ATTACHABLE-AND-RELEASEABLE (SWAPPABLE) FIN FOR SPORT BOARD, AND ADJUSTABLE MAST FOR FOILING SYSTEMS

Abstract

An embodiment of a mast includes a first support configured for coupling to one of a foiling platform and a foiling assembly, and a second support configured for coupling to the other of the foiling platform and the foiling assembly and for coupling to the first support in a manner that allows adjustment of a combined height of the first and second supports. For example, such a mast can be configured to have first and second telescoping supports that can be extended and retracted to different heights so that surfers of different skill levels can use the same mast.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation which claims the benefit of 63/348,940 filed Jun. 3, 2022 which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth.

BACKGROUND

Sport boards, such as water boards including wake boards, foil boards, surf boards, and paddle boards, are used for recreation and entertainment. For example, water boards are typically used in bodies of water such as a pond, lake, or river (e.g., wake boards, foil boards, and paddle boards) or the ocean (e.g., surf boards).

A water board may include one or more fins that improve the velocity, stability, maneuverability, and/or other operational characteristics of the water board. For example, a surf board may have a single, large fin at the trailing (back) end of the board, and a wake board may have a single fin, or dual fins, in the middle of the board.

Attachable and replaceable, i.e., swappable, fins on, for example, wake boards allow one to swap out the fins so that multiple people of different skill levels and boarding preferences can use the same board but configured for an appropriate skill level.

But removing and/or installing such a fin can be cumbersome.

For example, such a fin may require a tool, such as an Allen Wrench or a Torx Wrench, for installation and removal. Unfortunately, such tools are often cumbersome to transport and/or to keep in a “handy” location on a boat or otherwise, and/or one can lose such a tool in the normal course of use and/or storage, for example, by dropping the tool in the water while installing and/or removing a fin on a boat or otherwise on or near the water (e.g., on a dock).

Another type of fin that is designed to allow installation and removal “by hand” still may require the use of one or more tools for installation or removal. In an example, a fin is intended to “snap” into a receiving slot disposed in a wake board and including springs that the manufacturer designed to hold the fin in place. But the force that one must exert to overcome the force generated by the springs can be too large for him/her to remove and/or install the fin without the use of a tool. For example, if such a fin follows the trend of wake-board fins being made shorter and sharper, it may become more difficult for one to grasp such a fin and to generate the force needed to install and/or to remove, toollessly, the fin without cutting himself/herself on a sharp fin edge.

And the design of such a fin and a corresponding fin receiving slot on a board can cause the fin to loosen eventually, and/or to be loose, during normal use of the board. For example, over time such a fin may loosen from a fin mount in a wake board in response to the fin propagating through the water or bumping into one or more other objects such as the deck of a boat. And a loose fin may negatively affect the way a wake board handles by vibrating as the fin, along with the wake board, propagates through the water, and/or even may “fall out” of the board into the water and be irretrievably lost, particularly if the fin does not float.

Other types of sport boards include masts.

For example, a foiling system includes a foiling assembly configured to propagate through water, a platform or board configured to support a user (called a “foiler”), and a mast configured to be supported by the foiling assembly and to hold the board above the water while the user is foiling.

One end of the mast is attached to the bottom of the board, and the other end is attached to the foiling assembly, which propagates through the water during foiling and which includes a fuselage, a wing at a leading end of the fuselage, and a stabilizer at a trailing end of the fuselage.

The mast is typically sold separately, and comes in a number of different lengths (heights), for example 14″, 17″, 20″, 24″, 28″, and 30″, where more-experienced foilers typically prefer a taller mast, and less-experienced foilers typically prefer a shorter mast. For example, a taller mast typically can provide a more exciting ride by allowing a foiler to generate more momentum and motion when “pumping” to move. But a taller mask typically makes foiling more difficult for a beginner.

Consequently, groups of foilers, such as families, that use a same foiling board but that each have a different skill level typically acquire multiple different-height masts that they swap out between uses of the board by different foilers.

But swapping out masts can be expensive because each mast is relatively expensive (e.g., US$1000-US$7500).

Furthermore, the weight of a mast, and that a mast is typically non-buoyant, typically make swapping out a mast even more difficult while on a boat, at the dock, and/or otherwise on the water. For example, a mast may be too heavy for a child to swap out, or one may drop the mast in the water, causing the mast to irretrievably sink.

A conventional mast typically is relatively heavy and non-buoyant because the mast is designed to be relatively rigid to reduce the energy that a rider exerts while foiling. For example, a conventional mast is rigid (for example, solid and made from a metal such as aluminum) such that when a foiler applies a force to the board with his/her body to cause the foil board to move, the force that the user applies contributes mostly to the motion of the foil board and not to the deformation of the mast (for example, due to slight back-and-forth bending of the mast). That is, conventional masts are made to be rigid to minimize mast deformation, and, therefore, to minimize the amount of rider energy that the mast absorbs.

But to make a conventional mast sufficiently rigid to reduce or eliminate mast deformation in response to the foiler's motion and, therefore, to reduce or eliminate the amount of the foiler's motive energy that the mast absorbs, a conventional mast is typically made from a metal and is solid.

Unfortunately, a solid metal mast is relatively heavy, and a heavy mast can cause one or more problems. For example, a heavy mast can be cumbersome to handle, more difficult to swap out, and can make the assembled foiling-board system heavier to carry. Furthermore, due to its greater mass, a solid metal mast can render a foil-board system more difficult to maneuver because it has a slower response time; that is, the greater mass of a solid metal mast can render a foil-board system less responsive than a lighter mast. But to make a conventional mast lighter, one typically makes the mast less rigid, so there is typically a tradeoff between the mass and rigidity of a conventional mast, with many mast manufacturers sacrificing lower mass for greater rigidity.

And a conventional mast, particularly a solid metal mast, is relatively expensive (e.g., in the hundreds to thousands of dollars per mast), making foiling a relatively expensive hobby, particularly for families or other groups of foil boarders that purchase multiple masts having different heights to accommodate the different skill levels of the groups' members as described above.

SUMMARY

A need has arisen for a sport-board fin that is installable and removable (swappable) without the use of tools.

For example, such a need can be met by a fin having a blade and a base configured for toolless installation within, and toolless removal from, a fin receptacle of a water board. For example, such a fin and fin receptacle can be configured such that the receptacle holds the fin (e.g., a fin of a wake board) firmly and stably when the fin is installed in the board, but also allows toolless removal of the fin.

A need also has arisen for a foil-board-system mast that has an adjustable height (length) and is lighter (has a smaller mass) than conventional foil-board-system masts.

For example, such a need can be met by a mast having a first support configured for coupling to one of a foiling platform and a foiling assembly, and a second support configured for coupling to the other of the foiling platform and the foiling assembly and for coupling to the first support in a manner that allows adjustment of a combined height of the first and second supports. For example, such a mast can be configured to have first and second telescoping supports that can be extended and retracted to different heights so that surfers of different skill levels can use the same mast, and one or more of the supports can be hollow (instead of solid) to lessen the mass of the mast, with little to no reduction in the rigidity of the mast, as compared to a conventional mast. And the mast height can be adjusted even while the mast is attached to a foiling platform and/or to a foiling assembly and while the foiling system is in a place of use, such as on a boat or dock.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Understanding that the drawings depict only exemplary embodiments and are not therefore to be considered limiting in scope, the exemplary embodiments will be described with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, as briefly described below and as further described with reference to the detailed description.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a water-sport board and a swappable fin that is configured for attachment to, and removal from, the board without a tool, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a housing configured for installation in the water-sport board of FIG. 1 and configured to receive other components of an attach-and-release mechanism suitable for the water-sport board of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of the fin of FIG. 1 and an attach-and-release mechanism configured for disposal in the water board of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the attach-and-release mechanism of FIG. 3 wherein the button and other components of the attach-and-release mechanism are installed in the housing of FIG. 2, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exploded cutaway side view of the fin of FIGS. 1 and 3-4 and of the attach-and-release mechanism of FIGS. 3-4, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cutaway side view of the fin of FIG. 5 installed in (engaged by) the attach-and-release mechanism of FIG. 5, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an exploded isometric view of a fin and an attach-and-release mechanism suitable for use with the water-sport board of FIG. 1, according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an exploded end view of the fin and the attach-and-release mechanism of FIG. 7, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a cutaway side view of the fin and the attach-and-release mechanism of FIGS. 7-8 in which the fin is aligned for insertion into the attach-and-release mechanism, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a cutaway side view of the fin and the attach-and-release mechanism of FIG. 9 in which the fin is partially inserted in the attach-and-release mechanism, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a cutaway side view of the fin and the attach-and-release mechanism of FIGS. 10 in which the fin is farther inserted in the attach-and-release mechanism, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a cutaway side view of the fin and the attach-and-release mechanism of FIG. 11 in which the fin is latched by the attach-and-release mechanism, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an exploded side isometric view of a fin and attach-and-release mechanism configured for disposition within the water-sport board of FIG. 1, according to yet another embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an exploded isometric view of another side of the fin and attach-and-release mechanism of FIG. 13, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a cutaway end view of the fin of FIGS. 13-14 installed in the attach-and-release mechanism of FIGS. 13-14, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a side view of the fin and attach-and-release mechanism of FIG. 15, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a bottom isometric view of a foil-board system including an adjustable mast, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a side view of the mast and foil assembly of FIG. 17, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a cutaway cross-sectional view of the mast of FIGS. 17-18, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 20 is partially exploded leading-edge view of the mast of FIGS. 17-19 and the foil assembly of FIGS. 17-18, according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 21A-21C are side views of the mast of FIGS. 17-20 at different height settings and of the foil assembly of FIGS. 17-18 and 20, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a cutaway top view of the mast of FIGS. 17-21C and of the foil assembly of FIGS. 17-18 and 20-21C, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a side view of a foiling system that includes a rearward-slanted mast, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a side view of a foiling system that includes a forward-slanted mast, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a side view of a foiling system with a rail-mounted mast, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a bottom view of the foiling system of FIG. 25, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a side view of a foiling system with a forward-slanted board, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a side view of the foiling system of FIG. 27 including a motor, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a side view of a foiling system including a motor, according to another embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a side view of a foiling system including a rail-mounted mast and motor, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a bottom view of the foiling system of FIG. 30, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a side view of a foiling system including a remote-controllable mast, remote-controllable motor, remote-controllable wing, and a remote controllable stabilizer, and including an electronic remote control, according to an embodiment.

