U.S. patent application number 12/576189 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-04 for magnetic method and apparatus for increasing foot traction on sports boards.
Invention is credited to Theodore J. Flaig.
Application Number | 20100025967 12/576189 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41607536 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100025967 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Flaig; Theodore J. |
February 4, 2010 |
MAGNETIC METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INCREASING FOOT TRACTION ON
SPORTS BOARDS
Abstract
A sports board binding and foot traction apparatus for use in
sports boards such as surfboard, skateboard, wakeboards, and the
like. The apparatus includes a sports board having a deck and a
bottom and at least one cutout box disposed in one or both of the
deck and bottom. One or more permanent magnets is disposed and
retained in one or more of the cutout boxes to form a magnetic
region on the deck of the board. An article of sports footwear
having a sole is provided, and a ferromagnetic plate is disposed in
at lest a portion of each footwear sole. When the footwear is
brought into proximity with the magnetic field, a binding force is
applied to the footwear and the wearer is thereby enabled to
manipulate the sports board in ways not possible without the
inventive apparatus.
Inventors: |
Flaig; Theodore J.; (Fort
Bragg, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STAINBROOK & STAINBROOK, LLP
412 AVIATION BOULEVARD, SUITE H
SANTA ROSA
CA
95403
US
|
Family ID: |
41607536 |
Appl. No.: |
12/576189 |
Filed: |
October 8, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11370348 |
Mar 7, 2006 |
7338067 |
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12576189 |
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12041579 |
Mar 3, 2008 |
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11370348 |
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60659450 |
Mar 7, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
280/612 ;
36/114 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C 10/10 20130101;
B63B 32/35 20200201; B63B 32/00 20200201; A63C 5/128 20130101; B63B
32/45 20200201; A63C 10/12 20130101; A63C 5/03 20130101; A63C 10/18
20130101; B63B 2231/30 20130101; A63C 10/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/612 ;
36/114 |
International
Class: |
A63C 9/00 20060101
A63C009/00; A43B 5/00 20060101 A43B005/00 |
Claims
1. A sports board binding and foot traction apparatus, comprising:
a sports board having a deck for placement of a user's feet during
use and a bottom which faces the ground and/or water during use,
said sports board including at least one cutout box disposed in
either or both of said deck and said bottom, each of said at least
one cutout boxes including a receptacle portion for placement of at
least one magnet; retention means for retaining said magnets in
said receptacle portion; at least one magnet disposed in each of
said at least one cutout boxes; one or more permanent magnets
disposed in at least one of said receptacle portions and captured
and retained in said cutout box by said retention means; at least
one article of sports footwear having a sole; and a ferromagnetic
element disposed in said sole.
2. The sports board binding and foot traction apparatus of claim 1,
wherein said magnet includes through holes and said retention means
comprises screws disposed through each of said through holes so as
to threadably insert into said receptacle portion.
3. The sports board binding and foot traction apparatus of claim 2,
wherein said cutout boxes are disposed in said bottom.
4. The sports board binding and foot traction apparatus of claim 2,
wherein said cutout boxes are disposed in said deck.
5. The sports board binding and foot traction apparatus of claim 2,
wherein said cutout boxes are disposed in said bottom said and in
said deck.
6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said sports board is selected
from the group consisting of surfboard, skateboard, snowboard,
windsurfing board, windsailing board, and kitesurfing board.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said footwear is selected from
the group consisting of wetsuit bootie, sports sandal, skate shoe,
general athletic shoe, and tennis shoe.
8. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said ferromagnetic plate is
incorporated into the sole of said footwear.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said footwear is a sandal and
said ferromagnetic element is sewn into the sole of said
sandal.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said footwear is a sandal and
said ferromagnetic plate is incorporated into the sole of said
sandal.
11. An article of footwear for providing magnetic traction on a
sports board having a magnetic binding system, comprising: a sole
having at least one permanent magnet incorporated therein; an upper
portion having a plurality of fabric straps with loops at their
upper ends; a continuous tie string threaded through said loops; an
adjustment buckle through which the ends of said continuous tie
string is threaded.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 11/370,348, now U.S. Pat. No.
