Abstract:
There is disclosed a snowboard binding which is equipped with a single strap which acts as a collar for the boot and which is hinged at one side on the base of the binding and at the opposite side it is fastened to a triangularly-shaped fastening system which, in turn, is secured to the base of the binding.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to snowboard bindings.  
         [0002]     In snowboard bindings currently being produced, the anchoring between the binding, which is attached to the board, and the boot is normally carried out through the use of two straps that, when the aforementioned piece of apparatus, i.e. the boot, is slotted in, are respectively positioned one at the heel area and the other at the toe area of the boot. Normally, each of the two straps is fixed to the base of the binding, respectively, on one side through a screw or other connection element and that is adjusted just once, when it is first slotted on and, on the other side, through a quick fastener, equipped with a continuous length adjustment system, substantially consisting of a toothed element that engages with a micro metric actuation mechanism in the form of a ratchet, defined by the term “pumping element.” 
         [0003]     First, through the fastening action of the two straps, independent from each other, and then with the ratchet-like closing action of the pumping element, the user, when he slots the boot onto the binding, adjusts the traction force between the two elements that make up the strap itself, or rather “sets” the value of the clamping force of the binding. Such a method of operation, as enthusiasts of this sport know very well, has the drawback of requiring the user to carry out a double adjustment that must be carried out after each run.  
         [0004]     In the current state of the art, snowboard bindings have been made that foresee just one fastening point of the two straps, so as to reduce the operations to be carried out to slot into the apparatus. However, such a constructive solution, although it reduces the fastening points, has the drawback of discharging the manoeuvring force imparted by the user&#39;s foot during use of the apparatus on a single point of the base of said apparatus. Such concentration of a substantial force at a single point causes a deformation of the base of the binding, which can reach high values, with a consequent loss of precision and stability in movement, up to the point of possibly breaking the base itself resulting in injury to the user of the apparatus.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The object of the present invention is to provide a snowboard binding that does not have the drawbacks suffered by similar known products.  
         [0006]     This object is accomplished by providing a snowboard binding wherein a single strap acts as a collar for the boot and wherein said strap is hinged, respectively on one side on the base of the apparatus and on the opposite side it is clipped to an articulated fastener that substantially resembles a frame with at least three sides, applied to the base itself. Specifically, the strap clips to the binding on the upper vertex of its substantially triangular configuration whereas the base of the triangle is stably anchored onto the base of the apparatus.  
         [0007]     Moreover, the substantially triangular profile of the fastener can take a variable angular opening so as to allow the strap to clip to it, with whatever shape that the aforementioned strap must adopt in order to be able to adapt to the different sizes and configurations of the various boots. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The present invention will be better understood through the description of some possible embodiments thereof, given as non-limiting examples, with the help of the attached drawings, wherein:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of the binding according to the present invention which is arranged towards the outside when the apparatus is slotted on;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the binding, opposite to the side view shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the binding according to  FIG. 1  in the closed position;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the binding according to  FIG. 1  in the open position;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a detailed view of the fastening area in the open position according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a detailed view of the fastening area in the closed position according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of the fastening area of the binding according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a detailed view of the fastening area of the binding according to the second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is an overall view of the block of the binding according to a third embodiment of the invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is a detailed view of the block of the binding according to a third embodiment of the invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the block of the binding according to a third embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 12  is a side elevational view of the fastening area of the binding according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]     As can be seen from the drawings, the snowboard binding according to the invention, generally indicated with reference numeral  1 , is of the type comprising a horizontal base  2  and a vertical wall  3 , for containing and supporting the boot, said two elements being fixed together in the side binding points  4 .  
         [0022]     The boot, when it is put on or mounted, is held on the apparatus through a single strap  5 , arranged transversally and that is positioned substantially at the instep of the boot or foot.  
         [0023]     Such a single strap  5  is connected to the base  2 , on one side, through the adjustment tang  6 , of the per se known type used in standard straps, which allows the aforementioned single strap to be centred at the middle of the boot, an operation that is carried out just once when the equipment is first used.  
         [0024]     On the opposite side, the side facing outwardly, when the apparatus is slotted in, the single strap  5  is connected to the base  2  through a fastening system, generally indicated by the reference numeral  7 . Fastening system  7  is substantially in the form of an articulated frame that has a configuration comparable, from the kinematic point of view, to a “triangle of forces,” in which the sides of the configuration practically consist of a toothed strap  8 , hingedly connected to a pin  9 , arranged close to the heel area and which can correspond with the aforementioned binding point  4  and a connecting rod-tie rod  10 , hingedly connected to the pin  11  on the base  2 , the base constituting the third side of the frame.  
         [0025]     The toothed strap  8  and the connecting rod-tie rod  10  are connected together through a block  13 , able to slide or lock, as better described hereafter, on the toothed strap  8 .  
         [0026]     The single strap  5  connects to the fastening system  7  through the action of the pumping or ratcheting element  14 , which, engaging on the teeth of the toothed strap  8 , slides on the latter until the regular fastening of the single strap  5  itself is achieved.  
         [0027]     As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , in a first embodiment, the single strap  5  connects to the fastening system  7  through a so-called “quick fastener,” generally indicated with reference numeral  15 , made between the sliding block  13  and the pumping element  14 .  
