WATER-SPORT BOARDING APPARATUS
According to one embodiment of the invention, a water-sport boarding apparatus is provided, comprising an elongated hoard including: a top surface, a bottom surface, and an outer edge, wherein a first end segment of the elongated board comprises a first half-circle portion of the outer edge, a second end segment of the elongated board comprises a second half-circle portion of the outer edge, a middle segment of the elongated board unifies the first end segment with the second end segment, the middle segment comprises two substantially linear portions of the outer edge, the top surface is substantially flat, the bottom surface under the middle segment is convex along the width of the elongated board, and the bottom surface comprises a plurality of elongated ridges disposed parallel to a length of the elongated board, the elongated ridges forming a water channel on the bottom surface along the length of the elongated hoard.
The present invention relates to boarding apparatuses, and more particularly, a water-sport boarding apparatuses configured to glide on shallow water.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ARTSkim boarding is becoming an ever popular and mainstream sport activity around the world, especially with those who frequent the beach. Specifically, skim boarding is a board sport in which a person uses a board called a skimboard to skim, or glide, over the surface of shallow water. Typically, a skimboard rider runs along or before a shallow body of water, drops the board onto the surface of the shallow body of water, and then jumps onto the board, thereby using the rider's running momentum to glide across the surface of the water. Common locations for such shallow bodies of water include the beach (e.g., the wash from the waves that come ashore), lake shores, rivers, and locations known to have puddles (e.g., a golf course after a rainstorm). As an alternative to shallow bodies of water, in some cases the skimboard can even glide over wet grass.
In general, skimboards closely resemble a small surfboard, and are often constructed from many of the same materials. The diagrams provided in
According to various embodiments of the invention, boarding apparatuses are provided, some of which are specifically configured to glide across the surface of shallow bodies of water.
According to an embodiment of the invention, a water-sport boarding apparatus is provided, comprising: an elongated board including: a top surface, a bottom surface, and an outer edge, wherein a first end segment of the elongated board comprises a first half-circle portion of the outer edge, a second end segment of the elongated board comprises a second half-circle portion of the outer edge, a middle segment of the elongated board unifies the first end segment with the second end segment, the middle segment comprising two substantially linear portions of the outer edge, the top surface is substantially flat, the bottom surface under the middle segment is convex along the width of the elongated board, and the bottom surface comprises a plurality of elongated ridges disposed parallel to a length of the elongated hoard, the elongated ridges forming a water channel on the bottom surface along the length of the elongated board.
In particular embodiments, the water channel is a concave depression on the bottom surface. Depending on the embodiment, water channel may assist in the control, direction, and life of the elongated board.
In some embodiments, the top surface, the bottom surface, or both, are curved upward at the first and second end segments. In some such embodiments, the upward curvature of the top surface may assist in control of the water-sport hoard apparatus. In other such embodiments, the upward curvature of the bottom surface may assist in the lift and glide capabilities of the water-sport board apparatus. For example, the top surface, the bottom surface at the first and second end segments, the bottom surface at the first and second end segments, or both may be curved upward by 2-3 degrees.
In other embodiments, the elongated board has a width-to-length ratio of 8 to 21. To assist the rider in control of the board, in additional embodiments, the top surface comprises a grip surface (e.g., rubber pads). In further embodiments, the water-sport board apparatus further comprises a tow rope attachment; to which a rider may attach a tow rope/cable for easier retrieval of the board.
With respect to construction, in some embodiments, the elongated board further comprises a wood core, a foam core, honeycomb core, or polymer composite core. In other embodiments, the elongated board further comprises an exterior coated with an epoxy resin. In additional embodiments, the elongated board further comprises a fiberglass shell, a carbon shell, or a synthetic fiber shell (e.g., Kevlar®). In further embodiments, the bottom surface may be made of fiber-glass or a polymer composite.
Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the features in accordance with embodiments of the invention. The summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims attached hereto.
The present invention, in accordance with one or more various embodiments, is described in detail with reference to the following figures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict typical or example embodiments of the invention. These drawings are provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of the invention and shall not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability of the invention. It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale.
