Patent ID: 7661207
Filing Date: 2010-02-16
Classification: A63C

Abstract:
1. A binding that firmly grips a user's boot to retain the boot in the binding without the need for a heel strap, for a snowshoe or other outdoor terrain-engaging implement, comprising: a binding footbed with a foot bearing area for receiving the toe or ball of the foot area of a user's boot, a foot strap passing over the boot near the ball of the foot area, a footbed portion with a rear bearing area for receiving a region of the user's boot rear of a maximum width of the boot, a rear strap secured to the footbed at or near the rear bearing area and passing over the boot generally forward of the arch area for connection back to the footbed generally at the rear bearing area, and a boot sole clamp connected to the footbed generally at the rear bearing area, positioned to laterally engage the boot at inner and outer sides of the sole where the sole is narrower than in the ball of the foot area, to laterally clamp the boot sole from said inner and outer opposed sides of the sole, to the extent that the binding firmly engages the user's boot with opposed lateral clamping forces to lock the boot in place so that the boot will not pull back out of the binding.