Apparatus, system, and method to couple a user to a recreational device

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for coupling a user to a recreational device. The apparatus includes a base plate, a heel cup, an ankle retention member, a toe retention member, a cable, at least one cable anchor, and a tensioning device. The base plate receives a user's foot. The heel cup is coupled to a heel end of the base plate. The ankle retention member extends over an ankle of the user and the toe retention member extends over a toe area of the user's foot. The cable anchor(s) are coupled to at least one of the base plate and the heel cup. The cable is receivable within the cable retention anchor. The tensioning device is coupled to the cable and reduces a length of free cable to increase a pressure applied to the ankle retention member and the toe retention member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus to couple a user to a recreational device, the apparatus comprising:
 a base plate configured to receive a user's foot;   a heel cup coupled to a heel end of the base plate, the heel cup configured to receive a heel of the user's foot;   an ankle retention member, the ankle retention member configured to extend over an ankle of the user;   a toe retention member, the toe retention member configured to extend over a toe area of the user's foot;   a cable;   at least one cable anchor coupled to at least one of the base plate and the heel cup, wherein the cable is receivable within the cable retention anchor; and   a tensioning device coupled to the cable, the tensioning device configured to reduce a length of free cable to increase a pressure applied to at least one of the ankle retention member and the toe retention member.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein rotation of the tensioning device wraps the cable about a spool to reduce the length of free cable. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a ratchet member coupled to the tensioning device, the ratchet member configured to allow the tensioning device to rotate in a first direction and to selectively prohibit rotation of the tensioning device in a second direction. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cable retention anchor extends perpendicularly from at least one of the base plate and the heel cup to engage the cable at an area adjacent at least one of the user's ankle and the user's toe area when the user's foot is positioned within the base plate. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one cable retention anchor comprises at least two cable retention anchors, wherein a first cable retention anchor extends perpendicularly from at least one of the base plate and the heel cup to engage the cable at an area adjacent the user's ankle when the user's foot is positioned within the base plate, wherein a second cable retention anchor extends perpendicularly from an area adjacent the user's toe area when the user's foot is positioned within the base plate. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a first capping element extending axially from an end of the first cable retention anchor and a second capping element extending axially from an end of the second cable retention anchor, the first capping element configured to maintain engagement between the first cable retention anchor and the cable, the second capping element configured to maintain engagement between the second cable retention anchor and the cable. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cable anchor comprises a substantially rigid cable retention element extending along at least a portion of the base plate, the cable retention element defining a channel sized to receive the cable, wherein the channel extends along an area adjacent a user's ankle and a user's toe area when the user's foot is positioned within the base plate. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a pull-tab coupled to the cable, the pull-tab facilitating engagement between the cable and the at least one cable anchor. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one cable anchor comprises at least two cable anchors, wherein the pull-tab is slideable along the cable to facilitate engagement between the cable and the at least two cable anchors. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve disposed about the cable, wherein the cable is slideable through the sleeve, wherein the sleeve and the cable are receivable within the cable retention anchor. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus to couple a user to a recreational device, the apparatus comprising:
 a base plate configured to receive a user's foot;   a heel cup coupled to a heel end of the base plate, the heel cup configured to receive a heel of the user's foot;   an ankle retention member coupled to at least one of the base plate and the heel cup, the ankle retention member configured to extend over an ankle of the user;   a toe retention member coupled to the base plate, the toe retention member configured to extend over a toe area of the user's foot;   a cable extending from the ankle retention member to the toe retention member;   a sleeve disposed about the cable, wherein the cable is slideable through the sleeve;   at least one cable anchor coupled to at least one of the base plate and the heel cup, wherein the cable and the sleeve are receivable within the cable retention anchor; and   a tensioning device coupled to the cable, the tensioning device configured to reduce a length of free cable to increase a pressure applied to at least one of the ankle retention member and the toe retention member.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein rotation of the tensioning device wraps the cable about a spool to reduce the length of free cable. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a ratchet member coupled to the tensioning device, the ratchet member configured to allow the tensioning device to rotate in a first direction and to selectively prohibit rotation of the tensioning device in a second direction. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one cable retention anchor extends perpendicularly from at least one of the base plate and the heel cup to engage the cable at an area adjacent at least one of the user's ankle and the user's toe area when the user's foot is positioned within the base plate. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one cable retention anchor comprises at least two cable retention anchors, wherein a first cable retention anchor extends perpendicularly from at least one of the base plate and the heel cup to engage the cable at an area adjacent the user's ankle when the user's foot is positioned within the base plate, wherein a second cable retention anchor extends perpendicularly from an area adjacent the user's toe area when the user's foot is positioned within the base plate. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cable anchor comprises a substantially rigid cable retention element extending along at least a portion of the base plate, the cable retention element defining a channel sized to receive the cable, wherein the channel extends along an area adjacent a user's ankle and a user's toe area when the user's foot is positioned within the base plate. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus to couple a user to a recreational device, the apparatus comprising:
 a base plate configured to receive a user's foot;   a heel cup coupled to a heel end of the base plate, the heel cup configured to receive a heel of the user's foot;   an ankle retention member coupled to at least one of the base plate and the heel cup, the ankle retention member configured to extend over an ankle of the user;   a toe retention member coupled to the base plate, the toe retention member configured to extend over a toe area of the user's foot;   a cable extending from the ankle retention member to the toe retention member;   a cable anchor comprising a substantially rigid cable retention element extending along at least a portion of the base plate, the cable retention element defining a channel sized to receive the cable, wherein the channel extends along an area adjacent a user's ankle and a user's toe area when the user's foot is positioned within the base plate; and   a tensioning device coupled to the cable, the tensioning device configured to reduce a length of free cable to increase a pressure applied to at least one of the ankle retention member and the toe retention member.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a sleeve disposed about the cable, wherein the cable is slideable through the sleeve, wherein the sleeve and the cable are receivable within the cable retention anchor. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein rotation of the tensioning device wraps the cable about a spool to reduce the length of free cable. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a ratchet member coupled to the tensioning device, the ratchet member configured to allow the tensioning device to rotate in a first direction and to selectively prohibit rotation of the tensioning device in a second direction.