In accordance with common practice, the various described features may not be drawn to scale but are drawn to emphasize specific features relevant to the exemplary embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific illustrative embodiments. However, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, and electrical changes may be made. Furthermore, any method presented in the drawing figures and the specification is not to be construed as limiting the order in which the individual steps may be performed. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

FIG. 1 is a bottom exploded isometric view of a sport-board system 1000 including a sport board 1002 having a fin attach-and-release mechanism 1004 configured to receive, to hold stably and securely (during use or otherwise), and to release, a hand-swappable fin 1006 (a fin that can be attached or installed and detached or removed without a tool), according to an embodiment. The sport board 1000 can be, for example, any type of water-sport board such as a surfboard, a stand-up or other type of paddle board, a kite board, a foiling board, or a wake board, and includes a receptacle 1008 formed in a bottom surface 1010 of the board 1002 and configured to receive and to hold the mechanism 1004. For purposes of example, the sport board 1000 is described as being a wakeboard although the description applies for other types of water-sport boards and for other types of sport boards in general. Because the bottom surface 1010 of the wake board 1002 may have a complex two-dimensional curvature, the bottom surface may not have very many flat portions, and the dimensions of the flat portions that the bottom surface may have may not be relatively large. Consequently, although the receptacle 1008 can be disposed anywhere on the bottom surface 1010, the dimensions of the attach-and-release mechanism 1004, fin 1006, and receptacle can be sized to fit within a suitable one of the flat portions of the bottom surface 1010. For example, the maximum width and maximum length of the receptacle 1008 for a wakeboard can be in an approximate range of ¼-12 inches. Furthermore, although the sport-board system 1000 is described as including only one attach-and-release mechanism 1004 and one corresponding fin 1006, the sport-board system can include multiple attach-and-release mechanisms so that the board 1002 can accommodate one or more fins, where two or more of the attach-and-release mechanisms, two or more of the fins, and two or more of the receptacles can be the same as, or different than, another one or more of the attach-and-release mechanism, another one or more of the fins, and another one or more of the receptacles, respectively.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a housing 2000 configured for installation in the receptacle 1008 of the board 1002 of FIG. 1 and configured to receive other components of the attach-and-release mechanism 1004 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment. The housing 2000 can be made from any suitable material such as an epoxy resin or a plastic, and includes a cavity 2002 for receiving and engaging the internal (to the housing) components of the attach-and-release mechanism. Furthermore, the housing 2000 can be installed in the receptacle 1008 of the board 1002 (FIG. 1) in any suitable manner. For example, referring to FIG. 1, a router (not shown in FIGS. 1-2) can form the receptacle 1008 (an opening) in the surface 1010 of the board 1002 in the general shape of the housing 2000, the housing can be placed into the receptacle such that a top 2006 of the housing is approximately flush with the surrounding portion of the board surface, the housing can be secured within the receptacle with an adhesive or any other suitable means, and any openings or other irregularities between the housing and the board or board surface can be smoothened or otherwise remedied by a filler such as a fiberglass gel that hardens over time and that allows shaping before and after hardening. Alternately, where the board 1002 is made from a molten or otherwise moldable material like fiberglass, the housing 2000 can be held in position by manufacturing equipment or otherwise while the board is formed, layer by layer, around the housing. After the board 1002 is formed, the housing 2000 is embedded within the receptacle 1008 of the board with the housing top 2006 approximately flush with the surrounding portion of the board surface 1010 and with the housing cavity 2002 exposed and ready to accept the attach-and-release mechanism 1004. In yet another alternative, a mold (not shown in FIG. 2) with the same external shape as the housing 2000 can be held in position by manufacturing equipment or otherwise while the board 1002 is formed, layer by layer, around the mold. After the board 1002 is formed, the mold is removed and the housing can 2000 can be inserted into the receptacle 1008 left by the mold. The housing then can be secured within the receptacle 1008 with an adhesive or with any other suitable means, and any openings or other irregularities between the housing and the board 1002 or board surface 1010 can be smoothened or otherwise remedied by a filler such as fiberglass gel that hardens over time and that allows shaping before and after hardening. In still another alternative, the receptacle 1008 made in the board 1002 in the shape of the housing 2000 itself can act, or be, the housing; that is, the receptacle 1008 can be configured to receive, directly, to hold, the attach-and-release mechanism 1004.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the attach-and-release mechanism 1004 and the fin 1006 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment.

The fin 1006 includes a blade 3002 and a base 3004 having posts 3006 and 3008—the hole in each of the posts are for engage tooling during manufacturing of the fin, and may reduce the amount of material needed to form each post without reducing the robustness of the post, but typically serve no function after the fin is formed. The blade 3002 includes a leading edge 3003 and a trailing edge 3005 and is configured to have conventional fluid-dynamic properties for moving through, for example, water, and the base 3004 and posts 3006 and 3008 are configured to engage the attach-and-release mechanism 1004 and to allow this mechanism to stably and securely hold the fin 1006 while a rider (e.g., a wake boarder) is using the board system 1000 of FIG. 1. And to improve how stably and how securely the attach-and-release mechanism 1004 (FIG. 1) holds the fin 1006, each post 3006 and 3008 can include a respective detent 3007 and 3009.

In addition to the housing 2000, the mechanism 1004 includes a pivot pin 3010, hinge-lock levers 3012 and 3014, a spring 3016, and a button 3018 configured for disposal in the cavity 2002 of the housing. The housing 2000 has two halves, 3020 and 3022, which each include a respective pivot-pin receptacle 3024 and 3026 each configured to receive and to hold in place a respective end of the pivot pin 3010. The hinge-lock levers 3012 and 3014 each include a respective opening 3028 and 3030 configured to slide over respective ends of the pivot pin 3010 before the ends of the pivot pin are inserted into the receptacles 3024 and 3026, and are configured so that when installed in the mechanism 1004, the openings are aligned with each other. The hinge-lock levers 3012 and 3014 also include spring arms 3032 and 3034 (FIG. 4). The spring 3016 is configured as a compression spring and has open ends that are configured to fit over and engage the spring arms 3032 and 3034. The button 3018 has slots 3036 and 3038 respectively configured to receive the posts 3006 and 3008 of the fin 1006 and respectively aligned with the hinge-lock levers 3012 and 3014. The button 3018 also includes openings 3040 and 3042 (FIG. 4) configured to slide over the respective ends of the pivot pin 3010, and includes a lip 3044 configured to engage a retaining overhang 3046 of the housing 2000, where the retaining overhang is configured to hold the button within the housing. And to improve the stability and how securely the attach-and-release mechanism 1004 holds the fin 1006, the housing 2000 may include, inside of the cavity 2002, protrusions 3048 and 3050 each configured to engage the respective detent 3007 and 3009 (although the protrusions are shown in FIG. 3 in only the half 3022 of the housing 2000, the protrusions also can be present in the half 3020 such that when the halves are put together to form the housing, the protrusions in each respective half of the housing are aligned). For example, the engagement of the protrusions 3048 and 3050 with the detents 3007 and 3009 can decrease the likelihood that the fin 1006 will undesirably detach from the board 1002 (FIG. 1) during use of the board system 1000 (FIG. 1) or otherwise.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the attach-and-release mechanism 1004 of FIGS. 1 and 3 wherein the button 3018 and other components of the attach-and-release mechanism are installed in the cavity 2002 of the housing 2000 of FIG. 2, according to an embodiment. As described above in conjunction with FIG. 3, the retaining overhang 3046 engages the lip 3044 of the button 3018 to hold the button within the cavity 2002.

FIG. 5 is an exploded cutaway side view of the fin 1006 and the attach-and-release mechanism 1004 of FIGS. 1 and 3-4, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cutaway side view of the fin 1006 of FIG. 5 installed in (engaged by) the attach-and-release mechanism 1004 of FIG. 5, according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, a method for installing the fin 1006 in, and removing the fin from, the attach-and-release mechanism 1004 without a tool (e.g., by hand) is described, according to an embodiment.

First, one holds the fin 1006 by the blade 3002 such that the posts 3006 and 3008 are aligned with the slots 3036 and 3038, respectively.

Next, one moves the posts 3006 and 3008 toward, and then into, the slots 3036 and 3038, respectively.

As the posts 3006 and 3008 move further into the slots 3036 and 3038, bottom ends 5000 and 5002 of the posts contact the hinge-lock levers 3012 and 3014, respectively.

As the posts 3006 and 3008 move even further into the slots 3036 and 3038, the bottom ends 5000 and 5002 push the hinge-lock levers 3012 and 3014 toward each other, further compressing the spring 3016. That is, the bottom end 5000 causes the hinge-lock lever 3012 to rotate about the pivot pin 3010 in a counterclockwise direction, and the bottom end 5002 causes the hinge-lock lever 3014 to rotate about the pivot pin in a clockwise direction.

As the posts 3006 and 3008 move still further into the slots 3036 and 3038, the bottom ends 5000 and 5002 move past the ends of the hinge-lock levers 3012 and 3014, respectively, which allows the spring 3016 to decompress and rotate the levers 3012 and 3014 in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions, respectively.

This rotation of the hinge-lock levers 3012 and 3014 causes the ends of these levers to slip past the post bottom ends 5000 and 5002 and engage notches 5004 and 5006 in the posts 3006 and 3008, respectively.

Furthermore, the detents 3007 and 3009 engage the protrusions 3048 and 3050, respectively.

Consequently, the posts 3006 and 3008 are locked into the slots 3036 and 3038, respectively.

If one attempts to pull the fin 1006 out of the attach-and-release mechanism 1004 without pushing the button 3018, the post bottom ends 5000 and 5002 cause the hinge-lock levers 3012 and 3014 to rotate in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions, respectively, such that the horizontal (in FIGS. 5-6) distance between the ends of the hinge-lock levers increases and, therefore, causes the ends of the levers to press against the sides of the notches 5004 and 5006 with a force that increases the more forcefully one tries to pull the fin 1006 out of the attach-and-release mechanism 1004, and, therefore, the more forcefully one tries to pull the posts 3006 and 3008 out of the slots 3036 and 3038, respectively. Furthermore, this increased force exerted by the ends the lock levers 3012 and 3014 presses the respectively detents 3007 and 3009 more forcefully against the protrusions 3048 and 3060, respectively. Said another way, the more forcefully one tries to pull the fin 1006 out of the attach-and-release mechanism 1004, the stronger the mechanism's resistance to such pulling becomes, similar to what happens as one tries to pull his fingers out from a Chinese finger puzzle.

