Wakeboard outerbase support shell and bladder combination

Abstract

A wakeboard foot binding combination 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, the base plate forming a pair of arcuate slots therethrough, between the upper surface to the lower surface, one the slot located on each side of the means to mount the foot binding, for registration with apertures formed in the wakeboard and for receipt therethrough of threaded fasteners to allow the plate to be rotated, with respect to the main axis of the wakeboard, and thereafter fixedly attached to the wakeboard to lock the binding against further rotational movement, and a groove formed in the upper surface of the base plate, opening outward from each side of the arcuate slot for receipt therein of binding-base plate interfasteners for use with the threaded fasteners wherein, the binding-base plate interfasteners include curved bodies, to interface closely with the grooves and further including at least one small area pressure plate for concentrating the fastening pressure of the threaded fasteners to small areas of 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 arcuate slots therethrough, between said upper surface to said lower surface, one said slot located on each side of said means to mount said foot binding, for registration with apertures formed in said wakeboard and for receipt therethrough of threaded fasteners to allow said plate to be rotated, with respect to the main axis of said wakeboard, and thereafter fixedly attached to said wakeboard to lock said binding against further rotational movement; and,    c) a groove formed in said upper surface of said base plate, opening outward from each side of said arcuate slot for receipt therein of binding-base plate interfastener means for use with said threaded fasteners; wherein,    d) said binding-base plate interfastener means include curved bodies, to interface closely with said grooves and further including at least one small area pressure plate for concentrating the fastening pressure of said threaded fasteners to small areas of 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 of  claim 1  wherein said binding-base plate interfastener includes an aperture, for receipt of said threaded fastener therethrough, and an area pressure plate, formed on each side of said aperture facing downward, toward said bottom surface of said base plate, when said interfastener is inserted in said groove and slot, for concentrating the fastening pressure of said threaded fastener to a small area of said base plate.  
   
   
       4 . A wakeboard foot binding combination comprising: 
 a) a base plate having a lower surface for contact with the upper surface of the wakeboard and an upper surface on which to mount a foot binding;    b) an inner foot binding comprising: 
 i) a rear pad including a heel cover, a rear ankle cover and a marginal edge;  
 ii) a front pad including an upper foot cover, a tongue and a marginal edge wherein said rear pad and said front pad are attached to said base plate about their respective marginal edges to provide, along with said base plate, a binding surrounding a majority of the surface area of the wearer's foot except for the toes of the foot; and,  
   c) an outer foot binding, including a wraparound section adapted to fit over a portion of said inner foot binding, a marginal edge for attachment to said base plate, and a lacing ladder for drawing said wraparound section tightly over said inner foot binding and close to the wearer's foot.    
   
   
       5 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 4  wherein said inner foot binding further includes a reinforcement strap attached about said heel cover to reinforce the marginal area about the heel cover.  
   
   
       6 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 5  wherein said inner foot binding includes a woven textile pad and said reinforcement strap is an elastomeric strap sewn in the marginal area about the heel cover.  
   
   
       7 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 4  wherein said rear ankle cover is narrower than said heel cover and further includes an upstanding loop for use in sliding one's foot down into said binding.  
   
   
       8 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 4  wherein said upper foot cover includes a broad woven textile pad, for spreading laterally about the upper part of the wearer's foot, and said tongue is hinged to said upper foot cover.  
   
   
       9 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 4  wherein said upper foot cover and said tongue include broad woven textile pads, for spreading laterally about the upper part of the wearers foot and extending upward on the front of the ankle of the wearer, respectively, and said, said hinge, between said upper foot cover and said tongue includes a flexible, non-woven material.  
   
   
       10 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 4  wherein said upper foot cover and said tongue further include: 
 a) an air bladder formed therein for expanding and contracting against the front area of said upper foot cover;    b) an air pump, operably connected to said air bladder, for pumping air into said air bladder on command; and,    c) an air release valve, operably connected to said air bladder, for exhausting air from said air bladder upon command.    
   
   
       11 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 4  wherein said outer foot binding includes: 
 a) a woven textile pad;    b) an outer non-woven pad attached over said woven textile pad; and,    c) a plurality of hooks and loops mounted to said pads and arranged adjacent the outer edges thereof, for receipt of laces for closing said outer foot binding over said inner binding.    
   
   
       12 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 4  wherein said outer foot binding further includes: 
 a) first strap means anchored in the lower rear portion of said outer foot binding and passing forwardly and upwardly along the outer surface of said outer foot binding to terminate in the dorsal surface of the foot of the wearer;    b) second strap means anchored in the lower front portion of said outer foot binding and passing rearwardly and upwardly along the outer surface of said outer foot binding to terminate at the rear, upper ankle portion of the wearer; and,    c) means, attached to said outer foot binding, for shortening and lengthening said first and second strap means to adjust the angle between the lower leg and the foot of the wearer.    
   
   
       13 . A wakeboard foot binding combination comprising: 
 a) a base plate having a lower surface for contact with the upper surface of the wakeboard and an upper surface on which to mount a foot binding;    b) an elastomeric foot cushion, for fitting between the upper surface of the wakeboard and said foot binding;    c) said elastomeric foot cushion comprising: 
 i) an outsole area of a size and shape to extend under the entire surface of the foot and supporting the foot on the upper surface of said base plate;  
 ii) a midsole area, inside said outsole area, for support the contour of the instep of the foot; and,  
 iii) insert areas, inside said outsole area, under the heel area and forefront area of the foot to provide cushioning against shock to those parts of the foot.  
   
