Toe piece for a wakeboard binding and method of use

Abstract

A toe piece for a wakeboard binding employs two different materials. The bulk of the toe piece is made from a first material having a certain degree of elasticity. A remaining portion of the toe piece as side portions are made from a material that is more elastic than the first material. This enables an upper portion of the toe piece to move or flex more with respect to the lower portion so that entry of a foot into the binding or out of the binding is easier.

1 . In a wakeboard binding including a heel piece and toe piece, the improvement comprising: 
 a toe piece having an upper portion, side portions, and a lower portion, the upper portion made of a first material having a first elasticity, at least one of the side portions including a segment of a second material having a second elasticity that is greater than the first elasticity so that the upper portion is able to move with respect to the lower portion and facilitate entry of a foot into the binding and removal of a foot from the binding.    
   
   
       2 . The binding of  claim 1 , wherein the segment is wedge shaped.  
   
   
       3 . The binding of  claim 1 , wherein the segment extends from a rear of the toe piece to a front of the toe piece.  
   
   
       4 . The binding of  claim 1 , wherein each side portion has a segment.  
   
   
       5 . The binding of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one segment is made from styrene butadiene rubber.  
   
   
       6 . In a toe piece for a binding for a wakeboard having an upper portion, side portions and a lower portion, wherein the toe piece is made of an elastic material, the improvement comprising at least one side portion including a segment made of another elastic material which has higher elasticity than the elastic material of the remainder of the toe piece to facilitate entry of a foot into the toe piece and exit of a foot from the toe piece.  
   
   
       7 . The toe piece of  claim 6 , wherein the segment is wedge shaped.  
   
   
       8 . The toe piece of  claim 6 , wherein the segment extends from a rear of the toe piece to a front of the toe piece.  
   
   
       9 . The toe piece of  claim 6 , wherein each side portion has the segment.  
   
   
       10 . The toe piece of  claim 6 , wherein the segment is made from styrene butadiene rubber.  
   
   
       11 . In a method of donning a wakeboard binding by inserting a user's foot between a heel piece and a toe piece of the binding, wherein the toe piece is made of a first elastic material and has an upper portion, a lower portion and side portions, the improvement comprising: 
 a) providing at least one side portion of the toe piece with a segment of a second elastic material, the second elastic material having an elasticity greater than an elasticity of the first elastic material, and    b) inserting the foot between the heel and toe piece, the inserting step causing the upper portion of the toe piece to move with respect to the lower portion as a result of stretching of the segment to enable the foot to be inserted with less effort.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the segment provided with the toe piece is wedge shaped.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the segment provided with the toe piece extends from a rear of the toe piece to a front of the toe piece.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each segment is made from styrene butadiene rubber.