Patent Application
20250171114
The present invention relates to the field of water skis and more particularly to foot bindings for water skis.
Waterskiing refers to the gliding sports activity in which a person stands on one or two skis while pulled by a boat so as to cause the person to glide over the surface of a body of water such a lake, river or sea. Waterskiing has several different disciplines including slalom, trick and jumping. In slalom skiing, the skier places one foot forward on the ski and one rearward, applying pressure the rear portion of the ski in order to force the ski to lift onto the water surface, while the forward foot assists in managing the lateral movement of the ski transverse to the surface of the water. In almost all instances, so as to maximize control of the ski by the feet of the skier, bindings bind the feet of the skier to the ski.
Traditionally, the bindings come in two forms: open and closed. The open binding provides a strap or slot into which the foot is placed in order to provide some securing of the foot to the ski while also permitting rapid removal of the foot when required. The closed binding envelopes the foots within the binding securing the foot to the ski while making removal of the foot from the binding difficult. In the former instance, the loose coupling of the foot to the ski permits limited control over the ski whereas in the latter instance, the tight coupling of the foot to the ski permits maximum control. But, in the latter instance, there is a substantial risk of injury in a fall as the foot is unable to extricate itself from the closed binding.
To address the issue of safety, the closed binding has been replaced with a boot and binding system in which the skier wears a hard shell boot which when inserted into a binding fixed to the ski, permits substantial control over the ski by the skier. To that end, these semi-rigid boots are stiff enough to provide good translation of control inputs from the foot of the skier to the ski, but with some small flexibility to minimize the opportunity of injury in the event of a fall. However, the binding system provides for a release of the boot from the ski in a fall. There is a drawback to the boot and binding system, though, in so far as the sole of the foot of the skier is now removed from the top surface of the ski. Because the sole of the foot is removed from the top surface of the ski, the skier enjoys much less direct control over the ski.
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to water ski bindings and the ability of the skier to enjoy both precision control of the water ski while maintaining firm connection to the water ski and provide a novel and non-obvious water ski semi-rigid binding (e.g. a rigid but not inflexible binding) and water ski with hard shell binding system. In an embodiment of the invention, a water ski semi-rigid binding includes a toe defining an interior toe pocket with top and bottom exterior surfaces, a heel opposite the toe and rigid sidewalls opposite one another and connecting the toe to the heel, a portion of the rigid sidewalls proximate to the heel upwardly sloping to form an upper cuff.
A top edge of the rigid sidewalls, the toe and the heel collectively define a top opening of the binding a bottom edge of the rigid sidewalls. As well, the toe and the heel define a bottom opening of the binding. Even further, the top opening and the bottom opening and an interior surface of the rigid sidewalls collectively form a hollow channel through the semi-rigid binding absent a body sole between the bottom surfaces of the toe pocket and the heel pocket. Finally, the bottom edge of the rigid sidewalls each angle inwardly towards one another. In one aspect of the embodiment, an ankle collar is fixed to the upper cuff and upwardly extends beyond the top edge of the heel and rigid sidewalls. In another aspect of the embodiment, a protruding lip is provided at an exterior rear surface of the heel.
In another embodiment of the invention, a water ski semi-rigid binding system includes a toe receiver adapted for fixation to a top surface of a water ski, a toggleable heel release assembly adapted for fixation to the top surface of the water ski, the toggleable heel release having dual states of locked and released, and a semi-rigid binding. The semi-rigid binding includes a toe defining an interior toe pocket with top and bottom exterior surfaces, a heel opposite the toe and rigid sidewalls opposite one another and connecting the toe to the heel, a portion of the rigid sidewalls proximate to the heel upwardly sloping to form an upper cuff.
