ANGLE ADJUSTMENT DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR A SNOWBOARD BINDING

Abstract: An angle adjustment device, particularly for a snowboard binding, which comprises a supporting base for a shoe. The base has a first seat for a complementarily shaped first disk, which is provided with teeth in an upper region and is associable with the snowboard in a lower region. The first disk is also temporarily associable with a complementarily toothed second upper disk, which has means for axial guiding with the supporting base. An upper plate is rotatably associated with the second disk and interacts selectively with connection means for the temporary mutual locking of the first and second disks.

Description: ANGLE ADJUSTMENT DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR A SNOWBOARD BINDING Technical Field The present invention relates to an angle adjustment device particularly for a snowboard binding. Background Art Nowadays, snowboarding includes various different specialties, such as jumping, freestyle, slalom and speed. In order to perform correctly each of these techniques, the user must assume a body posture having a specific angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the board. US-5,028,068 discloses a device, for selectively and pivotally positioning a ski binding on a snowboard, comprising a first plate, which supports the boot and is arranged above a second circular plate, which is perimetrically provided with a groove. The second circular plate is rotatably connected to a third plate, which is in turn rigidly connected to the board. The second circular plate has, at the groove, a string or wire which is wound thereat and can be tensioned by means of a lever. The actuation of the lever allows the engagement and disengagement of the wire with respect to the second circular plate, allowing the user to vary the angular position of the binding with respect to the longitudinal axis of the board. Such device has however drawbacks. During snowboarding, the binding and therefore the board, can be subjected to a very large number of torsional stresses, which might not be contrasted effectively by the tension of the wire on the second circular plate. Particularly upon impact with the snow after a jump, the binding is subjected to a sudden and very intense torsional stress which is unlikely to be contrasted by the friction occurring between the two smooth surfaces of the first plate and the second plate. Moreover, the wire tensioning lever is spaced and separate from the binding: the lever can therefore disengage easily during sports practice owing to accidental impacts thereof with stones or other objects or due to snow. Moreover, part of the wire is exposed to possible accidental impacts and can be torn or weakened, thus compromising the use of the binding. In such cases, the user would lose control of the board, which would be difficult to handle. Finally, snow or water can deposit between the wire and the second circular plate, further reducing the friction between the two smooth surfaces of the first plate and the second plate and accordingly reducing the overall locking force of the lever. All this is detrimental to the safety of the user, who owing to the possible lack of rigid engagement of the binding with the board may be affected by severe problems involving the lower limbs in case of a fall. US-5,044,654 discloses a binding for performing winter sports that can be subjected to a rotation about its own vertical axis. Accordingly, six spaced holes are provided thereon in order to accommodate a corresponding number of screws for fastening it to the board in a given angular position selected by the user. The angular position can be modified by unscrewing the screws and repositioning them so that the binding is rotated by the selected angle. The binding has a safety device, for rapid release of the boot from the board, essentially composed of a hub on which shaped seats are formed perimetrically in order to accommodate a ball so that it is forced by a spring. However, also the above described binding has drawbacks: in order to vary the angular position of the binding with respect to the snowboard, the user must remove his foot from the binding and, by means of an appropriate tool, unscrew the screws, reposition the binding in the intended position, and reconnect it to the board. Those operations require considerable time and also force the user to always be equipped with at least one tool. Moreover, in order to be able to perform the adjustment, the user must remove his or her foot from the binding and therefore cannot detect immediately the degree of adjustment that he or she has set. Moreover, due to the limited attention that the user pays to these operations in his haste to reach the ski-slopes, inaccurate fastening of the screws to the board may occur, with consequent dangers of separation or poor control of the board during sports practice. It is also known to use a snowboard binding that is fastened to the board by means of a disk rigidly connected to the board by means of screws. Inclined planes, protruding downward with respect to the disk, towards the board, are arranged perimetrically and interact with complementarily shaped planes formed at a seat for containing the disk which is provided on the binding. By appropriately tensioning the screws, the disk moves closer to the board until its inclined planes interact on the complementarily shaped planes formed on the binding, thus locking the disk and the binding to the board in a chosen position. It is known to replace the inclined planes with pairs of sets of teeth which are also inclined and are arranged on the disk and on the binding. In this manner, the engagement and disengagement of the screws allows the disk to rise until the pairs of sets of teeth are mutually disengaged although the disk remains connected to the board. By rising, the disk allows to turn the binding, which can be arranged in the intended angular position. It is thus possible to obtain a range of mutually different positions whose number, however, is limited by the size of the teeth that constitute the pairs of sets of teeth. The use of such prior art binding, however, has other drawbacks: the user has to take off his or her gloves, remove his or her foot from the binding, use a screwdriver or