Water ski boot and binding

In a ski for use in water skiing, the combination of

• an elongated runner, and
• a high top boot that is upstanding on the runner and comprises
• an open topped shoe structure in which the user can insert the base of his foot, for mounting his foot on the ski, including means that operatively define a holster within which the user can engage the metatarsal portion of his foot when the base of it is supported on the runner, and a wall structure that is substantially rigidly upstanding on the runner about the tarsal portion of the user's foot when the metatarsal portion of it is so engaged within the holster.
• said wall structure including a rear wall that upstands at the back of the shoe structure to a level above the ankle joint of the user's foot, to form a strongback for the achilles tendon of his foot,
• and a cuff-like superstructure which is engageable about the user's ankle when the base of his foot is inserted in the shoe structure, including a part annular upper cuff which is adapted to be removably secured about the user's lower leg above the ankle joint therein, and which is supported on the shoe structure at the top opening thereof, so as to have no more than limited capability to flex in relation to the shoe structure laterally thereof,
• said upper cuff being pivotally mounted on the wall structure to assume a normally upright position adjacent the strongback when the user's leg is relaxed and straightened at the knee,
• means for releasably detaining the upper cuff in the normally upright position thereof,
• said upper cuff and holster having terminal edge portions thereof which oppose one another across the instep of the user's foot, and which are spaced apart from one another by a gap when the upper cuff is releasably detained in the normally upright position thereof, and
• means in the releasable detention means and means in the gap and across the instep of the boot opposite the gap whereby the upper cuff can pivot in conjunction with the user's lower leg, relative to the shoe structure, at angles sufficiently upward of about 70.degree. that the user can pivot his lower leg over the full range of positions needed for waterskiing, including the low angle position of dorsiflexure needed when he squats or crouches for startup.

In apparatus for water skiing, the combination of

• a water ski comprising an elongated runner having a pair of cleats on the dorsal side thereof which are spaced apart longitudinally of the runner,
• and a high top boot with which a user can mount his foot on the water ski,
• said boot comprising
• an open topped shoe structure in which the user can insert the base of his foot, including an elongated sole plate for use under the plantar surface of his foot, means that operatively define a holster within which the user can engage the metatarsal portion of his foot when the base of it is supported on the sole plate, and a wall structure that is substantially rigidly upstanding on the sole plate about the tarsal portion of the user's foot when the metatarsal portion of it is so engaged within the holster, said wall structure including a rear wall that upstands at the back of the shoe structure to a level above the ankle joint of the user's foot, to form a strongback for the achilles tendon of his foot,
• and a cuff-like superstructure which is engageable about the user's ankle when the base of his foot is inserted in the shoe structure, including a part annular upper cuff which is adapted to be removably secured about the user's lower leg above the ankle joint therein, and which is supported on the shoe structure at the top opening thereof, so as to have no more than limited capability to flex in relation to the shoe structure laterally thereof,
• said upper cuff being pivotally mounted on the wall structure to assume a normally upright position adjacent the strongback when the user's leg is relaxed and straightened at the knee,
• means for releasably detaining the upper cuff in the normally upright position thereof,
• said upper cuff and holster having terminal edge portions thereof which oppose one another across the instep of the user's foot, and which are spaced apart from one another by a gap when the upper cuff is releasably detained in the normally upright position thereof, and
• means in the releasable detention means and means in the gap and across the instep of the boot opposite the gap whereby the upper cuff can pivot in conjunction with the user's lower leg, relative to the shoe structure, to any of the full range of positions into which the user may choose to pivot his lower leg for water skiing, including the low angle position of dorsiflexure needed when he squats or crouches for startup,
• said sole plate being adapted to be positioned in the space between the cleats of the runner, there being means on the cleats for clamping the boot to the runner, and the clamping means being operable to release the boot when a predetermined shear force is generated between the ski and the boot transverse thereof.

