TRANSPARENT AND BUOYANT AQUATIC RECREATION ASSEMBLY
A transparent and buoyant aquatic recreation system is provided. The system includes a board with an elongated buoyant body having front and rear ends and top and bottom surfaces extending between the front and rear ends. The body is made of a substantially transparent material. The system also includes a battery powered camera having a switch operable to activate and deactivate the camera. The camera is mounted to the board such that the camera projects in a downwardly and outwardly direction from the bottom surface to capture image data forward and below the board. In another embodiment, the system includes a paddle made of the substantially transparent material and the switch is positioned on the paddle.
This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/611,373 filed Sep. 12, 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/573,896 filed Sep. 14, 2011, and incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUNDEmbodiments relate generally to recreation water boards utilized to propel a user across the surface of a body of water and, more particularly, relating to a transparent recreation water board of a construction providing a user with an underwater view.
There exist a number of recreation water boards that have a viewing window structure that permits a user to see-through the board for the purpose of underwater viewing. U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,417 describes a prone position paddle board having a window structure through a section of the bow section of the board. In use, a person lying in the prone position. upon the board is capable of looking through the window structure to view underwater. The common theme to these existing devices includes the user lying in the prone position upon the board to facilitate both the user paddling the board forward and to permit the user to view underwater phenomena through a window structure in the board. While these existing devices meet their respective objective and requirements, they do not provide a user the ability to view underwater phenomena through the board while standing on the board or without specifically looking through a localized window formed through the board while in the prone position.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,268,201 describes a camera mounted above a top surface of a surfboard to capture images of phenomena above the top surface of the surfboard, such as upcoming waves, for example. A drawback to this device is that it is limited to capturing images above the top surface of the surfboard.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONThe inventors recognized drawbacks of conventional board construction and conventional cameras that are mounted to surfboards. For example, the inventors recognized. that since conventional boards are not made of transparent material, a user standing on the board cannot view underwater phenomena through the board. Additionally, the inventors recognized that since conventional cameras are not mounted to the bottom surface of boards, they cannot capture image data of the underwater phenomena. Embodiments address these drawbacks by providing a recreation water board and, particularly, a standup paddle board having a transparent construction that permits a user standing on the board to view underwater phenomena through the transparent board. Additionally, a camera is mounted to a bottom surface of the board and is oriented, to capture image data below the board of the underwater phenomena viewed by the user while standing on the board.
In an embodiment, a transparent and buoyant aquatic recreation system is provided. The system includes a board with an elongated buoyant body having front and rear ends and top and bottom surfaces extending between the front and rear ends. The body is made of a substantially transparent material. The system also includes a battery powered camera having a switch operable to activate and deactivate the camera. The camera is mounted to the board such that the camera projects in a downwardly and outwardly direction from the bottom surface to capture image data forward and below the board.
In another embodiment, a transparent and buoyant aquatic recreation system is provided that is similar to the above embodiment, but additionally includes a paddle made of the substantially transparent material, where the switch to activate and deactivate the camera is located on the paddle.
In yet another embodiment, a transparent and buoyant recreation system is provided that is similar to the above embodiments, but further includes a support frame disposed within the body and providing support to the body against collapsing. The support frame has a main spar extending between the front and said rear ends, a first plurality of transverse spars extending laterally outward from a first longitudinal side of the main spar at spaced intervals, and a second plurality of transverse spars extending laterally outward from a second longitudinal side of the main spar at spaced intervals. The main spar, the first plurality of transverse spars and the second plurality of transverse spars are made of the substantially transparent material.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the embodiments in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
Numerous objects, features and advantages of the embodiments will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Other embodiments are capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the embodiments. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the embodiments.
For a better understanding of the embodiments, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated embodiments.
The following drawings illustrate by way of example and are included to provide further understanding of the embodiments for the purpose of illustrative discussion. No attempt is made to show structural details of the embodiments in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the embodiments may be embodied in practice. Identical reference numerals do not necessarily indicate an identical structure. Rather, the same reference numeral may be used to indicate a similar feature of a feature with similar functionality. In the drawings:
With reference now to the drawings a new recreational water board and, particularly, a standup paddle board embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment and generally designated by reference numeral 10 will be described.
Initially referring to
Body 12 may be constructed from various suitable, transparent materials including plastics and foam. For example, body 12 may be constructed of transparent supermicro-cellular polymer foams. U.S. Pat. No. 6,555,589 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,555,590 described supermicro-cellular polymer foams and method for their manufacture, and are incorporated, herein in their entirety by reference, Body 12 may also be constructed from suitable plastics such as, but not limited to, Acrylic (polymethylmethacrylate), Butyrate (cellulose acetate butyrate), Lexan (polycarbonate), and PETG (glycol modified polyethylene terphthalate).
