US20080100035A1

US20080100035A1 - Hydroplaning skis for use on wet ground surfaces

Info

Publication number: US20080100035A1
Application number: US11/590,256
Authority: US
Inventors: Mary A. Schultz; Michael C. Morrison
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-10-31
Filing date: 2006-10-31
Publication date: 2008-05-01

Abstract

A pair of hydroplaning skis having a front end with a camber and or rocker, and a flat back portion, and a width wider than a foot of a user and a length greater than the width. The bottom surface area supports the weight of the user on the ski and distributes the weight over a sufficient area of a wet ground surface to allow a user to hydroplane along on top of the wet ground surface without sinking in. Water resistant foot securing devices are attached or molded centrally on the skis to enable lifting the heels so that the user can kick and glide to propel the skis. Poles with surface displacement devices assist the user in propelling forward.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to skis and particularly to hydroplaning skis which comprises a pair of skis, each ski having a relatively a wide flat ground contacting surface and a water resistant foot securing device to elevate the heel for kicking and striding to propel the skis, which are used for hydroplaning along a thin layer of water left on the sand by receding waves on a beach or shore, or alternately on wet grass or wet dirt, with trekking poles in fashion similar to cross country skiing.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
The popularity of water sport equipment, such as surfboards, has been expanded to include a considerable variety of related devices, some of which are not even used on water. A board of about 2.5 feet having no fin is called a “skim board” and may be used for sliding over water or wet sand.
Cross country skiing is a popular winter sport performed with special cross country skis and poles over snow. It would be desirable to be able to engage in this activity all year both for the exercise value as well as maintaining cross country training, especially for cross country skiers engaged in competition.
Currently there is not a ski that can be easily attached to the foot and propelled by use of poles and users stride at the edge of the surf using a kick and glide motion similar to skate skiing and or cross country skiing used for propulsion of two skis with poles in the surf, shallow water at the edge of the surf, slick sand.
Currently there are no user-propelled cross country type skis for use all year and no skim or hydroplaning skis for use on wet ground surfaces employing cross country ski-type foot attaching means and poles and using a cross country ski-type technique for propulsion.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,957, issued Mar. 21, 1995 to Leighton, shows a recreational boot length ski attachment that adapts a boot for sliding on snow, ice, sand, AstroTurf™ surfaces, and other natural and artificial surfaces. The ski device is constructed with a boot length flat elongate base having a toe end, heel end, and flat bottom surface for sliding. The toe end is formed with a toe end brace or bridge spaced above the base defining a recess for receiving a toe end projection of a boot. The toe end brace bears against an upper surface of the toe end projection of the boot. The toe end rises in the front of the elongate base to join the toe end brace and form a toe end plow at the front. A heel end binding is secured to the heel end of the flat elongate base. The binding includes first and second pivoting anchors pivotally mounted on the respective sides of the base spaced from the heel end of the base. A binding strap extends between the pivoting anchors with sufficient length to extend around the heel of a boot. The strap can be secured at adjustable lengths between the pivoting anchors. The binding includes a heel piece with a step profile for engaging the heel of a boot. The heel piece is formed with at least one channel for mounting the heel piece on the strap above the heel end of the base. The heel end binding causes a compression binding force between the heel piece and toe end brace if the heel of a boot tends to separate and the angle between the strap and flat elongate base increases.
U.S. Patent Application No. 20030060297, published Mar. 27, 2003 by Cembalest, puts forth a land board for practicing surfing on land surfaces, such as grassy hills, which board is configured to withstand the rigors of surfing on land, and bindings for a land board, and a method of surfing on land with a land board. A land board device on which a user can slide or glide down land surfaces, such as a grassy steep hill, cliff or mountain, without the help of wheels.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,589, issued Oct. 6, 1998 to Southworth, describes an integral sand ski for carrying a towed user skiing on sand for exerting a forward force vector from a tow rope held by the user through and in general alignment with skeletal bones of the user comprising a ski board having an elongate central generally flat surface for resting on and sliding on sand and a deck support above the board at an angle from the board from rear to front of about two degrees or greater.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,965,585, issued Jun. 29, 1976 to Stewart, is for a shoe attachment device for use in a variety of sporting activities including snow, beach surf, sand walking which comprises an elongated platform or foot support member having a flat bottom surface and an upwardly extending continuous sidewall carried in parallel along the opposite side edges and along the front edge. A stiffening rod is incorporated into the front wall for reinforcement purposes. Detachable runners are carried on the platform and downwardly project from the underside thereof for ground engaging purposes. The upper surface of the platform carries a shoe or boot attachment having an adjustable heel securement and an adjustable toe securement whereby the user's foot is firmly secured on the platform.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,914, issued Jul. 25, 1989 to Cox, discloses a skim board for use in the shallow water at the edge which has a body constructed of a clear, transparent plastic sheet having a concave surface at the top for the feet of the user and a convex surface at the bottom. A pattern in bright color extends across the clear plastic sheet making same visible in the shallow water while a clear plastic area remains through which the user may see the water line and thus know where to place his feet when jumping on the skim board.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,176,999, issued Apr. 6, 1965 to Atcherley, indicates a device for traveling over wet sand left by receding waves which comprises a rigid and flat board-like vehicle onto which an occupant jumps and is propelled over the wetted sand for long distances.