U.S. patent application number 11/327279 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-10 for snowboard impact plate and binding release mechanism.
This patent application is currently assigned to Rome Snowboards, Corp.. Invention is credited to Jacob Hall, Matt Hexemer, Paul Thomas Maravetz, David H. Narajowski.
Application Number | 20060175802 11/327279 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36216892 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060175802 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Maravetz; Paul Thomas ; et
al. |
August 10, 2006 |
Snowboard impact plate and binding release mechanism
Abstract
A resilient biasing element for a snowboard binding is
disclosed. The biasing element provides a means of biasing an ankle
or toe strap for a conventional snowboard binding towards an open
position when the strap is unsecured, easing the insertion and
removal of a boot from the binding. The binding may be used in
combination with a conventional snowboard, or a snowboard
incorporating impact plates to distribute loads and increase the
structural integrity and life of the snowboard.
Inventors: |
Maravetz; Paul Thomas;
(Morrisville, VT) ; Narajowski; David H.; (Park
City, UT) ; Hall; Jacob; (Draper, UT) ;
Hexemer; Matt; (Innisfil, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GOODWIN PROCTER LLP;PATENT ADMINISTRATOR
EXCHANGE PLACE
BOSTON
MA
02109-2881
US
|
Assignee: |
Rome Snowboards, Corp.
Waterbury
VT
|
Family ID: |
36216892 |
Appl. No.: |
11/327279 |
Filed: |
January 6, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60642464 |
Jan 7, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/619 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C 10/06 20130101;
A63C 10/24 20130101; A63C 10/285 20130101; A63C 10/04 20130101;
A63C 10/18 20130101; A63C 10/045 20130101; A63C 10/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/619 |
International
Class: |
A63C 9/06 20060101
A63C009/06 |
Claims
1. A strap assembly for a boot binding, comprising: a continuous
strap; and at least one resilient element attached thereto, wherein
the at least one resilient element is adapted to induce a change in
curvature in at least a portion of a longitudinal extent of the
strap.
2. The strap assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one
resilient element is attached to the strap at at least two spaced
locations.
3. The strap assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one
resilient element is attached to the strap at a series of spaced
locations.
4. The strap assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one
resilient element is substantially continuously attached to the
strap along a longitudinal extent.
5. The strap assembly of claim 1, wherein the strap has an inner
surface and an outer surface, and wherein at least one resilient
element is attached to the outer surface of the strap.
6. The strap assembly of claim 5, wherein the at least one
resilient element is maintained in tension.
7. The strap assembly of claim 1, wherein the strap has an inner
surface and an outer surface, and wherein at least one resilient
element is attached to the inner surface of the strap.
8. The strap assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one
resilient element is maintained in compression.
9. The strap assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one
resilient element comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane.
10. A boot binding comprising a base plate and at least one strap
assembly, the at least one strap assembly comprising: a continuous
strap; and at least one resilient element attached thereto at at
least two spaced locations along a longitudinal extent thereof,
wherein the strap is moveable between a secured position and an
unsecured position, and wherein the at least one resilient element
biases the strap towards the unsecured position.
11. The boot binding of claim 10, wherein the strap moves from the
secured position substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of
the base plate to the unsecured position substantially parallel to
the longitudinal axis of the base plate.
12. The boot binding of claim 11, wherein the strap assembly is
attached thereto by a rotary joint and further comprising a biasing
element, wherein the biasing element rotates the strap when
unsecured about an axis substantially perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of the base plate.
13. The boot binding of claim 12, wherein the biasing element is
selected from the group consisting of a spring, a resilient
element, and a motor.
14. The boot binding of claim 10, wherein the at least one strap
assembly comprises a toe strap.
15. The boot binding of claim 10, wherein the at least one strap
assembly comprises an ankle strap.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of
snowboards and, more particularly, to a device for biasing a
binding strap in an open position, when not fastened, to facilitate
the insertion and removal of a boot into and out of the binding, as
well as an imbedded impact plate to improve the structural
integrity of a snowboard.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Over the past 10 years, the stresses put on modern
snowboarding equipment have increased dramatically as rider's
abilities have increased and ski areas have developed and
maintained larger and larger obstacles in "terrain" parks. Jumps
sending riders through the air for distances of over 100 feet are
not uncommon, and are accessible by nearly any rider with a
snowboard (or skis) who rides up the ski lift.
[0003] During riding, and especially during landings from aerial
maneuvers, snowboard bindings transfer high, and often damaging,
loads to the snowboard on which they are mounted. Specifically, the
corners and toe and heel edges of the binding baseplate, due to
their shape and placement, often become focus points that
concentrate these loads as they transfer them onto the top surface
of the board.
[0004] A common failure mode of a snowboard is when a load
perpendicular to the top surface of the board (whether from a
binding baseplate or not) is large enough to cause a compression
failure of the core of the composite laminate that makes up the
snowboard. Once the core of a snowboard compresses from one of
these impacts, the laminate is usually compromised, and the bond
between the top layers (plastic topsheet, reinforcing fiberglass,
graphite fiber, etc.) and the core (wood, PU, Rohacell, honeycomb,
etc.), which comprises the center of the laminate, fails. An early
stage of this failure mode is often identified by dents in the top
surface of the snowboard. Even though the snowboard might still
appear to be fully functional, the separation between the
reinforcement fiberglass and the core at the location of the core
compression most often spreads with continued use of the snowboard,
eventually leading to total failure (breakage) of the
snowboard.
[0005] Remedies for this problem in the design of bindings have
been tried and implemented with some limited success, by attempting
to disperse these loads and spread them over a larger area of the
binding footprint, but they have not eliminated the problem
entirely. Additionally, board manufacturers cannot guarantee that
bindings with an effectively designed load reducing baseplate will
be used exclusively on their snowboards. This is the case even if a
board manufacturer also produces one of these bindings under the
same brand name as their boards, as often riders will use one brand
of snowboard and another brand of binding.
