Patent Publication Number: US-5893785-A

Title: Pozi flex

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/025,652, filed Sep. 9, 1996, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to footstraps of sailboards into which sailors&#39; feet are positioned for stabilizing the sailors on the boards. 
     Existing sailboards for windsurfers include footstraps that enable users to negotiate rough waters and perform acrobatic maneuvers without slipping off the boards and into the water. Conventional footstraps, over a short period of time, become mushy and limp due to water absorption. Existing footstraps become more difficult to use over time as normal sailing abuse deforms the straps and cause the straps to lose their foot-receiving shapes. Needs exist for footstraps that are long lasting and that are not rendered ineffective by water and normal sailing conditions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a footstrap for sailboards. The footstrap includes a combination of end pieces which are made from a mold and are constructed of a flexible rubber material. The end pieces are in the shape of the letter L and are about 2 inches wide and 5 and 3/4 inches tall. The end pieces stand apart, with the back of one end piece facing the back of the other end piece and with the bottom corner of the letter being the base. A one inch wide strapping is connected to the base of one end piece at a first end by a pin, is pulled over the top of the end pieces to create an arc, transverses around a pin on the opposing end piece base and is finally overlapped onto itself and secured by use of Velcro. The cover is made of a 5 mm neoprene pattern into the top side of which is sewn a zipper. The ends of the cover have semicircle shaped neoprene and slotted vinyl base booties into which the bottom member of the molded pieces fit. That cover arrangement combined with the strap connected end pieces creates a comfortable, firm constant curve arc anti-mush footstrap which allows for height and width adjustment. 
     The new footstrap end pieces are made of a mold-formed flexible rubber, which when applied, allows the footstrap to have a firm arch curve from end to end, which allows a sailor to insert a foot easily. The present invention also resists mushing when stepped on. The flex of the rubber end pieces causes the footstrap to open or pop back to its original curvature. The invention also allows for width adjustment for large and small feet. 
     These and further and other objects and features of the invention are apparent in the disclosure, which includes the above and ongoing written specification, with the claims and the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows the present footstrap including a pair of end pieces connected by a strap. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of an end piece of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the end piece shown in FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the end piece shown in FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 5 shows the present invention having a cover positioned over the end pieces such that the strap is adjustable without removing the cover. 
     FIG. 6 shows the present invention having a cover enclosing the end pieces and the entire strap. 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the end piece shown in FIG. 6. 
     FIG. 8 is bottom view of the end piece shown in FIG. 6. 
     FIG. 9 is a front view of an end piece of an alternative embodiment. 
     FIG. 10 is a side view of the end piece shown in FIG. 6. 
     FIG. 11 is a front view of an end piece of an alternative embodiment. 
     FIG. 12 is a side view of the end piece shown in FIG. 10. 
     FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the end piece shown in FIG. 10. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in the FIG. 1, the present invention is a footstrap 1 for sailboards. The footstrap 1 includes a pair of end pieces 3, 5 connected by a strap 7. As shown in FIG. 5, a cover 9 is positioned over the end pieces 3, 5 such that the strap 7 may be adjusted without removing the cover 9. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1-4, each base 3 or 5 has a bottom member 11 and an upstanding member 13 extending from the bottom member 11. The bottom member 11 rests on the upper surface of the sailboard and is connected to the sailboard by stainless steel bolts or screws or other appropriate connecting means. Holes 15 and slots 17 extend through the bottom member 11 for receiving the bolts, screws or other connecting means. 
     Preferably, the base 3 or 5 is a one-piece molded structure made of a deformable, resilient material, such as flexible rubber. In one preferred embodiment, each base 3 or 5 is generally L-shaped, has a bottom member 11 with a width of about 2 inches, a length of about 1 and 5/8 inches and a thickness of about 3/8 inch, and has an upstanding member 13 with a width of about 2 inches, a thickness that gradually decreases from 7/16 inch to 1/8 inch, and a height of about 5 and 3/4 inches. 
     The upstanding member 13 of each base 3 or 5 has a lower end 19 connected to an end of the bottom member 11, a generally vertical inner surface 21 and an outer surface 23 that extends upward and inward from the bottom member 11, such that the thickness of the upstanding member 13 gradually decreases from its lower end 19 to its upper end 25. An opening 27 extends through a lower part of the upstanding member 13. A pin 29 extends from sides of the upstanding member 13 and through the opening 27. A sloping recess 31 is positioned in the outer surface 23 of the upstanding member 13 directly above the opening 27. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of bases 3, 5 are mounted on the sailboard such that the inner surfaces 21 of the upstanding members 13 are facing each other. The bases 3, 5 are connected by a strap 7. The strap 7 is made of any acceptable material The strap 7 includes a pair of free, mating sections 33, 35 separated by a non-mating section 37. The strap 7 is looped around or connected to the pins 29 of the opposing bases such that the non-mating section 37 proceeds along the outer surface 23 of the upstanding member 13 of the first base 3 and continues along the outer surface 23 of the upstanding member 13 of the second base 5. One mating section 33 overlaps the non-mating section 37, and the other mating section 35 overlaps the first mating section 33. Velcro or other acceptable mating means 41 are positioned along the surfaces of the mating sections 33, 35 for securing the strap 7 in its desired position, thereby urging the upstanding members 13 inward and downward and forming an arc. The upper end 25 of one upstanding member 13 overlaps the upper end of the other upstanding member. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, for user comfort, a cover 9 is positioned over the whole surface of the footstrap which may come into contact with a user&#39;s foot. Preferably, the cover 9 is made of a neoprene material pattern having a long, plastic zipper 10 along the upper surface 12 of the cover. Ends 14 of the cover 9 have semicircle shaped neoprene and slotted vinyl base booties in which bottom members 11 of the bases 3, 5 fit. Preferably, the cover 9 is a one-piece structure. The cover 9 wraps around and encloses the upstanding members 13 and the bottom members 11 of the bases 3, 5 and the entire strap 7. The mating sections 33, 35 overlap and connect to each other inside the cover 9. That allows for height adjustment of the footstrap 1 by opening the zipper 10, without necessitating removal of the cover 9. 
     FIGS. 7-10 show an alternative embodiment of the footstrap. The bottom member 41 may have a shorter length than the bottom member 11 of FIG. 2. The upstanding member 43 may have a greater height than the upstanding member 13 of FIG. 2. 
     FIGS. 11-13 show an alternative embodiment of the footstrap. The bottom member 51 may have a lesser thickness than the bottom member 11 of FIG. 2. 
     The present footstrap 1 provides a firm arch curve from end to end which allows for easy and quick foot insertion. Mushing and other wear-and-tear abuse are avoided as the resilient bases 3, 5 ensure that the footstrap 1 always returns to its original curvature. By including a slot 17 in the bottom member 11 of the bases 3, 5, width adjustment is easily accomplished. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, modifications and variations of the invention may be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the following claims.