Connelly Skis, Inc.

Gail M Ackert

Donald B Gillis

Patrick J Connelly

David E Calapp

Roger J Brown

An adjustable water ski binding includes an upper (18) composed of a toepiece (60) and a heelpiece (69) cooperatively defining a binding cavity (22) for receiving and restraining a foot. The lower perimeter portions of the toepiece (60) and heelpiece (69) are secured to a perimeter frame assembly (20). A pair of oppositely disposed straps (86), provided on binding upper (18), extend forwardly and then laterally across and down the sides of the toepiece (60) to define distal end portions (126). The end portions (126) of the straps (86) are fastened to the binding frame assembly (20) at selected locations along the strap end portion to selectively vary the size of the binding cavity (22).

Water ski binding

An adjustable water ski binding (10) is composed of an upper (18) secured substantially vertically between a laterally supportive, generally U-shaped internal frame (34) and a similarly shaped external frame (50) to form a foot-receiving binding cavity (22). A full length soleplate (24) underlies the internal frame (34) and includes a slot (108), allowing the width of soleplate (24) to be adjusted. A pair of rotation tabs (114) are secured to external frame (50) and include a plurality of adjustment holes (120) that allow tabs (114) to be additionally secured to a mounting plate (12). By selecting the proper pair of adjustment holes (120), the width of binding upper (18) can be increased or decreased. A pair of oppositely disposed strap portions (86), provided on binding upper (18), extend forwardly, overlapping the instep of binding upper (18). End portions (126) of straps (86) are adjustably securable between the internal frame (34) and external frame ( 50) to selectively vary the size of binding cavity (22).

An adjustable water ski binding (10) is composed of an upper (18) secured substantially vertically between a laterally supportive, generally U-shaped internal frame (34) and a similarly shaped external frame (50) to form a foot-receiving binding cavity (22). A soleplate (24) underlies the internal frame (34) and includes a slot (108), allowing the width of soleplate (24) to be adjusted. A pair of rotatable tabs (114) are secured to external frame (50) and include a plurality of adjustment holes (120) that allow tabs (114) to be additionally secured to a mounting plate (12). By selecting the proper pair of adjustment holes (120), the width of binding upper (18) can be increased or decreased. A pair of oppositely disposed strap portions (86), provided on binding upper (18), extend forwardly, overlapping the instep of binding upper (18). End portions (126) of straps (86) are adjustably securable between the internal frame (34) and external frame (50) to selectively vary the size of binding cavity (22).

The heelpiece (10) of a water ski binding is composed of a heel base (18) formed with a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart slots (72) for receiving posts (22) extending upwardly from water ski (14). A cam latch (20) is rotatably mounted to the upper end of each post (22) for selective engagement with detents (78) arranged in rows (74) and (76) extending along opposite sides of each slot (72). Cam latches (20) are rotatable from an unlatched position wherein the latches are spaced upwardly from detents (78) to enable heelpiece (10) to freely slide along ski (14) into desired position, to an 'over center', locked position wherein the cam latches (20) clamp the heelpiece (10) downwardly against the ski to prevent movement thereof. The cam latches 20 also shift the heelpiece forwardly into snug engagement with the skier's foot as the latches are rotated into latched position.

Growing community of inventors

Bothell, WA, United States of America

Gail M Ackert