Abstract:
An improved supplemental binding attachment scheme involving an extended strap and customizing tool enables customizing of a strapped article of leisure wear. The customizing tool may take the form of a stud, or any number of personalized shapes, including characters, strings, logos, icons and anything that attaches to show that any article belongs to a user. Kits, straps, and software based instructions are likewise included in the present disclosure.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/866,793, filed Aug. 16, 2013, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to the field of binding systems and devices with improved attachment and detachment of the same. More particularly, the disclosure relates to those systems and devices which can be used to bind snowboards or other similar sporting apparatuses. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Snowboarding is a recreational sport that combines certain aspects of skiing and skateboarding. It is practiced on an elongated board with boot-binding fixtures which allow a user to fasten the board to his boots. The board must be securely fastened to the user&#39;s boots while the user snowboards downhill. However, when walking or shuffling along a substantially level surface, the user must detach one or both boots from the board in order to easily move about. 
         [0004]    During a typical day of snowboarding, a snowboarder may go on dozens of runs down a slope, each time having to detach and reattach his bindings in order to move about and get on and off the chairlift. For those reasons, it is desirable for boot bindings to be, on the one hand, secure and tightly fastened while snowboarding downhill, and on the other hand, easily detachable when moving around on even surfaces. 
         [0005]    Various improvements have been attempted with respect to boot bindings, including the inventions described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,356,159; 5,609,347; 5,857,700; 6,250,651; 6,604,746; 6,644,681; 6,773,020; 6,974,149; 7,011,333; 7,036,830; 7,694,994; 7,887,082; 8,226,108; 8,276,921; 8,356,822; 8,371,004; 8,424,168; and 8,500,151; as well as U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2002/0000707; 2012/0255980; and 2012/0292887. The contents of all U.S. Patents and Publications cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety, as if fully set forth herein. 
         [0006]    Despite the improvements noted above, there still exists a need to more easily facilitate the attachment and detachment of bindings. One problem with bindings currently know in the art that utilize straps to secure the binding, when the male strap becomes completely dislodged from the female connection piece, it is difficult to feed the male piece back through quickly and efficiently. This is especially true when the user is wearing gloves or mittens, which is generally the case when snowboarding or engaging in other cold-weather outdoor activities. A mechanism that obviates the need to feed a male end through a female end would be a particularly useful advancement. Snowboarders also have a need to definitively identify their snowboards from those of other users, particularly when the board is detached and commingled with other users&#39; equipment. The present invention provides devices and systems that make attachment and detachment of bindings easier, as well as provides a customizable feature to help identify the user&#39;s equipment. The invention addresses longstanding needs in the art and constitutes progress in science and the useful arts worthy of Letters Patent protection, it is respectfully proposed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    This disclosure provides a device and system to allow the user to customize and provide for improved binding strap support and ready releasable fastening and detachment of the bindings as has not been heretofore provided. The invention of the present disclosure can be used in conjunction with any of the bindings and straps described in the above-referenced patents and applications, all of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
         [0008]    Briefly stated, an improved attachment scheme involving an extended strap and customizing tool enables rapid ingress and egress from a snowboard boot. The customizing tool may take the form of a stud or any number of personalized shapes, including characters, strings, logos, icons, and the like. In addition to preventing the strap from becoming detached, the attachment piece is useful to identify and distinguish the snowboard or other equipment from similar equipment belonging to others. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment, the invention comprises at least an extended male snowboard strap comprising a proximal and distal end, the distal end configured to be threaded or passed through a female ratcheting mechanism receptor piece on one or both of the toe and ankle bindings and a customizable stud attached on or near the distal end of the strap, which when attached, prevents the male strap from slipping back through the female piece, thereby preventing the male and female components from being fully detached from each other when the stud is in place. The stud therefore functions not only to hold the bindings in place, but also to identify the equipment as belonging to a particular owner. 
