EP0028801A1 - Foot-strap on a surfboard - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A foot loop on a windsurfing board, placed on such board in groups with other such loops or singly on the deck thereof, such loops being made up of a length of strap, joined at its two ends with the deck of the windsurfing board, characterized in that at least one end of the strap (12) is joined up with the surfing board (1) by a unit (5), which may be triggered for undoing and freeing the strap (12), forming the foot loop (2), and which on being done up may be self-locked in the done-up condition, and in that the force needed for triggering the unit (5) is adjustable.

Description

The invention relates to foot straps on windsurf boards which are provided individually or in groups on the top surface of the windsurf board and consist of a section of a webbing which is connected at both ends to the top surface of the windsurf board.

Such foot straps are generally known (Windsurfing magazine Surf, August 1979, pages 32-34) and generally consist of a wide webbing, for example of the size of seat belts in automobiles, which to increase the rigidity and padding, with laminated neoprene, which sewn together to form a tube. Known foot straps, which are so large that you can easily slip in and out, because different courses take different foot positions attached to the deck surface of the windsurf board in several places. The classic arrangement here is that, for example, three loops are attached at approximately the same distance on the connecting line between the front edge of the fin and the sword box end, while on both sides of the sword box, at an opening angle of 45 °, V-shaped further pairs of such are arranged outwards Foot straps are attached. In known foot straps, the webbing is glued to the roughened board at both ends or additionally screwed by means of dowels. In the case of windsurf boards made of glass fiber reinforced plastic, the two ends of the webbing are laminated with glass mat and resin onto the windsurf board sanded at the adhesive point.

Known foot straps have the disadvantage that after fastening the webbing forming the foot strap to the windsurf board, the size of the loop opening is fixed, so that an adjustment of the diameter, for example when the windsurfer wears shoes or drives barefoot, is not possible is. The serious disadvantage of known foot straps, however, is in particular that when falling, there is the possibility that one cannot get out of the loops quickly enough, since the foot can become jammed in the fall, which represents a considerable safety risk.

The invention has for its object to provide straps of the type indicated above, which do not have these ^e le Isacht and to ensure disengagement of the foot in the event of a crash, in particular in the manner of a safety binding during skiing.

This object is essentially achieved in a foot strap of the type specified above in that at least one end of the belt strap is connected to the windsurfing board by means of a device which is designed to be released in the opening direction and to be latched in the closing direction to release the strap forming the foot strap, and in that the Trigger moment of the device is adjustable.

The advantage of the invention is in particular that a real "safety binding" is created for windsurf boards with foot straps, which, according to the individual needs and abilities, affect their safety, i.e. can be adjusted the moment the foot strap is opened to release the foot.

A preferred embodiment according to the invention can be created in that the closed position of the device is held in a snap-in manner by positive locking of at least one molded body that is effective between two mutually movable components, that the molded body is pretensioned in the locking position by a spring element and that the spring force is adjustable.

In particular, it is advantageous that the components consist of a base body which is connected to the windsurf board and a locking part which is articulated thereon is pivotable upwards in the opening direction, the belt webbing being carried out between the locking part and the base body.

In particular, the invention can be further developed in that the locking part has a lever-like one-sided articulation. In this case, it is preferred to arrange the lever-like one-sided articulation on the region of the base body that is remote from the foot strap.

In one embodiment according to the invention, the belt strap forming the foot loop is fastened to the free end of the locking part.

In a modified preferred embodiment, which forms the advantage of the adjustability of the width of the foot strap, the belt strap forming the foot strap is carried out under a clamping surface provided on the latch part.

The clamping surface is preferably provided in the region of the end closer to the pivot axis of the locking part.

In particular, the invention can be further developed in that the locking part is U-shaped in cross section parallel to the course of the webbing, the U-shaped profile being short in comparison to the connecting web. In this embodiment, the clamping surface is formed by the lower edge of the leg of the U-profile which is close to the pivot axis.

A particularly preferred embodiment according to the invention can be created in that the safety lock formed by the molded body and the spring element is arranged in the region of the end of the latch part which is close to the foot strap. It is preferred that the locking part has a release surface arranged on a lever arm with respect to the pivot axis. This embodiment offers the advantage that the increased tension on the foot strap acts directly on the safety lock and at If the set holding force is exceeded, the lever-like transmission ensures safe triggering.

In an embodiment according to the invention, this release surface can be formed by the lower edge of the leg of the U-profile close to the foot strap.

It is also preferred, for reasons of convenience, to adjust the triggering force from the top of the locking part. As a result, this adjustment can be made when the safety lock is engaged.

In one embodiment according to the invention, the locking part consists of metal, in particular stainless steel.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the base body is designed in such a way that the locking part is completely received by it in the closed state. This prevents any protruding edges or corners from creating a risk of injury.

The base body can preferably consist of a plastic which is compatible with the plastic of the windsurf board.

However, it is preferred that the base body has an internal reinforcement made of metal, in particular stainless steel, which at the same time contains the mounting of the pivot axis and / or the possibility of positive locking of the safety lock. In one embodiment according to the invention, the reinforcement can consist of an upwardly open U-profile, which at the same time forms the webbing guide and is designed slightly larger than the U-profile of the locking part. The U-profile is in this case optionally firmly connected to the plastic of the base body by additional anchoring.

For the attachment of the base body, this has a lower adhesive surface for connection to the windsurf board on, wherein at least two lateral approaches for laminating or for receiving screw connections can additionally be provided. This has the advantage that even existing windsurf boards can be retrofitted with such foot straps in the function of a safety binding.

Further alternatives and basic embodiments for realizing the basic idea of the invention are explained in the following description.

• Fig. 1 den Heckabschnitt eines mit Fußschlaufen nach der Erfindung ausgerüsteten Windsurfbrettes in perspektivischer Darstellung;
• Fig. 2 eine skizzenhafte Vorderansicht der Befestigungseinrichtung für das Gurtband;
• Fig. 3 eine Schnittansicht der Befestigungsvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 2 in skizzenhafter Darstellung;
• Fig. 4 die Ausführungsform gemäß Figuren 2 und 3 in geöffneter Stellung;
• Fig. 5 eine Draufsicht auf die Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 2, wobei das Gurtband weggelassen wurde;
• Fig. 6 eine skizzenhafte seitliche Schnittansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Figuren 2 bis 5 in geschlossener Stellung.
• Fig. 7 eine Figur 2 entsprechende Ansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform nach der Erfindung;
• Fig. 8 eine Schnittansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Figur 7;
• Fig. 9 eine teilweise geschnittene Seitenansicht der Fußschlaufe gemäß Figur 7 von einer Seite;
• Fig. 10 eine Seitenansicht der Fußschlaufe gemäß Figur 7 von der entgegengesetzten Seite;
• Fig. 11 eine schematische Schnittansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Fußschlaufe nach der Erfindung und
• Fig. 11a eine Einzelheit von Figur 11;
• Fig. 12 eine schematische Schnittansicht des Kupplungsbereiches der Ausführungsform gemäß Figur 11.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. It shows:

• Figure 1 shows the rear section of a windsurf board equipped with foot straps according to the invention in a perspective view.
• Figure 2 is a sketchy front view of the fastening device for the webbing.
• 3 shows a sectional view of the fastening device according to FIG. 2 in a sketchy illustration;
• 4 shows the embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 3 in the open position;
• FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the device according to FIG. 2, with the webbing being omitted;
• Fig. 6 is a sketchy side sectional view of the device according to Figures 2 to 5 in the closed position.
• 7 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 2 of a further embodiment according to the invention;
• 8 shows a sectional view of the device according to FIG. 7;
• 9 shows a partially sectioned side view of the foot strap according to FIG. 7 from one side;
• 10 shows a side view of the foot strap according to FIG. 7 from the opposite side;
• Fig. 11 is a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of the foot strap according to the invention and
• 11a shows a detail from FIG. 11;
• FIG. 12 shows a schematic sectional view of the coupling region of the embodiment according to FIG. 11.

FIG. 1 illustrates the rear section of a windsurf board 1, in which foot straps 2 according to the invention are provided on the deck surface 3. The foot straps 2 consist of webbing sections 4, which have approximately the dimensions of car seat belts. The belt sections 4 are connected to the deck surface 3 of the surfboard 1 at least at one of their ends by means of a type of safety binding, which is explained in more detail below with reference to the remaining figures of the drawings. In Fig. 1, this device is generally designated 5. In the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1, two pairs of foot straps 2 are provided on both sides of the sword case 6 of the windsurfing board 1, which are aligned at an angle of approximately 45 ° to the center line. Another pair of foot straps 2 is provided on the connecting line between the fin 7 and the sword case 6. Instead of these two foot straps 2, 3 or 4 foot straps of this type can also be provided, in which at least one of the ends connected to the board is also held via the device 5.

