Binding systems for boards and skis
Various binding systems for sliding boards and skis are presented. In one example, among others, a binding system includes a boot plate assembly affixed to a boot and a mounting plate assembly. The mounting plate assembly can be affixed to a sliding board or a ski. The boot plate assembly includes a socket and a wedge attached to opposite sides of a boot plate. The mounting plate assembly includes a spring mechanism configured to engage the socket and a wedge block configured to receive the wedge. When engaged, pressure from the spring mechanism holds the boot plate assembly to the sliding board or ski. When sufficient force is applied through the boot, the boot plate assembly is released from the mounting plate assembly, which frees the rider from the sliding board or ski.
1. A binding system for a sliding board, comprising:
a boot plate assembly comprising a boot plate affixed to a boot, the boot plate comprising a top surface that is mounted flush with a bottom surface of the boot, the top surface extending over a heel-to-toe length of the boot, a wedge affixed to the boot plate on a first side of the heel-to-toe length of the boot and a socket affixed to the boot plate on a second side of the heel-to-toe length of the boot, the boot plate comprising a first axis extending between the wedge and the socket and a second axis extending perpendicular to the first axis, where the boot can be affixed to the boot plate in a plurality of rotational orientations about the second axis; and
a mounting plate assembly affixed to the sliding board, the mounting plate assembly comprising:
a wedge block substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sliding board, the wedge block including a tapered recess configured to receive the wedge; and
a spring mechanism substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the sliding board, the spring mechanism configured to engage the socket, wherein the boot plate assembly is secured to the sliding board by the spring mechanism in a locked position and the wedge block, where the first axis of the boot plate is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the sliding board when secured to the mounting plate assembly, and where the spring mechanism is configured to release the boot plate assembly from the mounting plate assembly with the spring mechanism in the locked position when a force applied to the spring mechanism via the boot plate and socket exceeds a threshold defined by adjustment of the spring mechanism.
2. The binding system of claim 1 , wherein the boot is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sliding board when the boot plate assembly is secured to the sliding board.
3. The binding system of claim 1 , wherein the tapered recess of the wedge block comprises a tapered portion that linearly tapers from top to bottom at an angle in a range from about 50 degrees to about 75 degrees from a top surface of the mounting plate and the wedge comprises a tapered portion that linearly tapers from top to bottom at an angle that is substantially aligned with the tapered portion of the wedge block when the boot plate assembly is secured to the mounting plate assembly.
4. The binding system of claim 3 , wherein the boot plate is configured to affix the boot to the boot plate at a fixed angle between the first axis and the second axis of the boot plate.
5. The binding system of claim 4 , wherein the fixed angle is one of a plurality of predefined fixed angles in a range of about 30 degrees to about −30 degrees with respect to the second axis of the boot plate.
6. The binding system of claim 1 , wherein the sliding board is a wakeboard, wherein the mounting plate is affixed to the wakeboard using a standard wakeboard mounting arrangement.
7. The binding system of claim 1 , wherein the boot is a wakeboard boot that is affixed to the boot plate by fasteners extending through mounting holes on opposite sides of the wakeboard boot.
8. The binding system of claim 1 , further comprising a second mounting plate assembly affixed to the sliding board, the second mounting plate assembly comprising:
a wedge block substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sliding board; and
a spring mechanism substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the sliding board.
9. The binding system of claim 8 , wherein the first and second mounting plate assemblies are equally spaced about a center of the sliding board.
10. The binding system of claim 8 , wherein the first and second mounting plate assemblies are affixed to the sliding board with the wedge block of the first mounting plate assembly adjacent to the wedge block of the second mounting plate assembly.
11. The binding system of claim 8 , wherein the first and second mounting plate assemblies are affixed to the sliding board with the wedge block of the first mounting plate assembly adjacent to the spring mechanism of the second mounting plate assembly.
12. The binding system of claim 8 , further comprising a second boot plate assembly comprising:
a second boot plate affixed to a second boot;
a wedge affixed to the second boot plate on a first side of the second boot, where the wedge block of the second mounting plate assembly includes a tapered recess configured to receive the wedge of the second boot plate assembly; and
a socket affixed to the second boot plate on a second side of the second boot where the spring mechanism of the second mounting plate assembly is configured to engage the socket, wherein the second boot plate assembly is secured to the sliding board by the spring mechanism and the wedge block of the second mounting plate assembly.
13. The binding system of claim 12 , wherein the first boot is affixed to the first boot plate in a counterclockwise orientation from the second axis and the second boot is affixed to the second boot plate in a clockwise orientation from a second axis extending perpendicular to a first axis extending between the wedge and the socket of the second boot plate assembly.
14. The binding system of claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate assembly comprises a mounting plate that is affixed to the sliding board, the mounting plate having a length extending along the longitudinal axis of the sliding board from a first end adjacent to a center of the sliding board to a second end, where the wedge block is attached to the mounting plate at the first end and the spring mechanism is attached to the mounting plate at the second end.
15. The binding system of claim 14 , wherein a width of the mounting plate is greater than the heel-to-toe length of the boot.
16. A binding system for skis, comprising:
a boot plate assembly comprising a boot plate affixed to a boot, the boot plate comprising a top surface that is mounted flush with a bottom surface of the boot, the top surface extending over a heel-to-toe length of the boot, a wedge affixed to the boot plate adjacent to a heel of the boot and a socket affixed to the boot plate adjacent to a toe of the boot; and
a mounting plate assembly affixed to a ski, the mounting plate assembly comprising:
a wedge block substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the ski, the wedge block including a first tapered recess configured to receive the wedge;
a first spring mechanism located between the wedge block and a front tip of the ski, the spring first mechanism substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the ski, the first spring mechanism configured to engage the socket, wherein the boot plate assembly is secured to the ski by the first spring mechanism and the wedge block; and
a second spring mechanism located between the wedge block and a rear end of the ski, the second spring mechanism substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the ski, and the wedge block comprises the first tapered recess including a tapered portion that linearly tapers from top to bottom at an angle in a range from about 50 degrees to about 75 degrees from a top surface of the mounting plate and a second tapered recess opposite the first tapered recess, the second tapered recess including a tapered portion that linearly tapers opposite the taper of the first tapered recess at the angle of the first tapered recess.
17. The binding system of claim 16 , further comprising a second boot plate assembly comprising a second boot plate affixed to a second boot, a wedge affixed to the second boot plate adjacent to a toe of the second boot and a socket affixed to the second boot plate adjacent to a heel of the second boot, wherein the second boot plate assembly is secured to the ski by the second spring mechanism and the wedge block.
18. The binding system of claim 16 , wherein the mounting plate assembly comprises a mounting plate affixed to the ski, the mounting plate having a length extending along the longitudinal axis of the ski from a first end to a second end, where the first spring mechanism is attached to the mounting plate at the first end, the second spring mechanism is attached to the mounting plate at the second end, and the wedge block is attached to the mounting plate at a center point between the first and second spring mechanisms.
19. The binding system of claim 16 , wherein the boot is a molded inline skate boot that is affixed to the boot plate by fasteners extending through the boot plate and engaging with a sole of the molded inline skate boot.