Splitboard Binding Variform Box Girder Torsional Stiffness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing splitboard boot bindings lack sufficient torsional stiffness, leading to instability and reduced control during snowboarding and ski touring, due to the use of adaptor mounting plates that increase weight and height, causing wobble and loss of control.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a variform box girder boot binding design that eliminates the adaptor mounting plate, incorporating a box girder with a top plate, bottom plate, and medial and lateral web spacer members with varying aspect ratios to provide increased torsional stiffness, reduced weight, and improved ankle contact with the board.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If adaptor mounting plates are used to attach boot bindings to splitboards, then the bindings can be adapted for both ski touring and snowboard modes, but the weight and height of the binding assembly increase, causing wobble and loss of control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the adaptor mounting plate from the binding assembly, eliminating the source of wobble and excess weight. The boot binding is directly mounted to the splitboard without an intermediate adaptor, while still maintaining the ability to function in both ski touring and snowboard modes through the binding's own adjustable features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the functions of the adaptor mounting plate and the boot binding into a single integrated assembly. The boot binding directly attaches to the splitboard, merging the adaptation function with the binding function, thereby eliminating unnecessary components and reducing overall weight.
2Adaptability or versatility
If adaptor mounting plates are used to attach boot bindings to splitboards, then the bindings can be adapted for both ski touring and snowboard modes, but the height of the binding assembly increases, causing wobble and loss of control
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptor mounting plate, which adds height to the binding assembly, is completely removed. The boot binding is directly mounted to the splitboard, significantly reducing the overall height of the assembly and eliminating the wobble that resulted from the elevated mounting position.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of mounting the boot binding to the adaptor plate and then to the board (traditional approach), the patent inverts the mounting sequence by directly attaching the boot binding to the splitboard, thereby reducing height and improving stability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If adaptor mounting plates are used, then boot bindings can be adapted for different configurations, but torsional stiffness is insufficient, leading to instability and reduced control
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptor mounting plate, which acted as a weak link in the torsional stiffness chain, is removed entirely. The direct mounting of the boot binding to the splitboard creates a stiffer, more stable connection that better transmits torsional forces from the rider to the board.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the adaptor function with the boot binding structure itself, creating a more rigid and torsionally stiff assembly. The integrated design eliminates the weak interface between the adaptor and the board, improving overall structural strength.
Data Source
AI summary
Splitboard boot bindings for backcountry splitboarding. Each of a pair of soft-boot bindings is provided with an integral boot binding lower that conjoins the two halves of a splitboard without the additional weight or height of an adaptor mounting plate, upper binding baseplate or “tray”, and extra fasteners of the prior art. The boot binding lower is formed as a modified sandwich box girder or modified monolithic box girder and provides improved torsional stiffness for splitboard riding. When subjected to a torque applied by the rider, the bottom mediolateral flanges of the box girders are configured to contactingly engage the top face of the splitboard, thereby dynamically coupling the rider's boot sole and the board via a single rigid structure. In a preferred embodiment, the web or “spacer” members are characterized by an aspect ratio or contour height that is varied from heel to toe.