SNOWBOARD BINDING

Abstract: An engaging mechanism (900) or a snow board (12), which is longer in a direction along a major axis, comprises a latch (680) which substantially intersects the major axis and is turnable between an engaging position and a releasing position, and an engaging member (756). A cleat (902) comprises a finger side engaging member (756) engageable with the engaging member (756), and a heel side engaging piece (770) engageable with the latch (680). Both ear pieces are adjusted and separated from each other substantially in a direction along a major axis of a shoe, and are generally positioned in the shoe. Formed on a sole of the shoe are recess (936) which permits the finger side engaging member (756) to engage with the engaging member (756) for moving, and another recess (946) which permits the heel side engaging piece (770) to move so as to engage with the latch (680). Engagement between the engaging members and the engaging pieces is effected by a stepping-in action. The cleat is located in the recess of the sole of the shoe and higher than a surface of the snow board, so that malfunction of the engaging mechanism will not be caused by gripping on snow.

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a snowboard binding. More specifically, the present invention relates to a binding mechanism affixed to a snowboard and a cleat affixed to a boot with the cleat binding releasably engaged by the binding mechanism. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the sport of snowboarding, a rider rides the snowboard down a snow covered hill. The snowboard is shaped generally like a small surfboard or a large skateboard without wheels. The rider stands with his feet generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the snowboard. It is necessary to provide means to secure the riders's boots to the snowboard. It is desirable to have a manual release for the snowboard binding that is easy for the rider to operate. This is advantageous when the rider wishes to dismount from the board and walk on the terrain, or when he wishes to release one foot and push himself a short distance on snow while the other foot is bound to the snowboard, or when the rider wants to disengage the binding to get on or off a lift. Therefore, it is desirable to have a snowboard binding which securely holds the boots to the snowboard, does not release when the rider falls, but is easy to manually release. When the rider does walk in the snow, it is common for snow to cake to the sole of the rider's snowboard boots. This interferes with remounting the boot onto the snowboard because snow becomes trapped between the sole of the boot and the top surface of the snowboard and in the binding mechanism itself, making it difficult to close and latch the mechanism. It is therefore desirable to have a boot and a cleat design which is not prone to having snow stick to it It is also desirable to have a cleat and a binding design which operates despite the presence of snow on the cleat, the sole of the boot, or the top surface of the snowboard. Since a rider may find himself on uneven terrain when he needs to engage his boots into the binding, it is also desirable to have a binding mechanism which operates with an easy step-in motion. Such a binding mechanism should make it easy to place the boot in the proper location relative to the binding and to engage the cleat with the binding by the step-in motion. To provide secure engagement of the boot against the snowboard, it is desirable that the attachment points of the cleat be far apart from one another. This will securely hold the boot in place during riding and help prevent lift up of the heel during maneuvering. However, a large cleat makes it cumbersome to walk as it is prone to knocking against the rider's legs as he walks. There is therefore a need for a binding and cleat design which provides adequate binding strength, yet still allows the snowboard rider to walk easily when the boot is disengaged from the binding. As a rider is using the snowboard, he may traverse rough terrain. If the cleat is mounted directly on the top surface of the snowboard, this increases the transmission of vibration through the snowboard into the rider's foot making riding uncomfortable. It is therefore desirable to have a cleat and binding design which absorbs vibration from the terrain which is transmitted through the snowboard. A snowboard binding generally orients the rider's boots a fixed distance apart and traverse to the longitudinal axis of the snowboard. This can be uncomfortable for some riders. It is therefore desirable to have a binding mechanism and a cleat design which allows for easy adjustment of the angular orientation of the boots relative to the longitudinal axis of the snowboard and also allows for adjustment of the spacing of the boots relative to one another. Snowboard binding mechanism are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,299,823 (Glaser), U.S. Patent No. 5,236,216 (Ratzek), U.S. Patent No. 5,145,202 (Miller), U.S. Patent No. 4,973,073 (Raines), U.S. Patent No. 4,728,116 (Hill), U.S. Patent No. 3,900,204 (Weber), and U.S. Reissue Patent No. Re.33,544. U.S. Patent No.4,571,850 (Faulin) discloses a shoe sole for a ski binding. However, there is no art which satisfies the above all demands. The present invention is invented under the above mentioned technical background and accomplishes the following targets. The present invention overcomes all of the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a strong compact, light weight binding mechanism cleat and boot design which provides secure engagement of the boot against the top surface of the snowboard and is easy to operate only by step-in motion as described in the embodiments set form herein. A snowboard binding mechanism is provided according to claim 1. Preferable and/or optional features are set out in the dependent claims. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a cleat binding mechanism in combination with a cleat and a boot to accomplish the above target. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a snowboard binding mechanism wherein a cleat is in the form of two cleat pieces separated in the fore and aft direction to allow flexibility of the boot, the cleat pieces extending beyond the sides of the boot to provide stability when engaged with the binding mechanism. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a snowboard binding mechanism which has an inner main body and an outer main body, and the outer main body has a handle which is manually operated to easily release or engage and lock the cleats. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a snowboard binding mechanism wherein the handle may be locked in place to prevent unintended release of the cleat by the binding mechanism. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a snowboard binding mechanism which has a flat top surface and is shorter than the outer main body of the binding mechanism, allowing the rider to place his boot on the inner main binding and move it outwards until it engages the outer main binding, thereby properly locating the cleat for a step-in engagement of the cleat pieces with the binding mechanism. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a snowboard binding mechanism wherein the inner and outer main bodies of the binding mechanism are affixed to the snowboard by a pair of adjusting plates which allow angular and spacing adjustment of the position of the inner and outer binding bodies, Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a snowboard binding mechanism wherein the cleat is maintained above the bottom surface of the boot to help keep entrapped snow from preventing engagement of the binding. Certain embodiments of the mechanism are effectively more small and light, and easy to merely operate by step-in motion according to the following means. A further detail of the snowboard binding mechanism comprises a cam mounted on the handle to pivot with the handle, the cam including a cam pin and wherein the latch further comprises a cam groove formed in a side thereof to receive the cam pin, such that pivoting the cam with the handle causes the cam pin to pivot the latch. A further detail of the snowboard binding mechanism includes further means wherein: the first outside receptor further includes a first wall and a second wall forming the latch recess and a latch pin extending between the first and second walls, the latch being pivotally supported on the latch pin; the first wall including a cam support which pivotally supports the cam; and the cam having a center of rotation parallel to a longitudinal axis of the latch pin. A further detail of the snowboard binding mechanism further includes a hook rotably mounted on the handle, and a tab mounted on the outside main body, wherein when the handle is in the second position, the hook is releasably secured to the tab, thereby maintaining the handle in the second position. A further detail of the snowboard binding mechanism includes further means wherein the hook further includes a groove adapted to engage the tab. A further detail of the snowboard binding mechanism includes further means wherein the hook further includes cord attachment means for affixing a pull cord to the hook operable to release the hook from the tab. A further detail of the snowboard binding mechanism includes further means wherein the inside main body is shorter than the outside main body in a direction normal to the top surface of the snowboard so that a snowboard rider may rest a snowboard boot on the top surface of the inside main body and move the boot in a direction parallel to the top surface of the snowboard against the outside main body, thereby positioning the boot in the proper location to secure a cleat mounted therein with the binding mechanism. A further detail of the snowboard binding mechanism includes further means wherein the inside first cleat receptor further includes a receptor bevel on a top surface of the inside first cleat receptor, the receptor bevel being arranged to guide a cleat end into engagement with the inside first cleat receptor. A further detail of the snowboard binding mechanism includes further means, wherein the inside first and second cleat receptors further includes a receptor bevel on a top surface of each of the inside cleat receptors, respectively, the receptor bevels being arranged to guide cleat ends into engagement by the inside first and second cleat receptors. A further detail of the snowboard binding mechanism further includes affixing means for affixing the inside main body and the outside main body to the