Snowboard binding and snowboard

Abstract

To solve the problems of known snowboard bindings and provide a new snowboard binding that increases the degree of freedom of movement of the boot anchor plate relative to the snowboard anchor plate and the snowboard body. 【Solution means】The present invention relates to a snowboard binding (1), comprising a snowboard anchor element (2), a boot anchor element (3), and at least one pivot mechanism (4) that pivotally couples the snowboard anchor element (2) and the boot anchor element (3) and enables pivoting of the boot anchor element (3) relative to the snowboard anchor element (2). The present invention also relates to a snowboard adapted to this snowboard binding.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a snowboard binding for securely holding boots attached to a snowboard, and a snowboard suitable for improving the enjoyment and entertainment when using the snowboard binding.

Background Art

[0002] Snowboarding is an activity and a sport enjoyed worldwide. Equipment used in snowboarding includes a snowboard, snowboard boots, and a snowboard binding that is attached to the snowboard and secures the snowboard boots worn by the snowboarder.

[0003] The snowboard binding is directly connected to the snowboard, and its role is to transmit the energy of the rider's body and muscle movements to the snowboard so that the rider can control their snowboard. The snowboard binding is an important component of the snowboard, which can also improve the skiing experience, and using the wrong snowboard binding may also ruin the skiing experience. When choosing a snowboard binding, the rider needs to consider their skiing style and preferences.

[0004] Many of the known snowboard binding designs have a hard connection between the boots and the snowboard, resulting in a poor riding experience when skiing. General soft bindings also become uncomfortable when riding a ski lift.

[0005] Patent Document 1 discloses a laterally flexible snowboard binding system that enables a rider to rotate their body well forward on the board. This snowboard binding system includes a snowboard anchor plate, a boot anchor plate, a bias unit, and a lock unit. The snowboard anchor plate is attached to the bias unit on one side and the lock unit on the other side. The bias unit is composed of a hinge and a coil spring. The lock unit is releasable by the snowboard rider to maintain the snowboard anchor plate and the boot anchor plate in a substantially parallel relationship, except when the locking means is released by the snowboard rider. This snowboard binding provides a certain degree of freedom to the rider with respect to the snowboard, allowing the rider to adjust the pitch of the snowboard binding so that the front and rear feet become more parallel to the snowboard.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] This known pivoting snowboard binding has a pivot, i.e., a bias unit, at a height from the upper surface of the snowboard to the side of the foot. This mechanism cannot support the weight and cannot pivot either. Furthermore, since the existing pivot operates in an on / off mode, the pivot becomes active only during jumps or when riding a ski lift. In most cases, it operates like a normal snowboard without pivot means. Since the pivot is on the side of the foot, the pivot does not become a natural rotation point, resulting in a sense of discomfort. Moreover, in the pivot of this known snowboard binding, due to the nature of the hinges on the outer sides of both feet, only one foot can be rotated at a time.

[0008] Another drawback of conventional snowboard bindings is that when skiing in deep powder snow, the rider has to adopt a backward-leaning posture, and the back foot gets tired.

[0009] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a new snowboard binding that solves the problems of known snowboard bindings and increases the degree of freedom of movement of the boot anchor plate relative to the snowboard anchor plate and the snowboard body.

[0010] A further object of the present invention is to provide a snowboard binding that has a comfortable pivoting property for the rider's feet, enabling the rider to perform various snowboard tricks and ski easily even in deep powder snow.

[0011] A further object of the present invention is to provide a snowboard binding that can pivot both of the rider's feet and whose pivot is always active. Thereby, the rider can always maintain the most natural foot position and achieve a body position relative to the snowboard that was impossible with conventional snowboard bindings.

[0012] A further object of the present invention is to provide a compatible snowboard suitable for the snowboard binding of the present invention in order to enable more tricks and create different ways of riding a snowboard.

[0013] These objects are achieved by a snowboard binding and a snowboard according to the present invention.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0014] The present invention provides a snowboard binding having a boot anchor element pivotably arranged with respect to a snowboard anchor plate and a snowboard body. In a first aspect of the present invention, the snowboard binding comprises a snowboard anchor element, a boot anchor element, and at least one pivot mechanism. The boot anchor element is pivotably connected to the snowboard anchor element. The at least one pivot mechanism comprises at least one pivot and / or at least one slide guide.

[0015] According to one aspect of the present invention, the snowboard binding comprises two pivot mechanisms pivotably connected to both the snowboard anchor element and the boot anchor element, enabling pivoting of the boot anchor element with respect to the snowboard anchor element. In particular, according to one aspect of the present invention, the snowboard anchor element and the boot anchor element are pivotably connected at their respective front and rear parts by pivot mechanisms, suspending the boot anchor element with respect to the snowboard anchor element at its front and rear parts.

[0016] It should be noted that in this specification, the terms "front part" and "rear part" are used to indicate the parts of the snowboard anchor element and / or the boot anchor element in the direction in which the user's foot faces during use. In other words, the front part is the area where the user's toes are substantially located during use, and the rear part is the area where the user's heels are substantially located during use.

[0017] In this specification, the terms "pivot", "pivot mechanism", "pivoting", and "pivotably" are also used to mean "rotate", "swivel", or "tilt", and these terms are suitable for describing rotational or swiveling motion around a pivot axis or a rotation axis.

[0018] In other words, according to the present invention, for example, the phrase "at least one pivot mechanism that pivotably connects a snowboard anchor element and a boot anchor element" is also used in this specification to mean "at least one tilt mechanism that rotatably connects a snowboard anchor element and a boot anchor element".

[0019] It should be noted that the pivot axis or the rotation axis can be a real axis or a virtual axis. For example, as will be described in more detail below, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the pivot axis or the rotation axis is provided by two pivots (for example, comprising a shaft or a pin and a nut) disposed substantially at both the rear and the front of the snowboard binding. According to one aspect, it should be noted that the rotation axis or the pivot axis passes through at least one pivot.

