Systems and methods for managing a retaining strap for a snowboard binding

Abstract

An improved supplemental binding attachment scheme involving an extended strap and customizing tool enables customizing of a strapped article of leisure wear. The customizing tool may take the form of a stud, or any number of personalized shapes, including characters, strings, logos, icons and anything that attaches to show that any article belongs to a user. Kits, straps, and software-based instructions are likewise included in the present disclosure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for preventing a strap of athletic equipment from becoming detached from a receptor piece, the device comprising:
 an end cap configured to securely attach to a distal end of a male strap, the male strap having been fed through a female receptor piece; and   a screw connecting the end cap to the male strap,   wherein the end cap prevents the male strap from disengaging with the female receptor piece and removably couples the distal end of the male strap with the athletic equipment.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the male strap and female receptor piece are part of a piece of sports and leisure equipment selected from the group of snowboard bindings, ski boots, moto-cross boots, helmets, wake board bindings, backpacks, fanny packs, luggage, climbing gear, and sweatshirts having strings. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the end cap removably couples the distal end of the male strap with the athletic equipment using magnets. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the end cap comprises at least one of a personalized shape, a character, an icon, an emblem, and a figurine. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the athletic equipment forms a channel to receive the distal end of the male strap when in a closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pulley system disposed within the athletic equipment, the pulley system comprising a first wire coupled to the male strap and terminating into a first handle accessible on an exterior portion of the athletic equipment, a second wire coupled to the female receptor piece and terminating into a second handle accessible on the exterior portion. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein pulling at least one of the first and the second handle causes the male strap and the female receptor piece to be in a first position. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , further comprising a motor system coupled to the first handle and the second handle that automatically causes the male strap and the female receptor piece to be in a first position. 
     
     
         9 . A snowboarding binding assembly comprising:
 a baseplate;   a high-back rotatably coupled to the baseplate and forming receiving cavity for a snowboarding boot;   an elongated male strap fixedly attached at a first end to a first side of at least one of the high-back and the baseplate;   a female receptor piece fixedly attached at a second side opposite than the first side of at least one of the high-back and the baseplate, and configured to receive the male strap; and   an end cap configured to securely attach to a distal end being opposite of the first end of the elongated male strap, the elongated male strap having been fed through the female receptor piece;   wherein the end cap prevents the male strap from disengaging with the female receptor piece and removably couples the distal end of the male strap to an outer portion of the female receptor piece.   
     
     
         10 . The snowboarding binding assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the end cap removably couples the distal end of the male strap with the outer portion of the female receptor piece using magnets. 
     
     
         11 . The snowboarding binding assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the end cap comprises at least one of a personalized shape, a character, an icon, an emblem, and a figurine. 
     
     
         12 . The snowboarding binding assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the female receptor piece forms a channel on the outer portion to receive the distal end of the male strap when in a closed position. 
     
     
         13 . The snowboarding binding assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a pulley system disposed within the high-back, the pulley system comprising a first wire coupled to the male strap and terminating into a first handle accessible on an exterior portion of the high-back, a second wire coupled to the female receptor piece and terminating into a second handle accessible on the exterior portion. 
     
     
         14 . The snowboarding binding assembly of  claim 13 , wherein pulling at least one of the first and the second handle causes the male strap and the female receptor piece to be in a first position. 
     
     
         15 . The snowboarding binding assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a motor system coupled to the first handle and the second handle that automatically causes the male strap and the female receptor piece to be in a first position.