7,338,067, issued Mar. 4, 2008 (Mar. 4, 2008), and a
continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
12/041,579, filed Mar. 3, 2008 (Mar. 3, 2008).
SEQUENCE LISTING
[0002] Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0003] Not applicable.
THE NAMES OR PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT
[0004] Not applicable.
INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT
DISC
[0005] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0006] 1. Field of the Invention
[0007] The present invention relates generally to sports boards,
such as skateboard, surfboards, snowboards, windsurfing boards,
kitesurfing boards, wakeboards, and the like, and more particularly
to binding methods and methods of providing foot traction on such
boards.
[0008] 2. Discussion of Related Art
[0009] The 2006 Winter Olympics brought a high level of world
attention to the growing popularity of board sports. In the case of
the Olympic Games, the prominent sport was snow boarding, but with
only a little attention to the commentary and interviews with the
athletes, it became obvious that the favored off season sport of
snow boarders was skateboarding. These sports, along with a rapidly
growing number of alternatives to mainstream sports, are coming to
be known as "extreme sports." They include such things as rock
climbing, windsurfing, kite surfing, snowboarding, snow skating,
in-line skating, roller hockey, women's hockey, skateboarding,
motocross racing, freestyle BMX bike riding, technical
canyoneering, whitewater kayaking, base jumping, base jumping with
flying suits, sky surfing, and so on. The broad embrace of such
"thrill" sports appears to be tracking the more general cultural
practice of aesthetic self-fashioning, and as that culture matures,
a culture in which death is increasingly regarded as remote and
unlikely (due to sophisticated medical practices and increased life
spans) yet more real and dreadful (due to skepticism and
diminishing religious belief), brushes with death are all the more
compelling. And so it is that youth now more dramatically than ever
pushes the boundaries of the possible, challenges life (and death),
and performs remarkable and beautiful feats in the process.
[0010] Interestingly, participants in extreme sports also demand
the best in equipment. Whole industries thrive on providing
stronger, lighter, faster, more durable, and better performing
gear. This is certainly the case for binding methods for snow
boards, windsurfing boards, skis, and the like. Recent
contributions to the field of binding methods are far too numerous
to list and describe. But a few developments in the field of
magnetic binding apparatus are of note.
[0011] For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,960,383, to O'Neil, teaches a
ski-binding system including front and rear coupling units attached
a ski and cooperating boot attachments of magnetically sensitive
material. Each unit includes magnetics such that when a ski boot
provided with the attachments is positioned between the units, the
boot is secured by the magnetic attraction between the boot
attachments and the magnetic units. As a first instance of magnetic
binding methods, the cleverness of the '383 patent is undeniable,
but its practical utility is almost entirely restricted to use on
skis, as the binding units are bulky, fixed, and work only with
relative rigid boots.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,357, to Golling, discloses a snow boot
and binding system for snow skiing or snow boarding in which only
magnetic forces are used to affix the snow boot to the ski or
snow-board. The system comprises three components, namely, a
support base in ski or snow board, a foot enclosure assembly, and
release means connected to the foot enclosure assembly for
releasably interconnecting the foot enclosure assembly with the
support base. The support base has spaced-apart recesses within
which are mounted magnets, either singly or in an array. the foot
enclosure comprises a snow boot having metal plates affixed to the
lower surface and the back of the snow boot. The release means
essentially comprises a lever system for prying the boot off the
support base through moving a cam handle. While this system allows
for selective placement of the user's feet on the sports board, it
entails the use of rigid boots and so is truly suitable only for
snow boards, but not for skateboards, surfboards, wakeboards, and
other sports boards used with free feet.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,192 to Bryce shows a binding apparatus
for use with sports boards such as skate boards, which includes two
knobs integral with the top of the board and which insert into
matching recesses in each of the user's shoes. The knob may include
a compression ring or the knob and shoes may include cooperating
magnets that hold the two together up to a predetermined breakaway
force. The limitation of this method is that the user's feet are
fixed at the position of the knobs.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 6,863,583 to Takahashi, discloses a surfboard
having a magnetic region made of permanent magnets, which is, in
turn, covered by a foot pad, and to which a surfer is secured
through shoes having ferromagnetic material included in the soles.