[0020] Furthermore, according to a possible embodiment, the pivot mechanism comprises one or more slide guides intended to provide rotation around a pivot axis or a rotation axis (in this case, for example, a virtual pivot axis or rotation axis defined by the curvature of the slide guide).

[0021] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 10 to 16, the pivot mechanism includes a pivot located substantially at the rear of the snowboard binding (for example, including a shaft or a pin and a nut), thereby providing an actual pivot axis or rotation axis. Also provided is a slide guide intended to provide rotation about the pivot axis or rotation axis (in this case, for example, a virtual pivot axis or rotation axis defined by the curvature of the slide guide). In this embodiment, the pivot axis or rotation axis (actual pivot axis or rotation axis) of the pivot at the rear of the snowboard binding corresponds to the pivot axis or rotation axis (virtual rotation axis) of the slide guide.

[0022] Also, although not shown in the figures, embodiments in which the pivot mechanism includes two slide guides (without a pivot) are possible, for example, embodiments in which the pivot at the rear of the embodiments of FIGS. 10 to 16 is replaced by another slide guide, and it should also be noted that this is within the scope of the present invention. In this case, two or more slide guides provide a pivot axis or rotation axis that is a virtual rotation axis.

[0023] Advantageously, the presence of at least one pivot mechanism, preferably at least two pivot mechanisms, enables the wearer's foot to pivot, preferably above the plane of the snowboard.

[0024] According to one aspect, the snowboard binding of the present invention has two pivot mechanisms with a horizontal rotation axis at the height of the ankle or near the height of the ankle, preferably in the direction in which the foot is facing.

[0025] According to one aspect of the present invention, both the snowboard anchor element and the boot anchor element are substantially cage-shaped or substantially shell-shaped. In the present disclosure, the term "substantially cage-like" shape is used to describe an open work structure having a hollow or concave shape. The term "substantially shell-shaped" also refers to a hollow and concave shape.

[0026] According to one aspect, the snowboard anchor element comprises a bottom plate, i.e., a bottom surface that is at least partially or preferably completely flat and can be arranged on the flat surface of the snowboard. According to one embodiment, the snowboard anchor element comprises two side walls in its longitudinal direction. Advantageously, each side wall is bent upward at its respective front end and rear end so as to join the side wall at its respective front and rear parts.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the side walls of the snowboard anchor element taper off at their respective front and rear parts.

[0028] According to one aspect, through holes are provided in each of the front and rear parts of the snowboard anchor element having a cage-like shape or a shell shape for accommodating a pivot mechanism for connecting the snowboard anchor element and the boot anchor element.

[0029] According to one aspect, the boot anchor element has a front part and a rear part, and through holes are provided in each of the front and rear parts for accommodating a pivot mechanism and pivotally connecting the boot anchor element to the snowboard anchor element.

[0030] At least one pivot mechanism, preferably at least two pivot mechanisms, comprises a pivot axis that enables rotation of the boot anchor element relative to the snowboard anchor element, and this pivot axis is arranged at a position away from the bottom plate of the snowboard binding, preferably from the bottom plate of the snowboard anchor element. This distance is such that the boot anchor element can swing (preferably freely swing) around the pivot axis and above the side walls of the snowboard anchor element.

[0031] According to one aspect, the pivot axis or the rotation axis is close to the height of the rider's ankle and is preferably arranged along the direction of the rider's foot.

[0032] According to one aspect, the pivot axis or rotation axis is disposed within the width of the snowboard binding, preferably within the width of the rider's foot. Advantageously, the position of this pivot axis or rotation axis is not disposed outside the width of the snowboard binding (preferably not outside the width of the rider's foot), and is preferably above the plane of the snowboard, enabling the tilting (rotation) movement of the rider's foot.

[0033] According to one aspect, the pivot axis of the pivot mechanism is preferably parallel to or slightly inclined with respect to the bottom plate of the snowboard anchor element.

[0034] It should be noted that in this specification, the term "slightly inclined" is used to indicate that the pivot axis of the pivot mechanism can be inclined at an angle of up to 5°, preferably less than 3°, with respect to the bottom plate of the snowboard anchor element.

[0035] Furthermore, according to one aspect, the pivot axis of the pivot mechanism passes through both the front and rear portions of both the boot anchor element and the snowboard anchor element. In particular, the two pivot mechanisms include two pivots, one passing through the through-hole formed at the front portion, i.e., the front end portion, of each of the snowboard anchor element and the boot anchor element, and the other passing through the hole formed at the rear portion, i.e., the rear end portion, of each of the snowboard anchor element and the boot anchor element.

[0036] According to one aspect, the boot anchor element includes a heel holder, a bottom plate, and side walls. The heel holder can be integral with or attached to the boot anchor element. The heel holder fits around the snowboarder's boot above the position that expands to fit the heel of the foot. According to an embodiment, the heel holder projects upward from the rear portion of the boot anchor element.

[0037] The bottom plate of the snowboard anchor element has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface refers to the surface facing the bottom plate of the boot anchor element, and the outer surface of the bottom plate refers to the surface facing the snowboard after the snowboard binding is attached to the snowboard.

[0038] The bottom plate of the boot anchor element has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface indicates the surface on which the user's boot is placed, and the outer surface indicates the surface facing the inner surface of the bottom plate of the snowboard anchor element.

[0039] According to another aspect, at least one laterally protruding protruding element engageable with a slide guide provided laterally on the snowboard anchor element (preferably on the inner surface of the bottom plate) is provided on the boot anchor element (preferably on the outer surface of the bottom plate), or vice versa, at least one slide guide is provided on the boot anchor element, and at least one laterally protruding protruding element cooperating with the slide guide is provided on the snowboard anchor element. The slide guide has a shape that allows free sliding of the laterally protruding protruding element of the boot anchor element within the slide guide of the snowboard anchor element, preferably a shape complementary to the protruding element.

