WO2004062751A1

WO2004062751A1 - Toe strap

Info

Publication number: WO2004062751A1
Application number: PCT/US2003/041257
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christopher Doyle; Sean Mcveigh
Original assignee: Burton Corp
Current assignee: Burton Corp
Priority date: 2003-01-06
Filing date: 2003-12-22
Publication date: 2004-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 2005-07-06
Also published as: AU2003303709A1

Abstract

A toe strap includes first and second portions that together simultaneously engage the top surface and forward wall of the toe area of a snowboard boot. The first portion resists movement of the snowboard boot in an upward direction and the second portion resists movement in a forward direction. The top (i.e. first) portion and front (i.e. second) portion may be connected so as to form a toe cup or box that is dimensioned to fit closely against and around the front tip and top of the boot. The strap may be preformed to approximate the general shape of the tip of the boot (i.e. front and adjacent top) or the strap may be pliant so as to form or enhance a shape conforming to the tip of the boot upon tightening the strap. Upon tightening the strap, the boot is pulled firmly back into the heel hoop of a snowboard binding and the tip of the boot is held firmly down.

Description

TOE STRAP

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to straps and bindings for engaging snowboard boots.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Strap type bindings for securing a snowboarding boot of a rider to a snowboard are known and typically include one or more straps, such as an ankle strap and a toe strap, that may be incrementally tightened across the top of the boot until the rider is firmly connected to the board. A conventional toe strap is an elongated strip, slightly bowed, that extends across the top of the boot rearward of the tip of the boot, so that the rounded front end of the boot projects beyond the edge of the strap and is not directly contacted by the strap when the boot is secured into the binding. The toe strap bears down on the top of the boot to prevent toe lift.

Some riders have modified the orientation of their toe straps so that rather than extending across the top of the boot, the strap runs around the front portion of the boot. By sliding the toe strap forward and down, so that it abuts the forward-most surface of the snowboarding boot, and then tightening the strap, the snowboarding boot is pulled firmly back into the heel hoop of the binding.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to one aspect, a binding strap for securing a toe area of a snowboard boot to a binding is provided. The boot includes a top surface that is adapted to sit above a wearer's foot, a sole adapted to sit below the wearer's foot and a forward wall extending between the top surface and the sole and adapted to sit in front of the wearer's foot. The binding strap includes a top strap portion having a first surface adapted to engage the top portion of the snowboard boot forward of an in-step area of the boot and a front strap portion cooperating with the top strap portion and having a second surface adapted to engage the forward wall of the boot. According to another aspect, a snowboard binding is provided. The binding is adapted to mount a snowboard boot to a snowboard. The boot includes a top surface that is adapted to sit above a wearer's foot, a sole adapted to sit below the wearer's foot and a forward wall extending between them and adapted to sit in front of the wearer's foot. The snowboard binding includes a frame mountable to the snowboard. The frame has a length direction and a mounting surface that extends generally parallel to the snowboard. The frame is adapted to receive the snowboard boot. The binding also includes an ankle strap cooperating with the frame to at least partially secure the boot to the frame and a toe strap cooperating with the frame to at least partially secure the snowboard boot to the frame. The toe strap includes a first toe strap portion constructed and arranged to engage the top surface of the boot forward of an in-step area of the boot. When the toe strap is tightened, the first toe strap portion exerts a force on the top surface of the boot that acts to resist movement of the boot in at least a first direction that is generally perpendicular to the mounting surface. The toe strap also includes a second toe strap portion constructed and arranged to engage the forward wall of the boot. When the toe strap is tightened, the second toe strap portion exerts a force on the forward wall of the boot that acts to resist movement of the boot in at least a second direction that is generally parallel to the length direction of the frame.

According to yet another aspect, a toe strap is provided. The toe strap includes a boot-engaging strap piece forming a three-dimensional cup-shaped cavity having an inner surface that is adapted to simultaneously engage a top surface and a forward wall of a toe-end of a snowboard boot to at least partially secure the boot to a snowboard binding.

