Patent ID: 7048295

Claim:
A universal boot binding for use with a user's boot and a recreational riding board, the boot binding comprising: an outer shell partially surrounding an interior space for receiving a user's boot, the outer shell comprising: a base portion that is adapted to be fixed to an upper surface of a riding board, and a generally vertical stabilizing portion mounted to said base portion at or near the rear of the base portion for stabilizing the boot heel area; a closing gate for securing the boot within the binding, the closing gate connected to said outer shell and being pivotal between an open position, away from the interior space to open the interior space to allow insertion of said boot, and a closed position that holds the boot in the interior space; and a catch system adapted to hold said closing gate in the open position until the boot impacts a portion of the catch system while being inserted into the interior space, wherein said portion of the catch system is not adapted to remain in contact with the boot after the boot impacts said portion of the catch system to close the closing gate.