Snowboard binding

The snowboard binding having a sole part integrated in the snowboard boot and a first binding element cooperating with it and continuously connected to the snowboard. The sole part has two spring-loaded pins projecting laterally out of the sole part and capable of engaging with an opening of the first binding element. The pins can be retracted with a device attached to the snowboard boot and thus the binding can be opened.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention pertains to a snowboard binding for use by a snowboarder for 
releasably binding a snowboard boot to a snowboard. 
One type of snowboard binding was exhibited at an ISPO trade fair in 
Munich, Germany on Feb. 24, 1994 and subsequently described in DE 
4,311,630 A1. This binding had a front stirrup rigidly connected to the 
snowboard which reached over the front part of the boot sole and thus held 
it in place. A pin running transversely to the boot's longitudinal axis 
was inserted through the heel-side part of the boot sole and projected 
about 5-10 mm from the boot sole at both sides. A heel element to be 
screwed firmly in place on the snowboard consisted of two lateral cheeks 
running parallel and projecting vertically from the snowboard surface; 
these had a vertically oriented slot, into which the part of the pin 
projecting out of the shoe could be introduced. A catch device on the 
lateral cheeks had the form of a hook which was pushed back during 
introduction of the pins into the slots and thus opened them, while with 
the pin parts completely housed in the slots it snapped into locking 
position and thus engaged the pins. In order to open the binding, a lever 
on one of the lateral cheeks had to be operated, by which means the 
stirrups could be moved into the opening position and the heel part of the 
shoe could be moved from the binding. 
AT 351,419 shows a ski binding with a shell nearly completely encompassing 
the skier's boot that can be folded open and is fastened tightly to the 
surface of the ski. A shell part covering the front part of the foot and 
one covering the front side of the shin are articulated to pivot at the 
front toe of the shell and can be pivoted between an opening or insertion 
position and a closed position. In the closed position the two 
aforementioned shell parts are locked in place by spring-loaded catch pins 
on the stationary shell parts. The spring-loaded bolts can be brought into 
an unlocked position by cables in order to allow a release in case of 
excessive stress or an opening for stepping out. In the latter case, the 
skier can operate the cables by a lever housed on the stationary shell 
part. This is thus a shell binding which is intended to allow the use of 
very soft and therefore comfortable ski boots. 
DE 2,556,817 A1 shows a ski binding with a binding plate that is attached 
by spring-loaded cables to the surface of the ski. When a release force is 
exceeded, this plate can be removed a distance preset by the length of the 
cables from the surface of the ski. A recess is provided for this plate in 
the sole of the ski boot. A catch mechanism is present in the interior of 
the plate and allows the locking of the plate in the recess of the ski 
boot sole. In case of a release of the binding due to excessive force, 
therefore, the boot is released from the ski together with the plate. For 
opening, that is, stepping out, the boot must be detached from the plate. 
An unlocking mechanism that can be operated by the skier either manually 
or with a ski pole is provided on the plate for this purpose. 
Another so-called "step-in" binding, in which a skier need not operate any 
locking elements when stepping into the binding, is described in DE 
4,106,401 A1. The boot is held by two ordinary stirrups, a front and a 
heel stirrup. The heel stirrup, however, is articulated to a tread element 
which is in turn attached so as to be able to pivot to connection elements 
that are tightly connected to the snowboard. Herein is also attached a 
locking mechanism which grips the tread element when it is pressed 
completely down and holds it locked in position. In order to open the 
binding the skier must bend down and operate this locking mechanism by 
hand in order to open it. If there is snow or ice beneath the shoe sole, a 
locking of the tread element is not assured, since this snow or ice would 
make contact with the binding, before the tread element was pushed all the 
way down. Thus this binding is only functional to a limited extent. 
DE 2,511,332 A1 shows a ski binding in which part of the binding is 
likewise integrated into the heel of the ski boot. Two spring-loaded 
spherical-head bolts project laterally from the heel part of the boot sole 
and engage in matching recesses rigidly attached to the ski at the sides. 
This is a self-releasing safety binding which opens when a predetermined 
force is exceeded. This force is determined by the springs pushing the two 
bolts outward as well as by the shape of the spherical heads of these 
bolts and by the shape of the recesses for these spherical heads. 
