초록 ▼

A binding system is provided that is effective for use on recreational device, such as a snowboard, and that is adapted to mate to, or that includes, a boot or other footwear worn by the user. In general, the binding system includes a base plate for support a rider's foot, and a connecting element f

A binding system is provided that is effective for use on recreational device, such as a snowboard, and that is adapted to mate to, or that includes, a boot or other footwear worn by the user. In general, the binding system includes a base plate for support a rider's foot, and a connecting element for mating the base plate to an elongate board, e.g., a snowboard. The connecting element is effective to mate the base plate to a snowboard about a fixed central axis and to allow pivotal movement of the base plate about the central axis with respect to the snowboard. The binding system can also include at least one compression member mated to the base plate and/or to a snowboard. The compression member(s) are effective to compress between the base plate and the snowboard in response to a force applied to at least one of the base plate and the snowboard. The binding system is particularly advantageous in that the compression members provide enhanced biomechanical operation, absorbing chatter and shock, and increasing mobility. Moreover, there is no relative motion between the base plate and the boot, so the rider's ability to control the snowboard is not adversely affected.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A binding system for mounting a rider's foot to a recreational riding device, comprising: a base plate having an upper surface adapted to support a rider's foot, an opposed, lower surface adapted to be oriented adjacent to and spaced apart from a recreational riding device, a

What is claimed is: 1. A binding system for mounting a rider's foot to a recreational riding device, comprising: a base plate having an upper surface adapted to support a rider's foot, an opposed, lower surface adapted to be oriented adjacent to and spaced apart from a recreational riding device, and an opening extending through the base plate between the upper and lower surfaces; a connecting element pivotally disposed within the opening formed in the base plate and having a convex outer surface configured to interface with a concave inner surface of the opening in the base plate to form a connection that allows pivotal movement of the base plate about the connecting element; and a clamp disposed within an opening formed through the connecting element and adapted to engage the connecting element and rigidly mate the connecting element to a recreational riding device while allowing pivotal movement between the base plate and the connecting element. 2. The binding system of claim 1, wherein, at an interface between the clamp and the base plate, the clamp includes at least one slot formed therein for receiving at least one pin member formed on the base plate, the at least one slot and pin member being effective to prevent rotation between the base plate and the clamp. 3. The binding system of claim 1, wherein each of an inner surface of the connecting element and an outer surface of the clamp includes cooperating surface features formed thereon and effective to prevent rotational movement of the connecting element with respect to the clamp. 4. The binding system of claim 1, further comprising at least one compression member adapted to mate to at least one of the lower surface of the base plate and a recreational riding device, the at least one compression member being effective to compress between the base plate and the recreational riding device in response to a force applied to at least one of the base plate and the recreational riding device. 5. The binding system of claim 4, wherein first, second, third, and fourth compression members are mated to the lower surface of the base plate. 6. The binding system of claim 5, wherein at least one of the compression members is removably mated to the base plate. 7. The binding system of claim 5, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth compression members are spaced substantially equidistantly from one another and from the vertical axis of the base plate. 8. The binding system of claim 4, wherein the at least one compression member is removably mated to the base plate. 9. The binding system of claim 1, further comprising at least one locking member adapted to prevent movement of the base plate in a particular direction. 10. A binding support system for mounting a rider's foot to a recreational riding device, comprising: a base plate having a first surface adapted to be positioned adjacent to and spaced apart from a surface of a recreational riding device, a second surface adapted to support the rider's foot, and an opening extending through the base plate between the first and second surfaces, the opening having an inner concave wall; and at least one support ring having a convex outer surface that is pivotally disposed within the opening formed in the base plate such that the base plate is capable of pivotal movement about the support ring, the support ring having clamp disposed therethrough and adapted to rigidly mate the support ring to a recreational riding device, and the support ring having a first portion configured to prevent rotational movement of the base plate with respect thereto, and a second portion mated to the clamp. 11. The binding support system of claim 10, wherein the damp includes a first end adapted to mount upon the recreational riding device, and a second end adapted to be oriented adjacent the rider's foot. 12. The binding support system of claim 10, further comprising at least one compression member adapted to compress between the base plate and the recreational riding device in response to a force applied to at least one of the base plate and the recreational riding device. 13. The binding support system of claim 12, wherein the at least one compression member is adapted to mate to at least one of the base plate and the recreational riding device. 14. The binding support system of claim 10, wherein, at an interface between the support ring and the base plate, the support ring includes at least one slot formed therein for receiving at least one pin member formed on the base plate, the at least one slot and pin member being effective to prevent rotational movement between the base plate and the support ring. 15. The binding support system of claim 10, wherein each of an inner surface of the support ring and an outer surface of the clamp includes cooperating surface features formed thereon and effective to prevent rotational movement of the support ring with respect to the clamp. 16. A binding support system for mounting a rider's foot to a recreational riding device, comprising: a base plate having a first surface adapted to be positioned adjacent to and spaced apart from a surface of a recreational riding device, a second surface adapted to support the rider's foot, and an opening extending through the base plate between the first and second surfaces; at least one connecting element pivotally disposed within the opening formed in the base plate such that the base plate is capable of pivotal movement about the connecting element, the connecting element having clamp disposed therethrough and adapted to rigidly mate the connecting element to a recreational riding device; and first, second, third, and fourth compression members mated to a lower surface of the base plate. 17. The binding support system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the compression members is removably mated to the base plate. 18. The binding support system of claim 10, wherein the base plate includes at least one binding adapted to engaging a rider's foot. 19. A recreational riding device, comprising: an elongate board member having upper and lower surfaces; at least one binding support component comprising a base plate having an upper surface configured to support a rider's foot, a lower surface configured to be oriented adjacent to and spaced a distance apart from the elongate board member, and concave opening extending therethrough between the upper and lower surfaces; a connecting element having a convex surface that is pivotally disposed within the opening in the base plate to allow pivotal movement of the base plate about the connecting element; and a support base disposed through the connecting element and removably mated to the elongate board member. 20. The recreational riding device of claim 19, further comprising at least one compression member mated to at least one of the base plate and the recreational riding device and adapted to compress between the base plate and the recreational riding device in response to a force applied to at least one of the base plate and the recreational riding device. 21. The recreational riding device of claim 19, wherein the at least one binding support component includes a binding member adapted to support the rider's foot. 22. The recreational riding device of claim 19, further comprising at least one locking element effective to prevent movement of the base plate with respect to the elongate board member in a particular direction. 23. The recreational riding device of claim 22, wherein the locking element is disposed between the base plate and the elongate board member.