초록 ▼

An interface adjustment mechanism 100 includes a frame member 102 and fore and aft adjustable spacer holding members 104, 106, and is disposed within the outsole of the snowboard boot 10. The interface adjustment mechanism 100 also includes a plurality of interface adjustment assemblies 160. Each in

An interface adjustment mechanism 100 includes a frame member 102 and fore and aft adjustable spacer holding members 104, 106, and is disposed within the outsole of the snowboard boot 10. The interface adjustment mechanism 100 also includes a plurality of interface adjustment assemblies 160. Each interface adjustment assembly 160 includes a base member 170 having a threaded aperture and an adjustment member or spacer 172 having a threaded portion threadably engageable with the threaded aperture of the base member so that the spacer 172 can be adjustable relative to the base member 170. When incorporated into the snowboard boot 10, the interface adjustment mechanism 100 provides the rider with an adjustable spacer/dampening system that can eliminate slop and provide dampening and shock absorption between the snowboard boot 10 and the snowboard binding 30. Eliminating slop and providing dampening and shock absorption provides the rider with improved control, force transmission, and feel.

대표청구항 ▼

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 1. An outsole of an athletic boot comprising: an outsole body having a toe region and a heel region; a frame member secured to said outsole body; a pair of adjustment members adjustably m

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 1. An outsole of an athletic boot comprising: an outsole body having a toe region and a heel region; a frame member secured to said outsole body; a pair of adjustment members adjustably mounted on said frame member at either said toe region or said heel region of said outsole body, a portion of each adjustment member being adapted for engagement with a binding, said adjustment members being extendable in a selected amount away from said frame member; and fore and aft cleats, said fore and aft cleats removably coupled to said frame member; wherein each of said adjustment members further includes an engagement portion and a threaded portion, wherein said engagement portion is made from an elastomeric material. 2. The outsole of claim 1, wherein said engagement portion has an engagement surface, said engagement surface including apertures that are engageable with a driver tool for rotary adjustment. 3. The outsole of claim 1, wherein said adjustment members are extendable. 4. An outsole of an athletic boot selectively mountable to a binding comprising: a frame member disposed within said outsole and having first and second ends; first and second spacer holding members removably coupled to said first and second ends of said frame member, respectively; at least one base member coupled to either of said first and second spacer holding members; at least one spacer having a binding contact surface adapted to contact the binding, said spacer adjustably mounted to said base member for selective orthogonal adjustment relative to said frame member; and at least one binding attachment member coupled to said outsole. 5. An athletic boot selectively mountable to a binding comprising: an upper fixedly secured to an outsole; an interface adjustment mechanism for adjusting the interface between said boot and the binding, said interface adjustment mechanism disposed within said outsole and comprising a plurality of adjustment members and a plurality of base members, one of said plurality of adjustment members adjustably coupled to each base member, said adjustment members being extendable in a selected amount away from said outsole; and at least one binding attachment member coupled to said outsole. 6. The boot of claim 5, said outsole having a bottom surface, and said adjustment members being extendable in a selected amount away from said bottom surface of said outsole. 7. The boot of claim 5, wherein said interface adjustment mechanism further includes a base member, said adjustment members adjustably coupled to said base member. 8. The boot of claim 7, wherein each of said adjustment members further includes an engagement portion and a threaded portion. 9. The boot of claim 8, wherein said interface adjustment mechanism further includes a frame member, each of said base members coupled to said frame member and having a plurality of threaded apertures, said threaded portion of each of said adjustment members threadably engaged with one of said plurality of threaded apertures of said base member. 10. The boot of claim 9, further comprising fore and aft cleats, said fore and aft cleats removably coupled to said frame member. 11. The boot of claim 8, wherein said engagement portion has an engagement surface, said engagement surface including apertures that are engageable with a driver tool for rotary adjustment. 12. A snowboard boot having toe and heel ends, said boot selectively mountable to a binding, comprising: an outsole having a bottom surface; an elongated frame disposed within said outsole, said frame extending between about said toe end and about said heel end of said boot; at least one base member mounted to said frame; fore and aft cleats, said fore and aft cleats removably coupled to said frame; and at least one adjustment member adjustably mounted on said base member for selective substantially orthogonal adjustment relative to said outsole. 13. The snowboard boot of claim 12, wherein said base member defines a first threaded surface, and said adjustment member includes an engagement portion adapted for engagement with the binding and a second threaded surface threadably engageable with said first threaded surface of said base member. 14. The snowboard boot of claim 12, wherein said adjustment member is adjustably mounted on said base member for selective substantially orthogonal adjustment relative to said bottom surface of said outsole. 15. The snowboard boot of claim 12, wherein said outsole defines at least one adjustment member mounting aperture opening to said bottom surface, said base member mounted within said adjustment member mounting aperture. 16. The snowboard boot of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of adjustment members and a plurality of base members, one of said plurality of adjustment members adjustably coupled to each base member. 17. A snowboard boot selectively mountable to a binding comprising: an outsole having a bottom surface; a frame member coupled to said outsole and having first and second ends; first and second spacer holding members coupled to said first and second ends of said frame member, respectively; and at least one interface adjustment assembly associated with either of said first and second spacer holding members, said interface adjustment assembly including a base member fixedly secured to either of said first and second spacer holding members and having a threaded aperture, and a spacer having an engagement portion and a threaded portion threadably engaged with said threaded aperture of said base member, said spacer being threadably adjustable relative to said base member so that said engagement portion of said spacer projects a selective amount away from said outsole. 18. The snowboard boot of claim 17, wherein said engagement portion of said spacer is made from an elastomeric material. 19. The snowboard boot of claim 17, wherein said base member of said interface adjustment assembly is directly coupled to either of said first and second spacer holding members. 20. The snowboard boot of claim 17, further comprising first and second cleats, said first and second cleats removably coupled to said first and second ends of said frame member, respectively. 21. The snowboard boot of claim 17, said spacer being threadably adjustable relative to said base member so that said engagement portion of said spacer projects a selective amount away from said bottom surface of said outsole. 22. An athletic boot in combination with a binding to which the boot may be selectively coupled in a fixed disposition, comprising: a binding having a boot interface surface; a boot having an outsole; and a plurality of interface adjustment members selectively securable to said outsole of said boot, each interface adjustment member having a binding contact portion and a binding interface surface that contacts the boot interface surface of said binding when said boot is coupled to said binding, said contact portion defining a thickness; wherein said plurality of interface adjustment members are configured to having different predetermined contact portion thicknesses, said plurality of interface adjustment members being interchangeable to selectively adjust the degree of extension of said interface surface away from said outsole of said boot.