In a high top boot with which a user can mount his foot on a water ski, the combination of

• an open topped shoe structure in which the user can insert the base of his foot, including an elongated sole plate for use under the plantar surface of his foot, means that operatively define a holster within which the user can engage the metatarsal portion of his foot when the base of it is supported on the sole plate, and a wall structure that is substantially rigidly upstanding on the sole plate about the tarsal portion of the user's foot when the metatarsal portion of it is so engaged within the holster,
• said wall structure including a rear wall that upstands at the back of the shoe structure to a level about the ankle joint of the user's foot, to form a strongback for the achilles tendon of his foot,
• and a cuff-like superstructure which is engageable about the user's ankle when the base of his foot is inserted in the shoe structure, including a part annular upper cuff which is adapted to be removably secured about the user's lower leg above the ankle joint therein, and which is supported on the shoe structure at the top opening thereof, so as to have no more than limited capability to flex in relation to the shoe structure laterally thereof,
• said upper cuff being pivotally mounted on the wall structure to assume a normally upright position adjacent the strongback when the user's leg is relaxed and straightened at the knee, but sufficiently independent of the strongback that when the user is supported on a body of water through the medium of a ski, with his feet in a pair of such boots, the cuff can pivot in conjunction with the user's lower leg, relative to the shoe structure, to any of the full range of positions into which the user may choose to pivot his lower leg for water skiing, including the low angle position needed when he squats or crouches for startup,
• the combination further comprising means for releasably detaining the upper cuff in the normally upright position thereof, means whereby the upper cuff can pivot in relation to the strongback, and means responsive to the pivotal action of the upper cuff, relative to the strongback, to yieldably bias the upper cuff to resume the normally upright position thereof when the user relaxes his lower leg and straightens it at the knee,
• the upper cuff being supported on the shoe structure so that the bottom portion of the same overlaps with the top portion of the strongback in the normally upright position of the upper cuff, one of the respective overlapping portions of the upper cuff and the strongback having a recess therein whereby the upper cuff can pivot in relation to the strongback when the user pivots his lower leg for water skiing, and the mutually opposing edge portions of the recess being sufficiently resiliently flexible to yieldably bias the upper cuff to resume the normally upright position thereof when the user relaxes his leg and straightens it at the knee.

In a ski for use in water skiing, the combination of

• an elongated runner, and
• a high top boot that is upstanding on the runner and comprises
• an open topped shoe structure in which the user can insert the base of his foot, for mounting his foot on the ski, including means that operatively define a holster within which the user can engage the metatarsal portion of his foot when the base of it is supported on the runner, and a wall structure that is substantially rigidly upstanding on the runner about the tarsal portion of the user's foot when the metatarsal portion of it is so engaged within the holster,
• said wall structure including a rear wall that upstands at the back of the shoe structure to a level above the ankle joint of the user's foot, to form a strongback for the achilles tendon of his foot,
• and a cuff-like superstructure which is engageable about the user's ankle when the base of his foot is inserted in the shoe structure, including a part annular upper cuff which is adapted to be removably secured about the user's lower leg above the ankle joint therein, and which is supported on the shoe structure at the top opening thereof, so as to have no more than limited capability to flex in relation to the shoe structure laterally thereof,
• said upper cuff being pivotally mounted on the wall structure to assume a normally upright position adjacent and straightened at the knee, but sufficiently independent of the strongback that when the user is supported on a body of water through the medium of the ski, with his feet in a pair of such boots, the cuff can pivot in conjunction with the user's lower leg, relative to the shoe structure, to any of the full range of positions in which the user may choose to pivot his lower leg for water skiing, including the low angle position needed when he squats or crouches for startup,
• the combination further comprising means for releasably detaining the upper cuff in the normally upright position thereof, means whereby the upper cuff can pivot in relation to the strongback, and means responsive to the pivotal action of the upper cuff, relative to the strongback, to yieldably bias the upper cuff to resume the normally upright position thereof when the user relaxes his lower leg and straightens it at the knee,
• the upper cuff being supported on the shoe structure so that the bottom portion of the same overlaps with the top portion of the strongback in the normally upright position of the upper cuff, one of the respective overlapping portions of the upper cuff and the strongback having a recess therein whereby the upper cuff can pivot in relation to the strongback when the user pivots his lower leg for water skiing, and the mutually opposing edge portions of the recess being sufficiently resiliently flexible to yieldably bias the upper cuff to resume the normally upright position thereof when the user relaxes his leg and straightens it at the knee.

