Unitary strap for use in a soft boot snowboard binding
First Claim
1. An asymmetrical, unitary binding strap member for engaging a snowboarding boot, the snowboarding boot including a central longitudinal axis extending to a shin-to-toe direction, the unitary binding strap member comprising an ankle section, a toe section and a midsection connecting the ankle section to the toe section, each of the ankle section, the toe section and the midsection being configured and arranged to engage a portion of the snowboarding boot, the toe section and ankle section each having a midpoint in a lateral dimension, wherein the midpoint of the toe section is offset from the midpoint of the ankle section relative to a longitudinal axis of the binding strap member.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A binding strap for use in a soft boot snowboard binding is provided, the binding strap including a flexible, unitary binding member having an ankle section connected to a toe section by a midsection. The binding strap may be configured and dimensioned to preferably provide a rider with easy entry and exit from the strap. In addition, the shape and flexible nature of the binding makes it comfortable to use, while also allowing it to perform well by securely engaging the rider'"'"'s boot to the snowboard. The unitary construction allows the binding strap to move in an integrated manner, while the surface area of the binding strap reduces pressure points by distributing pressure exerted by the binding over a relatively large surface area of the boot, and hence foot, of the rider.
56 Citations
126 Claims
- 1. An asymmetrical, unitary binding strap member for engaging a snowboarding boot, the snowboarding boot including a central longitudinal axis extending to a shin-to-toe direction, the unitary binding strap member comprising an ankle section, a toe section and a midsection connecting the ankle section to the toe section, each of the ankle section, the toe section and the midsection being configured and arranged to engage a portion of the snowboarding boot, the toe section and ankle section each having a midpoint in a lateral dimension, wherein the midpoint of the toe section is offset from the midpoint of the ankle section relative to a longitudinal axis of the binding strap member.
-
17. A binding strap for securing a snowboarding boot to a binding, the binding strap comprising:
a unitary binding strap member having an ankle section positioned at one end thereof and a toe section positioned at an opposite end thereof, the unitary binding strap member being configured and arranged to engage the snowboarding boot, the unitary binding strap member including a pocket that is adapted to receive a mounting strap therein for securing the unitary binding strap member over the boot, the toe section and ankle section each having a midpoint in a lateral dimension, wherein the midpoint of the toe section is offset from the midpoint of the ankle section relative to a longitudinal axis of the binding strap member such that the unitary bending strap member is asymmetrical. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
27. A binding strap member for securing a snowboarding boot in a snowboard binding, the binding strap member having an outer periphery, the binding strap member comprising:
-
an ankle section including an upper edge on the outer periphery and a lower edge on the outer periphery, the ankle section having a width extending from the upper edge to the lower edge thereof, a toe section including an upper edge on the outer periphery and a lower edge on the outer periphery, the toe section having a width extending from the upper edge to the lower edge thereof, and a midsection joining the ankle section and the toe section, the midsection being configured and arranged to engage a top portion of the snowboarding boot when secured in the snowboard binding, the midsection including an outer edge on the outer periphery and an inner edge on the outer periphery, the outer and inner edges of the midsection interconnecting the lower edge of the ankle section to the toe section, wherein the midsection has a width extending from the outer edge to the inner edge thereof that is less than the width of one of the ankle section and the toe section. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. An asymmetrical binding strap member for securing a snowboarding boot in a snowboard binding, the snowboarding boot including a central longitudinal axis extending in a shin-to-toe direction, the binding strap member having an outer periphery, the binding strap member comprising:
-
an ankle section including an upper edge on the outer periphery and a lower edge on the outer periphery, the ankle section having a width extending from the upper edge to the lower edge thereof;
a toe section including an upper edge on the outer periphery and a lower edge on the outer periphery, the toe section having a width extending from the upper edge to the lower edge thereof, the toe section and ankle section each having a midpoint in a lateral dimension, wherein the midpoint of the toe section is offset from the midpoint of the ankle section relative to a longitudinal axis of the binding strap member; and
