Jan. 5, 1954
w. o. CLINEDINST
2,664,578
FOOT BINDING FOR WATER SKIS AND THE LIKE
Filed March 28, 1952
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Mam/14 0. (MVM/N57,
lPatented Jan. 5, i954
2,664,578
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
FOOT BINDING FOR WATER SKIS
AND THE LIKE
William O. Clinedinst, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Application March 28, 1952, Serial No. 279,185
; 4 Claims. (Cl. 9--21)
vThis invention relates to an improved foot
binding particularly adapted for use >on Water
skis and more particularly’to a foot binding
which will accommodate a wide range of foot
length and width sizes.
'
‘
Water ski foot bindings must be designed so
that the user’s feet can readily be inserted and
Withdrawn therefrom but which at the same time
will securely hold the skis to the wearer’s feet
during use. Moreover, since a given pair of water
skis are frequentlyused by a large number of
people, it is desirable that `the bindings will ac
commodate feet varying in width as well as
length without adjustment thereof and also be
2
rial such as rubber reenforced with inner fabric
laminations'ß. Both the vamp and the counter
Vmay conveniently be cut from fiat or sheet-like
material.
The counter 6 is essentially an arcuate strap
61
having end tab portions I0. The inside portion
I2 of the blank which forms the bottom thereof
in use may for the sake of comfort likewise be
arcuate 4with the arc oppositely disposed relative
the upper side, making the counter somewhat
lanceolate in outline except for the extended
tabs I0.
The vamp 4 comprises a somewhat ovaloid body
portion I3 with tabs I4 extending outwardly and
adjustable if necessary to adapt the bindings to
slightly diagonally forwardly toward the front
foot sizes of exceptional width or length or both.
or toe portion I 6 thereof.
Disposed on the body or ski member 2 at sub
It is also desirable that the foot binding does not
collect or hold sand or dirt.
.
It is accordingly an object of vthis invention to
provide a foot binding which will'accommodate a
wide range of foot sizes without adjustment but
which is adjustable to permit the binding to fit
feet of exceptional length or width.
It is a further object of this invention to pro
vide a foot binding which is simple in design but
at the same time readily adjustable.
_
stantially its mid-portion adjacent thev edges
thereof are longitudinally disposed parallel side
frame members or slats 20. In a preferred em
bodiment these slats are each secured to the ski
by three spaced bolts 22 and wing nuts 24. How
ever, other type fasteners could of course be used
such as a quick release fastener 3U of the type
. shown in Figure 8.
In case of use of such a
It is another object of this invention to pro'
vide a foot binding that does not collect or hold
clamp, or other fastener only one need be used
either at one end or at the intermediate position
with studs 32 extending from the ski into holes
sand or dirt.
34 in the slats or vice versa at the opposite or
-
It is still another object of this invention to
both ends of the slat.
accomplish the foregoing objects in a foot bind 30
In assembling the binding the tabs -IIl and I4
ing which holds securely during use but which
are disposed between slats and the ski proper and
permits ready insertion or removal of a foot.
intermediate the bolts 22. That is the vamp
The foregoing and further objects will be ap
tabs I4 are disposed intermediate the forward
parent from the following specification when read . and the center bolts and the counter tabs between
in conjunction with the attached drawing, where
the center bolts and the rearward bolts. The
in:
§Í_
tabs of the vamp and counter are somewhat
Figure 1 is a top view of a water ski >'embodying
longer than the width of the slats.
the improved foot binding of my invention;
With this arrangement, it is apparent that the
Figure 2 is a side elevation;
'
binding can be adjusted to provide variations in
Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top view
the width and length of foot sizes accommodated.
of the water ski and foot binding;
l
Thus by moving the tabs towards or away from
Figure 4 is a side elevation similar to Figure 3;
the center bolt, variations in length can be ac
Figure 5 is a front elevation of the foot binding;
commodated, whereas by adjusting the tabs out
Figure 6' is a plan of the counter;
wardly or inwardly of the binding, variations in
Figure 7 is a plan of the vamp; and
width can be accommodated. Moreover, with
Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation show
this arrangement with the relatively inelastic
ing a modification of the fastening means.
