US20140273680A1 - Lift plate for wakeboard bindings - Google Patents
Lift plate for wakeboard bindings Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20140273680A1 US20140273680A1 US14/218,665 US201414218665A US2014273680A1 US 20140273680 A1 US20140273680 A1 US 20140273680A1 US 201414218665 A US201414218665 A US 201414218665A US 2014273680 A1 US2014273680 A1 US 2014273680A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- wakeboard
- lift plate
- boot
- pair
- plate apparatus
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- B63B35/812—
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B32/00—Water sports boards; Accessories therefor
- B63B32/40—Twintip boards; Wakeboards; Surfboards; Windsurfing boards; Paddle boards, e.g. SUP boards; Accessories specially adapted therefor
- B63B32/45—Fixation means for feet of the board user, e.g. footstraps
- B63B32/47—Bindings, e.g. wakeboard bindings
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- B63B35/85—
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B32/00—Water sports boards; Accessories therefor
- B63B32/40—Twintip boards; Wakeboards; Surfboards; Windsurfing boards; Paddle boards, e.g. SUP boards; Accessories specially adapted therefor
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
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.
Description
- This invention relates generally to a lift or lift plate apparatus for use with a wakeboard binding or boot. The lift plate permits the wakeboard to ride deeper in the water and further to accommodate quick and easy so-called edging of the wakeboard to execute turns, thereby providing additionally improved stability in curvilinear and straight-line wakeboarding.
- Wakeboards are generally known in the art, and comprise a single board upon which a rider stands and is pulled by a boat so that the board skims or rides upon the surface of the water behind the boat. In general, the wakeboard is about 3-5 feet long, and is shaped with upturned ends and a somewhat wider middle. The rider stands on the wakeboard by means of a pair of bindings such as boot-like structures adapted to receive the rider's feet in a relatively fixed, spaced-apart stance. Minimal angular adjustment of the boot-like structures is permitted for rider preference and comfort. The boot-like structures can be open-toed, or close-toed, and/or custom fitted to the individual rider.
- In the past, the boot-like structure, or binding, has been designed for a supporting the rider's feet at a fixed and relatively small height above the surface of the wakeboard. As a result, the rider has had a limited ability to place the wakeboard on “edge” in the course of a turning maneuver. That is, the ability of the rider to “edge” the wakeboard has been controlled by the height of the rider's feet above the surface of the wakeboard. Indeed, in the past, there has been no capability to vary the height of the boot-like binding structure above the surface of the wakeboard to correspondingly improve the ability of the rider to place the board on “edge” in the course of a turning maneuver.
- The present invention comprises an improved lift plate or lift plate apparatus for use with a wakeboard binding or boot, wherein the lift plate permits the wakeboard to ride deeper in the water and further to accommodate quick and easy so-called edging of the wakeboard to execute turns. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages.
- In accordance with the invention, a lift plate or lift plate apparatus is provided for use with a binding or boot on a wakeboard to permit the wakeboard to ride deeper in the water and further to accommodate relatively quick and easy so-called edging of the wakeboard in the course of a turning maneuver, thereby providing a significant improvement in stability in curvilinear (turning) and straight-line wakeboarding. The lift plate height enhances the ability to angulate the wakeboard edge more deeply into the water.
- In the preferred form, the lift plate apparatus comprises a lift plate of selected height mounted on the wakeboard between each wakeboard boot and the board. The lift plate includes at least two openings for passage of screws or the like to secure the binding to the lift plate onto the wakeboard. The openings can be oblong or elongated with an arcuate shape, if desired, to permit mounting onto the wakeboard within a range of selected different angular orientations. Alternatively, if desired, the lift plate can be directly incorporated into the sole of each wakeboard boot.
- Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
- The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:
-
FIG. 1 is a fragmented perspective view illustrating a wakeboard rider on a wakeboard, wherein the wakeboard is equipped with the improved boot or binding lift plate or lift plate apparatus, in accordance with one preferred form of the invention; -
FIG. 2 is a fragmented perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the invention, showing the wakeboard with the improved boot or binding lift plate in one position of adjustment; -
FIG. 3 is a further enlarged and fragmented perspective view showing one of the boots in association with a lift plate, in accordance with the preferred form of the invention; -
FIG. 4 is a fragmented perspective view showing the boot association with the underlying lift plate and a portion of the wakeboard; -
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lift plate ofFIG. 4 ; -
FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken generally on the line 6-6 ofFIG. 5 ; -
FIG. 7 is a fragmented plan view of the lift plate or lift plate apparatus ofFIGS. 4-6 ; -
FIG. 8 is a fragmented perspective view similar toFIG. 2 , but illustrating one preferred alternative form of the invention wherein the lift plate or lift plate apparatus is incorporated into the boot sole; and -
FIG. 9 is a fragmented plan view similar toFIG. 7 , but illustrating a further preferred alternative form of the invention. - As shown in the exemplary drawings, a lift plate or lift plate apparatus is referred to generally in
FIG. 1 by thereference numeral 10. As shown, thelift plate 10 is provided on awakeboard 18 or the like for use by therider 14 to execute so-called “edge” turns more easily, and to ride deeper in thewater 16. - Wakeboarding is generally known in the art wherein a rider 14 (
FIG. 1 ) stands upon awakeboard 18 and is towed through thewater 16 at a sufficiently high rate of speed by a boat (not shown). Therider 14 is coupled to the boat by means of atow rope 20 including areleasable handle 22 held by therider 14. In accordance with the invention, the lift plate or lift plate apparatus is provided to elevate therider 14 with respect to theunderlying wakeboard 18 by the thickness of the lift plate orlift plate apparatus 10 to permit therider 14 to place thewakeboard 18 on “edge” in the course of executing a relatively sharp turn or the like. In addition, thelift plate 10 enables therider 14 to ride thewakeboard 18 with the wakeboard disposed deeper in thewater 16 for improved wakeboard control. - The
lift plate 10 of the present invention comprises a skeletal framework including a perimeter 24 (FIG. 4 ) with suitable reinforcingstruts 26. A pair ofwing segments 28 protrude from opposite sides of eachlift plate 10, wherein each of thewing segments 28 includes a pair of screw-receivingports lift plate 10 can be mounted onto the upper surface of theunderlying wakeboard 18 by means of a pair of screws 34 (FIGS. 3-4 ) passed downwardly through thescrew ports 32 and suitably fastened into thewakeboard 18 by means of a corresponding pair of threadedreceptacles 25 or the like. - In addition, each boot or boot binding 36 for receiving and supporting the left and right foot of the
rider 14 is attached to an upper surface of the associatedlift plate 10 by means of the same pair ofscrews 34 passed downwardly throughscrew ports 33 formed in the boot or boot binding 36 and further through the associatedscrew ports 32 into thereceptacles 25 formed in thewakeboard 18. Importantly, as shown best inFIGS. 4 , 5 and 7, thescrews 34 protrude downwardly through theports 32 which have an increasing arcuate dimension from the medial or laterally inboard side of each foot to the lateral or outboard side of each foot, to accommodate a degree of circumferential adjustment of the specific position of each rider foot extending laterally across thewakeboard 18, for improved rider comfort. Indeed, in the exemplary drawings as shown, the arcuate dimension of thescrew ports 32 accommodate angular adjustment of the rider's foot to an angle on the order of about + or −45 degrees from a straight lateral position on thewakeboard 18, for a total angular adjustment of about 90 degrees. Similar arcuate adjustment is provided by the arcuate shape of the other pair ofscrew ports 30, if provided. Alternately, if desired, some binding designs would align theopenings 33 in theboot 36 with thelift plate ports 30 and thereby connect to thewakeboard 18. -
FIG. 6 illustrates a multi-ply construction for eachlift plate 10, wherein thelift plate 10 comprises threeplies lift plate 10 can be constructed from a single homogenous layer or ply, such as a noncompressible or semicompressible material of a metal or plastic or carbon fiber composition or the like. -
FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate alternative preferred forms of the invention. More specifically, in the alternative form depicted inFIG. 8 , the lift plate orlift plate apparatus 10′ is constructed directly into the boot or boot sole during manufacture of theboot 36′. The lift plate orlift plate apparatus 10′ is similar to that shown inFIGS. 1-7 , but theboot 36′ with the lift plate orlift plate apparatus 10′ incorporated into the sole thereof is attached directly to thewakeboard 18′ bypassing screws 34′ downwardly through a pair ofscrew ports 32′ formed respectively at the laterally opposed sides thereof. Thesescrew ports 32′ accommodate respective passage of a corresponding pair ofscrews 34′ downwardly therethrough into anchored relation into receptacles (not shown inFIG. 8 ) within thewakeboard 18′. In this regard, thescrew ports 32′ are unthreaded and at least partially arcuate in shape to permit angular adjustment of theboots 36′ through an angle such as on the order of about + or −45 degrees, for a total angular adjustment capability of about 90 degrees, for enhanced rider comfort. The sole of theboot 36′ is, of course, thicker by incorporating the lift plate directly into the boot. -
FIG. 9 shows a modified lift plate orlift plate apparatus 10″ wherein the lift plate apparatus is generally similar to the lift plate orlift plate apparatus 10 shown and described inFIGS. 1-7 , but has a somewhat different shape. As shown, the modifiedlift plate apparatus 10″ has aperiphery 24″ with a single internal reinforcingstrut 26″, in combination with laterally opposedwings 28″ each formed with asingle screw port 32″ formed therein, wherein thescrew ports 32″ are somewhat arcuate in shape to accommodate downward passage of a corresponding pair ofscrews 34″ fastened into wakeboard receptacles (not shown inFIG. 9 ). Thearcuate screw ports 32″ permit the associatedscrews 34″ to be tightened while permitting angular adjustment of the associated boots for enhanced rider comfort. - A variety of further modifications and improvements in and to the lift plate or lift plate apparatus of the present invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. By way of limited example, persons skilled in the art will recognize and appreciate that the description of the invention and the accompanying drawings shows the wakeboard boots with an open toe design, it will nevertheless be understood that the invention is equally applicable to closed toe wakeboard boots. Accordingly, no limitation on the invention is intended by way of the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, except as set forth in the appended claims.
Claims (11)
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.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US14/218,665 US20140273680A1 (en) | 2013-03-18 | 2014-03-18 | Lift plate for wakeboard bindings |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201361803051P | 2013-03-18 | 2013-03-18 | |
US14/218,665 US20140273680A1 (en) | 2013-03-18 | 2014-03-18 | Lift plate for wakeboard bindings |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20140273680A1 true US20140273680A1 (en) | 2014-09-18 |
Family
ID=51529131
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US14/218,665 Abandoned US20140273680A1 (en) | 2013-03-18 | 2014-03-18 | Lift plate for wakeboard bindings |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20140273680A1 (en) |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5910034A (en) * | 1998-05-15 | 1999-06-08 | Earth & Ocean Sports, Inc. | Integral overlay wakeboard binding and system |
US5947781A (en) * | 1998-09-21 | 1999-09-07 | Earth & Ocean Sports, Inc. | Adjustable, high wrap wakeboard binding, system and method |
US6017256A (en) * | 1998-01-07 | 2000-01-25 | Connelly Skis Inc. | Hard-sided wake board and water ski binding |
US7134928B1 (en) * | 2005-08-16 | 2006-11-14 | Connelly Skis, Inc. | Binding for water sports boards |
-
2014
- 2014-03-18 US US14/218,665 patent/US20140273680A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6017256A (en) * | 1998-01-07 | 2000-01-25 | Connelly Skis Inc. | Hard-sided wake board and water ski binding |
US5910034A (en) * | 1998-05-15 | 1999-06-08 | Earth & Ocean Sports, Inc. | Integral overlay wakeboard binding and system |
US5947781A (en) * | 1998-09-21 | 1999-09-07 | Earth & Ocean Sports, Inc. | Adjustable, high wrap wakeboard binding, system and method |
US7134928B1 (en) * | 2005-08-16 | 2006-11-14 | Connelly Skis, Inc. | Binding for water sports boards |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |