New York, NY – On August 9, inventor and engineer Burton (Burt) Weinstein, best known for the creation of Burt ski bindings, lost his battle with cancer at the age of 87.
Skiing exploded as a mainstream leisure activity in the 1960s and 1970s, which led to a burst of gear innovation—from metal skis and plastic boots to related integral parts and accessories, like the ski brake (then called the ski stopper, invented by Earl Miller in his workshop in Orem, Utah) and the plate binding. By the late 70s, plate bindings were a must-have and, with their “automatic recovery” feature, Burt Bindings (a.k.a Burt Retractable Bindings) garnered a lot of attention and fans.
Burt Bindings uniquely featured a retractable cable for each ski that would extend and recoil to prevent the ski from entirely separating from the binding in rough terrain or in the event of a fall. The spring-loaded cable allowed the boot to release, but the ski didn’t fly free; it would snap back into place once pressure decreased. The design aimed to reduce ankle injuries from falls and ease recovery. Burt created two versions of the retractable bindings as well as a step-in safety binding.
Weinstein was awarded a patent for his original retractable ski binding in 1977 and for the step-in binding in 1979. Over the years, he would achieve more than a dozen patents for his inventions in the skiing, woodworking, boating and medical industries. These included a groundbreaking mortise and tenon jig for General Tools & Instruments that enabled the affordable, precision production of these joints; a dolly that facilitated the transport of a boat in a laterally vertical orientation; and an endotracheal tube holder that prevented patients from biting the tubing.
A World War II veteran and a man of many talents and interests, Weinstein was an avid sailor who also enjoyed skiing, flying and fishing, and was a proud member of the City Island and New York Yacht Clubs. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Carolyn; stepdaughters, Jacquelyn and Gwendolyn Wong; sons-in-law Serge Michaut and Neil Wertheimer; grandchildren Davis and Lucas Wertheimer; brother and sister-in-law Gerald and Alice Weinstein; and many loving nieces and nephews.