counter and the elastic vamp with the toe portion
Referring more particularly to the drawing, the
thereof not directly attached to the ski a large
numeral 2 indicates a body member such as the 50 variety of foot sizes can be accommodated with
mid-portion of water ski or the like carrying the
the tabs set at an intermediate position both
improved foot binding of my invention. The
regarding width and length. The reason for this
binding comprises a vamp 4 formed` of flexible,
is that the elastic vamp develops a fair pressure
elastic, rubber-like material and ,aY counter 6
throughout a considerable amount of stretch
formed of flexible but relatively inelastic mate- > across the instep of a wearer to hold the foot
2,664,578
bers, having portions extending under said slats,
said vamp being laterally slidable under said slats
to adjust the vamp for variations in foot widths,
said counter member being slidable under said
slats lengthwise of said slats to adjust the bind
ing for variations in foot lengths to be accom
modated thereby, said vamp and counter members
being held in adjusted position by the slat mem
bers and means for releasably securing said slats
to a ski to permit adjustment of said vamp and
for the purpose of illustration and description
and that various other forms may be devised
Within the scope of my invention, as defined inl
the appended claims.
I claim:
_
counter members and to apply clamping pressure
-
thereto.
4. A water ski binding comprising a pair of
spaced apart, longitudinally extending side slat
l
1. In combination with a water ski,A afoot
binding comprising an elastic-flexible vamp mem
4
members, a flexible vamp member and a counter
member, both of said vamp and counter mem
down on the ski and the heel back against the
counter.
The feature that neither the bottom of the
counter nor the toe portion of the vamp is directly
attached to the ski provides an open passage for
Water through the binding so that sand or dirt
cannot be trapped or collect in the binding.
While I have shown and described certain spe
ciñc embodiments of my inventionl it will be
understood that these embodiments are merely
~members, a ñexible. vamp member and a ñexible
counter member, both of said vamp and counter
ber, a non-elastic ilexible counter member, eachl'members having portions extending under said
of said members having an outwardly extending
tab on both side edges thereof, and a pair of 20 slats, said vamp being laterally slidable under
said slats .to adjust-the vamp for variations-in
parallelV longitudinallyY extending vslat members
foot Widths,` said counter member'being slidable
secured -to said water ski, said tabs being dis
under said slats lengthwise of said slats to ad
posed between said slats and said ski to. secure
just the binding for variations in foot lengths
the same thereto, said slats being releasably >Se
cured to the ski to permit movement of said tabs 25 to be accommodated thereby and means at the'
ends and the mid-portion only of said slats for
to permit length and width adjustment of said
releasably securing said slots to afski whereby
foot binding.
said ski binding may be adjusted for both foot
2; A water ski binding comprising longitudi
Width and length variations by releasing said slat
nally extending side slat members, a iiexible
vamp member and a counter member, said vamp 30 securing means and held in adjusted position
solely by applying clamping pressure thereto.
having portions extending under said slat mem
bers and held in position solely by clamping pres
WILLIAM O. CLlNEDINST.
sure of the slat members, said vamp being later~
ally slidable under said slat members to adjust
the vamp for Variations in foot widths, and means
for releasably securing said slats to a ski to per
mit'adjustment of said vamp and to apply the
clamping pressure thereto.
3. A Water ski binding comprising a pair of
spaced apart, longitudinally extending side slat
References Cited in the >ñle. of this patent
UNITED STATES PATENTS
Number
fr. C;
Name
Date
2,165,547
2,327,783
Hill ____ _..-____,___ July ll, 1939
Hains „„„„„ -_._,___,_, Aug. 24, 1943
2,540,576
Goodhue et al. ____,__ Feb. 6, 1951