Lift plate for wakeboard bindings

Abstract

A lift plate or lift plate apparatus is provided in conjunction with a binding or boot of a wakeboard. The lift plate apparatus can be separately mounted onto the wakeboard, or alternately incorporated directly into a binding boot sole, and functions in use to elevate the person's foot relative to the wakeboard, and thereby permit the wakeboard to ride deeper in the water. In addition, the lift plate apparatus provides improved so-called edging of the wakeboard for improved turning maneuvers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lift plate apparatus for use with a wakeboard to permit the wakeboard to ride more deeply in the water and to edge more easily during a turning maneuver, said lift plate apparatus comprising:
 a boot receiving a wearer's foot, said boot being attached to the wakeboard; and   a lift plate interposed between the boot and the wakeboard for elevating the boot relative to the wakeboard, said lift plate being also attached to the wakeboard.   
     
     
         2 . The lift plate apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said boot and said lift plate are attached to the wakeboard by screws. 
     
     
         3 . The lift plate apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said screws are the same screws for attaching both the boot and said lift plate to the wakeboard. 
     
     
         4 . The lift plate apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said boot includes a pair of arcuate apertures at the medial and lateral sides thereof for receiving a respective pair of screws to fasten said boot to the wakeboard. 
     
     
         5 . The lift plate apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said lift plate includes a pair of apertures at opposite sides thereof for receiving said respective pair of screws. 
     
     
         6 . The lift plate apparatus of  claims 1  wherein a pair of boots for respectively receiving said wearer's feet are attached to the wakeboard, and a pair of lift plates are interposed between said pair of boots for elevating said pair of boots relative to the wakeboard and are attached to the wakeboard. 
     
     
         7 . The lift plate apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said lift plate is integrated into the sole of said boot. 
     
     
         8 . A lift plate apparatus for use with a wakeboard to permit the wakeboard to ride more deeply in the water and to edge more easily during a turning maneuver, said lift plate apparatus comprising:
 a pair of bindings each including a respective integrated lift plate, the pair of bindings respectively configured to receive the wearer's feet and attach to the wakeboard, said bindings and said integrated lift plate elevating the wakeboard rider relative to the wakeboard.   
     
     
         9 . The lift plate apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said bindings attach to the wakeboard by screws. 
     
     
         10 . The lift plate apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said screws are the same screws for attaching both said bindings and said integrated lift plates to the wakeboard. 
     
     
         11 . The lift plate apparatus of  claim 8  wherein each of said bindings and said integrated lift plates include a pair of arcuate apertures at the medial and lateral sides thereof for receiving a respective pair of screws to fasten said bindings and said integrated lift plates to the wakeboard.