The regular opening of the binding is done at the front jaw holding the toe 
of the boot, while the heel attachment can only be overcome by tipping the 
foot to overcome the spring force. For emergencies in which the skier 
might be injured, it is also provided that the elements housing the bolts 
can be rotated so that a groove located in them allows the boot to be 
pulled up and out of the binding. 
DE 2,200,056 A1 describes an additional release binding for skies. There 
too is provided a bolt pushed transversely through the boot sole; it 
engages with a hook-shaped, spring-loaded locking element. The entire 
locking element is pushed backward in the axial direction of the ski to 
open the binding; this is accomplished by operating a lever mounted on the 
ski. 
DE 3,141,425 A1 shows a safety binding for skis in which spring-loaded pins 
are attached to the boot and matching receptacle devices are attached to 
the ski. Here too, a mechanism fastened to the ski is operated to open the 
binding. 
Finally, DE 2,809,018 A1 shows a ski binding system consisting of ski boot 
and releasing binding elements, with a plate that projects beyond the boot 
incorporated into the sole or providing two bolts, somewhat separated, and 
pivoting hooks on the ski that grip laterally over this plate or the two 
bolts. 
For snowboard bindings, many participants have long desired a so-called 
step-in binding, that is, a binding one could simply step into like a ski 
binding, without the snowboarder having to bend down to operate parts of 
the binding, such as locking stirrups. On the other hand, safety bindings 
that would permit complete release of the shoe from the snowboard in case 
of excessive force applied are still problematic for snowboards, since the 
resulting safety problems for participants and bystanders have not yet 
been satisfactorily solved, despite numerous proposals. Finally, the very 
serious problem of space also comes up in regard to snowboard bindings. 
The snowboarder is standing essentially transverse to the travel direction 
of the board, which means in practice that the angle between shoe 
longitudinal axis and snowboard longitudinal axis is between 45.degree. 
and 90.degree., with some snowboarders even orienting their rear foot 
backwards, that is, at an angle of greater than 90.degree. with respect to 
the direction of travel. Since snowboards, particularly the so-called 
alpine boards for snowboarders on prepared slopes, are becoming narrower 
and narrower, the toe of the boot and the heel of the ski boot are already 
projecting out over the contour of the snowboard. The principle can 
therefore be established that a snowboard binding must not project beyond 
the toe or heel of the boot, since this could lead to projecting binding 
parts touching the snow when the board is turned on edge. For this reason, 
conventional ski bindings that have the step-in function are not suitable 
for snowboards. 
The initially mentioned step-in binding for snowboards, publicly announced 
at the ISPO fair in February 1994, avoids these disadvantages. Its comfort 
of use leaves something to be desired, however, since the snowboarder must 
bend over to open the binding in order to operate a release lever 
connected directly to the board's surface. The design of this release 
lever is also rather elaborate technically, and it tends to raise the 
weight. This runs contrary to the trend towards snowboards and snowboard 
bindings that are as light as possible. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the invention, therefore, to provide an improved prior 
snowboard binding that increases the comfort of the binding and which 
meets the requirements for light weight, functional security and costs as 
low as possible. 
Briefly, therefore, the invention is directed to a snowboard binding for 
releasably binding a snowboard boot to a snowboard for use by a 
snowboarder, the snowboard having an upper surface to which the snowboard 
boot is bound, the snowboard boot having an upper, a toe, a sole, and a 
heel attached to the sole. The snowboard binding has a first binding 
element to be firmly connected to the snowboard, a second binding element 
to be firmly connected to the snowboard boot and extending on both sides 
of the boot sole, the second binding element being lockable to the first 
binding element via a connection. The binding also has an unlocking device 
associated with the snowboard boot for loosening the connection between 
the two binding elements, the unlocking device being operable manually by 
an operating element associated with the snowboard boot. 
Additional objects and features of the invention will be in part apparent 
and in part pointed out hereinafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
An aspect of the invention lies in moving essential parts of the binding 
and especially the locking device into the snowboard boots, which not only 
enhances comfort when stepping out of the binding, so that the snowboarder 
need no longer bend when stepping out of the binding, but also achieves 
the stated advantages. The binding parts to be fastened to the snowboard 
are light and insensitive to icing. The more expensive locking elements, 
also more subject to icing, are located inside the boot or boot sole and 
are therefore better protected against icing and can thus be combined with 
other snowboards that use the same binding parts. An aspect of the 
invention lies in the fact that not only stepping into but also stepping 
out of the binding is considerably eased, so that a so-called "step-out" 
function is achieved. Finally, it must also be emphasized that, after 
opening, the binding automatically returns to its initial position and is 
ready to be stepped into again without any active effort on the 
snowboarders part. This initial position is synonymous with the closed 
position, that is to say, the locking elements have the same rest position 
in a completely open and a completely closed binding. Thus it is 
impossible for the locking device to remain in a position, due to ice, 
perhaps, in which the binding might open inadvertently. 
