[0001] The present invention relates to an improved sports equipment of the type as recited
in the preamble of Claim 1.
[0002] To be precise, the invention relates to a particular board suitable to be used for
the performance of snowboarding, skimboarding, skateboarding, skiing, kite-surfing
or other sports the performance of which requires the athlete to be on of a board.
[0003] As is known, the performance of the above sports requires the use of a specific sports
equipment which comprises, mainly, a board, two shoes and two attachments each of
which constraining a foot and, to be precise, the shoe to the board.
[0004] The basic elements of such equipment are to be identified in the attachments which
must stably constrain the shoe to the board during the activity and at the same time
immediately release the shoe during a fall or other dangerous situation which could
damage the athlete's joints.
[0005] The attachments comprise a heel pad, a toe cap and an insole constraining the attachment
to the board and on which the heel pad and the toe cap mutually translate to adapt
the size and position of the attachment to the shoe.
[0006] The toe cap is, in most cases, shaped as a "V" so as to accommodate the tip of the
shoe, while the heel pad has a manual release hook by means of which to control the
attachment or the release of the shoe from the attachment.
[0007] In addition, the "V" portion of the toe cap is composed of two separate elements
hinged to the insole so as to rotate and move away from the shoe releasing it from
the board; and of adjustable preload springs able to control the closure of said elements
and, thus allow the rotational distancing of said elements only when there is a force/moment
acting on them which is greater than the preload.
[0008] The prior art mentioned above has several significant drawbacks.
[0009] A first drawback is the fact that the known sports equipment requires complex blocking
operations of the shoe to the attachment.
[0010] This aspect is determined by the adjustment of the attachment and, in particular,
of the relative position between the toe cap and heel pad which must be adapted to
the shoe and, thus to the specific foot of the athlete.
[0011] This complexity is also produced by the adjustment of the springs which, being a
compromise between the need for a stable connection of the shoe to the board and its
release in the case of fall, is extremely complex and almost never optimal. Another
drawback is that the adjustments described above, based on the weight, size and other
characteristics of the athlete, need to be repeated whenever a new athlete wishes
to use the sports equipment.
[0012] This drawback is increased by the fact that the athlete, for example in the case
of a snowboard or ski, makes the adjustments and the connection of the shoe to the
board while wearing gloves, which further complicates such operations.
[0013] Another drawback is the complexity of construction and, thus the high cost of the
attachments and thus of the sports equipment currently on the market.
[0014] In this situation the technical purpose of the present invention is to devise an
improved sports equipment able to substantially overcome the drawbacks mentioned.
[0015] Within the sphere of said technical purpose one important aim of the invention is
to have sports equipment which is simple to make and inexpensive.
[0016] Another important aim of the invention is to make a sports equipment which is easy
to adapt to the specific needs of an athlete.
[0017] The technical purpose and specified aims are achieved by an improved sports equipment
according to the appended Claim 1.
[0018] Preferred embodiments are evident from the dependent claims.
[0019] The characteristics and advantages of the invention are clearly evident from the
detailed description below of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the
appended
Fig. 1 which shows the improved sports equipment according to the invention.
[0020] With reference to the Figures mentioned, the improved sports equipment according
to the invention is globally denoted by reference numeral
1.
[0021] It is utilisable for sports such as, for example, skiing, kite surfing, skateboarding,
snowboarding (Fig. 1), skimboarding or wakeskating and the like, and comprises at
least one board
2 suitable to support an athlete; one or more shoes
3, appropriately two, each suitable to contain a foot of the athlete; and at least
one attachment
4 suitable to constrain an athlete's foot and, in particular, a shoe 3 to the board
2.
[0022] The preferred applications are for sports in which joining means between the shoe
and the board are not generally provided, such as more in detail wakeskating, which
provides for use of the board on water.
[0023] In particular, in the case of sports equipment 1 for snowboarding, skimboarding,
skateboarding, kitesurfing, wakeboarding, wakeskating, windsurfing or other similar
sports, it has a single board 2 and, appropriately, two attachments 4 suitable to
constrain the shoes 3 and thus the athlete's feet near the ends of the board 2, as
illustrated in Fig. 1.
[0024] Alternatively, in the case of equipment 1 for skiing or similar sports, the sports
equipment 1 comprises two boards 2 each having a single attachment 4 suitable to constrain
a shoe 3 to the board 2.
[0025] The board 2 comprises at least one housing
2a suitable to house the attachment 4 at least partially, limiting the portion of attachment
4 protruding from the board 2. Preferably, the housing 2a is practically complementary
to the attachment 4 so that the attachment portion 4 protruding from the board 2 is
practically null and, therefore, the attachment 4 is arranged flush with the board,
as shown in the enlargement in cross-section in Fig. 1.
[0026] The attachment 4 is of the magnetic type, i.e. able to constrain the shoe 3 to the
board 2 exerting on said shoe 3 an attractive force of the magnetic type.
[0027] It therefore comprises at least one magnet
4a while the shoe 3, as described below, is at least partially made of ferromagnetic
material or other material suitable to magnetise itself under the action of the magnetic
field exerted by the magnet 4a.
[0028] In particular, the attachment 4 comprises two magnetic zones
4c, one suitable to engage in the vicinity of the tip of the shoe 3, in more detail
between the metatarsal and proximal phalanges, and one at the heel. Said zones are
preferably approximately circular with a diameter between 5 cm and 9 cm.
[0029] Each magnetic zone comprises at least one magnet 4a.
[0030] In particular, a single magnet 4a (Fig. 2a) can be arranged or a plurality of magnets,
in particular four (Fig. 2b. Each magnetic zone 4c has a magnet 4a, or magnets, which
preferably exert a total force of attraction between 48N and 52N on a ferromagnetic
material.
[0031] The magnets 4a are preferably so-called neodymium magnets, in particular in an alloy
of boron, iron and neodymium known as being strongly magnetic. They preferably have
a height between 8 mm and 15 mm and a diameter between 5 cm and 7 cm, for the single
magnet solution and between 1.5 cm and 3.5 cm, for the 8 magnet solution.
[0032] The magnets 4a preferably also have a coating, such as a lacquering, of a height
of less than 2mm and suitably non-ferromagnetic.
[0033] Additionally to the magnet 4a, the attachment 4 may comprise connection means
4b (magnification in Fig. 1) suitable to make the attachment 4 integral with the board
2 and, therefore, comprising screws or, preferably, an adhesive layer.
[0034] In this sense the magnet 4a can be directly integrated in the structure of the board
2 which is generally in polymer-coated materials and in particular in resins or directly
in said polymers or resins usually constituting the matrix of a composite material.
[0035] The shoe 3 is identifiable in a boot or other similar footwear able to ensure optimum
adhesion of said shoe 3 to the foot, the heel and the tibia of the athlete. Preferably
it is for wakeskating and is therefore substantially a classic sneaker.
[0036] It also comprises on the sole at least one ferromagnetic body
3a suitable to attach itself to the attachment 4 by magnetic attraction. Preferably,
the shoe 3 has two ferromagnetic bodies 3a, one proximal to the tip and one at the
heel.
[0037] The ferromagnetic body 3a is made of magnetite, iron, cobalt, nickel, or other ferromagnetic
material able to magnetize itself under the action of the magnetic field emitted by
the magnet 4a.
[0038] In particular, the ferromagnetic body 3a defines two ferromagnetic areas
3b, one positioned in the proximity of the tip of the shoe 3, in more detail between
the metatarsal and proximal phalanges, and one at the heel.
[0039] The ferromagnetic areas 3b may be disc-shaped (Fig. 3a), with a diameter preferably
between 5 cm and 9 cm, to facilitate and speed up the application of the same but
allowing the reduction of sharp angles which create a greater increase of wear points
of the sole. The rounded shape of the disc permits a positioning in the two support
points of the foot in a non-perceptible manner. Said zones are preferably approximately
circular.
[0040] In a second alternative, in particular in the ferromagnetic area 3b in correspondence
with the metatarsal and proximal phalanges, the ferromagnetic areas 3b comprise rectangular
plates extending parallel in the direction perpendicular to the main direction of
extension of the shoe, with a space between one and the other of more than 1.5 mm.
This structure creates a flexible and perfectly ergonomic "vertebra" with the sole
of the foot (Fig. 3b)
[0041] The ferrous material preferably has a thickness of more than 3 mm and between 3 mm
and 5 mm.
[0042] The ferrous material may be of a different shape to facilitate the movements and
the twisting and bending of the foot. The most optimal options were obtained with
the following shapes.
[0043] The ferrous material, for optimisation with the attachment of the board, should be
placed in the heel at 12 cm from the tip of the shoe, centre-centre.
[0044] The attachment of the plates may be performed mechanically with the aid of self-locking
screws and bolts that anchor it to the insole, or directly vulcanized in the rubber
of the sole, or by combining the two previous systems together.
[0045] The upper of the shoe should preferably be made of fabric or perforated to allow
water to exit more quickly. It preferably has a sole without a heel for optimal use.
The fastenings should be preferably be laces with tie both to facilitate opening and
closing even when wet, and to correctly enclose the foot increasing agility in the
various manoeuvres of the rider.
[0046] The functioning of an improved sports equipment, described above in a structural
sense, is as follows.
[0047] First the athlete puts on the shoes 3 only and goes to where the sports activity
is performed, such as a ski slope.
