Buoys – rafts – and aquatic devices – Water skimming or walking device
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-03
2004-09-07
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Buoys, rafts, and aquatic devices
Water skimming or walking device
C441S072000, C297S468000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06786785
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to recreational water equipment and, in particular, to a flying ski and method of use therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art and Summary of the Invention
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,100,354 and 5,249,998 disclose an apparatus known as a flying ski. The flying ski is a device adapted to be towed behind a powered watercraft in a manner similar to a water ski. In contrast to a water ski, however, the rider sits on a seat spaced above the ski board and primarily rides on a blade structure that is spaced below the ski board by a vertical strut. When the ski is in use, the rider, seat and board are above the water surface and the blade structure is submerged below the water surface. The flying ski disclosed in the above-identified patents was a pioneering recreational water device.
While the basic flying ski structure remains highly desirable, a number of significant improvements have been developed. First, beginning riders with low skill levels can find the flying ski relatively difficult to operate and can become frustrated to the point that they do not attempt to use the ski again. Second, advanced riders with high skill levels can find the flying ski too easy to operate and insufficiently challenging. A modification that allows for quick adjustment of the flying ski, so as to alter the difficulty of maneuvering the ski would allow both skilled and novice riders to use the device at the same time. Third, the device is currently adapted only for those people who have full use and control of their lower bodies. An improvement to the device that allowed the flying ski to be used by paraplegics would be desirable. Lastly, the device currently has a safety belt that tends to wear out relatively quickly under the high stresses associated with normal use of the flying ski. A more desirable safety belt design would thus be desirable.
The present invention provides several significant improvements to a flying ski. One aspect of the present invention is a ski that accommodates a variety of rider skill levels by incorporating a mechanism and system that allows the rider to selectively adjust performance characteristics of the ski. In particular, ski stability, lift and maneuverability can be controlled by the rider to accommodate the rider's particular skill level and the particular challenge that the rider seeks. A second aspect of the present invention is a ski that accommodates paraplegic riders. In particular, the seat of the ski is capable of receiving a back support, which a paraplegic rider can use as a lever to manipulate the orientation of the ski. A third aspect of the present invention is a flying ski having a dramatically improved safety belt.
The original safety belt safely secures the rider to the ski, even in high-impact falls. The original safety belt design was subject to wear, however, due to the tendency of the belt to loosen somewhat upon impact. Earlier efforts to overcome this problem were successful in overcoming the problem of slight loosening, but resulted in a seatbelt that was subject to full release/failure. Given the risks associated with unintended full release during a fall, the original design remained preferred, despite the problem of durability. A new seat belt structure has been developed, however, which yields very little, if at all, during the most extreme impacts associated with normal use of the ski and yet prevents full release upon impact. This improvement assures the safety of the rider, while at the same time increasing the life span of the safety belt.
The improved flying ski must be appreciated in the context of the conditions to which it is subjected and the environment within which it is used. Flying skis can be used to jump over twenty feet in the air. Landing impacts from such jumps are very large. Accordingly, the ski structural configuration must be adapted to withstand these forces. Additionally, it is highly desirable that the ski configuration be adapted to minimize the transfer of these forces to the spine of the rider. Finally, riders of different skill levels will often be riding in the same boat and wish to use the same flying ski. Accordingly, it is highly desirable that the flying ski be easily and reliably adjustable to accommodate the various skill levels. The ski configuration should also require a minimum of parts and disassembly thereof, to avoid the risk of parts falling overboard or being lost.
One aspect of the present invention involves a recreational device that supports a seated human rider while the rider and the device are towed behind a powered watercraft. This recreational device comprises an elongated board having a front end and a back end, a seat, a strut which depends from one end of the board and the seat and defines a plane of symmetry, and a blade assembly secured to the strut.
The seat extends from the board for supporting the buttocks of the seated rider at a position spaced above the board.
The blade assembly has a front blade and a rear blade connected by a fuselage. The front blade includes a first portion defining a first surface on a first side of the plane of symmetry. The front blade also includes a second portion defining a second surface on a second side of the plane of symmetry. The first surface and the second surface direct water toward the plane of symmetry upon landing of the front blade on water.
The front blade has a leading edge and the rear blade has a first edge and a second edge. The rear blade is mountable on the fuselage in a first position wherein the first edge defines a trailing edge of the blade assembly. The rear blade is mountable on the fuselage in a second position wherein the second edge defines a trailing edge of the blade assembly. In one embodiment, the greatest perpendicular distance between the leading edge and the first edge when the rear blade is in the first position is longer than the greatest perpendicular distance between the leading edge and the trailing edge when the rear blade is in the second position.
The rear blade may include a first portion defining a first surface on a first side of the plane of symmetry and a second portion defining a second surface on a second side of the plane of symmetry wherein the first surface and the second surface directed water away from the plane of symmetry upon landing of the rear blade on water.
The front blade may further comprise a first depending fin on the first side of the plane of symmetry at a first outer side of the front blade and a second depending fin on the second side of the plane of symmetry at a second outer side of the front blade. These first and second fins may be angled toward the plane of symmetry from front to back.
The front blade may further comprise a third portion which defines a third surface on the first side of the plane of symmetry which directs water away from the plane of symmetry upon landing of the front blade on water as well as a fourth portion which defines a fourth surface on the second side of the plane of symmetry which directs water away from the plane of symmetry upon landing of the front blade on water.
In accordance with the present invention, the front blade may have an upper surface that is curved such that the pressure exerted on said front blade from above is lower than the pressure exerted on the front blade from below.
The rear blade may include a first upwardly curved portion defining a first surface on a first side of the plane of symmetry and a second upwardly curved portion defining a second surface on a second side of the plane of symmetry. In this embodiment, the first surface and the second surface direct water away from the plane of symmetry upon landing of the rear blade on water.
Another aspect of the present invention also involves a recreational device that supports a seated human rider while the rider and the device are towed behind a powered watercraft. This recreational device comprises an elongated board having a front end and a back end, a seat, a strut depending from either the board or
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Morano S. Joseph
Vasudeva Ajay
LandOfFree
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