US 2002O104234A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2002/0104234 A1 LancOn et al. (43) Pub. Date: Aug. 8, 2002

(54) BINDING SYSTEM FOR A SPORTS Publication Classification APPARATUS AND A SPORTS APPARATUS HAVING SUCH ASYSTEM (51) Int. Cl." ...... A43B 5/04; A43B 5/16 (75) Inventors: Bruno Lancon, Villy Le Pelloux (FR); (52) U.S. Cl...... 36/122; 36/125 Eddy Yelovina, Saint-Sigismond (FR) Correspondence Address: (57) ABSTRACT GREENBLUM & BERNSTEIN, P.L.C. 1941 ROLAND CLARKE PLACE RESTON, VA 20191 (US) A System for binding a on a Support Surface of a Sports (73) Assignee: SALOMON S.A., Metz-Tessy (FR) apparatus, of the type in which the binding System includes a rear binding. The binding System is provided with a front (21) Appl. No.: 10/060,213 binding in the form of a hook that is affixed to the sports (22) Filed: Feb. 1, 2002 apparatus and which demarcates a notch open longitudinally rearwardly and transversely on both sides to receive a front (30) Foreign Application Priority Data transverse rod of the boot. The rear binding longitudinally immobilizes the boot in a position Such that the transverse Feb. 2, 2001 (FR)...... O1 O16O2 rod of the boot is maintained within the notch.

ent Application Publication Aug. 8, 2002. Sheet 2 of 3

Patent Application Publication Aug. 8, 2002 Sheet 3 of 3 US 2002/0104234 A1

US 2002/0104234 A1 Aug. 8, 2002

BINDING SYSTEM FOR A SPORTS APPARATUS the can prove inadequate when the Snowshoe is AND A SPORTS APPARATUS HAVING SUCH A used in Steep slopes. Indeed, contrary to a cross-country SYSTEM which, due to its narrow with, can remain almost horizontal by cutting into the Snow, the Snowshoe only very slightly CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED penetrates into the Snow and, therefore, tends to assume the APPLICATION orientation of the Slope. AS the user tends to maintain his/her leg in a position close to the vertical, the rear of the foot, not 0001. This application is based upon French Patent maintained in the example of the cited document, tends to be Application No. 01 01602, filed Feb. 2, 2001, the disclosure offset in relation to the snowshoe, which hinders the pro of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its gression. Moreover, Substantial bending forces occur in the entirety, and the priority of which is hereby claimed under area of the binding between the Snowshoe and the boot. 35 U.S.C. S 119. Therefore, one understands that a binding of the type illus trated in the document cited hereinabove might not absorb BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Such forces.

0002) 1. Field of the Invention SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 0003. The present invention relates to system for binding 0011. Therefore, an object of the invention is to propose a boot to a Sports apparatus including a device to quickly a binding System for a Snowshoe that perfectly holds the fasten the apparatus to the user's feet boot on the Snowshoe while being very simple to use and 0004. The invention can be used for various sports appa inexpensive to manufacture. ratuses Such as , roller skates, ice skates, short 0012 To this end, the invention proposes a system for , a crampon plate, etc. binding a boot on a Sports apparatus, in particular a Support 0005 The invention is more particularly described within Surface of a Snowshoe, of the type in which the binding the Scope of its application to Snowshoes in which both the System includes a front binding and a rear binding, wherein forefoot and the heel of the user remain in constant contact the front binding is formed of a hook-like member that is with the corresponding Support Surfaces of the Snowshoe, affixed to the apparatus and demarcates a notch open lon contrary to binding Systems in which the heel remains free. gitudinally rearward and transversely on both sides to 0006 2. Description of Background and Relevant Infor receive a front transverse rod of the boot, and wherein the mation rear binding longitudinally immobilizes the boot in a posi tion Such that the transverse rod of the boot is maintained 0007 Various devices exist, which make it possible to within the notch. fasten the Snowshoes to the feet of the user. One of the most widely known devices uses two Sets of Straps that cooperate 0013) A very simple binding system is thus obtained, in with the forefoot and with the instep, respectively, So as to which the forefoot is perfectly blocked vertically and trans Steadily maintain the user's boot pressed against correspond versely without using conventional Strap Systems. ing Support Surfaces of the Snowshoe. Generally speaking, 0014. The invention also proposes a snowshoe provided front and rear abutment Systems are provided, which, com with Such a binding System. bined with these Sets of Straps, make it possible to ensure the longitudinal and transverse blocking of the boot on the BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Snowshoe. 0015. Other characteristics and advantages of the inven 0008 Such devices perfectly fulfill their role, but they tion will become apparent from the detailed description that have the disadvantage of requiring two sets of Straps to be follows, with reference to the annexed drawings, in which: positioned on each foot, which can be time consuming and difficult, especially when the user wishes to put on or remove 0016 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snowshoe pro his/her Snowshoes in cold weather, with numbed fingers or Vided with a binding System according to the prior art; with gloves on. 0017 FIG. 2 is a view similar to the same Snowshoe 0009 U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,477 describes a snowshoe to equipped with a binding System according to the invention; which a binding System, derived from the Systems used in 0018 FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view, along a cross-country skiing, is adapted. In this patent, the boot worn longitudinal vertical plane, showing the front binding of the by the user includes, at its front end, a transverse cylindrical boot on the Snowshoe; rod that is blocked in a cylindrical housing with the same diameter to form a journal. The housing is demarcated by a 0019 FIG. 4 is a schematic top view showing the means System with jaws, and it includes an opening and closure for transverse blocking of the front of the boot, the sole of mechanism to enable the engagement and disengagement of the boot being shown in cross-section. the front transverse rod of the boot. When the housing is closed, the rod only has one degree of freedom left, namely, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE the rotation about its transverse axis. INVENTION 0.010 However, this type of binding, derived from cross 0020 FIG. 1 shows a snowshoe 10 equipped with a country ski bindings, has the disadvantage of being rela binding System designed according to the prior art. The tively complex and expensive for a product Such as a Snowshoe itself is of the type of that described in the Snowshoe. Furthermore, since the binding of the boot is document EP-A-882478 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,436, for ensured only at the front, the retention between the boot and example. This Snowshoe essentially includes a frame 12 US 2002/0104234 A1 Aug. 8, 2002

