Patent Publication Number: US-10780340-B2

Title: Self-aligning snowboard binding

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application for Patent Ser. No. 62/657,319, titled “Self-aligning snowboard (SAS) binding,” which was filed on Apr. 13, 2018 and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to snowboard bindings. In particular, the present invention is directed to a Self-Aligning Snowboard Binding. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A snowboard rider wears boots that fit into manually releasable bindings which are attached to the top surface of the snowboard, analogous to bindings on alpine skis. Regular snowboard bindings use two straps to secure the riders boot to the snowboard. One strap wraps around the heel of the boot and one secures the toe of the boot. These straps are connected, released, and tightened with a ratchet system. 
     The ratchet system used by regular snowboard bindings requires fine motor skills that may not have developed in younger snowboard riders and may also require two-handed operation. This makes the process of securing one&#39;s feet to a snowboard especially difficult for young participants of the sport. 
     Regular snowboard bindings can also can be confusing for beginners, thus the process of securing one&#39;s feet to the snowboard can often be arduous and time consuming. This adds to the already difficult task of learning how to snowboard and can make learning less enjoyable. 
     A commonly cited disadvantage of snowboarding compared to skiing is that snowboarders must constantly attach and detach their boots to and from their bindings whenever they use the ski lift while skiers do not. This process is time consuming and often means the user must sit in the cold snow while attaching their boots to the binding. 
     Therefore, a need exists for a novel binding that is easier for young snowboard riders to operate, less confusing for beginners, and faster to attach and detach than regular snowboard bindings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a snowboard binding is provided that includes a baseplate configured to receive a boot, and a first clip connected to the baseplate, the first clip having a first top face, a first front portion, and a first rear portion, wherein the first rear portion includes a first engagement member extending from the first top face, the first engagement member including a first hook portion, and wherein the first top face includes a first magnet having an outward facing polarity. A second clip has a second top face, a second front portion, and a second rear portion, wherein the second rear portion includes a second engagement member extending from the second top face, the second engagement member including a second hook portion, the second hook portion configured to be an interlocking counterpart to the first hook portion, and wherein the second top face includes a second magnet, the second magnet having an outward facing polarity that is opposite the first outward facing polarity. A tensioning mechanism is connected to the second clip, and a strap is connected to the tensioning mechanism and the baseplate. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, a clip for a self-aligning snowboard binding is provided that includes a base having a top face, a bottom, a front portion, and a rear portion, wherein an aperture passes through the base from the top face through the bottom. An engagement member extends from the top face proximate the front portion, and includes a first magnet and a hook portion. A second magnet is embedded in the rear portion of the top face, the second magnet having an outward facing polarity that is opposite of an outward facing polarity the first magnet. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, a method of securing a boot to a snowboard is provided that includes placing a boot onto a baseplate of a binding, the baseplate having a first magnetic clip, and pulling a strap over the boot, the strap having a second magnetic clip and a lever. The first clip is placed proximate the second clip so as to loosely couple the boot to the baseplate, and then the lever is closed so as to secure the boot to the baseplate 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show aspects of one or more embodiments of the invention. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a boot secured to a self-aligning snowboard binding in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the boot secured to the binding; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the boot secured to the binding; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of components of a magnetic buckle in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the components of the magnetic buckle aligned prior to engagement; 
         FIG. 5B  is a side view of the components of the magnetic buckle aligned prior to engagement; 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of the components of the magnetic buckle after the initial engagement has been made; 
         FIG. 6B  is a side view of the components of the magnetic buckle after the initial engagement has been made; 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of the components of the magnetic buckle after the buckle has been fully engaged; 
         FIG. 7B  is a side view of the components of the magnetic buckle after the buckle has been fully engaged; 
         FIG. 8A  is a bottom view of the magnetic buckle after the buckle has been fully engaged; 
         FIG. 8B  is a cross section view of the magnetic buckle after the buckle has been fully engaged through line A-A; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of a buckle and lever assembly in the “unstrapped” or “open” position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the buckle and lever assembly when in the “tightened” or “closed” position; and 
         FIG. 11  is a process diagram outlining the steps of strapping in with a self-aligning binding in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The self-aligning snowshoe binding of the present invention simplifies the process of “strapping in” to a snowboard through the use of a self-aligning buckle that includes two mating clips, and each clip contains a pair of offset magnets. One clip is rigidly attached to a snowboard binding and the other, mating clip, is connected to an ankle or toe strap via a cam actuated lever or other suitable mechanism. Such mechanisms may include a ratcheting system in which the strap is partially attached to a ratchet and the end of the strap is attached to the top clip, a twist nob configured to tighten the strap, or a looping a strap threaded through the top clip which can be held in a position that keeps tension on the strap by a hook and loop fastener or similar. 
