Abstract:
A binding system comprising a binding upper comprising a plurality of fastening straps affixed to the upper and a substantially rigid binding base comprising a bottom surface for attachment of the fastening straps. The binding base includes a plurality of apertures, wherein one or more of the fastening straps passes through one or more of the apertures and is fastened to the bottom surface of the binding base. In various exemplary embodiments the fastening straps are stapled and/or glued to the bottom surface of the binding base. In various exemplary embodiments the fastening straps attach to the lacing loops on the binding upper or form the lacing loops on the binding upper.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a binding system for use with a board designed for water-based sports activities such as wakeboarding or kiteboarding. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the prior art, various types of bindings are used for floatation devices such as wakeboards. The bindings include various types of boot components to hold a user&#39;s foot in place during use. Typical components include heel and toe pieces, one piece boots, overlays, underlays, and the like. 
     Normally, the boot components are attached to the wakeboard using various types of hardware and fasteners. Referring to  FIG. 1 , one example of a hardware assembly for a wakeboard  1  is generally designated by the reference numeral  10 . Boot components as a toe piece  3  and footbed  5  are illustrated. The toe piece is secured in place by a clamp  7  and fasteners  9 , adapted to extend through the clamp and edges  11  of the toe piece to keep it in place. The clamp  7  can take any form, such as a one piece U-shape that would also facilitate attachment of a heel piece as well, or separate members situated on either side of the toe piece for attachment. 
     The current state of the art for securing the boot components to the wakeboard has been around for a long time, and is cumbersome, bulky, costly, and time consuming for assembly of the wakeboard binding. Thus, a need exists to provide improved ways to attach the boot components of a binding to a wakeboard. 
     The present invention solves this need by providing a hardware-less binding assembly that eliminates the need for complicated clamping and fastening systems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A binding system comprising a binding upper comprising a plurality of fastening straps affixed to the upper and a substantially rigid binding base comprising a bottom surface for attachment of the fastening straps and a plurality of apertures through the binding base, wherein one or more of the fastening straps passes through one or more of the apertures and is fastened to the bottom surface of the binding base. In various exemplary embodiments the fastening straps are stapled and/or glued to the bottom surface of the binding base. In various exemplary embodiments the fastening straps attach to the lacing loops on the binding upper or form the lacing loops on the binding upper. The fastening straps may be made from nylon webbing or other suitable material. In an exemplary embodiment, the bottom surface of the binding base is recessed relative to the peripheral portion of the binding base and may include one or more foam covers that fit within the recessed area. In an exemplary embodiment, the bottom surface of the binding base extends around the periphery of the binding base and wherein there is a substantial opening in the bottom of the binding base, and the fastening straps may extend across the opening in the binding base. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a sectional view of a prior art binding assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one component of one embodiment of the inventive binding assembly; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second component of one embodiment of the inventive binding assembly; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial view of an assembled binding, showing the attachment between the two binding assembly components of  FIGS. 2 and 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of the second component as part of a binding assembly; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the attachment between the first and second components of  FIGS. 2 and 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an exemplary binding system; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of an exemplary binding system from the bottom side; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a partially assembled exemplary binding system from the bottom side; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a partially assembled exemplary binding system from the bottom side; 
         FIG. 11  is a partially exploded view of a partially assembled exemplary binding system from the bottom side; 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded view of an exemplary binding system from the bottom side 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a partially assembled exemplary binding system from the bottom side; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a partially assembled exemplary binding system from the bottom side; and 
         FIG. 15  is an exploded view of an exemplary binding system from the bottom side. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The inventive binding assembly for a wakeboard offers significant advantages over the prior art binding assemblies. That is, the prior art binding assemblies that use cumbersome and awkward hardware arrangements are eliminated in favor of a simple binding assembly. The inventive assembly is lower cost, lighter weight, and provides a more narrow profile than the prior art arrangements. In addition, the exterior of the binding assembly can be provided with a cleaner, sleeker, and more cosmetically attractive look. This improved exterior appearance translates into an additional selling feature, thus enhancing the sales of the product. 
     The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and/or use the invention. For purposes of explanation, specific nomenclature is set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. Descriptions of specific embodiments or applications are provided only as examples. Various modifications to the embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest possible scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the separated components of the inventive binding assembly are shown.  FIGS. 4 and 6  show the components in the assembled state. 
