U.S. patent application number 13/573698 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-24 for configurations of boards and paddles for water sports.
This patent application is currently assigned to Suplove, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Andrew Dovell. Invention is credited to Andrew Dovell.
Application Number | 20130280971 13/573698 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49380512 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130280971 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dovell; Andrew |
October 24, 2013 |
Configurations of boards and paddles for water sports
Abstract
New configurations of boards and paddles are disclosed that
reduce drag and thereby increase the overall speed with which the
boards and paddles can navigate through water. Such configurations
advantageously reduce the amount of work required to propel the
boards and paddles through the water.
Inventors: |
Dovell; Andrew; (Avalon,
AU) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dovell; Andrew |
Avalon |
|
AU |
|
|
Assignee: |
Suplove, Inc.
Huntington Beach
CA
|
Family ID: |
49380512 |
Appl. No.: |
13/573698 |
Filed: |
October 3, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61542699 |
Oct 3, 2011 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
441/74 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63H 16/04 20130101;
B63B 32/50 20200201; B63B 2001/201 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
441/74 |
International
Class: |
B63B 35/79 20060101
B63B035/79 |
Claims
1. A board for use in water sports, comprising: a hull having a
bottom surface with three chines, and first and second ends
disposed opposite from one another; wherein the second end has a
width that is at least 70% of a maximum width of the hull.
2. The board of claim 1, wherein the second end has a width that is
at least 80% of the maximum width of the hull.
3. The board of claim 1, wherein the second end has a width that is
at least 90% of the maximum width of the hull.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S.
provisional application having Ser. No. 61/542,699 filed on Oct. 3,
2011. This and all other extrinsic materials discussed herein are
incorporated by reference in their entirety. Where a definition or
use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or
contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the
definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition
of that term in the reference does not apply.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The field of the invention is equipment for water sports
including boards and paddles.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Various configurations of stand up paddle and other boards
are known in the art including those described in U.S. Patent
Publication No. 2010/0240271 to Mann (publ. September 2010), U.S.
Patent Publication No. 2011/0114007 to Flemons, III (publ. May
2011), WIPO Publication No. 2011/100654 to Rott, et al. (publ.
August 2011), and French Publication No. 2937894 to Kitchener, et
al. (publ. May 2010). However, all of these boards known to
Applicant suffer from one or more disadvantages.
[0004] Thus, there is still a need for boards and paddles that are
configured to reduce drag and thereby increase the overall speed
with which the boards and paddles can navigate through water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The inventive subject matter provides apparatus, systems and
methods of novel configurations of boards and paddles that reduce
drag from that of prior boards, and especially improvements in drag
reduction for boards and paddles utilized in conjunction with stand
up paddle boarding.
[0006] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the
inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the
following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with
the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent
like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0007] FIGS. 1-4 are top views of various embodiments of stand up
paddle boards.
[0008] FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of a
board.
[0009] FIG. 6 is a bottom right perspective view of the board of
FIG. 5.
[0010] FIG. 7 is a bottom left perspective view of the board of
FIG. 5.
[0011] FIG. 8 is a front view of the board of FIG. 5.
[0012] FIGS. 9-10 are schematics of another embodiment of a
board.
[0013] FIG. 11 is a schematic of one embodiment of a paddle.
[0014] FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the paddle of FIG.
11.
[0015] FIG. 13 is another schematic of the paddle of FIG. 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The following discussion provides many example embodiments
of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment
represents a single combination of inventive elements, the
inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible
combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus if one embodiment
comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises
elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also
considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or
D, even if not explicitly disclosed.
[0017] The inventive subject matter provides apparatus, systems and
methods of new configurations of boards and paddles, and especially
boards and paddles utilized in conjunction with stand up paddle
boarding.
[0018] FIGS. 1 and 2 are two examples of boards having a non-slip
surface sized and configured to represent a large arrow with three
smaller arrows below the larger arrow. The chevrons in the traction
pad allow for the board construction materials to be viewed through
the pad, while also acting as a brand visual indicator. In
addition, the chevrons advantageously allow for a rider to know
where his/her foot position is without having to look down.
