Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a binding for a water recreational device, which comprises a system for lubricating portions thereof to assist the user in inserting his/her foot into the binding. Also disclosed are methods and kits relating to such lubricating binding system.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    Water-skiing is a recreational activity that has been enjoyed worldwide for several decades. Water-skiing is also a professional sport, which has regional and international governing bodies (e.g. USA Water Ski; and International Water Ski Federation). Several different types of water-skiing are commonly recognized and classically include, e.g., slalom, trick, and jumping. Recently, other categories of water-skiing have been developed as a result of the inception of new ski devices, such as the hydroslide and most recently the wakeboard. All of these types of water-skiing have some common components: the water-skier is towed by a boat and the water-skier is positioned on a device that displaces water as the boat tows the water-skier.  
           [0002]    Generally, in most types of water-skiing, the water-skier is secured to the surface of the ski device by a binding. The typical configuration of a binding relates to a two piece construction with a portion of material forming the heel piece and a separate portion of material forming the forefoot piece. The two portions of material are brought adjacent to each other to form a foot socket, whereby the user slides their foot in the top between the two pieces and into the socket. Ski bindings have undergone many improvements over the years. Due to the potentially extreme torsional forces on the foot, ankle, and lower leg of the skier, it is important for the binding to snugly fit the foot of the skier. One augmentation to the ski binding that has been developed and is still preferred today to increase the stability of the skier&#39;s foot and combat these torsional forces is the addition of one or more flaps that wrap around the ankle portion of the binding. Concomitant with this increase in support and stability of the binding is an increase in the difficulty in inserting the skier&#39;s foot into the binding. Typically, the heel enclosure and the tongue of the forefoot enclosure extends upwardly and about the ankle. In most conventional bindings, the top of the heel enclosure and tongue of the forefoot enclosure define holes thereon which facilitate the separation of the two. However, the contact between the top of the heel enclosure and the tongue of the forefoot portion can be so tight that it is often necessary for the skier to apply a lubricant (e.g., liquid soap) in the top of the binding to aid in the insertion of the skier&#39;s foot. Maintaining a container of lubricant in the boat can be a messy inconvenience.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The subject invention pertains to an improvement in ski bindings, wherein the improvement involves the provision of a reservoir for holding a lubricant that is securely attached or integral to the binding. The lubricant can be stored and easily ejected out of the reservoir, through a simple pump and duct mechanism, to the site of need on the binding. Preferably, the reservoir is aerodynamically configured and sized as to minimize interference with the performance of the binding. Preferably still, the pump mechanism is squeezable or depressible by hand.  
           [0004]    Another aspect of the subject invention pertains to a method of facilitating the insertion of a user&#39;s foot into a binding.  
           [0005]    A further aspect pertains to a kit comprising a reservoir for storing a lubricant, fastener for attaching the reservoir to a binding, and instructions for use. Means for attachment can include, but is not limited to, screws, rivets, snaps, hook and loop fabric, and other fasteners. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that fasteners are preferably made from a plastic or rubber type of material, although metals could be used but would not be preferred due to potential for rusting and accidental penetration into the skin.  
           [0006]    These and other advantageous aspects of the subject invention are described in further detail below.  
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 shows a top view of an embodiment of the subject lubricating binding comprising the reservoir for storing and pumping a lubricant.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 shows a rear perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, which illustrates the reservoir being positioned near the opening of the binding (FIG. 2A) and another embodiment which shows the reservoir positioned near the base of the binding (FIG. 2B).  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 shows a top view (FIG. 3A) of a disassembled embodiment illustrating one version of how the reservoir can be snapped into place; and a side view of an embodiment having ducts embedded into the material of the binding. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0010]    The term “lubricant” as used herein refers to any substance or compound that acts to decrease the friction coefficient between two surfaces. Preferred lubricants for use with bindings according to the teachings herein include, but are not limited to, soaps, detergents, creams, oils, jellies or combinations thereof. It is preferred that once the skier has inserted his foot in the binding, the lubricant is easily washed away as the binding is submersed in water. Therefore, preferred substances for the lubricant are liquid soaps.  