[0040] According to a possible embodiment, two or more slide guides are provided, and each of the slide guides preferably interacts with a corresponding protruding element protruding laterally from the outer surface of the bottom plate of the boot anchor element, or vice versa.

[0041] In a further aspect of the present invention, the at least one pivot mechanism comprises one pivot and at least one slide guide.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the one pivot passes through at least one hole formed in the rear portion of the snowboard anchor element and the rear portion of the boot anchor element, and the at least one slide guide is provided on the snowboard anchor element and interacts with the protruding element that protrudes laterally from the outer surface of the bottom plate of the boot anchor element to enable a pivotal connection between the boot anchor element and the snowboard anchor element.

[0043] In an exemplary embodiment, the snowboard anchor element includes one slide guide substantially at the front portion of the snowboard anchor element and another slide guide at the rear portion, and correspondingly, two corresponding protruding elements that protrude laterally from the front and rear portions of the outer surface of the bottom plate of the boot anchor element can be provided.

[0044] According to another aspect of the present invention, the snowboard binding includes a pivot at the rear portions of both the boot anchor element and the snowboard anchor element, and a slide guide at least at the front portion of the snowboard anchor element. Preferably, slide guides are present on both the front and rear portions of the outer surface of the bottom wall of the snowboard anchor element.

[0045] When the snowboard binding includes one pivot that rotatably connects the rear portions of both the boot anchor element and the snowboard anchor element, the substantially cage-like shape or substantially shell-like shape of the snowboard anchor element and the boot anchor element is open at the front portion, and preferably, the front portion of the bottom plate of the snowboard anchor element and / or the front portion of the bottom plate of the boot anchor element is freely exposed.

[0046] Due to the structure of this snowboard binding, boots of various sizes can be inserted. Furthermore, in this embodiment of the present invention, the pivot point is at the rear of both the boot anchor element and the snowboard anchor element, and a slide connection can be provided at the front between the boot anchor element and the snowboard anchor element. Thus, they also cooperate at the front when connecting the boot anchor element and the snowboard anchor element pivotably. In particular, for example, there is a capturing function such as a slide guide having a substantially "L-shaped" cross-section. This slide guide supports the front part of the boot anchor element in the vertical and horizontal directions while enabling sliding around the rotation axis.

[0047] In this embodiment of the present invention, at least one pivot mechanism includes a pivot combined with at least one slide guide, and the range of boot sizes accommodated by the snowboard binding is widened.

[0048] Preferably, the protruding element of the boot anchor element has a shape complementary to the shape of the corresponding slide guide provided on the snowboard anchor element, whereby the boot anchor element can rotate freely around the rotation axis of the snowboard binding.

[0049] As described above, according to a possible embodiment, it is not excluded that the protruding element is provided on the snowboard anchor element and the slide guide is arranged on the boot anchor element.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the slide guide has the shape of a channel. That is, it has a bottom wall and two side walls that form a cavity in which the protruding element of the boot anchor element can slide freely due to its complementary shape. Thereby, the slide guide controls the moving direction of the boot anchor element within the snowboard anchor element.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the snowboard binding comprises two slide guides and two protruding elements, and the protruding elements have a shape complementary to the shape of the corresponding slide guides.

[0052] According to one aspect, the rider's boots can be attached to the boot anchor element by a fixing method known in the art such as a binding or a ratchet (safety) strap, a race, a clip, a step-in system, etc. In this context, any fastening means can be used in addition to or instead of the fastening means described herein. According to one aspect of the present invention, the fastening means can be attached to the boot anchor element by means of a connection opening, preferably by bolting a through hole. Advantageously, the connection opening or the through hole is provided in the side wall of the boot anchor element and / or the heel holder.

[0053] In another aspect of the present invention, the snowboard anchor element, preferably its bottom plate, is provided with an angle-setting plate having slots or holes or bores for fixing the angle-setting plate to the snowboard by means known in the art, such as screws, bolts, etc. Preferably, the angle-setting plate is arranged in the plane of the bottom plate of the snowboard anchor element. The angle-setting plate can be attached to the snowboard by a conventional toothed disk and screws.

[0054] Advantageously, the angle-setting plate is connected to the snowboard anchor element by an elastic element such as a spring or an elastomer. The angle-setting plate with this elastic element allows for a firm and limited rotation around a vertical axis located in the center of the foot when the rider is wearing the snowboard binding of the present invention. However, the angle-setting plate cannot be moved relative to the board.

[0055] A further embodiment of the present invention is a snowboard binding in which the pivot mechanism includes only slide guides, particularly only two or more slide guides. Therefore, no pivot is assumed in this embodiment.

[0056] Furthermore, in order to enhance the stability of the boot anchor element slidably connected to the snowboard anchor element, two laterally protruding auxiliary protrusion elements are provided on the outer surface of the bottom plate of the boot anchor element. The auxiliary protrusion elements have a shape complementary to this auxiliary protrusion element and can be slidably engaged with a guide or channel provided laterally on the inner surface of the bottom plate of the snowboard anchor element, respectively.

[0057] The snowboard binding according to this embodiment has an open structure, that is, a structure in which the front part and the rear part are open.

[0058] Advantageously, the angle set plate of the snowboard binding of the present invention comprises a structural element that functions as a torsion spring mechanism that enables the boot anchor element to rotate or screw with respect to the snowboard anchor element and the snowboard itself about an axis Y that passes perpendicularly, particularly perpendicularly, through an angle set plate provided on the bottom surface of the snowboard anchor element.