[0006] Some manufacturers have previously used aluminum as a
reinforcement laminate. Sheet aluminum alloys like Titanal have
been used within the laminate of snowboards and skis for many years
in several different ways. The most common use is one that is still
used in the construction of some skis on the market, primarily in
the design of very stiff skis for racers competing in the Super-G
and Downhill disciplines. In this application, a sheet of aluminum
alloy is used in place of the now typical fiberglass reinforcement
laminate of the ski.
[0007] The tensile strength of a typical fiberglass reinforcement
laminates (E glass tensile strength=3440) is 20 to 30 times higher
than the tensile strength of common aluminum alloys (A16061 tensile
strength=136 MPa). Because of the high bending displacement common
on modern snowboards (particularly in the tips and tails),
fiberglass is much preferred as a reinforcement laminate, as it is
less likely to "yield" and fail due to over-stressing in extreme
bending.
[0008] Skis are commonly stiffer than snowboards so skis built with
aluminum alloy reinforcement laminates are less likely to reach the
alloy's material limits and permanently deform. However, it is
still not uncommon to bend and permanently deform skis built in
this manner.
[0009] Skis, and to a greater extent snowboards, made with aluminum
alloy reinforcement laminates are very rare in today's market but
they do exist. Although not an optimal use of materials, depending
on the type of alloy reinforcement, snowboards built this way could
increase the resistance to core compression failures, but this is a
limiting method with many negative impacts on the performance and
even durability of the resulting snowboard. For example, the alloy
reinforcement is susceptible to overstressing and permanent
deformation of the snowboard, essentially re-introducing an old
mode of failure that was eliminated with the introduction of fiber
reinforcements. Other problems include the increased expense of
alloy rather than fiber reinforcement material, and increased
expense of manufacturing due to the difficulty in cutting the
laminate to size and thoroughly coating the laminate with
resin.
[0010] Aluminum plates have also been used as binding retention
plates in skis and snowboards, where self tapping screw fasteners
and epoxy glues are used to attach the bindings permanently to the
ski or snowboard. The thicknesses of the plates needed to achieve
sufficient retention strength for securely fastening bindings to
the snowboard are typically in the 1.5 to 3 mm range. This mounting
method has however been found to be insufficient to meet the
demands modern riding places on snowboard equipment. Besides being
thick and heavy, these plates were solid, continuous sheets of
aluminum with no consideration for limiting their effect on the
stiffness of the snowboard. As a result, the performance of a
snowboard manufactured with these plates is severely
diminished.
[0011] In the mid to late 1980's nearly all snowboard manufacturers
had replaced the above permanent mounting reinforcement plates in
favor of laminating threaded inserts directly into the snowboard.
Besides being a dramatically stronger binding attachment method
than aluminum retention plates, inserts allowed for bindings to be
attached, removed and re-positioned on the snowboard. Since the
early 90's, virtually all snowboard manufacturers have built
snowboards with inserts for mounting bindings and some ski
manufacturers have recently started moving in this direction as
well.
[0012] Developing a way to increase resistance to the above
described mode of failure through the snowboards construction (i.e.
independent of the type of binding used), while not negatively
effecting the performance, flexibility, weight and cost of the
snowboard, has been the objective of many snowboard manufacturers
for several years. A practically indestructible snowboard using the
common fiberglass and wood construction would require the use of
excessively heavy glass reinforcement laminates and high density
cores, which would likely negatively affect the performance, flex,
weight and cost of the resulting snowboard.
[0013] The bindings themselves also play an essential part in the
performance, comfort, and convenience to a snowboarder. Most
snowboard bindings fall into two categories: plate bindings and
strap bindings. Plate bindings consist of a hard baseplate and
adjustable bails that are used in conjunction with a hard boot, and
are generally preferred by snowboarders in situations requiring
high-speed carving and riding on hard snow, such as in alpine
racing. Strap bindings consist of a baseplate, highback plate, and
straps. In this configuration, as the binding and straps give all
the support needed, hard boots are not required to provide
additional support, and the snowboard boots can remain soft and
comfortable. These bindings are often preferred by "freestyle,"
trick oriented snowboarders and, as they offer excellent control,
offer more options when it comes to boot-bindings combinations, and
allow for the use of soft boots, are generally more common than
other types of binding.
[0014] One problem with snowboard bindings is that any snow has to
be removed from the binding, and the sole of the boot, before the
boot can be inserted into the bindings. Snow between boot and
binding can result in a bad or loose fit, and can also reduce the
contact between rider and board, thus reducing the "feel" or
feedback that the rider receives from the board. This is especially
a problem in "powder" conditions, where loose snow can easily cover
the bindings and make insertion of the boot more difficult and time
consuming.
[0015] Inserting boots into strap bindings can be especially
difficult and frustrating in these conditions, as a rider has to
sweep the snow from the bindings prior to inserting a boot while
also holding the bindings straps out of the way to facilitate
cleaning the binding and inserting the boot. Finding a convenient
method or apparatus for keeping the straps out of the way while the
binding is open would leave the riders hands free to sweep snow
from the bindings more quickly and efficiently, thus increasing the
convenience to the snowboarder and also improving the contact
between board and rider.
[0016] Previous methods of providing a mechanism for maintaining a
strap in an open configuration have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,679,515 to Carrasca, and European Patent No. EP1434626 to
Messmer, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety. These straps describe the use of
hinged elements connecting two separate pieces of strap and
providing a bending mechanism at a discrete longitudinal position
along the extent of the strap. However, requiring a separate hinged
element to join two separate pieces of the strap could increase
weight, affect the structural integrity of the strap and provide a
weak point which, over time, may result in a failure of the strap.
Requiring the separate hinged piece also makes it impossible to
retrofit the bending means onto an already existing strap, and
could increase the expense and time required to manufacture a new
strap incorporating this feature.
