Abstract: A binding for water sports comprises a baseplate, which may optionally include a toe cup, and a heel cup. A heel loop is pivotably attached to the heel cup, and is pivotable between an upper position and a lower position to adjust the amount of support provided to the user's ankle. An adjustment control, for example a lever and cam mechanism pivotably attaches to the heel cup and is positioned such that the user can selectively move the cam portion between a release position wherein the heel loop is not supported in the upper position, and a support position wherein the heel loop is supported in the upper position. A flexible upper portion is attached to the base plate.

Abstract: A water sport binding is disclosed having a rigid base plate that is adapted to be mounted to a board such as a wake board. A heel loop is pivotably mounted to the base plate and a flexible upper assembly is provided that includes a forward portion that attaches to the base plate and a rearward portion that attaches to the pivotable heel loop. A lever mechanism, including a lever mounted on the heel loop and a cable that attaches to either side of the base plate and extends through a channel in the lever provides a mechanism for locking the heel loop in an upright position during use. The user pivots the lever to permit the heel loop to pivot rearwardly, permitting ready entry or egress from the binding. The flexible upper assembly may include front and back panels, an instep support, an ankle support, and attachment means.

Abstract: A water sport binding is disclosed having a rigid base plate that is adapted to be mounted to a board such as a wake board. A heel loop is pivotably mounted to the base plate and a flexible upper assembly is provided that includes a forward portion that attaches to the base plate and a rearward portion that attaches to the pivotable heel loop. A lever mechanism, including a lever mounted on the heel loop and a cable that attaches to either side of the base plate and extends through a channel in the lever provides a mechanism for locking the heel loop in an upright position during use. The user pivots the lever to permit the heel loop to pivot rearwardly, permitting ready entry or egress from the binding. The flexible upper assembly may include front and back panels, an instep support, an ankle support, and attachment means.

Abstract: In a water sports tow rope handle, an improved grip portion which is curved such that it contours with a user's body when passed from hand to hand behind a user's back while performing rotational turns. The grip portion is generally C-shaped with the arms of the “C” extending outwardly from the diverging ends of a V-shaped yoke and curving smoothly into the curved grip portion.

Abstract: A water sport binding is disclosed having a rigid base plate that is adapted to be mounted to a board such as a wake board. A heel loop is pivotably mounted to the base plate and a flexible upper assembly is provided that includes a forward portion that attaches to the base plate and a rearward portion that attaches to the pivotable heel loop. A lever mechanism, including a lever mounted on the heel loop and a cable that attaches to either side of the base plate and extends through a channel in the lever provides a mechanism for locking the heel loop in an upright position during use. The user pivots the lever to permit the heel loop to pivot rearwardly, permitting ready entry or egress from the binding. The flexible upper assembly may include front and back panels, an instep support, an ankle support, and attachment means.

Abstract: A binding for a water ski or a wake board (20) for use on a wake board (21). The binding for a water ski or a wake board (20) securely attaches the rider's foot to the wake board (21). The binding for a water ski or a wake board (20) includes a holster (22) made of a semi-rigid material and that extends on opposite sides of the foot of the rider so as to close over the foot. A liner sock (24) extends over the foot of the rider and underneath the holster (22) and upward so as to receive the ankle and heel of the rider. A stretchable strap (26) extends from the bottom of the binding for a water ski or a wake board (20) and includes an annular cuff (24) that is fastenable about the ankle of the rider. The stretchable strap (26) permits a solid connection of the rider's ankle to the wake board (20), but stretches to release the rider's ankle and foot upon a fall. A buckle (66) extends over the holster (22) and includes a stretchable strap (68).

Abstract: A thin top shell of aerodynamic contour is secured over a jump ski base smooth flow of air over the top of the ski during a jump, without interfering with the on-water performance of the base. The shell has a bulbous tip portion, a first portion of airfoil cross section aligned transversely of the ski in front of the central binding area of the ski, a second portion of airfoil cross section aligned transversely of the ski behind the binding area and a tail portion of airfoil cross section aligned longitudinally of the ski. The first and second airfoil cross sections have their thicker, more sharply curved sections disposed toward the inside edge of the ski, and the tail portion has its thicker, more sharply curved section disposed toward the front of the ski.

Abstract: A core for a water skimming device, such as a water ski, is formed by lining a mold with flexible top and bottom films of acrylic sheet material, followed by injecting structural foam into the mold between the films. The structural foam sets in contact with the films and is encapsulated in and bonded to them. The encapsulated core is wrapped in fibrous reinforcing material, which then is impregnated with thermosetting adhesive. The assembly of core, reinforcing material, adhesive and an outer layer is compression molded to cure the adhesive, which readily bonds the encapsulated core to the outer shell.