other appropriate tool such as a wrench in order to disengage the screws, turn the binding with his or her hands into the position that lies proximate to the intended one, and tighten the entire assembly. This operation is too long and troublesome to be performed directly on the ski-slope in order to modify the angular position according to the specific requirements. Another prior art system is known as "baseless" and has a binding constituted by two separate half-shells mutually connected by a rear band, each half-shell being fixed to the board by means of screws accommodated in slots formed in the flat part of said half-shells. Such prior art binding has the drawback that its angular adjustment is limited by the dimensions of the slots. This same Applicant owns USSN-08/681,828 and EPA-96112203.3, which disclose an angle adjustment device, particularly for a snowboard binding, to which a disk and a supporting base for a shoe are rigidly connected. The device is constituted by engagement means which are associated with the base and selectively interact with grip means formed on the disk. The disk has a set of teeth which interacts with another set of teeth provided in the engagement means, so that the two elements are mutually locked by means of the interaction between the two sets of teeth. Although such device is valid regarding the problem of achieving angular adjustment of the binding with respect to the board, there may be drawbacks linked to any deformations caused by continuous use of the device or by accidental impacts or any temperature variations to which the binding is subjected, and all this may alter the operation of the device. Moreover, the above device requires, for its activation, a precise arrangement of the various elements that interact with each other, and this forces the user to make multiple attempts to achieve the exact position for locking the binding. This may lead, owing to distraction on the part of the user, to possible "false" locking of the binding, with a consequent possible danger for user safety during sports practice. This same Applicant owns US-5,947,488 and EPA-97110497.1, which relate to an angle adjustment device, particularly for a snowboard binding, which comprises a disk rigidly connected to the snowboard and a supporting base for a shoe. The device is constituted by first engagement means, associated with the base, which interact selectively, by virtue of second release means which can be operated by the user, with third grip means rigidly coupled to the disk. Although the above device is valid regarding the problem of achieving angle adjustment of the binding with respect to the board, it too is constituted by a set of complicated mechanisms composed of a considerable number of mechanical elements that make the device expensive and complicated to manufacture and assemble. All this also leads to a natural predisposition to possible breakages or malfunctions, especially in view of the difficult climate conditions of use. US-5,261,689 discloses a device for locking a shoe to a snowboard constituted by a supporting base which is associable with the snowboard in a lower region. The supporting base is centrally provided with a circular opening, which is suitable to interact with a complementarily shaped disk for connection to the upper surface of the snowboard. The connection can occur in several different positions, allowing the supporting base to assume any position with respect to the disk. There is also a rear support, which protrudes upward from the supporting base and can be rotated with respect to an axis that is perpendicular to the base so that it can be adjusted according to use. The main problem of the above prior art adjustable binding is that removing the mutual connection between the disk and the board is particularly troublesome, because it usually occurs by acting on conventional fastening means such as, for example, screws. Moreover, during this removal, snow or ice may accidentally infiltrate in the gap formed by lifting said disk, causing problems in subsequent mutual connection. US-5,876,045 and US-5,984,325 disclose adjustable bindings for locking a shoe to a snowboard, comprising a main body provided with a first lower seat for a complementarily shaped first disk which is associated with the snowboard. The main body has, in an upper region, a second seat, arranged at the first seat, for connection to a separate upper second disk. The main body is comprised between the lower disk and the upper disk and is temporarily associable with them by virtue of connection means constituted for example by pins which act in complementarily shaped third seats or by teeth which protrude radially to the disk and are associable with a complementarily shaped set of teeth formed around the respective seat. Connection means are provided between the first and second disks and selectively produce the connection of the main body to the two disks and therefore its temporary coupling to the snowboard. The connection means comprises, in a first embodiment, a cam-like lever accommodated in a fourth seat formed in the upper surface of the second disk. The lever interacts with a pivot that passes through the two disks and the main body and acts in contrast with a spring arranged between the second disk and the main body, so that a raised position of the spring is linked to a mutual uncoupling of the second disk and the main body. Like the adjustable binding described earlier, also in this case there is the problem that during angle adjustment snow or ice can accidentally infiltrate into the interspace provided between the second disk and the main body, with consequent difficulties in operating the lever again. In a second embodiment, the connection between the first disk and the main body is performed by virtue of connection means constituted by lateral levers that axially actuate respective pins arranged approximately horizontally within the main body. Although such embodiment does not have the problem of snow infiltration, it is highly disadvantageous because of the space occupation entailed by the one or more levers and because of the problem of the possible jamming that they can undergo during use. The levers are in fact arranged outside the main body and therefore in a position that is both aesthetically disadvantage and easily