Binding with quick boot locking action particularly for snowboards

• US 6,116,636 A
• Filed: 10/16/1997
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Twinex S.R.L.
• Original Assignee: Twinex S.R.L.
• Inventors: Bianchi Bazzi, Giuseppe
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YEAGLEY, DANIEL S
• Application Number:
  US08/951,372
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 280/14.2, 280/617, 280/618, 280/623, 280/624, 280/625, 280/681, 280/632, 280/635
• US Class Current: 280/624
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 10/10 using parts which are fixed on the shoe, e.g. means to facilitate step-in
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 10/103 on the sides of the shoe

Abstract

A binding with quick boot locking action, particularly for snowboards, having a plate with a circular opening for engaging a disk for fixing to a snowboard. The binding is further provided, on the plate, with a quick coupling device acting laterally with respect to a counterplate which can be fixed to the sole of a boot and can be activated with an oscillation along an axis which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension of the sole.

Claims

1. A binding with quick locking action, for securing a boot with a sole on a snowboard, the binding comprising:

a base plate with a circular opening;

a disk for fixing to a snowboard engageable in said circular opening;

a counterplate which is fixable to the boot sole;

a quick coupling means comprising a locking pawl, a support having a base and side walls and a quick coupling actuation lever having sides, wherein said quick coupling actuation lever sides have elongated slots for engaging a pin which is supported in a median portion of the locking pawl, said locking pawl being pivoted to said side walls of said support and having a pawl shaped tooth being insertable above said counterplate in a region delimited by a protection flap protruding at a lateral edge of said counterplate from a plane formed by said counterplate;

an abutment arranged laterally on said base plate for releasably engaging a first side of said counterplate;

said quick coupling actuation lever pivotally arranged laterally on said base plate diametrically opposite said abutment with respect to said circular opening of said base plate for releasably engaging a second side of said counterplate;

a pair of mutually distally arranged frustum-shaped centering protrusions of said abutment each having a pair of sides which converge in a direction extending towards the inside of said base plate and parallel to said diametrically opposite direction;

a first pair of mutually distally arranged frustum-shaped centering seats formed at said first side of said counterplate and shaped correspondingly to said pair of frustum-shaped centering protrusions;

a pair of mutually distally arranged frustum-shaped insertion ends of said quick coupling actuation lever each having a pair of sides which converge in a direction extending towards the inside of said base plate and parallel to said diametrically opposite direction;

a second pair of mutually distally arranged frustum-shaped centering seats formed at said second side of said counterplate and shaped correspondingly to said pair of frustum-shaped insertion ends;

whereby in a locking position of the binding said pair of centering protrusions engage in said first pair of centering seats, and said pair of insertion ends engage in said second pair of centering seats, for generating lateral compression on said counterplate for eliminating coupling plays.

2. A binding according to claim 1, further comprising:

a complementary counterplate which is insertable in said boot;

rotation-preventing recesses formed on said complementary counterplate;

bushes provided with engagement flanges; and

screws which pass through holes formed on said counterplate, for engaging said bushes with said rotation-prevention recesses engaging said flanges.

3. A binding according to claim 1, wherein said counterplate is provided with holes for fixing to said sole, said holes being arranged in a quadrilateral pattern on said counterplate in order to distribute occurring stresses.

4. A binding according to claim 3, wherein said counterplate has, at lateral edges thereof, protection flaps, said protection flaps protruding from a plane formed by said counterplate.

5. A binding according to claim 1, wherein said abutment and said quick coupling means is in a diametrical position with respect to said circular opening.

6. A binding according to claim 5, further comprising a fairing which is arranged so as to cover the quick coupling means supported by said support.

7. A binding according to claim 5, wherein said abutment comprises a secondary plate which is fixable to said base plate through adjusting means for distance adjustment with respect to said support.

8. A binding according to claim 5, wherein said quick coupling means comprises:

said side walls protruding from said base of said support;

said quick coupling actuation lever being pivoted to said side walls;

a locking pawl kinematically connected to said quick coupling actuation lever, and

a locking lever acting on said locking pawl.

9. A binding according to claim 8, wherein said quick coupling actuation lever comprises:

lateral protrusions protruding from said sides of said quick coupling actuation lever;

a cross-member joining said lever sides; and

pusher springs acting between said cross-member and said base of the support.

10. A binding according to claim 9, wherein said lateral protrusions of said quick coupling actuation lever have, at free ends thereof, said insertion ends.

11. A binding according to claim 10, wherein said locking pawl has:

on an opposite side with respect to said pawl-shaped tooth, a tooth-shaped protrusion which forms an abutment portion, said abutment portion being directed upwards; and

an inclined blending portion which is directed towards a pivoting point of said locking pawl, said locking lever acting at said tooth-shaped protrusion.

12. A binding according to claim 11, wherein said locking lever is pivoted to said side walls of said support and has a locking tooth, said locking tooth being coupleable to said abutment portion of said locking pawl, when the quick coupling means are in an open position, and with said inclined blending portion, when the quick coupling means are in the locking position.

13. A binding according to claim 12, wherein said locking lever has lateral tabs and locking springs, said locking springs acting between said lateral tabs and said base of said support.

14. A binding according to claim 13, said quick coupling means further comprising:

a safety lever located inside said locking lever, said safety lever being pivoted in a median portion thereof to side walls of said locking lever;

a button-shaped portion provided at a first end of said safety lever, said button-shaped portion protruding through an opening formed on an actuation end of said locking lever;

a toothed end provided at a second end of said safety lever; and

wedge abutment rigidly associated with said support, said toothed end being detachably coupled against said wedge abutment, and a contrast spring acting between said button-shaped portion and said locking lever.