A self-aligning snowshoe binding is provided that simplifies the process of strapping in to a snowboard. The binding includes a self-aligning buckle that includes two mating clips, and each clip contains a pair of offset magnets. One clip is rigidly attached to a snowboard binding and the other, mating, clip is connected to an ankle or toe strap via a tensioning mechanism. The opposite side of the ankle/toe strap is secured to the binding with an adjustable mechanism. When the two clips are brought proximate each other, the magnets engage to create a loose buckling. When tension is applied to the engaged clips, the clips interlock such that they will remain together as long as tension in the strap is maintained.

There is provided herein and improved step in binding having a body and a footplate pivotally coupled therein at the front. A levered high back exposes load arms which are interfaced to the pivotable footplate by way of linkages. When the footplate is depressed, the linkages transition horizontally, thereby increasing rearward force and therefore leverage on the backplate, until substantially horizontally engaged. At this orientation, the linkages experiences little or no vertical vector component thereby preventing inadvertent unbinding.

A binding for snowboard includes a base structure and a heel support pivotally mounted to the base structure for movement between an open position for allowing a user to insert or remove their boot from the binding and a closed position for securing the users boot in the binding. An adjustable foot strap is attached to the base structure and a tensioning system is attached to the heel support and the adjustable foot strap for applying a tensioning force to the adjustable strap when the heel support is moved to the closed position and for releasing the tensioning force from the adjustable foot strap when the seal support is moved to the open position.

A convertible binding comprising a base plate, a heel plate and a toe plate. The toe plate is rotatable from one end of a frame to either lie underneath the base plate or extend outward from the base plate to form a front portion of a snowshoe configuration. The heel plate is rotatable from a second end of the frame to either extend upward from the base plate to provide a heel back support for a snow board binding configuration to or extend outward from the base plate, in an opposing direction from said toe plate, to form a back portion of a snowshoe configuration. A mounting bracket with a forward and rear lip is attached to a snowboard and holds the convertible binding. A locking mechanism will hold the base plate down.

The proposed solution relates to a ski or snowshoe binding, to which binding a normal boot is attachable with general attachments which are part of said binding, such as with a strap in a front part of the binding and with a strap arrangement in a back part of the binding. The strap of the front part of the binding is transverse to the binding, adjustable in length and extends in a toe part of the binding under the body or inside the body of the binding. The cross-sectional profiles of the strap of the front part have been made in such a way that as the strap comes out from the body and turns upwards, a first profile portion is, over this distance, in a direction of width at its narrowest substantially in the entire upward turn, after which a second profile portion is widening and thinning towards a third profile portion.

A convertible binding comprising a base plate, a heel plate and a toe plate. The toe plate is rotatable from one end of a frame to either lie underneath the base plate or extend outward from the base plate to form a front portion of a snowshoe configuration. The heel plate is rotatable from a second end of the frame to either extend upward from the base plate to provide a heel back support for a snow board binding configuration to or extend outward from the base plate, in an opposing direction from said toe plate, to form a back portion of a snowshoe configuration. A mounting bracket with a forward and rear lip is attached to a snowboard and holds the convertible binding. A locking mechanism will hold the base plate down.

A binding for snowboard includes a base structure and a heel support pivotally mounted to the base structure for movement between an open position for allowing a user to insert or remove their boot from the binding and a closed position for securing the users boot in the binding. An adjustable foot strap is attached to the base structure and a tensioning system is attached to the heel support and the adjustable foot strap for applying a tensioning force to the adjustable strap when the heel support is moved to the closed position and for releasing the tensioning force from the adjustable foot strap when the seal support is moved to the open position.

A binding strap assist mechanism. The binding strap assist mechanism can be retrofitted onto standard snowboard binding straps to bias the binding straps into the open configuration, thus guiding the straps way from the foot area of the binding. Binding straps pass through the binding strap assist mechanism so that tensile forces along the length of each of these binding straps during use is not significantly conveyed to the binding straps assist mechanism. The tensile forces are thus isolated to the binding straps which are intended to carry such forces. The present invention provides a safe and convenient feature to snowboard bindings and other bindings. If the binding strap assist mechanism breaks or fails to function, the binding straps will continue to function as normal, resulting in no safety concerns to user.

A binding strap assist mechanism. The binding strap assist mechanism can be retrofit onto standard snowboard binding straps to bias the binding straps and an open configuration. Binding straps pass through the binding strap assist mechanism so that tensile stress along the length of each of these binding straps during use is not significantly conveyed to the binding straps assist mechanism. The tensile stress are thus isolated to the binding straps which are intended to carry such stresses. The present invention provides a safe and convenient feature to snowboard bindings and other bindings. Safety is achieved because even if the binding strap assist mechanism breaks or fails to function, the binding straps will continue to function as normal.

A binding strap assist mechanism. The binding strap assist mechanism can be retrofitted onto standard snowboard binding straps to bias the binding straps into the open configuration, thus guiding the straps way from the foot area of the binding. Binding straps pass through the binding strap assist mechanism so that tensile forces along the length of each of these binding straps during use is not significantly conveyed to the binding straps assist mechanism. The tensile forces are thus isolated to the binding straps which are intended to carry such forces. The present invention provides a safe and convenient feature to snowboard bindings and other bindings. If the binding strap assist mechanism breaks or fails to function, the binding straps will continue to function as normal, resulting in no safety concerns to user.