The inventive principles in the '583 patent providing the launch
point for the novel improvements of the present invention, in that
the '583 patent does not teach or disclose any means for
interchanging, adjusting, and selectively removing the magnetic
region in the sports board.
[0015] The foregoing patents reflect the current state of the art
of which the present inventor is aware. Reference to, and
discussion of, these patents is intended to aid in discharging
Applicant's acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information
that may be relevant to the examination of claims to the present
invention. However, it is respectfully submitted that none of the
above-indicated patents disclose, teach, suggest, show, or
otherwise render obvious, either singly or when considered in
combination, the invention described and claimed herein.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] In a first preferred embodiment, the present invention is a
magnetic sports board binding and foot traction apparatus. In its
most essential aspect, the inventive apparatus comprises one or
more magnet holding receptacles disposed in or slightly below
either the upper surface (on which a user stands) or lower
(ground-facing or water-facing surface) of a sports board, each
receptacle having a ferromagnetic bar disposed in or under at least
a portion of the bottom of the receptacle. Permanent magnets are
selectively placed into the one or more receptacles and each bind
to the ferromagnetic bar, holding them firmly in place even during
the most violent of sports activities. The insertion of the
magnet(s) into the receptacles thus forms a magnetic region on the
surface of the sports board. The sports board user is then provided
with footwear having a ferromagnetic plate affixed to, or
incorporated into, at least a portion of the sole of the footwear.
Accordingly, when the user mounts the sports board and brings his
or her foot into proximity with the magnetic region of the sports
board, footing and traction are enhanced.
[0017] In the first preferred embodiment, the magnet holding
receptacles are formed in a magnet holding box, preferably
polycarbonate, which may be formed into the sports board at the
time of manufacture or placed into a recess (or cutout) cut into
the board for a retrofit installation. The magnet holding box
provides magnet holding receptacles in an ordered array according
to the kind of footwork anticipated during board use. In this
embodiment, the permanent magnets are preferably cylindrical disks
having finger or tool gripping means on their upper surfaces so
that they can be easily lowered into and pulled out of the magnet
holding receptacles. In this fashion, the magnetic region of the
sports board can be precisely tailored to the wants and needs of
the user by employing a very specific magnet or combination of
magnets that create the desired holding power.
[0018] In a second preferred embodiment, the inventive apparatus
includes a cutout or recess formed in a sports board, and a cutout
box configured to accommodate and capture either a bar-type magnet
or a box containing one or more magnets. Retention apparatus is
provided to hold the magnet and/or the magnet holding box in the
board in such a way that the possibility of loss during use is
reduced essentially to zero.
[0019] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a new and improved sports board binding and foot traction
apparatus.
[0020] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
new and improved sports board binding and foot traction apparatus
that employs magnets alone as the binding force.
[0021] A further object or feature of the present invention is a
new and improved sports board binding and foot traction apparatus
that enables a rapid change in the binding force provided by the
magnets so that different safety and/or performance requirements
can be addressed.
[0022] An even further object of the present invention is to
provide a novel sports board binding and foot traction apparatus
that can be selectively used or eliminated entirely when so desired
by the user.
[0023] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide
attractive and functional sports board footwear having magnets
incorporated into the footwear sole and thus suitable for use in a
magnetic sports board binding system of the kind described
herein.
[0024] Other novel features which are characteristic of the
invention, as to organization and method of operation, together
with further objects and advantages thereof will be better
understood from the following description considered in connection
with the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of
the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be
expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for
illustration and description only and are not intended as a
definition of the limits of the invention. The various features of
novelty that characterize the invention are pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this
disclosure. The invention does not reside in any one of these
features taken alone, but rather in the particular combination of
all of its structures for the functions specified.
[0025] There has thus been broadly outlined the more important
features of the invention in order that the detailed description
thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that
the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
There are, of course, additional features of the invention that
will be described hereinafter and which will form additional
subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the
art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure
is based readily may be utilized as a basis for the designing of
other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several
purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that
the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the
present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The invention will be better understood and objects other
than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration
is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such
description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structural and
operational elements comprising the inventive magnetic sports board
binding and foot traction apparatus;
[0028] FIG. 2 shows the apparatus of FIG. 1 with footwear placed
over the magnetic region of the sports board;
[0029] FIG. 3 shows the inventive apparatus adapted for use in a
snow board;
[0030] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 3,
showing the foot plate and cylindrical magnets in phantom;
[0031] FIG. 5 is a side view in elevation of the apparatus of FIGS.
