Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd. Inc.

Wilson Sporting Goods Co.

Paul Terry

David Narajowski

David Mellon

Thomas Laakso

Brendan Perkins

Chad John Whittaker

Ben Walker

Jake Hall

Jacob Randy Hall

William D Severa

Ronald R Rocchi

Bill Belcourt

Donald G Loeffler

Paul Oddou

Nathan Miles Kuder

Benjamin Walker

Antoine Ballon

Jeremy Allen Saxton

Peter Thomas Gompert

Derek Gordon Gustafson

Thomas Zebulon Franke

Kathleen Marie Miller

David Schipper

Peter Wilkening

Thomas Laasko

Thomas Zebucon Franke

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a carrying system with an enclosure member and a shoulder attachment system. The shoulder attachment system includes a first and second shoulder strap individually coupled to the external surface of the enclosure member. The bottom ends of the first and second shoulder straps are intercoupled via a coupling member. The coupling member is slidably routed through a sleeve member within the internal region of the enclosure member. The sleeve member includes an internal channel having a cross-sectional shape that substantially matches the cross-sectional shape of the coupling member, thereby minimizing frictional resistance as the coupling member is translated through the sleeve member. The slidable intercoupling between the bottom ends of the first and second shoulder straps with respect to the enclosure member enables articulation of one shoulder strap to be balanced by corresponding articulation of the opposite shoulder strap.

Carrying device dual shoulder strap system

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a ski boot system including an upper shell, lower shell, and an articulation system. The upper and lower shell function to enable a user to move their encased foot in various dimensions/orientations corresponding to anatomical supination, pronation, dorsiflexion, and plantarflexion. The articulation system selectively affects the articulation freedom between the upper and lower shells in locked and unlocked configurations. The articulation system includes a lower shell coupler and an upper shell coupler coupled to the lower and upper shells, respectively. The locked configuration of the articulation system includes engaging the upper and lower shell couplers to restrict freedom between the upper and lower shell. The lower shell coupler is coupled within a recess in the lower shell that substantially restricts movement to a single orientation corresponding to coronal rotation.

Selectable boot articulation system

An automatically locking carabiner system including a frame, a gate, a gate biasing system, and a gate locking system. The frame and gate form a continuously enclosed inner region in a closed configuration with respect to the frame. When in an engaged state, the gate locking system is configured to automatically lock the gate in the closed configuration with respect to the frame. The gate locking system may include a trigger coupled to the frame such that the position of the trigger corresponds to the state of the gate locking system. The trigger may be positioned on an opposite side of the frame from the gate with respect to the inner region. The force required to disengage the gate locking system may be substantially opposite that which is required to transition the gate to the open configuration with respect to the frame.

Multi-chamber carabiner

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a user based carrying system capable of independent transportation of a load including a hip-based user attachment system. The carrying system includes an enclosure member having an internal region encased by an internal surface. A user attachment system releasably secures the carrying system to the user for independent transportation without requiring muscular engagement. The user attachment system includes a hip attachment system with a dorsal articulation member and a strap member. The dorsal articulation member includes a front and rear member three-dimensionally moveably coupled to one another. The rear member is coupled to the enclosure member and the front member is coupled to the strap member. The three-dimensional moveable coupling between the front and rear members includes three restricted degrees of freedom configured to efficiently absorb corresponding user hip movements and directly support other user hip movements.

Carrying device waist belt system

One embodiment of the present invention relates to an improved wire-gate carabiner system including a frame, gate, and gate biasing system. The gate is pivotably coupled to the frame across an opening to form a continuously enclosed inner region in a closed configuration. The gate may be referred to as a wire-type gate in that it includes an arch and two ends. The arch is looped over a hook disposed on the keyed region of the frame in the closed configuration. The two ends are pivotably coupled to the frame at two independent gate coupling points on the pivot region so as to utilize the torsional rigidity of the gate structure as the gate biasing system. The keyed region of the frame includes a hook and a cover. The cover is oriented and shaped to laterally shield the arch and hook from undesirable couplings.

Wire-gate carabiner

The present invention relates to carrying systems including packs and bags. One embodiment of the present invention is directed at a carrying system that includes a snow breathing apparatus. The system includes a carrying cavity, an attachment system, and a snow breathing apparatus. The carrying cavity is a partially enclosed region that is capable of storing items for transportation. The carrying cavity may further include a shell, a lid, a sealing system, a compression system, etc. The attachment system is coupled to an external surface of the carrying cavity to facilitate a removable coupling between the carrying cavity and a user. The attachment system may include two arm straps, a shoulder strap, a hip belt, a belt receiver, etc. The snow breathing apparatus is a device that enables breathing in a snow encapsulated breathing space in which breathing may otherwise be restricted. The snow breathing apparatus is coupled to the carrying cavity in a manner that prevents interference with carried items but maintains functionality of the breathing apparatus.

Carrying system with breathing apparatus

The present invention relates to a support system for use in relation to an articulation region of a boot. Embodiments of the present invention relate to a boot with a dorsal metatarsal articulation region that allows for articulation in the sagittal plane such as a telemark ski boot. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a telemark ski boot, including a shell, an articulation region, and an articulation support system. The articulation support system includes at least one tensile rigid region extending transversely between the proximal and distal sides of the articulation region. The tensile rigid region impedes rotation of the rear portion of the shell about the toe portion in a frontal plane. This form of rotation is often referred to as torsional rotation. The articulation support system may include one or more of a cable, an integrated shell portion, a material mesh, and/or other tensile rigid components which maintain bending flexibility. A second embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for increasing the torsional support characteristic of a telemark ski boot while maintaining the desired flexibility.

Boot articulation support system

The present invention relates to a ski binding that retains a boot to a ski in at least two independent operational states. One embodiment of a ski binding includes a toe receiving member and a releasable system. The toe receiving member is configured to engage the toe portion of the boot. The releasable system is configured to couple the toe receiving member to the ski in at least two independent operational states. A first state corresponds to a state in which the toe receiving member is allowed to freely rotate with respect to the ski. The first state is particularly useful in minimizing the necessary energy output for uphill travel. A second state corresponds to a state in which the toe receiving member is locked with respect to the ski. The second state is particularly useful in high performance downhill travel. The releasable system further includes an engagement mechanism and a switching mechanism. Additional states may also be included such as a third state in which both the toe receiving member and a heel portion of the boot are fixed with respect to the ski.

Binding system

Central side portions of a sports racquet

Throat portion of a sports racquet

Growing community of inventors

Park City, UT, United States of America

Paul Terry