A top edge of the rigid sidewalls, the toe and the heel collectively define a top opening of the binding. As well, a bottom edge of the rigid sidewalls, the toe and the heel collectively define a bottom opening of the binding. Even further, the top opening and the bottom opening and an interior surface of the rigid sidewalls collectively form a hollow channel through the semi-rigid binding absent a body sole between the bottom surfaces of the toe pocket and the heel pocket. Finally, the bottom edge of the rigid sidewalls each angle inwardly towards one another. Of note, in the particular embodiment of the invention described herein, the toe receiver receives the toe of the binding, and the toggleable heal release binds the heel of the binding to the top surface of the water ski when in a locked one of the dual states. In one aspect of the embodiment, an ankle collar is fixed to the upper cuff and upwardly extends beyond the top edge of the heel and rigid sidewalls. In another aspect of the embodiment, a lip protrudes at an exterior rear surface of the heel.
In yet another embodiment of the disclosure, a water ski is provided. The water ski includes a ski with a top surface defining a flat form and a bottom surface defining a concave form, and a releasable semi-rigid binding system. The releasable semi-rigid binding system includes a toe receiver adapted for fixation to the top surface of the water ski, a toggleable heel release assembly adapted for fixation to the top surface of the water ski, the toggleable heel release including dual states of locked and released, and a semi-rigid binding. The semi-rigid binding includes a toe defining an interior toe pocket with top and bottom exterior surfaces, a heel opposite the toe and rigid sidewalls opposite one another and connecting the toe to the heel, a portion of the rigid sidewalls proximate to the heel upwardly sloping to form an upper cuff.
A top edge of the rigid sidewalls, the toe and the heel then collectively define a top opening of the binding and a bottom edge of the rigid sidewalls, the toe and the heel collectively define a bottom opening of the binding. Importantly, the top opening and the bottom opening and an interior surface of the rigid sidewalls form a hollow channel through the semi-rigid binding absent a body sole between the bottom surfaces of the toe pocket and the heel pocket. Further, the bottom edge of the rigid sidewalls each angle inwardly towards one another. The toe receiver then receives the toe of the binding and the toggleable heal release binds the heel of the binding to the top surface of the water ski when in a locked one of the dual states.
In one aspect of the embodiment, an ankle collar is fixed to the upper cuff and upwardly extends beyond the top edge of the heel and rigid sidewalls. In another aspect of the embodiment, a lip protrudes at an exterior rear surface of the heel. In yet another aspect of the embodiment, a fixed semi-rigid binding system secures to the ski in a non-releasable state rearwardly from the releasable semi-rigid binding system. In this aspect of the embodiment, the fixed semi-rigid binding system positioned rearwardly from the releasable semi-rigid binding system includes a flat plate with mounting screw holes defined therethrough and adapted to receive screws securing a bottom surface of the flat plate to the top surface of the ski and a rigid boot shell extending from a top surface of the flat plate.
The rigid boot shell includes a pocketless toe stop, a heel opposite the pocketless toe stop and rigid sidewalls opposite one another and connecting the pocketless toe stop to the heel, a portion of the rigid sidewalls intermediate to the pocketless toe stop and heel of the rigid boot shell upwardly sloping towards one another form a middle cuff. A top edge of the rigid sidewalls, the toe and the heel collectively define a top opening of the rigid boot shell. As well, a bottom edge of the rigid sidewalls, the toe and the heel collectively define a bottom opening of the binding. Finally, the top opening and the bottom opening and an interior surface of the rigid sidewalls of the rigid boot shell form a hollow channel through the rigid boot shell absent a body sole of the rigid boot shell.
Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspects of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:
Embodiments of the invention provide for semi-rigid binding system. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a semi-rigid binding system includes a toe which defines an interior toe pocket with top and bottom exterior surfaces, a heel opposite the toe which defines an interior heel pocket with top and bottom exterior surfaces and rigid sidewalls opposite to one another which connect the toe to the heel and with a portion of the rigid sidewalls being proximate to the heel upwardly sloping to form an upper cuff. A top edge of the rigid sidewalls, the toe and the heel together define a top opening of the binding and a bottom edge of the rigid sidewalls, the toe and the heel together define a bottom opening of the binding. As such, the top opening and the bottom opening and an interior surface of the rigid sidewalls form a hollow channel through the semi-rigid binding absent a body sole between the bottom surfaces of the toe pocket and the heel pocket, and the bottom edge of the rigid sidewalls each angle inwardly towards one another, so as to permit the sole of the foot of the skier to remain secured to the ski within the binding, but also to directly contact a top surface of a water ski to which the semi-rigid binding is secured.