Although the invention is described in most embodiment examples (except 
FIG. 7) in connection with the use of a front stirrup, it should be 
pointed out that in all embodiment examples the invention can also operate 
without such a front stirrup. In this case the shoe-side binding part, as 
described in greater detail in conjunction with FIG. 14, is mounted 
roughly in the middle of the shoe and it is assured with base blocks that 
the tip of the sole and the heel are positioned at the correct height with 
regard to the snowboard surface. In this case, it is also possible to omit 
a binding base plate. However, if it is desired that the fastening of the 
snowboard-side binding part to the snowboard should be more changeable, 
for instance, for adjusting the step size between the two bindings and/or 
the angle of rotation of the binding in regard to the longitudinal axis of 
the snowboard, then a base plate may be used in this variant as well. 
FIG. 1 shows a side view of a snowboard boot 1 just prior to its locked 
position with a binding element 2 to be fastened to the snowboard 5. This 
binding element 2 consists of a base plate 3 to be fastened to the 
snowboard, which can be done in a variety of ways. As is common with 
so-called plate bindings, the binding element has a front stirrup 4 which 
grips over a sole projection 5 of the snowboard boot 1 and thus holds the 
front end of the snowboard boot in place. A second binding element 6, 
configured here as the heel part 6 of the snowboard boot 1, contains 
essential parts of the binding that cooperate with a heel element 7 
mounted on the binding element 2. 
In a rough sketch, this heel element 7 has two parallel lateral cheeks 
7',7", the spacing of which is only slightly greater than the width of the 
heel part 6 of the snowboard boot 1. Each lateral cheek 7',7" has an 
opening 8 into which a spring-loaded pin 9 projecting laterally out of the 
heel part 6 can engage respectively. 
For the secure fastening of the snowboard boot it is necessary that it be 
pressed forward with a minimal force against the front stirrup 4. This 
therefore implies that the spacing between the front stirrup 4 and the pin 
9 or the opening 8 which houses it has a certain maximum length in order 
to produce this force. When stepping into the binding the boot is normally 
pushed against the front stirrup 4 with a lowered front foot and a 
somewhat elevated heel, which does not produce sufficient pressing force, 
however. Then the pins 9 and openings 8 would not be sufficiently aligned 
when the heel goes down. In order to achieve this alignment, a downward 
incline 10 is provided on each of the lateral cheeks 7',7". The two 
inclines cooperate with laterally protruding projections 11 and press the 
boot as a whole forward when the heel is pressed down. The spacing between 
the pin 9 and the projection 11 corresponds exactly to the spacing between 
the opening 8 and the slope 10, so that as the heel is pressed down, the 
spring-loaded pin 9 is certainly guided past the opening 8 and then can 
engage in it. At the same time, the necessary force pushing the boot 
forward is produced, which presses the boot toe firmly against the front 
stirrup 4. 
When the pins 9 are engaged in the openings 8, the boot is firmly attached 
to the snowboard and can no longer come loose inadvertently. To open the 
binding, the two pins 9 are pressed or drawn together inwardly in this 
embodiment example, so that they come loose from the openings 8, which 
means that the shoe can initially be raised somewhat by the heel and then 
removed from the binding. In order to displace the pins 9 in the manner 
described, a cable 12 is provided, which is led upward on the back side of 
the boot 1 to the shaft and held in place there by a belt 13. A grip loop 
14 is placed on the cable 12. If the cable 12 is pulled, then, as will 
become clearer in the description below, the two pins 9 are pulled inward, 
which opens the binding. 