[0019] FIGS. 3 and 4 are top views of two embodiments of a stand up
paddle board having a length of approximately 12.5 feet. FIGS. 5-8
illustrates a side view, bottom views, and a front-end view,
respectively, of one embodiment of a stand-up paddle board. FIGS. 9
and 10 illustrate plan views of the board shown in FIGS. 5-8. The
specific dimensions shown in FIG. 9 are exemplary only, and the
actual dimensions will depend upon the specific application for the
board.
[0020] The board can advantageously be configured to reduce drag
acting upon the board's hull as the board traverses through water,
which thereby increases the speed at which the board can navigate
through the water. Such configuration allows the board to not only
efficiently cut through water but also release water from about the
board as the board navigates through the water, which increases the
board's overall speed.
[0021] The bow of the board advantageously works in concert with
the hard edges (chines) along the side of the board which also
works in concert with the board's wide tail shown in FIG. 6. The
board preferably includes at least three chines. In some
contemplated embodiment, the first and third chines can have
interior angles of approximately between 100-130 degrees where the
surfaces meet to form the chines. It is further contemplated that
the second chine can comprise an interior angle of between 100-140
degrees where the surfaces meet and form the second chine. In
addition, the board has a generally V-shape on its bottom surface,
which preferably is a single continuous, unbroken line from the tip
of the nose to the tail.
[0022] In contrast to board configurations of the prior art that
have a narrow tail end opposite the nose, the board 100 shown in
FIGS. 5-8 has a nose 104 and a wide tail end 102 which facilitates
the board 100 releasing water. In some contemplated embodiments,
the board 100 can have a tail end 102 that has an average width of
at least 70%, at least 80%, or at least 90% of a maximum width of
the hull 101, although tail ends having smaller widths are also
contemplated.
[0023] It is contemplated that the board 100 could comprise plastic
or other polycarbonates, wood, fiberglass, carbon fiber, or other
commercially suitable material(s) or combinations thereof.
[0024] FIGS. 11-13 illustrate various views of one embodiment of a
paddle 200 having a leaf-shape. It is contemplated that the paddle
200 could comprise plastic or other polycarbonates, wood,
fiberglass, carbon fiber, or other commercially suitable
material(s) or combinations thereof.
[0025] The paddle 200 advantageously can be coupled to a handle at
an angle of between 5-20 degrees, and more preferably at an angle
of between approximately 10-15 degrees. Although the paddle is
preferably configured to have a large blade, the specific
configuration of the paddle 200 enables the blade 202 to having the
speed and pulling efficiency of smaller blade paddles. This is
partially accomplished by configuring the blade 202 to include a
pronounced dihedral 204 disposed along a length of the blade 202,
which facilitates dispersing of water from the blade's surface.
[0026] Unless the context dictates the contrary, all ranges set
forth herein should be interpreted as being inclusive of their
endpoints, and open-ended ranges should be interpreted to include
commercially practical values. Similarly, all lists of values
should be considered as inclusive of intermediate values unless the
context indicates the contrary.
[0027] In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities of
ingredients, properties such as concentration, reaction conditions,
and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the
invention are to be understood as being modified in some instances
by the term "about." Accordingly, in some embodiments, the
numerical parameters set forth in the written description and
attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the
desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular
embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be
construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and
by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the
numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of
some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical
values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely
as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments
of the invention may contain certain errors necessarily resulting
from the standard deviation found in their respective testing
measurements.
[0028] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims
that follow, the meaning of "a," "an," and "the" includes plural
reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as
used in the description herein, the meaning of "in" includes "in"
and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0029] The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended
to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each
separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated
herein, each individual value is incorporated into the
specification as if it were individually recited herein. All
methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order
unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted
by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language
(e.g. "such as") provided with respect to certain embodiments
herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and
does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise
claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as
indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the
invention.
[0030] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the
invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations.
Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in
any combination with other members of the group or other elements
found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or
deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or
patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the
specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified
thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used
in the appended claims.
[0031] As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise,
the term "coupled to" is intended to include both direct coupling
(in which two elements that are coupled to each other contact each
other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional
element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms
"coupled to" and "coupled with" are used synonymously.
[0032] It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many
more modifications besides those already described are possible
without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive
subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the
scope of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the
specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in
the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In
particular, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" should be
interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a
non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements,
components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with
other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly
referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one
of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . .
and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element
from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.
* * * * *