damageable owing to impacts with foreign objects. Another embodiment of the means for mutually connecting the first disk, which is provided with teeth, and the main body is constituted by one or more lateral levers that can be actuated radially and by respective complementarily toothed plates suitable to temporarily interact with the teeth of the first disk. Those connection means, too, have drawbacks which are similar to the ones described above: moreover, it has been found that the forces generated during sports practice are far greater than those that can be controlled by means of two or three plates perimetrically associable with a toothed disk. Accordingly, one obtains a connection that is not perfectly rigid but, on the contrary, increases its play as the number of plates used decreases. Disclosure of the Invention The aim of the present invention is therefore to solve the above noted technical problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited known art by providing a device which is structurally simple and cheap to manufacture and allows to rapidly achieve an intended easy adjustment of the angle of the binding with respect to the longitudinal axis of the board, said adjustment being stable during sports practice, so as to increase the degree of safety for the user. An object is to provide a device in which the angular position assumed by the binding can be locked in an optimum manner and safely without false lockings. Another object is to provide a device in which the preset adjustment of the angle cannot be altered by the possible presence of snow or ice or any temperature changes. Another object is to provide a device in which the force that can be applied by the user to activate the invention is low with respect to the perfect locking that can be achieved for the binding. Another object is to provide a device that allows to achieve said intended adjustment very easily and rapidly on the part of the user without the user having to have particular tools available. Another object is to provide a device that is structurally compact and immune to accidental opening during sports practice. Another object is to provide a device that ensures that the locking of the binding to the board is maintained during angle adjustment, increasing user safety. Another object is to provide a device that allows to perform angle adjustment without allowing snow or ice to infiltrate the adjustment device and compromise its correct operation. Another object is to provide a device whose volume and weight are negligible for the user during said sports practices. Another object is to provide a device that is structurally simple and has low manufacturing costs. This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by an angle adjustment device, particularly for a snowboard binding, comprising a supporting base for a shoe having a first seat for a complementarily shaped first disk which is associable with said snowboard in a lower region, characterized in that said first disk, which is provided with teeth in an upper region, is temporarily associable with a complementarily toothed second upper disk which has means for axially guiding with said supporting base, an upper plate being rotatably associated with said second disk and interacting selectively with connection means for temporary mutual locking of said first and second disks. Brief Description of the Drawings Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a particular embodiment, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figures 1 and 2 are respectively an exploded perspective view and a top view of the angle adjustment device according to the invention; Figures 3 and 4 are lateral sectional views, taken along the central plane III-III, of the invention respectively in the adjustment position and in the position for use. Ways of carrying out the Invention With reference to the above cited figures, the numeral 1 designates an angle adjustment device particularly suitable for providing a binding for snowboards. The angle adjustment device 1 comprises a supporting base 2, which has at least one pair of side walls 3a and 3b for the containment of a sports shoe for snowboarding. The supporting base 2 has, in an approximately central position, an opening 4, which is circular and constitutes a first seat for a complementarily shaped first disk 5. The first disk 5 has a plurality of first slots 6, four in this particular embodiment, which are suitable for the passage of respective mechanical means of a known type, constituted for example by first screws 7, for connection to the snowboard. The first disk 5 is approximately frustum-shaped, or otherwise shaped, in order to taper downward, so that, once it is arranged within the opening 4 and rigidly coupled to the snowboard, its rim interacts with the complementarily shaped rim of the opening 4, preventing the lifting of the supporting base 2. A first annular set of teeth 8 is formed proximate to the perimetric edge on the upper surface of the first disk 5. The first set of teeth 8 is thus constituted by a plurality of teeth arranged in radial directions and is suitable for connection to a complementarily shaped second set of teeth 9 which is formed on the lower surface of a second disk 10, which is arranged in an upper region. A guiding means for axial guiding with respect to the supporting base 2 protrudes from the lower surface of the second disk 10, externally to said second set of teeth 9 and therefore proximate to the perimetric rim of the disk. The guiding means comprises a plurality of pins 11 preferably cylindrical and suitable for a sliding connection to respective second seats 12 formed along an annular recess 13 provided, in the supporting base 2, perimetrically to the opening 4. The height of the recess 13 is such that it contains and accommodates the second disk. A plate 14 is rotatably associated in an upper region of the second disk and is preferably approximately triangular. The rotary connection of the plate 14 to the second disk 10 is achieved by virtue of a pivoting element, preferably constituted by a pivot 15, which is composed for example of a pair of elements 15a and 15b which can be mutually coupled. The pivot 15 can be arranged within first and second holes 16a and 16b, obtained respectively in the second disk 10 and in the plate 