Abstract:
The present invention provides a snowboard binding, including a mount, rear plate, top plate assembly base, rotary top pressboard, trigger support and coupling plate. The coupling plate, the mating frame of the rotary top pressboard, the mating ends of the trigger support and the top plate assembly base are coupled together to form a four-bar mechanism. The pressing state of the rotary top pressboard can be positioned directly by the perpendicular trigger support, and the rotary top pressboard can realize an expanded opening state over 90°. Thus, the snowboard boot can be slipped directly into the snowboard binding, enabling more convenient locating and release of the snowboard binding with better efficiency and applicability.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to fittings for a snowboard, and more particularly to an innovative fitting with a binding for a snowboard boot. 
     2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98 
     The snowboard is structurally set in such a way that a binding must be assembled at the top for slipping and fixation of the snowboard boot. 
     As for a conventional snowboard binding, it is time-consuming to slip and fix or remove the snowboard boot, making considerably awkward for the users. Therefore, continuous efforts have been made in the industry to provide and innovative fixing mechanism to overcome the shortcomings of the conventional snowboard binding. 
     The following are some examples of conventional snowboard bindings, having a particular structure and the following shortcomings. 
     A snowboard binding is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,893, wherein the top pressboard and the rear plate are linked by a rope, and a movable bending frame is set on the bottom plate of the snowboard binding. When the snowboard boot is slipped into the binding and treaded onto the movable curved frame, the rope can be pulled to drive the pressboard and rear plate for swinging correspondingly and tightening of the snowboard boot. However, it is found during actual application that the rope is vulnerable to abrasion, cracking and damage, resulting in a shorter service life. Moreover, the snowboard boot cannot be slipped easily due to the very limited maximum opening angle formed between the pressboard and rear plate. 
     A snowboard binding is also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,207,592 B2, wherein the rear plate can swing obliquely, allowing to control the maximum and minimum opening angle for the snowboard boot. The front pressure plate is fixedly profiled, so the maximum opening angle for the snowboard boot is still extremely limited, leading to inconvenient slipping of the snowboard boot. 
     Snowboard bindings are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,246,811 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 7,147,233 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,897, wherein the maximum opening angle for each snowboard boot is still extremely limited despite of the adjustable design of the front pressboard or the rear plate. In such cases, the users have to slip their boots into the binding from an oblique path. Yet, snowboarders and skiiers generally put on heavy clothes and snowboard boots, making them move clumsily, even without mentioning shifting the snowboard binding fixed on the prolonged or expanded snowboard. Hence, the relevant industries have to make breakthrough innovation to simplify the slipping and disengagement of snowboard boot and to operate the snowboard binding more easily and flexibly. 
     Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it would be an advancement in the art to provide an improved structure that can significantly improve efficacy. 
     Therefore, the inventor has provided the present invention of practicability after deliberate design and evaluation based on years of experience in the production, development and design of related products. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Based on the unique present invention, the coupling plate, the mating frame of the rotary top pressboard, the mating ends of the trigger support and the top plate assembly base are coupled together to form a four-bar mechanism. The pressing state of the rotary top pressboard can be positioned directly by the perpendicular trigger support, and the rotary top pressboard can realize an expanded opening state over 90°. Thus, the snowboard boot can be slipped directly into the snowboard binding, enabling more convenient locating and release of the snowboard binding with better efficiency and applicability. 
     Based on the top plate assembly base of the present invention, the top plate assembly base is assembled onto the lateral flange of the mount in such a manner that it can be lifted or regulated flexibly. It is possible to meet the diversified demands of different human groups with various ages or body sizes. 
     Based on the structure of the snowboard binding of the present invention, there is an auxiliary locator of the top plate. The pressing state of the snowboard boot press surface of the rotary top pressboard can be further positioned supplementary. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a partially enlarged perspective view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a side elevation view of a first status of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows another side elevation view of a second status of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows a side elevation view of a third status of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  shows an exploded perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the snowboard locating portion of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  shows a partial side elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the top plate assembly base being lifted and adjusted forwards and backwards. 
         FIG. 8  shows a partial sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the top plate assembly base being lifted and adjusted forwards and backwards. 
         FIG. 9  shows a side elevation view of the present invention, the snowboard binding being additionally provided with an auxiliary locator of top plate. 
         FIG. 10  shows another side elevation view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the snowboard binding being additionally provided with an auxiliary locator of top plate. 
         FIG. 11  shows a schematic view of the present invention, the sleeving hole set for the single-way ratchet bar disclosed in  FIG. 10  being removed from the locating stud of the rear plate. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1-3  depict preferred embodiments of a snowboard binding of the present invention. The embodiments are provided for only explanatory objectives with respect to their patent claims. 
