Patent Publication Number: US-2004056450-A1

Title: Binding, particularly for snow-boards

Description:
[0001] This application is a U.S. national-phase application of International Application No. PCT/IT00/00545. 
    
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a binding, particularly for snowboards.  
       TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND  
       [0003] A snow board binding normally comprises a main body which is intended to support the boot and can be mounted on the snow board, and to which further elements such as, for example, a support for the rear portion of the boot and one or more fastening straps are fixed to complete the binding. These elements are typically fixed to the main body by screws and there is usually provision for their fixing positions on the main body to be adjustable. In fact, for each element, a plurality of holes is formed in the main body, the holes corresponding to different positions in which the elements can be fixed by the screws. In order not to impair the capability for subsequent adjustment, the holes and screws are normally left in view.  
       [0004] However, this technology leads to a potential risk that the functionality and effectiveness of the adjustment of the binding may be compromised. For example, the screws may be loosened by knocks, the screws and/or lock nuts may be lost if loosening takes place, or the empty holes may be damaged or blocked.  
       [0005] A further disadvantage is due to the fact that these parts of the binding are directly visible, which at least partially compromises its overall appearance and, moreover, any screws projecting from the profile of the binding may cause abrasions and small wounds.  
       [0006] As a result of the disadvantages described briefly, a need has thus arisen to protect the areas of the binding referred to above.  
       [0007] In the technical field to which the invention relates, bindings are also known in which the mechanism for fixing the binding to the board and its adjustment thereon are protected by a plate fixed removably to the main body of the binding by further screws. However, the translocation of this solution to protect the areas defined above would obstruct subsequent adjustment of the binding and would be decidedly impractical in the usual conditions of use of the snow board.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008] The problem solved by the present invention is that of providing a binding, particularly for snow boards, which is designed structurally and functionally to fulfil the need explained above, at the same time overcoming the limitations set out with reference to the prior art mentioned.  
       [0009] Within the scope of this problem, a main object of the invention is to provide a binding which is designed in a manner such that all of the above-mentioned areas are protected together and are possibly rendered accessible by a single operation.  
       [0010] This problem is solved and this object is achieved by the present invention by providing a snow board binding formed as described below. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0011] The characteristics and the advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:  
     [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing, from the rear, a snow board binding formed in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0013]FIG. 2 is a similar perspective view of a first detail of the binding of FIG. 1; and  
     [0014]FIG. 3 is a similar perspective view of a second detail of the binding of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION  
     [0015] A snow board binding formed in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated by the reference number  1  in the drawings.  
     [0016] The binding  1  comprises a main body  2  to be mounted in an adjustable manner on a snow board, not shown in the appended drawings, in order to house thereon and restrain a shoe or boot, also not shown.  
     [0017] The main body  2  is advantageously molded in one piece of plastic material and comprises a base  3  along the side edges of which there are upright side walls  4 . The latter are connected and joined together in a heel region of the base  3  by a bridge element  5  for supporting the rear portion of the shoe or boot.  
     [0018] According to a known mounting system, the base  3  has a circular hole (not shown) on the peripheral edge of which a set of face teeth is formed for fixing the main body  2  to the snow board and its adjustment thereon.  
     [0019] Each side wall  4  comprises a first wall  7  the lower edge of which is integral with the base  3  and a second wall  8  disposed on the side remote from the base  3  and substantially parallel to and spaced from the first wall  7 . A space  9  is thus defined between the first and second walls  7 ,  8 .  
     [0020] The second wall  8  is also connected to the first wall  7  at its edge remote from the base  3  so as to define an upper rim  10  of the side walls  4 .  
     [0021] As mentioned above, the bridge element  5  extends to connect the side walls  4  and portions constituting natural continuations of the side walls  4  can be identified therein. The bridge element  5  thus defines a shoulder  7   a , a rim  10   a , and a lip  8   a , corresponding to the first walls  7 , to the upper rim  10 , and to the second walls  8 , respectively.  