According to still another aspect, a binding strap is provided. The binding strap includes a boot-engaging strap piece having a length direction. The boot-engaging strap piece includes a first strap portion extending in the length direction of the boot-engaging strap piece and a second strap portion at least partially attached to the first strap portion and extending in the length direction of the boot-engaging strap piece. The second strap portion is disposed at an angle that is less than 180° relative to the first strap portion in a direction transverse to the length direction.

According to another aspect, a method of strapping a snowboard boot to a snowboard binding is provided. The binding includes a frame mountable to a snowboard, and a strap attached to the frame. The frame includes a heel hoop that is adapted to receive a heel area of the boot. The boot includes a top surface that is adapted to sit above a wearer's foot, a sole adapted to sit below the wearer's foot and a forward wall extending between them and adapted to sit in front of the wearer's foot. The method includes locating the boot in a desired position with respect to the frame, engaging the top surface and forward wall of the boot with the strap, and simultaneously pulling the boot into the heel hoop and down toward the snowboard upon tightening the strap.

Various embodiments of the present invention provide certain advantages. Not all embodiments of the invention share the same advantages and those that do may not share them under all circumstances.

Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure of various embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, similar features are represented by like reference numerals. For clarity, not every component is labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a toe strap;

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1A-1A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the strap of FIG. 1 mounted to a snowboard binding and engaging a portion of a snowboard boot;

FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of the area encircled by line 2A of FIG.2;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the strap mounted on a binding;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a mounting strap for use with the strap of FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of yet another embodiment of the strap attached to a binding and engaging a snowboard boot; and

FIG. 5 A is a side view of an alternative mounting strap. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to an improved toe strap that can be used in any of numerous applications, including for use as a strap attached directly to a snowboard boot, as a strap for at least partially securing a boot to a binding, or a strap for at least partially securing a boot to a binding interface. In one embodiment, the toe strap has first and second portions that together simultaneously engage the top surface and forward wall of the boot. The first portion restricts movement of the snowboard boot in an upward direction and the second portion restricts movement in a forward direction. The top (i.e. first) portion and front (i.e. second) portion may be connected so that the inner surfaces of the top and front portion form a three-dimensional cup-shaped cavity having an inner surface that is dimensioned to fit closely against and around the tip of the boot (i.e. the front and adjacent top of the boot). However, the present invention is not limited in this respect, as the top and front portions need not be connected. The strap may be preformed to approximate the general shape of the tip of the boot, the strap may be pliant so as to form or enhance a shape conforming to the tip of the boot upon tightening the strap, or the strap may be formed into any other suitable shape. Upon tightening the strap, simultaneously, the boot is pulled and/or held firmly back into the heel hoop of the binding and the tip of the boot is pulled and/or held firmly down. In this manner, little or no play exists between the boot and binding and/or snowboard, such that, upon the rider executing a snowboarding maneuver, the snowboard may be quicker to respond.