   
   
       14 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 13  wherein said outsole area includes a non-slip surface formed thereover.  
   
   
       15 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 13  wherein said outsole area, said midsole area, and said insert areas all contain elastomeric materials having different physical properties.  
   
   
       16 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 13  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 temporarily locking and unlocking said foot cushion in said base plate.  
   
   
       17 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 16  wherein said means for temporarily locking and unlocking said foot cushion in said base plate includes: 
 a) at least two spaced-apart apertures formed in said base plate and aligned along the major axis of the binding; and,    b) at least two protrusions formed on said action surface of said elastomeric foot cushion and arranged to mate with and be inserted in said apertures in said base plate to temporarily hold said foot cushion in alignment on said base plate.    
   
   
       18 . The wakeboard foot binding combination of  claim 17  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.  
   
   
       19 . 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 wherein said base plate is planar and extends beyond the edges of said foot binding;    b) an inner foot binding including a marginal edge for attachment to said base plate;    c) an outer foot binding including a marginal edge for attachment to said base plate; and,    d) a threaded fastener for attaching said marginal edges of said inner and said outer foot binding to said base plate, wherein said threaded fastener comprises: 
 i) a plate of finite thickness defined by first and second opposite sides thereof and having an aperture formed therethrough;  
 ii) a sleeve integral with said plate, surrounding said aperture, and extending outward from said first side of said plate, said sleeve having threads formed inside thereof; and,  
 iii) a bolt, comprising a threaded shaft with a bolt heat formed at one end of said shaft, wherein said threads inside said sleeve and said threads on said bolt shaft match so that said bolt can be threaded into said sleeve to hold said inner foot binding and said outer foot binding to said base plate.  
   
   
   
       20 . 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 arcuate slots therethrough, between said upper surface to said lower surface, one said slot located on each side of said means to mount said foot binding, for registration with apertures formed in said wakeboard and for receipt therethrough of threaded fasteners to allow said plate to be rotated, with respect to the main axis of said wakeboard, and thereafter fixedly attached to said wakeboard to lock said binding against further rotational movement; and,    c) an inner foot binding comprising: 
 i) a rear pad including a heel cover, a rear ankle cover and a marginal edge;  
 ii) a front pad including an upper foot cover, a tongue and a marginal edge wherein said rear pad and said front pad are attached to said base plate about their respective marginal edges to provide, along with said base plate, a binding surrounding a majority of the surface area of the wearer's foot except for the toes of the foot;  
   d) an outer foot binding, including a wraparound section adapted to fit over a portion of said inner foot binding, a marginal edge for attachment to said base plate, and a lacing ladder for drawing said wraparound section tightly over said inner foot binding and close to the wearer's foot.    e) an air bladder formed in said front pad for expanding and contracting against the front area of said upper foot cover;    f) an air pump, operably connected to said air bladder, for pumping air into said air bladder on command;    g) an air release valve, operably connected to said air bladder, for exhausting air from said air bladder upon command;    h) wherein said outer foot binding further includes: 
 i) first strap means anchored in the lower rear portion of said outer foot binding and passing forwardly and upwardly along the outer surface of said outer foot binding to terminate in the dorsal surface of the foot of the wearer;  
 ii) second strap means anchored in the lower front portion of said outer foot binding and passing rearwardly and upwardly along the outer surface of said outer foot binding to terminate at the rear, upper ankle portion of the wearer; and,  
 iii) means, attached to said outer foot binding, for shortening and lengthening said first and second strap means to adjust the angle between the lower leg and the foot of the wearer;  
   i) an elastomeric foot cushion, for fitting between the upper surface of the wakeboard and said foot binding, comprising: 
 i) an outsole area, including a non-slip surface, of a size and shape to extend under the entire surface of the foot and supporting the foot on the upper surface of said base plate;  
 ii) a midsole area, inside said outsole area, for support the contour of the instep of the foot; and,  
 iii) insert areas, inside said outsole area, under the heel area and forefront area of the foot to provide cushioning against shock to those parts of the foot;  
   j) wherein said outsole area, said midsole area, and said insert areas all contain elastomeric materials having different physical properties;    k) wherein an action surface is formed on the bottom of said elastomeric foot cushion for contact with said upper surface of said base plate and including means for temporarily locking and unlocking said foot cushion in said base plate;    l) wherein said means for temporarily locking and unlocking said foot cushion in said base plate includes: 
 i) at least two spaced-apart apertures formed in said base plate and aligned along the major axis of the binding; and,  
 ii) at least two protrusions formed on said action surface of said elastomeric foot cushion and arranged to mate with and be inserted in said apertures in said base plate to temporarily hold said foot cushion in alignment on said base plate wherein one of said protrusion-aperture combinations is formed under the heel portion of said binding and the other protrusion-aperture combination is formed forwardly thereof, along the foot region of said binding toward the front thereof; and,  
   m) a threaded fastener for attaching said marginal edges of said inner and said outer foot binding to said base plate, wherein said threaded fastener comprises: 
 i) a plate of finite thickness defined by first and second opposite sides thereof and having an aperture formed therethrough;  
 ii) a sleeve integral with said plate, surrounding said aperture, and extending outward from said first side of said plate, said sleeve having threads formed inside thereof; and,  
 iii) a bolt, comprising a threaded shaft with a bolt heat formed at one end of said shaft, wherein said threads inside said sleeve and said threads on said bolt shaft match so that said bolt can be threaded into said sleeve to hold said inner foot binding and said outer foot binding to said base plate.