To release the fin 1006 from the attach-and-release mechanism 1004, one pushes down (in a direction toward the cavity 2002) on the button 3018 such that bottoms of slot walls 3060 and 3062 (FIG. 3) of the button engage the ends of the hinge-lock levers 3012 and 3014 and cause the hinge-lock levers to rotate about the pivot pin 3010 in counterclockwise and clockwise directions, respectively. This causes the horizontal distance between the ends of the hinge-lock levers 3012 and 3014 to decrease such that the ends of the levers no longer engage the notches 5004 and 5006 in the posts 3006 and 3008, respectively. While still pushing down on the button 3018, because the hinge-lock levers 3012 and 3014 are disengaged from the notches 5004 and 5006, one can pull the fin 1006 out from the slots 3036 and 3038 of the attach-and-release mechanism 1004 rather easily (the pulling force overcomes the resistive force now due only to the protrusions 3048 and 3050 respectively engaging the detents 3007 and 3009).

After the fin 1006 is removed from the attach-and-release mechanism 1004 such that the posts 3006 and 3008 are fully removed from the slots 3036 and 3038, respectively, and one release the button 3018, the spring 3016 decompresses and pushes the hinge-lock levers 3012 and 3014 in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, respectively, about the pivot pin 3010. The ends of the levers 3012 and 3014 press against the bottoms of the slot walls 3060 and 3062, thus forcing the button 3018 toward the top of the cavity 2002. But the housing overhang 3046 engages the button lip 3044, thus preventing the hinge-lock levers 3012 and 3014 from pushing the button 3018 out of the cavity 2002; that is, the housing overhang engages the button lip to resist the upward force that the hinge-lock levers exert on the button so that the button does not “pop out” of the housing cavity 2002.

Referring again to FIGS. 3-6, the attach-and-release mechanism 1004 can allow one to install and to remove (to swap) the fin 1006 by hand, without tools and without difficulty and/or injury such as cutting oneself on a sharp edge 3003 or 3005 of the fin blade 3002. Furthermore, although described as being separate from the fin 1006, the attach-and-release mechanism 1004, minus the housing 2000, can be attached to, or integral with, the fin and fit into the housing 2000 (or directly into the receptacle 1008 of FIG. 1) to secure the fin to the board 1002 (FIG. 1).

FIG. 7 is an exploded isometric view of a fin 7000 and an attach-and-release mechanism 7002 suitable for use with the sport board 1002 of FIG. 1, according to another embodiment.

The fin 7000 includes a blade 7004, a leading edge 7006 and a trailing edge 7008, and a base 7010 with two posts 7012 and 7014 each having a protrusion 7016 and 7018. And the leading-edge post 7012 includes a notch (here a rectangular or square notch) 7020.

The attach-and-release mechanism 7002 includes a housing 7022 having a leading end 7024 and a trailing end 7026, a button assembly 7028 having a button outer shell 7030 and a button inner shell 7032, and a spring 7034.

The housing 7022 includes a cavity 7036 for receiving and holding the button assembly 7028 and the spring 7034 and includes slots 7038 and 7040 configured to receive the fin posts 7012 and 7014, respectively. The housing 7022 also includes openings 7042 and 7044 in the wall of the cavity 7036.

The button outer shell 7030 includes a slot 7046 and opening 7047 (and includes another opening opposite the opening 7047 but not visible in FIG. 7), and the button inner shell 7032 includes a slot 7048 configured for alignment with the slot 7046, and includes clips 7050 and 7052 (FIG. 8) configured to engage the housing openings 7042 and 7044 and for alignment with the button-out-shell openings 7047 and an opposite opening not visible in FIG. 7. The button outer shell 7030 also includes a bottom protrusion 7054 (FIG. 9).

FIG. 8 is an exploded leading-end view of the fin 7000 and the attach-and-release mechanism 7002 of FIG. 7, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a cutaway side view of the fin 7000 and the attach-and-release mechanism 7002 of FIGS. 7-8 in which the fin posts 7012 and 7014 are aligned for insertion into the slots 7038 and 7040, respectively, according to an embodiment. The slots 7038 and 7040 each have a respective receptacle 9000 and 9002 each configured to engage the post protrusions 7016 and 7018, respectively.

FIG. 10 is a cutaway side view of the fin 7000 and the attach-and-release mechanism 7002 of FIGS. 7-9 in which the fin posts 7012 and 7014 are, respectively, partially inserted into the slots 7038 and 7040 of the attach-and-release mechanism 7002, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a cutaway side view of the fin 7000 and the attach-and-release mechanism 7002 of FIGS. 7-10 in which the fin posts 7012 and 7014 are farther inserted in the slots 7038 and 7040, respectively, of the attach-and-release mechanism, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a cutaway side view of the fin 7000 and the attach-and-release mechanism 7002 of FIGS. 7-11 in which the post protrusions 7016 and 7018 engage the slot receptacles 9000 and 9002 such that the fin is fully inserted and latched (or locked) into the attach-and-release mechanism, according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 7-12, methods for installing the fin 7000 into the attach-and-release mechanism 7002 and for removing the fin from the attach-and-release mechanism (swapping the fin) are described, according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 9, one grasps the fin 7000 by the blade 7004 and holds the fin above the attach-and-release mechanism 7002 such that the posts 7012 and 7014 are aligned with the slots 7038 and 7040, respectively. Then one moves the fin 7000 toward the attach-and-release mechanism 7002 such that the posts 7012 and 7014 move toward the slots 7038 and 7040, respectively.

Next, referring to FIG. 10, one moves the fin 7000 farther toward the attach-and-release mechanism 7002 such that the posts 7012 and 7014 slide into the slots 7038 and 7040, respectively.

Still referring to FIG. 10, as the post 7012 slides farther into the slot 7038, the post notch 7020 engages the protrusion 7054 of the button outer shell 7030 such that, assuming that one is pushing the post 7012 into the slot 7038 with sufficient force to overcome the opposing force exerted by the spring 7034, the button outer shell including the protrusion and the button inner shell 7032 move farther into the slot cavity 7036. That is, once the post notch 7020 engages the protrusion 7054, the post 7012, the button outer shell 7030, the button inner shell 7032, and the protrusion 7054 together slide further into the cavity 7036, and, therefore, further compress the spring 7034.

Referring to FIG. 11, as the post 7012 slides even farther into the slot 7038, eventually the button outer shell 7030, the button inner shell 7032, and the protrusion 7054 cannot descend farther into the cavity 7036. Said another way, the button outer shell 7030, the button inner shell 7032, and the protrusion 7054 “bottom out” as they are limited from further sliding into the cavity 7036 by a bottom of the cavity.

Still referring to FIG. 11, when one feels that he cannot push the fin 7000 posts 7012 and 7014 farther into the slots 7038 and 7040, he slides the fin toward the trailing edge 7026 of the attach-and-release mechanism 7002 such that the post protrusions 7016 and 7018 move into the slot receptacles 9000 and 9002, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 12, as the post protrusions 7016 and 7018 continue to slide into, i.e., engage, the receptacles 9000 and 9002, respectively, at some point the post slot 7020 disengages the protrusion 7054 (the top of this protrusion may be slanted downward such as shown in FIGS. 9-12 to facilitate such disengagement).

In response to disengagement of the protrusion 7054 by the post slot 7020, the force generated by the spring 7034 causes the button inner shell 7032, the button outer shell 7030, and the protrusion 7054 to move upward toward the top of the cavity 7036 until the top of the button outer shell 7030 contacts an underside 12000 of the fin blade 7004.

In this position, the fin 7000 is latched, or locked, into the attach-and-release mechanism 7002. The protrusions 7016 and 7018 contact the tops of the receptacles 9000 and 9002, respectively, and, therefore, prohibit the spring 7034 from pushing the fin 7000 out of the slots 7038 and 7040. Furthermore, a trailing edge 12002 of the protrusion 7054 contacts a leading edge 12004 of the post 7012, thus holding, stably, the post such that the protrusions 7016 and 7018 remain in, and cannot back out of, the receptacles 9000 and 9002. That is, in this latched or locked state, the attach-and-release mechanism 7002 can hold the fin 7000 such that the fin does not fall out, and cannot be pulled out (without pushing the button 7028), of the attach-and-release mechanism, and also such that the fin exhibits little or no “wiggling” during use or even when one attempts to wiggle the fin.

Referring to FIGS. 11-12, to release and to remove the fin 7000 from the attach-and-release mechanism 7002, one presses the button 7028 (e.g., presses the button outer shell 7030) into the cavity 7036 until the protrusion 7054 is aligned with the post slot 7020, for example, until he/she can press the button into the cavity no farther.

He/she then slides the fin 7000 toward the leading edge 7024 of the attach-and-release mechanism 7002 such that the post slot 7020 engages the protrusion 7054.

Next, he/she gently releases the button 7028 while still holding the fin 7000, and the spring 7034 decompresses to force the button toward the top of the cavity 7036 and the posts 7012 and 7014 toward the tops of the respective slots 7038 and 7040.

Then, when the button 7028 is fully released, he/she can pull the fin 7000 such that the posts 7012 and 7014 fully disengage (come out of) the slots 7038 and 7040.

To retain the button 7028 within the cavity 7036 after the fin 7000 is removed from the attach-and-release mechanism 7002, the housing 7022 and the button outer shell 7030 can include a retaining overhang and a lip, respectively, that are the same as, or are similar to, the retaining overhang 3046 and the lip 3044 of FIGS. 4-5.

Referring to FIGS. 9-12, in an alternative embodiment, one or both of the receptacles 9000 and 9002 each can include a respective compression spring (not visible in FIGS. 9-12) to force the leading edge 12004 of the post 7012 against the side of the button outer shell 7030 while the fin 7000 is installed in the attach-and-release mechanism 7002, and to facilitate removal of the fin from the attach-and-release mechanism by pushing the protrusions 7016 and 7018 out from the receptacles 9000 and 9002, respectively, during the removal procedure.

FIG. 13 is an exploded side isometric view of a fin 13000 and attach-and-release mechanism 13002 configured for disposition within the sport board 1002 of FIG. 1, according to yet another embodiment.

The fin 13000 includes a blade 13004, a leading edge 13006, a trailing edge 13008, posts 13010 and 13012, and a spring tab 13014.

And the attach-and-release mechanism 13002 includes a housing 13016 having a cavity 13018 and a notch 13020. The housing 13016 can be attached to the sport board 1002 of FIG. 1 in a manner similar to that described above in conjunction with FIGS. 2-6 for the housing 2000. Alternatively, the receptacle 1008 (FIG. 1) can be configured in the same shape as the cavity 13018 and, therefore, the receptacle can act as, or be, the housing 13016.