A toe strap 10 in accordance with one illustrative embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The strap 10, as shown, includes a boot-engaging strap piece 14 defining a length in the side-to-side direction and having a first or top strap portion 16 constructed and arranged to engage an upper surface 46 of a boot 44 forward of an instep area 45 of the boot and a second or front strap portion 18 that is constructed and arranged to engage the forward wall or surface 48 of the boot. More particularly, the first portion 16 is adapted to engage the surface of the boot that sits above a wearer's toes and that is generally parallel to the sole 50 of the boot. The second portion 18 is adapted to engage the front wall of the boot that is positioned between the upper surface and the sole and that sits in front of the wearer's toes. When the strap 10 is tightened, the first portion 16 exerts a force on the top surface of the boot that acts to resist toe lift and the second portion 18 exerts a force on the front wall of the boot that acts to resist forward movement of the boot. In one embodiment, the top and front strap portions 16, 18 are joined together to form a toe cup 24 defining a three-dimensional cavity having an inner surface that conforms or can conform to the tip of the boot to simultaneously engage the upper surface and the forward wall of the boot to hold the boot down and back. The top portion 16 of the boot-engaging strap piece 14 includes a forward edge 26, a rearward edge 28, and a top surface 72 that lies generally in a first plane 30, as is shown in FIG. 1 A. When engaging a boot, surface 72 lies adjacent the upper surface 46 of the boot. The forward edge 26 is an outermost portion of the first strap portion 16 that, when the first strap portion 16 is positioned on the toe area 42 of the snowboard boot 44 (see Figs. 2 and 2A) is located most distal from the heel 90 of the boot. The rearward edge 28 is an innermost portion of the first strap portion 16 that, when the first strap portion 16 is positioned on the toe area 42 of the boot, is located most proximate the heel 45 of the boot.

The front portion 18 includes an upper edge 32, a lower edge 34 and a front surface 74 curved in a side-to-side direction (see FIG. 1) that approximates the shape of the forward wall of the boot. The front portion 18 extends downward at an angle from the top surface 72 of the top portion 16. The upper edge 32 is an uppermost portion of the second strap portion 18 that, when the second strap portion 18 is positioned on the forward wall 48 of the boot, is located most distal of snowboard 49 or base 41 of the binding 40. The lower edge 34 is a lowermost portion of the second strap portion 18 that, when the second strap portion 18 is position on the forward wall 48 of the boot, is located most proximate the snowboard or binding base 41.

As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1A, the front surface 74 extends at an angle 36 relative to the top surface 72 in a direction that is transverse to the length direction of the boot-engaging strap piece 14, In one embodiment, angle 36 is less than 180°. In another embodiment, angle 36 is approximately 90°. This configuration may be beneficial when the front wall of the boot is generally perpendicular to the upper surface of the boot at the tip of the boot. Although in one embodiment, the front surface extends generally perpendicular from the top surface, the present invention is not limited in this respect, as any suitable orientation of the front surface relative to the top surface to simultaneously resist upward and forward movement may be employed. Angle 36 may also depend upon the degree of tightness or boot retention desired or the shape and configuration of the tip of the snowboard boot, for example, the angle between the upper surface 46 of the boot adjacent the tip and the forward wall 48. In other embodiments, angle 36 may be any angle between 50° and 140°.

It should be appreciated that the first strap portion 16 is not limited to the shape shown, and may have any shape or orientation, as long as it can aid in restricting movement of the toe area 42 of the boot 44 in an upward direction (e.g. prevent the toe area 42 of the boot 44 from lifting off of the snowboard 49). The upward direction is the direction extending generally perpendicular from the sole of the boot or the mounting plate or base of the binding.

The first or top strap portion 16 may be rigid and shaped to conform to the surface of the snowboard boot which it overlies, may be flexible and resilient so that it will conform to the surface of the boot as the strap 10 is tightened down, or may be of any other suitable construction. For example, the first strap portion 16 may be molded from plastic or other suitable material into any desired shape. Alternatively, the first strap portion 16 may be formed of leather, fabric or other suitable material and may be stitched into or glued any desired shape. The top strap portion 16 may have a shape that is triangular, semi-circular, crescent or any other shape and may be flat or curved and may further complement the surface characteristics of the top surface 46 of the boot.

In one embodiment, the top strap portion 16 is generally triangular in shape with the base of the triangle being approximately 5 inches and each side of the triangle being about 3 inches. The apex of the triangle may include a slight radius and in one embodiment, the radius is about 1 V_ inches.

It should be appreciated that the second strap portion 18 also may have any shape or orientation, as long as it can aid in restricting movement of the toe area 42 of the boot 44 in a forward direction (e.g. prevent the toe area 42 of the boot 44 from sliding forward along length direction 8 of the boot and/or binding.) The second strap portion 18 may also help pull the boot back into in the heel hoop 91 of the binding, as the strap 10 is tightened.

