AU779847B2

AU779847B2 - Bodyboard

Info

Publication number: AU779847B2
Application number: AU66568/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Marty Pavkovic
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-11-19
Filing date: 2000-10-17
Publication date: 2005-02-17
Anticipated expiration: 2020-10-17
Also published as: AU2005202080A1; AU6656800A; AU2005202080B2

Description

Our Ref:7538330 P/00/OII Regulation 3:2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): Marty Pavkovic 8 H4arpten Court1 RAd& it 6o 4 Aey §(Mef# Carltc Ne;':South OSl 2218 ewAj( -AI~etalia-A/c-w SbuA (Vcdes, DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 22.22,.

Address for Service: Invention Title: Bodyboard The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 5020

I

P \WPDOCS\AMD\SPECI\7538330 DOC- 13/10/00 -1-

BODYBOARD

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a bodyboard, and in particular, to a bodyboard which has steering capabilities.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART One of the many water sports enjoyed by a variety of people is body boarding. It is enjoyed by young and old alike, as it typically requires less learned skills than surfboarding. The 10 typical bodyboard is made of one of a variety of materials, such as polystyrene foam. As such a variety of differently shaped bodyboards are readily manufactured.

One of the prime disadvantages of riding on a bodyboard, compared to, say a surfboard, a kayak, or any of the other forms of water sport devices, is that relatively little control over the turning capability is able to be achieved. A bodyboard rider is typically carried forth by wave, with relatively little control. Whilst body boarding can be a pleasurable experience, without such steering control capabilities, it can become somewhat monotonous when undertaken for an extended period of time.

20 The disadvantages of the prior art therefore identify a need for a bodyboard which has iimproved steering capabilities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide a bodyboard which overcomes the disadvantages of, or at least provides an alternative to, known bodyboards.

In one broad form, the present invention provides a bodyboard, which includes a steering mechanism.

P.\WPDOCS\AMD\SPECI\738330DOC- 13/10/00 -2- Preferably, the steering mechanism includes a handle or like means, provided in a forward portion on the upper side of the board, with which a rider may grasp.

Also preferably, the handle means is connected to one or more rudders provided on a rearward portion of a lower side of the board, operable via a shaft means and appropriate connecting and/or gearing means.

Preferably, the shaft means is embodied as a pair of shaft rods.

S 10 Perhaps most preferably, two rudders are embodied in the form of steerable fins.

In a preferred embodiment, the steering shaft and gearing means are accessible for servicing o *o.

and/or repair.

S2 15 Perhaps most preferably, this is achieved by including the steering shaft and gearing means in a removable casing.

Preferably, the casing is insertable within a slot or the like, preferably provided in a rearward slot of the bodyboard.

In a preferred embodiment, the handle and/or other steering components are removable, such that the bodyboard is usable as a conventional bodyboard.

Preferably, the bodyboard is formed of a hard compound material, to provide durability, endurance, and lightness.

Also, in a preferred form, a rider retaining means is provided on the upper surface of the board.

The rider retaining means is embodied as a hump or like protrusion, about which the riders knees, feet or legs may be gripped.

P,\WPDOCS\AMID\SPECI\753330.DOIC- 13/10100 -3- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description of a preferred but non-limiting embodiment thereof, described in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG 1 illustrates an upper perspective view of a bodyboard in accordance with the present invention; FIG 2 illustrates an upper perspective view of the steering casing which is insertable within the bodyboard of the present invention; FIG 3 illustrates a cross-sectional plan view of the portion of the steering mechanism S- 10 associated with the casing of Fig 2; FIG 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the entire steering mechanism; FIG 5 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a bodyboard of the present invention, including a rider retaining means thereon; FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative view of a steering mechanism, including a pair of shaft rods; FIG 7 shows the steering mechanism of Fig. 6, incorporated in the bodyboard, in crosssectional plan view; and, FIG. 8 shows the steering mechanism of Fig. 7, incorporated in the bodyboards, in crosssectional elevational end view.

20 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) *i Throughout the drawings, like numerals will be used to identify similar features, except where expressly otherwise indicated.

As shown in the drawings, the bodyboard 1 of the present invention includes a handle 2 or like means, provided at a forward portion on the upper portion of the board, which are positioned to be readily grasped by a rider. The board 1 also includes a pair of rudders 3 in the form of fins, which are adapted to turn about pivot point 4, in response to rotation of the handle means 2. Operation of the rudders is effected via a series of shafts and appropriate connection means and/or gears. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, that a variety of implementations of arrangements for effecting the function will be envisaged, an example of which is shown in the drawings.