[0059] The torsion spring mechanism of the angle set plate comprises a mini disk, an inner mount, and an intermediate mount. The mini disk is provided with holes or slots for inserting screws or bolts, which is a standard method for fixing the snowboard anchor element of the snowboard binding to the snowboard. The inner mount surrounds the mini disk and is fixed in its orientation. The intermediate mount is connected to the snowboard anchor element by an elastic element such as an elastomer. The intermediate mount can rotate with respect to the inner mount and the bottom plate of the snowboard anchor element. Therefore, the intermediate mount can rotate further with respect to the snowboard.

[0060] Accordingly, the snowboard binding of the present invention comprises an angle setting plate having the torsion spring mechanism, enabling both the rotational (pivot) movement of the snowboard binding about the longitudinal axis (X) and the rotational or torsional movement of the snowboard anchor element about the vertical axis (Y) perpendicular to the upper surface of the bottom wall of the snowboard anchor element.

[0061] The combination of the torsion about the vertical axis (Y) obtained by the torsion spring mechanism of the present invention and the rotation of the boot anchor element relative to the snowboard anchor element about the longitudinal axis (X) of the snowboard binding is novel in the technical field of the present invention.

[0062] All embodiments of the snowboard binding of the present invention can comprise a torsion spring mechanism. In particular, the snowboard anchor element of the snowboard binding of the present invention can incorporate a torsion spring mechanism in the attachment portion to the snowboard, enabling restricted rotation about the axis (Y) perpendicular to the longitudinal upper surface of the snowboard. Specifically, the axis (Y) is perpendicular to the surface of the snowboard anchor element or the surface of the angle setting plate. A further aspect of the present invention is a snowboard, preferably a snowboard for attaching the snowboard binding of the present invention. This snowboard has a longitudinal shape with a length and width capable of fixing a pair of the snowboard bindings on the longitudinal upper surface to which the snowboard binding is fixed.

[0063] This longitudinal upper surface terminates at the tip and the tail. The tip and / or the tail are bent upward at an angle of 30° to 80° with respect to the longitudinal upper surface of the snowboard.

[0064] The bent tip and / or tail portion of the snowboard preferably has a length such that the rider can utilize the advantages of the snowboard binding of the present invention and perform many tricks that cannot be executed with known snowboard bindings. In particular, due to the inclination of the snowboard binding and the bent portions of the tip and tail of the snowboard, the rider can stably slide down at the tip or tail of the snowboard. This length preferably has a flat portion, but may have a continuous curve.

[0065] It is also possible to bend only the tip or only the tail upward and make the opposite side similar to the shape of a conventional snowboard.

[0066] A handle that the rider can grip when boarding the board in an inclined posture can be provided at the tip or tail.

[0067] Advantageously, when the overall length of the snowboard is from 1000 mm to 2000 mm, the lengths of the bent tip and the bent tail are each from 50 mm to 700 mm.

[0068] The ratio of the length of each of the bent tip or the bent tail to the overall length of the snowboard is from 1 / 20 to 1 / 3.

[0069] Due to this arrangement of the snowboard binding and the shape of the snowboard, the rider can use it more comfortably than known snowboard bindings and perform more interesting tricks.

[0070] The structure and features of the snowboard binding of the present invention will become further apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments provided with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0072] In this specification, a snowboard binding adapted to fix a wearer to a snowboard is described. Thereby, the wearer can transmit torque and force from his / her leg to the snowboard in order to control the snowboard and / or achieve a comfortable skiing posture. Further, the snowboard binding of the present invention enables a snowboarder to transmit various leg / foot movements to the snowboard to generate various torque forces on the snowboard, whereby the snowboarder can achieve greater body flexibility with respect to the board.

[0073] Therefore, the snowboard binding of the present invention realizes mobility with respect to the snowboard, and since the snowboard binding is pivotable with respect to the snowboard, the wearer can adjust the position of the foot with respect to the snowboard. Thereby, the wearer can take a comfortable skiing posture.

[0074] Figures 1 to 9 show possible embodiments of the snowboard binding of the present invention. The illustrated snowboard binding (1) (also referred to as a binding in this specification) includes a snowboard anchor element (2), a boot anchor element (3), and two pivot mechanisms (19, 20).

[0075] The snowboard anchor element (2) is pivotally connected to the boot anchor element (3) by a pivot mechanism (4) that includes two pivots or pivot (rotation) joints. With this arrangement of the binding (1), the boot anchor element (3) can be pivoted or tilted relative to the snowboard anchor element (2), for example, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 9.

[0076] In particular, the snowboard anchor element (2) and the boot anchor element (3) are pivotally connected at their respective front and rear portions (10, 11, 12, 13) by two pivots, that is, two pivot joints used as a pivot mechanism.

[0077] In particular, the snowboard binding (1) shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 includes a pivot mechanism that includes two pivots (19, 20). The pivot axes of the pivot mechanism pass through the holes in the respective front portions (10, 12) of the snowboard anchor element (2) and the boot anchor element (3), as well as the holes in the respective rear portions (11, 13) of the snowboard anchor element (2) and the boot anchor element (3).

[0078] Due to the arrangement of the two pivots (19, 20) in the snowboard binding of the present invention, the two pivot points (19, 20), that is, the boot anchor element (3) can be suspended at its front (10, 12) and rear (11, 13) portions relative to the snowboard anchor element (2).

[0079] According to a possible embodiment, for example as shown in the attached figures, the snowboard anchor element (2) comprises a bottom plate (14) and two longitudinal side walls (15) of the snowboard anchor element (2). The boot anchor element (3) is formed by a bottom plate (7), side walls (6) and a heel holder (5).

[0080] The bottom plate (14) of the snowboard anchor element (2) has an inner surface and an outer surface, where the inner surface refers to the surface facing the bottom plate (7) of the boot anchor element (3), and the outer surface of the bottom plate (14) indicates the surface facing the snowboard when the snowboard binding is attached to the snowboard.

[0081] The bottom plate (7) of the boot anchor element (3) has an inner surface and an outer surface, where the inner surface indicates the surface on which the user's boot is placed, and the outer surface indicates the surface facing the inner surface of the bottom plate (14) of the snowboard anchor element (2).