The second or front strap portion 18 may be rigid and shaped to conform to the forward wall of the snowboard boot 44 which it engages, may be flexible and resilient so that it will conform to the shape of the boot as the strap 10 is tightened down, or be of any other suitable construction. The second strap portion 18 may be molded from plastic or other suitable materials into any desired shape. Alternatively, in the second strap portion 18 may be formed of leather, fabric or other suitable material and may be glued or stitched into any desired shape. The front strap portion 18 may have a shape that is rectangular, strip-like, triangular or any other shape and may be curved to complement the curvature of the forward- most surface 48 of the boot.

In one embodiment, when laid flat, the front strap portion 18 is generally rectangular in shape, with a length that is adjusted to extend across the front of the boot of approximately 6 inches (which generally coincides with the total length of the sides of the triangular shaped top strap portion 16) and a width of approximately 1 ! ₂ inches.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments discussed above, as any suitable shape, size and/or material or any suitable combination of shapes, sizes and/or materials may be employed.

In one embodiment, the boot-engaging strap piece 14 may span the tip of the boot from a location just forward of the bottom edge of the boot tongue 51 down to about the level of the sole 50 of the snowboard boot.

In one embodiment, only a portion of the forward edge 26 of the first strap portion 16 is joined with the upper edge 32 of the second strap portion 18. As such, an opening (not shown) is provided in the boot-engaging strap portion 14. The opening may be provided for any of a number of purposes, e.g., to increase flexibility.

Although in one embodiment the first strap portion 16 and/or the second strap portion 18 is formed as a single component and made of one material, the strap portions 16, 18 can be made of any number of components formed of a single or multiple materials, which may be joined together using any suitable joining technique (e.g., gluing, stitching, heat bonding, etc.). Also, although in one embodiment the boot-engaging strap piece 14 is formed of the first and second strap pieces, the boot-engaging strap piece 14 may be a single component that may either be rigid and shaped to conform to the portion of the boot 44 which it overlies or may be flexible and resilient so that it will conform to the shape of the boot 44 as the strap 10 is tightened down. The boot-engaging strap piece 14 may be formed in any of numerous ways, as the present invention is not limited to any particular construction. The boot- engaging strap piece 14 may be formed of any suitable material, such as plastic, leather, fabric, any suitable combination thereof or any other suitable material, and may be made using any suitable manufacturing technique, such as cutting, stamping, injection or compression molding or stitching. Plastic components forming all or part of boot-engaging strap piece 14 may be molded into the desired shape, whereas leather or fabric components forming all or part of the boot-engaging strap piece 14 may be cut and/or stitched into the desired shape.

In one embodiment of the invention, the boot-engaging strap piece 14 includes padding, although this is not necessary for all embodiments. When employed, the padding (not shown) may be disposed, for example, on an inner surface to increase comfort or relieve pressure applied by the tip of the boot 44 when the strap 10 is tightened. The padding may comprise any material, such as foam, fluid filled chambers such as air or gel pockets, additional layers of fabric, leather or plastic, or any other suitable padding material.

Alternatively or in addition, in some embodiments, the boot-engaging strap piece 14 may be provided with openings or relief cut-outs (not shown) adapted to overlie sensitive areas or pressure points on the foot of the rider to alleviate pressure and further increase the comfort of the strap 10. In one embodiment, the openings are complete cut-outs such that no material overlies the sensitive area and there appears to be a hole in the boot-engaging strap piece 14. In another embodiment, the relief cut-outs are areas of the boot-engaging strap piece 14 having a lesser thickness of material than another area of the boot engaging strap piece 14, but not entirety removed. For example, a relief cut-out area may have a thickness including one layer of material, but the rest of the boot-engaging strap piece 14 will have a thickness of three layers of material.