         [0010]    According to embodiments, there is disclosed, a method for improving attachment time for a snowboard binding, comprising; providing at least an extended male snowboard strap, matingly engageable at at least one of the toe and ankle attachment section of the respective binding portion; and at least a customizable studlike attachment member; grabbing the at least an extended male snowboard strap, matingly engageable at at least one of the toe and ankle attachment section of the respective binding portion proximate to the at least a customizable stud-like attachment member; and strapping in wherein the duration of the cycle comprises at least about three to at least about 10 seconds faster than conventional systems. 
         [0011]    According to embodiments, there is disclosed an improved supplemental snowboard binding attachment scheme, comprising, in combination, at least an extended strapping member; and at least a customizable stud-like attachment member affixed proximate to the at least one extending strapping member for readily locating the same in space and making the subject snowboard distinct. 
         [0012]    According to embodiments, there is disclosed a stylized apparatus for bindingly accepting a strap, belt, cord, or the like, the apparatus comprising a body; and a securement manner for securing the body to the strap, belt, cord, or the like. The device further comprising a customizable piece attached to the stud, wherein the customizable piece may be part of a matched-set of pieces for other personal leisure goods selected from the group of back-packs, ski-boots, wake board bindings, fanny-packs, travel gear, outdoor gear, climbing gear and boot straps. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The above-mentioned features of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic of the device and apparatus of the present invention, not drawn to scale or connected to a snowboard as the same would be known to artisans; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  schematically illustrates the sites for attachment of aspects of improvements, according to the present inventions, with a conventional binding showing one attachment site; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3A  schematically illustrates the components of one possible configuration for how the stud is held in place on the male strap; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3B  shows the components as they fit together, according to embodiments. 
           [0018]    While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the present disclosure that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the present disclosure&#39;s teachings will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the appendices, figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. All descriptions and callouts in the Figures are hereby incorporated by this reference as if fully set forth herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    The present inventor has discovered that by adding a body with attachment to anything with certain types of straps is a fail-safe mechanism and a personalizing icon can be combined into a new apparatus. 
         [0020]    This disclosure provides a device and system to allow the user to customize and provide for improved binding strap support and ready releasable fastening and detachment of the bindings as has not been heretofore provided. The present inventor has discovered that one can combine conventional binding systems with an enhancement to at least one male snowboard binding strap and provide a customization tool. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  shows a stud  88 , which is customizable because it is capable of attaching to a variety of individualized screw tops  99 . The screw top  99  is configurable in any number of personalized shapes, including characters, strings, logos, icons and anything that attaches thereto. The stud  88  is connected to the male strap  77 , shown in cross-section. The attachment can be by any means known in the art, including by screws, magnets, adhesives, and the like. 
         [0022]    The attachment  99  which is configurable in any number of personalized shapes, including characters, strings, logos, icons and anything that attaches to show your own snowboard. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  shows a snowboard binding apparatus  205  attached to a snowboard  201 . The binding apparatus  205  has two attachment mechanisms, one for the ankle and one for the toe. Each of the binding mechanisms comprises an elongated male strap  77 , which can be fed through its corresponding female ratcheting mechanism  223 . At the end of each strap  77  there is a stud  88 , which is capable of preventing the strap from slipping back through and disconnecting from the female ratcheting mechanism, thereby preventing the male and female pieces from coming apart. For ease of viewing, the figure is depicted with the male straps  77  not engaged with the female ratcheting mechanisms  223 . However, in practice the user would connect the studs  88  only after the male and female pieces are connected. The combination of the stud  88  with the amply elongated male strap  77  results in a binding connection that can be loosened to easily allow the boot in and out of the binding, but at the same time prevents the strap from coming all the way out. The conventional snowboard bindings of  FIG. 2  are enhanced with strapping extensions  77  as known to those skilled in the art to have taken many forms. As is known to those skilled in the art, there are many types of straps that can be utilized with the disclosed invention. Ladder straps or other ratcheting connections are of particular use in snowboarding equipment. 