[0082] According to one embodiment, for example as shown in the illustrated embodiment, the pivot (20), and thus the axis of rotation X, also passes through a hole formed in the rear part (11) of the boot anchor element (3), and thus the snowboard binding (1) is located at the height of the wearer's ankle or close thereto and has a pivot (20) with a horizontal axis of rotation in the direction in which the foot is facing.

[0083] Both the snowboard anchor element (2) and the boot anchor element (3) are preferably made of a strong plastic or light metal and are provided with recesses to reduce the weight of the binding.

[0084] A two-pivot mechanism including two pivots (19, 20) includes a pivot axis (X) that enables rotation or tilting of the boot anchor element (3) relative to the snowboard anchor element (2). The pivot axis or rotation axis (X) is at a distance from the bottom plate (14) of the snowboard anchor element (2) that enables tilting / swinging of the boot anchor element (3) relative to the snowboard anchor element (2), preferably freely, and is preferably disposed above the edge of the side wall (15) of the snowboard anchor element (2).

[0085] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-9, the pivot axis (X) connects through holes formed in the respective front and rear portions (10, 11, 12, 13) of the snowboard anchor element (2) and the boot anchor element (3).

[0086] In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-9, it is shown that each pivot mechanism is formed by a pivot including a shaft or pin and a nut. Other types of pivots are similarly suitable for obtaining the same result. One or more bearings, preferably ball bearings, can be provided for the pivot.

[0087] The shaft is inserted into respective through holes formed in the front and rear portions (10, 12, 11, 13) of both the snowboard anchor element (2) and the boot anchor element (3), thereby obtaining two pivot points, namely pivots (19, 20), that connect the respective front portions (10, 12) of the snowboard anchor element (2) and the boot anchor element (3) and that connect the respective rear portions (11, 13), as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The shaft is fixed by nuts at the two pivot points (19, 20).

[0088] The pivot axis (X) is preferably parallel to the bottom plate (14) of the snowboard anchor element (2), but may be slightly inclined. The inclination of the pivot axis relative to the bottom plate of the snowboard anchor element can be up to 5°, but is preferably less than 3°.

[0089] The snowboarder is supported by a pivoting boot anchor element (3) whose front and rear parts (10, 11) are pivotally coupled to the front and rear parts (12, 13) of the snowboard anchor element (2) respectively. Thus, due to the two pivot joints, i.e., the degrees of freedom of rotation provided by the pivots, the snowboarder can create new flexibility, thereby improving the ability of the snowboarder to assume new postures and execute new tricks. Further, this pivot arrangement of the snowboard binding of the present invention that provides pivoting / tilting of the rider's feet reduces foot fatigue and stress not only while sitting on a ski lift but also during long descents.

[0090] In the illustrated embodiment, both the snowboard anchor element (2) and the boot anchor element (3) are substantially cage-shaped or substantially shell-shaped. Thus, the snowboard anchor element (2) and the boot anchor element (3) have an open work structure with a hollow or concave shape.

[0091] Figs. 2 - 5 show a snowboard binding (1) provided with two lateral projecting elements (21a, 21b) engageable respectively with slide guides (22a, 22b) provided laterally on the inner surface of the bottom plate (14) of the snowboard anchor element (2), on the outer surface of the bottom plate (7) of the boot anchor element (3) facing the inner surface of the bottom plate (14) of the snowboard anchor element (2). Advantageously, each of the slide guides (22a, 22b) has a shape complementary to that of the respective projecting element (21a, 21b), and is arranged laterally on the inner surface of the bottom plate (14) of the snowboard anchor element (2) such that when the boot anchor element (3) pivots about the pivot axis (X), the respective projecting elements (21a, 21b) can slide within the respective slide guides (22a, 22b).

[0092] According to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the slide guides (22a, 22b) formed on the inner surface of the bottom plate (14) of the snowboard anchor element (2) have the shape of a channel, that is, the protruding elements (21a, 21b) of the boot anchor element (3) form a cavity with a complementary shape through which they can slide freely, and have a bottom wall and two side walls. Thereby, the slide guides (22a, 22b) control the moving direction of the boot anchor element (3) with respect to the snowboard anchor element (2).

[0093] The snowboard binding of the present invention is attached to a snowboard (not shown) using mechanical fasteners such as bolts and screws. Specifically, according to one embodiment, the snowboard anchor element (2) is fixed to the snowboard by an angle set plate (16) provided with holes or slots (17) into which screws or bolts are driven into the snowboard as a standard method.

[0094] According to one embodiment, as shown in the figures for example, the angle set plate (16) is connected to the bottom plate (14) of the snowboard anchor element (2) by an elastic element (18), such as a spring. In the illustrated embodiment, FIGS. 1 to 9 show a snowboard binding in which the angle set plate (16) is accommodated within the plane of the bottom plate (14) of the snowboard anchor element (2). This arrangement of the snowboard binding (1) of the present invention enables a limited rotation of the snowboard binding (1) about a vertical axis passing through the center point of the angle set plate (16). Such rotation of the snowboard binding also contributes to further improving the comfort of the snowboarder during descent.

[0095] Advantageously, in order to make more effective use of the above rotation of the snowboard anchor element (2), the vertical axis of the angle set plate (16) can pass through the center of the rider's foot accommodated in the boot anchor element (3).

[0096] Figures 1 to 7 show a boot anchor element (3), in particular several connection openings (8, 9) provided in a heel holder (5) and a side wall (6). These connection openings are used, for example as shown in Figures 8 and 9, to insert fixing means for the boot and the rear backing (24) or a binding strap (23) into the boot anchor element (3). In addition to or instead of the binding strap, any fixing means such as bindings, laces, clips etc. can be used.

[0097] Further embodiments are shown, for example, in Figures 10 to 16, where the snowboard binding comprises one pivot (20) operating as a pivot mechanism and two slide guides (21a, 22b).