In a high top boot with which a user can mount his foot on a water ski and undergo water skiing thereon, the combination of

• an open topped shoe structure in which the user can insert the base of his foot, including an elongated sole plate for use under the plantar surface of his foot, means that operatively define a holster within which the user can engage the metatarsal portion of his foot when the base of it is supported on the sole plate, and a wall structure that is substantially rigidly upstanding on the sole plate about the tarsal portion of the user's foot when the metatarsal portion of it is so engaged within the holster,
• said wall structure including a rear wall that upstands at the back of the shoe structure to a level above the ankle joint of the user's foot, to form a strongback for the achilles tendon of his foot,
• and a cuff-like superstructure which is engageable about the user's ankle when the base of his foot is inserted in the shoe structure, including a part annular upper cuff which is adapted to be removably secured about the user's lower leg above the ankle joint therein, and which is supported on the shoe structure at the top opening thereof, so as to have no more than limited capability to flex in relation to the shoe structure laterally thereof,
• said upper cuff being pivotally mounted on the wall structure to assume a normally upright position adjacent the strongback when the user's leg is relaxed and straightened at the knee,
• means for releaseably detaining the upper cuff in the normally upright position thereof,
• said upper cuff and holster having terminal edge portions thereof which oppose one another across the instep of the user's foot, and which are spaced apart from one another by a gap when the upper cuff is releaseably detained in the normally upright position thereof.
• said gap and said releasable detention means having means therein whereby the upper cuff can pivot in conjunction with the user's lower leg, relative to the shoe structure, to any of the full range of positions into which the user may wish to pivot his lower leg for water skiing, including the low angle position of dorsiflexure needed when he squats or crouches for startup,
• means responsive to the pivotal action of the upper cuff, relative to the shoe structure, to yieldably bias the upper cuff to resume the normally upright position thereof when the user relaxes his lower leg and straightens it at the knee,
• the strongback being disposed to detain the upper cuff in the normally upright position thereof,
• means operatively interposed between the strongback and the upper cuff whereby the upper cuff is releasable from detention for pivoting in conjunction with the user's lower leg, relative to the strongback, when the user pivots his lower leg for water skiing, and
• the biasing means being responsive to the pivotal action of the upper cuff, to yieldably bias the upper cuff to resume the normally upright position thereof when the user relaxes his leg and straightens it at the knee.

In a high top boot with which a user can mount his foot on a water ski and undergo water skiing thereon, the combination of

• an open topped shoe structure in which the user can insert the base of his foot, including an elongated sole plate for use under the plantar surface of his foot, means that operatively define a holster within which the user can engage the metatarsal portion of his foot when the base of it is supported on the sole plate, and a wall structure that is substantially rigidly upstanding on the sole plate about the tarsal portion of the user's foot when the metatarsal portion of it is so engaged within the holster,
• said wall structure including a rear wall that upstands at the back of the shoe structure to a level above the ankle joint of the user's foot, to form a strongback for the achilles tendon of his foot,
• and a cuff-like superstructure which is engageable about the user's ankle when the base of his foot is inserted in the shoe structure, including a part annular upper cuff which is adapted to be removably secured about the user's lower leg above the ankle joint therein, and which is supported on the shoe structure at the top opening thereof, so as to have no more than limited capability to flex in relation to the shoe structure laterally thereof,
• said upper cuff being pivotally mounted on the wall structure to assume a normally upright position adjacent the strongback when the user's leg is relaxed and straightened at the knee,
• means for releaseably detaining the upper cuff in the normally upright position thereof,
• said upper cuff and holster having terminal edge portions thereof which oppose one another across the instep of the user's foot, and which are spaced apart from one another by a gap when the upper cuff is releaseably detained in the normally upright position thereof,
• said gap and said releasable detention means having means therein whereby the upper cuff can pivot in conjunction with the user's lower leg, relative to the shoe structure, to any of the full range of positions into which the user may wish to pivot his lower leg for water skiing, including the low angle position of dorsiflexure needed when he squats or crouches for startup,
• means responsive to the pivotal action of the upper cuff, relative to the shoe structure, to yieldably bias the upper cuff to resume the normally upright position thereof when the user relaxes his lower leg and straightens it at the knee,
• the upper cuff being supported on the shoe structure so that the bottom portion of the same overlaps with the top portion of the strongback in the normally upright position of the upper cuff, one of the respective overlapping portions of the upper cuff and the strongback having a recess therein whereby the upper cuff can pivot in relation to the strongback when the user pivots his lower leg for water skiing, and the mutually opposing edge portions of the recess being sufficiently resiliently flexible to yieldably bias the upper cuff to resume the normally upright position thereof when the user relaxes his leg and straightens it at the knee.

