PIVOTING MAGNETIC BINDING SYSTEM FOR SPORTS BOARDS

Abstract

A pivoting magnetic binding system for sports boards offering a self-acting binding action that allows rider and board to move in unison. A pivoting action mitigates dynamic movement of the user upon the sports board while maintaining firm contact to the board through magnetic attraction. Vertical liftoff, lateral sliding and torque rotation of the magnet offer mechanisms for separation at the rider's will or during an inadvertent fall.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to binding systems for use on sports boards and more particularly to magnetic binding systems for connecting to and releasing from a sports board. The invention has broad applicability to most types of sports boards including surfboards, jetboards, hoverboards, kiteboards, kneeboards, paddleboards, sailboards, skimboards, skateboards, standup paddleboards, wakeboards, windsurfing boards and stand-upon video game controllers, among others.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many sports involve a board upon which the rider stands during the activity. Surfing is one such sport and has the further requirement that the rider be able to make a fast transition from a prone to a standing position. To-date there have been few, if any, commercially available products that can serve as a binding system for this sport. A practical self-acting binding system suitable for use with surfboards would allow beginning surfers to quickly find optimal foot position and learn edge control for turning the board. Such a system would allow intermediate surfers to improve speed through aggressive “pumping” and would allow expert surfers to better perform advanced aerial maneuvers.

Sports boards such as kiteboards, kneeboards, sailboards, snowboards, wakeboards, water skis, windsurfing boards and the like presently have binding systems which firmly attach the user to their board. These allow for aggressive acceleration maneuvers with the assurance that the board will remain attached to the user. Examples of situations requiring a firm attachment between a user's foot and the board include snowboarders riding half pipes, wakeboarders performing inverted jumps and kiteboarders catching “big air.” The binding systems used in these sports (i.e. snow skiing, water skiing, snowboarding and the like) require the user to manually fasten the binding into a fixed-position and are therefore not suitable for the paddle-in surfer who requires flexibility in foot positioning. Moreover, the binding systems used in the aforementioned sports do not incorporate a quick release mechanism. The lack of a quick release mechanism, can, and upon occasion has, resulted in injuries to users during falls or improper dismounts. A quick release mechanism is essential in a binding system suitable for use with surfboards because surfers need to be able to swim, if necessary, at all times.

The design of a quick release binding suitable for use with surfboards requires careful consideration of the range of motion typically experienced by a participant's feet while surfing. Examination of the foot during an upward jump, a common action in surfing, shows the heel rising from the surface first with the toes leaving last, with the order being reversed on the downward return. Close inspection of a surfer's foot in action also reveals dynamic pivoting, swiveling and positioning during a ride while the rider balances, causes the board to turn, or performs aerial maneuvers. Any binding system suitable for use by surfers must be able to accommodate the wide dynamic range of foot motion required by the sport.

In designing a quick release binding suitable for use with surfboards where the quick release mechanism is to be based upon magnetic coupling, careful consideration must be given to the properties of available magnetic materials because the materials will be subject to both impact loading and the corrosiveness of a saltwater environment. Magnetic attractive force is a complex combination of magnet size, shape, material composition, magnetic field strength and the permeability of the corresponding ferromagnetic object and physical separation between the magnet and ferromagnetic object. A magnet's attractive force drops as the inverse of the fourth power of the distance between the magnet and ferromagnetic object. By way of example, a permanent magnet with 10 pounds-force attraction when attached to a steel plate will drop to 1.5 pounds-force at a separation of only 0.25 inches, highlighting the need to keep the magnet and ferromagnetic object in physical contact to achieve maximum attractive force.

Of the relatively common, commercially available high-energy permanent magnet materials, i.e. neodymium, iron-nitride, samarium-cobalt, cerium and manganese materials, all have a crystalline structure, which tends to be brittle and readily subject to damage—an important factor which must be considered when using these materials in a binding system which will be subject to impact loading, such as in surfing. In addition, these materials are also subject to rapid oxidation which can lessen their mechanical integrity over time. This factor too must be carefully considered in a binding system that will be used in a saltwater environment which would include any binding system suitable for use with surfboards.

Several attempts have been made to develop binding systems suitable for use in the sport of surfing. Most of the prior art designs however, have limitations which have prevented them from achieving commercial success.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,863,583 to Takahashi presents a concept for a magnetic binding system for use with surfboards where the system principally comprises a ferromagnetic region, i.e. metal plates, embedded within the surfboard and a sandal which features a plurality of magnets spaced about the periphery of the toe, midsole and heel regions of the shoe. It is questionable whether the plurality of magnets spaced about the toe, midsole and heel regions would create sufficient magnetic force to be effective in holding a user's foot to the board during jumping. Because a jump raises the heel first, the magnets may peel from the ferromagnetic plate embedded in the board in a one-at-a-time fashion, similar to a zipper being opened. It appears from the design that the vertical magnetic attractive force is not the sum of all magnets but rather a subset depending upon the relative lifting action of the foot.