As shown in FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the boot-engaging strap piece 14 includes a ratchet buckle 20 mounted at one end 56, and a fastener 22 disposed at the opposite end 58. The strap 10 includes not only the boot-engaging strap piece 14, but also a first mounting strap 52 (also referred to as an engagement strap or ratchet tongue) and second mounting strap 54 (as shown in FIG. 2A) that can be used to attach the strap (e.g., to a base of a snowboard binding). In the embodiment shown, the first mounting strap 52 includes a serrated portion 60 to engage the ratchet buckle 20. The second mounting strap 54 may be secured on the second side 58 of the boot-engaging strap piece 14 by fastener 22. The ends of the first and second straps 52, 54 opposite the boot-engaging strap piece may be secured to the binding by fasteners 66, 68.

In one embodiment, the ratchet buckle 20 is engagable with the teeth 60 on mounting strap 52, thereby allowing a rider to selectively adjust the tightness and looseness of the strap 10 by feeding or withdrawing the strap 52 to or from the ratchet buckle 20. Upon receipt and drawing down of the mounting strap 52, the boot-engaging strap piece 14 is drawn towards the toe area 42 of the boot 44 and seats the heel 90 of the boot 44 in the heel hoop 91 of the binding. In an alternative embodiment, the mounting strap 52 is fixed to a side of the boot- engaging strap piece 14 and the ratchet buckle is attached to the binding.

It should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to any particular arrangement to attach the boot-engaging strap piece 14 to the binding and that suitable arrangement techniques other than those disclosed herein may be employed. For example, the boot-engaging strap piece may be attached indirectly to the binding with the use of a cable or lace, etc. or may be directly fastened to the binding with the use of a suitable fastener, such a T-nut and bolt fastener.

To allow further selective adjustment or easier replacement, as shown in FIG. 3, in one embodiment, the second mounting strap 54 may include a plurality of apertures 86. A rider can select a particular aperture to utilize to secure the second mounting strap to the boot engaging strap piece, such that the length of the boot-engaging strap piece and mounting strap combination can be adjusted, thereby adjusting the tightness or the fit of the strap 10. In this manner, the mounting strap is slidable relative to the boot-engaging strap piece 14. In one embodiment, screw 64 extends through the boot-engaging strap piece 14, and a T-nut or other fastener engager may be provided in a hole 88 in the boot-engaging strap piece 14 or in one of the apertures 86 of the mounting strap 12, to allow engagement of the screw 64. It should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the use of screws, T-nuts or any other fastening device, as any suitable technique to adjustably, removably or fixedly secure the mounting strap 54 to the binding baseplate 40 and /or boot-engaging strap piece 14 can be employed. It should also be appreciated that the mounting strap 54 may be formed integrally with the boot-engaging strap piece 14.

The boot-engaging strap piece 14 may include a pocket 62, loop, channel or other arrangement for holding the free end of the mounting strap 54 to the boot-engaging strap piece, examples of which are described in commonly assigned U.S. Patent 6,056,030, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In one embodiment, a pocket is formed in the front strap piece 18 (see, e.g., Fig. 3). However, the present invention is not limited in this respect, as the pocket may be formed at other suitable locations or need not be employed at all.

The mounting strap 52 and/or 54 (see FIG. 3) may include one or more holes 82 that allow for selective adjustment of the mounting strap to the binding 40. The binding 40 may also include one or more holes 84 that also allow for selective adjustment of the mounting strap. Any excess mounting strap length extending beyond the binding may be snipped off, tucked in, folded over, or modified or oriented in any other desired way or position. The present invention is not limited in this respect, as adjustment may occur at one end only; alternatively, no adjustment need be employed.

Other suitable mechanisms for attaching the mounting strap to the binding may be employed, as the present invention is not limited in this respect. For example, a tool-free strap attachment arrangement, such as that described in commonly assigned U.S. Patent 6,416,075, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirely, may be employed.