Abstract: A skiboard system comprising a skiboard having a channel extending along a portion of the length thereof and two bindings secured, via the channel, to the skiboard. The bindings are design to be rotated between a locked starting position, where the long axes of the bindings extend parallel to the long axis of the skiboard, and a locked skiing position, where the long axes of the bindings extend transversely to the long axis of the skiboard. After the bindings have been rotated to a selected position, the bindings are secured in place via a locking mechanism that is operated by movement of a pivotally mounted handle. In addition, the bindings include a resilient front strap assembly and a resilient heel support for securing the user's feet to the binding while at the same time permitting a user to quickly and easily remove his or her feet from the bindings in the event of a fall.

Abstract: A water sports device including an elongated baseboard having the approximate outline shape of a kneeboard, one or more foot-restraining members releasably attachable to the board for configuring it to be used as a skiboard, and a kneepad and associated thigh strap releasably attachable to the board for configuring it for use as a kneeboard.

Abstract: An adjustable water ski binding includes an upper (18) composed of a toepiece (60) and a heelpiece (69) cooperatively defining a binding cavity (22) for receiving and restraining a foot. The lower perimeter portions of the toepiece (60) and heelpiece (69) are secured to a perimeter frame assembly (20). A pair of oppositely disposed straps (86), provided on binding upper (18), extend forwardly and then laterally across and down the sides of the toepiece (60) to define distal end portions (126). The end portions (126) of the straps (86) are fastened to the binding frame assembly (20) at selected locations along the strap end portion to selectively vary the size of the binding cavity (22).

Abstract: An adjustable water ski binding (10) is composed of an upper (18) secured substantially vertically between a laterally supportive, generally U-shaped internal frame (34) and a similarly shaped external frame (50) to form a foot-receiving binding cavity (22). A full length soleplate (24) underlies the internal frame (34) and includes a slot (108), allowing the width of soleplate (24) to be adjusted. A pair of rotation tabs (114) are secured to external frame (50) and include a plurality of adjustment holes (120) that allow tabs (114) to be additionally secured to a mounting plate (12). By selecting the proper pair of adjustment holes (120), the width of binding upper (18) can be increased or decreased. A pair of oppositely disposed strap portions (86), provided on binding upper (18), extend forwardly, overlapping the instep of binding upper (18).

Abstract: An adjustable water ski binding (10) is composed of an upper (18) secured substantially vertically between a laterally supportive, generally U-shaped internal frame (34) and a similarly shaped external frame (50) to form a foot-receiving binding cavity (22). A soleplate (24) underlies the internal frame (34) and includes a slot (108), allowing the width of soleplate (24) to be adjusted. A pair of rotatable tabs (114) are secured to external frame (50) and include a plurality of adjustment holes (120) that allow tabs (114) to be additionally secured to a mounting plate (12). By selecting the proper pair of adjustment holes (120), the width of binding upper (18) can be increased or decreased. A pair of oppositely disposed strap portions (86), provided on binding upper (18), extend forwardly, overlapping the instep of binding upper (18). End portions (126) of straps (86) are adjustably securable between the internal frame (34) and external frame (50) to selectively vary the size of binding cavity (22).

Abstract: Disclosed is a ski cover that is configured for rapid and simple coverage of a ski or pair of skis and readily adaptable to cover skis of various lengths. Cover (10) comprises an elongate first sleeve (12) having a closed end (22) and an open end (24). The first sleeve is adapted to slide over one end of a ski (16) such that the closed end of the sleeve is adjacent the tip (44) of the ski. Also included is an elongate second sleeve (14) having a closed end (32) and an open end (34). The second sleeve is similarly adapted to slide over the other end of the ski such that its closed end is adjacent the heel (46) of the ski. A portion of the open end of one sleeve is overlapped by a portion of the open end of the other sleeve when the first and second sleeves are slid over the respective ends of the ski. A closeable slit (48) is incorporated into the overlapped sleeve in order to facilitate positioning the two sleeves in the overlapping arrangement.

Abstract: The heelpiece (10) of a water ski binding is composed of a heel base (18) formed with a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart slots (72) for receiving posts (22) extending upwardly from water ski (14). A cam latch (20) is rotatably mounted to the upper end of each post (22) for selective engagement with detents (78) arranged in rows (74) and (76) extending along opposite sides of each slot (72). Cam latches (20) are rotatable from an unlatched position wherein the latches are spaced upwardly from detents (78) to enable heelpiece (10) to freely slide along ski (14) into desired position, to an "over center", locked position wherein the cam latches (20) clamp the heelpiece (10) downwardly against the ski to prevent movement thereof. The cam latches 20 also shift the heelpiece forwardly into snug engagement with the skier's foot as the latches are rotated into latched position.