Conversely, the plurality of distributed magnets suggests that a user may experience difficulty in pivoting, swiveling or sliding when the user's foot is pressed flat against the ferromagnetic region of the board. Further, the binding design of the Takahashi reference requires that the ferromagnetic region of the board be embedded in the board during manufacture. In addition to the technical drawbacks, this requirement presents a commercial drawback because it requires surfers to buy new boards in order to be able to use the system.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,220,158 to Norris represents another variant on the general concept of providing a binding system for surfboards where a ferromagnetic material is attached to the board and a magnet is attached to footwear worn by a surfer. The design of Norris teaches creating a magnetic contact patch for placement on a surfboard where the contact patch comprises a ferromagnetic plate sandwiched between a layer of nonmagnetic cushioning material on the bottom or board facing side and a layer or overlay of nonmagnetic traction enhancing material on the topside. The system of Norris further teaches incorporating a single magnet in footwear, i.e. in either a bootie or an ankle and midfoot strap arrangement.

Several problems appear to be presented by the Norris concept. In particular, the traction layer on the board contact patch decreases magnetic attractive force between the plate in the board and the magnet in the footwear and thus seems contradictory to the concept of a binding system. Also, the footwear disclosed in the reference for retaining the magnet, while seemingly lightweight and versatile, does not teach how to hold the position of the magnet relative to the foot during aggressive maneuvering. The reference depicts a relatively small magnet as being located directly under the arch of a user's foot. Lacking any means of dispersing the resultant load, this is a configuration that would likely prove uncomfortable to a user and could possibly lead to injuries when a surfer jumps on a board or attempts aggressive maneuvers. The Norris design may otherwise pose a safety risk to users because a possible consequence of the relatively small magnet, positioned as shown in the reference's figures, is instability of a user's foot on the board due to a lack of sufficient surface area on the magnet to stably support a foot.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,192 to Bryce discloses a binding system for use with sports boards such as skate boards. The system features two knobs integral with the top of the board and which insert into matching recesses in each of the user's shoes. The knobs may include a compression ring or the knobs and shoes may include magnets that hold the two together up to a predetermined breakaway force. One limitation of this system is that the user's feet are fixed at the position of the knobs which renders the system unsuited to surfboard use as a surfer must frequently change foot positions to maintain balance on the board. Further, attaching the shoes to the protuberances requires accurately aligning each shoe with the protuberance and subsequently stepping upon the protuberance to effect engagement, a process which is not easily performed during the brief moment between the surfer's prone and standing positions when catching a wave. A further limitation is that it is not possible to reposition the foot for maneuvering during the ride.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,837,218 to Flaig inverts the assembly of Takahashi and Norris by placing magnets in the surfboard and ferromagnetic plates in the footwear. This type of configuration requires extensive modifications to the surfboard and may compromise its structural integrity.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,276,921 to Walker discloses the design for a step-in snowboard binding. This binding system comprises two cooperating plate-like assemblies. One assembly is mounted to the snowboard and one is mounted a user's shoe. The assemblies allow a user to step into the binding and rotate the foot to lock the binding in place for use. Magnets are used in the assemblies to assist in aligning and retaining the board and shoe mounted plates during the step-in process. This system is not suitable for use with surfboards because it locks the foot into a single position during use and does not allow for foot repositioning on the board.

U.S. Patent Publication 2010/0237599 by Bianchi is directed to a magnetic binding system principally for use with skateboards. The reference discloses locating ferromagnetic plates proximate to each end of a skateboard and pivotally suspending a magnet in the toe-box area of specially designed shoes. This system, while possibly well-suited to skateboarding, may lack the mechanical strength to withstand the sizeable forces experienced in other board sports, including surfing. Additionally, the ferromagnetic plates disclosed in the reference lack a means for affixing to the curved surfaces of most sports boards. With regard to surfing in particular, the design is not optimized for use in a saltwater environment.

As discussed above, a number of attempts have been made to develop a binding system suitable for use with surfboards, all of which appear to have drawbacks. To the inventor's knowledge, no binding system for use on surfboards has presently achieved commercial success. Therefore, there remains substantial room for improvement in the art. What is needed is a binding system that allows for firm attachment to the board while maintaining flexibility of movement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a system for magnetically binding a user to a sports board. This system provides a way for a user to quickly mount and maintain contact with a sports board during use, while also providing the ability to reposition the feet once mounted on the board and further providing the ability to easily and quickly dismount from the board.

The magnetic binding system comprises a footwear assembly and a board-plate assembly. The footwear assembly comprises a shell assembly, pivot plate, and magnet assembly. The footwear assembly is worn on a foot to facilitate attaching, maneuvering, and detaching from the board-plate assembly. The board-plate assembly comprises a ferromagnetic region and a transition plate. The board-plate assembly is attached to a sports board and provides areas for a user to magnetically bind the footwear assembly.