         [0024]    Strapping extension are typically 7.5″, but the present invention contemplatesa 16″ ankle strap. This way, the binding straps never fully come apart. Instead, undoing the binding results in the strap loosening enough to allow the user&#39;s boot to go in an out, but keeps the connection in place so that the user can quickly and easily lean over and re-strap his foot. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3A  shows a schematic view of the components of the invention and how they could fit together. The male strap  77  is connectable to the stud  88  via an opening, mouth, indentation, orifice, aperture, or the like. The male strap  77  can comprise a strap, belt, band, rope, cord, cable or the like. The male strap  77  and the stud  88  can be attached by means of a screw  301  or a similar mechanism, including a clamp, a magnet, a bolt latch, a lock, or the like. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3B  shows the components of  FIG. 3A  in their assembled configuration. The male strap  77  fits inside the stud  88 . The screw  301  holds the pieces together. 
         [0027]    Those skilled in the art understand how any strapped item functions with to instant invention, so further details are omitted. 
         [0028]    While the method and apparatus have been described in terms of what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understood that the disclosure need not be limited to the disclosed implementations. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. The present disclosure includes any and all implementations of the following claims. 
         [0029]    It should also be understood that a variety of changes may be made without departing from the essence of the disclosure. Such changes are also implicitly included in the description. They still fall within the scope of this disclosure. It should be understood that this disclosure is intended to yield a patent covering numerous aspects of the disclosure both independently and as an overall system and in both method and apparatus modes. 
         [0030]    Further, each of the various elements of the disclosure and claims may also be achieved in a variety of manners. This disclosure should be understood to encompass each such variation, be it a variation of an implementation of any apparatus implementation, a method or process implementation, or even merely a variation of any element of these. 
         [0031]    Particularly, it should be understood that as the disclosure relates to elements of the disclosure, the words for each element may be expressed by equivalent apparatus terms or method terms—even if only the function or result is the same. 
         [0032]    Such equivalent, broader, or even more generic terms should be considered to be encompassed in the description of each element or action. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this disclosure is entitled. 
         [0033]    It should be understood that all actions may be expressed as a means for taking that action or as an element which causes that action. 
         [0034]    Similarly, each physical element disclosed should be understood to encompass a disclosure of the action which that physical element facilitates. 
         [0035]    Any patents, publications, or other references mentioned in this application for patent are hereby incorporated by reference. In addition, as to each term used it should be understood that unless its utilization in this application is inconsistent with such interpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood as incorporated for each term and all definitions, alternative terms, and synonyms such as contained in at least one of a standard technical dictionary recognized by artisans and the Random House Webster&#39;s Unabridged Dictionary, latest edition are hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0036]    Finally, all referenced listed in the Information Disclosure Statement or other information statement filed with the application are hereby appended and hereby incorporated by reference; however, as to each of the above, to the extent that such information or statements incorporated by reference might be considered inconsistent with the patenting of this/these disclosure(s), such statements are expressly not to be considered as made by the applicant(s). 
         [0037]    In this regard it should be understood that for practical reasons and so as to avoid adding potentially hundreds of claims, the applicant has presented claims with initial dependencies only. 
         [0038]    Support should be understood to exist to the degree required under new matter laws—including but not limited to United States Patent Law 35 USC 132 or other such laws—to permit the addition of any of the various dependencies or other elements presented under one independent claim or concept as dependencies or elements under any other independent claim or concept. 
         [0039]    To the extent that insubstantial substitutes are made, to the extent that the applicant did not in fact draft any claim so as to literally encompass any particular implementation, and to the extent otherwise applicable, the applicant should not be understood to have in any way intended to or actually relinquished such coverage as the applicant simply may not have been able to anticipate all eventualities; one skilled in the art, should not be reasonably expected to have drafted a claim that would have literally encompassed such alternative implementations. 
         [0040]    Further, the use of the transitional phrase “comprising” is used to maintain the “open-end” claims herein, according to traditional claim interpretation. Thus, unless the context requires otherwise, it should be understood that the term “compromise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, are intended to imply the inclusion of a stated element or step or group of elements or steps but not the exclusion of any other element or step or group of elements or steps. 
         [0041]    Such terms should be interpreted in their most expansive forms so as to afford the applicant the broadest coverage legally permissible.