Universal safety foot holder for water-skiing

Abstract

A foot holder for practicing water skiing includes a soft foot holder body mounted on a rigid sole that can be attached to a water ski. The holder includes a deformable liner provided with a tongue, covering the top of the foot, the heel, the ankle and the lower leg. A device for tightening the liner includes a rear panel secured by its base to the rigid sole and extended laterally by two bands which cross over on the tongue in such a manner so as to cover at least the ankle and a portion of the instep.

1 . Foot holder for practising a water sport such as water skiing or a derivative thereof, said foot holder formed by a soft foot holder body ( 1 ) accommodating the foot, the said foot holder body being mounted on a rigid sole ( 2 ) which is provided with means for the binding ( 100 ) to a water ski or derivative thereof ( 200 ), the said foot holder body including a deformable liner ( 3 ) provided with a tongue ( 4 ), covering the top of the foot, the heel, the ankle and the lower leg, and the means for tightening the said liner, characterised in that the said means for tightening include a rear panel ( 5 ) which is secured by its base to the rigid sole ( 2 ) and is extended laterally by two bands ( 6 ,  6 ′) which cross over on the tongue ( 4 ) in such a manner so as to cover at least the ankle and a portion of the instep, each of the said cross-over bands being provided with an independent adjustable strap ( 7 ).  
   
   
       2 . Foot holder for water sports according to  claim 1 , characterised in that each of the adjustable straps ( 7 ) includes a buckle ( 8 ), which is secured to the end of one of the said cross-over bands, and a belt strap ( 9 ), the length of which is adjustable, secured to the rigid sole ( 2 ) and interacting with the said buckle.  
   
   
       3 . Foot holder for water sports according to  claim 2 , characterised in that the outer cross-over band ( 6 ) includes an indentation ( 10 ) at the level of the buckle ( 8 ) of the inner cross-over band ( 6 ′), such that the said buckle is always accessible.  
   
   
       4 . Foot holder for water sports according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the said foot holder also includes the means for tightening the upper ( 11 ).  
   
   
       5 . Foot holder for water sports according to  claim 4 , characterised in that the means for tightening the upper ( 11 ) include two lateral bands ( 12 ) which are secured to the sole ( 2 ), each band being provided with a buckle ( 8 ′) and a belt strap ( 9 ′) forming an adjustable strap ( 7 ′).  
   
   
       6 . Foot holder for water sports according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the said foot holder includes means for encouraging the sliding of the said means for tightening on the liner ( 1 ), including two polished sheets ( 13 ) secured to the sole ( 2 ) between the said liner and the said means for tightening.  
   
   
       7 . Foot holder for water sports according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the said foot holder also includes means for restricting the movements of the ankle, comprising two plates ( 14 ) secured to the exterior of the foot holder at right angles to the plane of the sole ( 2 ) directly below the ankle, the maximum height of which is equal to the height of the soft liner ( 1 ) on the leg.  
   
   
       8 . Foot holder for water sports according to  claim 7 , characterised in that the said means restricting the movements of the ankle also include a reinforcing member ( 15 ) forming a bridge which brings the upper portion of the said plates and the back of the ankle together.  
   
   
       9 . Foot holder for water sports according to  claim 7 , characterised in that the said means restricting the movements of the ankle also include an adjustable strap ( 7 ″) which brings the upper portion of the said plates and the front of the ankle together.  
   
   
       10 . Foot holder for water sports according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the said means for the binding ( 100 ) of the sole ( 2 ) to the ski or a derivative thereof ( 200 ) include means which interact with a releasable safety binding device ( 101 ).  
   
   
       11 . Foot holder for water sports according to  claim 10 , characterised in that the sole ( 2 ) includes at the rear a member which protrudes ( 16 ) and serves as a support means for a locking member ( 102 ) of a releasable safety binding ( 100 ).  
   
   
       12 . Foot holder for water sports according to  claim 11 , characterised in that the said protruding member ( 16 ) is supported by an arch ( 17 ), the arms of which are secured laterally to the sole ( 2 ).  
   
   
       13 . Foot holder for water sports according to  claim 11 , characterised in that the said protruding member ( 16 ) is raised compared with the plane of the sole ( 2 ).  
   
   
       14 . Foot holder for water sports formed by a soft foot holder body ( 1 ) accommodating the foot, the said foot holder body being mounted on a rigid sole ( 2 ) which is provided with means for the binding ( 100 ) to a water ski or derivative thereof ( 200 ), the said foot holder body including a deformable liner ( 3 ) provided with a tongue ( 4 ), covering the top of the foot, the heel, the ankle and the lower leg, and the means for tightening the said liner, characterised in that the said foot holder includes at least two of the following means: 
 a) means for tightening including a rear panel ( 5 ) secured by its base to the rigid sole ( 2 ) and extended laterally by two bands ( 6 ,  6 ′) which crossover on the tongue ( 4 ) in such a manner so as to cover at least the ankle and a portion of the instep, each of the said cross-over bands being provided with an independent adjustable strap ( 7 );    b) means for tightening the upper ( 11 );    c) means for encouraging the sliding of the means for tightening on the liner ( 3 );    d) means for restricting the movements of the ankle;    e) means for the binding of the sole ( 2 ) to the ski or a derivative thereof ( 200 ) including means interacting with a releasable safety binding device ( 100 ).    
   
   
       15 . Equipment for practising a gliding water sport including at least one ski or derivative thereof ( 200 ); at least one foot holder for water skiing according to  claim 1;  and at least one releasable safety binding device ( 100 ) interacting with the said at least one foot holder, installed on the said at least one ski.  
   
   
       16 . (canceled)