snowboard, the affixing means including longitudinal adjustment means for adjusting the position of at least one of the inside and outside main bodies in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the snowboard. A further detail of the snowboard binding mechanism further includes further means in the affixing means wherein the longitudinal adjustment means allows adjustment of the position of both the inside and outside main bodies in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the snowboard. A further detail of the snowboard binding mechanism includes further means wherein the affixing means includes a first affixing plate and the longitudinal adjustment means includes an elongated hole in the affixing plate adapted to receive a bolt to fasten the affixing plate to the snowboard. A further detail of the snowboard binding mechanism further includes further means wherein the first affixing plate is arranged to affix the inside main body to the snowboard, and wherein the affixing means further includes a second affixing plate for affixing the outside main body to the snowboard. A further detail of the snowboard binding mechanism further comprises affixing means for affixing the inside main body and the outside main body to the snowboard, the affixing means including angular adjustment means for adjusting the angular orientation of at least one of the inside and outside main bodies relative to a longitudinal axis of the snowboard A further detail of the snowboard binding mechanism includes further means wherein the angular adjustment means allows adjustment of the angular orientation of both the inside and outside main bodies relative to the longitudinal axis of the snowboard. A further detail of the snowboard binding mechanism includes further means wherein the affixing means includes an inside affixing plate including a first arcuate engagement portion, the inside main body including an inside arcuate engagement portion to be engaged by the first arcuate engagement portion, and wherein the affixing means further includes an outside affixing plate including a second arcuate engagement portion, the outside main body including an outside arcuate engagement portion to be engaged by the second arcuate engagement portion. A further detail of the snowboard binding mechanism includes further means wherein the inside affixing plate further includes an extension portion to extend the inside arcuate engagement portion to increase the range of adjustment of the angular orientation of the inside main body. A further detail of the snowboard binding mechanism includes further means wherein the outside affixing plate further includes an extension portion to extend the outside arcuate engagement portion to increase the range of adjustment of the angular orientation of the inside main body. A further detail of the snowboard binding mechanism includes further means wherein the inside and outside cleat receiving grooves secure a cleat in a position out of contact with the top surface of the snowboard. A further detail of the snowboard binding mechanism includes further means wherein the inside and outside main bodies secure first and second cleats out of contact with the top surface of the snowboard. The invention also provides a cleat for engagement with a binding mechanism according to claim 18. The invention further provides a snowboard boot according to claim 19. Preferable and/or optional features are set out in the dependent claims. A further detail of the snowboard boot includes further means wherein the first cleat is affixed to a rear side of the recess, the second cleat is affixed to a forward side of the recess, and wherein the inside and outside main bodies secure the cleats in such a manner that the longitudinal axis of the boot is generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the snowboard. A further detail of the snowboard boot includes further means wherein the boot has a ball width measured at the ball of the boot in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the boot, wherein the first and second cleats have a cleat width measured transverse to the longitudinal axis of the boot, wherein the cleat width is less than the ball width. A further detail of the snowboard boot includes further means wherein the boot has a heel width measured at the heel of the boot in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the boot, and wherein the cleat width is less than the heel width. A further detail of the snowboard binding mechanism includes further means wherein a line extending from the center of rotation of the cam to the longitudinal axis of the latch pin is generally normal to a top surface of the snowboard. The operation and means embodiments of the present invention can be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.1 is a top view of a first embodiment of a snowboard binding; FIG. 2(a) is a cross-sectional view of the snowboard binding of FIG. 1 taken along line II-II with the latch removed for clarity; FIG. 2(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1 showing the binding in its release position; FIG. 2(c) is a view like FIG. 2(b) showing the binding in its engaged position; FIG. 3 is an elevational view in direction III of FIG. 1 showing an outer main body of the binding of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is an elevational view taken in direction IV of FIG. 1 of an inner main body of the binding of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a mounting plate for use with the snowboard binding of FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is an elevational view showing the cleat of FIG. 1 mounted on a snowboard boot; FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the cleat and boot of FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is a bottom view of an alternate embodiment of the cleat and boot of FIG. 7; and FIG. 9 is a bottom view of another alternate embodiment of the cleat and boot of FIG. 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a first embodiment of a snowboard binding mechanism 10. Binding mechanism 10 includes an inside main body 14 and an outside main body 40 both affixed to the top surface of the snowboard12. The binding mechanism 10 is designed to engage and disengage cleats 98 and 104 which are mounted to the underside of a snowboard boot (as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9). In the arrangement illustrated, the front of the rider's boot points in direction A. The longitudinal axis of the snowboard extends in direction B toward the front of the snowboard for a rider who places his right foot near the rear of the snowboard and his left foot near the front. Thus, inside main body 14 will engage the ends of the cleats extending from the left side of the rider's right boot, while outside main body 40 will engage the ends of the cleats extending from the right side of the rider's right boot. The inside main body 14 has a first receptor 16 for engaging a first end 106 of the rear cleat 104 and a second receptor 18 for engaging a first end 100 of the forward cleat 98. Outside main body 40 has a first receptor 42 for engaging a second end 108 of the rear cleat 104 and a second receptor 44 for engaging a second end 102 of the forward cleat 98. Inside main body 14 has top surface 28 which is generally planar and parallel to the top surface of the snowboard The first receptor 16 and second receptor 18 of the inside main body 14 each have a cleat receiving groove 22 located on the lower portion of the receptors. The first receptor 16 and second receptor 18 both have a bevel surface 20 located on the top portion of the receptors. Bevel surfaces 20 help direct the first ends of the cleats downwardly toward the snowboard and to the correct location where the cleats 98 and 104 engage with receptors 16 and 18 during step-in. Inside main body 14 also has a mounting rail 24 which rests against the top surface of the snowboard. As seen in FIG. 2(b) and 2(c), the mounting rail 24 fits within a groove 128 of a mounting plate 126 held to the snowboard 12 by way of nuts 30 which are embedded in the snowboard and which receive bolts (not shown) inserted through the elongated holes 130 of the mounting plate 126. The elongated holes 130 allow for adjustment of the main body 14 in the longitudinal direction B of the snowboard Inside main body 14 also has threaded mounting bolt holes 26. Bolts (not shown) are screwed through the appropriate holes 26 aligned over the mounting plate 126 to secure the mounting rail 24 of the inside main body 14 to the groove 128 of mounting plate 126. The bolts may be loosened to allow angular adjustment of the inside main body 14 relative to the longitudinal axis B of the snowboard. First receptor 42 and second receptor 44 of the outside main body 40 each have a latch recess 46 in which respective latches 110 are located. Adjacent the latch recesses 46 are taper surfaces 111. As seen in FIG. 2(a), 2(b), 2(c) and 3, latch recesses 46 are formed by first side wall 48 and second side wall 50. A latch bolt 62 extends through holes 64 and provides a means for pivotally mounting latch 110 within the latch recess 46. For clarity, only a single recess 46 is illustrated in FIG. 3, but it should be understood that both the first receptor 42 and the second receptor 44 have a latch 110 and latch recess 46. As seen in FIG 2(a), a hole 52 is formed in first side wall 48 for supporting a cam 94. Cam 94 is free to rotate within hole 52. Cam 94 has extending from it into the latch recess 46 a cam pin 96 for engaging with latch 110 as described below. The latch 110 is not shown in FIG. 2(a) to better illustrate the cam and cam pin 96. The outside main body 40 is mounted to the snowboard 12 by a mounting rail 54 and mounting plate 126 in manner similar to that of the inside main body. Bolts (not shown) are screwed through the appropriate holes 60 to secure the mounting rail 54 to groove 128 of mounting plate 126. The bolts are placed in the appropriate holes after the angular position of the binding is adjusted. The mounting plate 126 is secured to the snowboard 12 by means of bolts (not shown) inserted through elongated holes 130 into embedded nuts 30. The mounting plates 126 shown in FIG 1 allow angular adjustment of up to about 30 ° in either direction of the inside and outside main bodies. Alternatively, mounting plates 134 may be used as shown in FIG 5. Mounting plate 134 includes an extension portion 136 to allow angular adjustment of up to 45 °. Having two mounting plate configurations allows use of the smaller, more compact mounting plate 126 for most applications to save weight. As seen in FIGS 