SNOWSHOE BINDING AND SNOWSHOE COMPRISING A BINDING

Abstract

A snowshoe (S) and a snowshoe binding (1) arranged for securing a boot (B) to the snowshoe (S) are provided. The snowshoe binding (1) comprises a base part (10) which comprises a first part (11) which is arranged to be mounted onto the snowshoe (S), a second part (12) which is arranged to receive a boot toe portion (B1) and a third part (13) which is arranged to receive a flexible heel strap. The binding further comprises a flexible heel strap (20) with a first portion (21). a second portion (22) and an intermediate portion (23) which extends between the first portion (21) and the second portion (22). The third part (13) of the base part (10) comprises a first attachment portion (13a) for releasable attachment of the first portion (21) of the flexible heel strap (20) and a second attachment portion (13b) for releasable attachment of the second portion (22) of the flexible heel strap (20).

Claims

1. A snowshoe binding arranged for securing a boot to a snowshoe, the binding comprising a base part which comprises; a first part which is arranged to be mounted onto the snowshoe, a second part which is arranged to receive a boot toe portion and a third part which is arranged to receive a flexible heel strap, a flexible heel strap with a first portion, a second portion and an intermediate portion which extends between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the third part of the base part comprises a first attachment portion for releasable attachment of the first portion of the flexible heel strap and a second attachment portion for releasable attachment of the second portion of the flexible heel strap or a buckle arrangement

2. The snowshoe binding according to claim 1, wherein the first attachment portion comprises at least one first attachment portion protrusion and the second attachment portion comprises at least one second attachment portion protrusion.

3. The snowshoe binding according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first attachment portion comprises at least two first attachment portion protrusions; and the second attachment portion comprises at least two second attachment portion protrusions.

4. The snowshoe binding according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first attachment portion comprises at least three first attachment portion protrusions and the second attachment portion comprises at least three second attachment portion protrusions.

5. The snowshoe binding according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the at least two or three first attachment portion protrusions intersect a first common plane and the at least two or three second attachment portion protrusions intersect a second common plane.

6. The snowshoe binding according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first attachment portion comprises a first channel for receiving the first portion of the flexible heel strap, and wherein the second attachment portion comprises a second channel for receiving the second portion of the flexible heel strap.

7. The snowshoe binding according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible heel strap comprises a buckle arrangement for releasable attachment of the flexible heel strap to the second attachment portion

8. The snowshoe binding according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the intermediate portion of the flexible heel strap comprises a plurality of apertures for engagement to protrusions of the first attachment portion, the second attachment portion and/or at least one protrusion of a buckle arrangement.

9. The snowshoe binding according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of apertures are indicative of a respective boot size, for enabling pre-adjustment of the snowshoe binding.

10. The snowshoe binding according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base part comprises a third attachment portion and a fourth attachment portion, arranged for releasable attachment of a flexible top strap.

11. The snowshoe binding according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible heel strap is arranged to be attached and detached from the first and second attachment portions without tools.

12. A snowshoe, wherein the snowshoe comprises a snowshoe binding according to any one of the preceding claims.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The various aspects of embodiments herein, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a base part according to some embodiments,

[0034] FIG. 2 illustrates a flexible top strap according to some embodiments,

[0035] FIG. 3 illustrates a flexible heel strap according to some embodiments,

[0036] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a base part according to some embodiments,

[0037] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross section of the FIG. 4 base part,

[0038] FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of the snowshoe binding according to some embodiments,

[0039] FIG. 7 illustrates a cross section of the FIG. 6 snowshoe binding,

[0040] FIGS. 8-11 illustrates parts of a snowshoe binding according to some embodiments,

[0041] FIGS. 12a and 12b illustrates a schematic view of parts of the snowshoe binding according to some embodiments,

[0042] FIG. 13 illustrates a schematic view of parts of the snowshoe binding according to some embodiments,