An object of the magnetic binding system is to provide a quick attachment system so that a board rider's feet bind to target locations. This would allow, for example, a board rider to quickly and easily move from a prone position to a standing position.

An object of the magnetic binding system is to provide increased attachment to the sports board while maintaining range of movement. The magnetic binding system of the present invention permits a user the freedom to dynamically pivot, swivel, and re-position the foot while maneuvering. This would help board riders at all levels, aiding in teaching beginners optimal foot position and edge control, intermediate users in aggressive maneuvering, and advanced users in performing advanced aerial tricks.

An object of the magnetic binding system of the present invention is to provide mechanisms for detachment when repositioning, dismounting or inadvertently falling. These mechanisms would increase control of the dismount and reduce the risk of injury.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention in use with a surfboard.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a backstrap of the invention in a detached or decoupled position.

FIG. 2C is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a topstrap of the invention in a detached or decoupled position.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the footwear assembly.

FIG. 4 is an inside or top view of an embodiment of a shell assembly of the present invention in an open configuration.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6a is a top view of an embodiment of the pivot plate.

FIG. 6b is a top view of an embodiment of the pivot plate with recessed channels.

FIG. 6c is a side view of an embodiment of the pivot plate.

FIG. 7 is a top view of an embodiment of the board-plate assembly.

FIG. 8a is a front sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention through the pivot fastener.

FIG. 8b is a front sectional view of an embodiment of the board-plate assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently-preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first gesture could be termed a second gesture, and, similarly, a second gesture could be termed a first gesture, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used in the description of the invention and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” 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.

Referring to FIG. 1, the invention comprises a footwear assembly 300 and a board-plate assembly 700. The footwear assembly 300 is worn on a foot, while the board-plate assembly 700 is attached to a sports board 100. The footwear assembly 300 and board-plate assembly 700 magnetically attach to each other to allow a user to easily mount, maneuver, and dismount the sports board 100.

The board-plate assembly 700 is attached to the sports board 100 on a top deck surface 101. In the example embodiment of FIG. 1, the board-plate assembly 700 is aligned along a longitudinal reinforcing member or stringer 102 which adds mechanical strength to the sports board. The placement of the board-plate assembly 700 may be dependent on the preferences of the user.

Referring to FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, the board-plate assembly 700 comprises a ferromagnetic region 701 and a transition ring 702 and is secured to the sports board 100, such as through the use of double-sided adhesive tape 705 (see FIG. 8A), or structural adhesives. The ferromagnetic region 701 provides a magnetically attractive region for a magnet assembly 500 of the footwear assembly 300 to attach. The transition ring 702 encompasses the border of the ferromagnetic region 701 and provides a means for the user to slide the magnet assembly 500 from the top deck surface 101 of the sports board 100 (see FIG. 1) to the ferromagnetic region 701 in case of a misstep, and thereby prevents damage to the top deck surface 101 of the sports board 100 from the magnet assembly 500.

With continued reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, the footwear assembly 300 comprises a shell assembly 301A, a pivot plate or member 600, a magnet assembly 500, and a pivot fastener 505. The pivot plate 600 is worn on the bottom of the arch of a user's foot and is bound to the foot by the shell assembly 301A. The magnet assembly 500, a cup magnet assembly in the exemplary embodiment, is attached to the pivot plate 600 at a bottom of the shell assembly 301A near the peak of the medial longitudinal arch of the user's foot using a pivot fastener 505.

When a rider wearing the footwear assembly 300 steps upon the board-plate assembly 700, the magnet assembly 500 couples magnetically to the ferromagnetic region 701, binding the user to the sports board 100. The pivot plate 600 is connected to the magnet assembly 500 via the pivot fastener 505 which allows a user's foot to flex and pivot during the normal course of a ride while the magnet assembly 500 maintains a secure hold.