[0017] One of the main problems with the hinged design is the
mechanical complexity of their designs. Not only do they add to the
cost of the strap assembly, they essentially create either a weak
point in the strap system or, if engineered to address the weak
link, add weight to the binding system. This additional weight can
be highly unwelcome, as light weight snowboard equipment is more
desirable.
[0018] Additionally these systems when in the open position tend to
flop over into the middle section of the snowboard between the
bindings. When a rider is pushing (i.e. "skating") themselves along
with their rear foot out of the bindings, needed at the bottom of
the each run as they position themselves to get back on the
ski-lift, the hinged straps tend to bounce up and down on the
board. This can potentially scratch the surface of the snowboard,
as well as cover the exact position that the rider will want to
place their unsecured back foot as they glide off of the ramp when
exiting at the top of the ski-lift. This can make positioning the
foot difficult and even dangerous if the rider steps on the hinged
strap assembly rather than the middle section of the snowboard.
[0019] As such, there is still a requirement for a simple and cost
effective means of providing a biasing mechanism for a binding
strap that may be easily manufactured and installed with minimal
effect on the strength and structural integrity of the strap during
use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The current invention describes a method of increasing a
snowboards resistance to breakage due to compression failure of the
core without negatively impacting the performance, flex, weight and
cost of the snowboard. The invention also relates to a resilient
element for a strap of a snowboard strap binding that can bias the
strap towards an open position when not secured.
[0021] Getting into conventional snowboard strap binding systems is
often a very tricky procedure even for experienced snowboarders.
Conventional binding's straps generally lay across the opening in
the baseplate where the riders' foot needs to be placed. Pulling
the straps out of the way in order to put your foot in the binding
requires bending over while simultaneously coordinating sweeping
the binding baseplate clear of debris (snow, ice, etc), and pulling
the straps out of the opening with your hands while placing the
foot into the baseplate. After the foot is placed in the binding
baseplate the straps are then positioned over the rider's foot and
securely engaged with a buckle or other similar fastening device.
This is particularly difficult when there is fresh snow in the area
where the board is being mounted, as the baseplate often repeatedly
fills with snow before the foot can be placed into the
baseplate.
[0022] The present invention helps to overcome these problems
without adding significant costs or manufacturing issues to binding
manufacture. Besides not compromising the strength of the strap
system, as a continuous, solid strap for holding the riders foot in
the binding is maintained, the present invention provides a
tensioned, and even adjustably tensioned, substantially stable open
position, where the straps are held gently in one open position so
as not to flop around while skating, etc. The present invention can
also be designed and manufactured to be retrofittable to
competitors' conventional bindings already on the market much more
easily than alternative designs, such as a hinged strap design,
might be.
[0023] One embodiment of the invention includes a strap assembly
for a boot binding. The strap assemble can include a continuous
strap, and at least one resilient element attached thereto. The at
least one resilient element attached to the strap is adapted to
induce a change in curvature in at least a portion of a
longitudinal extent of the strap. In different embodiments of the
invention the at least one resilient element can be attached to the
strap at at least two spaced locations, attached to the strap at a
series of spaced locations, or substantially continuously attached
to the strap along a longitudinal extent.
[0024] The strap can have an inner surface and an outer surface. In
one example embodiment, at least one resilient element can be
attached to the outer surface of the strap. In this configuration,
the at least one resilient element can be maintained in tension. In
an alternative embodiment, the at least one resilient element can
be attached to the inner surface of the strap. In this
configuration, the at least one resilient element can be maintained
in compression. The at least one resilient element can be made from
a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material. Example thermoplastic
polyurethane materials include, but are not limited to,
Desmopan.RTM., Elastollan.RTM., Estane.RTM., Utechllan.RTM., and
Texin.RTM.. Alternatively, any other material with appropriate
strength, resilience, and elastic properties may be used. These
materials may include, but are not limited to, other injection
molded elastic materials, or natural or synthetic rubber.
[0025] Another embodiment of the invention includes a boot binding
including a base plate and at least one strap assembly. The at
least one strap assembly can include a continuous strap, and at
least one resilient element attached thereto at at least two spaced
locations along a longitudinal extent thereof. The strap may be
moveable between a secured position and an unsecured position. The
at least one resilient element can bias the strap towards the
unsecured position.
[0026] In certain embodiments, the strap can move from the secured
position substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the
base plate to the unsecured position substantially parallel to the
longitudinal axis of the base plate. The strap assembly can be
attached to the binding by a rotary joint and can further include a
biasing element. This biasing element can rotate the strap when
unsecured about an axis substantially perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of the base plate. The biasing element can be
selected from the group consisting of a spring, a resilient
element, and a motor, or include some other appropriate mechanism
for rotating the strap. The at least one strap assembly can be used
as a toe strap, an ankle strap, or both.
[0027] These and other objects, along with advantages and features
of the present invention herein disclosed, will become apparent
through reference to the following description, the accompanying
drawings, and the claims. Furthermore, it is to be understood that
the features of the various embodiments described herein are not
mutually exclusive and can exist in various combinations and
permutations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The objects and features of the invention can be better
understood with reference to the drawings described below, and the
claims. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead
generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the
invention. In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like
parts throughout the various views.
[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a compression failure of
the core of a standard prior art snowboard;
[0030] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a snowboard with
imbedded impact plates, in accordance with one embodiment of the
invention;
[0031] FIG. 3A is a schematic plan view of an example impact plate,
in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
[0032] FIG. 3B is a schematic elevation view of the impact plate of
FIG. 3A;
[0033] FIG. 4A is a schematic plan view of snowboard, in accordance
with one embodiment of the invention;
[0034] FIG. 4B is a schematic plan view of the snowboard of FIG.
4A, with impact plates imbedded in the board.