A peculiarity of the invention is therefore the fact that the opening or 
unlocking of the binding is done on the boot and not on the part of the 
binding that is fastened to the snowboard or ski, as in previously known 
snowboard or ski bindings. This has the advantage, among others, that the 
snowboarder need not bend down to the binding or use ski poles (not 
present in snowboarding anyway) for assistance, as is the case with most 
ski bindings. If desired, the snowboarder can extend the length of the 
cables indefinitely, perhaps even up to belt height. An additional 
advantage is that essential components of the binding are integrated into 
the boot. Thus the binding element 2 which is constantly connected to the 
snowboard can be designed to be very simple and very economical, so that a 
snowboarder who owns several snowboards need only buy the more expensive 
binding parts once, together with the boot, whereas only the more 
economical binding element 2 need be purchased for all snowboards. To 
achieve these and other advantages, the unlocking device for loosening the 
connection between the two binding elements is associated with the boot, 
in particular, it is on or in the boot. Furthermore, the unlocking device 
is operable manually by an operating element which is associated with the 
boot, in particular, which is on or in the boot. This aspect of the 
invention is present in connection with each of the various embodiments. 
It should also be emphasized that the heel part 6, which contains essential 
components of the binding, can also be manufactured as a separate part and 
subsequently screwed or glued on onto a boot or fastened in some other 
manner. 
FIG. 2 shows a side view of heel-side components of the binding in the 
locked state, that is, in which the pin 9 is engaged with the opening 8. 
Also clearly seen here is the effect of the incline 10 and the projection 
11, which cooperate to guide the boot while the heel is being pressed down 
such that the pin 9 and the opening 8 are oriented towards one another. It 
is recognized better from FIG. 2 that the lateral cheek 7 is guided so it 
can be displaced on a mounting block 15 attached to the base plate 3, 
which means that the binding as a whole can be matched to the shoe size. A 
setscrew 16 is provided for displacing the lateral cheeks. 
The lateral cheeks have a dimple 17 at their upper end, which makes 
stepping into the binding easier, because with light pressure applied to 
the heel, the pin 9 moves to the lowest point of the dimple 17, which 
means that the projection 11 is then in the proper position with respect 
to the incline 10. It is also clearly recognizable from FIG. 2 that the 
lower side of the shoe sole of the heel part is not yet in contact with 
any binding elements such as the mounting block 15, but instead maintains 
a distance from it. Thus a secure locking of the binding occurs even if 
there is snow underneath the boot sole. Since the heel is supposed to be 
somewhat higher than the toe of the boot for snowboards anyway, with the 
invention one can dispense with the wedge underlay otherwise used for the 
heel part. 
Clearly recognizable in FIG. 3 is the position of the two lateral cheeks 
7',7", which stick out vertically from the snowboard parallel to one 
another and house the heel part of the snowboard boot between them. Both 
lateral cheeks 7',7" are connected together by a connection element 18 
that lies on the mounting block 15. Both lateral cheeks 7',7" are extended 
in the direction of the base plate 3 beyond the connection element 18 and 
grip over the mounting block 15 with inward-directed arms 19',19". Thus 
the heel element 7 is firmly on the mounting block 15 and can be displaced 
only in the longitudinal direction of the snowboard. For this purpose, the 
mounting block 15 has an opening 20 for housing the setscrew 16 as well as 
a slot, not illustrated, which opens the opening 20 to the upper side of 
the mounting block 15, so that a threaded part (not shown) connected to 
the connection element 18 is in connection with the setscrew 16, with 
which a longitudinal adjustment of the heel element 7 is possible. 
It is also easily recognizable from FIG. 3 that the lateral cheeks 7',7" 
have an incline 21',21", respectively, above the openings 8 which insures 
that the spring-loaded pin is pressed inward into the heel part 6 of the 
shoe. 
In order to design the effect of the dimple 17 to be more efficient, it is 
practical to insure that the bolts 9 are only pressed inward in the 
position in which they make contact with their cylindrical part on the 
upper side of the lateral cheeks. For this purpose an additional dimple 22 
running parallel to the longitudinal extension of the inclines 7',7" is 
provided in the vicinity of the inclines 21',21". The dimple is best 
recognized from FIG. 3a and has a greater angle of inclination with 
respect to a central axis 23 perpendicular to the snowboard than the 
incline 21'. Only when the bolt 9 is in the deepest point of the dimple 17 
does its free end make contact with the wall of the dimple 22, so that it 
is pressed inward when the heel is pressed downward. 
It is also recognizable from FIG. 3 that the central axis 24 of the 
openings 8 is spaced away from the upper side of the connection element 
18, with this spacing being greater than the corresponding spacing between 
the midpoint of the pin 8 and the bottom side of the sole of the heel part 
6 of the snowboard boot 1. In that way the functioning of the binding is 
not impaired by snow or ice on the sole of the snowboard boot. 
FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the inside of the heel part 6 of the snowboard 
boot 1. This heel part has a cavity 25 in which the pins 9,9' and the 
mechanism for displacing them are accommodated. Along an axis 26 that 
coincides with the axis 24 of FIG. 3, the heel part 6 has two opposing 
aligned openings in which the guide bushings 27,27' are inset and in which 
the pins 9,9' respectively are guided so as to be displaceable. Both pins 
are pressed outward by a spring 28, until here in the embodiment example 
of FIG. 4 the pins 9,9', directly connected at their inside end faces by 
the spring 28, abut against a stop formed here by the guide bushings 27. 
The spring 28 is constituted here as a U-shaped stirrup. The length of the 
pins 9,9' is dimensioned such that the pins 9,9' only protrude laterally 
by a predetermined amount, for instance 5-10 mm, from the contour of the 
heel part 6. The ends of the pins 9,9' protruding outward are rounded off 
in order to ease the insertion of the pins between the two lateral cheeks 
7',7". The radius of curvature of this rounding is equal to half the 
diameter of the otherwise cylindrical pins, so that the points of the pins 
protruding outward form a hemisphere. 
A tensile element 29,29', which may be a plastic or metal cable in the 
simplest example, is formed on the pins 9,9', respectively, in order to 
open the binding. These two tensile organs are guided in opposite 
directions over a deflection stanchion 30 and connected together in a 
connection element 31, as well as to the cord 12 which is guided through 
an opening 30 from the inside of the heel part 6, as illustrated in detail 
in FIG. 1. The cable 12 can also be made of plastic or metal. If one pulls 
on this cable 12, the tensile force will be directed onto both tensile 
elements 29,29' and transferred by way of the deflection stanchion 30 to 
the pins 9,9' so that the latter are drawn inward along the axis 26 into 
the heel part 6. If the cable 12 is once again released, the two pin are 
pushed outward again by the spring 28. 
It can also be easily recognized from FIG. 4 that the projections 11,11' 
stick out roughly just as far as the pins 9,9' from the contour of the 
heel part 6, which shield the pins 9,9' so that the danger of being caught 
on the pins in ordinary walking is reduced. To this end, the projections 
11,11' also have a rounded off shape, an elliptical shape for instance, 
and thus act as guards to prevent the pins 9,9' from catching on any 
objects. The surfaces 33,33' of the projections 9,9' immediately facing 
the pins 9,9' are shaped essentially smooth and are fitted to the incline 
10 (FIG. 1). 
Finally, it is also recognizable in FIG. 4 that the heel part 6 is closed 
off all around and thus can be employed as an aftermarket product for 
conventional snowboard boots. Naturally it is also possible to integrate 
the heel part 6 completely into the shell of the snowboard boot. 
The side view in FIG. 5 clarifies the position of the spring 28, the 
tensile element 29 and the cable 12 in the heel part 6 of the snowboard 
boot 1. The deflection stanchion 30 can be provided as a separate part, 
but it can also be molded in one piece with the heel part, which generally 
consists of plastic. 
FIG. 6 shows another variant of the heel part, differing from the 
embodiment example of FIGS. 4 and 5 by the spring and the tensile 
elements. The spring 28 is constructed here as a coil spring oriented 
along the axis 26 and pressing against the two pins 9,9'. The two pins 
9,9' each have an enlargement 33, 33' respectively at their ends, on which 
the spring 28 is supported and each of which also supports one arm of a 
lever 34,34' on the side of the enlargement 33 opposite the spring 28. 
This can be done on one side of the pin. The corresponding lever arms can 
also be constructed as claws that grip the pin on both sides. These arms 
are bent in a convex shape in order to slide along the enlargement 33 
during pivoting of the levers about pivot axis 35,35' respectively. The 
two other arms of the lever 34,34' are roughly perpendicular to the 
aforementioned arms and are connected via two short cables 36,36' to cable 
12. In the illustration of FIG. 6, the cable 12 is being pulled, so that 
the two pins 9,9' are roughly in the unlocked position. In the locked 
position, the two pins 9,9' abut against guide bushings 27,27', which in 
turn define the limit position of the pins 9,9'. 