In a ski for use in water skiing, the combination of

• an elongated runner, and
• a high top boot that is upstanding on the runner and comprises
• an open topped shoe structure in which the user can insert the base of his foot, for mounting his foot on the ski, including means that operatively define a holster within which the user can engage the metatarsal portion of his foot when the base of it is supported on the runner, and a wall structure that is substantially rigidly upstanding on the runner about the tarsal portion of the user's foot when the metatarsal portion of it is so engaged within the holster,
• said wall structure including a rear wall that upstands at the back of the shoe structure to a level above the ankle joint of the user's foot, to form a strongback for the achilles tendon of his foot,
• and a cuff-like superstructure which is engageable about the user's ankle when the base of his foot is inserted in the shoe structure, including a part annular upper cuff which is adapted to be removably secured about the user's lower leg above the ankle joint therein, and which is supported on the shoe structure at the top opening thereof, so as to have no more than limited capability to flex in relation to the shoe structure laterally thereof,
• said upper cuff being pivotally mounted on the wall structure to assume a normally upright position adjacent the strongback when the user's leg is relaxed and straightened at the knee,
• means for releasably detaining the upper cuff in the normally upright position thereof,
• said upper cuff and holster having terminal edge portions thereof which oppose one another across the instep of the user's foot, and which are spaced apart from one another by a gap when the upper cuff is releasably detained in the normally upright position thereof,
• said gap and said releasable detention means having means therein whereby the upper cuff can pivot in conjunction with the user's lower leg, relative to the shoe structure, to any of the full range of positions into which the user may choose to pivot his lower leg for water skiing, including the low angle position of dorsiflexure needed when he squats or crouches for startup,
• means responsive to the pivotal action of the upper cuff, relative to the shoe structure, to yieldably bias the upper cuff to resume the normally upright position thereof when the user relaxes his lower leg and straightens it at the knee.
• the strongback being disposed to detain the upper cuff in the normally upright position thereof,
• means operatively interposed between the strongback and the upper cuff whereby the upper cuff is releasable from detention for pivoting in conjunction with the user's lower leg, relative to the strongback, when the user pivots his lower leg for water skiing, and
• the biasing means being responsive to the pivotal action of the upper cuff, to yieldably bias the upper cuff to resume the normally upright position thereof when the user relaxes his leg and straightens it at the knee.

