Kayak foot brace system and method

Abstract

A foot brace system for use in a kayak or similar water craft. The system includes a footrest for engaging both feet of a user, and can retract and extend laterally so as to permit the system to account for variations in the beam of the craft when the footrest is moved fore or aft. The tilt angle and height of the footrest from the floor of the craft can also be adjusted. The system includes a pair of rails which are connected to the footrest via a sliding connection. The fore and aft position of the footrest is locked by a rope and cleat.

1 . A foot brace system for use in a kayak or similar water craft, the system including a footrest for engaging both feet of a user; a first connector for connecting the footrest to a first side of the craft; and a second connector for connecting the footrest to a second side of the craft; wherein the first and second connectors can retract and extend laterally so as to permit the system to account for variations in the beam of the craft when the footrest is moved fore or aft.  
   
   
       2 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein each connector includes a flexible connection member which flexes when the connector retracts or extends laterally.  
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 2  wherein each flexible connection member is resiliently flexible so as to provide a resilient biasing force which biases the member towards an extended position.  
   
   
       4 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second connectors are rotatably connected to the footrest.  
   
   
       5 . A system according  claim 1  wherein each connector includes a connection member and wherein the relative angle between the footrest and the connection member changes when the connector retracts or extends laterally.  
   
   
       6 . A system according to  claim 5  wherein each connector includes two or more of connection members, each connection member being rotatably mounted to the footrest, and wherein the relative angle between the connection members changes when the connector retracts or extends laterally.  
   
   
       7 . A system according to  claim 6  wherein each connector includes a resilient member mounted between a pair of connection members so as to provide a resilient biasing force which biases the connection members together.  
   
   
       8 . A system according to  claim 1  further including a first rail for mounting the first connector to the first side of the craft; and a second rail for mounting the second connector to the second side of the craft, wherein the connectors can be moved along an axis of their respective rails to move the footrest for or aft.  
   
   
       9 . A system according to  claim 8  wherein the rails have rail axes which lie in a common plane, and wherein each connector includes a connection member which extends between a first connection point adjacent to the footrest and a second connection point adjacent to a respective one of the rails, and wherein a line between the first and second connection points lies in the common plane of the rails.  
   
   
       10 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second connectors are formed as a single piece.  
   
   
       11 . A system according to  claim 1  including a stay having a lateral portion connected to the footrest and a pair of side arms extending at an angle from opposite ends of the lateral portion, wherein the side arms constitute the first and second connectors.  
   
   
       12 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second connectors each include a connection member which has an elongate cross-section.  
   
   
       13 . A foot brace system for a kayak or similar water craft, the system including a footrest for engaging both feet of a user; a first connector for connecting the footrest to a first side of the craft; and a second connector for connecting the footrest to a second side of the craft, wherein the first and second connectors can be adjusted between a first configuration in which the footrest is oriented at a first fore/aft tilt angle; and a second configuration in which the footrest is oriented at a second fore/aft tilt angle.  
   
   
       14 . A system according to  claim 13  wherein each connector includes a pair of connection members, each connection member being rotatably mounted to the footrest, and wherein the relative angle between the pair of connection members can be adjusted to adjust the fore/aft tilt angle of the footrest.  
   
   
       15 . A system according to  claim 13  including a pair of stays each having a lateral portion connected to the footrest and a pair of side arms extending at an angle from opposite ends of the lateral portion, wherein the side arms constitute the connection members.  
   
   
       16 . A foot brace system for a kayak or similar water craft, the system including a footrest for engaging both feet of a user; a first connector for connecting the footrest to a first side of the craft; and a second connector for connecting the footrest to a second side of the craft, wherein the first and second connectors can be adjusted between a first configuration in which the footrest is positioned at a first height with respect to the floor of the craft; and a second configuration in which the footrest is positioned at a second height with respect to the floor of the craft.  
   
   
       17 . A system according to  claim 16  wherein each connector includes a connection member and wherein the relative angle between the footrest and the connection member moves when the connector is adjusted between its first and second configurations.  
   
   
       18 . A system according to  claim 16  wherein each connector includes a pair of connection members, each connection member being rotatably mounted to the footrest, and wherein the relative angle between the pair of connection members changes when the connector is adjusted between its first and second configurations.  
   
   
       19 . A system according to  claim 18  including a pair of stays each having a lateral portion connected to the footrest and a pair of side arms extending at an angle from opposite ends of the lateral portion, wherein the side arms constitute the connection members.  
   
   
       20 . A foot brace system for a kayak or similar water craft, the system including a footrest for engaging one or both feet of a user; a rail; a connector having a first part connected to the footrest and a second part mounted to the rail such that it can slide along the rail; and a locking device for locking the connector at a desired position along the rail.  
   
   
       21 . A system according to  claim 20  wherein the rail has an elongate rail channel running along all or part of the length of the rail, the second part of the connector being slidably mounted in the rail channel.  
   
   
       22 . A foot brace system according to  claim 20  wherein the locking device includes a first locking member which applies a shear force to a second locking member in order to lock the connector at the desired position along the rail.  
   
   
       23 . A foot brace system according to  claim 22  wherein the first locking member is a rope and the second locking member is a cleat.  
   
   
       24 . A foot brace system for a kayak or similar water craft, the system including a footrest for engaging one or both feet of a user; and an adjuster for adjusting the fore/aft position of the footrest, wherein the adjuster includes a rope coupled to the footrest, and a cleat for locking off the rope at a desired position.  
   
   
       25 . A foot brace system for a kayak or similar water craft, the system including a footrest for engaging both feet of a user, a pair of rails; and a pair of connectors each connecting the footrest to a respective one of the rails at a connection point positioned fore or aft of the footrest.  
   
   
       26 . A system according to  claim 25  wherein each connector includes a connection member which extends between a first connection point adjacent to the footrest and a second connection point adjacent to the respective one of the rails, and wherein a line between the first and second connection points subtends an angle with the respective rail which is less than 45 degrees.  
   
   
       27 . A system according to  claim 25  wherein the axes of the rails lie in a common plane, and wherein each connector includes a connection member which extends between a first connection point adjacent to the footrest and a second connection point adjacent to a respective one of the rails, and wherein a line between the first and second connection points lies in the common plane of the rails.  
   
   
       28 . A system according to  claim 1  further including a pair of pedals attached to the footrest.  
   
   
       29 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second connectors each include a connection member which is substantially circular in cross-section.  
   
   
       30 . A water craft comprising: 
 a hull; a footrest for engaging both feet of a user; a first connector for connecting the footrest to a first side of the craft; and a second connector for connecting the footrest to a second side of the craft; wherein the first and second connectors can retract and extend laterally so as to permit the system to account for variations in the beam of the craft when the footrest is moved fore or aft.    
   
   
       31 . A craft according to  claim 30  wherein the pair of connectors suspend the footrest between the first and second sides of the craft with a gap between the bottom edge of the footrest and the floor of the craft.  
   
   
       32 . A method of locking the fore/aft position of a foot brace system in a kayak or similar water craft, the method comprising actuating a locking device while seated in a cockpit of the craft.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the locking device includes a rope and cleat.