made of an injected plastic material and which forms a 0026. The base 34 is extended at its front end by a front Screen capable of withstanding the users weight without the wall 40 that rises above the front end 42 of the plate 14. Snowshoe Sinking too deeply into the Snow. The Snowshoe From the upper end of the front wall 40, the hook 32 further includes a plate 14 that is journalled on the frame 12 includes two teeth 44 that are transversely offset in relation about a substantially transverse axis A1. Preferably, the to one another and which extend longitudinally rearward, journal of the plate 14 on the frame 12 is made according to above the front end 42 of the plate 14 and parallel thereto. that which is described in the EP-A-88.2478 and U.S. Pat. 0027. In a cross-sectional view along a longitudinal trans No. 6,112,436. The plate 14 is made of a rigid plastic verse plane, the hook 32 thus demarcates, together with the material, for example, and it includes an attachment device upper surface of the front end of the plate 14, a notch 46 that to enable the fastening of the user's boot thereto. is open longitudinally rearward and is closed on its other 0021. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the binding three sides. Thus, the notch is substantially U-shaped toward System according to the prior art includes a rear binding 16 the rear. AS can be seen in FIG. 2, the notch 46 is however and a front binding 18 which are both strap bindings and are open transversely on both sides along its entire length. both anchored on the plate 14 So that the boot is entirely affixed to the journalled plate 14. 0028. According to the invention, this front binding 30 0022. The rear binding 16 includes a rear abutment 20 with a hook 32 is provided to cooperate with a boot 48 whose shape is Substantially complementary to that of the whose front end includes a transverse connection rod or heel of a boot, in order to block the boot both longitudinally member 50. Such are commonly used in cross country rearward and transversely on both Sides. The longitudinal skiing, with bindings having jaws that confine the rod 50. In position of the rear abutment 20 is adjustable. The rear a known fashion, Such a boot includes a sole 52 whose lower abutment 20 includes a set of straps 22, both strands of Surface is notched with a longitudinal groove 54 open which are journalled on the rear abutment 20 and extend downwardly. This groove 54 is therefore demarcated in the upwardly and forwardly to be able to encircle the boot sole 52, upwardly by an upper surface 56 and transversely instep. The two Strands of the Set of Straps 22 are provided by two lateral opposite surfaces 58 that are substantially with a tightening System 24 that makes it possible to preSS parallel to one another. At the front end of this groove 54, the the rear of the boot both longitudinally rearward against the rod 50 extends transversely between the two lateral Surfaces rear abutment 20, and Vertically downward against the rear 58, beneath the upper surface 56. portion of the plate 14 that forms a rear Support Surface for 0029. According to the invention, the boot 48 is provided the boot. to engage on the Snowshoe longitudinally, from the rear 0023 The front binding 16 includes a front abutment 26 toward the front, So as to cause the connection rod 50 to obtained in the form of a shell that extends upwardly from penetrate into the notch 46. To this end, the vertical thick the front end of the plate 14 and whose shape is substantially ness of the teeth 44 of the hook 32 must of course be less complementary to that of the front end of a conventional than the distance that vertically Separates the connection rod touring boot. The function of this abutment is essentially to 50 from the upper Surface 56 of the groove 54. Similarly, the guide the front of the boot transversely. Indeed, in this front height of the notch 46, determined by the height of the teeth binding of known type, the Vertical retention of the boot on 44 above the plate 14, must be adapted to the diameter of the the plate 14 is ensured by a set of Straps 28 which is arranged connection rod 50 and to the positioning height of the rod 50 Substantially in the area of the transverse journal axis of the above the lower Surface of the Sole 52. plate 14 on the frame 12, and which is provided to strap the 0030. In this way, when the connection rod 50 is engaged front end of the boot in the area of the metatarSophalangeal within the notch 46, the boot 48 is vertically blocked upward joint. by the teeth of the hook 52 which retain the connection rod 0024 FIG.2 shows the same Snowshoe 10 equipped with 50. The boot 48 is also retained downward by the Support of a binding System consistent with the teachings of the inven the sole 52 on the plate 14. tion, this system being described in more detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. 0031 AS can be seen in FIG. 4, the transverse width 11 of the connection rod 52, determined by the Spacing of the 0.025 According to the invention, the front binding 30 teeth 44, is substantially identical to the transverse width 12 according to the invention essentially includes a hook, or a of the groove 54 determined by the spacing of the two hook-like element, 32 that is fixed to the front end of the opposite lateral surfaces 58. Thus, when the connection rod journalled plate 14. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the hook 32 50 is engaged within the notch 46, the teeth 44 of the hook has a base 34 that extends Substantially in a horizontal plane cooperate with the opposite surfaces 58 of the groove 54 to and has a profile similar to that of the front end of the plate transversely block the boot 48 in relation to the plate 14. To 14. The base 34 is provided to be fixed beneath the front end facilitate the engagement of the connection rod 32 between of the plate 14 by two screws 36 offset transversely in the two opposite surfaces 58 of the grooves 54, the outer relation to one another, In the embodiment shown in the drawing figures, the plate 14 carries, at its front end, a claw edges of the free ends of the teeth 44 are provided with crampon 38 that extends forwardly and downwardly with ramps 45. respect to the front end of the plate. This crampon 38 is made 0032. In the example shown, the lower surfaces of the in the form of an attached piece made of metal, for example. teeth 44 of the hook 42 and the upper Surface of the end of Advantageously, it is provided that the ScrewS 36 that ensure the plate 14, which Surfaces vertically demarcate the notch the attachment of the hook 32 also ensure the attachment of 46, are Substantially parallel, So that the height of the notch the crampon 38. Thus, it can be seen that the base 34 of the is Substantially constant along the entire length. However, hook 32 is sandwiched between the rear of the crampon 38 the height of the notch 46 could be provided to diminish as and the lower surface of the plate 14. it gets closer to the end, which would result in Vertically US 2002/0104234 A1 Aug. 8, 2002