The variant in FIG. 7 likewise works with a coil spring 28 and levers 
34,34'. It is distinguished from the embodiment example of FIG. 6 by the 
shape of the levers and their attachment to the pins 9,9'. The levers 
34,34' are connected to the pin here by a slot connection, that is, the 
levers 34, 34' each have a slot 37,37', into which a bolt 37' running 
perpendicular to the axis 26 of pins 9' is inserted. When the levers are 
pivoted, this bolt 37' slides along the slot 37. Otherwise, the 
functioning corresponds to the embodiment example of FIG. 6. 
The embodiment example of FIG. 8 likewise operates with a coil spring 28 
and a rod linkage, which as a result the desired tensile force is exerted 
on the pins 9,9'. The pins 9,9' are bent so that the bent arms 38,38' are 
offset with respect to the axis 26. The free ends of these bent arms 
38,38' are connected by slot connections 39,39' to a pivoting lever 40, 
the pivot axis of which is positioned mirror-symmetrically to the two pins 
9,9' on the axis 26. The cable 12 can either be articulated at one end of 
the pivoting lever 40 or, depending on the desired exit point for the 
cable 12, to an additional pivoting lever 42, which is firmly connected to 
the pivoting lever 40 and thus transfers the tensile force of the cable 12 
to the latter. 
In the embodiment example of FIG. 9, sections of the pins located in the 
interior of the second binding part 6 are mutually laterally offset and 
here are pressed outward by a spring (not shown). The mutually overlapping 
part 42 of the pins has passage openings 43 with inclined sides 44. 
Inserted into these passage openings is a bolt 45 which has oppositely 
oriented ramp inclines 46,47. If the bolt 45 connected to cable 22 is 
displaced, then the two pins 9,9' are drawn inward, which opens the 
binding. The spring with a force tending to press the two pins 9,9' 
outward can be embodied in a great variety of ways. It may, for instance, 
attach directly at the bolt 45 as an extension of the central axis and be 
constructed as a compression or tension spring. It may also be designed as 
a strap spring, corresponding to the embodiment example of FIG. 4. 
Finally, it is also possible to provide one or two compression springs 
that act directly on the pins. 
In the embodiment example of FIGS. 10 and 11, one or two pins are attached 
to the lateral cheeks 7',7", while the locking mechanism has the form of 
one or two pivoting levers which grip behind the pin or pins. 
FIG. 10A shows a side view of the heel part 6 of a snowboard boot 1. In the 
rear sole area, a recess 48 extending inward on both sides, has an 
inclination 49 in the area pointing towards the sole tip, which ends in a 
rounding 51 near the lower side 50 of the sole. A locking lever 52,52' is 
housed in each of these two cutouts 48, both locking levers 52,52' being 
fastened to a common rotating shaft 53. This rotating shaft runs crosswise 
through the snowboard boot through the cavity 25. Another lever 54, 
connected to the cable 12, is attached without rotational play to the 
rotating shaft 53. Furthermore, a spring, not shown, can be attached to 
this lever 54 to press the lever 54 and thus the two locking levers 52,52' 
opposite the tension direction of the cable 12 in the direction of the 
shoe toe, thus pressing the two locking levers into their locked position. 
The locking levers 52 are bent in a bow shape and have a flat locking 
surface 55, which is oriented roughly horizontally in the locked position 
and firmly contacts the associated pins 9,9' placed on the lateral cheeks 
7',7". Adjacent to this locking surface 55, the locking lever 52 has an 
inclined plane 56, which insures during the stepping-in process that the 
locking levers 52,52' are pivoted backwards into the opening position as 
soon as the inclined plane 56 touches the pins 9. As soon as the tip of 
the locking levers slides past the pin 9, the locking levers 52 are 
pressed forward by spring force into the locking position, and the binding 
is closed. 
When stepping into the binding, the incline 49 serves as a guide surface 
which, as soon as it makes contact with the pin 9, displaces the boot 
forwards. It thus has essentially the same function as the projection 11 
with the guide surfaces 33 in the previously described embodiment 
examples. 
The locking levers are well protected in the recesses 48, so that there is 
no danger that these levers will get caught somewhere during the 
stepping-in process. 
It can be seen even better from FIG. l0B how the two pins 9,9' are fastened 
to the lateral cheeks 7',7" and point inward at one another. The recess 48 
and its protective function for the locking levers 52,52' are also clearly 
recognizable. 
In connection with FIG. 10A, it should also be pointed out that even in the 
inside of the boot, the cable 12 can be directed upwards into the boot, 
running, for instance, between shoe liner and shell. This arrangement is a 
fundamental possibility with all embodiment examples. 
In order for the locking position of the locking levers to be securely 
fixed in place and not dependent on the force of the spring, it is 
practical to arrange the central axis of the of the rotating shaft 53 
above the central axis of the pins 9 with the binding closed or even to 
displace it somewhat towards the boot toe. Forces directed perpendicularly 
upwards from the snowboard surface would then in the first instance not 
exert any torque onto the locking levers 52 or, in the case of an axis of 
the rotating shaft 53 displaced even further forward, would even produce a 
torque forcing the locking levers 52 more firmly into the locking 
position. 
In the embodiment example of FIG. 11, a pin 9, passing all the way through 
and connecting the two lateral cheeks 7',7" and only one central locking 
lever 52, which has the same cross section in the side view of FIG. 11A as 
the two locking levers 52,52' of FIG. 10, are used. The boot sole has a 
recess 57 opening downwards and ending laterally (FIG. 11A) in an opening 
which in turn has an incline 58 on its wall pointing towards the boot toe 
and, in cooperation with the pin 9, forcing the boot forwards towards the 
toe. Here too the central locking lever is pressed by a spring, not shown, 
into the locking position. Otherwise the function is the same as in the 
embodiment example of FIG. 10. 
In the embodiment example of FIG. 12, the pins 9 located in the interior of 
the second binding part 6 are connected by articulated levers 60,60' to 
the pivoting lever 40, with the ends of the articulated lever 60,60' each 
being connected by a pivot joint to the pins 9,9' and the pivoting lever 
40. The central axis of the pivoting lever 40 runs perpendicular to the 
central axis of the pins 9,9'. One central axis of the articulated lever 
60,60', by contrast, is positioned at an angle of roughly 45.degree. to 
the central axis of the pivoting lever 40. The two pivoting levers 60,60' 
are parallel to one another and are each connected to one end of the 
pivoting lever 40. If the pivoting lever 40 is rotated about its pivot 
axis 41 (clockwise in FIG. 12), then the articulated levers 60,60' each 
apply a tensile force to the pins 9,9' and pull them into the interior of 
the second binding part 6. The tensile element 12 is connected to one end 
of the pivoting lever 40. For this purpose, a blind hole 63 and a 
continuing smaller through-hole 64 are provided on the pivoting lever. The 
tensile element 12 is threaded through the through-hole 64 and thickened 
at its end by a knot, a press-on sleeve or the like so that it can no 
longer be pulled back through the through-hole 64. The thickened end is 
then arranged to be sunk into the blind hole 63. 
In contrast to the previously described embodiment examples, the tensile 
element 12 runs in the interior of the second binding part 6 roughly at a 
right angle to the central longitudinal axis of the shoe and is therefore 
directed outward laterally on the boot. 
The second binding part 6 is constructed as an injection-molded plastic 
part, as was possible in principle for the other embodiment examples as 
well, and can be subsequently screwed onto the sole of a boot. Screw holes 
65 are provided for this purpose. In order to be able to accommodate 
binding parts in this binding element 6, a recess 66 is provided and 
houses the individual parts, including the spring 28. This spring is 
constructed here as a leaf spring bent in a U-shape, supported on the ends 
of the pins 9,9' projecting into the interior of the binding part, as 
becomes clearer from the detailed view in FIG. 12a. 
It can also be recognized in FIG. 12 that the second binding part 6 has 
drill holes 70 on both sides through which the tensile element 12 can be 
led out, since it is fundamentally desirable to lead the tensile element 
to the outside of the respective boot, that is on the right side of the 
right boot and on the left side of the left boot. 
FIG. 12a shows an enlarged detail view of a specific aspect of FIG. 12, 
namely, the guiding of the pin 9 through the wall of the second binding 
part 6. Since a high degree of flexibility regarding the motions of the 
foot in all directions is desirable in snowboarding, but most snowboard 
boots in use with plate bindings have a relatively hard outer shell, this 
flexibility cannot be achieved by the shoe alone. For this reason, the pin 
9 is flexibly supported in relation to the second binding part 6, which is 
rigidly connected to the boot. To this end, the pin 9 is supported so as 
to be displaceable in a metal casing 69, which is in turn connected to the 
second binding part 6 by an elastic casing 68. This elastic casing 68 can 
consist, for instance, of rubber or some other resilient material, such as 
an elastic plastic. In manufacturing the second binding part 6, the 
plastic "shell" of which is produced by injection molding technology, it 
is possible to mold on this flexible casing 68 in a second work step in 
the same injection molding form, which means that the casing 68 also 
obtains a very good connection to the binding part 6. Not only are shocks 
dampened and absorbed by this resilient supporting of the pins, which 
absorb the essential forces between the snowboard and the boot, the boot 
can also be tilted in an angle of 1.degree.-3.degree. perpendicular to the 
longitudinal direction, which considerably increases comfort in use. 
