Adjustable foot strap

Abstract

The present invention provides a foot strap binding system for board sports such as water sports that allows the user to easily tension foot strap over the top of his or her foot. The foot strap adjustment device includes a strap hold-down member, a guided cable, and a reel to adjust the cable length. The hold-down member has a first side and a second side. The cable is secured to the first side and the second side of the hold-down member with guide members. The reel is secured to the tension member and to one of the sides of the hold-down member. Rotational movement of the reel selectively tightens or loosens the cable between the first and second sides of the hold-down member. Quick release of the tension on the cable is accomplished with a disengagement of the reel from a ratchet.

1 . A foot strap adjustment device comprising: 
 (a) a foot hold-down member having a first side and a second side;    (b) a tension member secured to the first side and the second side of said hold-down member; and    (c) an adjustment coupler secured to said tension member, movement of said adjustment coupler selectively tightening or loosening said tension member between said first and second sides of said hold-down member.    
   
   
       2 . The foot strap adjustment device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pad secured to said foot hold-down member.  
   
   
       3 . The foot strap of  claim 2 , further comprising an enclosure covering a portion of said tension member, at least a portion of said adjustment coupler not being covered by said enclosure.  
   
   
       4 . The foot strap adjustment device of  claim 1 , wherein said adjustment coupler comprises a rotatable member secured to said tension member.  
   
   
       5 . The foot strap adjustment device of  claim 4 , wherein said tension member comprises a cable and wherein said rotatable member comprises a reel onto which said cable is at least partially spooled.  
   
   
       6 . The foot strap adjustment device of  claim 5 , further comprising a first guide secured to said first side of said hold-down member and a second guide secured to said second side of said hold-down member, said first and second guides being coupled to said tension member and channeling said tension member into a loop to and from said adjustment coupler.  
   
   
       7 . The foot strap adjustment device of  claim 5 , wherein said adjustment coupler further comprising a release button to release tension on said tension member.  
   
   
       8 . The foot strap adjustment device of  claim 4 , wherein said adjustment coupler further comprises a pull cord with a handle, said pull cord being coupled to said rotatable member for turning said rotatable member.  
   
   
       9 . The foot strap adjustment device of  claim 8 , wherein said adjustment coupler further comprises a release switch to at least partially disengage said rotatable member for tension release.  
   
   
       10 . The foot strap adjustment device of  claim 1 , further comprising a strap secured to said foot hold-down member, said strap being securable to a sports board.  
   
   
       11 . The foot strap adjustment device of  claim 10 , wherein tensioning of said tension member with said adjustment coupler tends to pull said first and second sides of said hold-down member together to compress said strap.  
   
   
       12 . The foot strap adjustment device of  claim 10 , wherein said foot hold-down member comprises a medial strap body on said first side and a lateral strap body on said second side, said tension member secured to and spanning between said medial and lateral strap bodies.  
   
   
       13 . The foot strap of  claim 1 , wherein said hold-down member is securable to a sports board, said adjustment coupler being securable to the sports board.  
   
   
       14 . The foot strap of  claim 13 , wherein said foot hold-down member comprises a first foot hold-down member for securing a first foot of a user, the foot strap further comprising a second foot hold-down member for securing a second foot of a user, said tension member being coupled to said second foot hold-down member, said adjustment coupler selectively tightening or loosening the tension on both said first and second foot hold-down members.  
   
   
       15 . A foot binding for a water-sports board comprising: 
 (a) a medial strap securable to the sports board;    (b) a lateral strap securable to the sports board opposite the medial strap;    (c) a tension member secured to the medial strap and to the lateral strap;    (d) a rotatable adjustment member engaging the tension member, rotation of the adjustment member selectively shortening or lengthening the tension member between said first and second straps.    
   
   
       16 . The foot binding of  claim 15 , wherein said medial and lateral straps include a topside and an underside, the foot binding further comprising at least one pad secured to the underside of said medial and lateral straps.  
   
   
       17 . The foot strap of  claim 16 , further comprising a cover over at least a portion of the topside of said medial and lateral straps and over at least a portion of said tension member.  
   
   
       18 . The foot strap of  claim 15 , wherein said rotatable adjustment member is secured to one of said lateral and medial straps.  
   
   
       19 . The foot strap of  claim 18 , wherein said rotatable adjustment member is secured to said lateral strap.  
   
   
       20 . The foot strap of  claim 18 , further comprising a medial guide secured to said medial strap and a lateral guide secured to said lateral strap, said medial and lateral guides being coupled to said tension member and channeling said tension member into a loop to and from said adjustment member.  
   
   
       21 . The foot strap of  claim 20 , further comprising an enclosure covering at least a portion of said tension member and said guides.  
   
   
       22 . The foot strap of  claim 15 , wherein said adjustment member further comprises a release switch to at least partially disengage said adjustment member for tension release.  
   
   
       23 . An adjustment device for a foot strap securable to a sports board, the foot strap having first and second portions having outer ends securable to the board and inner ends opposite the outer ends, the adjustment device comprising: 
 (a) a first attachment member securable to the inner end of the first portion;    (b) a second attachment member securable to the inner end of the second portion;    (c) a tension member secured between said first and second attachment members; and    (d) an adjuster secured to said tension member for shortening or lengthening the length of said tension member between said first and second attachment members.    
   
   
       24 . The adjustment device of  claim 23 , wherein said first and second attachment members are slidably coupled to said tension member and channel said tension member into a loop to and from said adjustment member.  
   
   
       25 . The adjustment device of  claim 23 , wherein said adjuster is secured to at least one of the first and second portions.  
   
   
       26 . A method of securing a foot to a sports board with a binding having a strap, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) securing a tension member to the strap;    (b) coupling a rotatable adjustment member to said tension member;    (c) inserting the foot beneath the binding; and    (d) rotating the adjustment member to increase the tension on the tension member, thereby compressing the strap over the foot.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the step of rotating the adjustment member is accomplished by pulling a cord attached to the adjustment member.