14, in a region which is off-center with respect to the central axis of the second disk 10. The rotation of the plate 14 can be produced by acting on a lever 17 which is approximately L-shaped and protrudes laterally to the plate 14 on a side which is adjacent to the pivoting side for the pivot 15. The lever 17 has dimensions by virtue of which, when the adjustment device 1 is locked, it arranges itself proximate to one of the two side walls 3a device 1 is locked, it arranges itself proximate to one of the two side walls 3a and 3b, allowing to position the sole of the sports shoe on the supporting base 2. In its rotation about the pivot 15, the plate 14 selectively interacts with means for connection to the first disk 5. The connection means comprises a second central screw 18, whose stem 18a passes through a second slot 19 formed in the plate 14 and third and fourth holes 20 and 21 formed centrally respectively in the second disk 10 and in the first disk 5. The stem is associated, at its free end, with a locking nut 22. The second slot 19 has a slightly arc-like shape, with a first region, constituted by a fifth hole 19a, and an adjacent slit-like second region 19b, which is preferably shaped like a circular arc centered on the pivot 15. In particular, the diameter of the fifth hole 19a is not smaller than the width of the head 18b, of the second screw 18. Vice versa, the width of the slit 19b is between the diameter of the stem 18a and the width of the head 18b. Figures 3 and 4 show that, depending on the position of the plate 14 and therefore depending on which of the first and second regions 19a and 19b interacts with the second screw 18, it is possible or not possible to adjust the angular position of the binding with respect to the longitudinal axis of the snowboard. This is due to the fact that the length of the stem 18a between the head 18b and the nut 22 is preferably equal to the overall thickness of the first and second disks 5 and 10 and of the plate 14. In such manner, the mutual temporary locking of the first and second disks 5 and 10 is ensured by the arrangement of the slit 19b at the second screw 18. Vice versa, by arranging the fifth hole 19a at the second screw 18, the first and second sets of teeth 8 and 9, of the respective first and second disks, disengage. Said disengagement is preferably achieved automatically by using an elastically compressible member, such as a helical spring 23, which is arranged between the first and second disks 5 and 10, coaxially to said second screw 18. Accordingly, the helical spring 23, which is preloaded upon closure of the adjustment device 1, acts on the second disk 10 so as to make it rise with respect to the first disk 5 when the fifth hole 19a is arranged at the second screw 18, thus producing the mutual uncoupling of their sets of teeth. The thickness of the plate 14 must therefore be at least equal to the height of the teeth of the first and second sets of teeth 8 and 9. The operation of the device is as follows: with reference to Figures 3 and 4, in order to perform an angle adjustment, the user must turn the plate 14 so that the fifth hole 19a of the second slot 19 lines up with the head 18b of the second screw 18. Once the helical spring 23 has uncoupled the first and second sets of teeth 8 and 9, it is possible to turn the binding, including the plate 14 and the second disk 10, with respect to the snowboard and the first disk 5. Once the intended adjustment has been performed, the plate 14 is returned to its initial position, arranging the lever 17 adjacent to one of the two side walls 3a and 3b, thus restoring the mutual connection of the two disks. A slightly different embodiment has a head 18b of the second screw 18 which is frustum-shaped and a fifth hole 19 whose diameter is slightly smaller than the maximum width of the head 18b. This provides a more effective operation, because the second screw 18 and the edges of the fifth hole 19a never mutually disengage and it is therefore not necessary to press on the second disk 10, in opposition to the helical spring 23, in order to restore the coupling, because such operation is performed by the presence of the inclined planes constituted by the rim of said head 18b. and objects, an angle adjustment device having been devised which is structurally simple and cheap to manufacture and allows to rapidly achieve a chosen easy angular adjustment of the binding with respect to the longitudinal axis of the board. Moreover, the locking of the angular position assumed by the binding is stable and safe, without false lockings, and its effectiveness cannot be modified by the presence of snow or ice. The gap between the first and second disks is in fact obtained internally and is therefore never accessible to infiltration of snow or ice. The device according to the invention is also easy and straightforward to use, because no tools of any kind are required. Moreover, the device is immune to accidental opening during sports practice, because the positioning of the sports shoe inside the binding entails the automatic locking of the actuation lever of the device. The device according to the invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, within the scope of the appended claims. The materials used, as well as the dimensions of the individual components of the invention, may of course be more pertinent according to specific requirements. The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. TV2000A000162 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An angle adjustment device, particularly for a snowboard binding, comprising a supporting base for a shoe having a first seat for a complementarily shaped first disk which is associable with said snowboard in a lower region, characterized in that said first disk, which is provided with teeth in an upper region, is temporarily associable with a complementarily toothed second upper disk which has means for axially guiding with said supporting base, an upper plate being rotatably associated with said second disk and interacting selectively with connection means for temporary mutual locking of said first and second disks. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first disk is rigidly associated with said snowboard, characterized in that a first annular set of teeth is formed on the upper surface of said first disk, proximate to the perimetric edge, and interacts with a complementarily shaped second set of teeth formed on the lower surface of said second disk. 3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that said first and second sets of teeth are constituted by a plurality of teeth arranged in succession along radial directions. 4. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said axial guiding means protrude from the lower surface of said second disk, externally with respect to said second set of teeth and proximate to the perimetric edge of said second disk, so as to interact with said supporting base. 5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that said axial guiding means are constituted by a plurality of pins which are cylindrical and are suitable for sliding connection in complementarily shaped second seats formed in said supporting base. 6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said first seat is constituted by a circular opening which is formed approximately centrally in said supporting base, characterized in that said second seats are formed along an annular recess which is obtained, in said supporting base, perimetrically to said first seat or opening. 7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the height of said annular recess contains and accommodates said second disk. 8. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plate, which is approximately triangular, is rotatably associated with said second disk by virtue of a pivoting element arranged in a region which is off-center with respect to the central axis of said second disk. 9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that said pivoting element is constituted by a pivot that passes through first and second holes formed respectively in said second disk and said plate. 10. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that said pivoting element is constituted by a rivet that passes through first and second holes formed respectively in said second disk and said plate. 11. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a lever, suitable to activate the rotation of said plate, protrudes laterally to said plate on a side which is adjacent to the pivoting side of said pivoting element. 12. The device according to claim 11, wherein said supporting base has two containment side walls for said sports shoe, characterized in that said wing is approximately L-shaped and has dimensions which allow it to be arranged, when said adjustment device is in the locked position, proximate to one of said two side walls, so as to allow to position the sole of said sports shoe on said supporting base. 13. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said connection means comprises a second central screw which is constituted by a head which protrudes from a stem which passes through a second slot, formed in said plate, and through a third hole and a fourth hole that are formed centrally respectively in said second disk and in said first disk. 14. The device according to claim 13, characterized in that said stem of said second screw is associated, at its free end, with a locking nut arranged below said first disk. 15. The device according to claim 13, characterized in that said second slot, which has a slightly arc-like shape, is constituted by a first region, formed by a fifth hole, and an adjacent second region, constituted by a slit. 16. The device according to claim 15, characterized in that said fifth hole has a diameter which is not smaller than the width of said head of said second screw. 17. The device according to claim 16, characterized in that said slit, which is shaped like a circular arc centered on said pivoting element, has a width which is between the diameter of said stem and the width of said head of said second screw. 18. The device according to claims 14 and 17, characterized in that the length of said stem, between said head and said nut, is equal to the overall thickness of said plate, said first disk, and said second disk. 19. The device according to claim 18, characterized in that the temporary mutual locking of said first and second disks is performed by arranging said slit at said second screw. 20. The device according to claim 19, characterized in that the arrangement of said fifth hole at said second screw entails the mutual uncoupling of said first and second sets of teeth of said first and second disks. 21. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has an elastically compressible member, between said first and second disks; said elastically compressible member being arranged coaxiaily to said second screw. 22. The device according to claim 21, characterized in that said elastically compressible member is a helical spring and allows the automatic mutual uncoupling of said first and second disks. 23. The device according to claim 22, characterized in that said elastically compressible member is preloaded during the closure of said adjustment device, and acts on said second disk so as to produce its lifting with respect " to said first disk when said fifth hole is arranged at said second screw. 24. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thickness of said plate is at least equal to the height of the teeth of said first and second sets of teeth. 25. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said head of said second screw is approximately frustum-shaped and said fifth hole has a diameter which is slightly smaller than the maximum width of said head. 26. The device according to claim 25, characterized in that it provides a partial coupling between said second screw and the edges of said fifth hole even in locking conditions, so as to facilitate restoring a coupling between said head and said slit when said adjustment device is locked. 27. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first disk is approximately frustum-shaped or otherwise shaped so as to taper downward, so that once it is arranged within said opening and coupled to said snowboard, its rim interacting with the complementarily shaped edge of said opening, preventing the lifting of said supporting base.

Inventors: BATTISTELLA MIRCO, BATTISTELLA, MIRCO
Applicants: BATTISTELLA MIRCO, BENETTON SPA, BATTISTELLA, MIRCO, BENETTON GROUP S.P.A.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: A63C
IPC codes: A63C9