Remote release snowboard binding

Abstract

In one example, a snowboard binding includes a retention and release assembly configured to be mounted to a snowboard, and including a manually operable retention mechanism. The snowboard binding further includes a boot interface portion configured to releasably engage the retention and release assembly, and the boot interface portion further configured to releasably retain a boot, and when the boot interface portion is fully engaged with the retention and release assembly, the boot interface portion is rotatable relative to the retention and release assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A snowboard binding, comprising:
 a retention and release assembly configured to be mounted to a snowboard, and including a manually operable retention mechanism; and   a boot interface portion configured to releasably engage the retention and release assembly, and the boot interface portion further configured to releasably retain a boot, and when the boot interface portion is fully engaged with the retention and release assembly, the boot interface portion is rotatable relative to the retention and release assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The snowboard binding as recited in  claim 1 , wherein when the boot interface portion is fully engaged with the retention and release assembly, the boot interface portion is rotatable between (i) a locked position in which the boot interface portion is locked to the retention and release assembly and (ii) an unlocked position in which the boot interface portion is unlocked from the retention and release assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The snowboard binding as recited in  claim 2 , wherein one of the retention and release assembly and the boot interface portion comprises a pin that is configured to be removably received in a bore defined by the other of the retention and release assembly and the boot interface portion, and when the boot interface portion is in the locked position, the pin is positioned in the bore, and when the boot interface portion is in the unlocked position, the pin is not positioned in the bore. 
     
     
         4 . The snowboard binding as recited in  3 , wherein the pin is an element of the boot interface portion, and the bore is defined by the retention and release assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The snowboard binding as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the retention and release assembly is configured to be mounted to a channel mount system of a snowboard. 
     
     
         6 . The snowboard binding as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the boot interface portion is lockable to the retention and release assembly by the retention mechanism such that the boot interface portion is prevented from rotational motion or translational motion relative to the retention and release assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The snowboard binding as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the boot interface portion is configured for both rotational motion and translational motion relative to the retention and release assembly when the boot interface portion is fully engaged with the retention and release assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The snowboard binding as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the boot interface portion defines an undercut having a triangular cross section, and the retention and release assembly comprises a flange having a triangular cross section, and the undercut and flange are configured to releasably engage each other. 
     
     
         9 . The snowboard binding as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the undercut is laid out in a U-shape. 
     
     
         10 . The snowboard binding as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the retention mechanism is biased into a locked position with respect to the boot interface portion. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a snow sport device; and   a binding, comprising:
 a retention and release assembly configured to be mounted to a snowboard, and including a manually operable retention mechanism; and 
 a boot interface portion configured to releasably engage the retention and release assembly, and the boot interface portion further configured to releasably retain a boot, and when the boot interface portion is fully engaged with the retention and release assembly, the boot interface portion is rotatable relative to the retention and release assembly. 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the snow sport device comprises a snowboard. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the snow sport device is a snowboard that includes a channel mount system, and the retention and release assembly is configured to connect to the channel mount system. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the boot interface portion is configured for both rotational motion and translational motion relative to the retention and release assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein one of the retention and release assembly and boot interface portion comprises a pin that is configured to be removably received in a bore defined by the other of the retention and release assembly and boot interface portion. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the retention mechanism is biased into a locked position with respect to the boot interface portion. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein when the boot interface portion is fully engaged with the retention and release assembly, the boot interface portion is rotatable between (i) a locked position in which the boot interface portion is locked to the retention and release assembly and (ii) an unlocked position in which the boot interface portion is unlocked from the retention and release assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the boot interface portion defines an undercut having a triangular cross section, and the retention and release assembly comprises a flange having a triangular cross section, and the undercut and flange are configured to releasably engage each other. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the boot interface portion is lockable to the retention and release assembly by the retention mechanism such that the boot interface portion is prevented from rotational motion or translational motion relative to the retention and release assembly.