Due to the orientation of the strap 10 relative to the binding, in one embodiment, the mounting strap 52 may have a pre-formed bend or curve. As seen in FIG. 4, the mounting strap 52 includes bend 92, which may enable more efficient force translation between the strap and binding. Mounting strap 54 may have a similar pre-formed bend. Of course, the present invention is not limited to including a mounting strap with a bend.

It should be appreciated that any arrangement or method of attaching the boot- engaging strap piece 14 to the binding 40, the boot 44, the snowboard or binding interface may be used, as the present invention is not limited to any particular attachment arrangement.

In another embodiment, the boot-engaging strap piece may include two separate strap pieces (such as a first upper strap portion that is not connected to a second forward strap portion) that cooperate to provide simultaneous resistance to toe-lift and forward movement of the boot. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, strap 110 includes boot engaging strap piece 114 comprising upper strap portion 116 and forward strap portion 118. To enable independent strap portion adjustment and a more customized fit, in one embodiment, the strap 110 may include two separate mounting straps 154, 155 connected at one end to side 158 of the boot- engaging strap piece 114 and at the other end to the side of the binding 40. Separate mounting straps may also be employed on the opposite side of the binding.

Alternatively, to reduce the number of components and connections, the strap 110 may include a single mounting strap 156 (see FIG. 5 A) on one or both sides of the boot- engaging strap piece. The single mounting strap may have a single connection point 156a to the binding 140 and thereafter may bifurcate into two sections, 156b and 156c, one of which connects to the first strap piece 116 and the other of which connects to the second strap piece 118. - li ¬

lt should be further appreciated that any of the above-described embodiments may be used in combination with a binding. As shown in FIG. 5, the binding 40 includes a frame 39 mountable to a snowboard (not shown). The frame has a length direction 8 and a base 41 that defines a mounting surface 162 that extends generally parallel to the snowboard. The frame is adapted to receive a snowboard boot. The frame may include a heel hoop 91. An ankle strap 111 is attached to the rear portion of the frame and a highback 113 is mounted to the frame and nested within the heel hoop.

Having thus described certain embodiments of the present invention, various alterations, modification and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only, and not intended to be limiting. The invention is limited only as defined in the following claims and the equivalent thereof.

What is claimed is:

Claims

1. A binding strap for securing a toe area of a snowboard boot to a binding, the boot including a top surface that is adapted to sit above a wearer's foot, a sole adapted to sit below the wearer's foot and a forward wall extending between the top surface and the sole and adapted to sit in front of the wearer's foot, the binding strap comprising: a top strap portion having a first surface adapted to engage the top portion of the snowboard boot forward of an in-step area of the boot; and a front strap portion cooperating with the top strap portion and having a second surface adapted to engage the forward wall of the boot.

2. The binding strap according to claim 1, wherein the front strap portion extends from the top strap portion to form an angle therebetween that is less than 180°.

3. The binding strap according to claim 1, wherein the top strap portion resists movement of the boot in a first direction that is generally perpendicular to the sole of the boot. '

4. The binding strap according to claim 1, wherein the front strap portion resists movement of the boot in a second direction that is generally parallel to a length direction of the boot.

5. The binding strap according to claim 1, wherein the top strap portion has a forward edge and a rearward edge and wherein the front strap portion is connected to at least a portion of the forward edge.

6. The binding strap according to claim 1, wherein the first surface of the top strap portion is a generally triangular in shape.

7. The binding strap according to claim 1, wherein the top strap portion and the forward strap portion define a boot-engaging strap piece, the binding strap further comprising at least one mounting strap adapted to attach the boot-engaging strap piece to the binding.

8. The binding strap according to claim 7, wherein the at least one mounting strap is formed integrally with the boot-engaging strap piece.

9. The binding strap according to claim 7, wherein the at least one mounting strap is adjustable relative to the boot-engaging strap piece.