pressing the boot Sole downward toward the plate 14 as the ratuses for various Sporting activities. With a same boot, a rod advances toward the end of the notch. user can thus use various apparatuses. 0033. With the embodiment described and shown, the What is claimed is: connection rod 50 does not necessarily penetrate forwardly 1. A System for binding a boot on a Support Surface of a up to the end of the notch 46. Indeed, the longitudinal Sports apparatus, Said System comprising: position of the boot 48 in relation to the plate 14 is determined by the longitudinal position of the rear abutment a front binding comprising a hook, Said hook being 20. In fact, in this embodiment of the invention, the single configured and arranged to be affixed to the Sports tightening mechanism is constituted by the Set of Straps 22 apparatus and demarcating a notch open longitudinally that tends to move the boot backward until it is in support rearwardly and transversely on opposite lateral Sides to against the rear abutment 20. However, this is in no way a receive a front transverse rod of the boot; and problem since the front binding only has the function of a rear binding to longitudinally immobilize the boot in a blocking the front of the boot transversely and vertically, and position to maintain the transverse rod of the boot Since these functions are ensured as long as the rod 50 is within the notch. maintained within the notch 46. Conversely, the length of 2. A binding System according to claim 1, wherein the the notch 46 provides an adjustment margin for the longi boot is vertically blocked when its transverse front rod is tudinal position of the rear abutment. However, if the maintained within the notch. position of the rear abutment is Sufficiently advanced, the 3. Abinding System according to claim 1, wherein the rear rod comes into abutment at the end of the notch. binding comprises a rear abutment and a tightening device 0034. However, the binding system according to the that tightens the boot downward against a rear Support invention could also use a rear binding which, conversely, Surface of the Sports apparatus, and longitudinally rearward would tend to push the boot longitudinally forward. In this against the rear abutment. case, the longitudinal position of the boot would be deter 4. A binding System according to claim 1, wherein, when mined either by the abutment of the rod 50 at the end of the the transverse rod of the boot is pushed longitudinally notch 46, or by the abutment of the sole 52 of the boot toward a forward end of the notch, the boot is pressed against the front surface 40 of the hook 42. downward against a front Support Surface of the Sports apparatuS. 0035) In any event, it remains however necessary to use 5. A binding System according to claim 1, wherein the a rear binding System that prevents the boot from moving hook comprises guiding means that cooperate with the boot backward and which, therefore, prevents the rod 50 from to block it transversely. coming out of its notch 46. 6. A binding System according to claim 5, wherein the 0.036 The Snowshoe according to the invention therefore transverse rod of the boot extends between two opposite makes it possible to ensure a particularly reliable, precise, longitudinal vertical walls, wherein the hook has a trans and quick binding of the boot 48 on the Snowshoe 10 when verse width Substantially equal to the transverse spacing of the user wears boots provided with a transverse front rod. the two walls, and wherein, when the transverse rod is The user can thus use boots of the “cross-country ski” type received in the notch, the hook cooperates with the two on another apparatus, for example the Snowshoe, and does opposite walls of the boot to block it transversely. not have to purchase Specific boots. 7. A binding System according to claim 6, wherein the hook is transversely received between the two opposite 0037. However, it could be advantageous to provide on walls of the boot. the Snowshoe 10, in this case on the plate 14, anchoring 8. A binding System according to claim 7, wherein the means 60 making it possible to add a front Set of Straps as hook is chamfered to facilitate its longitudinal engagement in the prior art. Indeed, as the front hook is dismountable, the between the two opposite walls of the boot. Snowshoe 10 can be delivered with a supplemental piece 9. A binding System according to claim 1, wherein the including a base identical to that of the hook 32 but having hook comprises a front wall that is mounted at the front end a form similar to that of the front abutment 26 illustrated in of the front Support Surface of the Sports apparatus, and two FIG. 1. In this way, equipped with this universal front teeth that extend longitudinally rearward from the front wall, abutment and with a front set of straps, the Snowshoe 10 can the notch being vertically demarcated between the Support also be used with conventional touring boots with no trans Surface of the Sports apparatus and the teeth of the hook, and verse front rod. The passage from one binding System to the end of the notch being formed by the front wall of the another is done very easily and at low cost. hook. 0.038. The hook 32 could be made non-dismountable and 10. A binding System according to claim 1, wherein the could be obtained, for example, in a one piece with the plate hook is detachably mounted on the Sports apparatus, and 14, i.e., unitary with the plate. wherein the Sports apparatus comprises means for enabling the mounting of a universal front binding device including 0.039 AS indicated previously, the invention can be used a front abutment and a tightening device capable of tight for Sports apparatuses other than Snowshoes, in particular ening a boot downward against a front Support Surface of the roller Skates, ice Skates, , or short skis, which do Sports apparatuS. not need releasable bindings. One can also provide to use it 11. A binding System according to claim 1, wherein the on apparatuses Such as crampon plates that are adapted to be hook comprises a base that extends beneath the front Support fixed beneath a boot in order to enable progression on an icy Surface of the Sports apparatus and which is tightly mounted or heavily snow-covered terrain. One therefore sees that this between the front Support Surface of the Sports apparatus and binding System can be adapted to a large number of appa a crampon that is fixed beneath the front Support Surface. US 2002/0104234 A1 Aug. 8, 2002

