Binding system for a sports apparatus and a sports apparatus having such a system

Abstract

A system for binding a boot on a support surface of a sports apparatus, of the type in which the binding system includes a rear binding. The binding system is provided with a front binding in the form of a hook that is affixed to the sports apparatus and which demarcates a notch open longitudinally rearwardly and transversely on both sides to receive a front transverse rod of the boot. The rear binding longitudinally immobilizes the boot in a position such that the transverse rod of the boot is maintained within the notch.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for binding a boot on a support surface of a sports apparatus, said system comprising: 
 a front binding comprising a hook, said hook being configured and arranged to be affixed to the sports apparatus and demarcating a notch open longitudinally rearwardly and transversely on opposite lateral sides to receive a front transverse rod of the boot; and    a rear binding to longitudinally immobilize the boot in a position to maintain the transverse rod of the boot within the notch.    
     
     
         2 . A binding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the boot is vertically blocked when its transverse front rod is maintained within the notch.  
     
     
         3 . A binding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the rear binding comprises a rear abutment and a tightening device that tightens the boot downward against a rear support surface of the sports apparatus, and longitudinally rearward against the rear abutment.  
     
     
         4 . A binding system according to  claim 1 , wherein, when the transverse rod of the boot is pushed longitudinally toward a forward end of the notch, the boot is pressed downward against a front support surface of the sports apparatus.  
     
     
         5 . A binding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the hook comprises guiding means that cooperate with the boot to block it transversely.  
     
     
         6 . A binding system according to  claim 5 , wherein the transverse rod of the boot extends between two opposite longitudinal vertical walls, wherein the hook has a transverse width substantially equal to the transverse spacing of the two walls, and wherein, when the transverse rod is received in the notch, the hook cooperates with the two opposite walls of the boot to block it transversely.  
     
     
         7 . A binding system according to  claim 6 , wherein the hook is transversely received between the two opposite walls of the boot.  
     
     
         8 . A binding system according to  claim 7 , wherein the hook is chamfered to facilitate its longitudinal engagement between the two opposite walls of the boot.  
     
     
         9 . A binding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the hook comprises a front wall that is mounted at the front end of the front support surface of the sports apparatus, and two teeth that extend longitudinally rearward from the front wall, the notch being vertically demarcated between the support surface of the sports apparatus and the teeth of the hook, and the end of the notch being formed by the front wall of the hook.  
     
     
         10 . A binding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the hook is detachably mounted on the sports apparatus, and wherein the sports apparatus comprises means for enabling the mounting of a universal front binding device including a front abutment and a tightening device capable of tightening a boot downward against a front support surface of the sports apparatus.  
     
     
         11 . A binding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the hook comprises a base that extends beneath the front support surface of the sports apparatus and which is tightly mounted between the front support surface of the sports apparatus and a crampon that is fixed beneath the front support surface.  
     
     
         12 . A binding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the support surfaces of the sports apparatus are formed on a plate that is journalled about a general axis substantially transverse in relation to a load-bearing frame of the sports apparatus, and wherein the front and rear binding devices are mounted on the journalled plate.  
     
     
         13 . A binding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sports apparatus is a snowshoe.  
     
     
         14 . A sports apparatus in combination with a binding system for binding a boot to be supported on a support surface of the sports apparatus, said binding system comprising: 
 a front binding comprising a hook, said hook being configured and arranged to be affixed to the sports apparatus and demarcating a notch open longitudinally rearwardly and transversely on opposite lateral sides to receive a front transverse rod of the boot; and    a rear binding to longitudinally immobilize the boot in a position to maintain the transverse rod of the boot within the notch.    
     
     
         15 . A sports apparatus in combination with a binding system according to  claim 14 , wherein said sports apparatus comprises a snowshoe.  
     
     
         16 . A snowshoe comprising: 
 a binding system for binding a boot to a support surface of the snowshoe, said binding system comprising: 
 a front binding comprising a hook, said hook being configured and arranged to be affixed to the sports apparatus and demarcating a notch open longitudinally rearwardly and transversely on opposite lateral sides to receive a front transverse rod of the boot; and  
 a rear binding to longitudinally immobilize the boot in a position to maintain the transverse rod of the boot within the notch.