         [0011]    The term “binding” as used herein takes on its commonly understood meaning in the art, and refers to any type of structure designed for securing a foot to a water recreational device. Examples of common types of bindings used in the art are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,389,200; 6,036,561; 5,868,594; and 5,947,781.  
         [0012]    The term “water recreational device” as used herein refers to any type of device designed for planing on water as the user is being towed. Examples of water recreational devices used in association with the subject bindings include skis (jump, trick, slalom etc.), hydroslides, wakeboards, and other similar existing devices or similar devices that have yet been developed.  
         [0013]    As used herein, “fluid communication” refers to a connection, either direct or indirect (for example, via an intervening duct), such that fluid can flow to and from those items communicating.  
         [0014]    Now turning to the Drawings, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment  100  of the subject lubricating binding, which comprises a reservoir body  120  for storing a lubricant. The reservoir body is shown with a pump button  140 , which comprises a simple pump mechanism for transferring the lubricant through ducts  110  (see FIGS. 2 and 3) and ejecting the lubricant out of the ducts  110  at the site of need. Preferably, the lubricant is delivered at the top of the binding where the user&#39;s foot slides into the binding. The reservoir body defines an aperture  139  at the top of the reservoir body  120  for receiving and filling the reservoir body  120  with lubricant, and comprises a snap-on cap  135  which snaps on to the top of the reservoir body  120 . The removable snap-on cap  135  comprises an anchor  141  which keeps the cap proximate to the reservoir body  120  and helps avoid losing the cap  135 . While the snap-on cap is a preferred embodiment, other fastening methods may be used to secure the cap onto the reservoir body, such as a threaded neck and cap, or hinged cap.  
         [0015]    Alternatively, the reservoir body  120  is squeezable itself, whereby the squeezing action of the reservoir body  120  acts to pump the lubricant to the site of need. This alternative embodiment makes a separate pump button unnecessary. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other mechanisms can be used to actuate the pumping of the lubricant to the site of need such as a lever, switch, bulb etc.  
         [0016]    Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the pumping can occur through numerous conventional manual pump configurations widely used in the art. One example includes a first duct (not shown) having an open end in the reservoir for intake of the lubricant, and which is connected to the pump button, and where ducts  110  are connected to the pump button. One or more valves are positioned strategically, whereby upon depression of the pump button, lubricant is drawn into the first duct through vacuum action, and flows through ducts  110  where the lubricant is ultimately delivered to the site of need. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,987,779; 5,074,765; 4,684,484 and 4,197,825, and the references cited, described various pump configurations that are easily adapted for use with the teachings herein.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2A shows a disassembled side perspective view of embodiment  100  of the subject binding which shows holes  130  defined at the top of the heel portion  150  of the binding for accommodating ducts  110 . FIG. 2B shows another embodiment  200  of the subject binding comprising a reservoir body  120  attached to the bottom of the heel portion  150  of the binding  200 . Ducts  155  (dashed lines) are embedded into heel portion  150  (see FIG. 3C) and traverse to the top of the heel portion  150  where lubricant is ultimately delivered.  
         [0018]    The top view in FIG. 3A shows a preferred method of attaching the reservoir body to the heel portion  150 . Duct  110  having a first end  111  configured with a flange  112  is positioned through the heel portion  150 . Duct  110  comprises a second end having a raised ridge  113  which snaps into an accepting groove  116  defined in receiving channel  115  of the reservoir body  120 . The flange  112  acts to secure the reservoir to the heel portion  150 . The receiving channel  115  is in fluid communication with the pump button via the internal duct system of the reservoir body (not shown).  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3B shows a transverse cross section of the embodiment  200  shown in FIG. 2B to expose ducts  155  which are embedded in the material of the heel portion  150 . The duct  155  has a first end  168  which is connected to a first elbow  170  at its interior end  171 . The exterior end  172  of the elbow  170  comprises a flange  173 . The second end  169  of duct  155  connects to a second elbow  176  at its interior end  180 . The exterior end  181  of second elbow  176  comprises a raised ridge  182  which assists in snapping and securing elbow  176  at a accepting groove  116  of receiving channel  115  of the reservoir body.  
         [0020]    It should be understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of this application and the scope of the appended claims.  
         [0021]    The teachings of all references cited herein are incorporated in their entirety to the extent they are not inconsistent with the teachings herein.