Abstract:
Gliding board equipment systems and individual components are disclosed herein. A gliding board equipment system of one embodiment includes a boot having an upper cuff and a lower boot. The upper cuff of the boot defines opposed slots, and a respective pin passes through each slot to couple the upper cuff to the lower boot and allow the upper cuff to move laterally relative to the lower boot. Means are included for selectively covering at least one portion of each slot to restrict movement of the upper cuff relative to the lower boot.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/679,019, filed 26 Feb. 2007 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,641,215 which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/778,076, filed 28 Feb. 2006, and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/679,019, filed 26 Feb. 2007, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/483,837, filed 10 Jul. 2006, which claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/712,115, filed 13 Nov. 2003, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Prior art ski and snowboard boots are generally made of an upper cuff and a lower boot that are connected together to restrict a user&#39;s lateral movement. These boots can vary in forward flexibility and stiffness, and they have proven popular because lateral flexibility in a ski or snowboard boot would reduce the user&#39;s ability to quickly turn the ski or snowboard. When a user leans into a traditional boot, the whole boot and ski (or snowboard) move as a single unit; this may allow the user to easily turn at high speeds or in other circumstances where fast direction changes are needed. 
     People sliding (also referred to as “grinding”) on rails and other objects with skis and snowboards is becoming increasingly popular. 
     SUMMARY 
     Gliding board equipment systems are disclosed herein. A boot of one embodiment includes an upper cuff defining opposed slots, a lower boot, a respective pin passing through each slot to couple the upper cuff to the lower boot and allow the upper cuff to move laterally relative to the lower boot, and a respective lock adjacent each slot for selectively covering a predetermined amount of each slot. At least one of the locks is rotatable relative to a respective pin. 
     A boot of another embodiment includes an upper cuff defining opposed slots, a lower boot, a respective pin passing through each slot to couple the upper cuff to the lower boot and allow the upper cuff to move laterally relative to the lower boot, and a respective lock adjacent each slot for selectively covering a predetermined amount of each slot. 
     A boot of still another embodiment includes an upper cuff defining opposed slots, a lower boot, a respective pin passing through each slot to couple the upper cuff to the lower boot and allow the upper cuff to move laterally relative to the lower boot, and means for selectively covering at least one portion of each slot to restrict movement of the upper cuff relative to the lower boot. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1   a  shows an exploded view of a prior art ski equipment system. 
         FIG. 1   b  shows the prior art ski equipment system of  FIG. 1   a  assembled. 
         FIG. 2   a  shows an exploded view of a ski equipment system for terrain adaptability, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2   b  shows the ski equipment system of  FIG. 2   a  assembled. 
         FIG. 3   a  shows an exemplary boot allowing inversion. 
         FIG. 3   b  shows the boot of  FIG. 3   a  allowing eversion. 
         FIG. 3   c  shows the boot of  FIG. 3   a  allowing plantar flexion. 
         FIG. 3   d  shows the boot of  FIG. 3   a  allowing dorsiflexion. 
         FIG. 4  shows an exemplary boot and lock from the ski equipment system of  FIG. 2   b.    
         FIG. 5   a  shows the boot of  FIG. 4  with a lock according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 5   b  shows the boot and lock of  FIG. 5   a , with the lock in another position. 
         FIG. 6  shows an exemplary grind plate of  FIG. 2   a  in use. 
         FIG. 7  shows an exemplary gliding board with a plurality of removable edge sections attached thereto. 
         FIG. 8  shows an exploded view of the gliding board and removable edge sections of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9   a  shows an exemplary removable edge section having a traditional edge. 
         FIG. 9   b  shows an exemplary removable edge section having a beveled edge. 
         FIG. 9   c  shows an exemplary removable edge section having a notched edge. 
         FIG. 9   d  shows an exemplary removable edge section having an intentionally dulled edge. 
         FIG. 10  shows an exemplary gliding board with a plurality of removable edge and base sections attached thereto. 
         FIG. 11  shows an exploded view of the gliding board and removable edge and base sections of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  shows an exemplary binding apparatus attached to a gliding board, according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  shows another exemplary binding apparatus attached to the gliding board of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  shows the exemplary binding apparatus of  FIG. 13  attached to a gliding board that has a bottom plated mounted inside a recess. 
         FIG. 15  shows an exemplary top plate that includes a grinding extension. 
         FIG. 16  shows a section of a prior art gliding board. 