Although the spring tab 13014 is described as being in the middle of the fin 13000 between the two posts 13010 and 13012, the spring tab can be disposed in any location along a bottom of the fin relative to one or more posts. Furthermore, there can be more than one spring tab 13014 and more or fewer than two posts 13010 and 13012. For example, the tab 13014 can be positioned at one edge of the fin 13000 adjacent to a single post that can be larger than either of the posts 13010 and 13012, for example, configured to fill the remainder of the cavity 13018 (to fill the portion of the cavity not occupied by the spring tab).

FIG. 14 is an exploded isometric view of the fin 13000 and attach-and-release mechanism 13002 of FIG. 13 from another side, according to an embodiment. The housing 13016 can include another notch 14000 opposite to the notch 13020 (FIG. 13), and the spring tab 13014 includes a protrusion 14002 configure to engage one or both of the notches 13020 and 14000 (the spring tab is configured to engage one of the notches at a time). Alternatively, the housing 13016 can include only one of the notches 13020 and 14000 to discourage, and/or to prevent, backwards installation of the fin 13000 in the attach-and-release mechanism 13002.

FIG. 15 is a cutaway end view of the fin 13000 of FIGS. 13-14 installed in (engaged and/or latched within) the attach-and-release mechanism 13002 of FIGS. 13-14, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a side view of the fin 13000 of FIGS. 13-15 installed in (engaging, latched within) the attach-and-release mechanism 13002 of FIGS. 13-15, according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 13-16, a method for installing the fin 13000 into the attach-and-release mechanism 13002 and for removing the fin from the attach-and-release mechanism are described, according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 13-14, one grasps the blade 13004 and holds the fin 13000 above the attach-and-release mechanism 13002 such that the posts 13010 and 13012 are aligned with the cavity 13018. Then one moves the fin 13000 toward the mechanism 13002 such that the posts 13010 and 13012 move toward the cavity 13018.

Next, referring to FIGS. 15-16, one moves the fin 13000 farther toward the attach-and-release mechanism 13002 such that the posts 13010 and 13012 slide into the cavity 13018.

As the posts 13010 and 13012 slide farther into the cavity 13018, the spring-tab protrusion 14002 enters the cavity such that the inner wall of the cavity effectively pushes the spring tab 13014 inward.

As the posts 13010 and 13012 slide even farther into the cavity 13018, eventually the protrusion 14002 becomes aligned with the notch 13020, at which time the spring-action of the spring tab 13014 forces (i.e., “snaps”) the protrusion into the notch.

Referring to FIG. 15, after the spring tab 13014 forces the protrusion 14002 into the notch 13020, a flat upper surface 15000 of the protrusion 14002 engages a flat lower surface 15002 of an overhang 15004 of the notch to prevent the fin 13000 from falling, or being pulled, out from the cavity 13018. That is, in this position, the fin 13000 is latched, or locked, into the attach-and-release mechanism 13002 stably such that the fin does not fall out of the attach-and-release mechanism during use and exhibits little or no “wiggling” during use or even when one attempts to wiggle the fin.

Referring again FIGS. 13-16, to release and to remove the fin 13000 from the attach-and-release mechanism 13002, while grasping the fin blade 13004 one presses in on the spring tab 13014 until the protrusion 14002 moves out from the slot 13020 and clears the overhang 15004, and then pulls the fin away from the attach-and-release mechanism 13002 so as to pull the posts 13010 and 13012 and spring tab 13014 out from the cavity 13018.

Still referring to FIGS. 13-16, although described as being separate from the fin 13000, the attach-and-release mechanism 13002, minus the housing 13016, can be attached to, or integral with, the fin 13000 and fit into the housing to secure the fin to the board 1002 (FIG. 1).

Referring to FIGS. 1-16, the sport-board system 1000 can be sold, or otherwise provided, with one or more fins such as the fins 1006, 7000, and 13000, and one or more replacement fins that are similar to, or different from, one or more of the fins 1006, 7000, and/or 13000. And one or more such replacement fins (e.g., for fin swapping for different rider skill levels) also, or instead, can be included in a kit that is sold, or otherwise provided, separately from the sport-board system. Providing fins separately from the sport-board system 1000 can allow one to replace damaged fins, or otherwise to swap out a fin, by hand without needing to purchase a new entire sport-board system. Furthermore, although described as having a single fin, the sport board 1002 can have multiple fins of the same or different type (e.g., different sizes, different shapes, different profiles), where fins in addition to the fins 1006, 7000, and 13000 can be permanent or can have different bases, can be configured for use with different attach-and-release mechanisms, and can be located at any suitable location on the board bottom surface 1010.

FIG. 17 is a bottom isometric view of a foiling system 17000 including an adjustable mast 17002, according to an embodiment. The foiling system 17000 is configured to allow a rider (more generally called a “payload” or “load”) to foil in a fluid. For purposes of example, hereinafter the fluid is water, it being understood that the system 17000 may be able to operate in a similar manner in another fluid. Furthermore, the foiling system 17000 can be configured for any suitable and/or compatible type of foiling such as wake foiling (foiling system pulled behind a boat and rider at some point lets go of the rope and foils with the energy of the wake waves made by the boat), motor (electric) foiling (a motor is part of, and propels, the foiling system), prone foiling (like surfing but with a foiling board instead of a plain surf board), kite foiling (a rider holds or is otherwise attached to a kite such that via the kite, wind pulls the foiling system), wind foiling (a rider holds or is otherwise attached to a sail such that via the sail, the wind pulls the foiling system), and SUP (Stand-Up) foiling (like a paddle-board system but with a mast and foil assembly, a foiler can use a paddle to get the foiling system moving and then “pump” the system to stay up).

In addition to the adjustable mast 17002, the foiling system 17000 incudes a foil platform or board 17004 attached directly or indirectly to a top flange 17006 of the adjustable mast, and a foil assembly 17008, which includes a fuselage 17010 attached to a bottom 17012 of the mast, a wing 17014 attached to, or near, a leading edge 17016 of the fuselage, and a stabilizer 17018 attached to, or near, a trailing edge 17020 of the fuselage.

In operation, a payload (e.g., a person called a “foiler”) rides on top of the board 17004, and, as the foil assembly 17008 moves through water, the cross-sectional contour of the wing 17014 generates, in the water under the wing, a force (sometimes called “lift” or a “lifting force”) that lifts the wing, and therefore, lifts the rest of the foiling system 17000, upward such that the board rises out of the water. Because the board 17004 is not contacting the water while the system 17000 and the foiler are moving, the friction and/or resistance that the system experiences is significantly less than if the board were contacting the water, and, therefore, moving the system at a given velocity (e.g., by towing the system and the foiler with a boat, by the foiler “pumping,” by waves, and/or by a boat wake) requires significantly less energy than if the board were contacting the water.

The length, or height, of the mast 17002 is adjustable so that one can adjust the distance, or height, between the foil assembly 17008 (e.g., the fuselage 17010) and the board 17004. This allows one to adjust the height of the mast 17002, for example, for foilers of different experience levels—generally, foilers with more experience prefer a taller mast, and foilers with less experience prefer a shorter mast. And having an adjustable mast 17002 allows for multiple mast heights without the need to acquire multiple masts of different heights. The mast 17002 can be configured such that one can adjust the mast to any one of multiple heights. For example, popular mast heights to which one can adjust the mast 17002 include, but are not limited to, 12″ (inches), 14″, 17″, 20″, 24″, 28″, and 30″, although the mast 17002 can be configured for adjustment to any suitable height.

Furthermore, the mast 17002 can be configured to be lighter than a conventional mast for any given height without significantly sacrificing rigidity of the mast. For example, the mast 17002 can be made from any suitable material, such as a metal (e.g., aluminum), and can include multiple pieces, or supports, that are hollow instead of solid, to reduce the mast weight as compared to a solid mast at a given mast height. The multiple supports can be configured to interconnect with one another in such a way so as to allow adjustment of the mast height. Alternately, a single-piece non-adjustable mast of a given height still can be made lighter than a conventional mast of the same or similar height by making the mast hollow instead of solid.

FIG. 18 is a side view of the mast 17002 and attached foil assembly 17008 of FIG. 17, according to an embodiment.

The mast 17002 has two telescoping supports 18000 and 18002, which are both hollow, and the support 18002 (the male support) is configured to slide within the support 18000 (the female support). The support 18002 includes a nipple 18004 configured for insertion into a receptacle 18006 of the fuselage 17010, and for attachment to the fuselage. For example, the nipple 18004 can be integral with, or attached to a portion of the support 18002 in any suitable manner (e.g., with an adhesive and/or fasteners such as rivets), and the nipple also can be attached to (e.g., with an adhesive and/or fasteners such as screws) the fuselage 17010 in any suitable manner.

The supports 18000 and 18002 each include alignment holes 18010 and 18012, respectively.

To adjust a height h of the mast 17002, one slides the support 18002 within the support 18000 so, that at approximately a desired mast height, at least one of the alignment holes 18010 of the support 18000 is aligned with at least one of the alignment holes 18012 of the support 18002, and then one inserts a first component, such as a screw, of a respective fastener, through each of the aligned pairs of alignment holes and secures each screw with a second component, e.g., a nut or a threaded bushing (FIG. 20) of the respective fastener. The fastener may be designed so that no tools are needed for one to adjust the height of the mast 17002. For example, thumb screws and nuts or bushings can be used, although use of one or more tools to adjust the height of the mast 17002 is contemplated.

Still referring to FIG. 18, as indicated by the dual-headed arrow, the wing 17014 can be configured to rotate about a longitudinal wing axis to change the plane of the wing to, for example, adjust the fluid-dynamic properties of the wing in water. Similarly, the stabilizer 17018 can be rotatable about a longitudinal stabilizer axis to change the plane of the stabilizer to, for example, adjust the fluid-dynamic properties of the stabilizer in water.

