Reformable closure device strap
Various mechanical closure systems and securing systems are disclosed, such as snowboard bindings and car rack systems. The systems include a mechanically reformable strap. The strap includes a wire disposed along a longitudinal axis of the strap. The wire maintains the strap in a desired geometry that is different from a previous geometry of the strap. In other embodiments, a wire-core strap can include transverse ridges, holes, or other types of grooves or apertures.
1. A snowboard binding comprising:
a rigid base for receiving a boot of a wearer;
a rigid foot and heel support member extending up from opposing sides of the rigid base to frame opposing sides of the boot;
a back ankle support member connected to the rigid foot and heel support member to support a back of the boot; and
one or more mechanical closure systems for securing the boot in the snowboard binding, at least one of the one or more mechanical closure systems comprising:
a ratcheting receptor coupled to the rigid foot and heel support member on one side of the rigid base, and having a locking tang; and
a strap coupled at a first end to the rigid foot and heel support member on the opposing side of the rigid base, the strap comprising a wire embedded at least partially therein, the wire having a U-shaped bend at the first end about a first axis, and spaced-apart parallel arms that extend in parallel along a major portion of a longitudinal axis of the strap, the spaced-apart parallel arms being reformable about a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis to temporarily maintain the strap in a desired geometry that is different from a previous geometry of the strap, the strap further including a top face having a plurality of transverse ridges, each of the transverse ridges for engaging with the locking tang of the ratcheting receptor.
2. The snowboard binding in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the strap is formed of a thermoplastic, and wherein the wire is formed of a metal.
3. The snowboard binding in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the thermoplastic is a thermoplastic polyester elastomer.
4. The closure apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the strap is more than twice the length of a transverse axis.
5. A system comprising:
a snowboard;
a snowboard binding connected to a top of the snowboard, the snowboard binding comprising:
a rigid base for receiving a boot of a wearer;
a rigid foot and heel support member extending up from opposing sides of the rigid base to frame opposing sides of the boot;
a back ankle support member connected to the rigid foot and heel support member to support a back of the boot; and
one or more mechanical closure systems for securing the boot in the snowboard binding, at least one of the one or more mechanical closure systems comprising:
a ratcheting receptor coupled to the rigid foot and heel support member on one side of the rigid base, and having a locking tang; and
a strap coupled at a first end to the rigid foot and heel support member on the opposing side of the rigid base, the strap comprising a wire embedded at least partially therein, the wire having a U-shaped bend at the first end about a first axis, and spaced-apart parallel arms that extend in parallel along a major portion of a longitudinal axis of the strap, the spaced-apart parallel arms being reformable about a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis to temporarily maintain the strap in a desired geometry that is different from a previous geometry of the strap, the strap further including a top face having a plurality of transverse ridges, each of the transverse ridges for engaging with the locking tang of the ratcheting receptor.