3 and 4, taken along section line 5-5 of FIG. 4;
[0032] FIG. 6A is a schematic top plan view showing an alternative
configuration of cutouts in a surfboard for installation of the
cutout boxes, magnets, and/or magnet holding boxes of the magnetic
binding and traction apparatus of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 6B is an exploded schematic side view in elevation
thereof,
[0034] FIG. 7A is an exploded schematic side view showing an
alternative installation scheme for the inventive apparatus;
[0035] FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional side view showing details of a
second preferred embodiment of the magnet holding box and cutout
box;
[0036] FIG. 8 is a schematic top plan view showing an alternative
means for securing the magnetic holding box in the cutout box;
[0037] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing another
alternative means for securing the magnetic holding box in the
cutout box;
[0038] FIG. 10 shows still another way to secure a bar magnet in a
sports board;
[0039] FIG. 11 is a side view in elevation of a first preferred
embodiment of a magnetic sandal adapted for use with the inventive
magnetic sports board binding system;
[0040] FIG. 12A is a top plan view thereof;
[0041] FIG. 12B is a bottom view thereof;
[0042] FIG. 13 is a side view in elevation of a second preferred
embodiment of a magnetic sandal;
[0043] FIG. 14A is a top plan view thereof, and
[0044] FIG. 14B is a bottom view thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0045] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 14B, wherein like reference
numerals refer to like components in the various views, there is
illustrated therein a new and improved magnetic sports board
binding foot traction apparatus, generally denominated 100
herein.
[0046] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first preferred embodiment of the
inventive apparatus as employed for use in a surfboard. These views
show that in a first preferred embodiment the binding and foot
traction of the present invention comprises one or more magnet
holding receptacles 110, 120, 130, disposed in a magnet holding box
210 for placement in a recess 220 in the deck or top side of a
sports board, in this instance a surfboard. The receptacles may be
arranged in a linear array or in any other arrangement suited to
the kind of footwork anticipated by the user or common to the
sport. The receptacles are open at the top before insertion of
magnets and preferably remain open and after insertion. At least a
portion of the base or bottom of the receptacles, or the space
immediately below the base of the receptacles, includes
ferromagnetic material, such as a ferromagnetic bar 140 extending
between and under the receptacles. In this manner, the receptacle
bottoms provide a member to which magnets may bind.
[0047] The next element in the inventive apparatus comprises one or
more permanent magnets, 150, 160, 170, which are disposed in the
magnet holding receptacles. The magnets are preferably either
ceramic (strontium ferrite) magnets, rare earth magnets, or
aluminum/nickel/cobalt (Alnico) magnets. Even more preferably, the
magnets may be samarium cobalt magnets, nickel plated and unplated
neodymium magnets, and/or neodymium-iron-boron magnets. The choice
will be largely driven by the desired holding power, the mass of
the magnet suitable for use, and costs. No matter what kind of
magnet is selected, it is shaped and sized for a close fit
insertion into one of the receptacles. A preferred shape, then, of
both receptacle and magnet is that of a cylindrical plug, as
illustrated. The desired holding power, in turn, will be driven by
the weight of the user, the forces encountered during performance,
and the degree to which the user wishes to be bound to the board or
to be free to move and reposition his or her feet. Indeed, because
a user may wish to fine tune the binding power provided in the
magnetic region of the board, the magnets are preferably fabricated
with grips or handles 180, 190, 200 integrated into or attached to
their upper surfaces. These will allow the user to pull the magnets
out of the receptacles using either fingers or a simple tool
adapted for such use. In the alternative, the upper surface of the
magnets can be kept entirely planar so that holding power is not in
any respect compromised, and a tool, such as a hand held magnet
with an attached handle, or ferromagnetic block having a handle. In
either case, the magnet removing tool need only have an attractive
force stronger than that of the ferromagnetic material disposed in
the magnet holding receptacle, such that upon placing it over a
magnet disposed in a receptacle, the magnet will bind to the tool
and can then be lifted out of the receptacle. Replacement of
magnets does not require the use of any tool. Rather, a new magnet
may be dropped into a receptacle using fingers only. In this
manner, the presence, the shape, and the strength of the magnetic
field produced by the magnets can be nicely fit to the user and his
or her demands.
