U.S. patent application number 09/858204 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-22 for aquatic towing device.
Invention is credited to Walsh, Raymond.
Application Number | 20010044248 09/858204 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26899963 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010044248 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Walsh, Raymond |
November 22, 2001 |
Aquatic towing device
Abstract
An aquatic device for carrying a rider, includes a buoyant mat
having handles and towing attachments. The mat has inflatable air
channels which are formed to permit the mat to arch over the water,
carrying the rider when towed at proper speed. One or more air
channels extend transversely to the major axis along a forward
portion of the mat. A rear portion has air channels which radiate
out towards a peripheral air channel. The towing attachments are
mounted to the forward edge of the mat.
Inventors: |
Walsh, Raymond; (Lake Orion,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Thomas E. Anderson
Gifford, Krass, Groh, Sprinkle
Anderson & Citkowski, P.C.
280 North Old Woodward, Suite 400
Birmingham
MI
48009
US
|
Family ID: |
26899963 |
Appl. No.: |
09/858204 |
Filed: |
May 15, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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60204976 |
May 17, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
441/66 ;
441/129 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 34/52 20200201;
B63B 34/54 20200201; Y02T 70/10 20130101; B63B 1/322 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
441/66 ;
441/129 |
International
Class: |
B63B 001/00; B63B
035/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A hydraulic device adapted for riding by a person and for towing
by a boat, said device comprising: an elongated buoyant mat having
a top surface and a bottom surface, said mat having a front edge
and a major axis extending transversely to said front edge, said
mat having a curved rear peripheral edge extending between a pair
of side edges; a pair of spaced apart hand holds mounted to said
top surface of said mat, said panels spaced apart and positioned
adjacent said front edge; a pair of spaced apart towing attachments
are mounted to said front edge of said mat, said rings adopted for
connection to said tow line whereby said front edge of said mat
forms an arch when said mat is towed by said boat at a
predetermined speed.
2. The aquatic device of claim 1, wherein said mat further
comprises a plurality of chambers adopted for inflation with air to
provide buoyancy.
3. The aquatic device of claim 2, wherein said mat has a forward
portion, said forward portion having at least one chamber of said
plurality of chambers extending transversely to said major
axis.
4. The aquatic device of claim 2, wherein said mat has a rear
portion having a curved rear edge.
5. The aquatic device of claim 4, wherein said rear portion has a
plurality of radially extending inflation chambers.
6. The aquatic device of claim 4, wherein said rear edge curves
elliptically with respect to said major axis.
7. The aquatic device of claim 1, further comprising an inflatable
air channel portion extending about said periphery of said mat.
8. The aquatic device of claim 1, wherein said mat has a bend line
spaced inwardly from said peripheral edge.
9. The aquatic device of claim 7, wherein said bend line is formed
on said bottom surface.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] For some time, water sports enthusiasts have ridden on inner
tubes towed by pleasure water craft. The inner tube has handgrips
which permit the rider to grasp the tube and steer the tube while
it is being towed. The tube bounces on the wake of the towing craft
and on waves. When the tube is towed at higher speeds, the impact
of the wave and wake bounces is great. Accordingly, it would be
desirable to provide a device which could be ridden at high speeds
and readily controllable by the user and comfortable to use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] An aquatic device for carrying a rider includes a buoyant
mat having handles and towing attachment. The mat has a forward
section which lifts off the water in an arch to form a tunnel for
air passing through and under a rear section which curves
downwardly and rearwardly to a peripheral edge adjacent the water.
The rider lays on a top layer surface of the mat grasping the
handles with his feet extending rearwardly over the top layer. The
mat has a plurality of air chambers which are inflated with air to
provide buoyancy. The channels of the forward section extend
transversely to resist folding when being towed. A peripheral skirt
portion rides on the water.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the
present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in
the art upon studying the following detailed description, when
considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0004] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the aquatic device shown in
use as it is towed;
[0005] FIG. 2 is a top view of the device in accordance with the
invention; and
[0006] FIG. 3 is a side view of the aquatic device shown in its
position in use in accordance with the invention;.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0007] As shown in FIG. 1, a novel aquatic sport device 10 includes
a buoyant mat 12, adapted to be towed across the surface of a body
of water by a boat (not shown). The periphery of the mat lays flat
on the water when at rest (FIG. 3). However, the rear channels are
formed to make a bubble centered at the joinder of the frontal
portion and the rear portion. The bubble slopes downwardly to the
peripheral portion. A rider 14 lays face down on a top surface of
the mat 12 and grasps a pair of hand holds 16. When towed, the mat
12 forms a scoop and lifts off the water. The center of the mat
arches to approximately 2 to 21/2 feet when the mat is towed behind
the boat at speeds of 25 to 30 miles per hour.
[0008] In the preferred embodiment, the mat 12 is formed of a
series of interconnected air chambers which are inflated with air
in the same manner as an inflatable raft. Interconnecting air
passages extend between the chambers to permit inflation of all of
the chambers. However, it is within the contemplation of the
invention to use other materials, such as closed celled foam, which
provide sufficient buoyancy and flexibility. As shown in FIG. 2,
The mat includes a skirt portion 18, a rectangular forward portion
20, a semi-elliptical rear portion 22. The mat has an outer
peripheral edge 19. The mat is symmetrical about a major axis
"a".
[0009] The mat 12 is formed by doubling a sheet of PVC about the
front edge 24 to form a top surface layer 26 and a bottom surface
layer 28 and seaming the layers as known in the art to form
inflatable air chambers. When inflated, the air chambers are
tubular with a generally circular cross-section. One or more inlets
30 having threaded nipples are mounted between the layers at the
peripheral edge for attachment to an inflation device (not shown).
The forward portion 20 includes four air chambers 33 extending
transversely between the skirt portion 18. The chambers 33 extend
transversely to resist the force of the tow rope to fold the mat
together about the major axis when being towed. The first two
chambers of the forward portion 20 may be reinforced by doubling
the material for both the upper and bottom surface layers. The
forward portion 20 is approximately 70 inches wide and 28 inches
deep.
[0010] The rear portion 22 has a plurality of air chambers 34 which
radiate from a center seam line 36 extending perpendicularly from
the forward portion 20, as shown in FIG. 2. Seam lines 38 extend
from the curved peripheral skirt portion 18 toward the center of
the forward portion 20 to form the chambers 34.
[0011] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the mat has an inner seam on the
bottom layer 28 to form a bend line 44 for the peripheral skirt
portion 18. The bend line 44 extends from both sides of the front
edge and is spaced inwardly from the peripheral edge 19. The bend
line 44 permits the periphery of the mat to bend inwardly to a
nearly vertical alignment when the mat is being towed to ride on
the water.
[0012] One or more pairs of handles 16 with a mounting base are
mounted to the top surface layer 26 of the forward portion 20. The
pairs of handles 16 are spaced apart approximately 48 inches. The
handles extend upwardly for gripping by the rider and are angled at
approximately 45.degree. to the front edge to provide hand holds
for the rider.
[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of towing attachments 50 are
mounted on the front edge 24 adjacent each handle 16. The
attachment may be of any suitable type. In the preferred
embodiment, a reinforced patch piece 52 with a center aperture is
folded over a dowel rod 54 of metal or composite and is affixed to
the mat at the forward edge. The patch piece is seamed to hold the
rod in position. The aperture provides access to the rod 54 for
attachment to a tow rope 56 which is connected to the boat towing
the mat 12. The mat can be inserted in a nylon cover which provides
a smooth surface and provides flexibility in placement of
handles.
Operation
[0014] To use the aquatic device 10, the rider 14 lays across the
top surface layer of the mat grasping the handles. When the aquatic
device 10 is towed, air passes over the forward portion 24 above
and below the mat to create a pressure differential. The mat acts
as an air foil and rises. The mat 12 forms an arc, the top of which
is approximately 32 inches from the water surface. The transverse
tubes 33 resist folding of the mat. The rear portion 22 assumes an
elongated semi-domed shape which curves downwardly from the highest
portion of the forward portion 20 to the skirt portion 18. The bend
line 44 acts as a live hinge to permit the peripheral portion to
easily bend and extend nearly vertically downwardly towards the
water to enclose a tunnel over the water.
[0015] When the foil is towed at speeds of approximately 25 to 35
miles per hour, the foil will rise and ride on the apparent wind
created by the movement of the foil through the air. Pressure
differential between the air flowing over the top and bottom of the
foil will create lift, forming the dome shape. The rider will be
able to "fly" the foil by pushing then pulling the handles to steer
and/or lift the foil from the water.
[0016] As will be apparent from the attached claims, these and
other variations of the invention are within the scope of the
invention which is defined by the attached claims.
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