Exemplary embodiments are directed to a pedal for a bicycle that includes a body, a spindle rotatably secured to the body and for connection with the bicycle, a first magnetic platter non-rotatably secured within the body, and a second magnetic platter rotatably secured within the body and overlaying the first magnetic platter. The first and second magnetic platters each include two magnetic blocks that are separated and magnetically charged by a respective permanent magnet plate positioned therebetween. The second magnetic platter includes a keyed protrusion configured to be engaged by a ferrous metal cleat, which can rotate the second magnetic platter between a first position where the pedal is in a magnetically inactive state and a second position where the pedal is in a magnetically active state magnetically securing the cleat to the second magnetic platter.

Some aspects include a ski binding system using controllable electromagnets, alone or in combination with permanent magnets, as means of attaching or releasing a ski boot to a ski during use. Some aspects include a ski binding system using a controllable solenoid. In some aspects, microprocessor-based control releases binding electronically based on input from sensors located in binding, ski and/or boot, as well as in other equipment or clothing connected to them or to skier, or binding releases when a mechanical threshold is overcome. In some aspects, sensor data are recorded for analysis of system performance and for adjustment and improvement of system parameters based on data analytics.

Some aspects include a ski binding system using controllable electromagnets, alone or in combination with permanent magnets, as means of attaching or releasing a ski boot to a ski during use. Some aspects include a ski binding system using a controllable solenoid. In some aspects, microprocessor-based control releases binding electronically based on input from sensors located in binding, ski and/or boot, as well as in other equipment or clothing connected to them or to skier, or binding releases when a mechanical threshold is overcome. In some aspects, sensor data are recorded for analysis of system performance and for adjustment and improvement of system parameters based on data analytics.

A ski boot, comprising a ski boot shell and a ski boot sole, wherein the ski boot sole comprises a front end of the ski boot sole, a rear end of the ski boot sole, a lower side of the sole and a free upper side of the sole via which the ski boot sole protrudes forwards, backwards and/or laterally beyond the ski boot shell, wherein the lower side of the sole comprises a first bearing region for placing upright on a bearing plate of a ski binding, and a second bearing region for walking without skis, wherein a width of the ski boot sole in the second bearing region is larger than a width of the ski boot sole in the first bearing region.

An apparatus for charge-assisted release of a ski binding includes an explosive material, a battery, an electrical circuit, and a processor. The explosive material is mounted on or in a ski, a ski boot, and/or a ski binding. The apparatus also includes The electrical circuit extends from the explosive material to the battery, the electrical circuit including a switch having a connected state in which the battery and the explosive material are electrically connected through the switch and a disconnected state in which the battery and the explosive material are electrically disconnected. The processor is electrically coupled to the switch and configured to generate an output signal that transitions the switch from the disconnected state to the connected state in response to an input signal from one or more sensors.

Some aspects include a ski binding system using controllable electromagnets, alone or in combination with permanent magnets, as means of attaching or releasing a ski boot to a ski during use. Some aspects include a ski binding system using a controllable solenoid. In some aspects, microprocessor-based control releases binding electronically based on input from sensors located in binding, ski and/or boot, as well as in other equipment or clothing connected to them or to skier, or binding releases when a mechanical threshold is overcome. In some aspects, sensor data are recorded for analysis of system performance and for adjustment and improvement of system parameters based on data analytics.

Some aspects include a ski binding system using controllable electromagnets, alone or in combination with permanent magnets, as means of attaching or releasing a ski boot to a ski during use. Some aspects include a ski binding system using a controllable solenoid. In some aspects, microprocessor-based control releases binding electronically based on input from sensors located in binding, ski and/or boot, as well as in other equipment or clothing connected to them or to skier, or binding releases when a mechanical threshold is overcome. In some aspects, sensor data are recorded for analysis of system performance and for adjustment and improvement of system parameters based on data analytics.

A single-pull tightened snowshoe binding is provided, the binding comprising: a sole plate configured to be hingedly interconnected to a snowshoe; a toe cap interconnected with the sole plate with a first anterior strap and a second anterior strap, wherein the anterior straps are configured to wrap around the lateral aspects of a toe box of a shoe inserted within the snowshoe binding, and wherein the toe cap is configured to interface with a top aspect of the shoe; a first lateral strap extending outward from the sole plate, wherein the first lateral strap is configured to wrap upward along a lateral aspect of the shoe and extend toward a posterior aspect of the shoe; a second lateral strap extending outward from the sole plate, wherein the second lateral strap is configured to wrap upward along a lateral aspect of a shoe and extend toward the posterior aspect of the snowshoe binding; a first tightening strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first tightening strap interconnected to a posterior aspect of the toe cap, the first tightening strap slideably interconnected with the distal end of the first lateral strap, wherein the second end of the first tightening strap is configured to span around the posterior aspect of the shoe; a second tightening strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second tightening strap interconnected to a posterior aspect of the toe cap, the second tightening strap slideably interconnected with the distal end of the second lateral strap, wherein the second end of the second tightening strap is configured to span around the posterior aspect of the shoe; the second ends of the first and second tightening straps interconnected by a strap tightening mechanism; wherein tightening of the first and second tightening straps simultaneously retracts the toe cap toward the sole plate, retracts the first and second lateral straps upward along a lateral aspect of a shoe inserted in the binding, and biases the shoe toward the toe cap.

A ski boot, comprising: a rigid ski boot shell; and a sole of the ski boot which comprises a free upper side, which protrudes forwards in the longitudinal direction of the boot and/or laterally beyond the ski boot shell, and a lower side, wherein the ski boot comprises a front attaching region which co-operates with a front part of a ski binding in order to secure the ski boot, and a front region of the ski boot stands upright on a planar base via the front attaching region, wherein the upper side of the sole exhibits a distance, orthogonally with respect to the base, of at least 25 mm at a front end of the sole of the ski boot, and the upper side of the sole has a distance from the lower side of the sole, measured perpendicular to the base, of 19 mm2 mm at a distance from the front end of the sole, measured in the longitudinal direction, of at least 28 mm, and wherein, with the ski boot standing upright on the base, the lower side of the sole has a distance from the base of at least 5 mm throughout, up to a distance of 40 mm10 mm from the front end of the sole, as measured in the longitudinal direction.

The present invention relates to an attachment mechanism for a shoe, the attachment mechanism comprising at least two pins (1), one on each side of the shoe, where the pins (1) are arranged in their respective guides (3), the pins (1) being designed to cooperate with a complementary retaining means (12). The attachment mechanism is, inter alia, characterised in that the attachment mechanism further comprises forcing means that are designed to force the pins (1) outwards into engagement with the complementary retaining means (12), and inwards out of engagement with the complementary retaining means (12).