[0048] As will be readily appreciated, the magnet holding
receptacles may be incorporated or integrated in the sports board
itself at the time of manufacture, or they may be installed as part
of a magnet holding box 210 disposed in a cutout 220 formed in an
already manufactured board 230.
[0049] The next element in the inventive apparatus is a
ferromagnetic plate 240 affixed to or incorporated into footwear
250 to be worn by the board user. The footwear may be a wetsuit
bootie, a sports sandal, tennis shoe, skate shoe, and the like.
Accordingly, the plate may be sewn into the fabric of a wetsuit
bootie, molded into the sole of a skate shoe or sports sandal, or
otherwise affixed by adhesives, rivets, or other fastening devices.
Because of the power of the permanent magnets, the ferromagnetic
plate need not be so thick that it interferes with natural foot
movement. Preferably it is positioned generally near the ball of
the foot, though, again, it may be sized and positioned according
to the particular wants and needs of the user.
[0050] FIGS. 3-5 show an alternative embodiment of the inventive
apparatus, adapted for use in a snow board 300. The inventive
elements and principles are identical to the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 1-2, except that the magnet holding receptacles 310 are
incorporated into the snow board, as are the ferromagnetic bars 320
at the base of the receptacles. The permanent magnets 330 may be
removably installed in the receptacles, and include grips on the
upper surfaces for easy swapping and changing. A relatively large
ferromagnetic plate 340 is disposed in the sole of the snow board
boot 350. As will be understood, the safety and performance
requirements for use of the inventive system in a snow board differ
dramatically from those for use in a surfboard. In the latter, the
user may wish considerable latitude to move his or her feet, and
detachment from the board during or after a fall is critical to
prevent drowning. By contrast, a snow boarder wants to remain
effectively fixed to the deck of the snow board and would prefer
not to become detached from the board, even during and after falls.
Accordingly, the combination of magnets and ferromagnetic plate for
use in the snow board may be configured to provide a holding power
of several hundred pounds.
[0051] Thus, in another aspect, the first preferred embodiment of
the inventive apparatus can be conceived of as a sports board foot
traction kit that includes a magnet holding receptacle box having
an upper surface with a number of recesses in the upper surface;
several permanent magnets (preferably of a variety of holding
powers) for selective placement in the recesses; and means for
rapid and easy removal and replacement of the magnets from the
recesses. This portion of the kit can be installed as a retrofit in
a sports board simply by providing a cutout of suitable size in the
upper surface of the board. Footwear having ferromagnetic material
in the shoe sole can then be provided to cooperate with the magnets
to provide traction and binding power.
[0052] Referring next to FIG. 6A, there are shown a schematic top
plan view of an alternative installation scheme 400 for the
magnetic binding and traction apparatus of the present invention
adapted for use in a surfboard 410. FIG. 6B is an exploded
schematic side view in elevation thereof. These views show that the
inventive magnetic binding and traction apparatus need not be
disposed singly, as in FIGS. 1-2, but can be disposed in an array
configuration including a plurality of magnetic holding boxes 420
one each disposed in a cutout 430 in spaced apart positions around
the deck 440 of the surfboard.
[0053] FIG. 7A is an exploded schematic side view showing an
alternative installation scheme for the inventive apparatus in
which the magnetic holding boxes 420 are disposed in the bottom 450
of the surfboard. When so disposed, the permanent magnets will have
to be of considerable strength to provide useful increased
traction, but such strong magnets (even small magnets) are now
readily available in the market place.
[0054] FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional side view showing details of a
second preferred embodiment 500 of the magnetic binding and
traction apparatus of the present invention. In this instance, a
magnet holding box 510 is disposed in a cutout box 520 molded,
formed, or placed into and affixed in the cutout. The magnet
holding box may itself be ferromagnetic--or, stated somewhat
differently, the box itself may be a removable/replaceable cuboid
magnet, and it may be captured and retained in the cutout box by
retainers, such as screws 530 threadably inserted into inwardly
angled threaded holes 540 that align with inwardly angled holes
550, preferably threaded, drilled into the shoulders 560 of the
cutout box 520, which are proximate the surface 570 of the board.
