Toe piece for a wakeboard binding and method of use

Abstract

A toe piece for a wakeboard binding employs two different materials. The bulk of the toe piece is made from a first material having a certain degree of elasticity. A remaining portion of the toe piece as side portions are made from a material that is more elastic than the first material. This enables an upper portion of the toe piece to move or flex more with respect to the lower portion so that entry of a foot into the binding or out of the binding is easier.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 USC 119(e) based on provisional patent application No. 60 / 836,132, filed on Aug. 8, 2006.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention is directed to an improved wakeboard binding, and in particular to a binding that utilizes a toe piece that is designed to provide more comfort to a user, and facilitate entry of a user's foot into the binding. BACKGROUND ART [0003] In the art of making wakeboard bindings, the heel and toe pieces are molded in flat pieces, which are then curved during binding manufacture. U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,561 to Fletcher, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, is one example of a wakeboard binding wherein heel and toe pieces are used as part of the binding. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the flat toe piece design of the prior art. In FIG. 1, a toe piece is designated by the reference numeral 60, and is T-shaped. Referring to FIG. 2, segment 61 is designed to conform to a user's shin 67, with segment 63 wr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] Yet another object of the present invention is the use of the improved toe piece to facilitate donning and doffing of the toe piece by a user.

[0015] In satisfaction of the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention is an improvement in the field of wakeboard bindings. One aspect of the invention is the use of the inventive toe piece as part of a wakeboard binding. These types of bindings typically include a heel piece and a toe piece. The inventive toe piece has an upper portion, side portions, and lower portions. At least the upper portion is made of a first material having a first elasticity, with at least one of the side portions including a segment of a second material having a second elasticity that is greater than the first elasticity. This difference in elasticity between the upper portion and the segment allows the upper portion to move with respect to the lower portions and facilitate entry of a foot into the binding and removal of a foot from the binding.

[0018] The invention also entails a method of using the toe piece as part of a wakeboard binding. This aspect of the invention is an improvement in the way a foot of a user would enter the binding. By providing at least one side portion of the toe piece with a segment of a second elastic material, the second elastic material having an elasticity greater than an elasticity of a first elastic material of the toe piece, inserting a foot between the heel and toe pieces is greatly facilitated. This is because the upper portion of the toe piece can move or flex to a greater degree with respect to the lower portions and side portions because of the presence of the segment or segments in the toe piece, which segment stretches during foot entry in the binding as a result of its increased elasticity. Similarly, when the foot is removed from the binding, the upper portion is able to flex or moves more because of the greater stretching ability of the segment so that foot removal from the binding is made easier.

Problems solved by technology

One problem with the prior art construction is that the toe piece can be relatively stiff as a result of the use of the EVA or other stiff materials, and this makes it difficult for a user to both insert a foot into the binding and remove the foot therefrom.

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