12. A binding System according to claim 1, wherein the 15. A Sports apparatus in combination with a binding Support Surfaces of the Sports apparatus are formed on a System according to claim 14, wherein Said Sports apparatus plate that is journalled about a general axis Substantially comprises a Snowshoe. transverse in relation to a load-bearing frame of the Sports apparatus, and wherein the front and rear binding devices are 16. A Snowshoe comprising: mounted on the journalled plate. a binding System for binding a boot to a Support Surface 13. A binding System according to claim 1, wherein the Sports apparatus is a Snowshoe. of the Snowshoe, Said binding System comprising: 14. A Sports apparatus in combination with a binding a front binding comprising a hook, Said hook being System for binding a boot to be Supported on a Support configured and arranged to be affixed to the Sports Surface of the Sports apparatus, Said binding System com apparatus and demarcating a notch open longitudi prising: nally rearwardly and transversely on opposite lateral a front binding comprising a hook, Said hook being Sides to receive a front transverse rod of the boot; and configured and arranged to be affixed to the Sports apparatus and demarcating a notch open longitudinally a rear binding to longitudinally immobilize the boot in rearwardly and transversely on opposite lateral Sides to a position to maintain the transverse rod of the boot receive a front transverse rod of the boot; and within the notch. a rear binding to longitudinally immobilize the boot in a position to maintain the transverse rod of the boot within the notch.