2(b) and 2(c), latch 110 has pivot hole 112 through which latch bolt 62 extends such that latch 110 pivots about latch bolt 62. Latch 110 has formed in one side hereof a cam groove 114 for receiving the cam pin 96 of cam 94. Each latch 110 also has a cleat receiving groove 116 formed on a lower end thereof for receiving the second end of the cleat Cleat receiving grooves 22 of the inside main body 14 and cleat receiving grooves 116 of the outside main body face one another. Latch 110 also has recess 118 on the front surface thereof to allow the second end of the cleat to step in down through the latch recess 46 for engagement by the binding mechanism. As seen in FIG. 1, a generally "U" shaped handle 88 is supported at one end by the first receptor 42 and at its other end by second receptor 44 of the outside main body 42. As shown in FIG. 3, each cam 94 is affixed to opposite ends of the handle 88 to rotate therewith. As seen in FIG. 2(b), when handle 88 is raised to a first position, cam 94 and pin 96 are rotated. Because pin 96 is engaged in groove 114 of latch 110, raising handle 88 to a first position causes latch 110 to rotate with cam 94 and pin 96 so that cleat receiving groove 116 moves away from the cleat 104 to its release position. The outside main body 40 is placed in this position to allow a rider to step into the binding with cleat 104 and to allow cleat 104 to be released from the binding. As seen in FIG 2(c), lowering handle 88 to a second position causes cam 94 and pin 96 to rotate in an opposite direction, thereby causing latch 110 to rotate to its engaged position, moving cam receiving groove 116 against the second end 108 of the cleat 104. Cleat 104 will now be secured at its first end 106 by the groove 22 of inside main body 14, and at its second end 108 by the groove 116 of the latch 110 mounted in the outside main body 40. Although a rear cleat 104 is illustrated in FIG. 2 (c), front cleat 98 is affixed by the second receptors 18 and 44 in a similar fashion upon rotation of handle 88. As seen in FIG. 3, when handle 88 is lowered into its second position causing the latches 110 to be engaged with cleats 104 and 98, hook 80 may be engaged with a tab 58 to prevent unintended release of handle 88. Hook 80 is affixed to tab support 56 extending from the rear of outside main body 40. Hook 80 has groove 84 which engages with tab 58. Hook 80 can be released by means of a cord (not shown) attached to elongated hole 82 of the hook 80. Bushing 90 (FIG. 2(a), 2(b), 2(c)) is mounted on bolt 86 between handle 88 and hook 80. As seen in FIG. 2(a), 2(b), 2(c), the top surface 28 of the inside main body 14 is lower than the top surface of the outside main body 40. The snowboard rider can place his boot on top surface 28 of inside main body 14 and slide the boot in the direction opposite arrow B until it is stopped by the relatively taller receptors 42 and 44 of the outside main body 40. This will provide for easy location of the boot relative to the binding mechanism in the longitudinal direction of the snowboard in preparation for step-in engagement. Bevel 20 on the inside main body 14 and recess 118 on the latch 110 of the outside main body 40 help guide the ends of the cleats down into the binding mechanism where the appropriate ends of the cleat respectively engage with groove 22 and with an area just in front of groove 116. After the rider steps in, the handle 88 may be lowered to its second position as shown in FIG. 2(c) to rotate latch 110 and securely engage the cleat. Hook 80 may then be secured to tab 58 to prevent disengagement. As seen in FIG. 6 and 7, the cleat 98 and 104 are separated in the fore and aft direction A far enough to provide adequate support and help prevent heel lift. The cleats can be approximately 120 mm apart, and located between the heel and the ball of the foot The cleats are approximately 118 mm long. By using two narrow cleats separated by this distance, the sole of the boot remains flexible to provide for easy walking when not engaged with the snowboard. The cleats 98, 104 are bolted to the sole of the boot through holes 109 provided therein. The cleats may alternatively be wider than the heel to provide lateral support and be narrower than the ball of the boot, to make walking easier by reducing the chance of hitting the cleat ends against one's opposite leg while walking (FIG. 8). The cleats may also be narrower than the heel of the sole to further facilitate walking (FIG. 9). As seen in FIG . 2(c), when the binding mechanism is engaged with the cleats they are maintained above the top surface of the snowboard. The separation can be, for example, 8 mm. This helps prevent snow which may be accumulated on the bottom of the cleat from interfering with the step-in engagement The cleats are mounted to midsole 650 within a recess formed by bevel surfaces 654 of the sole 652. This raises the cleats relative to the bottom surface of the sole of the boots as seen in FIG.6. This helps prevent snow from sticking to the bottom of the cleat, and allows the remainder of the sole of the boot to rest on the top surface of the snowboard while the cleat is maintained above the top surface of the snowboard. INDUSTRIAL FIELD FOR APPLICATION A snowboard binding mechanism according to the present invention is able to be applied for that of skiboard.

