Splitboard Bindings Variform Box Girder Torsional Stiffness

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing splitboard boot bindings lack sufficient torsional stiffness, leading to instability and reduced control during snowboarding and ski touring, while also being heavy and cumbersome due to the use of adaptor mounting plates and complex mechanical stacks.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a variform box girder construction in the boot bindings, which eliminates the need for adaptor mounting plates by integrating their functions into a structurally rigid design, providing improved torsional stiffness, reduced weight, and enhanced ankle contact with the board, using a modified sandwich or monolithic construction with varied web aspect ratios and materials like UHMWPE for wear resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If adaptor mounting plates and complex mechanical stacks are used in boot bindings, then adaptability between snowboarding and ski touring modes is improved, but weight increases and torsional stiffness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemode transition capabilityVSAvoidbinding weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the adaptor mounting plate functions directly into the boot binding structure, eliminating separate adaptor components. The binding assembly integrates both snowboarding and ski touring mounting capabilities into a single unified structure, combining multiple functions into one component rather than using separate adaptors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The boot binding is designed with universal mounting features that accommodate both snowboarding and ski touring modes through a single binding assembly. The structure includes integrated pivot points, mounting plates, and attachment mechanisms that serve multiple functions across different operating modes, eliminating the need for mode-specific adaptors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If adaptor mounting plates and complex mechanical stacks are used in boot bindings, then adaptability between snowboarding and ski touring modes is improved, but torsional stiffness decreases leading to instability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemode transition capabilityVSAvoidtorsional stiffness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the adaptor mounting plate functions directly into the boot binding structure, eliminating separate adaptor components. The binding assembly integrates both snowboarding and ski touring mounting capabilities into a single unified structure, combining multiple functions into one component rather than using separate adaptors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a box girder construction with curved or rounded corners that provides structural rigidity while distributing stress evenly. The girder's geometry incorporates curved elements that enhance torsional stiffness compared to sharp-cornered rectangular structures, improving stability while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Adaptability or versatility

If complex mechanical stacks with multiple components are used, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases and play/instability occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemode transition capabilityVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the adaptor mounting plate functions directly into the boot binding structure, eliminating separate adaptor components. The binding assembly integrates both snowboarding and ski touring mounting capabilities into a single unified structure, combining multiple functions into one component rather than using separate adaptors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary intermediary components from the mechanical stack. By removing separate adaptor mounting plates and reducing the number of intermediate elements between the boot and board, the design simplifies the overall structure while maintaining full adaptability functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS9022412B2Splitboard bindings

Publication Date: 2015.05.05 SPARK R&D IP HOLDINGS LLC

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 box girder and provides improved torsional stiffness for splitboard riding. When subjected to a torque applied by the rider, the bottom mediolateral edges 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 of the box girder are characterized by an aspect ratio or contour height that is varied from heel to toe.