IP Library Granted Patent US 7,621,542
Granted Patent B2
US 7,621,542 · App. 11/601,923 · Granted Nov 24, 2009

Snowboard binding and related methods

Assignee: The Burton Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,621,542
App. No.
11/601,923
Granted
Nov 24, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A snowboard binding for securing a boot to a snowboard includes a base that is mounted on the snowboard. The base includes a base plate and a pair of side rails that extend upwardly from the base plate along lateral sides of the base plate. The snowboard binding further includes a high-back support secured to the pair of side rails. The high-back support is fabricated from a single piece of material and has a hinge formed therein to adjust a forward lean position of the high-back support. Additional design features and methods are disclosed herein.

Claims (28)

1. A snowboard binding for securing a boot to a snowboard, the snowboard binding comprising:

a base configured to be mounted to the snowboard, the base having a base plate and a pair of the side rails that extend upwardly from the base plate along lateral sides of the base plate; and

a high-back pivotally secured to the base, the high-back being pivotable between a stowed position in which the high-back is disposed against the base and a use position in which the high-back extends away from the base in an upright position, the high-back having a leg engagement portion and a pair of descending arms, each arm including a surface configured to engage the base plate of the base adjacent the side rails to transfer a load from the leg engagement portion directly to the base plate when the high-back is in its use position.

2. The snowboard binding of claim 1 , further comprising a releasable securing feature associated with the base and the high-back to releasably secure the high-back in the use position.

3. The snowboard binding of claim 2 , wherein the releasable securing feature includes a first interconnecting portion associated with the base adjacent one of the side rails and a second interconnecting portion associated with one of the arms, the first and second interconnecting portions being releasably engagable with one another for securing the high-back in its use position.

4. The snowboard binding of claim 1 , wherein the high-back is fabricated from a single piece of material and having a hinge formed therein to adjust a forward lean position of the high-back.

5. The snowboard binding of claim 4 , wherein the main body has a top portion and a bottom portion, with the hinge being disposed between the top portion and the bottom portion.

6. The snowboard binding of claim 5 , wherein the main body has a curved surface at an area surrounding the hinge.

7. The snowboard binding of claim 6 , further comprising a locking mechanism secured to the main body of the high-back at the curved surface.

8. The snowboard binding of claim 7 , wherein the curved surface has teeth formed therein, and wherein the locking mechanism has teeth configured to mate with the teeth of the curved surface.

9. The snowboard binding of claim 8 , wherein the locking mechanism is pivotally connected to the main body of the high-back.

10. The snowboard binding of claim 1 , wherein the arms of the high-back are pivotally secured to their respective side rails of the base.

11. The snowboard binding of claim 10 , further comprising a releasable securing feature associated with the side rails and the high-back to releasably secure the high-back in the use position.

12. The snowboard binding of claim 11 , wherein the releasable securing feature includes a first interconnecting portion associated with each side rail and a second interconnecting portion associated with each of the descending arms, the first and second interconnecting portions being releasably engagable with one another for securing the high-back in its use position.

13. A snowboard binding for securing a boot to a snowboard, the snowboard binding comprising:

a base configured to be mounted to the snowboard; and

a high-back pivotally secured to the base, the high-back being pivotable between a stowed position in which the high-back is disposed against the base and a use position in which the high-back extends away from the base in an upright position, the high-back having a leg engagement portion and a pair of descending arms, each arm including a surface configured to engage the base to transfer a load from the leg engagement portion directly to the base when the high-back is in its use position.

14. The snowboard binding of claim 13 , further comprising a releasable securing feature associated with the base and the high-back to releasably secure the high-back in the use position.

15. The snowboard binding of claim 14 , wherein the releasable securing feature includes a first interconnecting portion associated with the base and a second interconnecting portion associated with one of the descending arms, the first and second interconnecting portions being releasably engagable with one another for securing the high-back in its use position.

16. The snowboard binding of claim 13 , wherein the high-back is fabricated from a single piece of material and having a hinge formed therein to adjust a forward lean position of the high-back.

17. The snowboard binding of claim 16 , wherein the main body has a top portion and a bottom portion, with the hinge being disposed between the top portion and the bottom portion.

18. The snowboard binding of claim 17 , wherein the main body has a curved surface at an area surrounding the hinge.

19. The snowboard binding of claim 18 , further comprising a locking mechanism secured to the main body of the high-back at the curved surface.

20. The snowboard binding of claim 19 , wherein the curved surface has teeth formed therein, and wherein the locking mechanism has teeth configured to mate with the teeth of the curved surface.

21. The snowboard binding of claim 20 , wherein the locking mechanism is pivotally connected to the main body of the high-back.

22. The snowboard binding of claim 13 , wherein the base has a base plate and a pair of the side rails that extend upwardly from the base plate along lateral sides of the base plate, and wherein the arms of the high-back are pivotally secured to their respective side rails of the base.

23. The snowboard binding of claim 22 , further comprising a releasable securing feature associated with the side rails and the high-back to releasably secure the high-back in the use position.

24. The snowboard binding of claim 23 , wherein the releasable securing feature includes a first interconnecting portion associated with each side rail and a second interconnecting portion associated with each of the descending arms, the first and second interconnecting portions being releasably engagable with one another for securing the high-back in its use position.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2010
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK
To: THE BURTON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024879/0040 →
SUPPLEMENTAL PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 1, 2009
From: THE BURTON CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 022619/0879 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2007
From: WARBURTON, ALEX; LAUGHLIN, JAMES; EBERHARDT, JARED
To: THE BURTON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018838/0476 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080116664A1 · May 22, 2008