Claims: A snowboard-cleat binding mechanism, comprising: an inside main body (14) adapted to be affixed to a top surface of the snowboard (12) and an outside main body (40) adapted to be affixed to a top surface of the snowboard (12), the inside and outside main bodies (14, 40) being adapted to secure first and second ends of a cleat (98, 104), respectively, the inside main body (14) including a top surface (28) and an inside first cleat receptor (16) including a first inside cleat receiving groove (22) defined on a lower portion thereof facing the outside main body (40); the inside main body 14 further including a second inside cleat receptor (18) including a second inside cleat receiving groove (22) defined on a lower portion thereof and facing the outside main body (40); the outside main body (40) comprising an outside first cleat receptor (42) having a first latch recess (46) formed therein facing the inside main body (14); a second outside cleat receptor (44) including a second latch recess (46) formed therein and facing the inside main body (14); a first latch (110) pivotally mounted to the first latch recess (46), the first latch (110) including a first outside cleat receiving groove (116) disposed across from and facing the first inside cleat receiving groove (22); a second latch (110) pivotally mounted to the second latch recess (46), the second latch (110) including a second outside cleat receiving groove (116) disposed across from and facing the second inside cleat receiving groove (22); a handle (88) pivotally mounted to the outside main body (40) and interlocked with the first and second latches (110); the latches (110) being pivoted to a release position in response to pivoting the handle (88) to a first position wherein the outside cleat receiving grooves (116) are moved in a direction away from the inside cleat receiving grooves (22), the latches (110) being pivoted to a fasten position in response to pivoting the handle (88) to a second position wherein the outside cleat receiving grooves (116) are moved in a direction toward the inside cleat receiving grooves (22) thereby securing a cleat (98, 104) placed between the inside and outside cleat receiving grooves (22, 116). A snowboard-cleat binding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism includes a cam (94) mounted on the handle (88) to pivot with the handle (88). A snowboard-cleat binding mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the cam (94) includes a cam pin (96). A snowboard-cleat binding mechanism according to claim 3, wherein each latch (110) includes a cam groove (114) formed in a side thereof to receive the cam pin (96) so that pivoting the cam (94) with the handle (88) causes the cam pin (96) to pivot each latch (110). A snowboard-cleat binding mechanism according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the first and/or the second outside cleat receptors (42, 44) include a first wall (48) and a second wall (50), the walls (48, 50) forming the latch recess (46), and the latch pin (62) extends between the first and second walls (48, 50), each latch (110) being pivotally supported on the latch pin (62); the first wall (48) including a cam support (52) that pivotally supports the cam (94); and the cam (94) having a centre of rotation parallel to a longitudinal axis of the latch pin (62). A snowboard-cleat binding mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein the mechanism includes a hook (80) mounted on the handle (88), and a tab (58) mounted on the outside main body (40), wherein when the handle (88) is in the second position, the hook (80) is releasably secured to the tab (58) thereby maintaining the handle (88) in the second position. A snowboard-cleat binding mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein the inside main body (14) is shorter than the outside main body (40) in a direction normal to the top surface of the snowboard (12) so that a user may rest a snowboard boot on the top surface of the inside main body (14) and move the boot in a direction parallel to the top surface of the snowboard (12) against the outside main body (40), thereby positioning the boot in the proper location to secure a cleat (98, 104) mounted thereon with the binding mechanism (10). A snowboard-cleat binding mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein each inside cleat receptor (16, 18) includes a receptor bevel (20) on a top surface (28) of each inside cleat receptor (16, 18), the receptor bevel (20) being arranged to guide a cleat (98, 104) into engagement with each inside cleat receptor (16, 18). A snowboard-cleat binding mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein the mechanism (10) includes a fixing means (126) for affixing the inside main body (14) and/or the outside main body (40) to the snowboard (12), the fixing means (126) including longitudinal adjustment means (130) for adjusting the position of at least one of the inside and outside main bodies (14, 40) in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the snowboard (12). A snowboard-cleat binding mechanism according to claim 9, wherein the fixing means includes a first fixing plate (126), and the