[0043] FIG. 14 illustrates a perspective view of a snowshoe binding and a snowshoe according to some embodiments,

[0044] FIG. 15 illustrates a top view of a snowshoe binding and a snowshoe according to some embodiments,

[0045] FIG. 16 illustrates a side view of a snowshoe binding and a snowshoe according to some embodiments,

[0046] FIG. 17 illustrates a side view of a snowshoe binding and a snowshoe according to some embodiments when in use,

[0047] FIG. 18 illustrates a top view of a snowshoe binding and a snowshoe according to some embodiments when in use,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] Embodiments herein will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments are shown. However, this application should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Disclosed features of example embodiments may be combined as readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

[0049] Well-known functions or constructions will not necessarily be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

[0050] Spatial orientations, such as front/forward, back/rearwards, up/upwards, down/downwards, left and right are indicating directions of the binding and its different parts in a normal operating position, i.e. when the binding is mounted on a snowshoe laying on a substantial horizontal surface. These directions are indicated in FIGS. 17 and 18 and should not be interpreted as limiting in any way, they are only provided for facilitating understanding of internal relations between the parts illustrated.

[0051] FIG. 1 illustrates base part 10 with a first part 11 which is arranged to be mounted onto a snowshoe. The first part 11 may comprise an attachment organ of any kind, which can interact with an attachment organ of the snowshoe. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 the first part 11 comprises a first part channel 11a which can be arranged around a pin which is fastened to the snowshoe. The base part 10 can then, together with the parts which are attached to the base part 10, rotate relatively the snowshoe. The snowshoe and/or the base part 10 may comprise stops which restrict the possibility of rotation to predetermined angles. The rotation may facilitate walking with the snowshoe. In some embodiments the base part 10 is fixed to the snowshoe such that no rotation is possible.

[0052] The base part 10 comprises a second part 12 which is arranged to receive a boot toe portion. The second part 12 may project upwards from the relative flat first part 11, thereby allowing the boot toe portion to rest against the second part 12. A top part may be permanently or releasably attached to the first part 11 via one or more attachment portions 12b.

[0053] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the base part 10 can be arranged without any buckle attached to it, and it may then be referred to as a buckle-free base part.

[0054] The base part 10 further comprises a third part 13 which is arranged to receive the flexible heel strap 20, shown in FIG. 3. The third part 13 of the base part 10 may comprise a first attachment portion 13a for releasable attachment of the first portion 21 of the flexible heel strap 20 and a second attachment portion 13b for releasable attachment of the second portion 22 of the flexible heel strap 20.

[0055] As illustrated, the third part 13 may protrude upwards from peripheral portions of the first part 11, such that they become arranged on a right and left side of a boot when the boot is inserted into the binding.

[0056] The first attachment portion 13a and the second attachment portion 13b may be substantially identical but mirrored. Thus, the left side of the binding 1 may be substantially identical but inverted or reversed to the right side. An advantage with this design is that the same snowshoe binding 1 may be used both for a left snowshoe and a right snowshoe. Also the snowshoes may be identical. Accordingly, a snowshoe with a mounted binding 1 may be used as desired on right or left boot. The flexible heel strap may be totally detached from the attachment portions 13a and 13b, turned 180 degrees and be attached again. Hereby a user may freely select to which foot/boot the binding should be attached. He/she may also freely select if a buckle arrangement should be positioned on the inside of the foot/boot, towards the sagittal plane of the user or on the outside of the foot/boot, facing away from the sagittal plane of the user.

[0057] The first attachment portion 13a may comprise at least one first protrusion 13a for engagement to a selected one of said plurality of apertures 24. The first portion 21 of the flexible heel strap may be bent and inserted from a rearward direction into a channel of the first attachment portion 13a. When the flexible heel strap 20 is straightened, the aperture or apertures 24 snaps onto the protrusion or protrusions 13a, 13a, 13a such that the flexible heel strap is locked in position.

