Patent Publication Number: US-9844718-B2

Title: Interchangeable drive plates for snowboard bindings

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This application relates to the field of snowboard bindings. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Snowboarding encompasses many different styles of riding. Some may use a “freestyle” snowboard to ride a half pipe, jumps, and other terrain features. Others may use a “freeride” snowboard for backcountry snowboarding and long descents. Still others may use a powder board for riding in fresh snow. Each style of board will have unique dimensions to suit a style of riding. Likewise, each style of board will have different flexural properties. However, despite the many styles of boards and the various lengths and widths available, they do not remotely approach the diversity of the riders that will use them. Riders come in different shapes and sizes and all have different riding styles and preferences. Even during a given day of riding a rider may switch to a different board as the riding conditions change. 
     Accordingly, it would be an advancement in the art to provide means for tuning a snowboard&#39;s ride properties to suit each rider and the riding conditions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the invention, a snowboard binding includes a baseplate having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, the baseplate configured to secure to an upper surface of a snowboard, the plate having the lower surface facing the upper surface of the snowboard. A boot engagement member is secured to the baseplate and configured to secure the boot within the snowboard binding. A drive plate is secured to the upper or lower surface of the baseplate and has a stiffness effective to change flex properties of the binding for changing the driving interface between the rider (i.e., snowboard boot) and the snowboard. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the drive plate further includes a flex plate and a carriage to hold the flex plate, the carriage including a plurality of first fastening elements configured to mount the carriage to the baseplate and a plurality of second fastening elements configured to mount the carriage to the flex plate. In some embodiments, the flex plate receiver defines a recess on a first surface thereof and a plurality of tabs protruding from a second surface of the receiver opposite the first surface. The baseplate may define a plurality of tab receivers each positioned to receive one of the tabs of the plurality of tabs. The tabs and recesses between the receiver and the baseplate may be reversed such that the other has the tabs. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the plurality of tabs include one or more first tabs each including a first hooked end portion extending in a first direction and one or more second tabs including a second hooked end portion extending in a second direction opposite the first direction. In some embodiments, the first hooked end portion of each of the one or more first tabs extends toward the one or more second tabs. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the flex plate includes a laminate including one or more composite layers, such as fiberglass or carbon fiber. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the baseplate includes a circular opening with a toothed perimeter, the drive plate occluding the circular opening. The boot engagement member may further include a highback and at least one strap configured to secure a boot to the baseplate. The baseplate may further include two flanges extending outwardly from the upper surface, the highback and the at least one strap being mounted to the flanges and the baseplate being positioned between the flanges. 
     A corresponding method of use is also disclosed and claimed herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred and alternative examples of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings: 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are isometric views of a snowboard having bindings secured thereto in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are exploded views of a snowboard binding in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of a snowboard binding in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a snowboard binding in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , snowboard bindings  10  may mount to a snowboard  12 . The placement of the bindings  10  may vary according to user preference but generally have a longitudinal axis  14   a  of the binding oriented generally perpendicular to the long dimension of the snowboard  12 . As is apparent in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the binding on the right is generally perpendicular whereas the binding on the left is angled relative to perpendicular. Such positioning is set according to rider preference, including the angles of the bindings with respect to the board as well as the distance between the bindings and the proximity of the bindings to a toe-side edge or a heel-side edge of the board. The bindings  10  may be identical to one another or be mirrored relative to one another. Accordingly, the bindings illustrated herein may be understood to be suitable for a left or right binding with suitable mirroring. 
     Each binding  10  may define a longitudinal direction  14   a , generally corresponding to the long dimension of a wearer&#39;s foot or boot inserted therein. A vertical direction  14   b  is defined as perpendicular to the longitudinal direction  14   a  and oriented generally vertically when the snowboard  12  is positioned on a flat surface. A lateral direction  14   c  may be defined as perpendicular to both the longitudinal and vertical directions  14   a ,  14   b.    