longitudinal adjustment means includes an elongated hole (130) in the fixing plate (126) adapted to receive a bolt to fasten the fixing plate (126) to the snowboard (12). A snowboard-cleat binding mechanism according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the fixing means comprises a first fixing plate (126) to affix the inside main body (14) to the snowboard (12), and a second fixing plate (126) to affix the outside main body (40) to the snowboard (12). A snowboard-cleat binding mechanism according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the fixing means (126) includes angular adjustment means (26, 30) for adjusting the angular orientation of at least one of the inside and outside main bodies (14, 40) relative to the longitudinal axis of the snowboard (12). A snowboard-cleat binding mechanism according to claim 12, wherein the angular adjustment means includes an inside fixing plate (126) including a first arcuate engagement portion, the inside main body (14) including an inside arcuate engagement portion to be engaged by the first arcuate engagement portion, and wherein the angular adjustment means includes an outside fixing plate (126) including a second arcuate engagement portion, the outside main body (40) including an outside arcuate engagement portion to be engaged by the second arcuate engagement portion. A snowboard-cleat binding mechanism according to claim 13, wherein the inside fixing plate (126) includes an extension portion (136) to extend the inside arcuate engagement portion to increase the range of adjustment of the angular orientation of the inside main body (14). A snowboard-cleat binding mechanism according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the outside fixing plate includes an extension portion (136) to extend the outside arcuate engagement portion to increase the range of adjustment of the angular orientation of the outside main body (40). A snowboard-cleat binding mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein the inside and outside cleat receiving grooves (22, 126) secure each cleat (98, 104) in a position out of contact with the top surface of the snowboard (12). A snowboard-cleat binding mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein the inside and outside main bodies (14, 40) secure first and second cleats (98, 104) out of contact with the top surface of the snowboard (12). A cleat for engagement with a binding mechanism, the mechanism (10) including inside first and second cleat receptors (16, 18) and outside first and second cleat receptors (42, 44), the cleat (98, 104) comprising a first cleat (98) having a first end (100) adapted to be secured by the inside first cleat receptor (16), and a second end (102) adapted to be secured by the outside first cleat receptor (42); and a second cleat (104) having a first end (106) adapted to be secured by the inside second cleat receptor (18), and a second end (102) adapted to be secured by the outside second cleat receptor (44). A snowboard boot for engagement with a binding mechanism, the mechanism (10) including an inside main body (14) having inside first and second cleat receptors (16, 18) and an outside main body (40) having outside first and second cleat receptors (42, 44), the boot having an outsole (650, 652), the outsole (650, 652) including a bottom surface (652) and a recess formed therein, the boot being provided with first and second cleats (98, 104) that are fixed to the boot within the recess so that the or each cleat (98, 104) is further from the snowboard than the outsole bottom surface (652); wherein the cleats (98, 104) comprise a first cleat (98) having a first end (100) adapted to be secured by the inside first cleat receptor (16), and a second end (102) adapted to be secured by the outside first cleat receptor (42); and a second cleat (104) having a first end (106) adapted to be secured by the inside second cleat receptor (18), and a second end (102) adapted to be secured by the outside second cleat receptor (44). A snowboard boot according to claim 19, wherein the second cleat (104) is fixed to a rear side of the recess, the first cleat (98) is fixed to a forward side of the recess, and wherein the inside and outside main bodies (14, 40) secure the cleats (98, 104) in such a manner that the longitudinal axis of the boot is generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the snowboard (12). A snowboard boot according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the boot has a ball width measured at a ball of the boot in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the boot, wherein the first and second cleats (98, 104) have a cleat width measured transverse to the longitudinal axis of the boot, and the cleat width is less than the ball width. A snowboard boot according to claim 21, wherein the boot has a heel width measured at a heel of the boot in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the boot, and the cleat width is less than the heel width.

Inventors: OKAJIMA SHINPEI, UEDA YUTAKA, OKAJIMA, SHINPEI, UEDA, YUTAKA
Applicants: SHIMANO KK, SHIMANO INC.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A63C9
IPC codes: A63C9