Patent ID: 7159892

Claim:
A frame of a binding apparatus having a toe end and a heel end for securing an athletic shoe to a glideboard, comprising: a base section including medial and lateral heel end extensions and a bottom surface for supporting the shoe, the base section adapted for attachment to the glideboard; an upper section including medial and lateral side members and a heel support member interconnecting the medial and lateral side members, the medial and lateral side members pivotally connected to the base section such that the heel support member is movable during use of the binding apparatus about said pivotal connection between a first position and a second position, and a first compressible dynamic load reducing device that exhibits at least dampening or shock-absorbing characteristics, said first compressible dynamic load reducing device engaging against the upper section and the base section at a location spaced from said pivotal connection, wherein compression of said first compressible dynamic load reducing device caused by interaction with the upper section and the base section reduces the movement of the heel support member as the heel support member rotates forwardly toward the toe end from the first position to the second position.