     The opposite side of the ankle/toe strap is secured to the binding with an adjustable mechanism. When the two clips are brought within about ¼ inch of each other, the magnets engage to create a loose buckle condition. The cam lever is depressed and brought in-line with the ankle/toe straps to tighten the boot into the binding. When the cam lever is depressed, the magnetic clips lock together in a hooking fashion such that they will stay locked together as long as tension in the strap is maintained. The tension can be preset by adjusting the length of the heel or toe strap using an adjustable mechanism on the outboard side of the corresponding ankle/toe strap. Once the preset tension is configured, further changes to the adjustable mechanism are generally not required. 
     In an embodiment, as depicted in  FIGS. 1-3 , a binding-boot assembly  20  includes a boot  22  secured in a binding assembly  24 . The binding assembly includes a lever  1 , a connector  2 , a pivot point  3 , a strap  4 , an adjustable mechanism  5 , a top magnetic clip  6 , a bottom magnetic clip  7 , and a baseplate  8 . Lever  1  is used to tighten or loosen strap  4  around boot  22 . When lever  1  is depressed, strap  4  tightens around boot  22 ; when lever  1  is raised, strap  4  loosens. Lever  1  is connected to pivot point  3  (as can be seen more clearly in  FIG. 9 ) that is rigidly attached to strap  4  and is connected to connector  2 . Connector  2  is connected to both lever  1  and top magnetic clip  6  with pin joints or another suitable mechanism. Bottom magnetic clip  7  is rigidly attached to baseplate  8  of the binding assembly. Adjustable mechanism  5  is attached rigidly to strap  4  and connects strap  4  to baseplate  8 . In this way, adjustable mechanism  5  allows the user to change the length of binding strap  4 . This allows the binding to be compatible with multiple boot sizes and for the user to adjust how tight strap  4  will be around boot  22  when lever  1  is closed. 
     Turning to  FIG. 4 , a pair of counterpart magnetic clips, a top magnetic clip  6  and a bottom magnetic clip  7  are depicted apart from the rest of binding assembly  24 . Each of these magnetic clips contains two magnets imbedded into a front surface. Top clip  6  includes a first magnet  9  and a second magnet  10  while bottom clip  7  includes a third magnet  11  and a fourth magnet  12 . Magnet  9  and magnet  11  have the “north” side facing upwards while magnet  10  and magnet  12  have the “south” side facing upwards. The purpose of the magnets is to draw the two clips together to form a loose buckle condition. A hooking portion  13  (e.g.,  13   a ,  13   b ) is included on each of the clips and will draw top clip  6  and bottom clip  7  together due to magnetic attraction prior to full engagement. When the clips are fully engaged, two angled portions of hooking parts  13  fit together in a fashion such that the clips cannot be pulled apart. In a preferred embodiment, the angled portions have a 45 degree angle. A channel  14  (e.g.,  14   a ,  14   b ) is an open area on each clip that passes through the clip to prevent snow from getting stuck inside, which could prevent the clips from fully engaging. When top clip  6  and bottom clip  7  engage, any snow that is inside the clips can be pushed out through channel  14 . In certain embodiments, a wall  15  (e.g.,  15   a - 15   d ) can protrude from each edge of the base of each clip. Walls  15   a - 15   d  make the clips resistant to separating from shear force. Walls  15   a - 15   d  also guide the clips when they transfer from the partially engaged state to the fully engaged state, as shown in  FIGS. 7A-7B . 