       FIG. 2  shows one component of the binding assembly as a binding base  21 . The base  21  has a bottom  23  and side walls  25 . The bottom  23  has openings  27  which allow the base  21  to be mounted onto a wakeboard, either directly or via an intermediate component such as a binding plate. The base bottom  23  and sidewalls  25  form a recess  26  that is configured to accept a footbed  29 , see  FIG. 6 , as part of the binding assembly. It should be understood that the means for attaching the binding base  21  to a wakeboard can be any type depending the particulars of the binding being used. As stated above, the binding base  21  may be adapted to directly attach to the wakeboard, or attach to a binding plate assembly that may allow the binding to be adjusted with respect to the wakeboard.  FIG. 6  as described below shows one example of an attachment. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an outersole  30  is depicted which also includes a bottom  31  and a sidewall  33 . An opening  35  is shown in a central portion of the bottom to facilitate attachment of the binding base  21  to the wakeboard. The bottom  31  and sidewall  35  form a recess  37  that is sized to receive the binding base. The sidewall  33  is sized in height to cover the sidewall  23  of the binding base  21  for aesthetic purposes as detailed below. When used as shown in  FIG. 3 , the outersole both surrounds the periphery of the binding base but is also interposed between the base bottom and a surface of the wakeboard, either directly or indirectly. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the binding assembly is shown in an assembled state, with a portion of the outersole sidewall  33  removed to show more detail. The assembly includes the binding base  21 , the outersole  30 , and a binding upper  39  in  FIG. 4 , and these same components mounted to a wakeboard  1  using a binding plate  41 . Binding plates are well known to enhance the attachment of a wakeboard binding to a wakeboard, and a further description is not necessary for understanding of this aspect of the invention. In one mode, the binding plate  41  can allow the binding base  21  to be mounted to the wakeboard  1  in an adjustable fashion if made according to the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 6,945,837 to Crumrine et al., herein incorporated by reference. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the binding upper  39  is attached to the sidewall  25  of the binding base using stitching  41  and an adhesive  43  interposed between the binding upper and sidewall  23 . The means for attaching the binding base  21  to the binding upper  39  preferably includes both stitching and adhesives to ensure the integrity of the joint between the upper  39  and the binding base sidewall  23 . However, any form of attachment can be employed as the means for attaching the binding base to the upper  39 , including adhesives, mechanical fastening, stitching, or combinations thereof. Similarly, the outersole  30  can be attached to the binding base  21  in any known fashion, with a preferred method including the use of an adhesive placed between the outer surface of sidewall  25  of the binding base  21  and an inside surface of the sidewall  33  of the outersole  30 .  FIG. 6  is also representative of the attachment of the binding base  21  to the plate  41  using a fastener  47 , although more fasteners could be employed. 
     It should be understood that the binding upper is intended to encompass any type of binding component that is intended to form an upper part of the binding that surrounds the user&#39;s foot. Examples of uppers include toe pieces, heel pieces, overlays, one piece boots, underlays, combinations thereof, and the like. Typically, some part of the upper is attached to the wakeboard or floatation device, but according to the invention, the upper is attached to the binding base, which is in turn secured to the water floatation device in some way. 
     Referring again to the use of stitching, the extent of the stitching along the sidewall  23  will vary depending on the type of upper being combined with the binding base  21 . For example, for a closed toe upper, whether the upper is a one piece construction or combination of heel and toe piece, the stitching can extend around the entirety of the binding base  21  in order to ensure that the upper is adequately attached so that it does not become removed from the base  21 . For an open toe upper, the stitching would extend along the sides and heel portion of the binding base  21  and upper. Any type of stitching pattern and/or any number of rows of stitching can be employed as part of the means for attaching the binding base to the upper to achieve the necessary pull strength of the joint. One preferred target pull strength for the attachment is 800 pounds, but this can be greater or less depending on the binding particulars and the type of floatation device being used. One preferred manner of stitching is the use of two rows. 
     In one method of making the binding assembly, the binding upper is provided, whether in the form of a single piece construction, the combination of components, e.g., an inner boot, overlay, toe and heel pieces, or any other known binding upper construction. Once the upper is provided, the appropriate end is stitched and glued or otherwise fastened to the sidewall  23  of the binding base  21  in a manner consistent with the shape of the upper. The binding base  21  is then inserted into the recess  35  of the outersole  30  so that the outersole  30  covers the attachment of the upper  39  and binding base sidewall  23 . Then, the binding base  21  is attached to the wakeboard, either directly or indirectly via a plate assembly or the like. 
     A footbed can be used as well as part of the assembly process. Typically, the footbed can be glued or otherwise attached in the recess  26  of the binding base  21 . When employing the outersole, the footbed is glued prior to attachment of the outersole, and the assembly is then attached to the wakeboard in any known fashion. 
     While the outersole is shown as part of the preferred embodiment, it is an optional feature since it does not structurally maintain the integrity of the attachment between the binding base and upper. Thus, in certain instances, it may be desirable to only use the binding base to secure the upper of the binding, and leave the area of attachment between the binding base and upper exposed. However, the use of the outersole provides a more cosmetically pleasing binding. That is, the outersole can be made in various shapes and colors, and with various markings or logos so as to give the binding assembly a unique identity. In this regard,  FIG. 5  shows another style of outersole designated as reference numeral  30 ′. This outersole includes features such as ridges  51 , a recess  53 , a logo  55 , a protruding part  57 , and the like to make it more cosmetically pleasing and identifiable. 
