Buoys – rafts – and aquatic devices – Water skimming or walking device – Water ski
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-03
2001-01-30
Stormer, Russell D. (Department: 3617)
Buoys, rafts, and aquatic devices
Water skimming or walking device
Water ski
C441S065000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179676
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,354 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,998 disclose a water sport device for supporting a seated human rider while the rider and the device are towed behind a powered water craft. The device includes an elongated board to which a rigidly mounted seat and foot holders are secured. An elongate strut or arm projects downwardly from the board and a planing blade is secured to the arm generally parallel to the board. The positioning of the seat and the planing blade provides essentially no lift when the board is horizontal. The positioning of the rigidly mounted seat and the planing blades at the rear of the board, the use of a single vertical strut, the size of the planing blade and the positioning of the foot holders at least two feet in front of the seat provides a water sports device which is relatively east to ride, while at the same time being highly maneuverable and capable of high jumps.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
In a water sports device for supporting a seated human rider while the rider and the device are towed behind a powered water craft, the device including an elongated board having a front end and a back end to which is secured a seat for supporting the buttocks of the rider in a position spaced from and roughly centered above the back one-third of the board, a holder for securing at least one foot of the rider over the top of the board secured to the board spaced at least two feet toward the front end of the board from the seat, an elongated hydrofoil extends downward from the board and a planing blade secured to the hydrofoil spaced from the board, so as to be generally parallel to the board so that the planing blade provides essentially no lift when the board is horizontal;
the improvement wherein said seat is secured to said board by a shock absorbing support means to cushion the impact on the rider as the device impacts the water.
In a method for a human rider to jump out of the water on a water sports device while said device is towed behind a powered watercraft, said device including a member having a front end and a back end, a seat secured to said member and a blade generally parallel and fixed below said member, said blade having an angle of attack with respect to the surface of the water when towed behind a watercraft said method comprising:
positioning the buttocks of said rider in said seat;
securing at least one foot of said rider to said member toward the front end of said member from said seat forward of said planing blade; and leaning backward, and thus lifting said at least one foot and, thus said front end of said member and said planing blade to change said angle of attack of said blade, causing said member and said rider to jump out of said water;
the improvement wherein said seat is secured to said board by a shock absorbing support means to cushion the impact on the rider as the device impacts the water.
In the prior art devices, the seat is rigidly connected to the board so that upon impact with the water, the full brunt of the force slamming the board onto the water is transmitted to the rider. This repetitive force is tiring and painful to the rider.
The present invention overcomes this problem while at the same time maintaining the same constant spatial relationship between the seat and the board so that the ride balance and overall landing characteristics of the device are never disturbed.
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Murphy Michael
Wilborn Jon D.
Mueth Joseph E.
Muldoon Patrick Craig
Stormer Russell D.
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