초록 ▼

Step-in snowboard binding designed to hold a boot by its sides. The binding comprises at least one jaw secured to a driving arm intended to be driven by the boot. The jaw has a cam-shaped part collaborating with a locking element which can move in a guide in such a way that the jaw is locked for var

Step-in snowboard binding designed to hold a boot by its sides. The binding comprises at least one jaw secured to a driving arm intended to be driven by the boot. The jaw has a cam-shaped part collaborating with a locking element which can move in a guide in such a way that the jaw is locked for various positions of the jaw. The jaw is equipped with a return spring which tends to keep it in the open position, and the jaw and the locking element cooperate to keep the locking element away from its locking position when the jaw is raised. In this way, the jaw cannot be closed inadvertently and the locking element does not hamper the closure movement.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A step-in binding that holds a boot by its sides, comprising:a base plate; a jaw attached to the base plate, the jaw being pivotable with respect to the base plate between at least one open, unlocked position and a plurality of closed, locked positions; a driving arm, connected to the jaw, that i

1. A step-in binding that holds a boot by its sides, comprising:a base plate; a jaw attached to the base plate, the jaw being pivotable with respect to the base plate between at least one open, unlocked position and a plurality of closed, locked positions; a driving arm, connected to the jaw, that is driven by the boot as the boot is introduced into the binding, the driving arm thereby driving the jaw toward a closed, locked position; a locking element that interacts with the driving arm, other than via the connection between the driving arm and the jaw, to lock the jaw in a closed, locked position after the boot has been introduced into the binding, the locking element being configured such that the jaw may be locked in any of the plurality of closed, locked positions to accommodate various boot levels relative to the base plate; and a return spring that biases the jaw towards the at least one open, unlocked position. 2. The step-in binding of claim 1, wherein at least one of the driving arm and the locking element includes a cutout, and at least one of the driving arm and the locking element interacts with the cutout to lock the jaw.3. The step-in binding of claim 1, wherein the locking element comprises a substantially finger-shaped member.4. The step-in binding of claim 1, wherein the locking element is urged in a locking direction by an elastic means.5. The step-in binding of claim 1, wherein movement of the locking element is guided.6. The step-in binding of claim 1, further comprising a retaining element attached to the base plate opposite the jaw.7. The step-in binding of claim 1, wherein the locking element includes a shaped part that interacts with the driving arm.8. The step-in binding of claim 1, wherein the driving arm has a lateral face forming a stop for the locking element and a cutout forming a circumferential stop, and the locking element comprises a locking finger that moves at least approximately parallel to an axis of rotation of the jaw and is in a shape of a wedge, the locking finger pressing against the circumferential stop as it enters the cutout after the jaw has rotated a predetermined amount.9. The step-in binding of claim 1, further comprising a stop against which the locking element rests when the jaw is in the at least one open, unlocked position.10. The step-in binding of claim 1, wherein the driving arm includes a first portion that is driven by the boot as the boot is introduced into the binding to drive the jaw toward a closed, locked position, and a second portion positioned away from the boot, and the locking element interacts with the second portion of the driving arm.11. The step-in binding of claim 1, wherein the driving arm is a single piece.12. The step-in binding of claim 3, wherein the substantially finger-shaped member includes a ramped side interacting with a cutout on the driving arm to provide for the plurality of closed, locked positions.13. The step-in binding of claim 6, wherein the jaw is a first jaw and the retaining element comprises a second jaw that is substantially identical to the first jaw.14. The step-in binding of claim 8, further comprising a retaining element attached to the base plate opposite the jaw.15. The step-in binding of claim 13, wherein the locking element moves relative to the base plate.16. The step-in binding of claim 14, wherein the jaw is a first jaw and the retaining element comprises a second jaw that is substantially identical to the first jaw.17. The step-in binding of claim 15, further comprising:a kinematic link that links the first jaw to the second jaw so that the first jaw and the second jaw can be pivoted simultaneously. 18. The step-in binding of claim 16, further comprising:a kinematic link that links the locking finger associated with the first jaw with a locking finger associated with the second jaw. 19. The step-in binding of claim 17, wherein the kinematic link is between the locking element associated with the first jaw and a locking element that is associated with the second jaw.20. The step-in binding of claim 18, wherein the kinematic link is a bar that is biased towards the first jaw and the second jaw.21. The step-in binding of claim 19, wherein the kinematic link is a bar.22. The step-in binding of claim 20, wherein at least one of the locking finger associated with the first jaw and the locking finger associated with the second jaw is connected to the bar with play.23. The step-in binding of claim 21, wherein, when the first jaw and the second jaw are in closed, locked positions, the first jaw and the second jaw have differential play, and, when the first jaw and the second jaw are in open, unlocked positions, the first jaw and the second jaw do not have differential play.24. A method of binding a boot by holding the boot by its sides, the method comprising:introducing a boot into a binding to thereby drive a driving arm that is connected to a jaw, the driving arm thereby pivoting the jaw with respect to a base plate from at least one open, unlocked position to one of a plurality of closed, locked positions; and interacting a locking element with the driving arm, other than via the connection between the driving arm and the jaw, to lock the jaw in any of the closed, locked positions to accommodate various boot levels relative to the base plate. 