a midsection joining the ankle section and the toe section, the midsection being configured and arranged to engage a portion of the snowboarding boot when secured in the snowboard binding, the midsection including an outer edge on the outer periphery and an inner edge on the outer periphery, the outer and inner edges of the midsection interconnecting the lower edge of the ankle section to the toe section, wherein the midsection has a width extending from the outer edge to the inner edge thereof that is less than the width of one of the ankle section and the toe section. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
-
-
39. A unitary binding strap member for securing a snowboarding boot in a snowboard binding in one of a plurality of secured positions, the binding strap member comprising:
-
an ankle section having upper and lower edges;
a toe section having an upper edge; and
a midsection joining the ankle section and the toe section, the midsection including an inner edge interconnecting the lower edge of the ankle section to the upper edge of the toe section, thereby defining a medial opening between the ankle and toe sections that is configured to overlie a portion of an instep on a medial side of the snowboarding boot, wherein the midsection is constructed and arranged to provide the medial opening with a variable radius of curvature, thereby allowing the ankle section to move relative to the toe section to accommodate any one of the plurality of secured positions, wherein the midsection further comprises an outer edge interconnecting the lower edge of the ankle section to an outer side of the toe section, thereby defining an outer edge of the binding strap member, with the outer edge of the binding strap member being inwardly sloping from the ankle section to the toe section. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
-
-
47. An asymmetrical, unitary binding strap member comprising:
-
an ankle section having a lateral edge and a medial edge, the ankle section extending in a lateral-medial direction between the lateral edges and the medial edge, the ankle section being configured and arranged to engage a portion of a snowboard boot;
a toe section having a lateral edge, a medial edge and a toe section midpoint substantially midway therebetween, the toe section being configured and arranged to engage a portion of the snowboard boot; and
,a midsection having a lateral edge, a medial edge and a midsection midpoint substantially midway therebetween, the midsection connecting the ankle section to the toe section, the midsection being configured and arranged to engage a portion of the snowboard boot;
wherein, in the lateral-medial direction, at least one of the toe section midpoint and the midsection midpoint is located closer to one of the lateral edge and the medial edge of the ankle section. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
-
-
74. An asymmetrical, unitary binding strap member for engaging a snowboard boot, the snowboard boot having an imaginary line extending along the front surface thereof in a shin-to-toe direction and being disposed approximately midway between medial and lateral sides of the snowboard boot, the unitary binding strap member comprising:
-
an ankle section having a lateral edge, a medial edge and an ankle section midpoint substantially midway therebetween, the ankle section being configured and arranged to engage a portion of the snowboard boot;
a toe section having a lateral edge, a medial edge and a toe section midpoint substantially midway therebetween, the toe section being configured and arranged to engage a portion of the snowboard boot; and
,a midsection having a lateral edge, a medial edge and a midsection midpoint substantially midway therebetween, the midsection connecting the ankle section to the toe section, the midsection being configured and arranged to engage a portion of the snowboard boot;
wherein, when the binding strap member is tightened about the snowboard boot, a distance separating the imaginary line of the snowboard boot and at least one of the ankle section midpoint, the midsection midpoint and the toe section midpoint is different from a distance separating the imaginary line of the snowboard boot and another of the ankle section midpoint, the midsection midpoint and the toe section midpoint. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100)
-
-
101. An asymmetrical, unitary binding strap member for engaging a snowboard boot, the snowboard boot adapted to secure a rider'"'"'s foot therein, the rider'"'"'s foot having a first metatarsal from which the rider'"'"'s big toe extends and a third metatarsal from which the rider'"'"'s third toe extends, the unitary binding strap member comprising:
-
an ankle section disposed at one end of the binding strap member and configured and arranged to engage a portion of the snowboard boot;
a toe section disposed at another end of the binding strap member and configured and arranged to engage a portion of the snowboard boot, the toe section including a medial side edge that is to be disposed approximately over the rider'"'"'s first metatarsal and a lateral side edge that is to be disposed approximately over the rider'"'"'s third metatarsal when the rider'"'"'s foot is in the snowboard boot and when the unitary binding strap member engages the snowboard boot; and
,a midsection connecting the ankle section to the toe section and configured and arranged to engage a portion of the snowboard boot. - View Dependent Claims (102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126)
-
Specification