[0098] The one pivot (20) passes through at least one hole formed in the rear part (13) of the snowboard anchor element (2) and the rear part (11) of the boot anchor element (3), enabling a pivot connection between the boot anchor element (3) and the snowboard anchor element (2).

[0099] The slide guides (21a, 21b) are provided laterally on the inner surface of the bottom plate (14) of the snowboard anchor element (2). Each of the slide guides cooperates with corresponding protruding elements (22a, 22b) protruding laterally from the outer surface of the bottom plate (7) of the boot anchor element (3), enabling a lateral sliding movement along a curved surface (thus providing a pivot connection about the pivot axis (X) of the boot anchor element (3) on the snowboard anchor element (2)).

[0100] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 16, one of the two guides (22a) is arranged at the rear part (13) of the inner surface of the bottom wall (14) of the snowboard anchor element (2). Accordingly, the corresponding protruding element (21a) that protrudes laterally from the outer surface of the bottom wall (7) of the boot anchor element (3) is arranged at the rear part (11) of the boot anchor element (3). The laterally protruding protruding element (21a) of the boot anchor element (3) slides within the slide guide (22a), so that the snowboard binding can provide a pivotal movement around the pivot axis (X).

[0101] As shown in FIGS. 13 and 15, according to one embodiment, the other slide guide (22b) is provided at the front part (12) of the inner surface of the bottom plate (14) of the snowboard anchor element (2). Accordingly, the corresponding protruding element (21b) that protrudes laterally from the outer surface of the bottom plate (7) of the boot anchor element (3) is arranged at the front part (10) of the boot anchor element (3). Similar to the laterally protruding protruding element (22a), the other laterally protruding protruding element (21b) also cooperates with the corresponding slide guide (22b) and is arranged so as to be able to provide a pivotal movement around the pivot axis (X) to the snowboard binding.

[0102] Each of the protruding elements (21a, 21b) has a shape complementary to the shape of the corresponding slide guide (22a, 22b).

[0103] FIGS. 10, 13, 14, and 16 show a snowboard binding according to this further embodiment, which includes a binding strap (23) and a rear backing (24).

[0104] Figures 11 and 12 show a partial top view of the snowboard binding of FIG. 10, excluding the binding strap (23) and the rear backing (24), with the inner surface of the bottom plate of the boot anchor element (3) exposed. Figures 11 and 12 show that the generally cage-like or generally shell-like shape of both the snowboard anchor element (2) and the boot anchor element (3) is open at the front part (10, 12) where the slide guide (21b) is disposed. This "open" shape of the front parts (25, 30) of the bottom plates (7, 14) of both the boot anchor element (3) and the snowboard anchor element (2) allows the snowboard binding to be adapted to boots of various sizes.

[0105] Furthermore, FIGS. 11, 12, and 15 show the inner surface of the bottom plate (14) of the snowboard anchor element (2) of the binding according to this further embodiment, and an angle set plate (16) connected to the snowboard anchor element (2) by an elastomeric material is provided on the bottom plate (14) of the snowboard anchor element (2).

[0106] According to a further embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 21 to 26, the snowboard binding (1) has only a plurality of slide guides (21a, 21b, 21c) as a pivot mechanism, preferably only at least two or more slide guides, that is, no pivot is provided in the snowboard binding of this embodiment.

[0107] Figs. 21 to 26 show a snowboard binding having two slide guides (21a, 21b). In order to enhance the stability of a boot anchor element (3) slidably connected to a snowboard anchor element (2), two laterally protruding auxiliary protruding elements (31a, 31b) are provided on the outer surface of the bottom plate (7) of the boot anchor element (3) which can slidably engage with the guides or channels (32a, 32b) of the snowboard anchor element (2), respectively. The guides or channels (32a, 32b) have a shape complementary to that of the auxiliary protruding elements (31a, 31b) and are provided laterally on the inner surface of the bottom plate (14) of the snowboard anchor element (2). The snowboard binding according to this embodiment has an open structure, that is, it has an open front portion (33) and a rear portion (34).

[0108] In the embodiment shown in Figs. 21 to 26, the angle set plate (16) has structural elements that function as a torsion spring mechanism (35, 36, 37), whereby the boot anchor element (3) can be rotated or twisted about the axis Y with respect to the snowboard anchor element (2) and the snowboard itself. Fig. 25 shows the axis Y passing perpendicularly, particularly perpendicularly, through the angle set plate (16) provided on the bottom surface of the snowboard anchor element (2).

[0109] As shown in FIGS. 24 to 26, the torsion spring mechanism of the angle set plate (16) includes a mini disk (35), an inner mount (36), and an intermediate mount (37). The mini disk (35) is provided with holes or slots (17) for inserting screws or bolts into the snowboard, which is a standard method for fixing the snowboard anchor element (2) of the snowboard binding (1) to the snowboard. The inner mount (36) surrounds the mini disk (35) and is fixed in that orientation. The intermediate mount (37) is connected to the snowboard anchor element (2) by an elastic element (18) such as an elastomer. The intermediate mount (37) can rotate with respect to the inner mount (36) and the bottom plate (14) of the snowboard anchor element (2). Therefore, the intermediate mount (37) can rotate further with respect to the snowboard.

[0110] The angle set plate having the torsion spring mechanism described in connection with the embodiments shown in FIGS. 21 to 26 can also be used in other embodiments of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 16, including a pivot or a combination of a pivot and one or more slide guides as a pivot mechanism.

[0111] Therefore, the snowboard binding (1) of the present invention shown in FIGS. 21 to 26 enables both the rotational (pivot) movement of the snowboard binding around the longitudinal axis (X) and the torsional movement of the snowboard anchor element (2) around the vertical axis (Y) perpendicular to the upper surface of the bottom wall (14) of the snowboard anchor element (2).