[0035] FIG. 5A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the snowboard
of FIG. 4A taken along line A-A, in accordance with one embodiment
of the invention;
[0036] FIG. 5B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the snowboard
of FIG. 4B taken along line B-B, in accordance with one embodiment
of the invention;
[0037] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of an example snowboard
strap binding, in accordance with one embodiment of the
invention;
[0038] FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a pair of strap bindings
positioned on a snowboard, in accordance with one embodiment of the
invention;
[0039] FIG. 8A is a schematic top-view of a snowboard strap binding
with attached release mechanism with ankle strap in open
configuration, in accordance with one embodiment of the
invention;
[0040] FIG. 8B is a schematic rear-view of the snowboard strap
binding of FIG. 8A;
[0041] FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of a snowboard strap binding
with resilient elements for both a toe strap and an ankle strap, in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
[0042] FIG. 10A is a schematic side view of a resilient element for
an binding strap in the open configuration, in accordance with one
embodiment of the invention;
[0043] FIG. 10B is a schematic side view of the resilient element
of FIG. 10A in a closed configuration;
[0044] FIG. 11A is a schematic side view of an alternative
resilient element for an binding strap in the open configuration,
in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
[0045] FIG. 11B is a schematic plan view of the resilient element
of FIG. 11A;
[0046] FIG. 12A is a schematic side view of a further alternative
resilient element for a binding strap in the open configuration, in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
[0047] FIG. 12B is a schematic plan view of the resilient element
of FIG. 12A;
[0048] FIG. 13A is a schematic exploded perspective view of the
resilient element of FIG. 12A;
[0049] FIG. 13B is a schematic perspective view of the assembled
resilient element of FIG. 13A;
[0050] FIG. 14A is a schematic top-view of a snowboard strap
binding with attached release mechanism including the resilient
element of FIG. 12A with ankle strap and toe strap in open
configuration, in accordance with one embodiment of the
invention;
[0051] FIG. 14B is a schematic rear-view of the snowboard strap
binding of FIG. 14A;
[0052] FIG. 15 is a schematic side-view of a binding including a
rotary biasing element at the proximal end of an ankle strap,
and;
[0053] FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of a rotary biasing
element for attachment at the proximal end of a strap.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0054] The purpose of the impact plates described in the present
invention is to disperse potentially damaging loads before they
reach the core by spreading them out over a wider surface area, and
thereby reducing the peak force exerted on any one section of the
core. As a result, compression strength of the core is increased,
and the potential of lamination failure is reduced, without
over-building the snowboard or the laminate.
[0055] A figure highlighting the separation of the laminate due to
a compression failure in the core of a typical prior-art snowboard
is shown in FIG. 1, wherein a cross-sectional portion of a standard
snowboard suffering from a separation of the laminate is indicated.
In this embodiment, the cross-section of a snowboard 10 includes a
topsheet 20, a top reinforcement laminate 30, a core 40, a bottom
reinforcement laminate 50, and a base 60, all bonded together by
resin 70. Upon the application of a concentrated load 80 on the
snowboard 10, there may be a compression failure of the core,
resulting in a separation of the laminate 90. Repeated application
of a load to the snowboard can cause the separation to spread and
eventually lead to a total failure of the board.
[0056] It is preferable that the presence of the impact plates has
little to no effect on the riding performance of the board. For
this reason, in one example embodiment, very thin, flexible
material with flex slots is used for the impact plates. This
minimizes the plate's contribution to the overall stiffness of the
laminate. On-snow testing of the resulting boards built with the
impact plates has shown that the plates have no noticeable material
difference on the ride performance of the board.
[0057] In one embodiment of the invention the impact plates consist
of a thin flexible aluminum alloy of approximately 0.4 mm
thickness. In an example embodiment, "Titanal" brand aluminum alloy
can be used, with the stamped plates placed into a corresponding
0.4 mm deep recess in the top of the snowboard core before
laminating the topsheet fiberglass into the snowboard. The size,
shape, and location of each plate is determined by the potential
footprint of the binding baseplates when mounted on the snowboard
in any of the available stance locations.
[0058] There are several challenges to incorporating these plates
into the snowboard as well as challenges in limiting the ability to
see the plates in the finished snowboard. Although in one
embodiment of the invention it might be desirable for the outline
of the plates to be visible, or "telegraphed", through the topsheet
of the snowboard for marketing purposes, in other embodiments of
the invention it may be desired that the presence of the plates be
invisible in the finished snowboard. This requires precise matching
of the thickness of the plates and the recess in the core.
[0059] Although manufacturing plates of consistent thickness is
relatively straightforward, manufacturing a recess in the wood core
to closely match this thickness is more challenging. Initial
machining of the recess with a CNC machine can be too inaccurate
due to the varying thickness of the wood core profile from the tip
of the board to the tail of the board. As a result, in one
embodiment of the invention a hand router can be used to mill the
recess after the core had been profiled. This allowed the depth
from the top surface of the finished core to be registered, thus
closely matching the recess to the thickness of the plate. In
alternative embodiments of the invention, any other manual or
pre-programmed method of machining the recess in the wood core to
the required size and depth can be used.
[0060] Ensuring that the plates are a solid component of the entire
snowboard laminate can also be critical, particularly as their
primary objective is to make the board stronger. This requires that
the plates be of a material that is compatible with, and bonds well
to, the glue resin system being used to hold the composite laminate
together, as well as the other components in the laminate that the
plates come in contact with, such as the core and the top
reinforcement laminate. As aluminum is not permeable by liquid,
both sides of the plates can be coated thoroughly with resin to
ensure that it bonds equally well to the core underneath it as well
as the fiberglass above it. In one embodiment of the invention,
Titanal is used as the material for the impact plates. The
compression strength of a snowboard manufactured in this way can be
measured using the Brinell Hardness Test. Typical test results for
an industry standard Beech wood core yielded values in the range of
BH 34. With the addition of the impact plates to a typical Beech
wood core it is possible to obtain test result values 2.5 to 3
times higher (i.e. approximately BH 85 to BH 100).