[0058] The second attachment portion 13b may comprise at least one second protrusion 13b (shown in FIG. 5) for engagement to a selected other one of said plurality of apertures 24. The second portion 22 of the flexible heel strap may be bent and inserted from a rearward direction into a channel of the second attachment portion 13b. When the flexible heel strap 20 is straightened, the aperture or apertures 24 snaps onto the protrusion or protrusions 13b, 13b, 13b (shown in FIG. 5) such that the flexible heel strap is locked in position.

[0059] The base part 10 may further comprise a third attachment portion 14a and a fourth attachment portion 14b, arranged for releasable attachment of a flexible top strap 40. The design of the flexible top strap 40 in shown in FIG. 2 and may resemble the design of the flexible heel strap 20, and it comprises apertures 44 which can be snapped onto protrusions of the third attachment portion 14a and a fourth attachment portion 14b. It may or may not be provided with a buckle.

[0060] The third attachment portion 14a may comprise e.g. one, two or three protrusions 14a, 14a, 14a. The protrusions 14a, 14a, 14a may extent is the same or in opposite direction relatively each other. The fourth attachment portion 14b may comprise e.g. one, two or three protrusions 14b, 14b, 14b. The protrusions 14b, 14b, 14b may extent is the same or in opposite direction relatively each other.

[0061] The flexible top strap 40 illustrated in FIG. 2 comprises apertures 44 which can be snapped onto protrusions of the third attachment portion 14a and a fourth attachment portion 14b.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 3 the flexible heel strap 20 has a height 20h, a length 20l and a thickness (not shown). The height 20h may be in the range of 15-30 mm. The thickness may be in the range of 1-4 mm. The height 20h and/or the thickness may be adopted after the dimensions of the channel C1 and C2, so it may fit relatively tight into the channel C1 and C1. The dimensions of the flexible heel strap may be in the range of 80-100%, or preferably in the range of 85-98% of the dimensions of the channes C1 and C2. Hereby the flexible heel strap 20 can be arranged relatively the base part in a torsionally rigid manner and transfer forces and momentum between the snowshoe S and the boot B.

[0063] The flexible heel strap 20 may be made of any suitable material, such as plastics or nylon. The second portion 22 of the flexible heel strap 20 may comprise a heel strap grip portion 22a, which facilitates for a user to fasten the flexible heel strap 20. The first portion 21 of the flexible heel strap 20 may be relatively uniform in height and thickness, so it can be inserted into the channel from rear. Thus, it does not comprise any protrusions, grip portions or similar. Hereby the entire flexible heel strap 20 may be attached and detached as one unit, also when it is provided with a buckle arrangement along its length. As mentioned, it comprises a plurality of apertures 24 which allows the flexible heel strap to be snapped on protrusions of the base part, and which allows a heel cap protrusion 33 to be snapped into an aperture, thereby positioning the heel cap 33 in a desired position along the length of the flexible heel strap 20.

[0064] In some embodiments, the flexible heel strap 20 is made of two different parts where a first part with the first portion 21 is attachable to the first attachment portion 13a and the second part with the second portion 22 is attachable to the second attachment portion 13b. The two parts are then connectable to each other via the buckle arrangement 25 or any other kind of attachment. In some embodiments the second part with the second portion 22 is attached to the buckle arrangement 25 in a releasable manner. In some embodiments the second part with the second portion 22 is permanently attached to the buckle arrangement 25 such that they together form a unit. The second portion 22 of such a unit is arranged to be inserted from a rear direction into channel C2 of the second attachment portion 13b.

[0065] In the attached state, entire second portion 22, or substantially the entire second portion 22 is comprised in the channel C2. The inserted end of the unit with the second portion 22 and the buckle arrangement is inserted in a meandering or tortouros manner, in a similar or corresponding manner as shown for the first portion 21 in FIG. 8-11.