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,761,602, issued Jul. 13, 2004 to Quinn, puts forth a hydroplane board and a method of personal hydroplaning. The hydroplane board member is placed in very shallow water and launched by the user with a shove of their foot. The user walks, jogs, or runs and jumps onto the moving board inducing hydroplaning. The user may jump off, simultaneously accelerating a slowing board, and then jump back on, thus indefinitely extending the hydroplane action.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,291, issued Nov. 10, 1987 to Gauer, provides a substantially rigid ski to afford high degrees of maneuverability and stability. The bottom surface of the ski is convex from front to rear and convex from side to side. The ski has a maximum effective width substantially in line with the pivot point over which the skier's weight will be centered. The ski assumes a narrower effective width both forward and rearward of the pivot point and then assumes an intermediate effective width closer to the front and rear respectively. The narrower effective width can be achieved by a narrower actual width, a greater degree of convexity or by a combination of the two. The bottom surface includes well defined bottom side edges that are substantially parallel to the top surface of the ski. The sides of the ski are concave adjacent the bottom side edges. The above described ski structure is well suited for skiing on the snow and could be equally well suited for skiing on sand. However, for sand skiing, the bottom surface would preferably be formed from a metallic material, such as stainless steel, in view of the more abrasive characteristics of the sand granules.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,541, issued Jul. 22, 2003 to Kuchler, claims a short ski that comprises a base having a pair of side walls on which a pair of arms that hold an ankle belt, and a foot belt are mounted. Means are provided for adjusting and fixing the belts so as to accommodate shoes of most different types and sizes and avoid the need for special ski boots.
U.S. Patent Application No. 20060128237, published Jun. 15, 2006 by Quinn, claims a circular-shaped hydroplane board with a topside device for safer, more controllable skimming along a beach surface which includes: (a) a substantially planar bottom side having a first diameter; (b) a substantially planar top side having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter; (c) a curved circular side rail connecting the bottom side to the top side of the hydroplane board; and (d) a curved topside device attached to the top side of the hydroplane board; wherein the hydroplane board has no defined front, rear, left, or right sides. Also included is the topside device itself, which is attachable to a top side of a circular hydroplane board.
U.S. Patent Application No. 20040009722, published Jan. 15, 2004 by Towey, describes a skim board which incorporates a flat circular form for use in the receding surf at the waters edge. The skim board comprises a rigid flat structure of sufficient weight, thickness and circumference so as to carry a rider across the shallow water and wet sand with little resistance. The skim board also comprises a circumference large enough to allow the rider side to side and fore and aft stepping about the platform surface, thus affording a certain measure of control and maneuverability.
U.S. Patent Application No. 20060097484, published May 11, 2006 by Walker, discloses a snow skate which provides improved control and skate-like performance, particularly on hard-pack or icy surfaces. The snow skate has edges which increasingly project from the central flat region of the ski to the forward area. Preferably this is achieved by making the base increasingly concave forward and rearward from a central generally flat region.
What is needed is user-propelled cross country type skis for use all year in the form of skim or hydroplaning skis for use on wet ground surfaces employing a foot securing means on the top surface of each of the skis by a means for attaching the foot so that the heel of the foot of the user is free to move upwardly so that the user is able to stride and kick to propel the ski forward using a cross country ski-type technique for propulsion and poles to assist the propulsion.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide user-propelled cross country type skis for use all year in the form of skim or hydroplaning skis for use on wet ground surfaces employing a foot securing means on the top surface of each of the skis by a means for attaching the foot so that the heel of the foot of the user is free to move upwardly so that the user is able to stride and kick to propel the ski forward using a cross country ski-type technique for propulsion and poles to assist the propulsion.
A related object of the present invention is to provide a ski that can be easily attached to the foot and propelled by use of poles and a user's stride at the edge of the surf with a kick and glide motion similar to skate skiing and or cross country skiing used for propulsion of two skis with poles in the surf, shallow water at the edge of the surf, slick sand.
In brief, a planar ski has at least one bottom type taken from the list of bottom types including a flat bottom, a grooved bottom, a cambered bottom, and a combined flat and cambered bottom of the ski having a front end camber and a width wider than a foot of a user and a length greater than the width to provide a bottom surface area to support the weight of the user on the ski and distribute the weight of the user over a sufficient area of a wet ground surface to allow a user to hydroplane along on top of the wet ground surface without sinking into the wet ground surface and a flat or cambered center portion which may level out under the weight of a user. Water resistant foot attaching devices allow a user to kick and glide to propel the skis. Poles are used to assist the user in propelling forward.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a user with the hydroplaning skis and poles of the present invention hydroplaning along a wet ground surface adjacent to a body of water;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of one of the hydroplaning skis of the present invention showing the front end and center cambers with an attachment device attached to ski mechanically or adhesively;

FIG. 2A is a side elevational view of an attachment device molded in the ski of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of one of the hydroplaning skis of FIG. 2 showing the center camber flattened by the weight of a user on the ski with an attachment device attached to ski mechanically or adhesively;

