Patent ID: 8720910

Claim:
A snowboard binding comprising: a rigid base for receiving a boot of a wearer; a rigid foot and heel support member extending up from opposing sides of the rigid base to frame opposing sides of the boot; a back ankle support member connected to the rigid foot and heel support member to support a back of the boot; and one or more mechanical closure systems for securing the boot in the snowboard binding, at least one of the one or more mechanical closure systems comprising: a ratcheting receptor coupled to the rigid foot and heel support member on one side of the rigid base, and having a locking tang; and a strap coupled at a first end to the rigid foot and heel support member on the opposing side of the rigid base, the strap comprising a wire embedded at least partially therein, the wire having a U-shaped bend at the first end about a first axis, and spaced-apart parallel arms that extend in parallel along a major portion of a longitudinal axis of the strap, the spaced-apart parallel arms being reformable about a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis to temporarily maintain the strap in a desired geometry that is different from a previous geometry of the strap, the strap further including a top face having a plurality of transverse ridges, each of the transverse ridges for engaging with the locking tang of the ratcheting receptor.