A snowshoe provides a way for outdoor enthusiasts to traverse the backcountry effectively and efficiently. The snowshoe allows the user to glide through the snow like a cross-country ski, but with the minimal footprint of a traditional snowshoe. The snowshoe includes a board and a binding mechanism that secures the user to the board, but allows for a pivoting motion. The pivoting motion allows the user to ascend steep terrain by performing a motion similar to cross-country skiing.

A snowshoe provides a way for outdoor enthusiasts to traverse the backcountry effectively and efficiently. The snowshoe allows the user to glide through the snow like a cross-country ski, but with the minimal footprint of a traditional snowshoe. The snowshoe includes a board and a binding mechanism that secures the user to the board, but allows for a pivoting motion. The pivoting motion allows the user to ascend steep terrain by performing a motion similar to cross-country skiing.

An apparatus for automatically adjusting tension on retention member to hold multiple objects together. Examples include using retention apparatus to obtain optimal fit and use of a human wearable item such as article of footwear. Sensors may be used to sense changes in movement of the article of footwear, of the person wearing it, or of a third object such as a vehicle carrying the person. A retention member may surround at least a portion of the objects, and an actuator may be included that automatically rotates a rotating member such as a gear or pulley that may be coupled to the retention member. The rotating member may be configured to automatically adjust tension on the retention member many times per second based on control signals from control logic responsive to the sensors.

An apparatus for automatically adjusting tension on retention member to hold multiple objects together. Examples include using retention apparatus to obtain optimal fit and use of a human wearable item such as article of footwear. Sensors may be used to sense changes in movement of the article of footwear, of the person wearing it, or of a third object such as a vehicle carrying the person. A retention member may surround at least a portion of the objects, and an actuator may be included that automatically rotates a rotating member such as a gear or pulley that may be coupled to the retention member. The rotating member may be configured to automatically adjust tension on the retention member many times per second based on control signals from control logic responsive to the sensors.

An improved highback adjustment system for a splitboard boot binding. A captive strut is mounted on the spine of the highback, the strut having a forward lean adjustor block such that rotation or sliding of the block lengthens or shortens the strut. The combination provides a broadly adjustable range of forward lean bias in small increments and the block is readily disengaged and stowed on the highback when not needed. Advantageously, the mechanism that can be operated and adjusted without tools, even with gloved hands, a significant benefit in winter conditions, and does not jam with snow. Methods of use of the improved forward lean adjustor and highback are also disclosed.

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 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 snowboard binding that eliminates the ratchet-type connection used in conventional snowboard bindings. Instead, the snowboard binding incorporates a connection mechanism that is somewhat similar to a ski-boot style connector, and that uses only two straps on each binding compared to the traditional four straps. In addition, the connection mechanism can be pre-adjusted by the user to the desired connection pressure. Once the desired pre-adjustment is reached, the user can simply step into the binding and connect the connection mechanism without needing to adjust the connection pressure or tightness during mounting the user's foot or boot to the board as with conventional snowboard bindings.

A snowboard binding that eliminates the ratchet-type connection used in conventional snowboard bindings. Instead, the snowboard binding incorporates a connection mechanism that is somewhat similar to a ski-boot style connector, and that uses only two straps on each binding compared to the traditional four straps. In addition, the connection mechanism can be pre-adjusted by the user to the desired connection pressure. Once the desired pre-adjustment is reached, the user can simply step into the binding and connect the connection mechanism without needing to adjust the connection pressure or tightness during mounting the user's foot or boot to the board as with conventional snowboard bindings.

Provided is a snowboard binding in which a stopper function operates when a boot is removed and the stopper function is released when a boot is mounted, and a stopper device for a snowboard binding that can be attached to and used in a binding of a type exemplified in Patent Document 1. A snowboard binding configured so as to be provided with an urging body (9) for rotatably urging a highback (4) rearward, and configured so that when a lock lever (7) of a lock mechanism (6) is placed in an unlocked state by the rotational urging of the urging body (9), the highback (4) automatically rotates rearward, and configured so that when the highback (4) arrives at the rearward-rotation-limit position or near the rearward-rotation-limit position, a connecting cord (8) of the lock mechanism (6) is tensioned, the orientation in which the lock lever (7) projects from the highback (4) rear surface section is maintained, and the lock lever (7) in this projecting orientation makes contact with the snow surface (S) below a snowboard (1) to bring about a slide-preventing effect.