[0048] At this point he places the board 2 on the ground and stands on it placing his feet
and thus the shoes 3 over the attachments 4.
[0049] In particular, when the shoes 3 approach the attachments 4, the ferromagnetic bodies
3a are stimulated by the magnetic field emitted by the attachments 4 and, consequently,
are firmly constrained to the attachments 4 and, consequently, to the board 2.
[0050] The invention achieves important advantages.
[0051] A first important advantage is the simplicity of anchorage of the shoe 2 to the attachments
3.
[0052] In fact, conversely to the prior sports equipment where complicated operations were
necessary, the sports equipment 1 achieves the constraint to the board 2 simply by
placing the shoes 3 on the board.
[0053] Such simplicity of constraint is further guaranteed by the absence of the need to
perform the complicated and laborious operations needed in the prior sports equipment
to adapt the attachment to the size of the shoe and, therefore, the athlete.
[0054] One important advantage is that the sports equipment 1, being devoid of the complicated
attachments of the prior art, is simple to make.
[0055] Another advantage is the fact that the shoe 3, when distanced from the magnets 4,
is not able to attract objects magnetically. As a result, the athlete can walk without
the risk of objects sticking to the shoe 3 preventing its proper constraint to the
attachments 4.
[0056] A further advantage is that the equipment 1 does not require complicated operations
to adjust the force of constraint of the attachments and, consequently, ensures optimal
protection from sprains or other joint problems irrespective of the characteristics
of the athlete.
[0057] Another advantage of no less importance is the presence of the housing 2a which,
containing the attachment 4 practically entirely, makes it possible to have a smooth
board 2 and of high aesthetic value.
[0058] The invention is susceptible to variation within the inventive concept. All the elements
as described and claimed herein may be replaced with equivalent elements and the scope
of the invention includes all other details, materials, shapes and dimensions.
1. Improved sports equipment (1) comprising
- at least one board (2) suitable to support an athlete during the performance of
a sport;
- at least one attachment (4) suitable to constrain a foot of said athlete to said
board (2);
- characterised in that
- said at least one attachment (4) comprises at least one magnet (4a) integrated in
said board (2).
2. Improved sports equipment (1) according to the previous claim, wherein said attachment
(4) comprises two magnetic zones (4c) one suitable to engage in proximity of the tip
of the shoe (3) and one at the heel.
3. Improved sports equipment (1) according to the previous claim, wherein said magnetic
zone (4c) suitable to engage in the vicinity of the tip of the shoe (3) is suitable
to engage between the metatarsal and proximal phalanges.
4. Improved sports equipment (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said magnetic zones
(4c) are preferably approximately circular with a diameter between 5 cm and 9 cm.
5. Improved sports equipment (1) according to one or more of the claims 2 - 4, wherein
said magnetic zones (4c) have said magnets (4a) which exert a total force of attraction
between 48 N and 52 N on a ferromagnetic material.
6. Improved sports equipment (1) according to one or more of the claims 2 - 5, wherein
said magnetic zones (4c) each comprise only one magnet (4a).
7. Improved sports equipment (1) according to one or more of the claims 2 - 5, wherein
said magnetic zones (4c) each comprise four magnets (4a).
8. Improved sports equipment (1) according to the previous claim wherein said at least
one magnet (4a) is a neodymium magnet.
9. Improved sports equipment (1) comprising at least one board (2) suitable to support
an athlete during the performance of a sport; at least one attachment (4) suitable
to constrain a foot of said athlete to said board (2); at least one shoe (3) suitable
to receive said foot and to be constrained by said attachment (4) to said board (2);
and wherein said at least one shoe (3) comprises at least one ferromagnetic body (3a)
suitable to be constrained by magnetic attraction to said attachment (4).
10. Improved sports equipment (1) according to the previous claim, wherein said at least
one ferromagnetic body (3a) defines two ferromagnetic areas (3b) one suitable to engage
in proximity with the tip of the shoe (3) and one at the heel.
11. Improved sports equipment (1) according to the previous claim, wherein said ferromagnetic
area (3b) suitable to engage in the vicinity of the tip of the shoe (3) is suitable
to engage in between the metatarsal and proximal phalanges.
12. Improved sports equipment (1) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said ferromagnetic
areas (3b) are preferably approximately circular with a diameter between 5 cm and
9 cm.
13. Improved sports equipment (1) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein, in said ferromagnetic
area (3b) at the metatarsal and the proximal phalanges, the ferromagnetic areas (3b)
comprise rectangular plates extending parallel along the direction perpendicular to
the main direction of extension of the shoe.
14. Improved sports equipment (1) according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein
said board (2) is a wakeboard.
15. Improved sports equipment (1) according to one or more of the previous claim wherein
said board (2) is a wakeskate board.