Wakeboard base plate, foot bed, and mounting interfastener combination

Abstract

A wakeboard foot binding combination comprising including a base plate having a lower surface for contact with the upper surface of the wakeboard and having an upper surface on which to mount a foot binding where the base plate forms a pair of facing arcuate slots therethrough, between the upper surface to the lower surface, one the slot located on each side of the foot binding, for supporting the foot binding thereon; and, a foot binding attached to the base plate.

1 . A wakeboard foot binding combination comprising: 
 a) a base plate having a lower surface for contact with the upper surface of the wakeboard and having an upper surface on which to mount a foot binding;    b) said base plate forming a pair of facing arcuate slots therethrough, between said upper surface to said lower surface, one said slot located on each side of the foot binding, for supporting the foot binding thereon; and,    c) a foot binding attached to said base plate.    
   
   
       2 . The wakeboard foot binding of  claim 1  wherein said base plate is planar and extends beyond the edges of said foot binding.  
   
   
       3 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 1  further including base plate-wakeboard interfastener means to rigidly mount the foot binding combination in a desired position on the wakeboard wherein said interfastener means include: 
 a) a groove formed in said upper surface of said arcuate slots, each groove opening outward from each side of said arcuate slots;    b) a curved fastener body adapted to interface closely with said grooves; and,    c) and at least one small area pressure plate, formed on the bottom of said fastener body, for concentrating the fastening pressure of said threaded fasteners to a small area of said base plate.    
   
   
       4 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 1  wherein said base plate-wakeboard interfastener means can be loosened to allow rotation of said foot binding from one specific angle to another specific angle with respect to the central, forward-to-rear axis of the wakeboard.  
   
   
       5 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 1  wherein said base plate extends beyond the periphery of the foot binding.  
   
   
       6 . A wakeboard foot binding combination comprising: 
 a) a base plate having a lower surface for contact with the upper surface of the wakeboard and having an upper surface on which to mount a foot binding;    b) said foot binding comprising: 
 i) an inner rear segment;  
 ii) an inner front segment; and,  
 iii) an outer binding segment including a wraparound section adapted to fit over a portion of said inner rear segment and said inner front segment; and,  
 iv) a lacing ladder for drawing said wraparound section tightly over said inner rear segment and said inner front segment and close to the wearer's foot; and, c) a base plate-wakeboard interfastener means.  
   
   
   
       7 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 6  further including a base plate-wakeboard interfastener means comprising: 
 a) a groove formed in said upper surface of each said arcuate slots, each groove opening outward from each side of said arcuate slots;    b) a curved fastener body adapted to interface closely with said grooves; and,    c) and at least one small area pressure plate, formed on the bottom of said fastener body, for concentrating the fastening pressure of said threaded fasteners to a small area of said base plate.    
   
   
       8 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 6  further including an elastomeric foot cushion for interposition between said foot binding inner rear segment, said foot binding inner front segment and said base plate.  
   
   
       9 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 8  wherein said elastomeric foot cushion includes an upper sole area covered with a non-slip surface.  
   
   
       10 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 8  wherein said elastomeric foot cushion further includes a sole support area containing elastomeric material having different physical properties from said elastomeric material making us said foot cushion.  
   
   
       11 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 10  wherein said elastomeric foot cushion further includes a midsole support area containing elastomeric material having different physical properties from said elastomeric material making us said foot cushion and said sole support area.  
   
   
       12 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 11  wherein said elastomeric foot cushion further includes a heel support area containing elastomeric material having different physical properties from said elastomeric material making us said foot cushion, said sole support area, and said midsole area.  
   
   
       13 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 6  further an action surface formed on the bottom of said elastomeric foot cushion for contact with said upper surface of said base plate and including means for locking and unlocking said foot cushion in said base plate.  
   
   
       14 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 13  wherein said means for locking and unlocking said foot cushion in said base plate includes: 
 a) at least one aperture formed in said base plate; and,    b) at least one protrusion formed on said bottom surface of said elastomeric foot cushion and arranged to mate with and be inserted in said aperture in said base plate to hold said foot cushion in alignment on said base plate.    
   
   
       15 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 13  wherein said means for locking and unlocking said foot cushion in said base plate includes: 
 a) at least two apertures formed in said base plate and aligned parallel to the central axis of said base plate; and,    b) at least two protrusions formed on said bottom surface of said elastomeric foot cushion and arranged to mate with and be inserted in said apertures in said base plate to hold said foot cushion in alignment on said base plate.    
   
   
       16 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 15  wherein said means for locking and unlocking said foot cushion in said base plate further includes at least one side of one protrusion being straight for bearing against a straight side of said protrusion.  
   
   
       17 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 15  wherein one of said protrusion-aperture combinations is formed under the heel portion of the binding and the other protrusion-aperture combination is formed forwardly thereof, along the foot region of the binding toward the front thereof.  
   
   
       18 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 3  wherein said interfastener means includes: 
 a) a metal plate defined by first and second opposite sides;    b) said plate forming an aperture therethrough;    c) a hollow sleeve formed integral with said plate, centered over said aperture, and forming threads on the inside thereof; and,    d) a machine screw, comprising a threaded shaft with a screw head formed at one end thereof, for passing through holes in said foot binding and turning down into said sleeve for drawing said binding toward said plate.    
   
   
       19 . The interfastener means of  claim 18  wherein said plate is on the order of one-sixteenth of an inch thick.  
   
   
       20 . The interfastener means of  claim 18  wherein said screw head of said machine screw is flat on the top to blend into said foot binding.