Patents by Inventor Gail M. Ackert

Gail M. Ackert has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4869697
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: Connelly Skis, Inc.
    Inventors: Gail M. Ackert, Donald B. Gillis, Patrick J. Connelly
  • Patent number: 4758191
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Assignee: Connelly Skis, Inc.
    Inventors: Gail M. Ackert, Donald B. Gillis, Patrick J. Connelly
  • Patent number: 4738646
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Connelly Skis, Inc.
    Inventors: Gail M. Ackert, Donald B. Gillis, Patrick J. Connelly
  • Patent number: 4494939
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Assignee: Connelly Skis, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Calapp, Gail M. Ackert, Roger J. Brown