U.S. patent application number 12/049193 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-18 for skimboard simulation pool and system for simulating skimboarding.
Invention is credited to Brett Bogar.
Application Number | 20080312003 12/049193 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40132863 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080312003 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bogar; Brett |
December 18, 2008 |
SKIMBOARD SIMULATION POOL AND SYSTEM FOR SIMULATING
SKIMBOARDING
Abstract
Various embodiments of this invention disclose a self-contained,
water inflated, and water filled, pool with a continuous source of
filling water that allows users to skim, sluice, or slide on the
surface of the water with personal water boards, such as
skimboards.
Inventors: |
Bogar; Brett; (Clive,
IA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARC E. HANKIN, ESQ.
11414 THURSTON CIRCLE
LOS ANGELES
CA
90049
US
|
Family ID: |
40132863 |
Appl. No.: |
12/049193 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60943500 |
Jun 12, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
472/117 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63G 21/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
472/117 |
International
Class: |
A63G 21/18 20060101
A63G021/18 |
Claims
1. A skimboard simulation pool, comprising: a plurality of
inflatable walls, and a bottom lining; wherein said plurality of
inflatable walls and said bottom lining define an interior space of
said skimboard simulation pool; wherein said plurality of
inflatable walls have an exterior surface and an interior surface
that enclose a liquid inflation fluid; and wherein the depth of
said inflatable walls is adjustable by inflation or deflation.
2. The skimboard simulation pool of claim 1, wherein said interior
space is continuously filled with a filling liquid such that the
depth of said filling liquid matches the depth of said inflatable
walls.
3. The skimboard simulation pool of claim 2, wherein said filling
liquid is delivered in a continuous and even flow.
4. The skimboard simulation pool of claim 3, wherein said filling
liquid is delivered by an evenly spaced water spray system.
5. The skimboard simulation pool of claim 4, further comprising a
skimboard that is capable of allowing a user to hydroplane on the
surface of said skimboard simulation pool.
6. The skimboard simulation pool of claim 1, further comprising a
skimboard that is capable of allowing a user to hydroplane on the
surface of said skimboard simulation pool.
7. A skimboard simulation pool, comprising: a plurality of
inflatable walls, a bottom lining, and a skimboard; wherein said
plurality of inflatable walls and said bottom lining define an
interior space of said skimboard simulation pool; wherein said
plurality of inflatable walls have an exterior surface and an
interior surface that enclose a liquid inflation fluid; wherein the
depth of said inflatable walls is adjustable by inflation or
deflation; wherein said interior space is continuously filled with
a filling liquid such that the depth of said filling liquid matches
the depth of said inflatable walls; wherein said filling liquid is
delivered in a continuous and even flow by an evenly spaced water
spray system; and wherein said skimboard that is capable of
allowing a user to hydroplane on the surface of said skimboard
simulation pool.
8. A system of simulating skimboarding without using a natural body
of water, comprising: a self-contained, water inflated, and water
filled pool; a continuous source of filling water; and a skimboard;
wherein the depth of said pool is adjustable; wherein a user runs
at said pool, places said skimboard on a surface of said filling
water, mounts said skimboard, and hydroplanes across said surface
of said filling water; and wherein a side of said pool does not
abruptly stop said user, but instead deforms and then rebounds in
response to said user entering or exiting said pool.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application relies for priority on the filing date,
Jun. 12, 2007, of a Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
60/943,500, entitled "Apparatus for self-contained water board
sports," to inventor Brett Bogar, all the contents of which are
incorporated herein by this reference.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] This invention generally relates to self contained water
board sports. Moreover, it pertains specifically to a
self-contained, water inflated, and water filled, pool with a
continuous source of filling water that allows users to skim,
sluice, or slide on the surface of the water with personal water
boards, such as skimboards.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Skimboarding is a water board sport that, until the present
invention, was confined to beaches, lakes, rivers, ponds, or other
natural sources of water. Skimboarding is a fun sport that, unlike
surfing, does not require a large ocean wave. Skimboarding starts
on the beach or dry land. The skimboarder stands within running
distance from the point of entry into the water with the skimboard
in hand and waits for an incoming wave of any size to create an
ideal skimboarding situation. As the desired incoming wave
approaches, the skimboarder runs towards the water. The board is
dropped on the thin layer of water from a receding wave or on the
thicker layer of water in front of an incoming wave. The
skimboarder then mounts the board one foot at a time using a
technique known as the "One-Step" while properly positioning the
feet and maintaining balance towards the centre of the board. The
skimboarder then hydroplanes on the water. The skimboarder
maintains the hydroplaning by "pumping" the board in an up and down
or side to side manner. The skimboarder stops by turning the board
into the beach or into the incoming wave. Once the skimboarder is
no longer hydroplaning, the skimboarder dismounts, grabs the board,
and goes back to the beach to start all over again. Younger
skimboarders, who do not have the balance to stand on the board,
may choose to kneel, sit, or lay on the board as they
hydroplane.