In the following, the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2-6 is of the type of a safe device 5 triggering bond binding. The embodiment illustrated in the drawings is a particularly robust and greatly simplified embodiment which is insensitive to both salt water and sand in terms of its functionality.

As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 2 and 4, the device 5 consists of a base body 8 and a locking part 9. The base body 8 is firmly connected to the windsurf board 1 and preferably consists of a plastic that can be securely connected to the plastic of the windsurf board by gluing or laminating , in addition screw connections not shown can be provided. The base body 8 also contains a reinforcing part 10, preferably made of stainless steel, which is designed as an upwardly pointing U-shaped rail.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 in more detail, in the illustrated embodiment, the locking part 9 consists of a box-shaped component which is articulated on one side in a lever-like manner so as to be pivotable. In the sectional view according to FIG. 4 lying parallel to the main direction of the webbing 12, the locking part 9 likewise has a U-profile-shaped cross-section which is open at the bottom, the two legs 13, 14 of the U-profile being relatively short compared to its web 15 . As can be seen from the view according to FIG. 6, the leg 14 adjacent to the pivot axis 11 forms a clamping surface 16 on its lower edge, which securely clamps the webbing 12 against the reinforcing part 10 when the device 5 is closed. The lower edge of the front leg 13, which is adjacent to the safety lock 17 contained in the locking part 9, as will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 3, forms a release surface 18 which the locking part 9 by releasing the safety lock 17 by engagement of the webbing 12 pivoted upward about the pivot axis 11, so that the webbing 12 is released when the force exerted on the foot strap 2 exceeds the set value.

3 shows a sectional view of a particularly simple and robust embodiment of the safety lock 17 arranged in the locking part 9. As shown, the actual lock consists of a shaped body designed here as a ball 19, which, under the action of a spring 20, fits into a corresponding recess 21 in a form-fitting manner at least one of the side walls 22, 23 of the U-profile forming the reinforcement 10 is pressed. The bias of the spring 20 can be changed by means of an adjusting screw 24 which, at its free end in a threaded bushing 25, can be screwed in and out in a threaded tube 27 in the desired dimension via an adjusting wheel 26, the threaded tube 27 containing the spring 20 , one end of which acts on the ball 19 and the other end of which abuts the adjusting screw 24.

It is obvious that this arrangement is the easiest way to adjust the force required to move the ball 19 out of the opening 21, after which the locking part 9 can take the position shown in Fig. 4 and the webbing 12 while increasing the Foot strap 2 slips, so that a possibly stuck foot is released.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown, instead of slipping of the webbing 12, it can also be connected to the front leg 13 of the locking part 9, so that the upward pivoting movement of the locking part 9 also triggers the necessary enlargement of the inside diameter of the foot strap 2 when triggered causes. In this embodiment, a basic adjustability of the size of the foot strap 2 is dispensed with, in which case a further modification instead of the fixed connection with the leg 13 of the locking part 9 an adjustment can be provided at this point.

In Fig. 5 it is also shown that the adjusting wheel 26 of the adjusting screw 24 is guided out through a slot or opening 28 to the outside of the locking part 9, so that the triggering force is adjusted by changing the bias of the spring 20 when the locking part 9 is closed can. As can also be seen from the drawings, to reduce the risk of injury on the one hand the base body 8 is formed with rounded contours and on the other hand the locking part 9 is dimensioned such that it is completely absorbed by the U-profile of the reinforcement 10 so that no protruding edges and parts available.

As can also be seen from the figures, at least two lateral projections 29, 30 are provided on the base body 8, which are used for fastening by lamination or additional screwing. Furthermore, the base body 8 has a lower adhesive surface 31 which is designed for large-area fastening by gluing.

It is obvious that the basic idea of a safety binding for foot straps on windsurf boards was created by the present invention without limitation to the exemplary embodiment described above. Numerous changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, the person skilled in the art has many options for designing the safety lock 17 using a wide variety of moldings or using a more or less large frictional engagement, which can also be adjustable. The only thing that matters is that such a foot strap releases the foot of a pinched surfer by means of an influenceable triggering moment.