     Each binding  10  may include a baseplate  16  for securing to the snowboard  12 . The baseplate  16  may define any conventional mounting interface for securing the binding  10 . Structures for securing a boot to the snowboard  12  may secure to the baseplate  16 . For example, a highback  18  and straps  20  may mount to the baseplate  16  in the conventional manner. In the illustrated embodiment, the baseplate  16  defines flanges  22  extending along the longitudinal direction  14   a  and offset from one another along the lateral direction  14   c . The highback  18  and straps  20  pivotally mount to the flanges  22  and a wearer&#39;s boot seats between the flanges  22  when secured to the binding  10 . 
     A drive plate, made up of a flex plate  24  and a carriage  26 , mounts to the baseplate  16 . In some embodiments, the carriage and flex plate may be integrated to form a single piece drive plate. In the illustrated embodiment, the flex plate  24  mounts above the baseplate  16  in the vertical direction  14   b  such that baseplate  16  is between the snowboard  12  and the flex plate  24  along the vertical direction  14   b.    
     The flex plate  24  may include a laminate structure similar to a laminate structure used to form snowboards. Specifically, the layers of the flex plate  24  may be stacked along the vertical direction  14   b  and each layer may extend in a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction  14   b . For example, the flex plate  24  may include one or more layers of composite material such as fiberglass or carbon fiber. The flex plate  24  may alternatively include layers of wood or plywood, a top protective layer made of plastic (such as a polyethylene or polyurethane) or other material, a foam or honeycombed core layer, or other layers known in the art to be used to construct a snowboard  12 . For example, metal sheets may be used in a layer in a composite flex plate or as the entire flex plate. Aluminum and titanium are examples of preferred metals. 
     The layers included in the flex plate  24  and the thickness thereof may vary. In particular, many different types of drive plates may be used and exchanged for one another in engagement with the baseplate  16 . In particular, the flexural strength of the flex plates  24  may vary such that a user may vary the ride qualities of the snowboard  12  by changing the drive plate. The flexural properties of the flex plate  24  are preferably such that securement of the drive plate to the baseplate  16  substantially and perceptibly alters the ride quality of the combined snowboard  12  and bindings  10 . Such may occur by changing the bending stiffness and/or torsional stiffness of the binding and, by connection, the snowboard as well. Relative to a standard snowboard binding base, the flex plate  24  may result in a softer or stiffer binding and board overall, depending on the flex plate used. A softer plate may be desired in some conditions and for some riders, such as for soft snow and/or light riders. A stiffer plate may be desired in some conditions and for some riders, such as for more aggressive riding in mixed snow. Park riders may desire less edge bight in some instances, while carvers on hard pack snow may wish to increase edge grip. 
     In some embodiments, rods or panels made of metal or composite material (e.g., fiberglass or carbon fiber) may insert within corresponding holes, e.g. holes extending in the longitudinal or lateral directions  14   a ,  14   c , in order to tune the flexural properties of the drive plate. For example, a user may add or remove rods or panels in order to make the drive plate more or less stiff, respectively. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the flex plate  24  may secure to the baseplate  16  by means of a carriage  26 . The carriage  26  may be made of rigid plastic and may cooperate with the rigidity of the drive plate to alter the ride properties of the combined bindings  10  and snowboard  12 . Alternatively, the carriage  26  may not significantly contribute to any modification of ride properties. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the carriage defines a recess  28  with an outer rim  30  of material extending outwardly from the recess  28  and the perimeter of a flex plate  24  secured within the recess  28 . A seating surface  32  at the bottom of the recess  28  may define an opening  34  in order to reduce the weight of the carriage  26 . The flex plate  24  may mount to the carriage  26  by means of fasteners such as screws. Accordingly, the flex plate  24  may define openings  36  and the carriage  26  may define openings  38  for receiving screws. Alternatively, the flex plate  24  may secure to the carriage  26  by means of an adhesive applied to the seating surface  32 . In use, the flex plate  24  may remain secured to the carriage  26 , i.e. where multiple drive plates with multiple properties are used, each flex plate  24  may have its own carriage  26  to which it remains secured. 