10. The binding strap according to claim 7, wherein the at least one mounting strap comprises a first mounting strap and a second mounting strap, wherein the first mounting strap is connected to a first side of the boot-engaging strap piece and the second mounting strap is connected to a second side of the boot-engaging strap piece.

11. The binding strap according to claim 10, wherein the boot-engaging strap piece includes a ratchet buckle attached at the first side adapted to engage the first mounting strap and a pocket formed at the second side adapted to receive the second mounting strap.

12. The binding strap according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the top strap portion is spaced from at least a portion of the front strap portion.

13. The binding strap according to claim 1, further comprising a first mounting strap portion connected to the top strap portion and a second mounting strap portion connected to the forward strap portion, wherein each of the first and second mounting strap portions is separately mountable to the binding.

14. A snowboard binding adapted to mount a snowboard boot to a snowboard, the boot including a top surface that is adapted to sit above a wearer's foot, a sole adapted to sit below the wearer's foot and a forward wall extending between the top surface and the sole and adapted to sit in front of the wearer's foot, the snowboard binding comprising: a frame mountable to the snowboard, the frame having a length direction and a mounting surface that extends generally parallel to the snowboard, the frame being adapted to receive the snowboard boot; an ankle strap cooperating with the frame to at least partially secure the boot to the frame; and a toe strap cooperating with the frame to at least partially secure the snowboard boot to the frame, the toe strap comprising: a first toe strap portion constructed and arranged to engage the top surface of the boot forward of an in-step area of the boot and, when the toe strap is tightened, to exert a force on the top surface of the boot that acts to resist movement of the boot in at least a first direction that is generally perpendicular to the mounting surface; and a second toe strap portion constructed and arranged to engage the forward wall of the boot and, when the toe strap is tightened, to exert a force on the forward wall of the boot that acts to resist movement of the boot in at least a second direction that is generally parallel to the length direction of the frame.

15. The snowboard binding according to claim 14, wherein the second toe strap portion extends from the first toe strap portion to form an angle therebetween that is less than 180°.

16. The snowboard binding according to claim 14, wherein the first toe strap portion comprises a forward edge and a rearward edge and wherein the second toe strap portion is connected to at least a portion of the forward edge.

17. The snowboard binding according to claim 14, wherein the first toe strap portion comprises a boot-engaging surface that is generally triangular in shape.

18. The snowboard binding according to claim 14, wherein the first and second toe strap portions define a boot-engaging strap piece and wherein the toe strap further comprises at least one mounting strap adapted to attach the boot-engaging strap piece to the frame.

19. The snowboard binding according to claim 18, wherein the at least one mounting strap is formed integrally with the boot-engaging strap piece.

20. The snowboard binding according to claim 18, wherein the at least one mounting strap is adjustable relative to the boot-engaging strap piece.

21. The snowboard binding according to claim 18, wherein the at least one mounting strap comprises a first mounting strap and a second mounting strap, wherein the first mounting strap is connected to a first side of the boot-engaging strap piece and the second mounting strap is connected to a second side of the boot-engaging strap piece.

22. The snowboard binding according to claim 21, wherein the boot-engaging strap piece includes a ratchet buckle attached at the first side for engaging the first mounting strap and a pocket formed at the second side for receiving the second mounting strap.

23. The snowboard binding according to claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the first toe strap portion is spaced from at least a portion of the second toe strap portion.

24. The snowboard binding according to claim 14, further comprising a first mounting strap portion connected to the first toe strap portion and a second mounting strap portion connected to the second toe strap portion, wherein each of the first and second mounting strap portions is separately mountable to the frame.

25. A toe strap comprising: a boot-engaging strap piece forming a three-dimensional cup-shaped cavity having an inner surface that is adapted to simultaneously engage a top surface and a forward wall of a toe-end of a snowboard boot to at least partially secure the boot to a snowboard binding.

