The Burton Corporation

Christian Breuer

G Scott Barbieri

Hubert Schaller

James D Laughlin

Jake Burton Carpenter

Graham Scott Taylor

Franklin S Phillips

Hubert M Schaller

A snowboard binding mechanism for securing a snowboard boot to a snowboard includes at least one moveable engagement member having an open position and at least one closed position. When in the closed position, the engagement member is biased toward the open position. As a result, when a snowboard boot is not disposed in the binding mechanism, the binding mechanism automatically moves to the open position. The engagement member may also function to compensate for snow, ice or debris accumulated beneath the boot. A single handle may be operatively connected to the engagement members to facilitate ease of removal of the snowboard boot from the binding by simply requiring actuation of the single handle to unlock the binding. A separate foot pedal may be operably coupled to the engagement member and is also employed to unlock the binding. The binding mechanism may also include a cocking feature that unlocks the binding mechanism without also causing the engagement members to move to open positions. A non-metallic heel hoop may be adjustably mounted to the base of a binding for movement in a forward and rearward direction relative to the base. The heel hoop is mounted at a location on the base such that no portion of the heel hoop extends forward of the engagement member. The heel hoop may also include a base portion that is adapted to at least partially underlie the sole of the boot when the boot is held within the binding.

Snowboard binding

A method and system for mounting a binding to a gliding board. In one embodiment, a single row of attachment features, e.g., threaded inserts, may be used to mount a foot binding to the gliding board. The attachment features may be equally spaced along the row, e.g., at 25 mm increments. In one embodiment, a binding includes a hold down plate that may be attached to the gliding board using only two fasteners, e.g., each fastener engaging with an attachment feature on the board, or using only fasteners that lie along a longitudinal line on the gliding board.

Binding mounting method and apparatus

A spacer for a sliding device connects a deck to a runner. The spacer may allow relative rotation, pivoting and/or sliding of the deck and the runner. The sliding, pivoting and/or rotating may reduce the stresses experienced at the attachment points of the spacer and the deck or the spacer and the runner. The spacer arrangement may also provide a sliding device with a smoother ride.

Sliding device

A fastening assembly and method for fastening a strap, such as a snowboard binding strap. A fastener may have guide members to facilitate the introduction of an engagement member with the fastener. The fastener may be attached to a strap to allow physical manipulation of the fastener, e.g., for alignment of the fastener with an engagement member, without requiring substantial movement of the strap.

Fastening assembly and method for securing footwear to a binding

A system is provided for mounting a boot to an article for gliding, for example a snowboard. The system includes a boot having a binding engagement assembly with at least one aperture, and a locking component supported by a binding. The aperture and the locking component are disposed at an angle relative to each other, with the angle being variable so as to adjust the size of the aperture relative to the locking component. In a first, non-secured position, the angle between the locking component and the aperture is such that the size of the aperture relative to the locking component is sufficient to allow the locking component to be slidably received within the aperture. In a second, engaged position the angle between the locking component and the aperture is such that the size of the aperture relative to the locking component produces a fit therebetween sufficient to secure the locking component to the binding engagement assembly. During riding, the angle between the aperture and the locking component may vary without adversely affecting the security of the binding. The boot may be disengaged from the binding by changing the angle between the aperture and the locking component until the size of the aperture relative to the locking component is sufficient so as to allow the locking component to be withdrawn from the binding engagement assembly to release the boot. The system may further include a second locking component supported by the binding for securing a second engagement member supported by the boot. The first and second locking components may be utilized separately, or together to releasably secure the boot to the binding.

Binding system for an article used to glide on snow

A boot is provided for engagement with a binding mounted to an article for gliding on snow. The boot includes a boot body having a toe portion, a heel portion and a lower region, and has a length extending in a toe-to-heel direction. A first member is supported by the boot body and is moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. In the extended position, the first member includes a contact portion extending beyond the boot body for releasably engaging a portion of the binding. The length of the boot with the first member in the extended position is greater than the length of the boot with the first member in the retracted position. The first member may extend beyond the toe portion of the boot body in the extended position, or may extend beyond the heel portion. In the extended position, the first member may be engageable with a bail portion of the binding. The boot may also include a second member supported by the boot body and moveable between an extended position and a retracted position such that the second member also includes a contact portion extending beyond the boot body for releasably engaging a portion of the binding in its extended position. The length of the boot with the second member in the extended position is greater than the length of the boot with the second member in the retracted position. The second member may also extend from either the toe portion or the heel portion of the boot body and may be moveable independent of the first member.

Growing community of inventors

Botzingen, Germany

Christian Breuer