       FIGS. 5A-8B  detail three identified stages that take place as the clips are engaged when the user operates the binding. The positioning and alignment of magnets  9 - 10  in top clip  6  and magnets  11 - 12  in bottom clip  7  serve to assist with the proper alignment of top clip  6  and bottom clip  7  prior to full engagement. Magnet  9  and magnet  11  may have, for example, the “north” side of the magnets facing upwards while magnet  10  and magnet  12  have the opposite side, “south” in this example, facing upwards. With this configuration (or similar), when top clip  6  and bottom clip  7  are brought relatively close together, as shown in  FIGS. 5A-5B , magnet  9  and magnet  12  are attracted to each other and magnet  10  and magnet  11  are attracted to each other. 
     When the magnets are drawn together, top clip  6  and bottom clip  7  will be partially engaged, as shown in  FIGS. 6A-6B . This partial engagement occurs when the clips are brought close enough together (such as about an inch or less depending on the size and strength of the magnets) for the magnets to attract and pull top clip  6  into contact with bottom clip  7 . In this position, the clips can be separated easily by applying a vertical force but are resistant to separating from shear force because of walls  15   a - 15   d , which also guide the clips when they transfer from the partially engaged state to the fully engaged state. 
     Top clip  6  and bottom clip  7  are shown in a fully engaged state in  FIGS. 7A-8B . In this position, the clips hold firmly in place due to the tension created, such as when lever  1  or a similar mechanism is closed as illustrated in  FIGS. 9-10 . In the fully engaged state the clips are resistant to being separated by shear or vertical forces that may be applied. This resistance to separation is due in part to having a connection mechanism that is aligned when the magnets attract and fully engaged when opposing tensions are applied to each clip. For example, hooking portion  13   a  of clip  6  and hooking portion  13   b  of clip  7  interlock when in the binding is in the fully engaged position. The counterpart connection of hooking portions  13  is most clearly illustrated in  FIG. 10 . This allows the boot to be securely fastened to the board when opposing tension is applied to the clips, such as when lever  1  is engaged. The user can easily release boot  22  from the binding by releasing the opposing tension, such as by opening lever  1  and separating the clips. It will be understood that other suitable mechanisms may be used for applying tension, such as a ratchet or similar, and that other interlocking mechanisms may be used such as one or more aligned tongue and grooves. 
     The transition into the fully engaged state occurs when lever  1  is closed or when the binding is tightened in another fashion. This transition is shown in  FIGS. 9-10 , with  FIG. 9  showing lever  1  open and  FIG. 10  showing lever  1  closed and the clips in the fully engaged position. 
     As noted,  FIG. 9  illustrates the clip, lever and strap system in the open position. In this position, the user is free to insert a boot into the binding because the clips have not been engaged and lever  1  is open, so strap  4  is loose. In  FIG. 10 , the binding is shown in the locked and tightened position. In this position, clip  6  and clip  7  are fully engaged and can only be separated if lever  1  is released. Strap  4  is also pulled tight around the user&#39;s boot. The closing of lever  1  as shown in  FIG. 10  causes the clips to convert from the partially engaged position to the fully engaged position as mentioned above. 
     Turning to  FIG. 11 , a self-aligning snowshoe binding process diagram  100  is shown. In operation, a user inserts a boot into the binding at step  104 . The user then grabs a binding strap and pulls the strap over the top of the boot while simultaneously moving a first clip close to a second clip at step  108 . When the clips are close enough together at step  112 , magnets embedded in the clips will pull the two clips together and create partial engagement of the clips. Once the clips are partially engaged, the user places tension on the buckle at step  116 . The tension causes the clips to engage fully, which allows the strap to be tightened around the user&#39;s boot. To release the boot from the binding, the user releases the tension at step  120  and disengages the magnetic clips. This is possible because when tension is removed, the clips return to the partially engaged position, and so can be easily separated. Once the clips are separated, the boot can easily be removed from the binding. 
     Exemplary embodiments have been disclosed above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions and additions may be made to that which is specifically disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.