[0004] Currently, the commercially available self-contained water
slides and pools do not allow users to simulate a skimboard
hydroplaning experience. First, the materials that the pools are
made of are not tough enough to withstand a skimboarder impacting
the side or bottom of the pool. Second, an air inflated pool is too
rigid and light-weight to act as a proper base for skimboarding.
Additionally, an air inflated pool does not allow the surface of
the water that fills the pool to always be exactly level with the
rigid sides of the pool. In other words, if the pool is placed on
an incline, one side of the air inflated pool will be lower and one
side will be higher. The surface of the water that fills the pool
will only be level with the lower end of the pool and not the
higher end. A pool that has sides that are exactly level with the
surface of the filling water is important in skimboarding because
the skimboarder needs to be able to slowly exit the pool, rather
than stop suddenly when a side is encountered. Third, the
slip-and-slide type water slides that are available do not simulate
hydroplaning, but merely low friction sliding. Finally, the pools
and slides that are currently available are not the right size to
allow a full and complete hydroplaning experience. Thus, there
remains a long-felt need in the art for a self-contained, water
inflated, and water filled, pool with a continuous source of
filling water that allows users to skim, sluice, or slide on the
surface of the water with personal water boards, such as
skimboards.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] To minimize the limitations in the prior art, and to
minimize other limitations that will become apparent upon reading
and understanding the present specification, the present invention
discloses a self-contained, water inflated, and water filled, pool
with a continuous source of filling water that allows users to
skim, sluice, or slide on the surface of the water with personal
water boards, such as skimboards.
[0006] One embodiment of this invention is a skimboard simulation
pool, comprising a plurality of inflatable walls and a bottom
lining. The plurality of inflatable walls and the bottom lining
define a perimeter of an interior space that is open on a top of
the skimboard simulation pool. The plurality of inflatable walls
have an exterior surface and an interior surface that enclose a
liquid inflation fluid and the depth of the inflatable walls is
adjustable by inflation or deflation. The interior space is
continuously filled with a filling liquid such that the depth of
the filling liquid matches the depth of the inflatable walls. The
filling liquid is delivered in a continuous and even flow. The
filling liquid is delivered by an evenly spaced water spray system.
Such a skimboard simulation pool further comprises a skimboard that
is capable of allowing a user to hydroplane on the surface of the
skimboard simulation pool.
[0007] Another embodiment of the invention is a system of
simulating skimboarding without using a natural body of water,
comprising: a self-contained, water inflated, and water filled
pool; a continuous source of filling water; and a skimboard. The
depth of the pool is adjustable. In the system, a user runs at the
pool, places the skimboard on a surface of the filling water, steps
onto the skimboard, and hydroplanes across the surface of the
filling water. The sides of the pool do not abruptly stop the user,
but instead deform and then rebound, in response to the user
entering or exiting the pool.
[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a safe,
fun, high-impact, water inflated, and water filled, pool that
allows users to skim, sluice, or slide on the surface of the water
with personal water boards, such as skimboards.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
skimboarding pool that will overcome the deficiencies of the prior
art.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
system of simulating skimboarding without using a natural body of
water.
[0011] Other features and advantages are inherent in the
self-contained, water inflated, and water filled, pool disclosed
will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following
detailed description and its accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of one embodiment of
the skimboard simulation pool.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective illustration of one corner
of one embodiment of the skimboard simulation slide.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of one embodiment of
the skimboard simulation pool in use.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a detailed illustration of a cross-section of the
skimboard simulation pool.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] In the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that
form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a
specific embodiment in which the invention may be practiced. It is
to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and
structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of
the present invention.
[0017] In the following detailed description of various embodiments
of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order
to provide a thorough understanding of various aspects of one or
more embodiments of the invention. However, one or more embodiments
of the invention may be practiced without these specific details.
In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and/or
components have not been described in detail so as not to
unnecessarily obscure aspects of embodiments of the invention.
[0018] In the following description, certain terminology is used to
describe certain features of one or more embodiments of the
invention. For instance "plastic" refers to any natural or
synthetic polymer resin such as cellulose, polyethylene or
polystyrene.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of one embodiment of
the skimboard simulation pool. A cross-section of FIG. 1, at the
broken line from A to A.sup.1 is shown in FIG. 4 below. FIG. 1
shows a skimboard simulation pool 100 with inflatable walls 105,
bottom 110, continuous water source hose 112, spray rail 115, water
valves 130 and 131, and skimboard 140. As shown in FIG. 1, the
inflatable walls 105 are inflated with water at water valve 130.
Preferably water valve 130 will allow inflation from a standard
garden hose. Preferably, water valve 130 also acts as a deflation
valve, and allows the user to easily deflate skimboard simulation
pool 100. This easy deflation and inflation of inflatable walls 105
allows the user to vary the depth of the pool and the rigidity of
the inflatable walls 105 during active use. Preferably skimboard
simulation pool 100 is 7 centimeters deep, but skimboard simulation
pool 100 can range in depth from 0.1 centimeters to 1000
centimeters.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, water valve 131 preferably is not used
to inflate or deflate inflatable walls 105, but rather it connects
to continuous water source hose 112 and the water from continuous
water source hose 112 is directed to spray rail 115. However, in
various embodiments of skimboard simulation pool 100, water valve
131 can both inflate the inflatable walls 105 and direct water from
continuous water source hose 112 to spray rail 115. FIG. 1 shows
that spray rail 115 is preferably only on one side of skimboard
simulation pool 100. However, spray rail 115 can be on two or more
sides or on all sides.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective illustration of one corner
of one embodiment of the skimboard simulation slide. FIG. 2 shows
skimboard simulation slide 200 with inflatable walls 205, spray
rails 215, filling water 220, spray water 225, and water valve 230.
As shown in FIG. 2, the filling water 220 is continuously replaced
by spray water 225. Preferably spray water 225 is delivered to
skimboard simulation pool 200 through spray rail 215. However,
spray water 225 can be delivered through an external mechanism such
as an unattached hose, an unattached sprinkler, or a powered water
source without deviating from the scope of the invention. As shown
in FIG. 2, spray water 225 preferably exits spray rail 215 through
spay holes 216. Preferably, spray holes 216 are evenly spaced along
spray rail 215.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of one embodiment of
the skimboard simulation pool in use. As shown in FIG. 3, skimboard
simulation pool 300 has inflatable walls 305, continuous water
source hose 312, filing water 320, and spray water 325. FIG. 3
shows that inflatable walls 305 are preferably not rigidly
inflated. This allows the inflatable walls 305 to deform to the
pressure of an entering or exiting user and then immediately
rebound back into shape. The inflatable walls 305 preferably allow
the user to enter or exit easily and do not act as an obstruction
that completely halts the momentum of the user.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 3, spray water 325 replaces the spill water
350 that is forced over the inflatable walls 305 by users entering
skimboard simulation pool 300. The filling water 320 is maintained
by spray water 325 such that the bottom of the skimboard simulation
pool 300 is covered by water at all times.
[0024] FIG. 3 also shows how the skimboard simulation pool 300 is
used as part of a system for simulating skimboarding outside the
vicinity of a natural water source, such as an ocean, a lake, a
river, or a pond. To simulate skimboarding, the user 370 runs at
the skimboard simulation pool 300, places the skimboard 340 on a
surface of the filling water 320, steps, kneels, sits, or lays on
the skimboard 340, and hydroplanes across the surface of the
filling water 320. FIG. 3 shows user 390 mid-hydroplane. When user
390 reaches inflatable wall 305, he or she is not abruptly stopped,
but instead, inflatable wall 305 slows user 390, deforms to allow
user 390 to exit the pool slowly, and then rebounds to its original
shape.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 3, skimboard simulation pool 300 is
preferably wide enough so that if the user falls off of the skim
board, he or she lands in the shallow water of the pool rather than
the ground outside of the pool. Skimboard simulation pool 300 is
preferably 2 meters in width, but can be as narrow as 25
centimeters or as wide as 250 meters. As shown in FIG. 3, skimboard
simulation pool 300 is preferably long enough so that the users
will gradually lose momentum and slow as they reach the other end
of the pool. Skimboard simulation pool 300 is preferably 8 meters
long, but can be as short as 100 centimeters or as long as 1000
meters. As shown in FIG. 3, skimboard simulation pool 300 is
generally rectangular in shape, but it can be any shape that allows
users to hydroplane with a skimboard.
[0026] Skimboard 340 is preferably a commercial, oval, personal
water board or skimboard known in the art, but skimboard 340 can be
any flat device such as a hydroplane, disc, ski, board, sled, fin,
or other such flat device.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a detailed illustration of a cross-section of the
skimboard simulation pool. FIG. 4 is a latitudinal cross-section of
FIG. 1 from A to A.sup.1. FIG. 4 shows skimboard simulation pool
400 resting on ground 495 with inflatable walls 405, bottom 410,
spray rail 415, filling water 420, and spray water 425. As shown in
FIG. 4, spray rail 415 is preferably separately inflated from
inflated walls 405, and provides a continuous water source in the
form of an evenly spaced spray. FIG. 4 also shows that skimboard
simulation pool 400 preferably rests on grassy or other soft ground
surfaces during use.
[0028] Skimboard slide 400 is preferably made from high impact
plastic that can easily withstand the pressure generated by a heavy
user jumping on it. However, skimboard slide 400 can be made from
any strong, water inflatable, water impervious material, such as
resin or Teflon coated fabric, fiberglass fabric, rubber, or a
combination of materials.
[0029] In summary, the present invention is a self-contained, water
inflated, and water filled, pool with a continuous source of
filling water that allows users to skim, sluice, or slide on the
surface of the water with personal water boards, such as
skimboards.
[0030] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the
invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and
description. While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other
embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those
skilled in the art from the above detailed description, which shows
and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be
realized, the invention is capable of modifications in various
obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of
the present invention. Accordingly, the detailed description is to
be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Also,
although not explicitly recited, one or more embodiments of the
invention may be practiced in combination or conjunction with one
another. Furthermore, the reference or non-reference to a
particular embodiment of the invention shall not be interpreted to
limit the scope the invention. It is intended that the scope of the
invention not be limited by this detailed description, but by the
claims and the equivalents to the claims that are appended
hereto.
* * * * *