Rowing Shoe Fastening Assembly

Abstract

A rowing shoe fastening assembly includes a receiving plate and a shoe plate configured to be mounted on a portion of a shoe. The shoe plate has a release tab and the shoe plate is engaged in a locked position within the receiving plate by a single interlocking movement. The shoe is released from the locked position by activating the release tab and sliding said shoe plate past the receiving plate in a parallel direction relative to the receiving plate.

1 . A rowing shoe fastening assembly comprising:
 a receiving plate;   a shoe plate configured to be mounted on a portion of a shoe;   wherein the shoe plate comprises a release tab, and   wherein the shoe plate is engaged in a locked position within the receiving plate by a single interlocking movement and wherein said shoe plate is released from said locked position by activating the release tab and sliding said shoe plate past the receiving plate in a parallel direction relative to the receiving plate.   
     
     
         2 . The rowing shoe fastening assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving plate further comprises:
 a lip protruding from a base portion of said receiving plate; and   at least one cavity, for engaging the shoe plate in the locked position.   
     
     
         3 . The rowing shoe fastening assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the shoe plate further comprises at least one opening coupled to at least one protruding edge and wherein the release tab comprises a projection coupled to a body of the release tab. 
     
     
         4 . The rowing shoe fastening assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the release tab comprises a projection coupled to a body of the release tab, said projection residing at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the body of the release tab. 
     
     
         5 . The rowing shoe fastening assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving plate further comprises:
 a lip protruding from a base portion of said receiving plate, wherein said lip resides at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the base portion of the receiving plate.   
     
     
         6 . The rowing shoe fastening assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shoe plate further comprises a forefoot portion and heel portion connected to the forefoot portion by support members. 
     
     
         7 . The rowing shoe fastening assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one opening and the at least one protruding edge are of a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         8 . The rowing shoe fastening assembly of  claim 3 , wherein engaging the shoe plate in a locked position by a single interlocking movement comprises:
 inserting the at least one protruding edge of the shoe plate into the at least one cavity of the receiving plate; and   sliding the projection of the release tab to an overlapping position relative to the lip protruding from the base portion of said receiving plate;   wherein both the inserting the at least one protruding edge and the sliding of the projection of the release tab are performed by a single movement in a single direction.   
     
     
         9 . The rowing shoe fastening assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving plate is non-rotatably mounted onto a surface of a rowing mechanism's footrest. 
     
     
         10 . The rowing shoe fastening assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shoe plate is entirely comprised of a polymeric material. 
     
     
         11 . The rowing shoe fastening assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving plate is entirely comprised of a polymeric material. 
     
     
         12 . The rowing shoe fastening assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving plate is integral with the footrest, wherein the footrest is configured to be mountable on a rowing mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . A rowing shoe assembly comprising:
 a receiving plate;   a shoe plate configured to be mounted on the bottom portion of a shoe;   wherein the receiving plate comprises a release tab, and   wherein the shoe plate is engaged in a locked position within the receiving plate by a single interlocking movement and wherein said shoe plate is released from said locked position by activating the release tab and sliding said shoe plate past the receiving plate in a parallel direction relative to the receiving plate.   
     
     
         14 . The rowing shoe fastening assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the receiving plate further comprises:
 at least one cavity, for engaging the shoe plate in the locked position; and   wherein the release tab comprises a projection.   
     
     
         15 . The rowing shoe fastening assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the shoe plate further comprises:
 a lip protruding from a base portion of said shoe plate; and   at least one opening coupled to at least one protruding edge, for engaging the receiving plate in the locked position.   
     
     
         16 . The rowing shoe fastening assembly of  claim 15 , wherein engaging the shoe plate in a locked position by a single interlocking movement comprises:
 inserting the at least one protruding edge of the shoe plate into the at least one cavity of the receiving plate; and   sliding the lip protruding from a base portion of said shoe plate into an overlapping position relative to the projection on the release tab;   wherein both the inserting the at least one protruding edge and sliding of the lip protruding from the base portion of said shoe plate are performed by a single movement in a single direction.   
     
     
         17 . The rowing shoe fastening assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the receiving plate is integral with the footrest, wherein the footrest is configured to be mountable on a rowing mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . The rowing shoe fastening assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the receiving plate further comprises:
 at least one opening coupled to at least one protruding edge, for engaging the shoe plate in the locked position; and   wherein, the release tab comprises a projection.   
     
     
         19 . The rowing shoe fastening assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the shoe plate further comprises:
 a lip protruding from a base portion of said shoe plate; and   at least one cavity, for engaging the receiving plate in the locked position.   
     
     
         20 . The rowing shoe fastening assembly of  claim 19 , wherein engaging the shoe plate in a locked position by a single interlocking movement comprises:
 inserting the at least one protruding edge of the receiving plate into the at least one cavity of the shoe plate; and   sliding the lip protruding from a base portion of said shoe plate into an overlapping position relative to the projection on the release tab;   wherein both the inserting the at least one protruding edge and sliding of the lip protruding from the base portion of said shoe plate are performed by a single movement in a single direction.