     The snowboard binding  1  of the snowboard comprises a mount  10 , containing a bottom plate  11  and two lateral flanges  12  protruding vertically at both sides of the bottom plate  11 . A snowboard locating portion  13  is set centrally onto the bottom plate  11 . A front opening  14  is formed in front of the bottom plate  11 , and a rear opening  15  formed behind the bottom plate  11 . 
     There is a rear plate  20  extending vertically and having a bottom. The bottom of the rear plate  20  is pivoted onto the rear side of two lateral flanges  12  of the mount  10  via a pivot bolt  21 , so that the top of the rear plate  20  can be adjusted in a swinging state. 
     Two top plate assembly bases  30  are mounted correspondingly at a front of two lateral flanges  12  of the mount  10 . A top plate joint  31  and a trigger support joint  32  are assembled transversely at intervals on the top plate assembly base  30 . Moreover, the top plate joint  31  is located higher than the trigger support joint  32 . 
     The invention also includes a rotary top pressboard  40 , containing a snowboard boot press surface  41  and two mating frames  42  extending from both frontal sides of the snowboard boot press surface  41 . These two mating frames  42  are separately pivoted onto the top plate joint  31  of two top plate assembly bases  30 , so that the snowboard boot press surface  41  of the rotary top pressboard  40  may swing backwards into a pressing state, or swing forwards into an open state by taking the top plate joint  31  as a pivot. 
     A trigger support  50  is designed into a curved shape defining a trigger section  51  and two mating ends  52  at both ends of the trigger section  51 . These two mating ends  52  are separately pivoted onto the trigger support joint  32  of two top plate assembly bases  30 , so that the trigger section  51  can swing forwards or backwards by taking the trigger support joint  32  as a pivot. 
     Two coupling plates  60  are coupled between the mating frames  42  of the rotary top pressboard  40  and the mating ends  52  of the trigger support  50  in a pivoted state. The coupling plate  60  includes a first coupling end  61  and a second coupling end  62 . The first coupling end  61  is pivoted onto the rotary top pressboard  40  close to the mating frame  42 , and the second coupling end  62  is pivoted onto the trigger support  50  close to the mating ends  52 . Furthermore, the coupling plate  60 , the mating frame  42  of the rotary top pressboard  40 , the mating ends  52  of the trigger support  50  and the top plate assembly base  30  are coupled together to form a four-bar mechanism. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , a bossed claw  63  is placed laterally onto the coupling plate  60 . The bossed claw  63  swings upwards vertically in the trigger section  51  of the trigger support  50 . Moreover, the snowboard boot press surface  41  of the rotary top pressboard  40  is abutted onto the mating frame  42  of the rotary top pressboard  40  when it swings backwards into a pressing state. 
     Based on the aforementioned structures, the present invention is operated as follows: 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , when the snowboard binding  1  is intended to be used for assembly of the snowboard boot  05 , the user may apply a certain force to the trigger support  50  by hands or the other foot, and make it swing forwards to a transverse dead position, then pull the rotary top pressboard  40  by the coupling plate  60  for simultaneous forward swinging (indicated by arrow L 1 ). The swinging angle of the snowboard boot press surface  41  of the rotary top pressboard  40  exceeds 90°, forming a super-wide-angle guide port of the snowboard boot. Thus, the snowboard boot  05  can be loaded by slipping vertically it (indicated by arrow L 2 ). Moreover, when the snowboard boot  05  is loaded, a force can also be applied to pull back the rear plate  20  in a blocking position (indicated by arrow L 3 ). 