FIG. 19 is a cutaway cross-sectional view of the mast 17002 of FIGS. 17-18, according to an embodiment. The female support 18000 and the male support 18002 are hollow, can be made from any suitable material such as plastic, epoxy resin, carbon fiber, or metal (e.g., aluminum) and, as described above in conjunction with FIG. 18, the male support is configured to slide within the hollow interior of the female support. Furthermore, both the female support 18000 and the male support 18002 have a tear-drop-shaped cross section and have tapered leading edges 19000 and 19002 and tapered trailing edges 19004 and 19006, respectively, where the “tops of the tear-drops” are the tapered trailing edges. The tear-drop shape reduces the water (and/or other-fluid) resistance of the mast 17002 as compared to square-shaped masts and some other-shaped masts. Alternatively, if a portion of the male support 18002 is disposed within the female support 18000 even at the tallest height setting of the mast 17002, then the portion of the male support that remains inside of the female support can have any suitable shape because this portion is not exposed to water flow during foiling. And/or if the mast 17002 is configured such that the female support 18000 is out of the water during foiling after an initial start period, the cross-sectional shape of the female support can be configured to be less fluid-flow friendly because the only time that the female support propagates through the water is during a foiling startup period during which the foiling system 17000 (FIG. 1) is moving into its stable foiling position. Also, the nipple 18004 (FIG. 18) can have a tear-drop-shaped cross-section or can have any other suitable cross-sectional shape such as rectangular because the nipple does not contact the water (it is inside the fuselage 17018) during operation of the foiling system 17000. In addition, side walls 19008 and 19010 of the female and male supports 18000 and 18002 can have any suitable thicknesses.

Still referring to FIG. 19, alternate embodiments are contemplated. For example, the female and male supports 18000 and 18002 can swap places; that is, the male support can be attached to the board 17004 (FIG. 17) and the female support can be attached to the fuselage 17010 (FIG. 17). In addition, the supports 18000 and 18002 can be configured to slide adjacent to one another instead of one inside of the other. Moreover, the female and male supports 18000 and 18002 can have a cross-sectional shape that is different from a tear-drop shape, or each support can have a different cross-sectional shape (e.g., in regions that contact water during foiling). Furthermore, the male support 18002 can be solid instead of hollow, and the female support 18000 can be solid in a portion into which the male support does not slide. In addition, the female and male supports 18000 and 18002 can be configured so that the male support cannot slide all of the way out from the female support, e.g., to prevent the male support from falling out of the female support and potentially sinking and/or becoming irretrievably lost.

FIG. 20 is partially exploded leading-edge view of the mast 17002 (including the mast's top flange 17006), and the foil assembly 17008 (partial view) of FIGS. 17-19, and of fasteners 20000 and 20002, according to an embodiment. As described above in conjunction with FIG. 18, the fasteners 20000 and 20002 are configured for insertion into pairs of aligned openings 18010 and 18012 of the female and male supports 18000 and 18002, respectively, to maintain the mast 17002 at a selected height setting. The fasteners 20000 and 20002 each include a respective screw 20004 and 20006 and a respectively locking threaded bushing 20008 and 20010.

To adjust the height of the mast 17002, one slides the male support 18002 within the female support 18000 until two or more pairs of openings 18010 and 18012 are aligned at the desired mast height. Next, he inserts the threaded bushings 20008 and 20010 into respective ones of the aligned pairs of openings 18010 and 18012. Then, he screws the screws 20004 and 20006 into the bushings with a tool such as a Philip's head screwdriver or by hand (for example, if the screws are thumb screws) until the screws are screwed into the bushings 20008 and 20010. To readjust the height of the mast 17002, one removes the screws 20004 and 20006 from the bushings 20008 and 20010, removes the bushings from the respective aligned pairs of openings 18010 and 10812, slides the male support 18002 inside of the female support 18000 until the mast 17002 is at a desired height, inserts the threaded bushings 20008 and 20010 into respective ones of the aligned pairs of openings 18010 and 18012, and screws the screws 20004 and 20006 into the threaded bushings to secure the mast at the selected height.

Still referring to FIG. 20, alternate embodiments are contemplated. For example, although the mast 17002 is described as including two fasteners 20000 and 20002, the mast can include fewer or more than two fasteners. And to secure the mast 17002 at a desired height, one can use fewer fasteners than the total number of fasteners that come with the mast (e.g., although the mast may include three fasteners one can use only two of the three fasteners to secure the mast at a particular height setting). Furthermore, although the fasteners 20000 and 20002 are each described as including a respective screw 20004 and 20006 and a respective threaded busing 20008 and 20010, the fasteners can be any other suitable type of fastener.

FIGS. 21A-21C are respective side views of the mast 17002 and the foil assembly 17008 of FIGS. 17-20 at different mast-height settings, according to an embodiment in which the female support 18000 includes four alignment openings 18010 and the male support 18002 includes two alignment openings 18012.

In FIG. 21A, the mast 17002 is a at a minimum mast height, with two fasteners 20000 and 20002 in the top two aligned pairs of holes 18010 and 18012. For example, the minimum mast height may be 14″.

In FIG. 21B, the mast 17002 is a at a midrange mast height, with the two fasteners 20000 and 20002 in the middle two aligned pairs of holes 18010 and 18012. For example, the midrange mast height may be 17″.

In FIG. 21C, the mast 17002 is a at a maximum mast height (with two fasteners), with two fasteners 20000 and 20002 in the bottom two aligned pairs of holes 18010 and 18012. For example, the maximum two-fastener height may be 20″. The mast height could be set even higher by aligning the bottom hole 18010 of the female support 18000 with the top hole 18012 of the male support 18002, but this setting may be less stable than the three previously described settings because only one fastener 20000 or 20002 could be used.

Referring to FIGS. 21A-21C, alternate embodiments are contemplated. For example, one or both of the female support 18000 and male support 18002 can have fewer or more than four holes 18010 and fewer or more than two holes 18102, respectively, to provide fewer or more than three stable selectable heights for the mast 17002. Furthermore, one may use fewer than or more than two fasteners 20000 and 20002 to secure, stably, the mast 17002 at a particular height setting.

FIG. 22 is a cutaway top view of the mast 17002 (only the mast flange 17006 is visible in FIG. 22) of FIGS. 17-21C and of the foil assembly of 17008 of FIGS. 17-18 and 20-21C, according to an embodiment. For example, the stabilizer 17018 can be configured for removable coupling to a trailing edge 17020 of the fuselage 17010 with one or more fasteners 22000, which fastener can be any suitable type of fastener such as a thumb screw or a screw configured to engage a tool such as a screwdriver. The plate 17006 can be configured for removable coupling to the mast 17002 (not visible in FIG. 22) with one or more fasteners 22002, and the wing 17104 can be configured for removable coupling to a leading edge 17016 of the fuselage 17010 with one or more fasteners 22004, where the fastener(s) 22002 and 22004 can be the same as, or similar to, the fastener(s) 22000. Alternatively, one or more of the plate 17006, the wing 17014, and/or the stabilizer 17018 can be coupled to the mast 17002 (FIG. 17) or the fuselage 17010, respectively, by welding, an adhesive, or other suitable attachment or coupling techniques.

FIG. 23 is a side view of a foiling system 23000, which includes a rearward-slanted mast 23002, according to an embodiment. In addition to the mast 23002, the foiling system 23000 includes a foil board 23004, a mast-attachment plate 23006 (can be considered part of the mast), and a foil assembly 23008.

The mast 23002 is slanted from the foil assembly 23006 rearward toward a trailing end 23010 of the foiling system 23000. As compared to a straight mast, allowing the mast 23002 to be slanted provides for greater independence in the location 23012 of the mast attachment to the board 23004 relative to the location of the foil assembly 23006 relative to the board. That is, with a straight mast, the location of the foil assembly 23008 would be directly below the location where the straight mast attaches to the board 23004. But with the slanted mast 23002, one can adjust the amount, or angle α, of the slant, as well as the direction (rearward, forward) of the slant, to adjust the location of the foil assembly 23008 relative to the location 23012 where the slanted mast attaches to the board 23004. Adjusting the locations of the mast-board attachment and of the foil assembly 23008 relative to one another can allow a designer to impart, to the foiling system 23000, adjustable properties related to a rider's stance on the board 23002 and mass distribution relative to the foiling system.

Although the mast 23002 is shown as being slanted rearward, the mast can be slanted forward.

And the angle α of the slant can be any suitable angle, for example, in an approximate range of 0°-180°, in an approximate range of 10°-170°, in an approximately range of 45°-135°, etc. And the mast 23002 can be configured to allow adjustment of the angle α.

Furthermore, although the height of the mast 23002 is shown as being non-adjustable, the mast can be an adjustable mast as previously described, for example, in conjunction with FIGS. 21A-21C, even though such a height-adjustable mast would be slanted. For example, the mast 23002 can have an adjustable height and/or an adjustable slant angle α. Furthermore, for the mast 23002 having an adjustable height, the adjustment can be along a longitudinal axis of the mast, that is, the direction of the adjustment, and the component of the adjustment in a direction normal to the board 23004 at the attachment location 23012, can depend on the slant angle α.

In addition, even where the mast 23002 is non-adjustable, the mast can be hollow (e.g., made from extruded metal such as aluminum) to reduce the mass and weight of the mast as compared to a solid mast as previously described.

Moreover, the location 23012 where the mast 23002 attaches to the board 23004 can be at any suitable position along the board. For example, the location 23012 can be toward or at a front or a front section (leading end) of the board 23004, toward or at a rear or rear section (trailing end) of the board, toward or at a middle or middle section of the board, between a middle or middle section and a rear or rear section of the board, or not between a middle or middle section and a rear or rear section of the board.

FIG. 24 is a side view of a foiling system 24000, which includes a forward-slanted mast 24002, according to an embodiment. Other than being forward slanted, the mast 24002 can be similar to the mast 23002 of FIG. 23 in any one or more ways (for example, the mast 24002 can be hollow and/or be adjustable in length/height along a longitudinal axis of the mast). The foiling system 24000 also includes a foil board 24004, an attachment plate 24006 (which can be considered part of the mast 24002), and a foil assembly 24008, which can be similar, respectively, to the foil board 23004, the attachment plate 23006, and the foil assembly 23008 of FIG. 23 in any one or more ways. And like the board-mast attachment location 23012 of FIG. 23, a location 24010 where the mast 24002 attaches to the board 24004 can be in any suitable position along the board.

FIG. 25 is a side view of a foiling system 25000 having a rail-mounted mast 25002, according to an embodiment. The mast 25002 can be similar in any of one or more ways to the mast 23002 of FIG. 23, and although shown as being a vertically straight mast, the mast 23002 can be a slanted mast and/or can have an adjustable height and/or an adjustable slant angle.

In addition to the mast 25002, the foiling system 2500 includes a foiling board 25004 and a foil assembly 25006, which can be similar to any one or more of the foiling boards and foil assemblies, respectively, disclosed elsewhere in this document.