In Fig. 6 a detail according to the invention is indicated, which results from the fact that according to the invention at least one end of the webbing 12 is not constantly connected to the surfboard 1. As shown in Fig. 6, the known padding made of laminated neoprene according to the invention is designed as a tube 32, which can be pushed onto the webbing 12 in corresponding sections. In this way, disruptive seams and the like can be completely avoided.

In the embodiment as schematically illustrated in FIGS. 7-10, the device, generally designated 5, consists of a U-shaped housing 33 which is connected to the windsurf board 1, which in turn is preferably made of a plastic with the windsurf board Adhesive or laminating securely connectable plastic, wherein screw connections may also be provided, also not shown. As in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1-6, a reinforcement made of stainless steel or the like can also be provided.

In this embodiment, the lying part 9 consists of an axle 34, which is supported on both sides in the upright legs in bearings 35, 36 and under which the webbing 12 is passed, the axle 34 being perpendicular to the main direction of the webbing 12.

The axis 34 also has a clamping surface 16 which is provided on the axis 34 in an eccentric manner. The clamping surface 16 is provided with a toothing 41 running parallel to the axis 34, which forms the surface of the eccentricity 42 of the axis 34.

As can be seen from the schematic sectional view according to FIG. 9, the axis 34 is held against rotation by a safety lock 17, which is designed in such a way that the lock 17 engages when the webbing 12 is clamped between the bottom of the housing 33 and the eccentricity 42 is.

In the illustrated embodiment, the safety lock 17 consists of a ball 37 arranged in a bore 38 of the housing 33, which is pressed by a spring 43 against a flattening 39 which is provided on the axis 34 within the bearing 36. The force with which the ball 37 is pressed against the flattening 39 of the axis 34 by the spring 43 can be adjusted by means of a screw 44 which can be screwed in and out of a thread in the bore 38.

Because of the extremely short lever arm; between the pivot point of the axis 34 and the surface of the eccentricity 42 having the toothing 41, the spring 43 can be made comparatively weak, so that the triggering moment at which the belt webbing 12 is released when the axis 34 is pivoted is very great can be finely adjusted.

As can be seen from the side view of FIG. 10, in the preferred embodiment, on the side of the axle 34 opposite the safety lock 17, an externally accessible lever 40 is provided, by means of which the axle 34 can be pivoted to release the belt strap 12. The lever 40 serves here on the one hand to adjust the width of the foot strap, and on the other hand to reinsert it if the force set by means of the safety lock 17 has been released. The arrangement is preferably such that when the lever 40 is in the locked position, it assumes the position shown in FIG. protrudes as little as possible over the surface of the windsurf board 1 and the housing 33.

Compared to the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1-6, the embodiment of the foot strap according to FIGS. 7-10 has the advantage of the much lighter and more compact construction, which furthermore does not pose any risk of injury because of the small dimensions and overall rounded and compact contour.

A very particularly preferred embodiment according to the invention is described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.

As can be seen from FIGS. 11 and 11a, in this embodiment one of the components consists of dowel bodies 50 anchored in the windsurf board 1 and the other of the components 8, 9 consists of a bracket 52 or the like, to which the webbing 12 of the foot strap is fastened. Between the dowel bodies 50 and bracket 52 generally designated 51 coupling pieces are effective, the release torque is also adjustable as in the previously described embodiments.

In the preferred embodiment, the coupling pieces 51 are part of the dowel 52, so that the dowel bodies can be kept simple, and furthermore, the brackets 52 can be moved into different pairs of dowel bodies 50 in a windsurfing board 1 with the least effort.

The dowel bodies 50 preferably consist of rotationally symmetrical aluminum molded parts which are inserted into bores 54 in the windsurf board 1 as far as into the foam core 55 thereof. For installation, the bores are partially filled with resin 56, which firmly connects to the teeth 57 of the dowel body 50 and prevents them from being released from the windsurf board 1.

A preferred feature of the dowel body 50 is an additional toothing 59 opposite the head part 58 of the dowel body 50, which is designed such that the outer skin 60 of a windsurfing board is held in a form-fitting manner between the head part 58 and the additional toothing 59.

