EP1479417B1 - Snowboardbinding - Google Patents

Abstract

The fixation has a layer (30) of elastomeric material interposed between a base (2) and a rigid plate (10) that forms a gaz pedal. The layer has openings (31,32) across which the plate is rigidly fixed on the base. Security screws (20,21) and swivels (22,23) longitudinally displace a contact zone between the plate and base across the openings for longitudinally positioning the plate with respect to the base. The rigid plate has an upper surface (11) that is inclined for receiving a support of a front and back zone of a shoe.

Description

The invention relates to the field of snow sports, more particularly to that of snowboarding.

It is more specifically an improvement made to the surf bindings, more precisely the fasteners equipped with the base end, a raised plate, commonly called "gas pedal".

Previous techniques

In general, it is known to equip the base of a surf binding of an element whose upper face is inclined upwards, to match the elevation of the sole of the shoe, and thus allow good transmission. supports exerted by the front or rear ends of the shoe.

To adapt to different sole curvatures, it has been proposed in the document WO 00/30722 to make this plate articulated relative to the base, and thus to allow the adjustment of its inclination.

An improvement of this principle has been described in the document FR 2,805,173 which makes it possible to adjust not only the inclination of the plate, but also its longitudinal position, in order to adapt to different sizes. This type of plate generally has a rim directed downwards at its front edge. This rim, which protrudes from the surface of the base, is intended to come into contact with the board to increase the transmission of the supports. However, when the binding is used for shoes of large sizes, the plate is located in its extreme longitudinal position, and therefore greatly exceeds the base. This results in discomfort when the user makes turns for which the board is particularly inclined, since the plate can come hang the snow.

A solution has been proposed to this problem, which consists in equipping the base with a metal plate having a substantially constant thickness, and which is curved upwards, and therefore does not have a lower edge. This plate is generally metal to be able to have sufficient rigidity to support the supports. However, the contact of the shoe with this metal plate generally provides uncomfortable sensations to the user.

A problem to be solved by the invention is that of improving the qualities of contact between the plate and the base, while maintaining the possibility of longitudinal adjustment of the latter relative to the rest of the base.

Presentation of the invention

The invention therefore relates to a snowboard binding as set forth in claim 1.

The rigid connection between the plate and the base allows a very effective transmission of the support exerted towards the board. Outside these rigid contact areas, the layer of elastomeric material allows a slight deformation of the plate, and in particular a forward rocking movement which causes a compression. The rocking movement thus allows a slight deformation of the binding which is appreciable in terms of sensation, especially during so-called "front side" bends. It is important to note that this deformation capacity is obtained in a way complementary to an excellent transmission of the supports. by the areas of rigid contact. Likewise, this dual ability of effective transmission of the forces and a flexibility of comfort is obtained while preserving the possibility of longitudinal adjustment of the "gas pedal".

In a particular embodiment, the layer of elastomeric material may be embedded in a housing provided in the upper face of the base.

In practice, the contact between the base and the plate can be done via protruding areas relative to the base, extending upwardly through the openings of the layer of elastomeric material. However, in other variants, this contact can be made by means of additional rigid elements, forming spacer, and interposed between the plate and the base.

Advantageously in practice, the openings made in the layer of elastomeric material are elongated longitudinally, and also receive protruding areas which are then also elongated to allow the longitudinal displacement of the contact area between the plate and the base.

In a particular embodiment, the upper face of the plate can be in the continuity of the upper face of the base, at the level just behind the plate (or forward, if it is the " gas pedal "rear). In this way, the upper face of the binding, thus comprising the base and the "gas pedal" is continuous, without forming extra thickness that would be sensitive through the sole of the shoe.

In a particular embodiment, the layer of elastomeric material may comprise a zone forming a rib interposed between the back of the plate and the base, or the front of said plate when it comes to the "gas pedal" in back.

Brief description of the figures

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective sommaire d'une fixation réalisée conformément à la présente invention, montrée dans une configuration démontée ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe transversale au niveau des vis de blocage, selon le plan II-II de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue transversale de la fixation de la figure 1, au niveau du plan III-III ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe longitudinale médiane de la fixation de la figure 1.

The manner of carrying out the invention, as well as the advantages which result therefrom, will emerge from the description of the embodiment which follows, in support of the appended figures in which:

• the figure 1 is a brief perspective view of a fastener made in accordance with the present invention, shown in a disassembled configuration;
• the figure 2 is a cross-sectional view at the level of the locking screws, according to the plane II-II of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a transversal view of the fixation of the figure 1 at the level of the plan III-III;
• the figure 4 is a median longitudinal sectional view of the fixation of the figure 1 .

Way of realizing the invention

As already mentioned, the invention relates to a snowboard binding equipped with a "gas pedal" mounted on the base by the interposition of a layer of particular elastomeric material. In the rest of the description, the "gas pedal" mounted in accordance with the invention is the "gas pedal" before, but it goes without saying that the same provisions can be found for the "gas pedal" back also.

Thus, the attachment (1) illustrated in FIG. figure 1 partially comprises a base (2) which has a central portion (3) intended to come into contact with the board, and pierced with an opening (4) for receiving a fixing disc and rotating adjustment. The spoiler extending from the lateral flanks (5) has not been shown so as not to hinder the visualization of the essential elements of the invention.

In the front part, the base (2) receives a plate (10) forming the "gas pedal". This plate (10) is made of a rigid material, and for example a metal material, and typically aluminum or even composite material. It presents, although it does not really concern the invention, ribs or reliefs on its upper face, so as to ensure a good attachment of the shoe. The upper face (11) of the plate (10) is slightly inclined upwards, as is apparent from the figure 4 to allow support from the front ends of the shoe.

