Patent ID: 7073814

Claim:
A snowboard binding mechanism for securing a cleat of a snowboard boot to a snowboard, comprising: an inside main body adapted to be affixed to a top surface of the snowboard and an outside main body adapted to be affixed to a top surface of the snowboard, said inside and outside main bodies being adapted to secure first and second ends of a cleat, respectively, said inside main body comprising a top surface and an inside first cleat receptor including an inside cleat receiving groove defined on a lower portion thereof facing said outside main body; said outside main body comprising an outside first cleat receptor having a latch recess formed therein facing said inside main body; a latch axis supported by said outside main body; a latch mounted to said latch recess to be pivotable about the latch axis, said latch including an outside cleat receiving groove disposed across from and facing said inside cleat receiving groove; a handle pivotally mounted to said outside main body and interlocked with said latch; said latch being pivoted to a release position in response to pivoting said handle to a first position wherein said outside cleat receiving groove is moved in a direction away from said inside cleat receiving groove, said latch being pivoted to a fasten position in response to pivoting said handle to a second position wherein said outside cleat receiving groove is moved in a direction toward said inside cleat receiving groove thereby securing a cleat placed between said inside and outside cleat receiving grooves; wherein said outside cleat receiving groove is positioned between said latch axis and the snowboard such that said handle in the second position is closer to the snowboard than said handle in the first position, when the outside main body is affixed to the snowboard.