Traction Pad With Integrated Ramped Kick Tail

Abstract

This invention is applicable to the field of surfing. Existing traction pads for surfboards have a front pad and a kick tail. Turning the surfboard is easiest with the surfer's foot directly on top of the kick tail, but existing kick tails aren't designed to stand on and don't adequately support the surfer's foot. The present invention is a traction pad comprising a front pad and kick tail with a ramp designed to stand on, and angled so surfers can bend their back leg forward and have the bottom of their back foot flat on the ramp with minimal bending of their ankle required to achieve an optimum angle for surfing. The ramp is of sufficient size to adequately support the surfer's foot while executing a surfing maneuver, and optionally configured with a raised area for arch support for the surfer's back foot.

1 . A traction pad  22  comprising a kick tail and front pad, said kick tail comprising a main body  16  which has a ramp  7  on the front face of said kick tail angled at any angle  29  so surfers can bend their back leg forward when executing a surfing maneuver on a surfboard and have the bottom of their back foot flat on said ramp  7  with minimal bending of their ankle required to achieve an optimum angle for surfing, said kick tail and ramp  7  being of sufficient size to adequately support the surfer's foot, and traction pad material  17  affixed to the top surface of the base  16  and ramp  7  with adhesive and configured optionally with a raised section for arch support  5  of any size and shape, including triangular, trapezoidal or rectangular shapes so surfers can cup the arch support area with the bottom of their foot and experience better connection to their surfboard and minimize the chance of slipping off or falling while surfing, and a front pad  2 ,  3 ,  25  made of traction pad material which is optionally separate from the traction pad material affixed to the main body  16  of the kick tail and configured as one or multiple pieces  2 ,  3 ,  25  and a front pad  1  that is integrated with the traction pad material affixed to the main body  16  and configured as one or multiple pieces  1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  24 ,  27  and a traction pad comprising a one piece kick tail  20  which has a ramp  7  on the front face of said kick tail being angled so surfers can bend their back foot forward when executing a surfing maneuver on a surfboard and have the bottom of their back foot flat on said ramp  7  with little or no bending of their ankle required to achieve an optimum angle for surfing, said ramp  7  being of sufficient size to adequately support the surfer's foot while executing a surfing maneuver, and a front pad  25  made of traction pad material which is separate from said kick tail  20  and configured as one  25  or multiple  2 ,  3 ,  14  pieces, said center piece  1  configured optionally with a raised section for arch support  5  of any size and shape, including triangular, trapezoidal or rectangular shapes so surfers can cup the arch support area with the bottom of their foot and experience better connection to their surfboard and minimize the chance of slipping off or falling while surfing, and said front pad is optionally integrated  1  with the traction pad material affixed to the main body  16  and configured as one  26  or multiple pieces  2 ,  3 ,  25  and optionally as a one piece traction pad  28  comprising a kick tail with a ramp  7  on the face of said kick tail being angled so surfers can bend their back foot forward when executing a surfing maneuver on a surfboard and have the bottom of their back foot flat on said ramp  7 ,  29  with little or no bending of their ankle required to achieve an optimum angle for surfing, said ramp  7  being of sufficient size to adequately support the surfer's foot while executing a surfing maneuver, said ramp  7  and kick tail top surface having a surface texture designed to provide traction for a surfer's foot and a front pad made of traction pad material which is integrated into said kick tail so the entire traction pad is made as one piece, said traction pad in whole or in part in all configurations being manufactured by cutting, layering and glueing EVA foam or any other material offering suitable traction, strength, weight and flexibility for surfers to stand on while surfing and by injection molding with material offering suitable traction, strength, weight and flexibility for surfers to stand on while surfing. 
     
     
         2 . The traction pad  22 ,  28  of  claim 1  ramp  7 ,  29  is unique in that it is designed for surfers to stand on with their back foot flat on the ramp  7 ,  29  and their back leg bent forward with minimal or no ankle bending needed for an optimal rear leg angle when executing a surfing maneuver, said ramp  7  being of sufficient size to adequately support the surfer's foot while executing a surfing maneuver. 
     
     
         3 . The traction pad of  claim 1  ramp  7 ,  29  is unique in that it is configured optionally with a raised area for arch support  5  of any size and shape, including triangular, trapezoidal or rectangular shapes, for the purpose of allowing the surfer to cup the raised area with the bottom of their back foot and experience better connection to their surfboard and minimize the chance of slipping off or falling while executing a surfing maneuver. 
     
     
         4 . The traction pad of  claim 1  kick tail  12  is configured optionally with a flat area  9  at the top. 
     
     
         5 . The traction pad of  claim 1  front pad  1 ,  15 ,  18  is configured optionally with a raised area for arch support  4  of any size and shape, including triangular, trapezoidal or rectangular shapes, for the purpose of allowing the surfer to cup the raised area with the bottom of their back foot and experience better connection to their surfboard and minimize the chance of slipping off or falling while executing a surfing maneuver. 
     
     
         6 . The traction pad of  claim 1   22 ,  28  has a kick tail with an optional cut out area in the rear  6  so that the traction pad can be affixed to the surfboard farther back without covering the leash plug. 
     
     
         7 . The traction pad of  claim 1   22 ,  28  is optionally manufactured with EVA foam or plastic or other suitable materials or a combination of materials that result in providing grip and traction to the surfer's foot while surfing. 
     
     
         8 . The traction pad of  claim 1  kick tail is optionally manufactured using injection molding and when so manufactured is configured as a one-piece kick tail  20  with a ramp  7  with an optional raised area for arch support  5  of any size and shape, including triangular, trapezoidal or rectangular shapes, for the purpose of allowing the surfer to cup the raised area  5  with the bottom of their back foot and experience better connection to their surfboard and minimize the chance of slipping off or falling while executing a surfing maneuver, said kick tail ramp  7  having a surface optimally textured for providing grip to a surfer's foot. 
     
     
         9 . The traction pad of  claim 1  is optionally manufactured using injection molding and when so manufactured is configured as a one piece traction pad  28  with an integrated kick tail and ramp  7  with an optional raised area for arch support  5  of any size and shape, including triangular, trapezoidal or rectangular shapes, for the purpose of allowing the surfer to cup the raised area  5  with the bottom of their back foot and experience better connection to their surfboard and minimize the chance of slipping off or falling while executing a surfing maneuver, and an integrated front pad configured with an optional raised area for arch support  4  of any size and shape, including triangular, trapezoidal or rectangular shapes, for the purpose of allowing the surfer to cup the raised area  4  with the bottom of their back foot and experience better connection to their surfboard and minimize the chance of slipping off or falling while executing a surfing maneuver, said integrated front pad extending forward from kick tail as far as is necessary to provide optimal grip for a surfer's back foot. 
     
     
         10 . The traction pad of  claim 1  is unique in that it is the first permanently mounted traction pad comprising a kick tail configured with a ramp  7 ,  29  angled optimally for surfing so surfers can surf with their back foot flat on the ramp  7 ,  29  with their back leg bent forward with minimal or no bending of their ankle required to achieve an optimal angle for executing a powerful carving or turning maneuver while surfing, said ramp  7  being of sufficient size to adequately support the surfer's foot while executing said surfing maneuver, and the first kick tail in a traction pad with a ramp  7  configured with an optional raised area for arch support  5  so the surfer can cup the raised area with the bottom of their back foot, experience better connection to their surfboard and minimize the chance of slipping off the traction pad while executing a surf maneuver.