Virtual forward lean snowboard binding

Abstract

A snowboard binding (100) is disclosed having a base plate (102) with a pair of oppositely disposed sidewalls (104), a heel loop (112) attached to the base plate, and a highback (120). The highback is attached to the heel loop such that the highback is pivotable about a virtual axis that is disposed away from the base plate and away from the highback. The virtual axis is preferably coaxial with the ankle's rotational axis for dorsiflexion. In an embodiment of the invention the highback includes arcuate slots (126) through which a bolt (132) and curved nut plate (130) attach the highback to the heel loop. The arcuate slot is preferably a circular arc centered on the desired virtual axis. In an embodiment of the invention, the heel loop intermediate portion (116) is curved about a transverse axis, and the heel portion (124) of the highback is similarly curved to generally nest with the heel loop.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention is directed to bindings for gliding sports and, in particular, to bindings having a pivotable highback support. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Gliding boards, such as snowboards, snow skis, water skis, and the like, are well known in the art and in the sporting world. Generally, a rider is securely held to the gliding board with a binding that connects to the gliding board and generally to the rider's feet or boots. Various types of bindings have been developed to allow the user to engage the gliding board. The present disclosure is described with reference to the currently preferred snowboard binding embodiments, although the present invention may readily be adapted for other gliding board applications. [0003] Typical prior art snowboard binding systems are generally categorized as either strap (or conventional) bindings that typically include a rigid highback piece against which the heel of the boot is placed and one or more ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The present invention is directed to a binding for gliding boards such as snowboards, and includes a base plate that attaches to the board, a heel loop that attaches to a rearward portion of the base plate, and a highback that is pivotably attached to the heel loop. The highback provides support for the rider and facilitates moving the board generally about its longitudinal axis. By pivoting the highback, it can be set to any of a range of maximum forward lean settings to accommodate the rider's preferences. In the present invention, the highback pivots about a virtual axis that is approximately located to correspond with the natural axis of the rider's ankle for rotation in dorsiflexion / plantar flexion.

Problems solved by technology

However, because the dorsiflexion ankle joint is located higher than the other joints in the ankle, snowboard binding designers have had to compromise in order not to interfere with the other ankle joints and the highback portion of prior art bindings is generally constructed to pivot about an axis that is well below the dorsiflexion ankle joint.

The result is that the highback is not optimally positioned with respect to the rider's ankle over the design range of settings for the maximum forward lean position.

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