26. The toe strap according to claim 25, wherein the inner surface of the cup- shaped cavity resists movement of the boot in a first direction that is generally perpendicular to a sole of the boot and resists movement of the boot in a second direction that is generally parallel to a length direction of the boot.

27. The toe strap according to claim 25, further comprising at least one mounting strap attached to the boot-engaging strap piece and adapted to attach the boot- engaging strap piece to a snowboard binding.

28. The toe strap according to claim 25, wherein the at least one mounting strap is formed integrally with the boot-engaging strap piece.

29. The toe strap according to claim 25, wherein the at least one mounting strap is adjustable relative to the boot-engaging strap piece.

30. The toe strap according to claim 25, wherein the boot-engaging strap piece includes a ratchet buckle attached at a first side of the boot-engaging strap piece and adapted to engage a first mounting strap and a pocket attached at the second side of the boot-engaging strap piece and adapted to receive a second mounting strap.

31. The toe strap according to claim 25, in combination with a snowboard binding.

32. The combination according to claim 31, further comprising an ankle strap mounted at an ankle area of the binding.

33. A binding strap comprising: a boot-engaging strap piece having a length direction, the boot-engaging strap piece comprising: a first strap portion extending in the length direction of the boot- engaging strap piece; and a second strap portion at least partially attached to the first strap portion and extending in the length direction of the boot-engaging strap piece, the second strap portion disposed at an angle that is less than 180° relative to the first strap portion.

34. The binding strap according to claim 33, wherein the first strap portion extends at an angle of approximately 90° from the second strap portion.

35. The binding strap according to claim 33, wherein the second strap portion is curved in the length direction to approximate a shape of a tip of the boot.

36. The binding strap according to claim 33, wherein the second strap portion is adapted to resist movement of the boot in a forward direction, and wherein the first strap portion is adapted to resist movement of the boot in an upward direction.

37. The toe strap according to claim 35, further comprising at least one mounting strap attached to the boot-engaging strap piece and adapted to attach the boot- engaging strap piece to a snowboard binding.

38. The toe strap according to claim 35, wherein the at least one mounting strap is formed integrally with the boot-engaging strap piece.

39. The toe strap according to claim 35, wherein the at least one mounting strap is adjustable relative to the boot-engaging strap piece.

40. The toe strap according to claim 35, wherein the boot-engaging strap piece includes a ratchet buckle attached at a first side of the boot-engaging strap piece and adapted to engage a first mounting strap and a pocket attached at the second side of the boot-engaging strap piece and adapted to receive a second mounting strap.

41. The toe strap according to claim 35, in combination with a snowboard binding.

42. The combination according to claim 41, further comprising an ankle strap mounted at an ankle area of the binding.

43. A method of strapping a snowboard boot to a snowboard binding, the binding having a frame mountable to a snowboard, the frame having a heel hoop that is adapted to receive a heel area of the boot, the binding further including a strap attached to the frame, wherein the boot includes a top surface that is adapted to sit above a wearer's foot, a sole adapted to below the wearer's foot and a forward wall extending between the top surface and the sole and adapted to sit in front of the wearer's foot, the method comprising acts of : locating the boot in a desired position with respect to the frame; engaging the top surface and the forward wall of the boot with the strap; and simultaneously pulling the boot into the heel hoop and down toward the snowboard upon tightening the strap.

44. The method according to claim 43, wherein the strap includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein engaging the boot with the strap comprises engaging the first portion of the strap with the top surface of the boot and engaging the second portion of the strap with the forward wall of the boot.

45. The method according to claim 43, wherein the strap includes a boot-engaging strap piece adapted to engage the boot and a mounting strap adjustably coupled to the boot-engaging strap piece and adapted to attach the boot-engaging strap piece to the frame, the method further comprising adjusting a position of the boot-engaging strap piece relative to the mounting strap.

46. The method according to claim 43, wherein the binding further includes an ankle strap attached to an ankle area of the frame, the method comprising engaging the boot with the ankle strap and tightening the ankle strap.