Ski binding for a soft boot

Abstract

A binding includes a forward base portion that is configured to attach to a top surface of the ski. The binding includes a rearward base portion that is hingedly attached to the forward base portion. The rearward base portion is removably securable to the ski and movable about the forward base portion. The binding includes a forward adjustable boot retention element that includes a pair of lug wings attached to at least one of the forward base portion and the rearward base portion. A width between the lug wings is adjustable. The forward adjustable boot retention element includes a strap attached to the pair of lug wings. The strap is more flexible than the lug wings.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A binding for securing a soft boot to a ski comprising:
 a forward base portion configured to attach to a top surface of the ski;   a rearward base portion hingedly attached to the forward portion, the rearward base portion being removably securable to the ski and movable about the forward portion; and   a forward adjustable boot retention element having:
 a pair of lug wings attached to at least one of the forward base portion and the rearward base portion, wherein a width between lug wings is adjustable; and 
 a strap attached to the pair of lug wings, wherein the strap is more flexible than the lug wings. 
   
     
     
         2 . The binding of  claim 1 , further comprising a rear adjustable boot retention element attached to the rearward base portion, the rear adjustable boot retention element extending upward from the rearward base portion and configured to at least partially surround a heel of the soft boot. 
     
     
         3 . The binding of  claim 3 , wherein the rear adjustable boot retention element further includes an ankle strap attached the rear adjustable boot retention element, the ankle strap being configured to extend across at least a portion of an ankle of the soft boot. 
     
     
         4 . The binding of  claim 1 , wherein the lug wings are configured to be mounted within a channel of the rearward base portion. 
     
     
         5 . The binding of  claim 1 , wherein each lug wing includes a plurality of apertures that are configured to receive fasteners to attach the lug wings to the at least one of the forward base portion and the rearward base portion, wherein the width between the lug wings is adjustable by changing the position of fasteners within the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         6 . The binding of  claim 1 , further comprising a ski retention element attachable to the top surface of a ski and selectively engagable with the rearward base portion, wherein, when engaged with the rearward base portion, relative movement between the forward base portion and the rearward base portion is prevented. 
     
     
         7 . The binding of  claim 6 , wherein the ski retention element includes a mounting body and a locking body movable with respect the mounting body, the slidable locking body including a pair of wings selectively positionable within a pair of ski attachment features disposed in the rearward base portion, wherein, when the pair of wings are positioned within the ski attachment features, relative movement between the forward base portion and the rearward base portion is prevented. 
     
     
         8 . The binding of  claim 6 , wherein the ski retention element includes a tab configured to be operable to selectively engage the ski retention element with the rearward base portion. 
     
     
         9 . A binding for securing a soft boot to a ski comprising:
 a forward base portion configured to attach to a top surface of the ski;   a rearward base portion hingedly attached to the forward base portion, the rearward base portion being removably securable to the ski and movable about the forward base portion;   a forward adjustable boot retention element having:
 a pair of lug wings attached to at least one of the forward base portion and the rearward base portion, wherein a width between the lug wings is adjustable; and 
 a strap attached to the pair of lug wings, wherein the strap is more flexible than the lug wings; 
   a rear adjustable boot retention element attached to the rearward base portion, the rear adjustable boot retention element extending upward from the rearward base portion and being configured to at least partially surround a heel of the soft boot, the rear adjustable boot retention element including an ankle strap being configured to selectively extend across at least a portion of an ankle of the soft boot; and   a ski retention element attachable to the top surface of the ski and selectively engagable with the rearward base portion, wherein, when engaged with the rearward base portion, relative movement between the forward base portion and the rearward base portion is prevented.   
     
     
         10 . The binding of  claim 9 , further comprising a rearward extended support attached to the rear adjustable boot retention element, wherein the rearward extended support extends away from the rear adjustable boot retention element, and the rearward extended support is configured to be secured the high ankle area of a skier. 
     
     
         11 . The binding of  claim 10 , wherein the rearward extended support includes an adjustable strap for securing the rearward extended support to the skier. 
     
     
         12 . The binding of  claim 9 , wherein each lug wing includes a plurality of apertures that are configured to receive fasteners to attach the lug wings to the at least one of the forward base portion and the rearward base portion, wherein the width between the lug wings is adjustable by changing the position of the fasteners within the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         13 . The binding of  claim 9 , wherein the lug wings are configured to be mounted within a channel of the rearward base portion. 
     
     
         14 . The binding of  claim 9 , wherein the ski retention element includes a mounting body and a locking body movable with respect the mounting body, the slidable locking body including a pair of wings selectively positionable within a pair of ski attachment features disposed in the rearward base portion, wherein, when the pair of wings are positioned within the ski attachment features, relative movement between the forward base portion and the rearward base portion is prevented. 
     
     
         15 . The binding of  claim 14 , wherein the ski retention element includes a tab configured to be operable to selectively engage the ski retention element with the rearward base portion. 
     
     
         16 . A method of securing a soft boot in a ski binding comprising:
 providing a ski boot binding including:
 a forward base portion; 
 a rearward base portion hingedly attached to the forward base portion; 
 an adjustable boot retention element having:
 a pair of lug wings attached to at least one of the forward base portion and the rearward base portion, wherein a width between the lug wings is adjustable; and 
 a strap attached to the pair of lug wings, wherein the strap is more flexible than the lug wings; 
 
 moving the lug wings with respect to at least one of the forward base portion and the rearward base portion to adjust the width of the lug wings to match a width of the soft boot; and 
 securing the strap of the adjustable boot retention element around the soft boot to fix the soft boot to the ski boot binding. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising attaching a rear adjustable boot retention element to the soft boot, wherein the rear adjustable boot retention element is attached to, and extends upwardly from, the rearward base portion of the ski boot binding, wherein the rear adjustable boot retention element includes an ankle strap that is configured to extend across at least a portion of an ankle of the soft boot. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising coupling the rearward base portion of the ski boot binding to a ski via a ski retention element attached to the top surface of the ski, wherein, when coupled, the ski retention element engages with the rearward base portion to prevent relative movement between the forward base portion and the rearward base portion. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising decoupling the rearward base portion of the ski boot binding from a ski via a ski retention element attached to the top surface of the ski, wherein, when decoupled, the ski retention element allows relative movement between the forward base portion and the rearward base portion.