The dowel bodies 50 have a bore 61 in the head part 58, which, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 12, have an annular groove 62 on the inside, into which a ball 63 of the safety lock 17 of the coupling pieces 51 can snap into place.

As in the previously described embodiments, the pressure exerted on the ball by a spring 64 can be adjusted from the outside, in the illustrated embodiment a screw 66 having a conical end 65 is provided, which is accessible from the outside in a threaded bore 67 of the bracket 52 is arranged.

In a modified embodiment, as is indicated in FIG. 12, the head part 58 is at an angle to the remaining part of the dowel body 50, the installation being carried out in such a way that the bore 61 lies approximately in the pulling direction of the webbing 12. In this embodiment, an even more secure triggering of the safety lock can be guaranteed without tilting.

The invention was explained in more detail above with reference to a few exemplary embodiments, the basic idea of which is to make foot straps on wind surfboards releasable and openable in the manner of a safety binding. Various alternatives, in particular the design of the security lock, which fall under the basic ideas of the present invention, are obvious to the person skilled in the art in this field.

All of the features and advantages of the invention, including constructive details and spatial arrangements, resulting from the description, the claims and drawings can be essential to the invention both individually and in any combination.

Claims (10)

1. foot strap on windsurf boards, which are provided individually or in groups on the deck surface of the windsurf board and consist of a section of a webbing which is connected at both ends to the deck surface of the windsurf board, characterized in that at least one end of the webbing (12) is connected to the windsurfing board (1) by means of a device (5), which is designed to release the belt strap (12) forming the foot loop (2) in the opening direction and can be latched in the closing direction and that the triggering moment of the device (5) is adjustable. 2. foot strap according to claim 1, characterized in that the closed position of the device (5) by means of positive engagement of at least one between two mutually movable components (8, 9) effective molded body (19) is held snap that the molded body (19) by a spring element (20) is biased into the locking position and that the spring force is adjustable. 3. foot strap according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that components (8, 9) from a with the windsurf board (1) connected base body (8) and a hinged to this latch part (9), which in the opening can be pivoted upwards, the webbing (12) being guided between the locking part (9) and the base body (8). 4. foot strap according to claim 3, characterized in that the latch part (9) has a lever-like one-sided linkage (11) that the lever-like one-sided linkage (11) in the region of the end of the latch part (9) remote from the foot loop (2) and that the belt strap (12) forming the foot loop (2) is passed under a clamping surface (16) provided on the latch part (9) in the region of the end nearer the pivot axis (11) of the latch part (9), the latch part ( 9) in cross section parallel to the webbing (12) is U-shaped, and wherein the U-shaped profile is formed with short legs (13, 14) compared to its connecting web (15) and the clamping surface (16) through the lower edge of the the leg (14) of the U-profile which is close to the pivot axis (11) is formed. 5. Foot strap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the safety lock (17) formed by the molded body (19) and the spring element (20) is arranged in the region of the end of the bar: part (9) near the foot strap (2) that the locking part (9) has a release surface (18) arranged on a lever arm with respect to the pivot axis (11) and that the release surface (18) is formed by the lower edge of the leg (13) of the U-profile which is close to the foot strap (2) . 6. foot strap according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the locking part (9) as a U-profile-shaped housing (33) mounted axis (34) that a clamping surface (16) eccentrically on the axis (34 ) is provided, and that the axis (34) in the area of one of the bearings (35, 36) in the housing (33) has the device (37, 38, 39, 43, 44) for adjusting the triggering torque. 7. foot strap according to claim 6, characterized in that the closed position of the device is held by means of positive locking at least one molded body (37) which is effective between the axis (34) and the housing (33), and that the molded body (9, 10) is held biased by a spring (43) in the latching position, the spring force is adjustable, and that the shaped body consists of a ball (37) which is arranged in a bore (38) of the housing (33) spring biased and with a flattening (39) on the axis (34) is engaged. 8. foot strap according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that a lever (40) for opening the eccentric of the axis (34) is provided. 9. foot strap according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the components (8, 9) from in the windsurf board (1) anchored dowel bodies (50) and in this snap-in coupling pieces (51), which on a bracket (52) od. Like. Are arranged to hold the webbing (12). 10. foot strap according to claim 9, characterized in that the adjustable spring elements (20) and the molded body (19) are provided on the coupling parts (51).

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