The mast 25002 is mounted to a rail assembly 25008, which can span any suitable length of the board 25004 along an underside (water-facing side) 25010 of the foil board. The rail assembly 25008 is configured to allow one to adjust a location 25012 at which the mast 25002 engages the rail assembly by, for example, attaching the mast to the rail assembly loosely (or loosening an already-tight attachment of the mast to the rail assembly), sliding the mast to a desired location along the rail assembly, and then tightening, by hand or with a tool, a fastener (not visible in FIG. 25) to secure the mast in the desired location. For example, an attachment plate or flange 25014 (the attachment plate can be considered to be part of the mast 25002) can be configured to couple to the mast 25002 and to the rail assembly 25008 so as to couple the mast to the rail assembly.

The rail assembly 25008 includes one or more board-attachment structures 25016 (two board-attachment structures shown in FIG. 25), which can be, for example, attached to the underside (water-facing side) 25010 of the foil board 25004 with thumb screws or screws with which a screwdriver or other tool is used to install and/or remove the screws. The board-attachment structures 25016 can be aligned with and/or attached to any suitable location(s) 25018 along the foil board 25004. For example, the location(s) 25018 can be toward or at a front or a front section (leading end) of the foil board 25004, toward or at a rear or rear section (trailing end) of the foil board, toward or at a middle or middle section of the foil board, between a middle or middle section and a rear or rear section of the foil board, or not between a middle or middle section and a rear or rear section of the foil board.

Furthermore, the rail assembly 25008 can include one or more rails 25020 configured for slidable coupling to the plate 25014. For example, the rail assembly 26008 can include two approximately parallel rails.

FIG. 26 is a bottom view of the foiling system 25000, according to an embodiment in which the rail assembly 25008 includes two approximately parallel rails 20520.

FIG. 27 is a side view of a foiling system 27000 with a forward-slanted foiling board 27002, according to an embodiment. In addition to the foiling board 27002, the foiling system 27000 includes a height-adjustable mast 27004, a foil assembly 27006, and a plate 27008 (the plate 27008 can be considered part of the mast or as a separate component). Other than being slanted, the foiling board 27002 can be similar to the foiling board 25004 of FIGS. 25-26 and/or to foiling boards described elsewhere in this document. Similarly, the mast 27004 and the foil assembly 27006 can be similar to the mast 17002 and foil assembly 17008, respectively, of FIG. 17 and/or to masts and foil assemblies described elsewhere in this document. And other than being configured to impart the slant to the foiling board 27002, the plate 27008 can be similar to the plate 17006 of FIG. 17 and/or to plates described elsewhere in this document.

The foiling board 27002 being slanted relative to the foil assembly 27006 (as compared to being approximately parallel to the foil assembly) can alter characteristics of foiling experienced by a foiler. For example, it may make it easier for a foiler to balance himself/herself on the foiling board 27002 while foiling, for example, while the foiling system 27000 is being towed by a boat or other vehicle.

Referring to FIGS. 17-27, an adjustable mast, a slanted mast, and/or an adjustable slanted mast such as the adjustable mast 17002, the slanted mast 23002, or the adjustable slanted mast 29002 (FIG. 29), respectively, can be provided with a foiling system such as the foiling system 17000, and/or can be provided in a mast kit that allows one to replace or upgrade a mast of a foiling system that one already owns. For example, in addition to one or more masts, the kit can include one or more fasteners and one or more mast-to-board attachment plates or flanges.

FIG. 28 is a side view of the foiling system 27000 of FIG. 27 with the addition of a propulsion assembly 28000, according to an embodiment. For example, the propulsion assembly 28000 can be configured to propel the foiling system 27000 in water with or without a foiler riding on the foiling board 27002.

The propulsion assembly 28000 is attached to the mast 27004 (although the propulsion assembly may be attached to any other location on the foiling system 27000) and includes a motor-and-power-source housing 28002, a propeller (or other propulsion-component) housing 28004, a water input port 28006, and a water output port 28008.

The motor-and-power-source housing 28002 is configured to house a motor, such an electric motor, and a power source, such as a battery, for the motor (motor and power source not visible in FIG. 28). For example, the housing 28002 can be configured to be water resistant, watertight, and/or hermetically sealed. If the battery is not replaceable, then the housing 28002 may include an electrical connector (not visible in FIG. 28) configured to allow recharging of the permanent battery by an external power source; alternatively, the permanent battery may be configured for wireless charging by an external power source. The housing 28002 also can have a fluid-dynamic shape, such as a cone shape as shown in FIG. 28, to reduce or minimize water resistance while the foiling system 2800 is moving in a forward direction (indicated by an arrow). Furthermore, the housing 28002 can be formed from any suitable material such as metal or plastic.

The propeller housing 28004 is configured to house a propeller (not visible in FIG. 28) that is driven by the motor, and to protect a foiler and/or others from injury by preventing them from contacting the propeller as the motor rotates the propeller. Furthermore, the orientation of the housing 28004 can be adjustable in a vertical dimension, as shown by the dashed lines, and/or in a horizontal dimension, to adjust the direction in which the propeller generates thrust; for example, the orientation of the housing 28004 can be adjustable within an approximate range of 0°-90° in any direction radial from a longitudinal axis of the housing 28004 while the housing 28004 is oriented straight back from the motor-and-power-source housing 28002 (0°) as shown in FIG. 28 in solid line. Alternately, the motor housing 28002 and the propeller housing 28006 can be configured to move together so that a shaft (not visible in FIG. 28) between the motor and the propeller can remain straight at all times and need not include one or more joints that break the shaft into multiple sections that can “bend” relative to one another. And the housings 28002 and 28004 together and/or separately can house any other type of suitable propulsion system instead of, or in addition to, the motor and propeller combination, and can be formed from any suitable material such as metal or plastic.

The water input port 28006 is the port through which the propeller takes in water, and the water output port 28008 is the port through which the propeller expels water to generate thrust that moves the foiling system 27000 forward. The water input port 28006 can include a respective filter to prevent particulate contaminants from entering the propeller housing 28004 and potentially damaging (e.g., scratching) the propeller and/or an inside wall of the propeller housing.

The speed of the motor can be adjustable to adjust the speed at which the propeller propels the foiling system 27000, and/or the direction of the motor also can be adjustable such that the propeller can propel the foiling system backwards (i.e., in reverse) as well as forwards.

Still referring to FIG. 28, alternate embodiments are contemplated. For example, although the foiling system 27000 is described as including one propulsion assembly 28000, the foiling system can include multiple propulsion assemblies which are the same and/or different relative to one another.

FIG. 29 is a side view of a foiling system 29000, which can be similar to the foiling system 23000 of FIG. 23 except that the foiling system 29000 includes a height-adjustable mast 29002 and a propulsion assembly 29004, according to an embodiment. Other than being mounted to a fuselage 29006 of the foil assembly 23008 adjacent to a stabilizer 29010 of the foil assembly, the propulsion assembly 29004 can be similar in any one or more ways to the propulsion assembly 28000 of FIG. 28.

FIG. 30 is a side view, and FIG. 31 is a bottom view, of a foiling system 30000 including a rail-mounted mast 30002 and a rail-mounted propulsion assembly 30004, according to an embodiment. The foiling system 30000 also includes a foiling board 30006, a rail assembly 30008, a propulsion-assembly support 30010, a mast plate 30012, and a foil assembly 30014.

The mast 30002 is height adjustable and, other than being mountable to the rail assembly 30008, can be similar to the mast 170002 of FIGS. 17 and 21A-21C and/or can be slanted and/or have an adjustable slant angle like the mast 29002 in FIG. 29.

The propulsion assembly 30004 can be mountable to the rail assembly 30008 via the propulsion-assembly support 30010 and otherwise can be similar to the propulsion assembly 28000 of FIG. 28. Furthermore, the propulsion-assembly support 30010 can be considered to be part of, or separate from, the propulsion assembly 30004.

But for extending almost the entire length of the foiling board 30006 and having board-attachment structures 30016 of different sizes (e.g., different lengths) so that rails 30018 of the rail assembly 30008 can be approximately straight even though the foiling board is curved, the rail assembly 30008 can be similar to the rail assembly 25008 of FIGS. 25-26.

The propulsion-assembly support 30010 includes a member 30020 having first and second supports 30022 and 30024 and a plate 30026. The first and second supports 30022 and 30024 allow adjustment of the height of the propulsion assembly 30010, that is, adjustment of a distance between the propulsion assembly and a bottom 30028 of the foiling board 30006. For example, the first support 30022 can be a female support, and the second support 30024 can be a male support configured to slide within, or alongside, the female support to adjust the propulsion-assembly height, and one can secure the propulsion-assembly support 30010 at the desired propulsion-assembly-height setting by inserting one or more suitable fasteners (not shown in FIG. 30) into one more aligned alignment holes 30030 and 30032 of the male and female supports. And the supports 30022 and 30024 can be formed from any suitable material, such as metal, and can have a cross section that is configured to reduce water draft while the foiling system 30000 is moving in a forward direction toward a front end 30034 of the foiling system. For example, the supports 30022 and 30024 can have a tear-drop-shaped cross section similar to the tear-drop-shaped cross section of FIG. 19. And the male support 30024 can be configured for coupling to the propulsion-assembly 30004 with one or more fasteners and/or with and/or by any other suitable coupling structure or technique. Alternately, the support 30022 can be a male support and the support 30024 can be a female support. And the plate 30026 can be configured to couple the propulsion-assembly-support member 30020 to the one or more rails 30018; for example, the plate 30026 (like the plate 30012) can be similar to the plate 25014 of FIG. 25.

FIG. 32 is a side view of a foiling system 32000 including a forward-slanted board 32002, a remote-controllable mast 32004, a remote-controllable foil assembly 32006 (including, e.g., a remote-controllable wing 32008 and stabilizer 32010), a remote-controllable propulsion assembly 32012, a remote-controllable propulsion-assembly support 32032, and a remote control 32014 configured to control, remotely, one or more characteristics and/or parameters of one or more of the mast, foil assembly, propulsion assembly, and/or propulsion-assembly support, according to an embodiment.

The forward-slanted foiling board 32002 can be similar to the forward-slanted foiling board 27002 of FIGS. 27-28.