FIG. 3 depicts an outside or bottom view of an embodiment of the shell assembly 301A in an open configuration. FIG. 4 depicts an inside or top view of an embodiment of the shell assembly 301A in an open configuration. The shell assembly 301A comprises a shell 301B, a liner 401, a topstrap 302, first and second backstraps 312 and 322, and mating hook and loop fasteners 304/405, 306/307 and 324/414. In the exemplary embodiment, the shell 301B comprises polyester coated nylon fabric (Cordura 1000 denier) to which the liner 401, composed of thick fabric-covered neoprene rubber, is attached. The pattern of the shell 301B is bias cut to the grain of weft and weave to allow flexing and stretching. The inner neoprene liner 401 provides a cushioning effect between the various parts of the footwear assembly 300 and the user's foot.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the shell assembly 301A includes means for securing the footware assembly 300 to a user's midfoot and ankle. Securement to a user's midfoot is accomplished by means of the topstrap 302, attached to the shell 301B, and the mating hook and loop closures or fasteners 304/405 and 306/307, attached to the topstrap 302 and shell 301B. In the exemplary embodiment, the topstrap 302 comprises a section of two-inch wide by sixteen-inch long polyester-coated nylon webbing which is thermoformed to a gentle arc to create a comfortable fit around the circumference of a user's midfoot. The fabric hook fastener 304 is attached to an outside surface of the shell 301B, and the mating fabric loop fastener 405 is attached to an inside surface of the topstrap 302. The fabric hook fastener 306 is attached to an outside surface of the topstrap 302, its mating fabric loop fastener 307 is attached to an inside surface of the topstrap 302.

In use, the topstrap 302 is wrapped about a user's midfoot and is partially secured by the mating hook and loop fasteners 304 and 405. The top strap 302 is fully secured by the attachment of the mating hook and loop fasteners 306 and 307. The combination of hook and loop fasteners 304/405 and 306/307 provides for a secure and adjustable closure of the topstrap 302 when wrapped around the user's midfoot. Alternatively, the shell 301B and topstrap 302 may comprise a semi-rigid plastic assembly which conforms to the contour of the user's midfoot. Alternatively, buckles, loops, d-rings, latches or other fastening mechanisms may be used in place of hook and loop fasteners to accomplish the closure function. The shape and design of the shell assembly 301A provides for secure heel and toe contact on the board regardless of whether a user is barefoot or shoed.

Attachment of the footwear assembly 300 to a user's ankle is accomplished by means of the first backstrap 312 and second backstrap 322, and again by the associated hook and loop fasteners 324/414, attached to the shell 301B of the shell assembly 301A. The first backstrap 312, comprised in the exemplary embodiment of a section of one-inch wide by twelve-inch long polyester-coated nylon webbing, is attached orthogonally to the topstrap 302. The fabric loop fastener 414 is attached to an inside surface of the backstrap 312. The second backstrap 322, also comprised in the exemplary embodiment of a section of one-inch wide by eight inch long polyester-coated nylon webbing, is also attached orthogonally to the topstrap 302. The fabric hook fastener 324 is attached to an outside surface of the topstrap 322. The loop fastener 324 mates to the hook fastener 414 to provide a means for an adjustable fit.

In use, the first backstrap 312 and second backstrap 322 wrap around the back of the user's heel just below the ankle and provide a secure means to prevent the footwear assembly 300 from sliding off the front of the user's foot. Alternatively, the first backstrap 312 and second backstrap 322 may comprise semi-rigid plastic assemblies for performing the same function. The shape and design of the footwear assembly 300 provides a means for a secure yet adjustable fit to the user's foot whether they are barefoot or shoed.

As described previously, the shell assembly 301A will typically include the liner 401. The liner 401 is intended to make the footwear assembly 300 more comfortable for the user, or protect the user from internal components or external forces. In the exemplary embodiment, the liner 401 comprises 0.062 inch thick fabric-covered neoprene rubber which functions to cushion a user's foot from the pivot plate 600, topstrap 302, and first backstrap 312 and second backstrap 322.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-4, the pivot plate 600 is attached to the footwear assembly 300 in a position that allows the pivot plate to transversally span the bottom of the user's midfoot. More particularly, the pivot plate 600 is affixed to the magnet assembly 500 using a pivot fastener 505, preferably at a position near the peak of the medial longitudinal arch of the user's foot. This position is close to the natural pivot point of the foot and imparts a minimal perception of magnet bulk to the user. The semi-rigid nature of the pivot plate 600 provides a means to stabilize or inhibit the shell assembly 301A from rotating around the circumference of a user's midfoot during maneuvering. The pivot plate 600 distributes magnetic binding forces to the outside of a user's foot reducing compression or squeezing of the metatarsals during aggressive maneuvers. The pivot fastener 505 passes through the shell 301B, liner 401, and topstrap 302 and is secured by fastener 507. The shape and design of the footwear assembly 300 and pivot plate 600 provide a means for securely positioning the cup magnet assembly 500 in the arch of the user's midfoot.

In the exemplary embodiment, the component parts of the shell assembly 301A are composed of fabric, i.e. the shell 301B, liner 401, topstrap 302, backstraps 312 and 322, and the mating hook and loop fasteners (304/405, 306/307, 324/414), and are attached to the shell 301B via stitching 303. Stitching is a cost effective and secure method of attaching fabric components. However, other methods such as rivets or adhesives are known in the art and may also be suitable.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the footwear assembly 300, including the cup magnet assembly 500, and as well as the board-plate assembly 700, which illustrates the connection between the components. FIG. 8 is an enlarged transversal cross sectional view which shows the interrelationship between the footwear assembly 300, magnet assembly 500, and board-plate assembly 700, when assembled.