[0061] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, Titanal could
be replaced with another material, such as, but not limited to, a
different metal or even a fiberglass or wooden plate. In further
alternative embodiments, substituting a dense elastomeric material
such as sheets of a dense rubber could also increase the core
compression resistance. In the case of rubber sheets, or sheets
from other materials with similar properties, the core compression
resistance would be increased more by absorption of the loads than
dispersion of the loads.
[0062] The impact plates described in this invention can also be
adapted for use in skis or other flexible board-like structures
wherein there is a potential for a failure of the board as a result
of repeated impact loads and stresses at well determined positions
on-the boards surface. In one embodiment, impact plates can be
inserted at positions along the length of a ski, such as, but not
limited to, adjacent to the skis bindings, in order to improve the
skis resistance to impact loads and even the structural performance
of the ski during use.
[0063] An example embodiment of the impact plates mounted in a
snowboard is shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment four impact plates
110 are imbedded in the snowboard 100 in groups of two. Each
grouping of two impact plates 110 surround the threaded inserts 120
for the snowboard bindings, and are positioned to lie directly
below the heel and toe of the bindings as mounted on the snowboard
100. In this embodiment, each impact plate 110 is curved around the
threaded inserts 120 of the snowboard 100 located in the region of
the central longitudinal axis 140 of the board. As a result, the
plates will provide core compression resistance regardless of the
orientation of the mounted bindings. Arrows 130 indicate the
insertion of an impact plate 110 into one of the required locations
on the snowboard 100.
[0064] The impact plate 110 works by dispersing a load applied by
over a localized region of the outer surface so as to limit the
peak force applied to any one region of the inner core of the
snowboard 100. High impact loads and forces are produced at the
heel and toe regions of the bindings during snowboard 100 use.
These loads produce forces on the outer surface of the snowboard
100 over a localized area underneath the portion of the binding
producing the load. By imbedding a larger surface area plate
underneath these impact locations, a force applied to a small area
of the outer surface of the snowboard is applied to the impact
plate 110 and dispersed, resulting in a lower force being applied
over a larger region to the interior of the snowboard 100 than
would be observed without the presence of the plate. By spreading
the load produced by the bindings on the snowboard, the maximum
force exerted on a specific localized area of the interior core is
diminished and, thus, the danger of the snowboard 100 failing due
to compression failure of the core is reduced.
[0065] FIGS. 3A and 3B depict a plan and elevation view of one
possible embodiment of an impact plate 110. In this embodiment, the
impact plate 110 comprises a nominally rectangular profile with one
edge curved inwards 150 to allow the plates 110 to curve around the
snowboards threaded inserts 120 (as described above). Thin slots,
or flex channels 160, are cut into the impact plate 110 along the
inner 150 and outer 170 edges of the plate and directed to run
perpendicular to the central lengthwise axis 140 of a snowboard 100
upon being implanted. The flex channels 160 increase the pliability
of the plate and allow the impact plate 110 greater freedom to
flex, bend or twist around its center. As a result, the properties
and integrity of the plate material can be maintained while
minimizing the resultant impact on the stiffness of the snowboard
100.
[0066] Although any additional material laminated into a board 100
will have an impact on the resulting flex, the affect can be
limited by minimizing the thickness of the impact plate 110 and
effectively designing the flex channels into the plate. Further
control of the stiffness on the resulting board 100 may be achieved
through adjustment of the other materials incorporated in the board
100, for example by adjusting the thickness profile of the core. As
a result it is possible to manufacture a board incorporating the
impact plates 110 which mimics the performance characteristics of a
board 100 without impact plates 110, and from the point of view of
a user rides identically to a board 100 designed without imbedded
plates 110.
[0067] In one example embodiment the impact plates 110 can be
manufactured with a thickness of between 0.1 mm and 2 mm, a length
of between 200 mm and 400 mm, and a width of between 50 mm and 150
mm. The width of the plate 110 at its center, i.e. the location of
maximum curvature, can be from 20 mm to 130 mm. The width of the
flex channels 160 can be from 0.5 mm to 5 mm. In alternative
embodiments of the invention, larger or smaller dimensions than
those mentioned above are envisioned, dependent upon the specific
requirements of the board 100 and user. In one specific embodiment,
the impact plate 110 can have a thickness of 0.4 mm, a length of
310 mm, a width of 100 mm at the largest extent and 88.1 mm at the
smallest extent, and have flex channels 160 of width 2 mm.
[0068] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the flex
channels in the plates could be oriented in different ways, or
shaped differently, to either further reduce or even increase their
contribution to the stiffness of the snowboard, and therefore the
affect the board's performance, based on the requirements of a
user. Additionally the thickness of the plates could be varied to
yield similar effects on the performance of the snowboard. In an
alternative embodiment of the invention the impact plates could be
shaped to provide core compression resistance to different regions
of the board, or shaped such that the required compression
resistance can be provided by a smaller, or greater, number of
plates.
[0069] Depending upon the material used and the design requirements
for the plates, such as the required stiffness of the impact plates
and snowboard, plates can be manufactured with differing lengths,
thicknesses and numbers of flex channels. In an alternative
embodiment of the invention, variations in the stiffness, and other
properties, of the plates could be affected through the inclusion
of different modifications to the basic plate in place of or in
addition to the flex channels described herein, such as but not
limited to perforations within the plate.
[0070] A plan view of an example snowboard 200 is shown in FIG. 4A.
The snowboard 200 includes threaded inserts 210 for the attachment
of bindings. A sectional cut A-A 220 is highlighted, with the
cross-sectional view of the snowboard 200 at this location shown in
FIG. 5A. A plan view of a snowboard 230 with impact plates 240
imbedded at two locations around each set of threaded inserts 210
can be see in FIG. 4B. A sectional cut B-B 250 is highlighted, with
the cross-sectional view of the snowboard 230 at this location
shown in FIG. 5B.
