Snowboard binding

<u>Technical area</u>

p0001The invention relates to the field of gliding sports, and more specifically that of snowboards.

p0002It concerns more particularly a snowboard binding that provides advantageous arrangements at its clamping strap before.

<u>pRIOR ART</u>

p0003Generally, snowboarding can be done either with rigid boots or shoes with flexible. In the latter case, the used fastening generally comprises a base secured to the board, and arrangements cooperating with the shoe. The fastener includes a plurality of straps passing over the shoe, and a member clamping the latter on the base, and most often a highback intended to receive the bearing forces directed rearwardly.

p0004The majority of fasteners comprise two straps, namely a so-called strap "rear", passing over the instep, and a strap "forward" from clamping the front of the boot, substantially at the articulation metatarsophalangeal.

p0005This type of fixing, known as straps, does not allow fully automatic step, as is the case with fixings so-called "step-in" compatible with stiffer shoes. However, the need arises to facilitate donning operations, although there is a need for tightening the straps by manual operation.

p0006However, in most strap bindings, the front strap has the ability to pivot relative to a transverse axis, so as to allow its pivoting front to rear. This tilting is desired to allow to adapt to the size and shape of the shoe.

p0007Some users also need to slightly move the clamping strap according to the morphology of their legs to optimize the tightening. This pivotability of the front strap fact that the latter can be found folded back on the upper face of the base for receiving the support of the sole. This therefore causes inconvenience to the user, because before positioning his foot on the base, it must release the corresponding space under the strap and away.

p0008US-A-2002/01 90503 discloses a strap whose longitudinal position can vary easily.

p0009The objective of the invention is to provide a fixing permanently leaving free the upper side of the base, to allow the first phase of the boot without user intervention on any component of the fastener. Another objective is to allow pivoting of the front strap, in particular to the contact of the base, by a forward movement to reduce the size of the fixation during the transport of the board.

<u>Disclosure of Invention</u>

p0010The invention therefore relates to a snowboard binding that includes a strap for clamping the front part. In known manner, this strap is pivotable relative to an axis substantially perpendicular to the median longitudinal plane of the binding.

p0011According to the invention, this binding comprises means for limiting the pivoting of the strap relative to said axis, towards the rear, according to a limit position which remains substantially the same regardless of the longitudinal position of the strap.

p0012In other words, the invention is to prevent tilting of the strap rearwardly, so as to leave free the top face of the base, to allow the user to have his sole in the fixing smoothly.

p0013In a particular embodiment, the means for limiting the pivoting of the strap are formed by a protrusion of the end of at least one of the straps. This protrusion cooperates with a portion integral with the base, to abut against the latter when the strap is in the maximum rear pivot position.

p0014In practice, the characteristic means for the pivoting of the limitation may be present on one side of the strap, or alternatively on both sides.

p0015In a particular embodiment, the excrescence zone constitutes a region of greater average distance relative to the pivot point of the end of the strap. In other words, the end of the strap has a protuberance forming a bulged area that blocks, by its size, the pivoting of the strap by abutment on the base.

p0016According to another characteristic of the invention, the fastener may also include means permitting longitudinal movement of the or pivot points of the strap relative to the base. Thus, the strap can not only rotate but also move in translation longitudinally to vary its form of support on the shoe.

p0017In this case, the portion of the base which forms the stop may advantageously have a tilt substantially parallel to the direction of longitudinal displacement of the pivot point of the strap.

p0018In other words, the bearing zone forming a stop and receiving the protrusion of the strap form an inclined surface, preferably forwardly of the base, this angle has the same value for the different longitudinal positions of the anchoring strap on the side of the base, so that the pivoting limit rearward position remains substantially the same, regardless of the longitudinal position of the strap.

<u>BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS</u>

p0019The manner of implementing the invention, and the advantages arising therefrom, will emerge from the description of the embodiment below in support of the appended figures in which:<ul><li>The <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> is a side view of a binding according to the invention.</li><li>The <figref idrefs="f0001">Figures 2 and 3</figref> are detail views and side of the zone of cooperation of the end of the strap at the base.</li><li>The <figref idrefs="f0001">4</figref> is a side view and detail, similar to the <figref idrefs="f0001">3</figref>Wherein the strap is in a longitudinal position more advanced.</li></ul>

<u>Embodiment of the invention</u>

p0020As already stated, the invention relates to a snowboard binding, intended to accommodate so-called soft shoes.

p0021The fastener (1) comprises, as shown in <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>, A base (2) whose lower face (3) intended to come into contact with the upper face of the board, directly or via an adjustment disk or any other additional device. This support (1) comprises a rear part gutter (4) for retaining the support from the shoe. This groove (4) is, in the example illustrated, mounted articulated relative to a cradle (5). This hoop also receives a strap (6) which is situated substantially at the level of the instep, and which includes a zone (7) of comfort, designed to impair the pressure exerted by the strap (6) on the foot when clamping the strap.

p0022According to the invention, the holder (1) also comprises a front strap (10) which is pivotable relative to the base (2) at a plurality of pivot points (11) located on either of side of the base, at the elevated regions (13) on this base. As already explained, this pivoting is intended to allow, on one hand, the folding of the strap during transport, and on the other hand and above all, to allow to adjust the position of the upper part of the strap, and in particular the support cushion (14) on the optimal area of ​​the upper face of the shoe.

p0023In the illustrated form, this pivot point (11) is movable longitudinally within the lumen (17) provided in the side area (13).

p0024Multiple architectures may be provided for moving these pivot points and their relative locking the base, within the scope of the invention.

p0025According to one characteristic of the invention, and as illustrated in <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref>, The strap (6) has at its end (20) a protuberance (21) forming a prominent area relative to the remainder (22) of the end of the strap, which, in the embodiment illustrated a rounded shape, forming a arc substantially to the pivot point of the center (11).

p0026This protuberance (21) is adapted to cooperate with a zone forming a stop (25) integral with the base. This stop (25) can be formed by a portion of the base obtained by molding, or by an insert at the inner side of the side area (13) of the base.

p0027In the illustrated form, this stop (25) marries a wedge shape, whose upper face (26) is adapted to receive support at its inner side (27) of the protuberance (21).

p0028Thus, as shown in <figref idrefs="f0001">3</figref>, When the strap (10) has pivoted backwards, the surface (17) of the strap is in contact with the front of the upper face of the stop (25), thus preventing the pivoting of the strap (10) rearmost. In practice, the boundary portion of the strap towards the rear is substantially vertical.

p0029As shown in <figref idrefs="f0001">4</figref>, The stop (25) may have a length sufficient to be active regardless of the longitudinal position of the pivot point (11), after translation in the port (17).

p0030The inclination of the upper face (26) of the stop is selected to be substantially parallel to the direction of the axis (18) of the light (17). In this manner, the inclination of the contact area between the belt and the abutment remains substantially constant, so that the rear pivot limit position of the strap is the same, regardless of the longitudinal position of the strap (10) .

p0031Of course, the shape of the upper surface (26) of the abutment can be adjusted in the case where light (17) is not substantially straight.

p0032As already mentioned, the device characteristic can be installed either on one side of the strap, or even on both sides, at each of the pivoting ends of the strap.

p0033It is preferable to generate the stop effect on one side in the case where it is desired to use the already existing strap portions, and in particular those involving the locking means. May be selected instead of having pivoting means for limiting each side of the strap where it is desired to obtain the desired effect even when both parts of the strap are dissociated, and that the locking means are not engaged.

p0034It follows from the foregoing that the binding according to the invention has the advantage of leaving the free boot area while maintaining a swivel front strap, which facilitates maneuvering of footwear.