It can also be recognized from FIG. 12a how the spring 28 is supported on 
the pin 9. In the embodiment example shown here, the latter has a radially 
projecting collar 67, which, on one hand, serves as a stop that defines 
the limit position of the bolt and, on the other, supports the spring 28. 
Here the spring has a drillhole 28' through which projects the interior 
end of the pin, to which in turn the articulated lever 60 (FIG. 12) is 
connected by way of the pivot bearing 61. It should be emphasized at this 
point that the flexible bearing of the pins according to FIG. 12a can be 
applied to the variants of the invention. 
Alternative to or in combination with this flexible bearing of the pin, the 
first binding part 7 can also be flexibly attached to the snowboard, for 
example by inserting a resilient plate of rubber or flexible plastic 
between the snowboard surface and the first binding part (as will be 
explained more closely in connection with FIG. 14). 
FIG. 13 shows a refinement of the invention in which the tensile element 12 
for opening the binding is extended further and is partially integrated 
into the snowboarder's clothing. The tensile element can thus be led 
upward to an arbitrary height to suit the comfort of the snowboarder. It 
has proven practical to guide the tensile organ roughly up to the height 
of the thigh, where it can be gripped by the snowboarder's hand without 
any bending at all. For this purpose, a loop 13 on upper end of the 
tensile element 12 is connected by a snap hook 71 or some other easily 
operated suspension device to an extension belt 72, preferably guided in 
the interior of the snowboard pants and only emerging at an opening 76. 
There the extension belt 72 has another loop 77 that can be gripped by 
hand. This loop 77 is held in position by an rubber belt 78 fastened, for 
instance, to the belt of the pants or a loop sewed onto the pants. 
Most contemporary snowboard pants have a sleeve 74 that is sewn onto the 
pants along a seam 75 at the level of the shin and extends partially over 
the upper part of the boot 1. The extension belt 72 is guided in this area 
between the pants 73 and the sleeve 74. When the snowboarder puts on the 
boot 1, he need only connect the extension belt 72 to the loop 14 of the 
tensile element 12 with the snap hook 71 and then has the additional 
comfort in operating the binding all day long. 
FIG. 14 shows an additional variant of the invention that can in principle 
be applied to all embodiment examples. The shoe-side second binding part 
is no longer accommodated here in the heel area but instead, approximately 
in the middle of the boot 1. Correspondingly, the snowboard-side binding 
part 7 is attached in a central position to the snowboard. Thus the boot 
is fastened only by the two pins and no longer by a front stirrup. In 
order to prevent swiveling of the boot about the rotational axis of the 
pins, tread plates 80, 81 are applied to the snowboard surface in the area 
of the heel and toe. These tread plates 80, 81 are preferably made of a 
resilient material in order to bring about a dampening and absorption of 
shocks and to allow a certain flexibility for a relative motion of the 
boot with respect to the snowboard. The tensile element 12 is effectively 
connected to the pins as in the other embodiment examples, so that the 
binding otherwise operates in the manner described above. Since in this 
variant, the boot need not be pushed forward against a front stirrup, the 
lateral cheeks 7 of the snowboard-side binding part are configured 
somewhat differently. The upper side of the lateral cheeks has two guide 
surfaces 10,10' arranged in a V-shape and terminating in a circular dimple 
17. By means of these guide surfaces 10,10', the boot is led in the 
direction towards the dimple 17 when the pins are placed on these guide 
surfaces, where then, according to the embodiment example of FIGS. 3 and 
3a the dimple 22 insures that the pins are pressed inward and only go into 
their locking position upon reaching the opening 8. 
In order to make the entire binding somewhat more elastic, an additional 
resilient block 82 is inserted here between the surface of the snowboard S 
and the snowboard-side first binding part 7. 
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the 
invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. 
As various changes could be made in the above constructions without 
departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter 
contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings 
shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.