[0071] FIG. 5A depicts a cross-sectional cut of a typical snowboard
200 without any impact plates. Here, the board 200 comprises a
number of layers of material, namely a plastic topsheet 260, an
upper reinforcement laminate 270, a core region 280, a lower
reinforcement laminate 290, and a HDPE basesheet 300. FIG. 5B
depicts one embodiment of the invention with impact plates 240
imbedded between the upper reinforcement laminate 270 and the core
region 280 of a snowboard 230. As described above, manufacturing
techniques allow impact plates 240 of varying thicknesses to be
accurately implanted, such that the upper surface of the impact
plate 240 lies flush with the upper surface of the core region 280.
As such, the plates can be mounted within a snowboard 200 without
impacting the profile of the board, and thus be invisible to a
user.
[0072] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, plates which
would have a similar effect could be mounted within or adjacent to
different layers of the board, such as, but not limited to, between
the binding and the board or adhered to the topsheet of the board
in the binding mounting area.
[0073] FIG. 6 shows a side view of an example snowboard strap
binding 400 and parts thereof. The binding includes a baseplate
410, a toe strap 420, an ankle strap 430, and a highback plate 440.
As a snowboarder adjusts her balance during maneuvering, jumping,
performing tricks, and/or reacting to a bump or other change in
terrain, loads are transferred between the snowboard and the
snowboarder through the bindings. These loads tend to be focused
towards the heel region 450 and toe region 460 of the binding 400.
As a result, for maximum performance of the impact plates, they
should be located below the heel region 450 and toe region 460 of
each binding, corresponding to the regions of the binding which
produce the greatest loads on a snowboard during use.
[0074] FIG. 7 shows a standard position for the bindings 400 on a
typical snowboard 470, with each binding positioned such that a
line between the heel and toe of each binding runs nominally
perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of the board 470. It should be
noted that the actual angle at which each binding 400 is mounted
with respect to the lengthwise axis can be adjusted, and varies
dependant upon the requirements of an individual user. These angles
can be anywhere from exactly perpendicular to the lengthwise axis
to any smaller angle, generally greater than 45 degrees from the
lengthwise axis. The multiple threaded inserts 480 also allow the
bindings 400 to be located at various locations along the length of
the board 470, again depending upon the individual requirements of
a user. The impact plates are positioned such that they correspond
to the heel 450 and toe locations 460 of each binding 400, thus
providing core compression resistance at locations of high load and
stress on the board.
[0075] The present invention also includes a mechanism to ease
entry of a boot into a strap binding. This can be important in
reducing the time, energy, and irritation involved in securing a
users boots into the bindings of a snowboard, especially in high
powder conditions where a significant amount of snow can cover the
bindings and reduce the contact between a boot and the board.
[0076] FIG. 8A shows a plan view of an example binding 500
including a biasing element 510 for the ankle strap assembly 520,
in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The binding
includes a toe strap 530, an ankle strap 520, a baseplate 540, and
a highback plate 550. This biasing element 510 provides a force to
the binding strap 520 to pull the strap 520 away from the binding
500 when not secured in a closed position, thus improving the ease
of access for a boot, into and out of the binding 500, upon release
of the strap's locking mechanism 560. A rear view of the binding
and strap arrangement of FIG. 8A is shown in FIG. 8B.
[0077] The strap 520 for the binding 500 is generally made from a
plastic or metal band 570 that extends around the upper of the boot
and is fixedly attached at its proximal end to a portion of the
baseplate 540, and/or highback plate 550, or a separate piece
joining these parts of the binding 500. The band 570 can be a
single continuous element that extends from a base at the heel of
the binding 500 to a distal end that attaches to the far side of
the heel of the binding 500, or to another strap 580 attached to
the far side of the heel of the binding 500. Alternatively, the
band 570 may extend from a base at the heel of the binding 500 to a
separate connected piece, or number of pieces, that will extend
over the boot and to the other side of the heel of the binding 500.
This separate piece, such as a padded "front" of the strap, may be
connected to the band 570 in any number of appropriate ways. This
band can include a means of adjusting the length of the strap, such
that boots of different size and shape can be comfortably fitted
into the bindings. The locking mechanism 560 can include a means of
securely connecting the distal end of the strap to the other side
of the binding, or securely connecting the strap to a second band
580 extending from the other side of the binding 500. The strap 520
is releaseably attached at its distal end to the other side of the
binding 500, such that, when secured, the strap 520 provides a
substantially rigid means of holding a boot in the binding 500.
Padding 590 is attached to the strap 520 at its lower or inner
surface to provide a cushion between the strap 520 and the boot and
thus provide added comfort for the snowboarder and distribute
retention loads.
[0078] While the strap's plastic or metal band 570 will maintain a
certain limited degree of flexibility, even when closed, it must be
rigid enough to hold the boot firmly within the binding 500 so as
to provide a secure attachment between snowboard and snowboarder.
As such, the strap 520 is generally designed so that it will not
stretch when loaded, and will only bend to a limited extent. Even
when open, the strap 520 will generally maintain its curvature,
conforming to the curvature of the upper of a boot. However, when
unsecured at its distal end, the strap 520 is flexible enough to be
bent back from the binding at its proximal end in order to allow a
boot to be easily inserted or removed.
[0079] In one embodiment of the invention, the mechanism comprises
an elasticized compliant resilient element 510 connected to the
binding strap 520 at its proximal end (or base) 525, located at the
heel of the binding 500, and at an intermediate location 535 along
the length of the strap 520. When the binding strap 520 is in a
closed position the elasticized resilient element 510 is maintained
under tension. Upon release of the strap's locking mechanism, the
elasticized resilient element 510 is free to contract, thus
applying a compressive or bending force to the binding strap 520.
The result of this force is to pull the distal end 545 of the
binding strap 520 away and outwards from the binding 500. As a
result, the distal end 545 of the strap 520 is maintained clear of
the binding 500, easing the access and egress of a boot in and out
of the binding 500.