     After the snowboard boot  05  is fully slipped between the bottom plate  11  of the mount  10  and two lateral flanges  12 , the user may apply a certain force to the trigger support  50  and make it swing backwards, then pull the rotary top pressboard  40  by the coupling plate  60  for simultaneous backward swinging (indicated by arrow L 4  in  FIG. 4 ). Next, when the trigger support  50  swings backwards rectangularly, the snowboard boot press surface  41  of the rotary top pressboard  40  is rightly pressed onto the top surface of the snowboard boot  05 . In such a state, the first and second coupling ends  61 ,  62  of the coupling plate  60  and the trigger support joint  32  at a bottom of the mating ends  52  of the trigger support  50  form a triangular shape (indicated by arrow L 5 ). In such a state, the upward action of the snowboard boot press surface  41  of the rotary top pressboard  40  (indicated by arrow L 6 ) will be locked securely, and the rotary top pressboard  40  will thus be positioned since the coupling plate  60  mates obliquely with the trigger support  50  in a perpendicular position. The pushing direction of the coupling plate  60  is not on the swinging path of the trigger support  50 , so the trigger support  50  is locked securely. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the snowboard locating portion  13  on the bottom plate  11  of the mount  10  is comprised of a plurality of bolted locking holes arranged at intervals. Such a snowboard locating portion  13  is configured in such a manner that the snowboard binding  1  is mounted onto the snowboard in a fixed angle. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 6 , the snowboard locating portion  13 B comprises a round hole  131  on the bottom plate  11  of the mount  10 , a toothed ring surface  132  surrounding the round hole  131 , and around locating disc  134  with a toothed meshing surface  133  on the bottom. The round locating disc  134  is mated with the toothed ring surface  132  via the toothed meshing surface  133  in multiple angular positions. Moreover, a plurality of bolted locating holes  135  is arranged at intervals on the round locating disc  134 , allowing the bolts  136  to be locked into the tapped holes  71  preset on the snowboard  70 . This snowboard locating portion  13 B is formed in such a way that, when the snowboard binding  1  is assembled onto the snowboard  70  but the bolt  136  is not screwed. The angle and orientation of the mount  10  can be fine-tuned, thereby adjusting the angle and orientation of the entire snowboard binding  1  on the snowboard  70 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the top plate assembly base  30  is assembled onto the lateral flange of the mount  10  in such a manner that it can be lifted or regulated flexibly to meet the demands of different groups with various ages or body sizes. As for the preferred embodiment, the top plate assembly base  30  is provided with a plurality of long holes  33  arranged vertically. The lateral flange  12  of the mount  10  is provided with several groups of locating tapped holes  120  that are extended and arranged transversely in alignment with the long holes  33 . So, a plurality of bolts  121  penetrates across the long holes  33  and then is locked into the locating tapped holes  120  enabling the positioning of the top plate assembly base  30 . With the long holes  33 , the top plate assembly base  30  can be lifted or regulated before the bolt  121  is screwed (indicated by arrow L 7 ). Besides, the long holes  33  of the top plate assembly base  30  are locked correspondingly into the locating tapped holes  120  on the lateral flange  12  of the mount  10 , enabling forward and backward adjustment of the top plate assembly base  30  (indicated by arrow L 8 ). Moreover, locating tooth surfaces  81 ,  82  that can be meshed and extended transversely are arranged between the top plate assembly base  30  and the lateral flange  12  of the mounts  10 , so the orientation of the top plate assembly base  30  can be fixed accurately during lifting or regulation. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the snowboard binding  1  includes an auxiliary locator of top plate  90 , which helps to strengthen the positioning of the snowboard boot press surface  41  set on the rotary top pressboard  40 . The preferred embodiment of the auxiliary locator of top plate  90  includes a swiveling hooked sheet  91  and a locating column  92 . The locating column  92  is protruded transversely at left and right sides of the snowboard boot press surface  41  on the rotary top pressboard  40 . The bottom of the hooked sheet  91  is pivoted adjacent to the bottom of the rear plate  20  via a pivot bolt  911 . A locating slot  913  with opening  912  is set at the top of the hooked sheet  91 . At least an embedded locating flange  914  is set within the locating slot  913 . The top of the hooked sheet  91  can swing to the left and right sides of the snowboard boot press surface  41  such that the locating column  92  is locked into the embedded locating flange  914  of the locating slot  913 , helping to strengthen the positioning of the snowboard boot press surface  41  set on the rotary top pressboard  40 . In this preferred embodiment, the bottom of the hooked sheet  91  can be further extended towards the back of the rear plate  20  to form a control arm  915 . When the user intends to control the meshing or disengagement of the hooked sheet  91  and the locating column  92 , the control arm  915  can be triggered upwards and downwards (indicated by arrow L 9 ) for easier control. 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the auxiliary locator of top plate  90 B includes a single-way ratchet bar  93  and a control switch for locking release  94 . The control switch for locking release  94  is assembled at left and right sides of the snowboard boot press surface  41  of the rotary top pressboard  40 . A sleeving hole  930  is set at the bottom of the single-way ratchet bar  93 . Said sleeving hole  930  is of a different internal diameter at both ends. A mushroom locating stud  22  is set close to bottom at the left and right sides of the rear plate  20 , and used for locating of the sleeving hole  930  at the bottom of the single-way ratchet bar  93  (disclosed in  FIG. 10 ) as well as for its easy removal (disclosed in  FIG. 11 ). When the snowboard boot press surface  41  of the rotary top pressboard  40  is to swing forwards, the sleeving hole  930  at the bottom of the single-way ratchet bar  93  is removed from the locating stud  22 , so that the single-way ratchet bar  93  can swing together with the snowboard boot press surface  41 , without affecting the starting/movement of the rotary top pressboard  40 . The control switch for locking release  94  mentioned herein is used to tighten and release the single-way ratchet bar  93  as in the prior art.