Body 12 may have a solid construction as shown in
Board 10 further includes a support frame 22 disposed within the body 12 that provides structural support to the body and prevents the body against collapsing or buckling. The support frame 22 has a main spar 24 extending between the front and rear ends 14 and 16, a first plurality of transverse spars 26 extending laterally outward from a first longitudinal side 28 of the main spar and at spaced intervals therealong, and a second plurality of transverse spars 30 extending laterally outward from a second longitudinal side 32 of said main spar at spaced intervals therealong. Spars 24, 26 and 30 vertically extend between the top and bottom surfaces 18 and 20 of body 12, and are illustrated as being flush with the top and bottom surfaces. It is contemplated, however, that spars 24, 26 and/or 30 may terminate at a vertical inwardly spaced distance from the top and bottom surfaces, respectively. In one embodiment, the support frame 22 may be made of substantially transparent material. In another embodiment, the main spar 24, the first and second plurality of transverse spars 26, 30 may be made of substantially transparent material and the peripheral spar 60 may be opaquely colored to indicate the perimeter of the body 12.
Board 10 further includes a traction pad 34 secured to the top surface 18 of body 12 to provide grip to a user's body and, particularly, the user's feet to prevent slipping while standing on the board. The traction pad 34 is formed of a clear thermo-plastic material so as to allow a user to see through the traction pad and not preclude the user's underwater view along the area to which the traction pad is secured to the body 12. U.S. Pat. No. 7,316,597 provides an example of a suitable transparent traction pad that may be utilized, and is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.
Board 10 also includes a stabilizing fin 36 extending downwardly from the bottom surface 20 and towards the rear end 16 of the body. Stabilizing fin 36 may also be constructed of a transparent material.
Board 10 may also include a battery powered underwater illuminating light or lamp 38 disposed within body 12 towards the front end 14 and configured to project light in a downwardly and outwardly direction from the bottom surface 20 of the body to illuminate the water forward and below the board 10. The particular construction of lamp 38 is not overly important, and should be constructed to be water-proof and to permit replacement of both the light emitting source and the battery. For example,
Regardless of the lamp configuration, it is desirable to operate the switch 46 from the top surface 18, such as, for example, by a user's foot to tum the light on or off while the board is in use. Accordingly, the switch 46 or a switch operator, such as rubber or elastomeric pad 52 is disposed on the top surface 18 of the body 12 to permit operation by a user while standing on the board.
In
With reference now to
As depicted in
As shown in the system 100 of
As shown in the system 100 of
In step 204, the camera 45 is oriented to capture image data forward and below the board 10′. In an embodiment, the camera 45 is oriented to capture image data over the frame of reference 70 that encompasses a field of view of the user 103 through the transparent board 10′. In an embodiment, the camera 45 is oriented such that the frame of reference 70 encompasses the field of view of the user 103 through at least a front third of the board 10′.
In step 206, the switch 105 is provided on the paddle 102 and the switch 105 is configured for wireless communication with the camera 45 to activate the camera 45 and capture image data upon actuation of the switch 105. In an embodiment, the switch 105 is configured to activate the camera 45 to capture still image data upon a single actuation of the switch 105 and is configured to activate the camera 45 to capture video image data upon multiple actuation of the switch 105, such as a double actuation of the switch 105, for example. In an example embodiment, in step 206, the switch 105 is provided on the paddle grip 104.
In step 254, the user 103 actuates the switch 105 located on the paddle 102 to activate the camera 45 mounted to the bottom surface 20 of the board 10′ in order to capture image data of the observed phenomena in step 252. In an embodiment, in step 254, the user 103 actuates the switch 105 once in order to activate the camera 45 to capture still image data of the observed phenomena. In another embodiment, in step 254, the user 103 actuates the switch 103 multiple times in order to activate the camera 45 to capture video image data of the observed phenomena. In this embodiment, the user 103 re-actuates the switch 103 multiple times in order to deactivate the camera 45 from capturing video image data of the observed phenomena.
In step 256, after the user 103 has concluded use of the board 10′ and paddle 102, the user 103 retrieves the memory card 43 from the paddle 102 with stored image data captured by the camera 45. In an embodiment, the user 103 can then bring the memory card 43 to an external location in order to download the image data, before replacing the memory card 43 in the paddle 102.
As depicted in
A number of embodiments have been described.
Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A transparent and buoyant aquatic recreation system, comprising:
- a board with an elongated buoyant body having front and rear ends and top and bottom surfaces extending between said front and rear ends, said body being made of a substantially transparent material; and
- a battery powered camera having a switch operable to activate and deactivate the camera;
- said camera mounted to the board such that the camera projects in a downwardly and outwardly direction from said bottom surface to capture image data forward and below the board.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera is secured in a housing mounted along the bottom surface.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the housing is mounted more proximate to the front end than the rear end.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein the housing is mounted within a recess along the bottom surface and wherein the housing comprises a removable hatch to access the camera.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the housing is flush with the bottom surface.
6. The system of claim 4, wherein a smart phone comprising the camera is secured in the housing, wherein the housing is made of the substantially transparent material, and wherein the hatch is a threaded hatch including an O-ring to provide a water-tight seal to prevent water from entering the housing.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a paddle, wherein the switch is positioned on the paddle in a manner that is accessible for operation by a user of the paddle and wherein the switch is communicatively coupled with the camera.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the paddle is made of the substantially transparent material.
9. The system of claim 7, wherein the switch is on a grip of the paddle and wherein the switch is configured to activate the camera to capture still image data based on one of a single and multiple actuation of the switch and wherein the switch is configured to activate the camera to capture video image data based on one of the single and multiple actuation of the switch.
10. The system of claim 7, wherein the paddle includes a cap that is removable from the grip to access a cavity within the grip, wherein the system further comprises a memory card positioned in the cavity, said memory card being communicatively coupled with the camera to receive and store the captured image data from the camera.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the cap is configured to threadably engage the grip and wherein an O-ring is positioned between the cap and the grip to provide a water-tight seal to prevent water from passing between the cap and the grip and entering the cavity.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the board further comprises a support frame disposed within said body and providing support to said body against collapsing, the support frame having a main spar extending between said front and said rear ends, a first plurality of transverse spars extending laterally outward from a first longitudinal side of said main spar at spaced intervals, and a second plurality of transverse spars extending laterally outward from a second longitudinal side of said main spar at spaced intervals and wherein the main spar, first plurality of transverse spars and the second plurality of transverse spars are made of the substantially transparent material.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera is secured in a housing positioned within a bore that extends between the top and bottom surfaces and wherein the housing is flush with the bottom surface.
14. A transparent and buoyant aquatic recreation system, comprising:
- a board with an elongated buoyant body having front and rear ends and top and bottom surfaces extending between said front and rear ends, said body being made of a substantially transparent material;
- a paddle made of the substantially transparent material; and
- a battery powered camera having a switch on the paddle that is operable to activate the camera; said camera mounted to the bottom surface such that the camera projects in a downwardly and outwardly direction from said bottom surface to capture image data forward and below the board.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the camera is secured in a housing mounted within a recess along the bottom surface and wherein the housing comprises a removable hatch to access the camera.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein an interior channel is formed along a shaft of the paddle and wherein a plurality of LEDs extend along the interior channel to illuminate the shaft of the paddle.
17. The system of claim 14, wherein the board further comprises a plurality of LEDs extending around a perimeter of the bottom surface.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of LEDs extend in an interior channel positioned within, the body.
17. (canceled)
18. (canceled)
19. A transparent and buoyant aquatic recreation system, comprising:
- a board with an elongated buoyant body having front and rear ends and top and bottom surfaces extending between said front and rear ends, said body being made of a substantially transparent material;
- a paddle made of the substantially transparent material;
- a support frame disposed within said body and providing support to said body against collapsing, the support frame having a main spar extending between said front and said rear ends, a first plurality of transverse spars extending laterally outward from a first longitudinal side of said main spar at spaced intervals, and a second plurality of transverse spars extending laterally outward from a second longitudinal side of said main spar at spaced intervals, wherein the main spar, first plurality of transverse spars and the second plurality of transverse spars are made of the substantially transparent material; and
- a battery powered camera having a switch on the paddle that is operable to activate the camera; said camera mounted to the hoard such that the camera projects in a downwardly and outwardly direction from said bottom surface to capture image data forward and below the board.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein:
- the camera is secured in a housing mounted along the bottom surface;
- a cap is removable from a grip of the paddle to access a cavity within the grip;
- a memory card is positioned in the cavity and wherein the memory card is in wireless communication with the camera to receive and store the captured image data from the camera.
Type: Application
Filed: May 2, 2016
Publication Date: Sep 8, 2016
Inventors: Marc Maurice Masson (Orlando, FL), Joan Evelyn Masson (Orlando, FL), Shree Saraswati Maria Masson (Hoersholm)
Application Number: 15/143,939