Adaptable riding board

Abstract

A riding board adapted with one or more foot retaining mechanism allows rotation of a foot in a plane extending parallel to the riding board. Each foot retaining mechanism comprises a rotatable foot support section relative to the retaining mechanism and adapted with an arrangement for forming at least a boot ramp or part thereof. The boot ramp is dimensioned in such a way that the heel and the toes extend sufficiently outside of a rotatable center section to be able to press on a fixed locking support section relative to the retaining mechanism. Thus, when the heel, toes or all are pressed against the locking section, the rotatable foot support section is locked.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A riding board adapted with one or more foot retaining means that allow rotating of a foot in a plane parallel to the board, with each foot retaining means comprising, relative to the retaining means, a rotatable foot support section adapted with means forming at least a boot ramp or part thereof, dimensioned such that the heel and toes extend sufficiently outside of the rotatable center section to be able to press on a relative to the retaining means fixed locking support section, such that the rotatable foot support section is locked when the heel, toes or all are pressed against the locking section. 
     
     
         27 . The riding board according to  claim 26 , wherein the rotating axis of the rotatable foot support section is offset from the mid-foot towards the toes. 
     
     
         28 . The riding board according to  claim 26 , wherein the foot retaining means is attached to the board rotatably about an axis towards the toe-side of the board. 
     
     
         29 . A bidirectional riding board adapted with one or more foot retaining means that allow rotating of a foot in a plane parallel to the board, with each foot retaining means comprising, relative to the retaining means, a rotatable foot support section adapted with means forming at least a boot ramp or part thereof, dimensioned such that the heel and toes extend sufficiently outside of the rotatable center section to be able to press on a relative to the retaining means fixed locking support section, such that the rotatable foot support section is locked when the heel, toes or all are pressed against the locking section,
 wherein that rotational force applied to the rotatable foot support section engages a mechanism that adapts the tail and nose board rocker to the riding direction by releasing a bending moment from the end of the board that is tail-side, and applying a bending moment to the end of the board that is nose-side, in such a way the board geometry adapts to a flattened tail and curved nose rocker upon reversal of the riding direction.   
     
     
         30 . The bidirectional riding board according to  claim 29 , adapted with movable nose sections and a mid-section, in such a way that rotational force applied to the rotatable foot support section lifts one nose section to disengage it from the sliding surface when the riding direction is towards the other nose section, which section at that point is lowered to engage with the sliding surface, therewith effectively shortening the tail length and providing nose side entry rocker to the riding board. 
     
     
         31 . The bidirectional riding board according to  claim 29 , wherein the moveable sections of the riding board are locked in their extreme positions by the rotational force applied on the rotatable foot support section. 
     
     
         32 . The bidirectional water riding board according  claim 29 , wherein the turning force applied to the rotatable center section engages a mechanism that increases the lateral area of one or more fins towards the tail, while shortening the fin depth of fins towards the nose upon reversal of the riding direction. 
     
     
         33 . The bidirectional riding board according to  claim 32 , wherein the bidirectional riding board is designed for riding on water and the fins are sliding in through slots in the riding board. 
     
     
         34 . The bidirectional riding board according to  claim 32 , wherein the bidirectional riding board is designed for riding on water and the fins are rotatable. 
     
     
         35 . The bidirectional riding board according to  claim 32 , wherein the bidirectional water riding board is both designed for riding on water and is wind propelled, and the fins have an asymmetrical profile, in cross section, to enhance windward lateral lift. 
     
     
         36 . The riding board adapted with one or more foot retaining means according  claim 26 , wherein the rotatable foot support section of a foot retaining means is disk-shaped. 
     
     
         37 . The riding board adapted with one or more foot retaining means according to  claim 36 , wherein the disk-shaped foot support section of a foot retaining means is placed inside a circular recess of a larger fixed locking foot support with only a narrow gap between both disk shaped foot support and fixed locking foot support. 
     
     
         38 . The riding board adapted with one or more foot retaining means according to  claim 36 , wherein the disk-shaped foot support section of a foot retaining means borders on a separate fixed locking foot support section for the heel, which is shaped according to the heel trajectory. 
     
     
         39 . The riding board adapted with one or more foot retaining means according to  claim 36 , wherein the disk-shaped foot support section borders on a separate fixed locking foot support section for the toes, which is shaped according to the toes trajectory. 
     
     
         40 . The riding board adapted with one or more foot retaining means according to  claim 36 , wherein the foot retaining means are made as assemblies that as a whole can be mounted to and removed from a riding board. 
     
     
         41 . The riding board adapted with one or more foot retaining means according to  claim 36 , wherein the rotatable foot support section is provided with a part of an orthopedic foot bed. 
     
     
         42 . The riding board adapted with one or more foot retaining means according to  claim 36 , wherein one or more friction pads are fixed to either the rotatable foot support section or a section fixed to the board, to provide friction between the rotatable foot support section and the section fixed to the board. 
     
     
         43 . The riding board adapted with one or more foot retaining means according to  claim 42 , wherein a friction pad is made from compressible material. 
     
     
         44 . The riding board foot with one or more foot retaining means according to  claim 36 , wherein the rotatable foot support section is provided with width adjustable connecting means for a boot ramp or part thereof. 
     
     
         45 . The riding board adapted with one or more foot retaining means according to  claim 36 , wherein the foot support section to the left and right side of the foot is provided with semi rigid hook and loop covered connecting flaps, to which flaps towards the side of the support section, a flexible liner which bridges between the left and right side of the support section and which is provided with a comfort pad is attached, with the outside of the comfort pad having one side of a hook and loop patch, and locking wings that hinge parallel to the center line of the comfort pad, attached, in such a way that the connecting flaps can be held in a desired position by hook and loop patches from both sides, while the flexible liner provides a closed interior of a part of a boot ramp. 
     
     
         46 . The riding board according to  claim 36 , wherein a foot retaining means has a rotatable foot support section provided with a boot having the heel and toe sole section removed such that the heel and toes can lock on fixed locking sections of the foot retaining means. 
     
     
         47 . The riding board according with one or more foot retaining means according to  claim 36 , wherein a foot retaining means is provided with a boot, which is tiltably connected to the rotatable foot support section about an axis normal to the sagittal plane of the foot and located sufficiently above the foot support section, and which is, under the sole of the parts of the boot extending heel and toe-side outside the rotatable support section, adapted with sections of an internal gear placed parallel to the sole, and a fixed section of the foot retaining means is adapted with a gear situated parallel to the riding board, such that tilting of the boot engages the teeth of either the toe side or heel side internal gear, while the rotatable support section can rotate when the boot is not tilted. 
     
     
         48 . The riding board with one or more foot retaining means according to  claim 47 , wherein the tilting movement of a boot relative to the rotatable foot support section is stabilized by one or more friction pads. 
     
     
         49 . The riding board with one or more foot retaining means according to  claim 47 , wherein the gear section is protected from ingress of debris by a flexible wall. 
     
     
         50 . The riding board with one or more foot retaining means according to  claim 36 , wherein a foot retaining means is made symmetric and accessible from both starboard and port sides.