The remote-controllable mast 32004 is configured to allow one to adjust the height of the mast with the remote control 32014. For example, the mast 32004 can include, internally, a mast-adjuster assembly 32016, which can include a controller (e.g., a microprocessor or a microcontroller), a screw drive, a screw-drive motor (or other suitable drive and/or drive motor), and/or a power source such as a battery. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the remote control 32014, and, in response to the signal, to drive the motor to adjust a mast height between the foiling board 32002 and the foil assembly 32006 to a value indicated by the remote-control signal. And the controller can be configured to send, to the remote control 32014, a status signal indicating, for example, the current mast height between the foiling board 32002 and the foil assembly 32006. Furthermore, one or more portions of the mast-adjuster assembly 32016 can be configured to be watertight. Moreover, if the mast 32004 is made from a metal (or other material that shields electromagnetic signals), the mast-adjuster assembly 32016 can include an antenna that extends into and/or through a gap 32018 between a mast upper support 32020 and a mast lower support 32022 to improve transmission and reception of signals to and from the remote control 32014.

The remote-controllable foil assembly 32006 is configured to allow one to adjust the pitch(es) of the wing 32008 and/or stabilizer 32010 with the remote control 32014. For example, a fuselage 32024 of the foil assembly 32006 can include, internally, a foil-adjuster assembly 32026, which can include a controller (e.g., a microprocessor or a microcontroller), and one or more screw-drive-screw-drive-motor pairs (or other drive and/or drive motor pairs), and/or a power source such as a battery. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the remote control 32014, and, in response to the signal, to drive each of the one or more motors to adjust a pitch, plane, tilt (side-to-side), or angle (side-to-side) of a respective one of the wing 32008 and/or the stabilizer 32010 to a respective one or more values indicated by the remote-control signal. And the controller can be configured to send, to the remote control 32014, a status signal indicating, for example, the current pitches, planes, tilts, and/or angles of the wing 32008 and/or the stabilizer 32010. Furthermore, one or more portions of the foil-adjuster assembly 32026 can be configured to be watertight. Moreover, if the fuselage 32024 is made from a metal (or other material that shields electromagnetic signals), then the foil-adjuster assembly 32026 can include an antenna, for example, that extends into and/or through a gap 32028 between the wing 32008 and the fuselage 32024 and/or a gap 32030 between the stabilizer 32010 and the fuselage to improve transmission and reception of signals to and from the remote control 32014. In addition, the fuselage 32024 can be configured to be water resistant, watertight, and/or hermetically sealed. If the battery is not replaceable, then the fuselage 32024 may include an electrical connector (not visible in FIG. 32) configured to allow recharging of the permanent battery by an external power source; alternatively, the permanent battery may be configured for wireless charging by an external power source.

The foiling system 32000 also includes a remote-controllable propulsion assembly 32012 and a propulsion-assembly support 32032, which is configured to allow adjustment of the height of the propulsion assembly, that is, adjustment of a distance between the propulsion assembly and a bottom 32044 of the foiling board 32002.

The propulsion-assembly support 32032 includes a member 32036 having first and second supports 32038 and 32040 and a plate 32042. The first and second supports 32038 and 32040 allow adjustment of the height of the propulsion assembly 32012. For example, the support 32038 can be a female support, and the support 32040 can be a male support configured to slide within, or alongside, the female support to allow adjusting the propulsion-assembly height. And the supports 32038 and 32040 can be formed from any suitable material, such as metal, and can have a cross section that is configured to reduce or to minimize water resistance (e.g., water drag) while the foiling system 32000 is moving in a forward direction. For example, the supports 32038 and 32040 each can have a tear-drop-shaped cross section similar to the tear-drop-shaped cross section of FIG. 19. And the male support 32040 can be configured for coupling to the propulsion assembly 32012 with one or more fasteners and/or with and/or by any other suitable coupling structure or technique. Alternately, the support 32038 can be a male support and the support 32040 can be a female support. And the plate 32042 can be configured to couple the propulsion-assembly-support member 32036 to the foiling-board bottom 32044 approximately at a rear end of the foiling board 32002 as shown in FIG. 32 or at any other suitable location of the board bottom; for example, the plate 32042 can be similar to (although possibly smaller than) a plate 32046 of the mast 32004.

Furthermore, the propulsion-assembly support 32032 can include, internally, a propulsion-assembly-height adjuster 32048, which can include a controller (e.g., a microprocessor or a microcontroller), a screw drive, a screw-drive motor (or other drive and/or drive motor), and/or a power source such as a battery. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the remote control 32014, and, in response to the signal, to drive the motor to adjust a height between the bottom 320044 of the foiling board 32002 (or relative to any other location on the board) and the propulsion assembly 32012 to a value indicated by the remote-control signal. And the controller can be configured to send, to the remote control 32014, a status signal indicating, for example, the current height between the foiling board 32002 and the propulsion assembly 32012. Furthermore, one or more portions of the motor-height adjuster 32048 can be configured to be watertight. Moreover, if the member 32036 is made from a metal (or other material that shields electromagnetic signals), the motor-height adjuster 32048 can include an antenna that extends into and/or through a gap 32050 between the supports 32038 and 32040 to improve transmission and reception of signals to and from the remote control 32014.

The propulsion assembly 32012 can be mountable to the foiling board 32002 via the motor-support assembly 32036 and includes a motor-and-power-source housing 32052, a propeller (or other propulsion-component) housing 32054, a water input port 32056, and a water output port 32058.

The motor-and-power-source housing 32052 is configured to house a motor, such an electric motor, and a motor-orientation assembly 32060, which can include a controller (e.g., a microprocessor or a microcontroller), and one or more screw-drive-screw-drive-motor pairs (or other drive and/or drive motor), and/or a power source such as a battery. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the remote control 32014, and, in response to the signal, to drive the one or more motors each to adjust an orientation, in one or more dimensions, of the propeller housing 32054 (similar to the propeller housing 28004 of FIG. 28) to a value indicated by the remote-control signal. And the controller can be configured to send, to the remote control 32014, a status signal indicating, for example, the orientation of the propeller housing 32056. Furthermore, one or more portions of the motor-and-power-source housing 32052 can be configured to be watertight. Moreover, if the motor-and-power-source housing 32052 is made from a metal (or other material that shields electromagnetic signals), then the motor-orientation assembly 32060 can include an antenna that extends outside of the motor-and-power-source housing to improve transmission and reception of signals to and from the remote control 32014. Furthermore, the motor-and-power-source housing 32052 can be configured to be water resistant, watertight, and/or hermetically sealed. If the battery is not replaceable, the housing 32052 may include an electrical connector (not visible in FIG. 32) configured to allow recharging of the permanent battery by an external power source, or the motor-orientation-assembly 32060 may include circuitry configured to allow wireless recharging of the permanent battery by an external power source. The housing 32052 also can have a fluid-dynamic shape, such as a cone shape, to reduce or minimize water resistance while the foiling system 32000 is moving in a forward direction. Moreover, the housing 32052 can be formed from any suitable material such as metal or plastic.

The propeller housing 32054 is configured to house a propeller (not visible in FIG. 32) that is driven by the motor, and to protect a foiler and/or others from injury by preventing them from contacting the propeller as it rotates. Furthermore, the orientation of the housing 32054 can be adjustable vertically and horizontally (see FIG. 28 and the description corresponding thereto) to adjust the direction in which the propeller generates thrust. Alternately, the motor housing 32052 and the propeller housing 32054 can be configured to move together so that a shaft (not visible in FIG. 32) between the motor and the propeller can remain straight at all times and need not include one or more joints that break the shaft into multiple sections that can “bend” relative to one another. And the propeller housing 32054 can house any other type of suitable propulsion system instead of, or in addition to, the motor, and can be formed from any suitable material such as metal or plastic.

The water input port 32056 is the port through which the propeller takes in water, and the water output port 32058 is the port through which the propeller expels water to generate thrust that moves the foiling system forward. The water input port 32056 can include a respective filter to prevent particulate contaminants from entering the propeller housing 32054 and potentially damaging (e.g., scratching) the propeller or an inner wall of the propeller housing.

Still referring to FIG. 32, alternate embodiments of the foiling system 32000 are contemplated. For example, using the remote control 32014, one can adjust the speed of rotation of the motor so as to adjust the speed at which the propeller propels the foiling system 32000, and/or can adjust the direction of the motor rotation such that the propeller can propel the foiling system in reverse. Furthermore, using the remote control 32014, one can adjust a slant angle of the board 32002, mast assembly 23004, and/or motor-support assembly 32035. Moreover, a foiler can make any remote-control adjustments, such as those described above, using the remote control 32014 while he is foiling using the system 32000 or while the system is not being used for foiling (e.g., while the foiling system is on a boat or in a shop). In addition, one can adjust, using the remote control 32014, other features, characteristics, and/or parameters of the foiling system 32000 not expressly disclosed herein. Furthermore, instead of having separate power sources in the mast 32004, foil-adjuster assembly 32026, motor-height adjuster 32048, and motor housing 32052, fewer, or a single, power source for two or more of the mast, foil-adjuster, motor-height adjuster, and/or motor can be disposed elsewhere in the foiling system 32000, such as in a watertight compartment in the foiling board 32002. In addition, although the mast height, wing and stabilizer orientation, motor height, and motor-propulsion orientation are described as being adjustable by remote control, one or more of these parameters may be adjustable only manually or not at all. Moreover, instead of being disposed in the motor housing 32052, the motor-orientation assembly 32060 can be disposed in the propeller housing 32054, or in both the motor housing and the propeller housing.

Referring to FIGS. 28-32, an adjustable mast, a slanted mast, an adjustable slanted mast such as the adjustable mast 29002, a foil assembly such as the foil assembly 32006 (or the individual components thereof), a propulsion-assembly support such as the propulsion-assembly support 32032, a propulsion assembly such as the propulsion assembly 32012, a rail system such as the rail system 30008, and/or a remote control 32014 (which can be waterproof) respectively, can be provided with a foiling system such as the foiling system 27000 or 28000, and/or can be provided in a kit that allows one to replace or upgrade any one or more of the aforementioned components, and other components, of a foiling system, an e-foiling system, and/or a remote-controllable foiling system (e-foil or otherwise) that one already owns. Furthermore, an aftermarket remote control may be used as, or in place of, the remote control 32014.

Although embodiments of the fin attach-and-release mechanisms, mast mechanisms, motorized mechanisms, and remote-control-adjustable mechanisms are illustrated and described in the context of wake boards and foil boards, these mechanisms can be used separately, in subcombination, and in combination, in the context of wake boards, foil boards, and/or other water boards, including but not limited to, surf boards, wind-surfing boards, stand up paddle boards, and/or kite boards.