[0080] FIG. 9 shows a side view of a binding 500 with a biasing
element 510 attached to both a toe strap 530 and an ankle strap
520, with both straps in a closed position. As can be seen, each
biasing element 510 is attached at a proximal end to the binding
500 at substantially the same point as the strap to which it is
attached. In an alternative embodiment, the biasing element 510 can
be attached at a different location along the straps, or in certain
embodiments multiple biasing elements 510 can be attached along
discrete or contiguous portions of the length of a strap.
[0081] Close-up views of the elasticized element in the straps open
and closed position can be seen in FIGS. 10A and 10B respectively.
As shown, the elasticized biasing element 510 comprises a strip of
material fixed at one end to the base of the binding strap 520 at
the heel of the binding 600. The other end of the elasticized
element is fixed at an appropriate intermediate point 610 along the
length of the strap 520. The elasticized biasing element 510 is
free to rotate, along with the strap 520 itself, around the straps
base 600. The length of the elasticized element 510 is fixed such
that upon closing the binding strap, the element is maintained
under tension, but does not affect the working of the binding strap
while closed.
[0082] By adding the biasing element on the top or outer external
surface of the main band of a strap, the invention provides a means
of biasing the strap without effecting the structural integrity
and/or strength of the strap itself. The biasing element can be
attached in parallel with a single, continuous length of strap, and
does not require a hinged, pinned, or otherwise joined connection
between two separate pieces of strap. As a result, there is little
or no additional points of weakness or possible fatigue added to
the strap by addition of this biasing element.
[0083] In some embodiments, a closure mechanism 620, such as, but
not limited to, a slotted or latched arrangement, can be included
on the strap to adjust the length of the strap. In other
alternative arrangements this mechanism 620 may not be required. In
some example embodiments, the elasticized biasing element 510 can
be configured to be releaseably attached to a binding strap. As a
result, these biasing elements can be retrofitted to any
appropriate binding strap by simply connecting them to the binding
at the base of the strap and attaching the distal end to a portion
of the strap an appropriate distance along its length using a
connection mechanism (such as a clasp, clip or other appropriate
means). This can result in standard strap bindings being adapted to
provide this helpful opening mechanism with minimal cost and
effort.
[0084] In one example embodiment of the design the material used
for the elasticized biasing element is a TPU (Thermoplastic
Polyurethane) made under the trade name Utechllan.RTM.. This
material has the advantage of being extremely cold temperature
tough and has 700% elongation with 100% return to its original
shape. Other example thermoplastic polyurethane materials that may
be used in alternative embodiments include, but are not limited to
Elastollan.RTM., Estane.RTM., Desmopan.RTM., and Texin.RTM..
Alternatively, any other material with appropriate strength,
resilience, and elastic properties may be used. These materials may
include, but are not limited to, other injection molded elastic
materials, or natural or synthetic rubber and combinations
thereof.
[0085] In an alternative embodiment other mechanisms for providing
a tensile force to a strap may be employed. These mechanisms may
for example include a spring attached at two locations along the
length of a strap, a coil spring located at the proximal end of the
strap and attached by wire to a location along the strap, a spring
loaded telescoping element biased towards a contracted position, or
other appropriate forcing mechanism. These biasing mechanisms can
be constructed from any appropriate material that can provide the
required stiffness, resilience and elastic properties.
[0086] In an alternative embodiment of the invention the tensile
force applied to the binding strap may be adjusted through
adjusting the length of the binding strap in its unloaded position.
This may be achieved though the addition of holes along the length
of the elasticized element, allowing the element to be fixed at the
base through any of the number of holes. The use of other length
adjustment mechanisms, such as, but not limited to, slotted grooves
allowing adjustment of the length, are also envisioned.
[0087] FIG. 11A is a schematic side view of an alternative
resilient element for an binding strap in the open configuration. A
corresponding plan view of this embodiment can be seen in FIG. 11B.
Here, the band of a strap 700 is connected at its proximal end to
the heel portion of a snowboard binding (not shown) through a
threaded screw 710. A proximal end of a resilient biasing element
720 is then attached through the screw 710 to the heel of the
binding at the same location as the strap 700. A clip 730 can
attach the resilient biasing element 720 to the strap 700 at a
number of different locations. This allows the tension provided by
the biasing element 720, and the actual position of the strap 700
when in the open configuration, to be adjusted, depending on the
specific requirements of the user. In this example embodiment a
connection mechanism, in this case a threaded screw 740 mounted on
the clip 730 which is in turn attached to the strap 700, can engage
any one of a series of holes 750 in the biasing element 720. This
will effectively change the length of the biasing element 720, and
thus change the tension applied to the strap 700, as well as change
its stable default position when open.
[0088] In an alternative embodiment, a clasp arrangement that can
fixably engage the biasing element 720 without the need for holes
750 may be employed. Any other appropriate means of fixedly
positioning a distal portion of the biasing element 720 at a given
location on the strap 700 is also envisioned. In a further
alternative embodiment, the proximal end of the biasing element 720
can be located at a position along the length of the strap 700,
with an adjustment means, such as the series of holes 750 being
positioned at the base of the heel of the binding so as to engage
the screw 710, or other appropriate engagement mechanism.
[0089] FIG. 12A is a schematic side view of a further alternative
resilient element for a binding strap in the open configuration. A
corresponding plan view of this embodiment can be seen in FIG. 12B.
In this embodiment, a resilient biasing element 800 is affixed
within the proximal end of the strap 810, on its outside surface.
The strap and biasing element 800 are anchored at their proximal
end by a screw 820, pin, or other appropriate means, to the heel of
the binding (not shown).