     In some embodiments, a pad  40  secures to the flex plate  24  and/or the carriage  26 . For example, the flex plate  24  may be sandwiched between the pad  40  and the carriage  26 . Thus, the drive plate is made up of the pad  40 , the flex plate  24 , and the carriage  26 . The carriage  26  may include a flexible rubber or elastomer and may be ribbed or otherwise textured to prevent slippage of a boot placed thereon. In some embodiments, the flex plate  24  may include graphics visible on the upper and/or lower surface thereof similar to graphics commonly included on the upper or lower surface of a snowboard. Accordingly, the pad  40  may define an opening  42  such that these graphics are at least partially visible. 
     As is apparent in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the flex plate  24  and carriage  26  may be positioned between the flanges  22 . The baseplate  16  may define an indexed opening  44 , i.e. a ring of teeth, for receiving a similarly indexed disc fastened to the snowboard in order to secure the baseplate  16  to the snowboard at a user-selectable position as known in the art. The flex plate  24  may cover this opening  44  when secured to the baseplate  16 . 
     In some embodiments, the baseplate  16  may include one or more forward tab receivers  46  and one or more rearward tab receivers  48 . In the illustrated embodiment, there are two forward tab receivers  46  and one rearward tab receivers  48 , but other configurations may also be used. The forward tab receivers  46  may be closer to a toe end of the baseplate  16  than the rearward tab receivers and the rearward tab receivers  48  may be closer to the heel end of the baseplate  16  than the forward tab receivers. 
     A lower surface of the carriage  26  may define one or more forward tabs  50  and one or more rearward tabs  52 . See  FIG. 2B . The tabs  50 ,  52  may be arranged to simultaneously be positioned within the receivers  46 ,  48 . In the illustrated embodiment, there are two forward tabs  50  and one rearward tab  52  corresponding to the configuration of the receivers  46 ,  48 . Other arrangements of the tabs  50 ,  52  may be used depending on the configuration of the receivers  46 ,  48 . Alternatively, the one or more of the tabs may be situated on the baseplate with corresponding receivers in the carriage of the drive plate to receive the tabs. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the forward tabs  50  include hooked end portions  54  and the rearward tab  52  includes a hooked end portion  56 . As is apparent in  FIG. 2B , the hooked end portions  54  extend rearwardly toward the rearward tab  52  and the hooked end portion  56  extends forwardly toward the forward tabs  50 . 
     The baseplate  16 , flex plate  24 , and carriage  26  as shown in  FIG. 3  may have the cross-sectional configuration shown in  FIG. 4 . In use, a user may insert the forward tabs  50  into the forward receivers  46  and then press downwardly on the rearward tab  52 . The rearward tab  52  may then be pressed against an angled surface  58  of the rearward receiver  48  and be elastically deformed thereby effective to urge the hooked end portion  58  over the angled surface  58 . Upon being forced past the angled surface  58 , the rearward tab  52  rebounds from being deformed such that the hooked end portion  58  now extends below a lower surface  60  of the baseplate  16 . Accordingly, the baseplate  16  is captured between the forward tabs  50  and rearward tab  52  and the hooked end portions  54 ,  56  thereof in order to secure the drive plate to the baseplate  16 . 
     The amount of securement force or strength provided by the tabs  46 ,  48  in engagement with the receivers  46 ,  48  need only be sufficient to secure the drive plate to the baseplate  16  during transportation inasmuch as the pressure of a wearer&#39;s boot on the drive plate during use will prevent disengagement. 
     Various alternative means may be used to secure the carriage  26  to the baseplate  16 . For example, only one of the forward and rearward tabs  50 ,  52  may be used and the other of the forward and rearward tabs  50 ,  52  may be replaced with a screw passing through the carriage  26  or flex plate  24  and threadably engaging the baseplate  16 . 
     In an alternate embodiment, the carriage and flex plate are an integrated member. Such a drive plate may be constructed of fiberglass infused plastic molded into the drive plate unit. Other materials may alternatively be used. 
     While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.