Pivoting magnetic binding system for sports boards

Abstract

A pivoting magnetic binding system for sports boards offering a self-acting binding action that allows rider and board to move in unison. A pivoting action mitigates dynamic movement of the user upon the sports board while maintaining firm contact to the board through magnetic attraction. Vertical liftoff, lateral sliding and torque rotation of the magnet offer mechanisms for separation at the rider's will or during an inadvertent fall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A magnetic binding system for sports boards comprising:
 a. a footwear assembly, comprising,
 i. a shell assembly, the shell assembly including a topstrap, a backstrap, and fasteners; 
 ii. a pivot plate connected to the shell assembly at a location corresponding to an arch of a user's foot; 
 iii. a cup magnet assembly connected to the pivot plate by a pivot fastener; 
   b. a board-plate assembly, wherein the board-plate assembly comprises:
 i. a ferromagnetic region, wherein the ferromagnetic region is stadium shaped; 
 ii. a transition plate circumscribing the ferromagnetic region; and 
 iii. an adhesive to adhere the ferromagnetic region and the transition plate to a sports board; 
   c. wherein the cup magnet assembly and the ferromagnetic region are mutually attractive to maintain contact between the footwear assembly and the board-plate assembly; and   d. whereby a user wearing the footwear assembly may removably couple the footwear assembly from the board-plate assembly through lateral sliding, vertical lift, or torque rotation.   
     
     
         2 . The magnetic binding system of  claim 1 , wherein the cup magnet assembly comprises a magnet enclosure, a permanent magnet, a radial gap, and a countersunk hole. 
     
     
         3 . The magnetic binding system of  claim 2 , wherein the pivot plate comprises an upward lateral curve at a first end, a rise at an interim, and a medial curve at a second end, whereby a shape of the pivot plate follows a contour of a user's midfoot. 
     
     
         4 . The magnetic binding system of  claim 3 , wherein the pivot plate further comprises recessed channels, whereby the recessed channels increase flexure of the pivot plate. 
     
     
         5 . The magnetic binding system of  claim 4 , wherein the transition plate further comprises ridges raised above the ferromagnetic region, whereby the ridges form a boundary to prevent the cup magnet assembly from sliding off the ferromagnetic region. 
     
     
         6 . A magnetic binding system for sports boards comprising:
 a. a footwear assembly comprising:
 i. a shell assembly; 
 ii. a pivot plate connected to the shell assembly at a location corresponding to an arch of a user's foot; and 
 iii. a magnet connected to the pivot plate by a pivot fastener; 
   b. a board-plate assembly comprising:
 i. a ferromagnetic region; and 
 ii. a transition plate; 
   c. wherein the magnet and the ferromagnetic region are mutually attractive to maintain contact between the footwear assembly and the board-plate assembly; and   d. whereby a user wearing the footwear assembly may quickly attach and detach from the board-plate assembly.   
     
     
         7 . The magnetic binding system of  claim 6 , wherein the magnet is a cup magnet assembly comprising a magnet enclosure, a permanent magnet, a radial gap, and a countersunk hole. 
     
     
         8 . The magnetic binding system of  claim 7 , wherein the pivot fastener is fastened to the pivot plate on a first end and is pivotally connected to the cup magnet assembly at a second end, whereby a user wearing the footwear assembly may freely rotate the shell and pivot plate while the cup magnet assembly remains firmly attached to the board-plate assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The magnetic binding system of  claim 8 , wherein if the pivot plate exceeds a threshold angle in relation to the cup magnet assembly, the pivot plate makes contact with the cup magnet assembly at a fulcrum region, such that the pivot fastener and pivot plate act as a lever on the cup magnet assembly that causes torque to separate the cup magnet assembly from the ferromagnetic region. 
     
     
         10 . The magnetic binding system of  claim 9 , wherein the pivot fastener is connected to the pivot plate near the peak of the medial longitudinal arch of a user's foot. 
     
     
         11 . The magnetic binding system of  claim 10 , wherein the shell assembly includes a shell, a topstrap, first and second backstraps and hook and loop fasteners, whereby the topstrap, first and second backstraps and hook and loop fasteners serve to attach the footwear assembly to a user's foot. 
     
     
         12 . The magnetic binding system of  claim 11 , wherein the pivot plate is contoured so that the pivot plate comprises an upward lateral curve at a first end, a rise at an interim, and a medial curve at a second end, whereby the curves follow the contour of a user's midfoot. 
     
     
         13 . The magnetic binding system of  claim 12 , wherein the pivot plate further comprises recessed channels, whereby the recessed channels increase the flexure of the pivot plate. 
     
     
         14 . The magnetic binding system of  claim 13 , wherein the ferromagnetic region is stadium shaped, whereby the cup magnet assembly magnetically attached to the ferromagnetic region slides along the ferromagnetic region when a lateral force is applied to the cup magnet assembly that is greater than a static friction between the ferromagnetic region and the cup magnet assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The magnetic binding system of  claim 14 , wherein the transition plate further comprises ridges raised above the ferromagnetic region, whereby the ridges form a boundary to prevent the cup magnet assembly from sliding off the ferromagnetic region. 
     
     
         16 . The magnetic binding system of  claim 15 , wherein the boardplate assembly further comprises an adhesive, whereby the boardplate assembly is secured to a sports board using the adhesive and is removable without damage to the sports board. 
     
     
         17 . A magnetic binding system for sports boards comprising:
 a. a footwear assembly including,
 i. a pivot member attached to a bottom of the footwear assembly; 
 ii. a magnet attached to the pivot plate; and 
   b. a board-plate assembly comprising:
 i. a ferromagnetic region; and 
 ii. a transition plate. 
   c. wherein the magnet and the ferromagnetic region are mutually attractive to maintain contact between the footwear assembly and the board-plate assembly.   
     
     
         18 . The magnetic binding system of  claim 17 , wherein the ferromagnetic region is a shaped ferromagnetic plate. 
     
     
         19 . The magnetic binding system of  claim 18 , wherein the magnet is a cup magnet assembly comprising a magnet enclosure, permanent magnet, a radial gap, and a hole, wherein the footwear assembly further comprises a pivot fastener to connect the pivot plate to the cup magnet assembly through the hole. 
     
     
         20 . The magnetic binding system of  claim 19 , wherein the pivot plate comprises a plastic or metallic material formed to a shape of an arch of a user's foot.