[0090] A slotted arrangement 830, or other appropriate means, such
as, but not limited to, a plurality of holes or teeth, is placed at
the distal end of the strap 810 to provide a means of connecting
the strap to a further element (such as a padded section), or to a
connector on the far side of the heel of the binding. In this
example embodiment the slotted arrangement 830 is inserted within a
region beyond the distal end of the biasing element 800. In an
alternative embodiment, the biasing element 800 can be designed to
extend around the slotted arrangement, or in further alternative
arrangements the biasing element 800 can be designed to include a
slotted, holed, or other arrangement for connecting the distal end
of the strap 810. In certain embodiments it may also be
advantageous to include a plurality of biasing elements 800 within
a single strap.
[0091] The resilient biasing element 800 can be anchored into the
strap 810 at a plurality of locations, be molded permanently onto
the strap, or into a cavity in the strap, or bonded to the strap by
an appropriate adhesive. The biasing element 800 is attached to the
strap 810 while in tension. This provides a differential strain
over the thickness of the strap 810 which will result in it being
biased to curve towards the side of the strap 810 holding the
biasing element 800. As a result, unless the strap is forced closed
and locked in position, the strap 810 will remain substantially
stable in the open position.
[0092] In an alternative embodiment, a biasing element can be
attached in any of the above manners to the inside surface of any
of the straps described herein and maintained in compression. This
will provide a similar differential strain over the thickness of
the strap as described above, and again bias the strap towards an
open position, in this case by curving the strap away from the side
holding the biasing element. Alternative embodiments of the strap
could include both at least one biasing element in tension and one
biasing element in compression on either side of the strap. In
further alternative embodiments, the strap may be configured to be
biased towards a closed position, by either placing a biasing
element in tension on the inside surface of the strap, or placing a
biasing element in compression on the outside surface of the
strap.
[0093] A schematic exploded perspective view of the resilient
element 800 and strap 810 is show in FIG. 13A. In this embodiment,
the resilient element 800 is a molded piece that can be inserted
into a cavity 840 in the strap 810 such that upon insertion the
resilient element 800 is anchored to the strap 810 at a plurality
of locations 850. As described above, in alternative embodiments
the resilient element 800 can be attached to the strap 810 in a
number of manners, including through adhesion or molding, or by
pinning, screwing, or otherwise attaching the resilient element 800
to a plurality of locations on the strap 810. A schematic
perspective view of the assembled resilient element of FIG. 13A is
shown in FIG. 13B.
[0094] FIG. 14A shows a schematic top-view of a snowboard strap
binding 900 including an imbedded resilient element in both an
ankle and toe strap. The ankle strap 910 is shown in a stable, open
configuration, with the arrow 920 indicating the direction of bias
resulting from the resilient element 930. A second strap 915 is
located on the far side of the binding from the strap 910 to engage
a locking element 925 at the distal end of strap 910. The toe strap
is indicated in both a closed 940 position and an open 950
position, with an arrow 960 indicating the direction of bias
resulting from the resilient element 970. A second strap 945 is
located on the far side of the binding from the strap 940, 950 to
engage a locking element 955 at the distal end of strap 940, 950.
As before, the binding also includes a baseplate 980 and a highback
plate 990. A rear-view of this binding 900, showing only the ankle
strap 910 is shown in FIG. 14B.
[0095] In one embodiment of the invention, a strap assembly for
mounting on a strap binding can further include a rotary joint at
the anchoring position at the proximal end of the strap (i.e. where
the strap is connected to the baseplate and/or highback plate. This
rotary element allows the strap to rotate about is anchor point,
thus allowing the strap to adjust its position for different sized
and shaped boots, and also provide a level of adjustment as the
rider crouches and stands up while riding.
[0096] In certain embodiments, this rotary joint can further
include a biasing element, which can help the resilient biasing
element described above move the strap clear of the binding when
open. In this embodiment, a first biasing element on the strap will
move the strap out from the binding in a direction from the secured
position substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the
base plate to the unsecured, or open, position substantially
parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base plate. The second
biasing element in the rotary joint can then rotate the strap about
the rotary joint to move the strap completely clear of the opening
of the binding.
[0097] An example of the motion provided by a rotary biasing
element within the rotary joint can be seen in FIG. 15. This shows
a binding 1000 with the toe strap removed. Again, the binding
includes a baseplate 1010, and a highback plate 1020. The ankle
strap is shown in two locations, i.e. prior to the rotary biasing
element acting on the strap 1030, and after the rotary biasing
element has acted on the strap 1040. An arrow 1050 indicated the
direction of bias provided by the rotary biasing element. This
motion occurs after, or in conjunction with, the motion provided by
the first biasing element 1060, which moves the strap out from the
binding to a position substantially parallel with a longitudinal
axis of the baseplate of the binding.
[0098] An exploded perspective view of an example rotary biasing
element for attachment at the proximal end of a strap is shown in
FIG. 16. In this embodiment, the rotary element assembly 1100
includes a screw 1110, a washer 1120, a coil spring 1130, and the
strap 1140, which is all mounted on a base 1150 and nut 1160 to
attach the assembly to the binding 1170. In alternative embodiments
of the invention the rotary biasing element can include a spring, a
resilient element, a motor, or any other appropriate means of
providing a rotational bias to the strap.
[0099] It should be noted that all of the above embodiments of the
invention are equally applicable to both a toe and ankle strap, and
may also be applied to any other intermediate or alternative strap
used in snowboarding. The straps may also be employed for use in
skiing, windsurfing, or any other sport in which a means of
releaseably strapping a boot or foot to a surface is desired. In
further embodiments, the strap may be used in construction
applications or commercial fishing applications, where again there
may be situations where a workers boots need to be releaseably
attached to the floor.
[0100] The invention may be embodied in other specific forms
without departing form the spirit or essential characteristics
thereof. The foregoing embodiments, therefore, are to be considered
in all respects illustrative rather than limiting the invention
described herein. Scope of the invention is thus indicated by the
appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all
changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of
the claims are intended to be embraced therein.
* * * * *