P \WPDOCS\AMD\SPEC\753330.DOC -13/10/00 -4- The particular embodiment illustrated utilises a main shaft 5, connecting the handle means to a central mechanism 8, and a pair of transversely extending shafts 6 and 7 extending from the central mechanism 8 to the rudder means 3. Appropriate gearing means 9, 10, and 11 are provided to effect connection of the shafts 5, 6, and 7 to the handle means 2 and the rudder means 3, respectively.

As illustrated in Figs 2 and 3, the steering components are, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, able to be removably slid into the main section of the bodyboard. This facilitates S 10 assembly and maintenance of the various steering components, and the ability to remove the "steering components when the device is desired to be used as a conventional bodyboard, ie a bodyboard without steering capabilities.

•O.o go•• Fig. 5 shows the provision of a rider retaining means 12, which may be optionally provided on the back portion of the upper surface of the board, to enable the rider to grasp with both knees, feet or legs and to assist the rider in prevention from falling or sliding off the board whilst manoeuvring. It will be appreciated that the rider retaining means may be embodied in a variety of alternative forms, whereby the riders legs or part thereof may be more securely held to the board.

The top surface of the board is optionally adapted to be provided with various types of surfaces thereon, such as skins, to optimise comfort and grip.

Fig. 6 shows an alternative but also preferred form of steering mechanism, utilising a pair of steering shafts and appropriate connecting wheels. Movement of the steering mechanism in the direction of the arrows will enable movement of the components as shown. Movement of the steering mechanism in the opposite direction will be understood to move the components in the direction opposite to that shown. Fig. 7 illustrates the steering mechanism of Fig. 6 in plan cross-sectional view, whilst Fig. 8 shows an elevational, end, cross-sectional view thereof. It will be appreciated that whilst particular embodiments of steering mechanism have been hereinbefore described, alternative forms may also be embodied. For example, P %WPDOCS\AMD\SPEC1\7538330DOC 13110100 a single rudder may be centrally provided, or the at least one rudder may turn or tilt differently to the configuration shown.

It will be appreciated that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the invention as hereinbefore described, whilst still achieving the objects of the invention. It will also be appreciated that the bodyboard, together with it's various component features, are able to be fabricated of a wide variety of materials, whilst still achieving the desirable characteristics of buoyancy, durability, and lightness All such variations and modifications should be considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as broadly 10 hereinbefore described.

Claims

1. A bodyboard including a steering mechanism, wherein the steering mechanism includes a handle or like means, provided in a forward portion on the upper side of the board, with which a rider may grasp; and, wherein the handle means is connected to at least one main shaft, the at least one main shaft coupled to a connecting and/or gearing means, the connecting and/or gearing means interconnecting the at least one main shaft and at least one secondary shaft, the at least one secondary shaft connected to one or more rudders provided on a rearward portion of a lower side of the board.

2. rods. A bodyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shaft means includes a pair of shaft 9 9 9 9 99 9 9 9 9

9. 3. A bodyboard as claimed in claims 1 to 2, wherein two rudders are embodied in the form of one or more steerable fin. 4. A bodyboard as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the steering shaft and gearing means are accessible for servicing and/or repair. A bodyboard as claimed in claim 4, wherein the steering shaft and gearing means are 20 provided in a removable casing. 6. like. A bodyboard as claimed in claim 5, wherein said casing is insertable within a slot or the 7. A bodyboard as claimed in claim 6, wherein said slot is provided in a rearward portion of the bodyboard. 8. A bodyboard as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the handle and/or other steering components are removable, such that the bodyboard is usable as a conventional bodyboard. 8 /S 080[ Z9Z6 z 19+: 00!1.0 Iualed BAe ucs iI|03 seIAeo:;jd9L;L :VO-3L-i CZ-ZL-VO (P-IN-A) GleO 9L:L (wu:H) awil e!Iejfls dl Aq pa!aa90 SSOVSOI-11A49 :ON Ci SINOZ P:AWPDOCSAMDSPECIFCATONO21 SPECIFFATO 1 5PECICATION'7$33O0.DOC =12 -7- 9. A bodyboard as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the bodyboard is formed of a hard compound material, to provide durability, endurance, and lightness. A bodyboard as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a rider retaining means is provided on the upper surface of said board.

11. A bodyboard as claimed in any one of claims I to 10, wherein said rider retaining means is embodied as a hump or like protrusion about which the riders knees, legs or feet may be gripped. 0

12. A bodyboard, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 21st day of December, 2004 MARTY PAVKOVIC By His Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE 8 /9 OSOL 2gZ6 z 19+: 001;;0 IU842d 9A2e 0 !A2GLNd9L L O-L- I