Patent ID: 8714579

Claim:
A binding for coupling a boot to a sport board, comprising: a base plate adapted to be secured to the boot, wherein the base plate can be secured to the sports board via a retaining disc positioned on the sports board, the retaining disc being cylindrical, partially-cylindrical, conical, partially conical, or frustoconical in cross-section; a coupler element to movably couple to the base plate, wherein the coupler element transitions between an engaged state wherein the coupler element provides an interfering engagement between the base plate and retaining disc to prevent the binding from being decoupled from the retaining disc and sports board, and a disengaged state wherein the coupler element is free from the retaining disc such that the binding can be moved independently of the retaining disc and sports board, the disengaged state of the coupler element allowing the base plate to be removed from the retaining disc, wherein the engaged state includes: (a) a fully engaged state wherein the coupler element provides an interfering engagement between the base plate and retaining disc in a manner that completely prohibits relative movement between the base plate and the retaining disc; (b) a partially engaged state wherein the coupler element provides an interfering engagement between the base plate and retaining disc in a manner that prohibits the base plate from being removed from the retaining disc but still permits at least some movement between the base plate and the retaining disc; and a locking member coupled to the coupler element, wherein the locking member transitions between a locked state wherein the coupler element is locked in the engaged state, and an unlocked state wherein the coupler element can freely move between the engaged and disengaged states, the locking member prohibiting the boot from fully entering the binding when the locking member is in the unlocked state, further wherein the binding comprises one or more mechanisms that bias the coupler element toward the engaged state.