     [0022] It will be noted that the lip  8   a  extends from the rim  10   a  to a lesser extent than the shoulder  7   a  so that a predominant part of the shoulder  7   a  is in view.  
     [0023] Holes  11  are formed symmetrically in each first wall  7  in the region of the ankle of the boot for the insertion of screws to fix a fastening of the binding  1  in an adjustable position relative to the main body  2 . The fastening is fixed in a conventional manner, not shown in the appended drawings.  
     [0024] The presence of the holes  11  leads to the definition, in the side walls  4 , of areas  12  which include the holes  11  and the portion of the first wall  7  immediately adjacent thereto.  
     [0025] Respective holes  13  are provided in each second wall  8  in the region of the areas  12  defined above, for access to the areas  12 .  
     [0026] According to the present invention, the binding  1  comprises a substantially C-shaped masking element  14  of a shape generally conforming to that of the bridge element  5 . At the opposite ends of the masking element  14  there are plates  15  for masking the areas  12  defined in the side walls  4 .  
     [0027] The masking element  14  is preferably made of resilient material so that the plates  15  can be moved resiliently towards or away from one another.  
     [0028] The plates  15  have dished shapes with mutually facing concave surfaces  15   a  and peripheries substantially matching those of the holes  13  formed in the second walls  8 ; moreover, the plates  15  project slightly relative to the profile of the masking element  14 .  
     [0029] According to the invention, the masking element  14  can be snap-coupled releasably with the main body  2  so that, in a normal condition of use, the areas  12  are protected by the respective plates  15 .  
     [0030] The masking element  14  is coupled with the main body  2  by the insertion of the plates  15  in the space  9  from the end at which the bridge element  5  is disposed. The dimensions of the masking element  14  are such that the plates  15  have to be moved resiliently towards one another in order to be fitted in the space  9 . In the region of the holes  13 , the plates  15  are consequently moved so as to snap into the holes  13 . The plates  15  are thus held resiliently in engagement in the holes  13 , any further relative movement parallel to the walls  7 ,  8  being prevented by the form fit between the holes  13  and the plates  15 .  
     [0031] It will be noted that, as well as achieving the above-mentioned form fit, the dished shape of the plates  15  prevents interference, during the insertion of the masking element  14 , between the plates  15  and any screws inserted in one of the holes  11  and projecting from the first wall  7 . In the coupled condition, the screws are housed in the concave portions of the plates  15 .  
     [0032] It will also be noted that, for firmer coupling, a predominant portion of the masking element  14  bears against the shoulder  7   a  of the bridge element  5  in the coupled condition. Moreover, it is partially housed in a seat  16  defined between the lip  8   a , the rim  10   a , and the shoulder  7   a.    
     [0033] It will be noted that, in the coupled condition described above and shown in FIG. 1, the surfaces of the plates  15  are substantially flush with the second wall  8 .  
     [0034] In order to disconnect the masking element  14  from the main body  2 , thus affording access to the area  12 , it suffices to press the plates  15  towards the first wall  7 , releasing them from the respective holes  13 , and to remove the entire masking element  14  from the space  9 .  
     [0035] To facilitate this operation, an inclined lead-in plane  17  is advantageously provided in the second wall  8 , extending from the hole  13 , away from the bridge element  5 . It is thus possible to remove the masking element  14  at least partially by acting solely on the plates  15 .  
     [0036] The present invention thus solves the problem identified above with reference to the prior art mentioned, at the same time offering many other advantages, amongst which a first advantage is that all of the areas are masked or rendered accessible simultaneously by a single element.  
     [0037] A second advantage of the invention is that the masking element is inserted in the main body following the outer profile thereof, thus improving the overall aesthetic appearance of the binding.  
     [0038] A third advantage is that adequate protection for specific areas of the main body is ensured, in combination with practicality of access to these areas.  
     [0039] A fourth advantage is that external apparatus or tools are not required for access to the protected areas.  
     [0040] A fifth advantage is that the masking element can be made with a different color and/or finish from those of the main body, permitting various types of decoration of the binding.  
     [0041] It will also be noted that, although in the preferred embodiment described above the invention is used for protecting areas comprising screws and respective positioning holes, it is similarly applicable to the protection and/or masking of any area of the binding, irrespective of the specific requirement which may have given rise to the need for such protection or masking.