[0112] The combination of the torsion around the vertical axis (Y) obtained by the torsion spring mechanism (35, 36, 37) of the present invention and the rotation of the boot anchor element (3) with respect to the snowboard anchor element (2) around the longitudinal axis (X) of the snowboard binding (1) is novel in the technical field of the present invention.

[0113] A further aspect of the present invention is a snowboard (26) particularly suitable for the snowboard binding of the present invention in order to further improve the fun and entertainment of the rider.

[0114] The snowboard (26) of the present invention is shown in a perspective view in FIG. 17 and has a longitudinal shape on its longitudinal upper surface (27) having a length and width capable of fixing a pair of such snowboard bindings, preferably the snowboard binding of the present invention.

[0115] The longitudinal upper surface (27) of the snowboard (26) terminates at a tip portion (28) and a tail portion (29), and the tip portion and the tail portion are bent upward at an angle α of 30° to 80° with respect to the longitudinal upper surface (27) of the snowboard (26). FIG. 18 shows a state in which the tip portion and the tail portion are greatly bent with respect to the upper surface of the snowboard.

[0116] It should be noted that in this specification, the phrase "the longitudinal upper surface terminates at the tip portion (28) and / or the tail portion (29)" is used to indicate that the snowboard base can include a tip portion and / or a tail portion that can be integrally formed with the snowboard base or can be a separate portion constrained by the snowboard base.

[0117] As already described above, it is also possible to bend only the tip portion or only the tail portion upward and make the opposite side similar to a conventional snowboard.

[0118] In particular, FIGS. 17 to 18 show a snowboard having both a bent tip portion (28) and a bent tail portion (29), but it should be noted that according to the present invention, embodiments of a snowboard having only a bent tip portion having the bending angle and length disclosed herein and only a bent tail portion are also possible.

[0119] Due to the inclination of the binding and the bent portion between the tip and the tail of the board, even when the board is at an extreme angle (30° or more) with respect to the ground, the rider can stably slide on the tip or the tail of the board.

[0120] FIG. 19 shows a binding according to the present invention and a snowboard according to the present invention in a possible use posture in which the rider can stably slide on the tail portion (29) of the board. Further, FIG. 20 shows a rider using a binding according to the present invention, a snowboard according to the present invention having a bent tail portion (29) and a standard tip portion according to the present invention, in a possible sliding posture in which the rider can stably slide on the tail portion (29) of the board.

[0121] In view of the above, the snowboard according to the present invention preferably enables reaching a sliding posture that cannot be achieved with known snowboards by being combined with the binding according to the present invention.

[0122] For example, with a standard snowboard, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, it is not possible to reach a sliding posture in which the board maintains an extreme angle (30° or more) with respect to the ground and stably slides on the bent tail portion.

[0123] Furthermore, by combining with the snowboard binding according to the present invention, in the sliding posture at the tail or tip of the snowboard, the pivoting (rotation) of the boot anchor portion with respect to the snowboard anchor element around the pivot (rotation axis) (X) of the snowboard binding or the pivot (rotation axis) (X) and the twist axis (Y) can reduce the inclination of the sole of the rider's foot with respect to the ground (for example, it can be arranged parallel or substantially parallel to the ground).

[0124] The ratio of the respective lengths L1 of the bent tip portion (28) and the bent tail portion (29) to the total length (L) of the snowboard (26) corresponding to the length of the flat portion of the snowboard base is 1 / 20 to 1 / 3. There are many advantages of the bindings described in this specification. The tilting operation provided by the snowboard bindings brings a wide range of flexibility, improving the rider's comfort not only when sitting on the ski lift but also when skiing. The flexibility also broadens the range of snowboard tricks.

[0125] According to various possible embodiments of the present invention, the bent tip portion (28) and / or the bent tail portion (29) have flat portions, but may also include a continuous curve, generally a curved surface. In the case of a curve or a curved shape, the length L1 of the bent tip portion (28) and / or the bent tail portion (29) is measured by a straight line (laid on the longitudinal cross-section of the snowboard), and the straight line extends between both ends of the bent tail portion and the bent tip portion (i.e., extends between the end of the flat base of the snowboard where the tail portion and / or the tip portion extends and the end of the bent tail portion and / or the bent tip portion).

[0126] The snowboard bindings according to the present invention have a standardized attachment system and thus fit most boards. However, they can also be adapted to be attached to boards with other attachment systems. Furthermore, the bindings of the present invention do not require special boots for skiing.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0127] 1 Snowboard binding 2 Snowboard anchor element 3 Boot anchor element 4 Pivot mechanism 5 (Heel holder of the boot anchor element) 6 (Side wall of the boot anchor element) 7 (Bottom plate of the boot anchor element) 8, 9 Connection opening 10 Front part (of the boot anchor element) 11 Rear part (of the boot anchor element) 12 Front part (of the snowboard anchor element) 13 Rear part (of the snowboard anchor element) 14 Bottom plate (of the snowboard anchor element) 15 Side wall (of the snowboard anchor element) 16 Angle setting plate 17 Hole, slot 18 Elastic element 19 Pivot mechanism, pivot 20 Pivot mechanism, pivot 21a, 21b Protruding element 22a, 22b Slide guide 23 Binding strap 24 Rear backing 25 Front part (of the bottom plate of the boot anchor element) 26 Snowboard 27 Longitudinal upper surface (of the snowboard) 28 Tip part (of the snowboard) 29 Tail part (of the snowboard) 30 Front part (of the bottom plate of the snowboard anchor element) 31a, 31b Auxiliary protruding element 32a, 32b Guide, channel 33 Front part 34 Rear part 35 Torsion spring mechanism, mini disc 36 Torsion spring mechanism, inner mount 37 Torsion spring mechanism, intermediate mount L Length of the flat part of the snowboard L1 Length of the tip part or tail part of the snowboard X Pivot axis, rotation axis, longitudinal axis Y Vertical axis α Bending angle (of the snowboard)

Claims

1. A snowboard binding (1), comprising: a snowboard anchor element (2); a boot anchor element (3); and at least one pivot mechanism (4) pivotally coupling the snowboard anchor element (2) and the boot anchor element (3) to enable pivoting of the boot anchor element (3) relative to the snowboard anchor element (2).

