WATER SLED APPARATUS

Abstract

The present invention is a towed water sled apparatus that includes a hull, a pair of knee indentations to accommodate any sized rider's knees while the rider is riding the apparatus and a pair of handles with a non-slip gripping surface disposed on each side of the apparatus. There is also a bumper pad disposed in front of the knee indentations to provide padding and protection to the rider while riding and a hitching aperture disposed on the hull to receive and attach a towing line to pull the apparatus. The apparatus is designed to greatly reduce diving or sinking while being towed or in an upright or overturned position.

Description

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/305,105 filed on Feb. 16, 2010, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD & BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to a water sled apparatus. More specifically, the invention is a towable water sled apparatus.

It is an object of the invention to provide a towable water sled apparatus that is relatively easily maneuvered by a rider.

It is an object of the invention to provide a towable water sled apparatus that greatly reduces diving or sinking while being towed, especially in an overturned position.

It is an object of the invention to provide a towable water sled apparatus that does not require a rider be strapped to the water sled apparatus while riding.

What is really needed is a towable water sled apparatus that is relatively easily maneuvered by a rider, greatly reduces diving or sinking while being towed, especially in an overturned position and that does not require a rider be strapped to the water sled apparatus while riding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates a diagonal overhead front perspective view of a water sled apparatus, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B illustrates an overhead perspective view of a water sled apparatus, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.

Various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the present invention. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation.

The phrase “in one embodiment” is used repeatedly. The phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment, however, it may. The terms “comprising”, “having” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise.

FIG. 1A illustrates a diagonal overhead front perspective view of a water sled apparatus 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B illustrates an overhead perspective view of a water sled apparatus 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

The water sled apparatus 100 is typically towed behind a watercraft (not shown) and allows a rider to steer the water sled apparatus 100 relatively easily without being strapped to the board. The water sled apparatus 100 can be used by very young riders with much less chance of injury because the rider is not strapped to water sled apparatus 100 while riding. The water sled apparatus 100 includes a pair of knee indentations 110, a pair of handles 120, a bumper pad 130 and a hitching aperture 140.

The rider typically rides the water sled apparatus 100 in the kneeling position in the knee indentations 110 while holding the handles 120. The knee indentations 110 can accommodate any sized rider. There is typically a pair of handles 120 disposed on the sides 102 of the water sled apparatus 100 in front of the knee indentations 110. The handles 120 also have a non-slip gripping surface 122 to allow a rider to relatively better grasp the handles 120 and relatively better maneuver the water sled apparatus 100. The non-slip gripping surface 122 is made of rubber or any other suitable material. The bumper pad 130 is disposed in front of the knee indentations 110 to prevent a rider from being thrown forward out of the knee indentations 110 and to provide padding and protection when a rider bumps forwards into the bumper pads 130. The hitching aperture 140 is disposed on the front or hull 104 of the water sled apparatus 100 and receives and attaches a towing line (not shown) to pull said water sled apparatus 100.

The water sled apparatus 100 has a solid hull 104 made of and formed from molded plastic or compression formed polymer and the handles 120 are made from solid plastic or metal. The knee indentations 110 and bumper pads 130 are made of any type of foam rubber that is suitable for use with the water sled apparatus 100.

The water sled apparatus 100 is towable and is relatively easily maneuvered by the rider. This is opposed to an inflatable towable water sled or water recreation apparatus which are relatively hard to maneuver. The water sled apparatus 100 greatly reduces diving or sinking while being towed without a rider in an upright or overturned position. The water sled apparatus 100 is designed to plane or stay on the surface of water in any position with or without a rider.

While the present invention has been related in terms of the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described. The present invention can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention.

Claims

1. A water sled apparatus, comprising:

a hull;

a pair of knee indentations to accommodate a rider's knees while said rider is riding said apparatus;

a pair of handles disposed on each side of said apparatus;

a bumper pad disposed in front of said knee indentations to provide padding and protection to said rider while riding; and

a hitching aperture disposed on said hull to receive and attach a towing line to pull said apparatus.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said hull is made of solid molded plastic or solid compression formed polymer.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said knee indentures can accommodate any sized said rider.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said knee indentations are made of foam rubber.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said handles are made of plastic or metal.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said handles have a non-slip rubber gripping surface.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bumper pad is made of foam rubber.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is towed.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said apparatus does not sink or drop while being towed.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus greatly reduces diving or sinking while being towed in an upright or overturned position.

11. A towed water sled apparatus, comprising:

a hull;

a pair of knee indentations to accommodate any sized rider's knees while said rider is riding said apparatus;

a pair of handles with a non-slip gripping rubber surface disposed on each side of said apparatus;

a bumper pad disposed in front of said knee indentations to provide padding and protection to said rider while riding; and

a hitching aperture disposed on said hull to receive and attach a towing line to pull said apparatus.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said hull is made of solid molded plastic or solid compression formed polymer.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said knee indentations are made of foam rubber.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said handles are made of plastic or metal.

15. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said bumper pad is made of foam rubber.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said apparatus greatly reduces diving or sinking while being towed or while in an upright or overturned position.

17. A towed water sled apparatus, comprising:

a hull made of solid molded plastic or solid compression formed polymer;

a pair of knee indentations to accommodate any sized rider's knees while said rider is riding said apparatus;

a pair of plastic or metal handles with a non-slip gripping rubber surface disposed on each side of said apparatus;

a bumper pad disposed in front of said knee indentations to provide padding and protection to said rider while riding; and

a hitching aperture disposed on said hull to receive and attach a towing line to pull said apparatus.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said knee indentations are made of foam rubber.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said bumper pad is made of foam rubber.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said apparatus greatly reduces diving or sinking while being towed or while in an upright or overturned position.