The present invention comprises a fairing apparatus for a snowboard comprising a raised structure that may be positioned adjacent to the user's binding, having a geometry that deflects snow or ice away from the user's bindings and boots. In various exemplary embodiments, the raised structure may comprise two forward extending ridges located near the edges of the snowboard. In various exemplary embodiments, the forward extending ridges may extend laterally beyond the edges of the snowboard and may generate lift as the apparatus moves through snow or ice.

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 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 system includes a base plate and a strap. The strap has a first end and a second end, the first end being affixed relative to the base plate. A strap adjustment assembly is mounted to the base plate. The second end of the strap is connectable to the strap adjustment assembly such that the strap adjustment assembly is operable to at least one of automatically tighten the strap relative to the base plate and automatically loosen the strap relative to the base plate in response to an input signal.

A binding system includes a base plate and a strap. The strap has a first end and a second end, the first end being affixed relative to the base plate. A strap adjustment assembly is mounted to the base plate. The second end of the strap is connectable to the strap adjustment assembly such that the strap adjustment assembly is operable to at least one of automatically tighten the strap relative to the base plate and automatically loosen the strap relative to the base plate in response to an input signal.

A lacing system configured to selectively adjust the size of an opening on an object and allow for the incremental release of the lace within the lacing system. The lacing system can have a reel comprising a housing, a spool supported by the housing, and a knob supported by the housing. The reel can be configured so that cable is gathered in the channel formed in the spool when the spool is rotated in a first direction relative to the housing, and so that cable can be incrementally released from the spool when the spool is rotated in a second direction relative to the housing. In some embodiments, the reel can include a rotation limiter which can be configured to prevent over-tightening of the lacing system and/or to prevent rotation past the substantially fully loosened state.

A lacing system configured to selectively adjust the size of an opening on an object and allow for the incremental release of the lace within the lacing system. The lacing system can have a reel comprising a housing, a spool supported by the housing, and a knob supported by the housing. The reel can be configured so that cable is gathered in the channel formed in the spool when the spool is rotated in a first direction relative to the housing, and so that cable can be incrementally released from the spool when the spool is rotated in a second direction relative to the housing. In some embodiments, the reel can include a rotation limiter which can be configured to prevent over-tightening of the lacing system and/or to prevent rotation past the substantially fully loosened state.

The present invention comprises a fairing apparatus for a snowboard comprising a raised structure that may be positioned adjacent to the user's binding, having a geometry that deflects snow or ice away from the user's bindings and boots. In various exemplary embodiments, the raised structure may comprise two forward extending ridges located near the edges of the snowboard. In various exemplary embodiments, the forward extending ridges may extend laterally beyond the edges of the snowboard and may generate lift as the apparatus moves through snow or ice.

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 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.