         FIG. 17  shows a section of a gliding board according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  show a prior art ski system  10 . The system  10  includes a ski  12  and a boot  14  that has an upper cuff  16  attached to a lower boot  18 . Pins  19  (e.g., rivets) travel through corresponding holes  16   a ,  18   a  in upper cuff  16  and lower boot  18  to allow limited movement (i.e., plantar flexion and dorsiflexion) between upper cuff  16  and lower boot  18 . Lateral movement (i.e., inversion and eversion) is not allowed due to the manner of attaching upper cuff  16  and lower boot  18 . 
     When a wearer leans into boot  14  laterally, the whole boot  14  and ski  12  move as a single unit. This may allow the wearer to easily turn at high speeds or in other circumstances where fast direction changes are needed. This does not allow a wearer to balance in different ways while sliding on objects, however. A binding  13  is shown to attach boot  14  to ski  12 . 
     People sliding (also referred to as “grinding”) on rails and other objects with skis and snowboards, which is becoming increasingly popular, may benefit from boots with lateral flexibility because the lateral flexibility may provide the users with the ability to balance in different ways while sliding on objects. A laterally “floating” cuff may allow the lower boot and the cuff to move more independently of each other, and with more ankle flexibility a rider may angle his body differently to get better sliding style or even to perform totally new tricks with different stances. 
       FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  show a ski equipment system  20  for terrain adaptability according to an embodiment. System  20  includes a ski  22  and two boots  24 . Each boot  24  has an upper cuff  26  attached to a lower boot  28 . It should be understood that ski  22  may be substituted for a snowboard, and the term “gliding board” may be used to refer to either a ski or a snowboard. Though two boots  24  and two skis  22  may be included, only one boot  24  and one ski  22  are described in detail herein; the undescribed boot  24  and ski  22  are substantially a mirror images of the described boot  24  and ski  22 , as is common in the art. Pins  29  (e.g., rivets) travel through corresponding slots  26   a  and holes  28   a  in upper cuff  26  and lower boot  28 , respectively. More particularly, upper cuff  26  may define opposed slots  26   a , and lower boot  28  may define opposed holes  28   a ; one pin  29  may couple one slot  26   a  to one hole  28   a , and another pin  29  may couple another slot  26   a  to another hole  28   a . When upper cuff  26  and lower boot  28  are attached in this manner, inversion ( FIG. 3   a ), eversion ( FIG. 3   b ), plantar flexion ( FIG. 3   c ), and dorsiflexion ( FIG. 3   d ) are allowed. 
     A boot that is always laterally flexible may perform poorly when the wearer uses the skis/snowboards traditionally (i.e., not to slide on objects) however, since the lateral flexibility may not allow the user to easily turn at high speeds or in other circumstances where fast direction changes are needed. 
     Locks  30  may be positioned adjacent upper cuff slots  26   a  to selectively eliminate inversion and eversion or to selectively limit inversion and eversion. Locks  30  may be joined together so that locks  30  may be actuated jointly, or locks  30  may be separate (as shown throughout the drawings) so that locks  30  may be actuated individually. 
     A boot that is selectively laterally-flexible may be advantageous in that restricted lateral movement may be beneficial when skiing or snowboarding conventionally (i.e., not sliding on objects) more lateral flexibility may be beneficial when sliding on objects with skis or snowboards, and the ability to adjust lateral flexibility may allow a user to switch between skiing/snowboarding conventionally and sliding on objects without changing boots. 
       FIG. 4  shows that each lock  30  may include a plurality of openings of various heights in communication with each other opening. Alternately, each lock  30  may include a single opening having a height slightly larger than a diameter of pin  29 . Opening  31   a  is shown having a greater height than opening  31   b . Heights of the openings are significant because they correspond to amounts of upper cuff slots  26   a  that remain uncovered when locks  30  are actuated, and in this way they may selectively restrict movement of pins  29 . In other words, the amounts of upper cuff slots  26   a  that remain uncovered may determine the amount of lateral movement between upper cuff  26  and lower boot  28 . Various ratcheting devices, spring biasing devices, clamping devices, and/or other devices may be incorporated with each lock  30  to allow the wearer to actuate locks  30 . 
       FIG. 5   a  shows lock  30  according to another embodiment. More particularly, lock  30  may be rotatable instead of slidable, and an opening  31   c  may selectively reveal predetermined amounts of upper cuff slots  26   a.    
       FIG. 5   b  shows rotatable lock  30  as in  FIG. 5   a  in a different position to allow less lateral movement between upper cuff  26  and lower boot  28  than when lock  30  is at the position shown in  FIG. 5   a.    
       FIG. 6  and  FIG. 2   b  show that one or more grind plate  40  may be attached to lower boot  28  to protect boot  24  from damage. Grind plate  40  may be removably coupled to lower boot  28  by a bolt  42  ( FIG. 2   a ) or other fastener, or grind plate  40  may be fixedly attached to lower boot  28 . Grind plate  40  may contact an object  2  that the wearer is sliding on, especially if the wearer is pivoting inwardly or outwardly on his ankles or if lock  30  is actuated to greatly restrict lateral movement (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). It should be appreciated that grind plate  40  may be sized such that grind plate  40  will rarely contact a ground surface when lock  30  is actuated; this may allow a user to ski traditionally (with no interference from grind plate  40 ) when lock  30  is actuated. Contact between grind plate  40  and object  2  may keep boot  24  from contacting object  2 , thereby avoiding damage to boot  24 . Grind plate  40  may be replaced or discarded when damaged. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  show a gliding board  22  with a board body  50  and a plurality of removable edge sections  52 . The removable edge sections  52  are specifically designed to provide the optimal edges for conventional skiing and snowboarding, and, with a change of an edge section  52 , the best edge for sliding or grinding. These edge sections  52  may be easily removed and replaced for a given activity or due to edge damage, and they may be constructed of metal, plastic, or composite materials, for example. The flexibility of edge sections  52  may be optimized depending on whether the user is skiing/snowboarding traditionally or sliding. For example, a gliding board  22  being used primarily for skiing/snowboarding traditionally may use edge sections  52  having a flexibility very close to that of the board  22 , while a gliding board  22  being used primarily for sliding may use edge sections  52  that are more or less flexible than the board  22 . Flexible edges may be desirable when a user wants the board  22  to conform to the shape of the object being slid upon. Edges that are not flexible may be desirable when a user is sliding on rough, high friction surfaces such as concrete, because by conforming less, the edge may reduce friction and allow for a better slide. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  also show that bolts  54  may pass through openings  51  in board body  50  and attach edge sections  52  to board body  50 . Bolts  54  may be tightened adjacent an upper edge  50   a  of board body  50  so that edge sections  52  may be pulled tightly to board body  50 . Edge sections  52  may alternately be attached to board body  50  through bolts  54  that are not accessible from upper edge  50   a  (i.e., bolts  54  may pass through a side of edge sections  52 ) tongue-and-groove fasteners, screws, clips, or other known fasteners. 
       FIG. 9   a  shows a removable edge section  52  having a traditional (sharp and square) edge  52   a . Edge  52   a  may work well for cutting into snow, but it may catch on obstacles that are being slid upon. 
       FIG. 9   b  shows a removable edge section  52  having a beveled edge  52   b . Beveled edge  52   b  may allow gliding board  22  to “lock” onto an object, making it easier for a user to balance or slide on obstacles. 
       FIG. 9   c  shows a removable edge section  52  having a notched edge  52   c . Notched edge  52   c  is not as rounded as the beveled edge  52   b , but it may also allow the gliding board  22  to “lock” onto an object, making it easier for a user to balance or slide on obstacles. Notched edge  52   c  and beveled edge  52   b  may provide different characteristics that different users prefer, and they each may be advantageous depending upon the object being slid upon. 
       FIG. 9   d  shows a removable edge section  52  having an intentionally dulled edge  52   d . Dulled edge  52   d  may provide a user with additional control, and it may slow the sliding of gliding board  22  across an object. 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  show a gliding board  22  with a plurality of removable edge and base sections  52 ,  56 . This may be advantageous over the prior art because when edges  52  become damaged, especially due to rocks and rough terrain, the base of the board  22  is often damaged as well. Edge and base sections  52 ,  56  may be a single member as shown, or they may alternately be separate members. Edge sections  52  may be optimized depending on whether the user is skiing/snowboarding traditionally or sliding as discussed above, and edge sections  52  may have a variety of configurations, including those shown in  FIGS. 9   a  through  9   d . Base sections  56  may have a flexibility very close to that of the board  22 , and bolts  54  may pass through openings  51  in board body  50  and attach edge and base sections  52 ,  56  to board body  50 . Bolts  54  may be tightened adjacent upper edge  50   a  of board body  50  so that edge and base sections  52 ,  56  may be pulled tightly to board body  50 . Edge and base sections  52 ,  56  may alternately be attached to board body  50  through bolts  54  that are not accessible from upper edge  50   a  (i.e., bolts  54  may pass through a side of edge sections  52 ) tongue-and-groove fasteners, screws, clips, or other known fasteners. 
       FIG. 12  shows a binding apparatus  60  that may be included in the ski equipment system  20 . Bindings traditionally are used with skis and snowboards to attach a rider&#39;s boot to the ski/snowboard, and prior art bindings are not easily adjustable in relation to the ski/snowboard. Binding apparatus  60  may include top and bottom plates  62 ,  64 , and a binding  65  may be attached to top plate  64  to extend upwardly therefrom, as shown. Top and bottom plates  62 ,  64  may be selectively coupled together (i.e., by bolts, screws, clamps, etc.), and each plate  62 ,  64  has a respective mating surface  62   a ,  64   a  (shown in  FIG. 14 ) that may include complementary ridges and valleys  63   a ,  63   b  or a gripping texture (i.e., a durable rubber, etc.). Bottom plate  64  is shown attached to board body  50 , and top plate  62  is shown attached to bottom plate  64  by bolts  66 . Top plate  62  includes slots  67  (shown in  FIG. 13 ) that allow top plate  62  to be adjusted relative to bottom plate  64  when bolts  66  are not tightened. Slots  67  may be configured to allow top plate  62  to be adjusted laterally, longitudinally, and/or at an angle relative to bottom plate  64 . Top and bottom plates  62 ,  64  may each have a vertical flexibility similar to that of board  22  to minimize the effects of plates  62 ,  64  on the vertical flexibility of board  22 . However, plates  62 ,  64  may be laterally rigid to provide optimal energy transfer from a user&#39;s boot  24  to board  22 . It should also be appreciated that plates  62 ,  64  may be both vertically rigid and laterally rigid. Other bindings  65  available on the market may also be used. 
     Though not shown, top and bottom plates  62 ,  64  may be coupled by a tongue and groove system, and a locking mechanism (e.g., a high tension spring) may be used to maintain top and bottom plates  62 ,  64  at a chosen adjustment configuration. Top and bottom plates  62 ,  64  may also be coupled by a worm gear (e.g., a screw or bolt), and adjusting the worm gear may force top plate  62  to move relative to bottom plate  64 . Other coupling devices that allow top plate  62  to be adjusted relative to bottom plate  64  may also be utilized. 
       FIG. 13  shows binding apparatus  60  as in  FIG. 12  with an alternate binding  65   a . Alternate binding  65   a  has heel and toe sections  68   a ,  68   b  that are raised from board  22 . Raised heel and toe sections  68   a ,  68   b  may allow board  22  to flex vertically more naturally than if heel and toe sections  68   a ,  68   b  were directly atop board  22 . 
       FIG. 14  shows binding apparatus  60  as in  FIG. 13  with bottom plate  64  mounted inside a recess  23  (as in  FIG. 2   a ) in board  22 . By mounting bottom plate  64  in this manner (so that a bottom surface and sides of bottom plate contact board  22 ) bottom plate  64  can be extremely securely connected to board  22 . 
       FIG. 15  shows binding apparatus  60  as in  FIG. 14  with top plate  62  having a grinding extension  70 . Grinding extension  70  is sized to extend beyond an edge of board  22 , and grinding extension  70  includes an edge  72  specifically designed for sliding. Edge  72  may be constructed of metal, plastic, or composite materials, for example, and edge  72  may have a flexibility chosen for particular applications as discussed above in relation to  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Edge  72  may have a variety of configurations, including configurations similar to those shown if  FIGS. 9   a  through  9   d . Sliding on grinding extension  70  may allow a user to perform tricks not previously possible. 
       FIG. 16  shows a section of a prior art gliding board  1600  having a main body  1601  and left and right edges  1602 . Main body  1601  has keys  1601   a  and keyways  1601   b , and each edge  1602  has keys  1602   a  and keyways  1602   b . Keys  1601   a ,  1602   a  and keyways  1601   b ,  1602   b  collectively form tongue-and-groove assemblies to couple edges  1602  to main body  1601 . When a respective edge  1602  is broken, it will typically continue to pull away from the main body  1601  from the break point. 
       FIG. 17  shows a section of a gliding board  1700  according to an embodiment. Gliding board  1700  has a main body  1701  and left and right edges  1702 . Main body  1701  has keys  1701   a  and keyways  1701   b , and each edge  1702  has keys  1702   a  and keyways  1702   b . Keys  1701   a ,  1702   a  and keyways  1701   b ,  1702   b  collectively form tongue-and-groove assemblies to couple edges  1702  to main body  1701  in a permanent or removable manner. Main body  1701  may define channels (or grooves)  1704 , and connector members  1706  may pass through channels  1704  and couple left and right edges  1702  together. While connector members  1706  are shown attached to every third edge key  1702   a , more or fewer connector members  1706  may be used. When a respective edge  1702  is broken, connector members  1706  may hold the broken edge  1702  in place against main body  1701 . 
     Those skilled in the art appreciate that variations from the specified embodiments disclosed above are contemplated herein. The description should not be restricted to the above embodiments, but should be measured by the following claims.