Hinge strap for snowboard conventional binding

Abstract

A conventional (strap) binding assembly for use with a snowboard. The binding assembly comprises a frame ( 120 ) having a base portion ( 122 ) that receives a snowboard boot. A pair of side walls ( 124 ) extend upwardly from either side of the base, and a high back portion ( 24 ) extends upwardly from the rearward end of the base. An ankle strap assembly ( 130 ) having a first ankle strap ( 131 ) attached to one side wall and a second ankle strap ( 135 ) attached to the other side wall, is provided, including a clasp ( 140 ) for adjustably securing the first ankle strap to the second ankle strap. The first ankle strap is attached to the side wall with a biased hinge assembly ( 150 ), biasing the distal end ( 131 b) of the strap away from the frame. In a preferred embodiment, a toe strap assembly ( 160 ), functionally similar to the ankle strap assembly is also provided, disposed forwardly of the ankle strap assembly.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . An improved conventional snowboard binding of the type comprising a high back frame for receiving a snowboard boot, the frame securable to the snowboard, and at least one hinged strap assembly comprising a first strap having a proximal end attachable to one side of the frame and a distal end having a clasp mechanism, and a second strap having a proximal end attachable to the other side of the frame and a distal end adapted to be adjustably engaged by the clasp mechanism, the improvement comprising: 
 a hinge mechanism attached to the proximal end of at least one of the first strap and the second strap, the hinge mechanism being disposed to permit the strap to hingedly swing outwardly, away from the frame.    
     
     
         2 . The improved snowboard binding of  claim 1  wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a hinge plate that is attached to the frame and adapted to receive a proximal end of the first strap, and a pivot pin pivotally connecting the hinge plate to the first strap.  
     
     
         3 . The improved snowboard binding of  claim 1  further comprising a biasing member disposed on the hinge mechanism that urges the attached strap towards an open position.  
     
     
         4 . The improved snowboard binding of  claim 3  wherein the biasing member is a coil spring.  
     
     
         5 . The improved snowboard binding of  claim 3  wherein the hinge mechanism and biasing member is a V-shaped elastic member.  
     
     
         6 . The improved snowboard binding of  claim 1  comprising two hinged strap assemblies, wherein the first strap assembly is disposed to clasp about a toe portion of the boot and the second strap assembly is disposed to clasp about an ankle portion of the boot.  
     
     
         7 . The improved snowboard binding of  claim 6  wherein the hinge mechanisms comprise a hinge plate that is attached to the frame and adapted to receive a proximal and of the first strap, and a pivot pin pivotally connecting the hinge plate to the first strap.  
     
     
         8 . The improved snowboard binding of  claim 7  further comprising a biasing members disposed in each hinge mechanism that urge the attached straps toward an open position.  
     
     
         9 . A snowboard boot binding comprising: 
 (a) a frame secured to a snowboard, the frame having a base plate with a first side wall extending upwardly from one side, a second side wall extending upwardly from the other side, and an upwardly extending high back portion;    (b) a first ankle strap having a proximal end hingedly connected to the first side wall whereby the first ankle strap can be pivoted away from the frame, and a distal end having an ankle clasp; and    (c) a second ankle strap having a proximal end connected to the second side wall and a distal end adapted to be adjustably secured by the ankle clasp.    
     
     
         10 . The snowboard boot binding of  claim 9  further comprising a biasing mechanism disposed at the proximal end of the first ankle strap, the biasing mechanism adapted to urge the first ankle strap to rotate about the pivotally connected proximal end such that the distal end of the ankle strap is urged away from the frame.  
     
     
         11 . The snowboard boot binding of  claim 9  wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a coil spring connected to the biased strap and the side wall.  
     
     
         12 . The snowboard boot binding of  claim 9  wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a V-shaped elastic member.  
     
     
         13 . The snowboard boot binding of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 (a) a first toe strap having a proximal end hingedly connected to the first side wall whereby the first toe strap can be pivoted away from the frame, and a distal end having a toe clasp; and  
 (b) a second toe strap having a proximal end connected to the second side wall and a distal end adapted to be adjustably secured by the toe clasp.  
 
     
     
         14 . The snowboard boot binding of  claim 13  further comprising a first biasing mechanism disposed at the proximal end of the first ankle strap and a second biasing mechanism disposed at the proximal end of the first toe strap, the first and second biasing mechanisms disposed to urge the first ankle strap and the first toe strap toward an open position such that the distal end of each strap is urged away from the frame.  
     
     
         15 . The snowboard boot binding of  claim 14  wherein the first and second biasing mechanisms comprise a coil spring.