Patent ID: 7178821

Claim:
A universal binding apparatus for detachably securing a footwear-type article to multiple different articles, the apparatus comprising: a first plate that can attach to a first article and that comprises: a toe retaining latch, disposed at a front portion of the first plate; a heel retaining latch, disposed at a rear portion of the first plate; and a first release, disposed between the toe retaining latch and the heel retaining latch, to disengage either the toe retaining latch or the heel retaining latch; a second plate that can attach to a second article not secured to first plate and that comprises: a toe support, disposed at a front portion of the second plate; and a heel support, disposed at a rear portion of the second plate, wherein the second plate is detachably secured to the first plate with the toe support engaged within the toe retaining latch and the heel support engaged within the heel retaining latch and wherein the first release operates to movably disengage either the toe retaining latch or the heel retaining latch or both from the second plate, the second plate also being configured to interchangeably and detachably secure to a third plate of a third article of a different type than the second article, the third plate being configured similar to the first plate to secure the second plate.