Patent ID: 7401802

Claim:
A binding configured to releasably couple a boot to a ski comprising: a toe receiving member configured to engage a toe portion of the boot; a releasable system configured to couple the toe receiving member to the ski in at least two independent operational states, wherein a first state corresponds to a state in which the toe receiving member is free to rotate with respect to the ski, and wherein a second state corresponds to a state in which the toe receiving member is locked with respect to the ski, and wherein the releasable system further comprises: a switching mechanism configured to transition the releasable mechanism between the first and second state, wherein the switching mechanism is adjacently disposed to a first lengthwise side of the toe receiving member; and an engagement mechanism configured to engage a second lengthwise side of the toe receiving member in the second state, wherein the second lengthwise side is lengthwise opposite to the first lengthwise side, and wherein the engagement mechanism is an under-boot moveable latching mechanism.