Some of the figures included herein illustrate various embodiments of the invention from different viewing angles. Although the accompanying descriptive text may refer to such views as “top,” “bottom” or “side” views, such references are merely descriptive and do not imply or require that the invention be implemented or used in a particular spatial orientation unless explicitly stated otherwise.
The figures are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It should be understood that the invention can be practiced with modification and alteration, and that the invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed toward a boarding apparatus utilized in sport activities. Certain embodiments of the present invention are specifically configured to allow a rider to glide, or skim, the surface a body of water and, more specifically, the surface of a shallow body of water.
It should be noted that the description of specific apparatuses as provided below are only examples, and that various modifications to the embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. General principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Referring now to
Turning now to
While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an example architectural or other configuration for the invention, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the invention. The invention is not restricted to the illustrated example architectures or configurations, but the desired features can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Indeed, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art how alternative functional, logical or physical partitioning and configurations can be implemented to implement the desired features of the present invention. Also, a multitude of different constituent module names other than those depicted herein can be applied to the various partitions. Additionally, with regard to flow diagrams, operational descriptions and method claims, the order in which the steps are presented herein shall not mandate that various embodiments be implemented to perform the recited functionality in the same order unless the context dictates otherwise.
Although the invention is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the other embodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.
Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; the terms “a” or “an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more” or the like; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future.
The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. The use of the term “module” does not imply that the components or functionality described or claimed as part of the module are all configured in a common package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of a module, whether control logic or other components, can be combined in a single package or separately maintained and can further be distributed in multiple groupings or packages or across multiple locations.
Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described in terms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations. As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their various alternatives can be implemented without confinement to the illustrated examples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying description should not be construed as mandating a particular architecture or configuration.
Claims
1. A water-sport boarding apparatus, comprising:
- an elongated board comprising: a top surface, a bottom surface, and an outer edge,
- wherein a first end segment of the elongated board comprises a first half-circle portion of the outer edge,
- wherein a second end segment of the elongated board comprises a second half-circle portion of the outer edge,
- wherein a middle segment of the elongated board unifies the first end segment with the second end segment,
- wherein the middle segment comprises two substantially linear portions of the outer edge, the top surface is substantially flat,
- wherein the bottom surface under the middle segment is convex along a width of the elongated board, and
- wherein the bottom surface comprises a plurality of elongated ridges disposed parallel to a length of the elongated board, the elongated ridges forming a water channel on the bottom surface along the length of the elongated board.
2. The water-sport boarding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water channel is a concave depression on the bottom surface.
3. The water-sport boarding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outer edges are rounded.
4. The water-sport boarding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top surface at the first end segment and the second end segment is curved upward.
5. The water-sport boarding apparatus of claim 4, wherein the top surface at the first end segment and the second end segment is curved upward between 2-3 degrees.
6. The water-sport boarding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface at the first end segment and the second end segment is curved upward.
7. The water-sport boarding apparatus of claim 6, wherein the bottom surface at the first end segment and the second end segment is curved upward between 2-3 degrees.
8. The water-sport boarding apparatus of claim 1, where the elongated board has a width-to-length ratio of about 8 to 21.
9. The water-sport hoarding apparatus of claim 1, where the top surface comprises a grip surface.
10. The water-sport boarding apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a tow rope attachment.
11. The water-sport boarding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated board further comprises a wood core, a foam core, honeycomb core, or polymer composite core.
12. The water-sport boarding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated board further comprises an exterior coated with an epoxy resin.
13. The water-sport boarding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated board further comprises a fiberglass shell, a carbon shell, or a synthetic fiber shell.
14. The water-sport boarding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface is made of fiber-glass or a polymer composite.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 29, 2010
Publication Date: Dec 29, 2011
Inventor: Benjamin Bradley (Santa Barbara, CA)
Application Number: 12/826,444
International Classification: B63B 35/79 (20060101); B63B 21/56 (20060101);