With reference to FIG. 5, in the exemplary embodiment, the footwear assembly 300 incorporates the cup magnet assembly 500. The cup magnet assembly 500 comprises a magnet enclosure 501, permanent magnet 502, countersunk hole 503, and radial gap 504. The magnet enclosure 501 is an open-ended cylindrical housing made of ferromagnetic stainless steel which forms a protective housing for the permanent magnet 502. The permanent magnet 502 is a cylindrical disc magnet with magnetic poles at the round faces of the disc. The permanent magnet 502 may comprise neodymium based elements, although other elements such as iron-nitride, samarium-cobalt, cerium, and manganese may be used. The magnet enclosure 501 has an axial countersunk hole 503 that matches a hole 313 in topstrap 302, a hole 314 in shell 301B, and a hole 601 in pivot plate 600, in order to accommodate the pivot fastener 505.

In the exemplary, the magnet 502 is approximately 1.2 inches in diameter and 0.2 inches in height. Experimentation has shown that a magnet of this size provides a breakaway force, i.e. force at which the binding disconnects or decouples, suitable for a wide range of users at various levels of skill in the sport of surfing. The size of the magnet 502 can be varied however to accommodate users of greater or lesser weight, strength and skill.

The magnet enclosure 501 couples lines of magnetic flux from a top surface of magnet 502 to the same plane as a bottom surface of magnet 502 (much as a common horseshoe magnet does) and comes in contact with the ferromagnetic region 701 as shown in FIG. 8A. The opposite pole of the magnet 502 couples to the ferromagnetic region 701 across a 0.015 inch air gap 508 without physical contact with the ferromagnetic region 701. This air gap recess protects the magnet 502 from physical damage during use. The radial gap 504 between the magnet enclosure 501 and the magnet 502 is typically filled with epoxy.

The dimensions and strength of the magnet assembly 500 are chosen based on several factors. While the typical weight of a sports board may be from about five (5) to about 10 pounds, the impact forces generated by board sports can be very high, dictating the need for a high magnetic attractive force. Experimentation has shown that a 1.2 inch diameter cylindrical magnet 502 of 0.20 inch thickness composed of neodymium-iron-boron composition and a ferromagnetic stainless steel ferromagnetic region 701 of 0.062 inch thickness and sufficient area to completely couple to the periphery of magnet enclosure 501, a magnetic attractive force 800 of approximately 60 pounds is achieved. With the use of a thicker ferromagnetic region 701 or larger magnet 502, magnetic attractive forces in excess of 120 pounds are practical.

The pivot fastener 505 links the pivot plate 600 to the cup magnet assembly 500. The pivot fastener 505 is secured at a first end to the pivot plate 600 and at a second end to the cup magnet assembly 500. The pivot fastener 505 extends through pivot washer 506 and holes 313, 314, 503, and 601 and fastens at the end with a fastening member 507. In the exemplary embodiment, the fastener 505 and fastening member 507 comprise a machine screw and a T-nut, respectively. Other fasteners, such as rivets and pins are also suitable. In the exemplary embodiment, the pivot fastener 505 is a stainless steel UNC 10-24×⅝ inch machine screw.

With continued reference to FIGS. 5 and 8a, a pivot washer 506 of appropriate size to fit the countersunk recess 503 of the cup magnet assembly 500 provides a smooth bearing surface between the pivot fastener 505 and the magnet 502. The pivot fastener 505, washer 506, countersunk recess 503, and T-nut 507 comprise an assembly for pivoting and swiveling the cup magnet assembly 500 with respect to the footwear assembly 300. During maneuvers such as jumping, the pivot fastener 505 acts in tension 802 at the radial center of the cup magnet assembly 500 to provide an upward tensile force 802. The magnet enclosure 501 distributes this force evenly across the magnetic contact area with ferromagnetic region 701 which results in maximal attractive force 800 between the rider and the board 100.

FIGS. 6a and 6b show orthogonal top views of embodiments of the pivot plate 600, while FIG. 6c shows a side view of the pivot plate 600. In the exemplary embodiment, the pivot plate 600 is made of polypropylene. Other plastic, resin-based fiber-reinforced polymer materials which can be thermoformed or injection molded into the curved shape depicted in FIG. 6c, are also suitable. Metallic materials may also be suitable. The pivot plate 600 features an upward lateral curve 604 at a first end, a rise 605 at an interim, and a medial curve 606 at a second end. The rise 605 follows the contour of a user's midfoot. The plate 600 fixes the position of the cup magnet assembly 500 and prevents it from rolling or sliding relative to a user's foot. This is an important aspect to the user who must be able to place their foot consistently without visually identifying the position of magnet assembly 500 relative to the board-plate 700.