[0066] The inserted end of the unit with the second portion 22 and the buckle arrangement is thus locked by the boot of the user when the boot is arranged within the binding, in a similar or corresponding manner as shown for the first portion 21 in FIG. 12b, 13.

[0067] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the base part 10 with the second part 12 which is arranged to receive a boot toe portion, the third part 13 which is arranged to receive the flexible heel strap 20, shown in FIG. 3.

[0068] FIG. 5 illustrates the base part 10 along the cross-section A-A, illustrated in FIG. 4. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 the first attachment portion 13a comprises three protrusion 13a, 13a, 13a for engagement to a selected one of said plurality of apertures 24 of the flexible heel strap. The first portion 21 of the flexible heel strap may be bent and inserted into a channel C1 of the first attachment portion 13a. When the flexible heel strap 20 is straightened, the aperture or apertures 24 snaps onto the protrusions 13a, 13a, 13a such that the flexible heel strap 20 is locked in position. The channel C1 may be substantially straight, or may have a slight curvature, and may be meandering. A meandering, or torturous, channel C1 is schematically illustrated with a dotted line in FIG. 5.

[0069] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 also the second attachment portion 13b comprises three protrusion 13b, 13b, 13b for engagement to a selected one of said plurality of apertures 24 of the flexible heel strap. The second portion of the flexible heel strap may be bent and inserted into a channel C2 of the second attachment portion 13b. When the flexible heel strap 20 is straightened, the aperture or apertures 24 snaps onto the protrusions 13b, 13b, 13b such that the flexible heel strap 20 is locked in position. The channel C2 may be substantially straight, or may have a slight curvature, and may be meandering.

[0070] The base part 10 may further comprise a third attachment portion 14a and a fourth attachment portion 14b, arranged for releasable attachment of a flexible top strap 40.

[0071] FIG. 6 illustrates the binding 1 from above, and FIG. 7 illustrates a cross section (B-B, shown in FIG. 6) of the binding 1. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 the flexible heel strap 20 and the flexible top strap 40 is attached to the base part 10. The design of the flexible top strap 40 is also shown in FIG. 2 and may resemble the design of the flexible heel strap 20, and it comprises apertures 44 which can be snapped onto protrusions of the third attachment portion 14a and a fourth attachment portion 14b. It may or may not be provided with a buckle.

[0072] FIGS. 8-11 illustrates how the first portion 21 of the flexible heel strap may be bent and inserted into a channel C1 of the first attachment portion 13a. In a corresponding manner, the second portion 22 may be inserted and fastened into the second channel C2. In a corresponding manner also the top strap may be attached to the third and fourth attachment portions 14a and 14b.

[0073] In FIG. 8 an end of the flexible heel strap 20 is inserted into the channel C1. A direction of the heel strap substantially corresponds to the direction of the channel C1. The flexible heel strap is arranged to be inserted from rear. The flexible heel strap is also arranged to be released by bending it and move it out rearwards from the Channel C1, as described below.

[0074] In FIG. 9 the end of the flexible heel strap 20 has been temporarily bent out from the channel C1 through a channel opening C1b on the outside of the first attachment portion 13a (arranged between the inwardly facing channel openings C1a and C1c and schematically illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13). An aperture 24 has been snapped onto the protrusion 13a, which is arranged in the channel opening C1a and which face inwards, towards a boot when the binding is in use.

[0075] In FIG. 10 the end of the flexible heel strap 20 has been temporarily bent out from the channel C1 through a channel opening C1b on the outside of the first attachment portion 13a and has entered the channel opening C1c on the inside of the first attachment portion 13a.

[0076] In FIG. 11 an aperture 24 has been snapped onto the outwardly projecting protrusion 13a (arranged in channel opening C1b and not shown in FIG. 11). Another aperture 24 has been snapped onto the inwardly projecting protrusion 13a and the first portion 21 of the flexible heel strap 20 is fully arranged within the channel C1.

