Snowboard Boot Engagement Member with Serrations and Pawls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional snowboard binding systems, particularly step-in bindings, face challenges in securely attaching soft snowboard boots to snowboards while allowing for easy insertion and removal, and often require complex mechanisms to accommodate snow, ice, or debris accumulation.

Innovation Solution

A snowboard binding system featuring a boot engagement member with a T-shaped cross section and serrations that interact with pawls on the binding, allowing for secure attachment and easy release, while accommodating foreign matter buildup without requiring active adjustments from the rider.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If step-in bindings are used to secure soft snowboard boots, then easy insertion and removal is achieved, but secure attachment and prevention of boot movement are difficult to ensure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of insertion and removalVSAvoidsecure attachment and prevention of boot movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The binding system is divided into separate functional components: a binding engagement member with pawls for securing the boot, and a release assembly with a release lever for easy removal. This segmentation allows the boot to be easily inserted and removed while ensuring secure attachment during use, as each component performs its specific function independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The release lever acts as an intermediary mechanism between the rider and the binding engagement member. By actuating the release lever, the rider can easily disengage the pawls from the boot, providing simple removal without directly manipulating the complex engagement mechanism. The release lever translates a simple user action into the appropriate disengagement of the binding components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If complex mechanisms are added to accommodate snow, ice, or debris accumulation, then reliability in various conditions is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance in snow, ice, or debris conditionsVSAvoidmechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The binding engagement member and release assembly are designed to function autonomously in various conditions. The pawls automatically engage with the boot when inserted, and the release lever can be actuated by the rider without requiring active adjustments or complex mechanisms to accommodate snow, ice, or debris. The system self-adjusts to maintain reliable engagement regardless of environmental factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9492730B2Snowboard binding and boot

Publication Date: 2016.11.15 BURTON CORP

AI summary

A snowboard boot and binding system is disclosed which facilitates the engagement and disengagement of a snowboard boot and binding. The snowboard boot may include a boot engagement member extending from a rear of the boot. The boot engagement member is moved downwardly into a corresponding binding engagement member to provide an arrangement which prevents forward movement of the boot. The boot engagement member also may include one or more serrations to engage with one or more pawls on the binding to prevent upward movement of the boot. A snap-in arrangement may be provided in a boot toe region. The boot has protrusions extending outwardly from each side of the boot to engage with catches on the binding sidewalls. As the boot is pressed downwardly into the binding, the protrusions splay the catches until reaching recesses, at which point the catches rebound to capture the protrusions against upward movement.