ATW 277
PATENT SYSTEMS
Benefits at a glance
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No twisting foot straps
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No overtightened screws
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No over-tightened mounting holes in the windsurf board
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No excessive exertion required
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No ground pads
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Easy and safe sliding in and out again
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Suitable for metric foot straps (30 mm hole spacing)
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Suitable for imperial foot straps (25.4 mm hole spacing)
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Suitable for 1/2 "(12.7mm) hole spacing in the board
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Suitable for 1 "(25.4 mm) hole spacing in the board
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Suitable for front and rear foot straps
What's New?
In the ATW 277, in contrast to existing systems, the power transmission has been changed from non-positive to positive-locking. To prevent the foot strap from twisting, instead of frictional force (non-positive), a second rigid axle is used, comparable to boards with two screws on each side of the foot strap. The shape of the components effectively prevents the foot strap from twisting (form-fitting). In this way, the fastening screw is only loaded by pulling it out in the axial direction. The torque, on the other hand, is absorbed by the second rigid axle. The fastening screws of previous systems, on the other hand, are expected to do both at the same time, which leads to the known problems.
Idea
Who does not know the situation? The wind is blowing, the conditions are looking good, you hurry with the material to be fast on the water. Finally gliding! But then the foot straps are annoying, you can't get in properly and sliding out again is difficult because the foot straps twist. The way back through the shorebreak, across the beach to the car, feels like an eternity. Now you don't want to take any more risks and tighten the screws until the water comes! Sometimes, however, the screw head comes off first or the screw hole is overtightened... As I was able to observe time and again on the beach, this is not a personal problem, but a widespread one. In any case, I was fed up with it and developed the ATW 277. Since I've been using the system, I can't help but smile when I look at the strained faces of like-minded people while they mount or readjust their foot straps. Thanks to the second rigid axis, the loops are now rock-solid like foot loops that were mounted with two screws on each side, just without the not inconsiderable additional weight of double plugs.
What good are foot straps that don't twist?
Every windsurfer who surfs in the foot straps or is on the way to one benefits from firmly fitting foot straps. The climber or foot strap beginner finds it much easier to get in and out. Nothing gets stuck or hooked anymore that could lead to incorrect loading of the board and thus to falls. The foot strap stays in place, guaranteeing your feet slide in and out cleanly. Of course, the ambitious windsurfer also benefits from this, who consequently avoids incorrect loading of the board, so that the performance is increased. In addition, the expert benefits from a significantly increased control over his material, which leads to more safety and, as a result, to increased self-confidence. Performance through control!
A small detail with clearly noticeable effects!
Material
The ATW 277 is injection molded from heavy-duty PA6 (nylon).
It is available in the stylish colors: black, white, yellow and pink.
Screws made of S316 stainless steel (V4A)
Area of application
The ATW 277 is designed for windsurfing boards with a hole spacing of ½ inch (12.7mm) as well as for hole spacing of 1 inch (25.4mm). 1" and 1/2" hole spacing are the common standards today. Very old boards, or custom boards sometimes deviate from this standard. However, the ATW 277 can also be mounted for other hole spacings, but then only works via the frictional resistance. Nevertheless, even without the second rigid axis, the ATW 277 generates a higher frictional resistance than comparable products that only work via friction due to its shape.
The mounting angle of the anti-twist washer can be adjusted so that it can be used for both front (45°) and rear footstrap positions (0°). For windsurf boards with a hole spacing of ½ inch, the second rigid axle is constructed via a grub screw that is flush with the ATW. Windsurfing boards with a hole spacing of 1 inch use a pan-head screw to fix the second rigid axis, which grips the side recess of the ATW with the screw head. The lens head screw can also be used with 1/2 inch hole spacing, for this purpose a hole is skipped so that there is a hole spacing of 1 inch again. The ATW 277 is suitable for metric foot straps (30 mm hole spacing) and for imperial ones Foot straps (1" hole spacing).
-Installation-
1. Dismantling of the previously installed system
2. Positioning of the ATW
Place the ATW on the board so that it is centered over the hole to be screwed.
3. Screw in the second axle
The second screw axis is installed in one of the adjacent holes. Make sure that the screw is not screwed in at an angle, otherwise the ATW will not grip it properly. The grub screw is only required if assembly using a pan head screw is not possible due to insufficient holes in the board.
4. Prepare the foot strap
Put the ATW's in the foot strap, put on the cover cap and screw in the foot strap screws up to the lower edge of the ATW.
5. Installing the foot strap
Put on the foot strap so that the recess of the ATW engages in the screw already in the board. In this position, turn the foot strap screw. Always check that the screw engages the opening of the ATW, if this is the case, then tighten the screw. Repeat the process for the other side. The foot strap screw must be screwed in deep enough to generate enough pull-out resistance. It is not necessary to tighten the screw with excessive force to increase the resistance to rotation.