초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for providing a gliding board binding, such as a snowboard binding. The binding may include an adjustment indicator that allows for determination of a longitudinal position of the base relative to a gliding board, heel-to-toe position of the base relative to a gliding board an

A method and apparatus for providing a gliding board binding, such as a snowboard binding. The binding may include an adjustment indicator that allows for determination of a longitudinal position of the base relative to a gliding board, heel-to-toe position of the base relative to a gliding board and/or an angular position of the base relative to a gliding board when the base is secured to the gliding board. The adjustment indicator may be included with a footbed that is removable from a binding base, e.g., that includes a foot engagement member to secure a rider's foot to the binding and board. A removable footbed may include a toe portion that is adjustable in position relative to a heel portion of the footbed. A gliding board may include a channel for mounting a binding that is arranged in the board core so that no portion of the board core is located on top or bottom sides of the channel, and instead so the top and bottom reinforcement layers are located above and below the channel.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A binding for a gliding board, comprising: a binding footbed; a binding base, separate from said footbed, having a gliding board facing bottom surface, and including a heel end and a toe end, and a medial side wall and a lateral side wall, said binding base defining an openin

What is claimed is: 1. A binding for a gliding board, comprising: a binding footbed; a binding base, separate from said footbed, having a gliding board facing bottom surface, and including a heel end and a toe end, and a medial side wall and a lateral side wall, said binding base defining an opening between said medial sidewall and lateral sidewall that extends to the bottom surface, said binding base adapted to selectively receive said binding footbed in the opening that extends to the bottom surface, the binding base being constructed and arranged to be secured to a gliding board and to allow a rider's foot to directly contact the gliding board at the opening when the foot is secured to the gliding board for riding without the footbed; a crossbar at said toe end that spans across said opening and between said lateral sidewall and said medial sidewall, said binding footbed being adapted for mounting to said crossbar, wherein said crossbar has a bottom surface that lies flush with said gliding board facing bottom surface of said binding base, and wherein said crossbar is the only portion of said binding base that spans across said opening between said sidewalls; a heel hoop at said heel end that extends between said lateral sidewall and said medial side wall; and a boot engagement feature. 2. The binding of claim 1, wherein a bottom of said binding footbed is flush with said base bottom when said binding footbed is received in said opening and mounted to said crossbar. 3. The binding of claim 2, wherein a bottom of said binding footbed projects beyond said base bottom when said binding footbed is received in said opening and mounted to said crossbar. 4. The binding of claim 1, wherein said binding footbed is removably attachable to said crossbar. 5. The binding of claim 4, wherein said binding footbed is removably attachable to said crossbar with threaded fasteners. 6. The binding of claim 4, wherein said binding footbed is removably attachable to said crossbar with a tool free attachment. 7. The binding of claim 4, wherein said binding footbed is removably attachable to said crossbar when said binding base is mounted to the gliding board. 8. The binding of claim 1, wherein said binding footbed is mountable to said crossbar in a plurality of different positions along a heel-toe direction of said binding base. 9. The binding of claim 8, wherein said footbed further includes a body portion and a heel portion, said heel portion mates with said body portion in a plurality of different positions to allow said heel portion to remain stationary as said body portion moves along the heel-toe direction of said binding base. 10. The binding of claim 9, wherein said heel portion is attachable to said medial side wall and said lateral side wall of said binding base. 11. The binding of claim 9, wherein said heel portion includes tabs that are receivable by said medial side wall and said lateral side wall to attach said heel portion to said binding base. 12. The binding of claim 1, in combination with a gliding board. 13. The combination of claim 12, wherein said gliding board is a snowboard. 14. The binding of claim 1, wherein said boot engagement feature includes at least one strap to retain a rider's boot within said binding base. 15. The binding of claim 1, further comprising: a highback associated with said heel hoop. 16. The binding of claim 1, wherein said crossbar is shaped to bow outwardly toward said toe end of said binding base. 17. The binding of claim 1, wherein said crossbar is shaped as a thin strip that extends across said opening and between said lateral sidewall and said medial sidewall. 18. A binding for a gliding board, comprising: a binding footbed having a heel portion and a toe portion; a binding base, separate from said footbed, having a gliding board facing bottom surface, and including a heel end and a toe end, and a medial side wall and a lateral side wall, said binding base defining an opening between said medial sidewall and lateral sidewall that extends to the bottom surface and that is adapted to selectively receive said binding footbed, including the heel portion and the toe portion, the binding base being constructed and arranged to be secured to a gliding board and to allow a rider's foot to directly contact the gliding board at the opening when the foot is secured to the gliding board for riding without the footbed; a crossbar at said toe end that spans across said opening and between said lateral sidewall and said medial sidewall, said binding footbed being adapted for mounting to said crossbar, wherein said crossbar has a bottom surface that lies flush with said gliding board facing bottom surface of said binding base, and wherein said crossbar is the only portion of said binding base that spans across said opening between said sidewalls; a heel hoop at said heel end that extends between said lateral sidewall and said medial side wall; and a boot engagement feature. 19. The binding of claim 18, wherein a bottom of said binding footbed is flush with said base bottom when said binding footbed is received in said opening and mounted to said crossbar. 20. The binding of claim 18, wherein a bottom of said binding footbed projects beyond said base bottom when said binding footbed is received in said opening and mounted to said crossbar. 21. The binding of claim 18, wherein said binding footbed is removably attachable to said crossbar. 22. The binding of claim 21, wherein said binding footbed is removably attachable to said crossbar when said binding base is mounted to the gliding board. 23. The binding of claim 18, wherein said binding footbed is mountable to said crossbar in a plurality of different positions along a heel-toe direction of said binding base. 24. The binding of claim 23, wherein said heel portion mates with said toe portion in a plurality of different positions to allow said heel portion to remain stationary as said toe portion moves along the heel-toe direction of said binding base. 25. The binding of claim 24, wherein said heel portion is attachable to said medial side wall and said lateral side wall of said binding base. 26. The binding of claim 25, wherein said heel portion includes tabs that are receivable by said medial side wall and said lateral side wall to attach said heel portion to said binding base. 27. The binding of claim 18, in combination with a gliding board. 28. The combination of claim 27, wherein said gliding board is a snowboard. 29. The binding of claim 18, wherein said boot engagement feature includes at least one strap to retain a rider's boot within said binding base. 30. The binding of claim 18, further comprising: a highback associated with said heel hoop. 31. The binding of claim 18, wherein said crossbar is shaped to bow outwardly toward said toe end of said binding base. 32. The binding of claim 18, wherein said crossbar is shaped as a thin strip that extends across said opening and between said lateral sidewall and said medial sidewall.