Buoys – rafts – and aquatic devices – Water skimming or walking device – Having stabilizing surface
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-09
2001-07-03
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Buoys, rafts, and aquatic devices
Water skimming or walking device
Having stabilizing surface
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254446
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of water sports, particularly wakeboarding. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of wakeboard fins for improved balance and stability.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A relatively new, but very popular, watersport is known as wakeboarding. In wakeboarding, the rider secures the wakeboard to his or her feet through the use of bindings, which may include elastic straps or boots. One foot is secured in front of the other so that the rides typically stand sidewise on the board. The rider is then pulled behind a boat or other watercraft, in the same manner as a water-skiier, at such speeds that the wakeboard planes over the surface of the water.
Early wakeboards had a shape very similar to surfboards, with a pointed front end and a more squared back end. Modern wakeboards have eliminated the pointed front end in favor of two symmetrical squared ends. This allows the rider to reverse the orientation of the board with respect to the travel path while performing more complicated tricks during a ride.
To stabilize the board as it skims over the water, a fin is typically added to the underside of the board. The conventional wakeboard fin is a flat fin with a hydrodynamic shape that tapers upward from the underside of the board toward the end of the board. The fin also extends normal to the underside of the board.
On some boards, a second fin, of the same shape as the first, is added to the other end of the board from the first fin. The second fin is usually smaller than the first, and is used to stabilize the board when the rider has reversed the board and is riding the board “backwards,” i.e. facing the opposite direction as he or she was initially.
However, conventional wakeboard fins are not entirely satisfactory. Additional stability of the board would make it easier for beginners to learn to wakeboard and for more advance riders to achieve better performance from their boards. Consequently, there is a need in the art for a means of improving the performance of a wakeboard.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to meet the above-described needs and others. Specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a means of improving the performance of a wakeboard. More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved wakeboard fin and method of making and using the same that can provide improved wakeboard performance.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows or may be learned by those skilled in the art through reading these materials or practicing the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be achieved through the means recited in the attached claims.
To achieve these stated and other objects, the present invention may be embodied and described as a fin unit for stabilizing a board, for example, a wakeboard, traveling over or through water for a rider thereon. In a preferred embodiment, the fin unit includes first and second fins extending at an angle to each other; and a base portion from which the first and second fins extend.
In the preferred embodiment, the base portion is secured to the underside of the wakeboard and the first and second fins extend from the underside of the wakeboard. The angle between the fins is preferably 75 to 85 degrees. Holes are provided in the base portion for securing the fin unit to the board, for example, with one or more set screws.
A ridge may be provided on the base portion running between the first and second fins for deflecting water to the first and second fins when the fin unit travels through water.
The first and second fins and the base portion are preferably manufactured as three separate pieces. In this case, the first and second fins are secured to the base portion with set screws. The base portion may also have first and second grooves defined therein for receiving a base end of the first and second fins, respectively.
The present invention also encompasses the methods of making and using the fin unit described above. For example, the present invention encompasses a method of using a fin unit to stabilize a board traveling over or through water by extending first and second fins at an angle to each other from a base portion secured to an underside of the board so that, as the board moves over or through water, the fin stabilizes the board for a rider thereon.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 257786 (1981-01-01), Vann
patent: D. 267666 (1983-01-01), Vann
patent: D. 291715 (1987-09-01), Alpine
patent: D. 307310 (1990-04-01), Bucknell
patent: 3201807 (1965-08-01), Weaver
patent: 3515089 (1970-06-01), Taggart
patent: 3579681 (1971-05-01), Pope, III et al.
patent: 4352335 (1982-10-01), Sugden
patent: 4608023 (1986-08-01), Williams
patent: 4304158 (1994-08-01), None
patent: 85/03237 (1985-08-01), None
Morano S. Joseph
Nichols, Esq. Steven L.
Parsons Behle & Latimer
Wright Andrew
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