Abstract:
A retainer strap of flexible material, preferably cloth of elastic or non-elastic material, has a pair of loops at least one of which acts as a stirrup-like structure around the foot of the user, the retainer strap fitting around a surfboard tether ankle strap in order to fix the surfboard ankle strap in a direction extending from the foot of the user which direction is preferred by the user.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a device, e.g. a surfboard tether ankle retainer, for maintaining a surfboard tether ankle strap or the like in a proper or desired orientation, particularly during use of the surfboard. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    Surfboard tether ankle straps are well known. These straps are provided with a loop for placement over the foot and then around the ankle of the surfboarder to retain the surfboard connected to the surfboarder after completion of the surfboard run, e.g. particularly if the surfboarder falls off the board in order to retain the surfboard. An annoying problem is that the loop of the surfboard tether ankle strap often does not stay in the radial position which the surfboarder finds most comfortable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    One object of the present invention is to solve or at least minimize the above noted problem. In one form, the present invention involves a strap which is constructed to keep the surfboard tether ankle strap in the orientation preferred by the surfboarder, basically comprising a strap composed of two end loops and an intermediate part connecting the two end loops. In another form, the retainer involves a surf board tether ankle strap with a tether ankle strap permanently sewn thereto to keep the surfboard tether ankle strap in the orientation provided by the surfboarder. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of a device according to the present invention. 
           [0005]      FIGS. 2-4  are schematic representations of such a first retainer device in place on a surfboarder. 
           [0006]      FIG. 5  shows a second embodiment of a device according to the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIGS. 6-8  are schematic representations of such a second retainer device in place on a surfboarder. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    The retainer device of the present invention is a strap ( 10 ) comprising an intermediate section and two loops ( 14 ) and ( 16 ) at the ends thereof. The sizes may vary with different lengths of the intermediate section ( 12 ) and different sizes of the end loops ( 14 ) and ( 16 ). 
         [0009]    In one embodiment thereof, the retainer strap ( 10 ) is made of stretch material or stretch or non-stretch fabric of about 7 inches in total length, adapted to serve a surfboarder of medium size, with the width of the strap ( 10 ) being desirably 1 to 2 inches. In this embodiment, the two loops ( 14 ) and ( 16 ), which need not necessarily be of the same size, are each about 2 to 2.5 inches in length, with central intermediate section ( 12 ) also being a length of about 2 to 2.5 inches. 
         [0010]    In use, the surfboarder first places the surf board tether ankle strap ( 18 ) about his or her ankle in the usual way, with the tether ( 20 ) pointing in the direction which the surfboarder finds most comfortable, e.g. that 2 o&#39;clock position as shown in  FIG. 3 . The surfboarder then places his or her foot through the first loop ( 14 ) of the retainer ( 10 ) pulling it up to and around the tether ankle strap ( 18 ) to anchor the tether ankle strap ( 18 ) in the desired orientation, the user&#39;s foot having gone through the second loop ( 16 ) which encircles the foot as shown schematically in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , as well as the bottom view of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0011]    The retainer strap ( 10 ) of the present invention enables a surfboard tether ankle strap ( 18 ) to be placed or threaded through the loops ( 14 ) and ( 16 ) of the retainer ( 10 ) with the ankle strap ( 18 ) between the two loops extending down from one loop (e.g.  14 ), under the foot of the person wearing the surfboard tether ankle strap ( 18 ), and up to the other loop (e.g.  16 ), in a manner similar to the lower portion of a saddle boot stirrup. When placed in position, the retainer strap ( 10 ) of the present invention will prevent or at least inhibit the surf board tether ankle strap ( 18 ) from moving around the ankle of the surfboarder to an undesired or uncomfortable position. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment as shown in  FIG. 5 , the surfboard tether ankle retainer ( 1 ) includes a foot retainer strap ( 10 ) and a surfboard tether ankle strap ( 18 ). 
         [0013]    The surfboard tether ankle strap ( 18 ) is a strap having connecting means ( 16   a,    16   b ) at its two ends. The connection means ( 16   a,    16   b ) can be Velcro, a buckle, or any other suitable means. The length and width of the surfboard tether ankle strap ( 18 ) are so determined to comfortably circle around the surfboarder&#39;s ankle. Further, the surfboard tether ankle strap ( 18 ) also connects either permanently at its middle portion or removably/attachably at its middle portion to a tether ( 20 ) of a surfboard (not shown). Or the tether ( 20 ) can be a short strap connectable to a longer surfboard tether. In one embodiment, the tether may be an extension of the foot strap retainer ( 10 ) extending through a slot in the tether ankle strap ( 18 ). 
         [0014]    In a preferred embodiment, the foot strap retainer ( 10 ) also includes two ends ( 10   a,    10   b ), which are respectively sown to two different locations of the surfboard tether ankle strap ( 18 ), so that when the connecting means ( 16   a,    16   b ) are connected to each other to a circle, the two ends ( 10   a,    10   b ) of the foot strap ( 10 ) are opposite to each other and the foot strap ( 10 ) crosses over the circle of the surfboard tether ankle strap ( 18 ) like an arch bridge. 
         [0015]    Further, the foot strap ( 10 ) is made of stretch material or fabric of about 2 to 2.5 inches in total length, adapted to serve a surfboarder of medium size, with the width of the foot strap ( 10 ) being desirably 1 to 2 inches. 
         [0016]    In use, the surfboarder first opens the connection means ( 16   a,    16   b ) and places the foot strap ( 10 ) under his/her foot close to his/her heel, as shown in  FIG. 7 , and then places the surf board tether ankle strap ( 18 ) about his/her ankle in the usual way and connects the connection means ( 16   a,    16   b ). 
         [0017]    The surfboard tether ankle retainer of the present invention holds a surfboarder around his/her heel and ankle. The foot strap ( 10 ) is desirably permanently attached to the surfboard tether ankle strap ( 18 ) on each side of the wear&#39;s foot. Because the tether ( 20 ) is also permanently connected to the surfboard tether ankle strap ( 18 ), this makes the surfboard tether ankle strap ( 18 ) and the angle of the tether ( 20 ) to the surf board permanent. When placed in position, the foot strap ( 10 ) of the present invention will prevent or at least inhibit the surfboard tether ankle strap ( 18 ) from moving around the ankle of the surfboarder to an undesired or uncomfortable position. 
         [0018]    Other options in accordance with the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art after reaching the present disclosure.