Snowboard binding system and a snowboard step-in boot system with gradually increasing resistance

Abstract

One or more energy transfer or resistance elements are attached to a snowboard binding in order to provide gradually increasing resistance and improve performance. According to one embodiment, the resistance element can includes a housing containing a spring and an adjuster block. A bolt is passed through the spring and threaded into the adjuster block for setting a desired amount of tensioning. The angle of a highback is adjusted by a lean adjuster which is also threaded into the adjuster block. According to another embodiment, the resistance element is a strap having an expandable portion. In another embodiment, the strap is combined with the spring in order to provide energy transfer. In yet another embodiment, the resistance element includes a torsion spring. A step-in system as well as an after-market attachment are disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A snowboard binding system for a snowboard comprising 
 a snowboard binding; and    resistance means incorporated into the snowboard binding for enhancing a turning radius of the snowboard on heelside turns, absorbing chatter and shock, and increasing mobility.    
     
     
         2 . A resistance element used in conjuction with a snowboard binding comprising: 
 a housing;    a control spring placed within a first end of the housing;    an adjuster block placed within a second end of the housing in abutting relation with the control spring; and    a bolt passing through the control spring and threaded into a first end of the adjuster block.    
     
     
         3 . The resistance element according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a lean adjuster threaded into a second end of the adjuster block.    
     
     
         4 . A snowboard boot binding system comprising: 
 a base plate having first and second sidewalls;    a highback pivotally connected to the base plate; and    a first resistance element providing gradually increasing resistance and being connected between the base plate and the highback.    
     
     
         5 . A snowboard boot binding system according to  claim 4 , wherein the first resistance element includes a control spring.  
     
     
         6 . A snowboard boot binding system according to  claim 4 , wherein the first resistance element is a strap having an expandable portion made of an elastic material.  
     
     
         7 . A snowboard boot binding system according to  claim 4 , further comprising a second resistance element, wherein the first and second resistance elements are connected to the first and second sidewalls of the baseplate, respectively.  
     
     
         8 . A snowboard boot binding system according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and second resistance elements each have a control spring.  
     
     
         9 . A snowboard boot binding system according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and second resistance elements are straps having expandable portions made of an elastic material.  
     
     
         10 . A step-in boot incorporating the snowboard boot binding system of  claim 4 .  
     
     
         11 . A step-in boot incorporating the snowboard boot binding system of  claim 7 .  
     
     
         12 . A step-in boot incorporating the snowboard boot binding system of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         13 . A snowboard boot binding system according to  claim 4 , wherein the first resistance element comprises: 
 a housing;    a control spring placed within a first end of the housing;    an adjuster block placed within a second end of the housing in abutting relation with the control spring; and    a bolt passing through the control spring and threaded into a first end of the adjuster block.    
     
     
         14 . A snowboard boot binding system according to  claim 12 , wherein the first resistance element further comprises: 
 a lean adjuster threaded into a second end of the adjuster block.    
     
     
         15 . In combination with a snowboard having camber, side cuts and at least one heel edge and at least one toe edge on which turns can be made, the improvement comprising: 
 a snowboard binding system mounted on the snowboard into which the rider places his or her boots, the binding system including;    a pair of boot sole support members fixedly secured to the snowboard,    a pair of heel and leg support members, one hinged to each of the sole support members said heel and leg support members being movable through an angle or arc in relation to the snowboard and its respective sole support member;    energy absorbing means connected between each of the sole support members and the respective heel and leg support member for absorbing and transferring energy from the rider to the heel edge of the board as a heel turn is initiated and carried out, and then releasing at least a portion of said energy in the transition between the conclusion of the heel turn and the initiation of the toe turn,    so that chatter is reduced, and a longer turning arc and a tighter turning radius are possible, and so that the side cut and camber have additional time to recover when the snowboard skips or leaves the snow enabling the side cut and camber to reset and allowing completion of more aggressive turns with stability and control.    
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein said energy absorbing means is a spring.  
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein each said energy absorbing means comprises a spring means mounted on the back side of each of said heel and leg support means, and includes plunger means in cooperative engagement with said spring means and also in engagement with said sole support member.  
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein each said energy absorbing means comprises a pair of spring means mounted on said sole support means, one on either side of said heel and leg support means, said spring means being in cooperative engagement with said heel and leg support means.  
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 15 , which further comprises: 
 means for adjusting the angular position of said heel and leg support members with respect to said sole support member through an infinite number of positions, the move forward the adjusted position of said heel and leg support member the earlier the transfer and absorption of energy begins in said energy absorbing means as the transition is made from the toe edge to the heel edge of said snowboard.    
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 15 , in which: 
 each said sole support member includes an upstanding U-shaped member which wraps around the rear of said heel and leg support member, and    each said energy absorbing means is mounted on the rear of said heel and leg support means and includes a spring and a plunger, said plunger having one end in cooperative engagement with said spring and the other end in cooperative engagement with said upstanding U-shaped member.    
     
     
         21 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein each said sole support member includes upstanding, rearward portions on each side thereof, said portions being at least partially hollow, 
 each said heel and leg support member includes rearward protrusions on each side thereof, and    each said energy absorbing means comprises a pair of springs, one mounted in each of said rearward hollow portions of said sole support member, and a pair of plungers, one of said plungers having one end in cooperative engagement with one of said springs and the other end in cooperative engagement with one of said protrusions, and the other of said plungers have one end in cooperative engagement with the other of said springs and the other end in cooperative engagement with the other of said protrusions.    
     
     
         22 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein each said energy absorbing means includes spring means for absorbing and releasing energy, said spring means being non-linear so that it becomes firmer as it is deflected to store energy.  
     
     
         23 . A binding for use with a snowboard having a heel turn edge and a toe turn edge, said binding comprises: 
 a boot sole support member which can be fixedly secured to a snowboard;    a heel and leg support member hinged to the sole support member and movable through an angle or arc in relation to said sole support member; and    energy storage means connected between said sole support member and said heel and leg support member for absorbing and transferring energy to the heel edge of said board as a heel turn is initiated and carried out, and then releasing at least a portion of said energy in the transition between the conclusion of the heel turn and the initiation of a toe turn.    
     
     
         24 . A binding for use with a snowboard having a heel turn edge and a toe turn edge, said binding including a boot sole support member which can be fixedly secured to a snowboard, and a heel and leg support member hinged to said sole support member and movable through an angle or arc in relation to said sole support member, the improvement comprising: 
 energy storage means connected between said sole support member and said heel and leg support member for absorbing and transferring energy to the heel edge of said board as a heel turn is initiated and carried out, and then releasing at least a portion of said energy in the transition between the conclusion of the heel turn and the initiation of a toe turn.