[0077] Thanks to this, a very secure attachment of the flexible heel strap 20 is achieved, and when needed the flexible heel strap 20 easily can be fully detached without tools. A user may then bend the end 21 out from the channel C1, into the opening C1c, and then continue to release the next aperture 24 from the projection 13a, then the next aperture from the projection 13a. When a boot is arranged next to and inside of the first attachment portion 13a the end 21 cannot be bent out from the channel C1, into the opening C1c. Further, since the protrusions extends substantially perpendicular to the flexible heel strap 20, and accordingly substantially perpendicular to forces acting on the flexible heel strap 20 (for example from a boot heel), the attachment is very secure.

[0078] FIGS. 12a, 12b and 13 illustrates the channel C1 with the protrusions and the flexible heel strap 20. The protrusions extend through a common plane which is aligned with channel C1 and which extends in the same direction as height 20h of the flexible heel strap. A first 13a and third 13a protrusion extends in one direction and the intermediate protrusion 13a extends in the opposite direction. The channel C1 is illustrated as relatively straight in FIGS. 12 and 13, but it can also be arranged to be meandering or tortuous, as shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 12b illustrates the flexible heel strap when inserted but not attached/fastened, FIG. 13 illustrates the flexible heel strap when attached/fastened.

[0079] FIG. 14 illustrates the binding 1 when mounted on a snowshoe S in perspective view, FIG. 15 illustrates the binding 1 when mounted on a snowshoe S in a top view and FIG. 16 illustrates the binding 1 when mounted on a snowshoe S in a side view.

[0080] The snowshoe S may be made of a strong, durable material such as plastics, and some parts and details may be made of metal. Grip organs S10 may protrudes downwards for increased grip when the snowshoe is used on snow, crust and ice. Some grip organs may be made in metal, and may be attached under the snowshoe and/or base part 10.

[0081] The snowshoe S may comprise a heel lifter S20 which may be arranged in different positions for providing support to boot, for example when a user climbs uphill.

[0082] As illustrated in e.g. FIGS. 6 and 14, the base part 10 can be arranged without any buckle attached to it. The flexible heel strap 20 with its buckle arrangement 25 may be a self-contained heel unit which can be attached to attachment portions 13a and 13b without tools.

[0083] The flexible top strap 40 with its buckle arrangement may be a self-contained top unit which can be attached to attachment portions 14a and 14b without tools.

[0084] Since no buckle is attached to the base part, it is very easy to repair the binding if a buckle becomes broken or defect, since it is only to replace the self-contained unit.

[0085] Further, a self-contained top unit may be used as a self-contained heel unit and vice versa.

[0086] FIG. 17 illustrates the snowshoe binding 1 and snowshoe S in a side view when a boot B is inserted into the binding 1. In FIG. 18 the snowshoe binding 1 and snowshoe S is illustrated from above when the boot is inserted into the binding 1. It is shown that the heel cap 30 can be arranged to restrict relative movement between a boot heel portion B2 and the flexible heel strap 20.

[0087] Thanks to the apertures and the attachment portions, a length of the flexible heel strap 20 between the position of the attached heel cap 30 and the first attachment portion 13a can be freely selected. Thanks to the apertures, the attachment portions and possibly a buckle arrangement 25, a length of the flexible heel strap 20 between the position of the attached heel cap 30 and the second attachment portion 13b can be freely selected.

[0088] The heel cap 30 can therefore, at a selected position along the flexible heel strap, be arranged to restrict lateral displacement of a boot heel portion B2, i.e. to fix or position the boot heel portion B2 in a side-to-side or left-right direction.

[0089] Although the aspects has been described with reference to example embodiments, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of various example embodiments and the scope of the appended claims is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications to the disclosed embodiments, combinations of features of disclosed embodiments as well as other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

[0090] As used herein, the term comprising or comprises is open-ended, and includes one or more stated features, elements, steps, components or functions but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, steps, components, functions or groups thereof.