Magnetic method and apparatus for increasing foot traction on sports boards

Abstract

A sports board binding and foot traction apparatus for use in sports boards such as surfboard, skateboard, wakeboards, and the like. The apparatus includes a sports board having a deck and a bottom and at least one cutout box disposed in one or both of the deck and bottom. One or more permanent magnets is disposed and retained in one or more of the cutout boxes to form a magnetic region on the deck of the board. An article of sports footwear having a sole is provided, and a ferromagnetic plate is disposed in at lest a portion of each footwear sole. When the footwear is brought into proximity with the magnetic field, a binding force is applied to the footwear and the wearer is thereby enabled to manipulate the sports board in ways not possible without the inventive apparatus.

1 . A sports board binding and foot traction apparatus, comprising:
 a sports board having a deck for placement of a user's feet during use and a bottom which faces the ground and/or water during use, said sports board including at least one cutout box disposed in either or both of said deck and said bottom, each of said at least one cutout boxes including a receptacle portion for placement of at least one magnet;   retention means for retaining said magnets in said receptacle portion;   at least one magnet disposed in each of said at least one cutout boxes;   one or more permanent magnets disposed in at least one of said receptacle portions and captured and retained in said cutout box by said retention means;   at least one article of sports footwear having a sole; and   a ferromagnetic element disposed in said sole.   
   
   
       2 . The sports board binding and foot traction apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said magnet includes through holes and said retention means comprises screws disposed through each of said through holes so as to threadably insert into said receptacle portion. 
   
   
       3 . The sports board binding and foot traction apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said cutout boxes are disposed in said bottom. 
   
   
       4 . The sports board binding and foot traction apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said cutout boxes are disposed in said deck. 
   
   
       5 . The sports board binding and foot traction apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said cutout boxes are disposed in said bottom said and in said deck. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said sports board is selected from the group consisting of surfboard, skateboard, snowboard, windsurfing board, windsailing board, and kitesurfing board. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said footwear is selected from the group consisting of wetsuit bootie, sports sandal, skate shoe, general athletic shoe, and tennis shoe. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said ferromagnetic plate is incorporated into the sole of said footwear. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said footwear is a sandal and said ferromagnetic element is sewn into the sole of said sandal. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said footwear is a sandal and said ferromagnetic plate is incorporated into the sole of said sandal. 
   
   
       11 . An article of footwear for providing magnetic traction on a sports board having a magnetic binding system, comprising:
 a sole having at least one permanent magnet incorporated therein;   an upper portion having a plurality of fabric straps with loops at their upper ends;   a continuous tie string threaded through said loops;   an adjustment buckle through which the ends of said continuous tie string is threaded.