In a ski for use in water skiing, the combination of

• an elongated runner, and
• a high top boot that is upstanding on the runner and comprises
• an open topped shoe structure in which the user can insert the base of his foot, for mounting his foot on the ski, including means that operatively define a holster within which the user can engage the metatarsal portion of his foot when the base of it is supported on the runner, and a wall structure that is substantially rigidly upstanding on the runner about the tarsal portion of the user's foot when the metatarsal portion of it is so engaged within the holster,
• said wall structure including a rear wall that upstands at the back of the shoe structure to a level above the ankle joint of the user's foot, to form a strongback for the achilles tendon of his foot,
• and a cuff-like superstructure which is engageable about the user's ankle when the base of his foot is inserted in the shoe structure, including a part annular upper cuff which is adapted to be removably secured about the user's lower leg above the ankle joint therein, and which is supported on the shoe structure at the top opening thereof, so as to have no more than limited capability to flex in relation to the shoe structure laterally thereof,
• said upper cuff being pivotally mounted on the wall structure to assume a normally upright position adjacent the strongback when the user's leg is relaxed and straightened at the knee,
• means for releasably detaining the upper cuff in the normally upright position thereof,
• said upper cuff and holster having terminal edge portions thereof which oppose one another across the instep of the user's foot, and which are spaced apart from one another by a gap when the upper cuff is releasably detained in the normally upright position thereof,
• said gap and said releasable detention means having means therein whereby the upper cuff can pivot in conjunction with the user's lower leg, relative to the shoe structure, to any of the full range of positions into which the user may choose to pivot his lower leg for water skiing, including the low angle position of dorsiflexure needed when he squats or crouches for startup,
• means responsive to the pivotal action of the upper cuff, relative to the shoe structure, to yieldably bias the upper cuff to resume the normally upright position thereof when the user relaxes his lower leg and straightens it at the knee,
• the upper cuff being supported on the shoe structure so that the bottom portion of the same overlaps with the top portion of the strongback in the normally upright position of the upper cuff, one of the respective overlapping portions of the upper cuff and the strongback having a recess therein whereby the upper cuff can pivot in relation to the strongback when the user pivots his lower leg for water skiing, and the mutually opposing edge portions of the recess being sufficiently resiliently flexible to yieldably bias the upper cuff to resume the normally upright position thereof when the user relaxes his leg and straightens it at the knee.

In apparatus for water skiing, the combination of a water ski comprising an elongated runner having a

• pair of cleats on the dorsal side thereof which are spaced apart longitudinally of the runner,
• and a high top boot with which a user can mount his foot on the water ski,
• said boot comprising
• an open topped shoe structure in which the user can insert the base of his foot, including an elongated sole plate for use under the plantar surface of his foot, means that operatively define a holster within which the user can engage the metatarsal portion of his foot when the base of it is supported on the sole plate, and a wall structure that is substantially rigidly upstanding on the sole plate about the tarsal portion of the user's foot when the metatarsal portion of it is so engaged within the holster, said wall structure including a rear wall that upstands at the back of the shoe structure to a level above the ankle joint of the user's foot, to form a strongback for the achilles tendon of his foot,
• and a cuff-like superstructure which is engageable about the user's ankle when the base of his foot is inserted in the shoe structure, including a part annular upper cuff which is adapted to be removably secured about the user's lower leg above the ankle joint therein, and which is supported on the shoe structure at the top opening thereof, so as to have no more than limited capability to flex in relation to the shoe structure laterally thereof,
• said upper cuff being pivotally mounted on the wall structure to assume a normally upright position adjacent the strongback when the user's leg is relaxed and straightened at the knee,
• means for releasably detaining the upper cuff in the normally upright position thereof,
• said upper cuff and holster having terminal edge portions thereof which oppose one another across the instep of the user's foot, and which are spaced apart from one another by a gap when the upper cuff is releasably detained in the normally upright position thereof,
• said gap and said releasable detention means having means therein whereby the upper cuff can pivot in conjunction with the user's lower leg, relative to the shoe structure, to any of the full range of positions into which the user may choose to pivot his lower leg for water skiing, including the low angle position of dorsiflexure needed when he squats or crouches for startup,
• means responsive to the pivotal action of the upper cuff, relative to the shoe structure, to yieldable bias the upper cuff to resume the normally upright position thereof when the user relaxes his lower leg and straightens it at the knee,
• the upper cuff being supported on the shoe structure so that the bottom portion of the same overlaps with the top portion of the strongback in the normally upright position of the upper cuff, one of the respective overlapping portions of the upper cuff and the strongback having a recess therein whereby the upper cuff can pivot in relation to the strongback when the user pivots his lower leg for water skiing, and the mutually opposing edge portions of the recess being sufficiently resiliently flexible to yieldably bias the upper cuff to resume the normally upright position thereof when the user relaxes his leg and straightens it at the knee,
• and said sole plate being adapted to be positioned in the space between the cleats of the runner, there being means on the cleats for clamping the boot to the runner, and the clamping means being operable to release the boot when a predetermined shear force is generated between the ski and the boot transverse thereof.