Deformable body board

Abstract

The present invention is a body board for use by a person comprising first, second and third floatation members each having an upper surface and a lower surface and a length substantially greater than their width. The first floatation member is spaced adjacent to the second floatation member and the second floatation member is spaced adjacent the third floatation member. The body board further comprises an outside skin retaining the first, second, and third floatation members. The first floatation member is moveable relative to the second floatation member. The third floatation member is moveable relative to the second floatation member. In operation the person may grasp the first and third floatation members to conform the body board to the person's body.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates body boards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A variety of different body boards have been developed that allow a person to ride a wave and feel as if they are body surfing the wave. A significant amount of attention has been focused on providing a rigid bottom skin to increase the feel, maneuverability, and overall performance of the body board. Such high performance body boards are expensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] One object of the present invention was to develop a low cost body board that provided increased feel and maneuverability to the person and which could be manufactured at low cost.

[0004] The present invention is a body board for use by a person comprising first, second and third floatation members each having an upper surface and a lower surface and a length substantially greater than their width. The first floatation member is spaced adjacent to the second floatation member and the second floatation member is spaced adjacent the third floatation member. The body board further comprises an outside skin retaining the first, second, and third floatation members. The first floatation member is moveable relative to the second floatation member. The third floatation member is moveable relative to the second floatation member. In operation, the person may grasp the first and third floatation members to conform the body board to the person's body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The following detailed description of the invention will be more fully understood with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0006] FIG. 1 is top plan view of a first embodiment of the body board;

[0007] FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of the body board taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

[0008] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the body board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, where a body board 10 of the present invention is shown. The body board 10 comprises first, second and third floatation members 12, 14, and 16, each having an upper surface 18 and a lower surface 20 and a length substantially greater than their width. The first floatation member 12 is disposed and spaced adjacent to the second floatation member 14. The second floatation member 14 is spaced adjacent to the third floatation member 16. The body board 10 further comprises an outside skin 22 retaining the first, second, and third floatation members 12, 14, and 16. The outside skin 22 may be made of a one or more pieces of a cloth material. The body board 10 may comprise a first seam 24 located between the first and second floatation members 12 and 14, and a second seam located between the third and second floatation members 16 and 14. Seams 24 and 26 may be made by conventional sewing processes. A seam 28 is also provided around the periphery of the floatation members 12, 14, and 16. The spacing and seams allow the first floatation member 12 to be hingeably moveable relative to the second floatation member 14 along its entire length. Similarly, the third floatation member 16 is hingeable moveable relative to the second floatation member 14 along its entire length. In operation, the person may grasp the first and third floatation members to conform the body board to the person's body. The floatation members 12, 14, and 16 may be made from any material that floats or is buoyant. In the embodiment shown, the floatation members 12, 14, and 16 are made from Styrofoam. Although in the embodiment shown the floatation members 12, 14, and 16 have been encased or enclosed by a cloth with a plurality of seams, the enclosure 22 may take the form of upper and lower skins that are molded or otherwise adhered to the floatation members 12, 14, and 16.

[0010] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a second embodiment of the body board 10 comprises four and fifth floatation members 30 and 32 having an upper surface 18 and a lower surface 20 and a length substantially greater than their width. The body board 10 may comprise a third seam 34 located between the fourth and first floatation members 30 and 12, and a fourth seam 36 located between the fifth and third floatation members 32 and 16. The fourth and fifth floatation members 30 and 32 are hingeably moveable relative to the first and third floatation members 12 and 16, respectively. The first, third, fourth and fifth floatation members 12, 30, 16 and 32 may be curved to provide increased conformance to the person's body when moved by the person.

[0011] The foregoing description is intended primarily for purposes of illustration. This invention may be embodied in other forms or carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Modifications and variations still falling within the spirit or the scope of the invention will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art.

Claims

1. A body board for use by a person comprising first, second and third floatation members each having an upper surface and a lower surface and a length substantially greater than their width; said first floatation member being spaced adjacent said second floatation member; said second floatation member being spaced adjacent said third floatation member; an outside skin retaining said first, second, and third floatation members; said first floatation member being moveable flexible relative to said second floatation member; said third floatation member being moveable relative to said second floatation member, whereby the person during use may grasp the first and third floatation members to conform said body board to the person's body.

2. The body board of claim 1, further comprising four and fifth floatation members an upper surface and a lower surface and a length substantially greater than their width.

3. The body board of claim 2, wherein said outer skin is made from a cloth.

4. The body board of claim 3, further comprising a first seam located between said first and second floatation members; a second seam located between said third and second floatation members; a third seam located between said fourth and first floatation members; and a fourth seam between said fifth and third floatation members.

5. The body board of claim 4, wherein said second, third, fourth and fifth floatation members are curved to conform to the person's body when moved by the person.