respectively adapted to receive the first and second strapless engagement members. 85. The system of claim 84, wherein each of the first and second strapless engagement members is adapted to engage the snowboard boot at the in-step area. 86. The system of claim 84, wherein the binding further comprises:a first locking assembly adapted to lock the first strapless engagement member in the first closed position, wherein the first locking assembly has a first open state and a first closed state respectively corresponding to the first open and first closed positions of the first strapless engagement member, the first locking assembly being arranged to lock the first strapless engagement member in the first closed position when the first locking assembly is in the first closed state, the first locking assembly being constructed and arranged such that forces acting on the binding that tend to move the first engagement member toward the first open position when the boot is secured to the binding act to maintain the first locking assembly in the first closed state; anda second locking assembly adapted to lock the second strapless engagement member in the second closed position, wherein the second locking assembly has a second open state and a second closed state respectively corresponding to the second open and second closed positions of the second strapless engagement member, the second locking assembly being arranged to lock the second strapless engagement member in the second closed position when the second locking assembly is in the second closed state, the second locking assembly being constructed and arranged such that forces acting on the binding that tend to move the second engagement member toward the second open position when the boot is secured to the binding act to maintain the second locking assembly in the second closed state. 87. The system of claim 84, wherein the snowboard boot comprises a molded plastic interface that comprises the first and second openings;wherein the snowboard boot comprises an inner sole and an outer sole, and wherein at least a portion of the interface is disposed between the inner sole and the outer sole;wherein the interface has a plurality of reinforcing ribs disposed in the in-step area of the boot; andwherein the interface comprises at least one feature, disposed at approximately a ball area of the foot, to facilitate bending of the interface. 88. The system of claim 87, fu rther comprising an ankle strap mounted to the interface.