2. The snowboard binding (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pivot mechanism comprises at least one pivot (19, 20) and / or at least one slide guide (22a, 22b).

3. The snowboard binding (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one pivot mechanism pivotally couples the snowboard anchor element (2) and the boot anchor element (3) at respective front portions (10, 12) and / or rear portions (11, 13).

4. The snowboard binding (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one pivot mechanism (4) comprises a pivot axis (X) enabling rotation of the boot anchor element (3) relative to the snowboard anchor element (2).

5. The snowboard binding (1) according to claim 4, wherein the pivot axis (X) is disposed at a certain distance from the bottom plate (14) of the snowboard anchor element (2).

6. The snowboard binding (1) according to claim 4, wherein the pivot axis (X) is disposed near the height of the rider's ankle, preferably along the direction of the rider's foot.

7. The snowboard binding (1) according to claim 4, wherein the pivot axis (X) is disposed within the width of the snowboard binding, preferably within the width of the rider's foot.

8. The snowboard binding (1) according to claim 4, wherein the pivot axis (X) is parallel to or slightly inclined with respect to the bottom of the snowboard binding.

9. The pivot axis (X) is parallel to or slightly inclined with respect to the bottom plate (14) of the snowboard anchor element (2), preferably in the direction in which the foot is facing, the snowboard binding (1) according to claim 4.

10. The pivot axis (X) passes through at least one or both of the front and / or rear parts (10, 11; 12, 13) of at least one of the snowboard anchor element (2) and the boot anchor element (3), the snowboard binding (1) according to claim 4.

11. The at least one pivot mechanism (4) comprises at least one pivot (19) substantially arranged at the front part (10) of the boot anchor element (3), preferably the pivot (19) passing through at least one hole formed in the front part (10) of the boot anchor element (3), and / or at least one pivot (20) substantially arranged at the rear part (11) of the boot anchor element (3), preferably the pivot (20) passing through at least one hole formed in the rear part (11) of the boot anchor element (3), the snowboard binding (1) according to claim 2.

12. The at least one slide guide (22a, 22b) has a shape complementary to that of at least one protruding element (21a, 21b), the snowboard binding (1) according to claim 2.

13. The at least one pivot mechanism comprises one pivot (20) and at least one slide guide (22b), the snowboard binding (1) according to claim 2.

14. When the one pivot (20) is disposed substantially at the rear portion (13) of the snowboard anchor element (2), preferably, the pivot passes through at least one hole formed in the rear portion (13) of the snowboard anchor element (2), and the at least one slide guide (22b) preferably interacts with at least one protruding element (21b) protruding laterally from the outer surface of the bottom plate (7) of the boot anchor element (3) to enable a pivotal connection between the boot anchor element (3) and the snowboard anchor element (2). The snowboard binding (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that.

15. The snowboard binding (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one pivot mechanism (4) comprises at least two pivots (19, 20) that suspend the boot anchor element (2) at its front and rear portions (10, 11) respectively with respect to the snowboard anchor element (3).

16. The snowboard binding (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the pivot mechanism is at least two slide guides (22a, 22b) provided laterally on the inner surface of the bottom plate (14) of the snowboard anchor element (2).

17. The snowboard binding (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that each of the at least two slide guides (22a, 22b) preferably interacts with protruding elements (21a, 21b) protruding laterally from the outer surface of the bottom plate (7) of the boot anchor element (3) to enable a pivotal connection between the boot anchor element (3) and the snowboard anchor element (2).

18. The snowboard binding (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that two auxiliary protruding elements (31a, 31b) protruding laterally are provided on the outer surface of the bottom plate of the boot anchor element (3), and slideably engage with guides or channels (32a, 32b) having a shape complementary to the auxiliary protruding elements (31a, 31b) provided laterally on the inner surface of the bottom plate (14) of the snowboard anchor element (2) respectively.

19. The snowboard binding (1) according to claim 1, wherein the snowboard anchor element (2) is provided with an angle setting plate (16), and the angle setting plate (16) has a hole (17) for fixing the angle setting plate (16) to the snowboard.

20. The snowboard binding (1) according to claim 19, wherein the snowboard anchor element (2) incorporates a torsion spring mechanism in the attachment portion to the snowboard, enabling restricted rotation around an axis (Y) perpendicular to the upper surface in the longitudinal direction of the snowboard.

21. The snowboard binding (1) according to claim 20, wherein the angle setting plate (16) is provided with a torsion spring mechanism including a mini disk (35), an inner mount (36) fixed toward the mini disk (35), and an intermediate mount (37), and the mini disk (35) is provided with a hole or slot (17).

22. A snowboard (26) for attaching the snowboard binding according to claim 1 or 2, formed as a board having a longitudinal shape with a length and width capable of fixing a pair of the snowboard bindings to its upper surface in the longitudinal direction (27), the upper surface in the longitudinal direction terminating at a tip portion (28) and / or a tail portion (29), and the tip portion (28) and / or the tail portion (29) being bent upward at an angle (α) of 30° to 80° with respect to the upper surface in the longitudinal direction (27) of the snowboard.

23. The snowboard (26) according to claim 22, wherein the length (L1) of the bent tip portion (28) and / or the bent tail portion (29) is 50 mm to 800 mm.

24. The snowboard (26) according to claim 22, wherein the ratio of the respective length (L1) of the bent tip portion (28) and / or the bent tail portion (29) to the total length (L) of the snowboard (26) is 1 / 20 to 1 / 3.

Images