     While the outersole is shown with an opening in the bottom to allow for attachment of the binding base to the wakeboard, it could have other configurations to hide the attachment joint between the binding base and upper. For example, the outersole could take the form of just the sidewall  33 , e.g., a strip that would surround the binding base and be devoid of a bottom that is positioned between the base and the wakeboard as shown in  FIG. 6 . Alternatively, the bottom of the outersole could be continuous with any fasteners used for attachment of the binding base to the wakeboard penetrating the material of the outersole rather than passing through an opening in the outersole bottom. 
     The binding base and outersole can be made of any material that would be appropriate for use in a water floatation device, including polymers, metals, composites, or combinations thereof. Preferably, the base binding is metal to provide the necessary pull strength, and the outersole is a polymer material allowing it to be molded or made into various shapes, colors, etc. A more preferred material for the binding base is a high strength glass-filled nylon since it combines strength, light weight, and the ability to be stitched through. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7 through 11 , in a further exemplary embodiment, the binding assembly includes a binding base  100  and a binding upper  102  that is attached to the binding base  100  by a plurality of fastening straps  104  that extend from the binding upper  102 , through one or more apertures  106  in the binding base  100 . The binding base  100  can be made from any suitable relatively rigid material, including various polymers or metal. The fastening straps  104  are then fastened to a surface  108  on the underside of the binding base  100 . The fastening straps  104  may be fastened to the surface  108  by any known fastening system including staples, tacks, screws, nails, adhesives, welding, plastic spikes, etc. or any combination of such fastening systems. 
     The fastening straps  104  can be manufactured from any suitable material such as nylon webbing and may be sewn into or otherwise attached to the binding upper  102 . In an exemplary embodiment, the fastening straps extend upward along or through the binding upper  102  and connect to the loops  110  used for the binding laces  112 . The fastening straps  104  may also be used to form the loops  110  used for the binding laces  112 . 
     The binding base  100  can be designed in a wide range of configurations depending on various considerations such as cost and performance. As seen most clearly in  FIGS. 8 through 11 , in an exemplary embodiment binding base  100  includes a plurality of integrated recessed surfaces  108  on its underside. These surfaces  108  are separated by structural crossbars  114 . During assembly, each of the fastening straps  104  is passed through an aperture  106 , then wrapped across the adjacent surface  108  where it is fastened to the surface  108  as described above by a fastening system such as tacks and adhesive. 
     In order to facilitate the adherence of the fastening straps  104  to the surfaces  108 , a layer of material such as a fabric or simulated leather can first be applied to the surfaces  108 . Fitted covers  116  made from foam or any other suitable material can then be placed over the recessed surfaces, providing a clean appearance and a smooth bottom surface for the overall binding assembly. The binding assembly can then be removably attached to the surface of the board using a bolt located on the underside of the binding base  100  that extends upward through an attachment flange  118  on the binding base  100 , or by any other known attachment system. 
     It will be readily understood that the configuration of binding base  100  can be modified to provide for a single contiguous surface  108  for attachment of the fastening straps, or for a plurality of such surfaces  108 . Similarly, the number and placement of the fastening straps  104  can be varied and adjusted to obtain particular design characteristics. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 12 through 15 , in an exemplary embodiment, the surface  108  used for attaching the fastening straps  104  on the underside of the binding base  100  may extend only around the periphery of the binding base, leaving a substantial opening  120  in the binding base. The fastening straps  104  may extend down through the apertures  106  and attach directly to the adjacent portion of surface  108 , or as shown in  FIG. 14 , the fastening straps may extend across the opening  120  in the binding base  100  and also attach to the surface  108  on the opposite periphery of the binding base  100 . 
     The invention is also advantageous in that airpacks or other conventional shoe cushioning devices or technology can be more easily utilized with the binding plate and upper attachment. 
     While the invention is particularly described for use with wakeboards and kiteboards, it is believed that the binding assembly could be adapted for any floatation device for a fluid such as water, or a solid such as snow, or sand. For purposes of this application, snow, sand and water are grouped together under the definition of a fluid when describing the type of floatation device adaptable for use with the invention. 
     As such, an invention has been disclosed in terms of preferred embodiments thereof which fulfills each and every one of the objects of the present invention as set forth above and provides a new and improved wakeboard binding assembly, and its method of assembly. 
     Of course, various changes, modifications and alterations from the teachings of the present invention may be contemplated by those skilled in the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof. It is intended that the present invention only be limited by the terms of the appended claims.