The magnet and/or magnetic holding box is simply placed in the
receptacle portion 580 of the cutout box and the screws threaded
through the holes until they are either flush with the board
surface or slightly countersunk. When magnets of different strength
are desired, the screws are removed and a new box and/or magnets
are installed in the same manner.
[0055] FIGS. 8 and 9 show alternative means for securing a
magnet/magnetic holding box in the cutout box. Referring first to
FIG. 9, in this embodiment, the cutout box 600 includes shoulders
610 that are slightly recessed from the surface 620 of the sports
board. Each shoulder includes a threaded hole 630. One or more
magnets 640, or a magnet holding box that contains one or more
magnets, is placed in the cutout box receptacle 650. A retainer
plate 660 having holes 670 for insertion of screws 680 is placed
over the magnet/magnet holding box and screwed onto the shoulders
where it holds the magnets in place. The retainer plate is
preferably fabricated from a strong transparent polycarbonate or
acrylic material. Removal and replacement of the magnets is a
simple matter of removing the retainer plate and removing or
swapping out the magnet and/or magnet box.
[0056] FIG. 8 shows yet another way of capturing and holding the
magnet box 700. In this instance, rather then using a plate or
angled screws, a spring actuated toggle-type articulating bolt 710
is disposed in the board proximate the edge 720 of the cutout box
receptacle. When a magnet or magnet holding box 700 is disposed in
the cutout box receptacle, the articulating portion 730 of the
toggle bolt is rotated over a channel 740 in the shoulder 750 and
aligned with a channel 760 in the magnet/magnet holding box 700 so
that it snaps downwardly to hold the magnet/magnet holding box and
is brought flush with the surface of the board.
[0057] FIG. 10 shows still another way to secure a bar magnet in
the body of a sports board. The cutout box 800 is slightly recessed
from the surface 820 of the sports board and the magnet 830
includes at least one, and preferably two holes 840 that
accommodate screws 850 to be screwed into a base plate disposed
without the cutout box.
[0058] Beginning with FIGS. 11-12B, there is shown a first
preferred embodiment of an attractive and functional way to
incorporate magnets into an article of sports footwear, in this
instance a sandal, 900, so as to provide a lightweight means of
retaining magnets while keeping the feet suitably free for
swimming. Accordingly, the first preferred embodiment shown herein
is particularly well suited for use in a surfboard magnetic binding
system. The sandal comprises a sole 910 having at least one, and
preferably two, permanent magnets or ferromagnetic plates 920, 930,
incorporated therein. The upper portion of the sandal comprises a
plurality of fabric straps 940 sewn, glued, or otherwise affixed to
the sole and having bends and folds 950 at their upper ends so as
to form loops through which a continuous tie string 960 is
threaded. For convenience, the tie string is threaded at its ends
through an adjustment buckle 970 to eliminate the possibility of
the strings coming untied and to make it simple and easy to put the
sandals on and take them off. An adjustable ankle strap 980 is
fastened by a buckle 990 to secure the sandal on the foot F of a
wearer.
[0059] FIGS. 13-14B show a second preferred embodiment of a sandal
adapted for use with a surfboard or other water sports board, in
this instance comprising a sandal 1000 having a sole 1010 with
either a single metal or bifurcated magnetic disk 1020 that allows
for a bend at the ball of the foot to facilitate comfort while
walking. The upper portion includes a partial fabric last 1030 from
which fabric straps 1040 integrally extend or to which fabric
straps are attached. As in the first preferred embodiment, the
straps include bends forming loops 1050 at their upper ends for
threading a continuous tie string 1060, the ends of which are fed
through an adjustment buckle 1070. An adjustable ankle strap 1080
secures the sandal to the foot F of a wearer.
[0060] The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary
skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best
mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the
inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete
disclosure of the preferred embodiments of this invention, it is
not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction,
dimensional relationships, and operation shown and described.
Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and
equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may
be employed, as suitable, without departing from the true spirit
and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative
materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes,
forms, functions, operational features or the like.
[0061] Therefore, the above description and illustrations should
not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is
defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *