TUBE RAIL WATERBOARD

Abstract

A waterboard includes channels of continuously variable depth and angle.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. provisional application No. 61/075,665, filed Jun. 25, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to waterboards and, in particular, to waterboards having improved stability and maneuverability.

2. Discussion of the Background

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate bottom and tail end views of a conventional waterboard 100. Waterboard 100 typically has a substantially flat top surface 101, a bottom surface 102 having a compound curvature with both concave and convex aspects and generally convex sides 103 which intersect bottom surface 102 at chines 104. Conventionally, chines 104 provide “edges” to assist in maneuvering the waterboard. However, conventional chines provide limited control surfaces for advanced riders and limited stability for inexperienced riders.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention include a waterboard having concave longitudinal channels disposed between upper and lower side rails, said side rails defining corresponding upper and lower chines over the length of the channels, said channels having both a variable depth and a variable chine angle over their lengths.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a bottom view of a conventional waterboard;

FIG. 2 illustrates an end view of a conventional waterboard;

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of a waterboard according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a fifth cross-sectional view of the waterboard of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates a fourth cross-sectional view of the waterboard of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 illustrates a third cross-sectional view of the waterboard of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 illustrates a second cross-sectional view of the waterboard of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 illustrates a first cross-sectional view of the waterboard of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 illustrates an end view of the waterboard of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of a waterboard according to one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 11 illustrates another perspective view of a waterboard according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 3 provides a bottom view of a waterboard 200 according to one embodiment of the invention. Waterboard 200 may be fabricated from a foam core material which may be, for example, a closed cell polyethylene, polystyrene or polypropylene foam or other materials as are known in the art. Waterboard 200 may also include outer layers of polyethylene foam or other materials as are known in the art, which may be bonded to the foam core. Waterboard 200 may also include bottom or top sheets of polymeric film bonded to the outer foam layers as is known in the art. Waterboard 200 includes a nose portion generally from line 4-4 forward, a body potion generally between line 4-4 and line 8-8, and a tail portion generally from line 8-8 rearward. Waterboard 200 may include a bottom surface 201 comprising a generally compound concave-convex surface, upper rails 202 and lower rails 203 defining channels 204, which may have a generally concave cross-section, and sides 205 which may have a generally convex cross-section. Channels 204 may begin at a location that is approximately ⅔ to ¾ of the length of the waterboard 200 from the tail portion. However, embodiments of the invention are not so limited.

FIGS. 4 through 9 are selected views and cross-sections of waterboard 200 illustrating details of the configuration of waterboard 200. FIG. 4 is a cross-section of waterboard 200 at line 4-4 illustrating lower side rails 203 and convex sides 205 forward of the beginning of channels 204. FIG. 5 is a cross-section of waterboard 200 at line 5-5 illustrating the contours of channels 204. At line 5-5, channels 204 are defined by a contour 210 between lower side rails (lower chines) 203 and upper side rails (upper chines) 202 having: 1) a depth δ1 defined by the distance between a line 207 that intersects upper chine 202 and lower chine 203, and a line 208 tangent to contour 210; and 2) an angle θ1 between line 207 and a line 206 intersecting upper chines 202.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section of waterboard 200 at line 6-6 illustrating the contours of channels 204. At line 6-6, channels 204 are defined by contour 210 between lower chines 203 and upper chines 202 having: 1) a depth δ2 defined by the distance between line 207 and line 208; and 2) an angle θ2 between line 207 and line 206.

FIG. 7 is a cross-section of waterboard 200 at line 7-7 illustrating the contours of channels 204. At line 7-7, channels 204 are defined by contour 210 between lower chines 203 and upper chines 202 having: 1) a depth δ3 defined by the distance between line 207 and line 208; and 2) an angle θ3 between line 207 and line 206.

FIG. 8 is a cross-section of waterboard 200 at line 8-8 illustrating the contours of channels 204. At line 8-8, channels 204 are defined by contour 210 between lower chines 203 and upper chines 202 having: 1) a depth δ4 defined by the distance between line 207 and line 208; and 2) an angle θ4 between line 207 and line 206.

FIG. 9 is an end view of waterboard 200 illustrating the contours of channels 204. In FIG. 9, channels 204 are defined by contour 210 between lower chines 203 and upper chines 202 having: 1) a depth δ5 defined by the distance between line 207 and line 208; and 2) an angle θ5 between line 207 and line 206.

In one embodiment, δ1<δ2<δ3<δ4<δ5 and θ1>θ2>θ3>θ4>θ5. That is, channels 204 may begin at section 5-5 with a minimum depth relative to lines 207 and a maximum angle relative to line 206, and continuously increase in depth and decrease in angle toward the rear portion of waterboard 200. In one embodiment, the contours 210 may comprise circular arcs. In other embodiments, contours 210 may comprise parabolic or hyperbolic arcs.

Claims

1. A waterboard, comprising:

an elongated foam core comprising a nose portion, a body portion and a tail portion;

an upper rail and a lower rail defining respective upper and lower chines running from said nose portion to said tail portion; and

a longitudinal channel between said upper and lower chines, said channel intersecting said upper and lower chines; said channel having an increasing depth and a decreasing angle between said nose portion and said tail portion.

2. The waterboard of claim 1, wherein said longitudinal channel extends to said tail portion.

3. The waterboard of claim 1, wherein said longitudinal channel does not extend to said nose portion.

4. The waterboard of claim 3, wherein said longitudinal channel begins at a location that is about ⅔ to ¾ of the length of the waterboard from the tail portion.

5. The waterboard of claim 4, wherein said longitudinal channel begins at a location that is about ¾ of the length of the waterboard from the tail portion.

6. The waterboard of claim 4, wherein said longitudinal channel begins at a location that is about ⅔ of the length of the waterboard from the tail portion.

7. The waterboard of claim 1, wherein said longitudinal channel has a contour, wherein said contour comprises a circular arc.

8. The waterboard of claim 1, wherein said longitudinal channel has a contour, wherein said contour comprises a parabolic arc.

9. The waterboard of claim 1, wherein said longitudinal channel has a contour, wherein said contour comprises a hyperbolic arc.

10. The waterboard of claim 1, having sides having a generally convex cross-section.

11. The waterboard of claim 10, wherein said sides having a generally convex cross-section are disposed closer to said nose portion than are said longitudinal channels.

12. The waterboard of claim 1, further comprising an outer layer bonded to said elongated foam core.

13. The waterboard of claim 12, wherein said outer layer comprises polyethylene foam.

14. The waterboard of claim 1, further comprising a sheet of polymeric film.

15. The waterboard of claim 14, wherein said sheet of polymeric film comprises a top sheet.

16. The waterboard of claim 14, wherein said sheet of polymeric film comprises a bottom sheet.

17. The waterboard of claim 14, comprising a top sheet and a bottom sheet of polymeric film.

18. The waterboard of claim 12, further comprising a sheet of polymeric film bonded to said outer layer.

19. The waterboard of claim 18, wherein said outer layer comprises an outer foam layer.

20. The waterboard of claim 18, wherein said sheet of polymeric film bonded to said outer layer comprises a sheet selected from a bottom sheet, a top sheet, and a bottom sheet and a top sheet.