The terms “about,” “approximately,” “approximate,” and “substantially” include the value or parameter specified, and mean that the value or parameter specified may be somewhat altered, as long as the alteration does not result in nonconformance of the process or structure to the illustrated embodiment from the perspective of one having ordinary skill in the art. For instance, unless otherwise indicated, a numerical quantity modified by one of the terms “about,” “approximately,” “approximately,” or “substantially” can be altered to within ±20% of the specified value. Finally, the term “exemplary” merely indicates the accompanying description is used as an example, rather than implying an ideal, essential, or preferable feature of the invention.

Furthermore, it is expressly intended that any feature disclosed in conjunction with one embodiment can be combined with one or more features disclosed in conjunction with any other one or more embodiment(s) to result in one or more third embodiments.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A mast, comprising:

a first support configured for coupling to one of a foiling platform and a foiling assembly; and

a second support configured for coupling to the other of the foiling platform and the foiling assembly and for coupling to the first support in a manner that allows adjustment of a combined length of the first and second supports.

2. The mast of claim 1 wherein the second support is configured for coupling to the first support in a manner that allows adjustment of a combined height of the first and second supports.

3. The mast of claim 1 wherein:

the first support includes at least one first hole;

the second support includes at least one second hole configured for alignment with the at least one first hole; and

the aligned at least one first hole and at least one second hole are configured to receive at least one fastener.

4. The mast of claim 1 wherein the first and second supports are configured to slide relative to each other.

5. The mast of claim 1 wherein one of the first support and the second support is configured to slide inside of the other of the first support and the second support.

6. The mast of claim 1 wherein the first and second supports are configured to allow adjustment of the combined length of the first and second supports by allowing sliding of the first and second supports relative to each other.

7. The mast of claim 1 wherein the first and second supports are configured to allow adjustment of the combined length of the first and second supports by allowing sliding of one of the first and second supports inside of the other of the first and second supports.

8. The mast of claim 1 wherein one of the first and second supports is configured for coupling to a foiling platform at a location other than between a middle section and a rear section of the foiling platform.

9. The mast of claim 1 wherein one of the first and second supports is configured for coupling to a foiling platform at a location between a middle section and a rear section of the foiling platform.

10. The mast of claim 1 wherein one of the first and second supports is configured for coupling to a foiling platform at a front of the foiling platform.

11. The mast of claim 1 wherein one of the first and second supports is configured for coupling to a foiling platform at a rear of the foiling platform.

12. The mast of claim 1 wherein one of the first and second supports is configured for coupling to a foiling platform at a middle of the foiling platform.

13. The mast of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first support and the second support is configured to extend from the foiling platform at an obtuse angle relative to the foiling platform.

14. The mast of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first support and the second support is configured to extend from the foiling platform at an acute angle relative to the foiling platform.

15. The mast of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first support and the second support is configured to extend approximately normal to the foiling platform.

16. A mast, comprising:

a female support having a first end configured for coupling to one of a foiling platform and a foiling assembly and a having second end having an opening; and

a male support having a first end configured for coupling to the other of the foiling platform and the foiling assembly and the having a second end configured for extending into the opening of the female support an adjustable distance.

17. The mast of claim 16, further comprising a plate disposed at the first end of the female support and configured for coupling to the foiling board.

18. The mast of claim 16, further comprising a nipple disposed at the first end of the male support and configured for coupling to the foiling assembly.

19. The mast of claim 16 wherein:

the female support includes at least one female hole;

the male support includes at least one male hole configured for alignment with the at least one female hole; and

the aligned at least one female hole and at least one male hole are configured to receive at least one fastener.

20. The mast of claim 16 wherein the female support has a tear-drop-shaped cross section.

21. The mast of claim 16 wherein the female support has a rounded leading edge.

22. The mast of claim 16 wherein the female support has a tapered leading edge.

23. The mast of claim 16 wherein the female support has a tapered trailing edge.

24. The mast of claim 16 wherein the male support has a tear-drop-shaped cross section.

25. The mast of claim 16 wherein the male support has a rounded leading edge.

26. The mast of claim 16 wherein the male support has a tapered leading edge.

27. The mast of claim 16 wherein the male support has a tapered trailing edge.

28. A kit, comprising:

a first support configured for coupling to one of a foiling platform and a foiling assembly; and

a second support configured for coupling to the other of the foiling platform and the foiling assembly and for coupling to the first support in a manner that allows adjustment of a height between the foiling platform and the foiling assembly.

29. The kit of claim 28, further comprising:

wherein the first support includes at least one first alignment hole and the second support includes at least one second alignment hold; and

at least one fastener configured to maintain alignment of at least one first hole with the at least one second hole.

30. The kit of claim 29 wherein the at least one fastener includes at least one screw.

31. The kit of claim 29 wherein the at least one fastener includes at least one nut-and-bolt combination.

32. The kit of claim 29 wherein the at least one fastener includes at least one screw-and-bushing combination.

33. The kit of claim 28, further comprising the foiling assembly.

34. The kit of claim 28 wherein the foiling assembly comprises:

a fuselage;

a fin; and

a stabilizer.

35. The kit of claim 28 wherein the fuselage has a receptacle configured for receiving an end of one of the first and second supports.

36. The kit of claim 28 wherein:

the fuselage has a leading end; and

the fin is configured for coupling to the fuselage at, or approximately at, the leading end.

37. The kit of claim 29 wherein:

the fuselage has a trailing end; and

the stabilizer is configured for coupling to the fuselage at, or approximately at, the trailing end.

38. The kit of claim 29 wherein one of the first and second supports is configured slide within the other of the first and second supports.

39. A system, comprising:

a platform;

a foiling assembly; and

a mast having a first end configured for coupling to the platform, having a second end configured for coupling to the foiling assembly, and being configured to allow adjustment of a height between the foiling assembly and the platform.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein the platform and the mast are configured to support a person while the foiling assembly is moving in water and the platform is moving out of the water.

41. The system of claim 39 wherein the platform includes a board.

42. The system of claim 39 wherein the foiling assembly comprises:

a fuselage;

a fin; and

a stabilizer.

43. The system of claim 39 wherein the foiling assembly comprises:

a fuselage having a leading end and a trailing end;

a fin coupled to the leading end; and

a stabilizer coupled to the trailing end.

44. The system of claim 39 wherein the first end of the mast is configured for coupling to the platform at a location other than between a middle section and a rear section of the platform.

45. The system of claim 39 wherein the first end of the mast is configured for coupling to the platform at a location between a middle section and a rear section of the platform.

46. The system of claim 39 wherein the first end of the mast is configured for coupling to the platform at a front of the platform.

47. The system of claim 39 wherein the first end of the mast is configured for coupling to the platform at a rear of the platform.

48. The system of claim 39 wherein the first end of the mast is configured for coupling to the platform at a middle of the platform.

49. The system of claim 39 wherein the mast is configured to extend from the platform at an obtuse angle relative to the platform.

50. The system of claim 39 wherein the mast is configured to extend from the platform at an acute angle relative to the platform.

51. The system of claim 39 wherein the mast is configured to extend approximately normal to the foiling platform.

52. A method, comprising:

adjusting a height of a mast disposed between a board and a foiling assembly; and

securing the mast at the height.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein adjusting the height includes moving one section of the mast relative to another section of the mast.

54. The method of claim 52 wherein adjusting the height includes sliding one section of the mast relative to another section of the mast.

55. The method of claim 52 wherein adjusting the height includes sliding one section of the mast inside of another section of the mast.

56. The method of claim 52 wherein securing the mast includes inserting a faster into aligned holes in sections of the mast.

57. The method of claim 52, further comprising, before adjusting the height, unfastening one section of the mast from another section of the mast.

58. A fin, comprising:

a blade; and

a base configured for toolless installation within, and toolless removal from, a receptacle of a water board.

59. The fin of claim 58 wherein the blade is configured to engage a fluid including water.

60. The fin of claim 58 wherein the base is integral with the blade.

61. The fin of claim 58 wherein the base includes at least one attachment member configured to engage the receptacle.

62. The fin of claim 58 wherein the base includes at least one attachment member configured to engage at least one opening within the receptacle.

63. The fin of claim 62 wherein:

the at least one attachment member includes at least one post; and

the at least one opening includes at least one slot.

64. The fin of claim 62 wherein the attachment member includes at least one protrusion configured to engage at least one notch within the receptacle.

67. The fin of claim 64 wherein the at least one protrusion is configured to disengage the at least notch in response to force generated on the attachment member.

66. A fin receptacle for disposition on a water board, the fin receptacle comprising:

an opening configured to receive a base of a fin; and

a structure configured to engage the base within the opening.

67. The fin receptacle of claim 65 wherein the opening includes a slot configured to receive a post of the base.

68. The fin receptacle of claim 65 wherein the structure includes a notch configured to engage a protrusion of the base.

69. The fin receptacle of claim 65 wherein the structure includes a mechanism configured to latch the base within the receptacle.

70. The fin receptacle of claim 66 wherein the structure includes a mechanism configured to latch the post within the slot.

71. The fin receptacle of claim 69 wherein the mechanism is configured to release the post from the slot.

72. The fin receptacle of claim 69 wherein the mechanism includes a button configured to release the post from the slot while the button is being pressed.

73. A sport board, comprising:

a first surface configured to face a supporting medium; and

a receptacle disposed in the first surface and configured for toolless engagement and disengagement of a fin.

74. The sport board of claim 73 wherein the first surface includes a bottom surface. The sport board of claim 73 wherein supporting medium includes water.

76. The sport board of claim 73 wherein the receptacle includes:

an opening configured to receive a base of a fin; and

a structure disposed within the opening and configured to engage and to disengage the base in a toolless manner.

77. The sport board of claim 76 wherein the structure is configured to engage and to disengage a post of the base.

78. The sport board of claim 76 wherein the structure is configured to engage and to disengage a protrusion of the base.

79. The sport board of claim 76 wherein the structure includes a mechanism configured to latch the base within the receptacle and to unlatch the base from the receptacle.

80. The sport board of claim 76 wherein the structure includes a button configured to disengage the base while the button is being pressed.

81. A method, comprising:

installing a fin in a sport board; and

securing the fin to the board.

82. The method of claim 81 wherein installing the fin includes inserting a base of the fin into a receptacle disposed in the sport board.

83. The method of claim 82 wherein securing the fin includes securing a fin base within the receptacle.

84. The method of claim 82 wherein securing the fin includes latching a fin base within the receptacle.

85. The method of claim 82 wherein securing the fin includes engaging a fin base with a mechanism within the receptacle.

86. The method of claim 82, further comprising removing another fin from the sport board before installing the fin.

87. The method of claim 82, further comprising removing the fin from the board after securing the fin to the board.