When the user stands on the sports board 100 using the binding system of the present invention, the pivot plate 600 partially distributes the user's weight across an area larger than the magnet assembly 500 mitigating any point loading or discomfort the foot may experience.

While the embodiment of the pivot plate 600 in FIG. 5 is depicted as embedded between the shell 301B and liner 401, other embodiments of the pivot plate 600 may comprise different locations, shapes, or sizes as tailored to the user and the sport. In embodiments used with other footwear, the pivot plate 600 may be shaped to follow the contours of the other footwear.

Referring to FIG. 6b, the pivot plate 600 may have additional tapered regions 602 or recessed channels 603 in order to alter the flexure of the pivot plate 600. During maneuvering, the user's foot, via footwear assembly 300, imparts a leveraging force or torque 805 onto the magnet assembly 500, effecting separation of magnet assembly 500 from ferromagnetic region 701 of the board-plate assembly 700. The ease of separation of the magnet 505 from the ferromagnetic region 701 of the board-plate assembly 700 can be tailored by increasing or decreasing the rigidity of the pivot plate 600 and/or increasing or decreasing the degree of coupling between the pivot fastener 505 and the footwear assembly 300. Increasing pivot plate rigidity and/or pivot fastener to footwear coupling results in easier separation between the user and the board.

Referring to FIG. 7, a top view of the board-plate assembly 700 is depicted. The ferromagnetic region 701 and the transition ring 702 which comprise the board-plate assembly 700 are affixed to the topdeck 101 of the sports board 100 via double sided adhesive tape 705. A very high-bond double-sided, pressure-sensitive, closed-cell acrylic foam adhesive tape such as 3M No. 5952 is preferred in surfing applications. Alternatively, the board-plate assembly 700 may be affixed using epoxy or other suitable adhesive.

Tapes suitable for use in the present invention should be water resilient and provide high shear and peel adhesion while conformably filling the gap between the board-plate assembly 700 and topdeck 101 as shown in FIGS. 8a and 8b. The tape should have good viscoelastic properties that assist in mitigating impacts occurring atop the board-plate assembly 700 from propagating to the sports board 100. The tape must also translate the planarity of the board-plate assembly 700 to the usually curved or sometimes damaged topdeck 101 found on many sports boards. 3M No. 5952 double-sided adhesive tape is a commercially available tape that meets the above requirements. The dimensions and properties of the double-sided adhesive tape 705 may vary based on the size, shape, material, and type of sports board 100.

The ferromagnetic region 701 is the magnetically attractive region of the board-plate assembly 700. In the exemplary embodiment, the ferromagnetic region 701 comprises a stainless steel plate. Stainless steel ferromagnetic materials have a limited magnetic permeability and can saturate given the high magnetic flux provided by the magnet assembly 500. The strength of the magnetic attractive force may be altered by adjusting the thickness of the plate or the amount of ferromagnetic material. The magnetic attractive force profile can be altered by removing material from a region 711 via holes, blind holes, channels, serrated or scalloped edges, and/or tapering in thickness. This profile can aid the user in positioning their foot at the optimal location. The ferromagnetic region 701 is preferably stadium shaped, meaning an oblong figure formed by joining two semicircles to opposite ends of a rectangle. This shape provides a length-wise track for the round shape of the cup magnet assembly 500 to attach and to slide along.

The transition ring 702 encircles the ferromagnetic region 701 and provides a smooth ramp to the topdeck 101 of the sports board 100. In some embodiments, the transition ring 702 comprises a flat region 703 adjacent to the ferromagnetic region 701, a downward sloped convex region 704, and a tapered region 706 to provide a flush contact region to the topdeck 101. The transition ring 702 conforms to the complex shape of the topdeck 101 yet provides rigid support to a rider's weight. If the magnet assembly 500 slides partially off the ferromagnetic region 701 and partially onto the flat region 703, it is displaced in a planar fashion with respect to the ferromagnetic region 701 without the magnet assembly 500 tilting away from the ferromagnetic region 701.

With reference to FIG. 8b, the transition ring 702, may optionally further include a ridge 811 as a captive feature to limit the lateral sliding action of the magnet assembly 500 along the ferromagnetic region 701 to prevent inadvertent lateral release of the user from the board. This ridge 811 may be a raised portion of the transition ring 702 between regions 703 and 704. When lateral force 801 causes the magnet assembly 500 to slide, the ridge 811 provides a mechanical stop when the magnet enclosure 501 slides up against it.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ferromagnetic region 701 is an approximately 2×8×0.062 inch series 400 stainless steel plate, the transition ring 702 is approximately a 4×10×0.062 inch semi-rigid acrylic-polyvinyl chloride plastic (Kydex) thermoformed ring encircling the ferromagnetic region 701 measuring 1 inch from an inner edge to an outer edge, and the tape 705 comprises two strips sized 1×9×0.045 inch that binds both the ferromagnetic region 701 and the transition ring 702 to the sports board 100. In some embodiments, the thickness of each component is variable. For example, in some embodiments, the thickness of the stainless steel plate may range from 0.030 to 0.187 inches, the thickness of the transition ring may range from 0.030 to 0.187 inches, and the thickness of the tape 705 may range from 0.005 to 0.080 inches.

FIG. 8a shows a transversal cross sectional view of an embodiment of the footwear assembly 300 and board-plate assembly 700 to illustrate the forces and degrees of freedom possible through embodiments of the present invention. These affect a user's mobility when wearing the footwear assembly 300 in attaching and detaching, pivoting, or sliding along the boardplate assembly 700.

The board-plate assembly 700 is shown spanning the curved topdeck 101 which is common to many sports boards 100. Used boards often have an uneven topdeck 101 due to compression damage caused by the user stepping upon the board. This damage is concentrated near and often accentuates the height of the stringer 102. The thickness and placement of tape 705 creates a recessed region 810 which spans the stringer 102 and protects the stringer from damage and levels the board-plate across the topdeck 101. Board-plate assembly 700 comprises a means of affixing a magnetic binding region to a user's board 100 while mitigating board damage or protuberance.

With continued reference to FIG. 8a, during jumping maneuvers, a user's foot generates upward tensile force 802 in the fastener 505. This force is distributed evenly around the periphery of the magnet enclosure 501 to the ferromagnetic region 701 through magnetic attractive force 800. Force 802 passes through the tape 705 to the topdeck 101. When the tensile force 802 is less than the magnetic force 800, a binding action occurs between foot assembly 300 and the user's board and the footwear assembly 300 remains magnetically attached to the board-plate assembly 700, and thus the user remains coupled to the sports board 100. This mechanism comprises a means of binding a user's foot to the user's board 100 up to the magnetic attractive force 800. When the upward tensile force 802 is greater than the magnetic attractive force 800, the magnet assembly 500 and consequently footwear assembly 300 detach or decouple from the board-plate assembly 700, which results in the user being separated or decoupled from the sports board 100.

In addition to vertical attachment and detachment, it is possible for a user to slide the footwear assembly 300 along or off the boardplate assembly 700. Static friction is created between magnet enclosure 501 and ferromagnetic region 701 as a result of the combination of the magnetic attractive force 800 and the user's body weight. The coefficient of static friction can be altered by surface finishing the magnet enclosure 501, ferromagnetic region 701 or transition ring 702 with either a smoother or rougher surface. The user may impart a tensile force 802 in combination with a lateral force 801 to reduce and overcome the static friction. If the user creates sufficient lateral force 801 to exceed the static friction between the cup magnet assembly 500 and ferromagnetic region 701 and transition ring 702, a sliding action will occur. This sliding movement is important in repositioning a user's foot along the boardplate assembly 700. If the sliding of the magnet assembly 500 continues beyond the extent of the ferromagnetic region 701, the magnet assembly 500 will separate from the ferromagnetic region 701 releasing the user from the sports board 100.

A user may also detach the footwear assembly 300 from the board-plate assembly 700 through the use of torque. The design of the pivot plate 600, pivot fastener 505, and the cup magnet assembly 500 allow the pivot plate 600 and pivot fastener 505 to work as a class 2 lever on the cup magnet assembly 500. As shown in FIG. 8a, when the pivot plate 600 has an angle 803 beyond a threshold angle, one end of the pivot plate 600 makes contact with the magnet assembly 500 to create a fulcrum region 804. The user's foot then begins to impart a torque 805 which is amplified through mechanical advantage. When the force 802 due to the torque 805 exceeds the magnetic attractive force 800, the magnet assembly 500 separates from the ferromagnetic region 701.

The footwear assembly 300 comprising the shell assembly 301A, pivot plate 600, pivot fastener 505, and magnet assembly 500 used with the board-plate assembly 700 allows dynamic and yet secure contact between a user and his board 100 while pivoting and controlling the sports board 100. The release mechanisms of sliding, vertical release, or torque release provide superior convenience, control, and safety.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention have been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A magnetic binding system for sports boards comprising:

a. a footwear assembly, comprising, i. a shell assembly, the shell assembly including a topstrap, a backstrap, and fasteners; ii. a pivot plate connected to the shell assembly at a location corresponding to an arch of a user's foot; iii. a cup magnet assembly connected to the pivot plate by a pivot fastener;

b. a board-plate assembly, wherein the board-plate assembly comprises: i. a ferromagnetic region, wherein the ferromagnetic region is stadium shaped; ii. a transition plate circumscribing the ferromagnetic region; and iii. an adhesive to adhere the ferromagnetic region and the transition plate to a sports board;

c. wherein the cup magnet assembly and the ferromagnetic region are mutually attractive to maintain contact between the footwear assembly and the board-plate assembly; and

d. whereby a user wearing the footwear assembly may removably couple the footwear assembly from the board-plate assembly through lateral sliding, vertical lift, or torque rotation.

2. The magnetic binding system of claim 1, wherein the cup magnet assembly comprises a magnet enclosure, a permanent magnet, a radial gap, and a countersunk hole.

3. The magnetic binding system of claim 2, wherein the pivot plate comprises an upward lateral curve at a first end, a rise at an interim, and a medial curve at a second end, whereby a shape of the pivot plate follows a contour of a user's midfoot.

4. The magnetic binding system of claim 3, wherein the pivot plate further comprises recessed channels, whereby the recessed channels increase flexure of the pivot plate.

5. The magnetic binding system of claim 4, wherein the transition plate further comprises ridges raised above the ferromagnetic region, whereby the ridges form a boundary to prevent the cup magnet assembly from sliding off the ferromagnetic region.

6. A magnetic binding system for sports boards comprising:

a. a footwear assembly comprising: i. a shell assembly; ii. a pivot plate connected to the shell assembly at a location corresponding to an arch of a user's foot; and iii. a magnet connected to the pivot plate by a pivot fastener;

b. a board-plate assembly comprising: i. a ferromagnetic region; and ii. a transition plate;

c. wherein the magnet and the ferromagnetic region are mutually attractive to maintain contact between the footwear assembly and the board-plate assembly; and

d. whereby a user wearing the footwear assembly may quickly attach and detach from the board-plate assembly.

7. The magnetic binding system of claim 6, wherein the magnet is a cup magnet assembly comprising a magnet enclosure, a permanent magnet, a radial gap, and a countersunk hole.

8. The magnetic binding system of claim 7, wherein the pivot fastener is fastened to the pivot plate on a first end and is pivotally connected to the cup magnet assembly at a second end, whereby a user wearing the footwear assembly may freely rotate the shell and pivot plate while the cup magnet assembly remains firmly attached to the board-plate assembly.

9. The magnetic binding system of claim 8, wherein if the pivot plate exceeds a threshold angle in relation to the cup magnet assembly, the pivot plate makes contact with the cup magnet assembly at a fulcrum region, such that the pivot fastener and pivot plate act as a lever on the cup magnet assembly that causes torque to separate the cup magnet assembly from the ferromagnetic region.

10. The magnetic binding system of claim 9, wherein the pivot fastener is connected to the pivot plate near the peak of the medial longitudinal arch of a user's foot.

11. The magnetic binding system of claim 10, wherein the shell assembly includes a shell, a topstrap, first and second backstraps and hook and loop fasteners, whereby the topstrap, first and second backstraps and hook and loop fasteners serve to attach the footwear assembly to a user's foot.

12. The magnetic binding system of claim 11, wherein the pivot plate is contoured so that the pivot plate comprises an upward lateral curve at a first end, a rise at an interim, and a medial curve at a second end, whereby the curves follow the contour of a user's midfoot.

13. The magnetic binding system of claim 12, wherein the pivot plate further comprises recessed channels, whereby the recessed channels increase the flexure of the pivot plate.

14. The magnetic binding system of claim 13, wherein the ferromagnetic region is stadium shaped, whereby the cup magnet assembly magnetically attached to the ferromagnetic region slides along the ferromagnetic region when a lateral force is applied to the cup magnet assembly that is greater than a static friction between the ferromagnetic region and the cup magnet assembly.

15. The magnetic binding system of claim 14, wherein the transition plate further comprises ridges raised above the ferromagnetic region, whereby the ridges form a boundary to prevent the cup magnet assembly from sliding off the ferromagnetic region.

16. The magnetic binding system of claim 15, wherein the boardplate assembly further comprises an adhesive, whereby the boardplate assembly is secured to a sports board using the adhesive and is removable without damage to the sports board.

17. A magnetic binding system for sports boards comprising:

a. a footwear assembly including, i. a pivot member attached to a bottom of the footwear assembly; ii. a magnet attached to the pivot plate; and

b. a board-plate assembly comprising: i. a ferromagnetic region; and ii. a transition plate.

c. wherein the magnet and the ferromagnetic region are mutually attractive to maintain contact between the footwear assembly and the board-plate assembly.

18. The magnetic binding system of claim 17, wherein the ferromagnetic region is a shaped ferromagnetic plate.

19. The magnetic binding system of claim 18, wherein the magnet is a cup magnet assembly comprising a magnet enclosure, permanent magnet, a radial gap, and a hole, wherein the footwear assembly further comprises a pivot fastener to connect the pivot plate to the cup magnet assembly through the hole.

20. The magnetic binding system of claim 19, wherein the pivot plate comprises a plastic or metallic material formed to a shape of an arch of a user's foot.