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising retaining the boot between the at least one jaw and a second jaw.26. The method of claim 24, wherein at least one of the driving arm and the locking element includes a cutout, at least one of the driving arm and the locking element interacts with the cutout to lock the jaw, the locking element comprises a substantially finger-shaped member, and the method further comprises:rotating the at least one jaw such that the substantially finger-shaped member moves at least approximately parallel to an axis of rotation of the jaw, and the substantially finger-shaped member interacts with a cutout on the driving arm to provide for the plurality of closed, locked positions. 27. The method of claim 24, further comprising resting the locking element against a stop when the jaw is in the at least one open, unlocked position.28. The method of claim 24, wherein at least one of the driving arm and the locking element includes a cutout, and the step of interacting the locking element with the driving arm comprises interacting at least one of the driving arm and the locking element with the cutout to lock the jaw.29. The method of claim 24, wherein the driving arm includes a first portion that is driven by the boot as the boot is introduced into the binding to drive the jaw toward a closed, locked position, and a second portion positioned away from the boot, and the step of interacting the locking element comprises interacting the locking element with the second portion of the driving arm.30. The method of claim 25, further comprising:opening the at least one jaw and the second jaw simultaneously. 31. A step-in binding that holds a boot by its sides, comprising:a base plate; means for pivoting a jaw with respect to the base plate between at least one open, unlocked position and a plurality of closed, locked positions; driving arm means for driving the jaw toward a closed, locked position; means for locking that interacts with the driving arm means, other than via a connection between the driving arm means and the jaw, to lock the jaw in a closed, locked position after the boot has been introduced into the binding, the means for locking being configured such that the jaw may be locked in any of the plurality of closed, locked positions to accommodate various boot levels relative to the base plate; and means for biasing the jaw towards the at least one open, unlocked position. 32. The step-in binding of claim 31, wherein the means for driving is a driving arm.33. The step-in binding of claim 31, wherein at least one of the driving means and the locking means includes a cutout, and at least one of the driving means and the locking means interacts with the cutout to lock the jaw.34. The step-in binding of claim 31, further comprising a stop against which the locking element rests when the jaw is in the at least one open, unlocked position.35. The step-in binding of claim 32, wherein the means for locking is a locking element.36. The step-in binding of claim 35, wherein the locking element comprises a substantially finger-shaped member.37. The step-in binding of claim 36, wherein the substantially finger-shaped member includes a ramped side interacting with a cutout on the driving arm to provide for the plurality of closed, locked positions.38. A step-in binding that holds a boot by its sides, comprising:a base plate; a jaw attached to the base plate, the jaw being pivotable with respect to the base plate between at least one open, unlocked position and a plurality of closed, locked positions; a driving arm, connected to the jaw, that is driven by the boot as the boot is introduced into the binding, the driving arm thereby driving the jaw toward a closed, locked position; a locking element that interacts with the driving arm, other than via the connection between the driving arm and the jaw and at least initially at a location between a rotation axis of the jaw and a center of the base plate, to lock the jaw in a closed, locked position after the boot has been introduced into the binding, the locking element being configured such that the jaw may be locked in any of the plurality of closed, locked positions to accommodate various boot levels relative to the base plate; and a return spring that biases the jaw towards the at least one open, unlocked position. 39. The step-in binding of claim 38, wherein the driving arm is a single piece.40. A method of binding a boot by holding the boot by its sides, the method comprising:introducing a boot into a binding to thereby drive a driving arm that is connected to a jaw; pivoting the jaw with respect to a base plate from at least one open, unlocked position to one of a plurality of closed, locked positions; and interacting a locking element with the driving arm, other than via the connection between the driving arm and the jaw and at least initially at a location between a rotation axis of the jaw and a center of the base plate, to lock the jaw in any of the closed, locked positions to accommodate various boot levels relative to the base plate. 41. A step-in binding that holds a boot by its sides, comprising:a base plate; means for pivoting a jaw with respect to the base plate between at least one open, unlocked position and a plurality of closed, locked positions; means for driving the jaw toward a closed, locked position; means for locking that interacts with the means for driving, other than via a connection between the driving means and the jaw and at least initially at a location between a rotation axis of the jaw and a center of the base plate, to lock the jaw in a closed, locked position after the boot has been introduced into the binding, the means for locking being configured such that the jaw may be locked in any of the plurality of closed, locked positions to accommodate various boot levels relative to the base plate; and means for biasing the jaw towards the at least one open, unlocked position. 42. A step-in binding that holds a boot by its sides, comprising:a base plate; means for pivoting a jaw with respect to the base plate between at least one open, unlocked position and a plurality of closed, locked positions; driving arm means for driving the jaw toward a closed, locked position, the driving arm means comprising a driving arm that has a shorter length than the jaw in a direction substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of the jaw; means for locking that interacts with the driving arm means, other than via a connection between the driving arm means and the jaw, to lock the jaw in a closed, locked position after the boot has been introduced into the binding, the means for locking being configured such that the jaw may be locked in any of the plurality of closed, locked positions to accommodate various boot levels relative to the base plate; and means for biasing the jaw towards the at least one open, unlocked position. 43. A step-in binding that holds a boot by its sides, comprising:a base plate; a jaw attached to the base plate, the jaw being pivotable with respect to the base plate between at least one open, unlocked position and a plurality of closed, locked positions; a driving arm, connected to the jaw, that is driven by the boot as the boot is introduced into the binding, the driving arm thereby driving the jaw toward a closed, locked position, the driving arm having a shorter length than the jaw in a direction substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of the jaw; a locking element that interacts with the driving arm, other than via the connection between the driving arm and the jaw, to lock the jaw in a closed, locked position after the boot has been introduced into the binding, the locking element being configured such that the jaw may be locked in any of the plurality of closed, locked positions to accommodate various boot levels relative to the base plate; and a return spring that biases the jaw towards the at least one open, unlocked position. 44. The step-in binding of claim 43, wherein the driving arm is a single piece.45. A method of binding a boot by holding the boot by its sides, the method comprising:introducing a boot into a binding to thereby drive a driving arm that is connected to a jaw, the driving arm having a shorter length than the jaw in a direction substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of the jaw, the driving arm thereby pivoting the jaw with respect to a base plate from at least one open, unlocked position to one of a plurality of closed, locked positions; and interacting a locking element with the driving arm, other than via the connection between the driving arm and the jaw, to lock the jaw in any of the closed, locked positions to accommodate various boot levels relative to the base plate. 46. A step-in binding that holds a boot by its sides, comprising:a base plate; a jaw attached to the base plate, the jaw being pivotable with respect to the base plate between at least one open, unlocked position and a plurality of closed, locked positions; a driving arm, having a first portion that is driven by the boot as the boot is introduced into the binding, the driving arm thereby driving the jaw toward a closed, locked position, and a second portion positioned away from the boot; a locking element that engages the second portion of the driving arm to lock the jaw in a closed, locked position after the boot has been introduced into the binding, the locking element being configured such that the jaw may be locked in any of the plurality of closed, locked positions to accommodate various boot levels relative to the base plate; and a return spring that biases the jaw towards the at least one open, unlocked position. 47. A method of binding a boot by holding the boot by its sides, the method comprising:introducing a boot into a binding to thereby drive a first portion of a driving arm, the driving arm having a second portion positioned away from the boot, the driving arm thereby pivoting the jaw with respect to a base plate from at least one open, unlocked position to one of a plurality of closed, locked positions; and engaging a locking element with the second portion of the driving arm to lock the jaw in any of the closed, locked positions to accommodate various boot levels relative to the base plate. 48. A step-in binding that holds a boot by its sides, comprising:a base plate; means for pivoting a jaw with respect to the base plate between at least one open, unlocked position and a plurality of closed, locked positions; driving arm means for driving the jaw toward a closed, locked position, the driving arm means including a first portion driven by the boot and a second portion positioned away from the boot; means for locking that engages the second portion of the driving arm means to lock the jaw in a closed, locked position after the boot has been introduced into the binding, the means for locking being configured such that the jaw may be locked in any of the plurality of closed, locked positions to accommodate various boot levels relative to the base plate; and means for biasing the jaw towards the at least one open, unlocked position.