In further illustration,
The semi-rigid binding 210 includes a toe 240 defining an interior toe pocket 280 with top and bottom exterior surfaces. The semi-rigid binding 210 also includes a heel 270 opposite the toe 240. Optionally, the heel 270 includes a protruding lip 290 adapted to contact a toggleable heel release (not shown). The semi-rigid binding 210 yet further includes rigid sidewalls 250A opposite one another and connecting the toe 240 to the heel 270. A portion of the rigid sidewalls 250A proximate to the heel 270 upwardly slopes to form an upper cuff 230. Optionally, an ankle collar (not shown) can be fixed to the upper cuff 230 upwardly extending beyond the top edge of the heel 270 and rigid sidewalls 250A.
A top edge of the rigid sidewalls 250A, the toe 240 and the heel 270 together define a top opening of the binding 210. As well, a bottom edge 220 of the rigid sidewalls 250A, the toe 240 and the heel 270 define a bottom opening of the binding 210. The top opening and the bottom opening and an interior surface 250B of the rigid sidewalls 250A form a hollow channel 260 through the semi-rigid binding 210 absent a body sole between the bottom surfaces of the toe 240 and the heel 270. Finally, the bottom edge 220 of the rigid sidewalls 250A each angle inwardly towards one another.
In this way, the foot of the skier when inserted into the semi-rigid binding 210 through the top opening remain secured within the semi-rigid binding 210 with the toes of the foot inserted into the interior of the toe 240 and the heel 270 inserted into the heel pocket 280B, but with the bottom of the foot directly contacting the top surface of the waterski 200 through the hollow channel 260.
In further illustration of the semi-rigid binding 210 of
A top edge of the rigid sidewalls 350A, the toe 340 and the heel 370 together define a top opening of the binding 310. As well, a bottom edge 320 of the rigid sidewalls 350A, the toe 340 and the heel 370 define a bottom opening of the binding 310. The top opening and the bottom opening and an interior surface 350B of the rigid sidewalls 350A form a hollow channel 360 through the semi-rigid binding 310 absent a body sole between the bottom surfaces of the toe pocket 380A and the heel pocket 380B. Finally, the bottom edge 320 of the rigid sidewalls 350A each angle inwardly towards one another.
Of note, the semi-rigid binding 310 of
In one embodiment of the invention, two different semi-rigid bindings can be secured to the top surface of a water ski in order to accommodate both feet of the skier. In more particular illustration,
Optionally, the fixed semi-rigid binding system 510B can differ from the releasable semi-rigid binding system 510A in that the fixed semi-rigid binding system 510B includes a rigid boot shell extending from a top surface of the flat plate 555 and including a pocketless toe stop, a heel opposite the pocketless toe stop and rigid sidewalls opposite one another and connecting the pocketless toe stop to the heel, with a portion of the rigid sidewalls intermediate to the pocketless toe stop and heel of the rigid boot shell upwardly sloping towards one another form a middle cuff. Further, a top edge of the rigid sidewalls, the toe and the heel collectively define a top opening of the rigid boot shell, a bottom edge of the rigid sidewalls, the toe and the heel collectively define a bottom opening of the binding and the top opening and the bottom opening and an interior surface of the rigid sidewalls of the rigid boot shell collectively form a hollow channel through the rigid boot shell absent a body sole of the rigid boot shell.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “include”, “includes”, and/or “including,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
Having thus described the invention of the present application in detail and by reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims as follows:
