Abstract:
Various mechanical closure systems and securing systems are disclosed, such as snowboard bindings and car rack systems. The systems include a mechanically reformable strap. The strap includes a wire disposed along a longitudinal axis of the strap. The wire maintains the strap in a desired geometry that is different from a previous geometry of the strap. In other embodiments, a wire-core strap can include transverse ridges, holes, or other types of grooves or apertures.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/027,252, filed Feb. 14, 2011, now Patent Number 8,201,308, entitled “Reformable Closure Device Strap”, which is a Continuation of Ser. No. 11/515,349, filed Sep. 1, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,887,082, entitled “Reformable Closure Device Strap”, which the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to mechanical closure systems, and more particularly to a preformed strap that is reformable by a user into a desired geometry that is different from an original geometry. 
         [0003]    Mechanical closure systems are used extensively in the sports, medical and transportation industries. These closure systems typically use plastic strap such as a ladder strap. A ladder strap is formed with a top side that includes a number of transverse ridges that are sequentially engaged by a latching mechanism. In the sports industry, for example, mechanical closure systems are used in harnessing devices on such items as snowboard bindings, ski boots, wake board bindings and inline skates. 
         [0004]    For most applications, conventional straps such as ladder straps are purposely preformed with a curved geometry where the top side is convex and a bottom side is concave, so as to enclose around an object such as a foot or limb, or a part of a device. Alternatively, conventional straps are preformed flat and straight, with no curvature. However, regardless of an original geometry, conventional straps are made to resiliently return to that original geometry. 
         [0005]    The preformed geometry of conventional straps can interfere with easy ingress and egress of an object in a mechanical closure system. In fact, conventional straps may become bent unnaturally by the object or caught on a sharp edge of a device onto which the object is held or enclosed. In the sport of snowboarding, for example, a user needs to manually hold open a padded boot enclosure system in order to step into a binding, and very often in inclement environments. The straps, in their original geometry, may be stepped on or held too far beyond a desired or useful geometry, leading to breakages or weakening of the straps. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    This document discloses improved plastic straps for mechanical closure systems, and systems and devices employing the same. 
         [0007]    In one aspect, a closure apparatus includes a strap. The strap includes a wire disposed along a longitudinal axis of the strap. The wire maintains the strap in a desired geometry that is different from a previous geometry of the strap. In other aspects, a wire-core strap can include transverse ridges, holes, or other types of grooves or apertures. 
         [0008]    According to a specific aspect, a mechanical closure device includes an elongated thermoplastic ladder strap having a top face that includes a number of transverse ridges and an aperture. The mechanical closure device further includes a U-shaped metal wire embedded in the ladder strap that partially circumscribes the aperture and extends in parallel along a major portion of a longitudinal axis of the ladder strap, the U-shaped wire being adapted to maintain the ladder strap in a desired geometry that is different from a previous geometry of the ladder strap. 
         [0009]    The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    These and other aspects will now be described in detail with reference to the following drawings. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  depicts a snow sport binding mechanism. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 2A-C  are various views of a ladder strap. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate alternative embodiments of a closure device. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  depicts an inline skate having a closure device. 
       
    
    
       [0015]    Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    This document describes closure devices. In particular, this document describes a wire-core strap that is bendable from an original or enclosing geometry to a desired or opened geometry, enhancing the safety and ease of use of such closure devices. The embedded wire provides tensile strength and an ability to maintain a form or a bend into a desired geometry, and resists reforming the strap into its previous geometry without external influence. These straps can be embodied as ladder straps, also called ratchet straps, which can be used for mechanical closure systems in sports (bindings for snowboards, snowshoes, in-line roller skates, etc.), medical (orthotics, prosthetics, stabilization boots, spinal stabilizers, etc.), and transportation (car-top carrier systems or roof racks, etc.) applications. Other applications are possible and within the scope of this document. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  shows a snowboard binding  100  to illustrate one application of a closure device in accordance with embodiments herein. The snowboard binding  100  includes a rigid base  50 , a rigid foot and heel support member  60  extending up from opposing sides of the base  50 , and a pivotable back ankle support member  70  connected to the rigid foot and heel support member  60 . 
         [0018]    The snowboard binding  100  further includes one or more padded mechanical closure systems for enclosing a boot or foot of a user. Each mechanical closure system can include one or more ladder straps  102 . Each ladder strap  102  includes a top side  104 , at least a portion of which can have a number of transverse ridges that can be sequentially engaged by a locking tang of a ratcheting receptor  106 . Each ladder strap  102  includes a wire (not shown), either embedded within the strap or disposed thereon, that allow the ladder straps  102  to be maintained in a geometry  103  that is different from a preformed geometry. Thus, the padded part of the mechanical closure system can also be held in an open position  101  as well, for easy ingress and egress of a boot into and out of the snowboard binding  100 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 2A  shows a perspective view of a closure device  200  that is formed according to preferred embodiments described herein.  FIG. 2B  is a side view along the longitudinal axis L of the closure device  200 , and  FIG. 2C  is a top-down view onto the top face  204  of the closure device  200 . The closure device.  200  includes an elongated ladder strap  202  having a top face  204  that includes one or more transverse ridges  206 . The transverse ridges  206  are for engaging with a tang of a ratcheting receptor. Alternative embodiments of a closure device  200  include a strap with a smooth top face  204 , with any number of holes or grooves for engaging a receptor mechanism, as is described with reference to  FIGS. 3A and 3B . 
         [0020]    The ladder strap  202  may also include an aperture  208  that is preferably positioned and aligned in the middle of one end of the ladder strap  202 . The ladder strap  202  can be any length, width or thickness, but must be formed of a material of such thickness and density so as to be bendable to various geometries. Preferably, the ladder strap  202  is longer in a longitudinal axis (L) than a transverse axis (T) so as to be elongated. 
         [0021]    The closure device  200  further includes a wire  210  embedded within the ladder strap  202 . In an exemplary embodiment, the wire  210  includes is a U-shaped metal wire having two parallel arms. The U-shaped metal wire can be positioned to at least partially circumscribe the aperture  208  for additional strength near the aperture  208 , such that the arms extend in parallel along a major portion of a longitudinal axis L of the ladder strap  202 . The wire  210  is adapted to maintain the ladder strap  202  in a desired geometry that is different from a previous geometry. For example, in a snowboard binding as shown in  FIG. 1 , the closure device  200  can be opened away from the base to allow a user easy and catch-free ingress into and egress from the binding. 
         [0022]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate alternative embodiments of a closure device  300  and  301 , respectively. The closure devices  300  and  301  include a strap  302  having one or more holes  304  through the strap  302 . The straps  302  are generally flat and elongated, but can be of any length, width or thickness. The holes  304  are preferably centered and uniformly spaced, and generally rounded. However, the holes  304  can be positioned anywhere within the strap  302 , and may include an elongated slat  305  as shown in the strap  301  of  FIG. 3B . 
         [0023]    A geometry of the strap  302  is maintained by a wire  306  that is preferably embedded in the strap. The wire  306  can include generally parallel arms connected to a U-shaped portion  307  of the wire. The U-shaped portion  307  can be positioned at a periphery of one end of the strap, and may at least partially circumscribe an aperture  310  provided at that end, so as to provide further strengthening of the end of the strap. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  shows an inline skate  400  to illustrate yet another application of the closure devices described herein. The inline skate  400  includes a shoe  402  to receive a skater&#39;s foot, the shoe being mounted on a number of aligned wheels  404 . The shoe can be enclosed around a skater&#39;s foot and ankle by engaging a ladder strap  406  into a receptor mechanism  408 . When not so engaged, each ladder strap  406  includes a wire disposed along a longitudinal axis so that the strap can be bent outwardly and maintained in an open geometry as shown, so that a skater may insert or remove their foot without catching it on the ladder straps  406 . 
         [0025]    In preferred embodiments, each strap is formed of thermoplastic or thermoplastic polyurethanes that can withstand shock and adverse weather conditions and wild swings in temperature. In specific preferred embodiments, straps are formed of a thermoplastic polyester elastomer, such as Hytrel®, to provide the flexibility of rubbers, the strength of plastics, and the processibility of thermoplastics. The straps can be made using any thermoplastic processes like injection molding, extrusion and meltcasting. 
         [0026]    Although a few embodiments have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. For example, the wire may be bonded or otherwise attached to a surface of the strap, and need not necessarily be embedded within the core of the strap. Other embodiments may be within the scope of the following claims.