LIFT PLATE FOR WAKEBOARD BINDINGS
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.
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.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn 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:
As shown in the exemplary drawings, a lift plate or lift plate apparatus is referred to generally in
Wakeboarding is generally known in the art wherein a rider 14 (
The lift plate 10 of the present invention comprises a skeletal framework including a perimeter 24 (
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 associated lift plate 10 by means of the same pair of screws 34 passed downwardly through screw ports 33 formed in the boot or boot binding 36 and further through the associated screw ports 32 into the receptacles 25 formed in the wakeboard 18. Importantly, as shown best in
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
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.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 18, 2014
Publication Date: Sep 18, 2014
Inventor: Wallace E. Ruminson (Porterville, CA)
Application Number: 14/218,665
International Classification: B63B 35/81 (20060101); B63B 35/85 (20060101);