         [0028]     In operation, as can be seen in particular in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , from the open position shown in  FIG. 5  where both the block  13  and the pumping element  14  are spaced apart from each other and free to slide on the strap  8 , one passes to the mutual fastening position shown in  FIG. 6  for which reason the user, acting on the pumping element  14 , takes care of making the entire fastener  15  slide on the aforementioned strap so as to perfectly “set” the fastening force of the single strap  5  on the boot, in such a way making a self-adjusting fastener.” 
         [0029]     As can easily be seen from  FIG. 1 , the snowboard binding according to the invention has kinematic operation through which, thanks to the creation of a “triangle of forces,” made up of the toothed strap  8 , the connecting rod-tie rod  10 , the base  2  and possibly other reinforcement elements, which however do not alter the aforementioned triangular configuration, allows the traction force that occurs through the force “F” and that acts on the fastener  15  of the single strap  5  to be divided into two component forces. The component forces of force “F” are a force “F 1 ” that discharges near to the heel area, at the pin  9  of the toothed strap  8  and a force “F 2 ” that discharges through the fastening point  11  of the connecting rod  10 , in the front portion of the base  2 .  
         [0030]     In this manner, the two component forces F 1  and F 2  are of low intensity with respect to the main force F, for which reason they discharge on the base  2  tensions that do not deform the base itself.  
         [0031]     Again, as seen in  FIG. 1 , thanks to the combined action of the hinging of the connecting rod-tie rod  10  on the pin  11 , the hinging of the strap  8  on the pin  9  and the sliding of the fastener  15  on the toothed strap  8 , an articulated “triangle of forces” is made, which allows the angle “α” to be varied, so that the single strap  5  can adapt to any shape of the shell of the boot.  
         [0032]     As clearly seen in  FIG. 7 , in a second embodiment of the binding according to the invention, block  13  is integral with the toothed strap  8 , whereas the “setting” of the single strap  5  is carried out through the fastening and sliding of the pumping element  14  on the aforementioned straps, in such a way to result in a “fixed position adjustable fastener.” 
         [0033]     The positioning and locking of the block  13  on the strap  8 , which is carried out one time, when the apparatus is first slotted on, is obtained through fixed or elastic interlocking systems, which uses screws, rivets or other rigid or flexible elements.  
         [0034]     As can be seen in  FIG. 8 , a preferential embodiment of the connection of the block  13  with the strap  8  of the fixed interlocking type, is made through a ratchet or pin  16 , projecting from the base  17  of the block itself and which slots onto one of a series of holes  18  formed on the aforementioned strap.  
         [0035]     On the other hand, as can be seen in FIGS.  9  to  11 , a preferential embodiment of the connection of the block  13  with the strap  8  of the elastic interlocking type, which eases the aforementioned fastening/unfastening operation, is made by applying the ratchet  16  on an elastic foil  19  applied cantilevered below the base  17  of the block  13 , so that the aforementioned ratchet is flexible.  
         [0036]     As clearly seen in  FIG. 12 , in a fourth embodiment of the binding according to the invention, which is much simplified with respect to the previous ones, since the use of the block  13  is eliminated, the toothed strap  8 . 1  is connected to the single strap  5  and where the kinematic scheme of the “triangle of forces” is obtained wherein the pumping element  20  is applied onto the strap  21 , in turn hinged to the pin  9 , so as to form a side of the triangle and wherein, again on the pumping element  20 , the connecting rod  10 , which constitutes the other side of the configuration, is connected through the pin  22  to the binding base.  
         [0037]     This fourth constructive solution also forms a “fixed position adjustable fastener,” where the positioning and locking of the pumping element  20  on the strap  21 , is carried out one time, when the apparatus is first slotted on, and takes place through fixed or removable interlocking systems, which use screws, rivets or other rigid or flexible elements that engage on one of the holes  23 .  
         [0038]     For safe use of the binding of the present invention, a flap  24  projects from the base  2 , in a frontal position, so as to prevent the boot from riding over the side edge  25  of the binding, in the case in which an accentuated rotation of the foot causes it to lift up.  
         [0039]     Moreover, in order to allow greater adaptation of the single strap  5 , it can be fixed to the base  2 , in its front part, through a tang  26 , of adjustable length, so as to be able to adapt to the shape of the boot. The operation to be carried out just once, when the boot is first slotted on.  
         [0040]     Finally, in operation, the entry/exit of the boot into/from the apparatus takes place from above, as in conventional bindings, by firstly taking care of disengaging the pumping element  14 / 20  from the corresponding toothed strap  8 / 21  and then rotating the entire single strap  5  on the pivots  27 , to completely free the support area of the boot.  
         [0041]     From what has been described above it is obvious that the predetermined purpose has been accomplished, that of being able to make a snowboard binding that has all of the essential conditions to ensure simplified use with maximum safety. In particular, thanks to the fixed length of the connecting rod  10 , any possible rotation of the strap  8 / 21  is eliminated, thus avoiding the boot being able to lift up and thus lose contact with the support base of the binding.  
         [0042]     Of course, further embodiments are possible, according to the shape and size of the shell of the boot, of the base of the binding and of the fastening system, without for this reason departing from the scope of the following claims.