In the illustrated form, the front portion (12) of the base (2) has a housing (13) which is hollowed in its thickness. This housing (13) has on each side a protruding zone (14, 15). These protruding zones are elongated longitudinally, and drilled to receive the fixing screws (20, 21) which cooperate with nuts (22, 23) placed in openings (24, 25) of the plate. These sets screws / nuts allow the blocking of the plate (10) on the base (2). The lights made in the protruding areas (14, 15) have notches or equivalent means for positioning the screws at different longitudinal levels. This arrangement allows a longitudinal displacement of the plate according to the size of the shoe. Of course, the invention also covers variants in which the blocking of the plate on the base is made by manually opening locking members, manipulable without tools.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the housing (13) receives a layer of an elastomeric material (30), which may advantageously have viscoelastic properties ensuring vibration damping. It is possible, for example, to use optionally filled thermoplastic elastomeric materials, and in particular styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS). This layer of elastomeric material (30) has openings (31, 32) which pass the protruding areas (14, 15) of the base. Through these openings (31, 32), these protuberances come into contact with the underside of the plate (10), and more particularly the stamped areas (35, 36) made to receive the nuts (22, 23). These stamped zones (35, 36) come into direct contact with the protruding zones (14, 15) to ensure good transmission of the surfer's support. It will be noted that the protuberances (14, 15, 35, 36) formed on the base and on the plate (10) can be replaced by a spacer element, to ensure a rigidity of the connection between the "gas pedal" (10) and the base (2).

After assembly, and as we observe Figures 2 to 4 , the contact between the plate forming the "gas pedal" (10) and the base is direct, at the aforementioned growths, and as is apparent from the figure 2 . The supports are thus transmitted in a particularly effective way.

On the other hand, further forward of the screws (20, 21), and as illustrated in FIG. figure 3 a portion (40) of the layer of elastomeric material (30) is interposed between the base (2) and the "gas pedal" (10). It follows that because of the compression or deformation capacity of the layer (30), the "gas pedal" has a certain latitude of pivoting with respect to the axis formed by the two points of contact at the level of the screws (20, 21). This ability to compress and dampen vibration is reflected in an increase in comfort for the surfer, especially when he exerts support "front side", that is to say in support of the front edges.

As illustrated in figure 4 , a portion of the rib (42) of the elastomeric layer (30) appears between the rear edge (43) of the "gas pedal" (10), and the rear limit of the housing (13), corresponding to the edge ( 44) of the base, behind the "gas pedal" (10). This portion (42) forming a rib makes it possible to slightly damp the longitudinal impacts on the "gas pedal", and is also of aesthetic interest, to indicate the damping characteristic of the characteristic elastomeric plate. This rib also limits the risk of sliding of the shoe forward during the boot.

• elle permet un réglage longitudinal du «gaz pedal» sans engendrer de risque d'accrochage de la neige en cas de virage très incliné,
• elle permet une transmission très efficace des efforts exercés sur le «gaz pedal» en direction de l'embase, par la zone de contact rigide,
• elle autorise un léger pivotement contrôlé du «gaz pedal» par rapport à un axe transversal, elle améliore ainsi le confort et les sensations de l'utilisateur,
• elle permet un amortissement des vibrations pouvant se transmettre entre le «gaz pedal» et l'embase.

It follows from the foregoing that the binding according to the invention has many advantages, in particular:

• it allows a longitudinal adjustment of the "gas pedal" without creating a risk of snagging of the snow in case of a very inclined turn,
• it allows a very efficient transmission of forces exerted on the "gas pedal" towards the base, by the rigid contact zone,
• it allows a slight controlled pivoting of the "gas pedal" with respect to a transverse axis, it thus improves the comfort and the sensations of the user,
• it allows damping vibrations that can be transmitted between the "gas pedal" and the base.

Claims (6)

1. A snowboard binding (1), including a base plate (2) equipped on at least one of its front (12) and/or rear ends with a rigid plate (10), the upper face (11) of which is tilted upward and designed to receive the forces from the front and/or rear zones of the boot and including a layer of elastomeric material (30) inserted between the base plate (2) and said plate (10), characterized in that :

   • said layer of elastomeric material (30) has openings (31, 32) via which the plate (10) is rigidly fastened onto the base plate (2), coming into contact with the latter;

   • it includes means (20-23) for longitudinally displacing the zone of contact between the plate (10) and base plate (2) via said openings (31, 32) in order to allow a plurality of longitudinal positions of the plate (10) relative to the base plate (2).
2. The snowboard binding as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the layer of elastomeric material (30) is embedded in a housing (13) made in the upper face of the base plate (2).
3. The snowboard binding as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the base plate (2) includes protruding zones (14, 15) extending upward via the openings (31, 32) in the layer of elastomeric material (30).
4. The snowboard binding as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said openings (31, 32) are longitudinally elongate and receive protruding zones (14, 15) that are also elongate in order to allow the longitudinal displacement of the zone of contact between the plate (10) and the base plate (2).
5. The snowboard binding as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the upper face (11) of the plate (10) is located in the continuation of the upper face of the base plate (2) located just to the rear (or to the front) of said plate.
6. The snowboard binding as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the layer of elastomeric material (30) includes a zone (42) forming a rib inserted between the rear (or the front) of the plate (10) and the base plate (2).

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