FIG. 3A is a side elevational view of an attachment device molded in the ski of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a ski pole of the present invention with a solid or hollow shaft;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a ski pole of the present invention with a two-piece shaft that screws together;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention having slightly tapered front and back ends;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the hydroplaning ski of FIG. 6 showing the front end camber and a small attaching device with a shoe mounted on the ski;

FIG. 7A is a side elevational view of the attaching device molded in the ski of FIG. 7;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the hydroplaning ski of FIG. 6 showing the front end camber and a large attaching device with a boot mounted on the ski;

FIG. 8A is a side elevational view of the attaching device molded in the ski of FIG. 8;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of another hydroplaning ski of the present invention having a curved outer side edge and a small attaching device with a shoe or boot mounting location generally outlined;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the hydroplaning ski of FIG. 9 showing the front end cambers and a small attaching device;

FIG. 10A is a side elevational view of the small attaching device molded into the ski of FIG. 10;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of another hydroplaning ski of the present invention having a tapered front and a small back extension with a small attaching device with a strap having a front strap, back strap, and sole mounted thereon;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the hydroplaning ski of FIG. 11 showing the front end camber and a small attaching device with a strap having a front strap, back strap, and sole mounted thereon;

FIG. 12A is a side elevational view of the small attaching device molded into the ski of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1-12, a hydroplane ski device 20 provides for user propelled hydroplane skiing on a wet ground surface, such as wet sand 40 adjacent to a body of water 50.
The device comprises a pair of hydroplane skis 20 each comprising a planar ski at least one bottom type taken from the list of bottom types including a flat bottom, a grooved bottom, a cambered bottom, and a combined flat and cambered bottom of the ski with a front end upward camber and or rocker 23A at a front end 22A and a flat back bottom surface 23B at a back end 22B of the ski. A smooth bottom surface has a width greater than the width of a foot of a user and a length greater than the width to provide a bottom surface area to support the weight of the user on the ski and distribute the weight of the user over a sufficient area of a wet ground surface 40, such as wet sand on the shore of a body of water 50, as shown in FIG. 1, to allow a user to hydroplane along on top of the wet ground surface without sinking into the wet ground surface.
In FIG. 2, each of the skis preferably further comprises a center upward camber 23C in a center portion of the ski, the center upward camber 23C being arched upwardly so that the weight of a user on the ski may lower the center portion of the ski to be level with or elevated above an adjacent portions of the ski in front of the center portion and in back of the center portion, as shown in FIG. 3.
In FIGS. 2 and 3, a foot securing means front portion 24 and heel portion 25 are mounted or molded centrally on a top surface of each of the skis 20. The foot securing means may be attached to an attaching portion 26 on the top surface of the ski in such a way to allow a user to stride and kick to propel the ski forward, such as, but not limited to, being attached or molded to a mid portion of the ski by a front portion 24 of the foot attaching means so that the heel portion 25 is free to move, as shown in FIG. 1.
In FIGS. 2 and 3, the front portion 24 comprises at least one front foot strap with a forward end attached to the ski for receiving and securing a front of a foot of a user to the ski and the back portion 25 comprises at least one heel strap for retaining a heel of a user to enable lifting the heel of the user.
The means for attaching the foot attaching means comprises an attaching portion 26, 26A and 26B protruding above a top surface of the ski or level with the top surface in a center section of the ski for receiving one or more mechanical fasteners 17 or adhesive fasteners from the foot securing means to the ski or the foot securing means may be molded in the ski.
In FIG. 7, the foot securing means comprises a shoe 18 with the front portion 24A attached to the small attaching portion 26A by one or more mechanical fasteners 17 or adhesive means. In FIG. 7A the attaching portion 26A is molded in the ski.
In FIG. 8, the foot securing means comprises a boot 19 with a front portion 24B attached to the large attaching portion 26B by one or more mechanical fasteners 17 through the front of the boot. In FIG. 8A the attaching portion 26B is molded in the ski.
In FIGS. 4 and 5, a pair of poles 30 are used with the hydroplaning skis to assist the user in propelling forward on the hydroplaning skis. Each pole 30 comprises an elongated shaft 31 with a hand grip 34 at a proximal end and a rounded or pointed tip 37 at a distal end with a surface displacement device 32 spaced upwardly from the tip 37. The surface displacement device is sufficiently wide to stop the insertion of the pole into a wet ground surface at the surface displacement device to enable a user to push against the wet ground surface with the pole inserted in the wet ground surface up to the surface displacement device to assist in propelling the user on the pair of skis.
The hand grip of the pole further comprises a flexible strap 35 for encircling a wrist of a user to secure the pole to the wrist of the user. The strap 35 preferably comprises an elongated flexible material attached to the hand grip 34 at a proximal end of the strap and a first strip 36B of a mating hook and loop fastener attached to the strap at a distal end of the strap and a second strip 36A of a mating portion of a hook and loop fastener attached to the strap a spaced distance from the distal end of the strap to enable the two strips of mating hook and loop fastener to removably interconnect adjustably so that a portion of the strap encircles the wrist of the user.
The surface displacement device 32 comprises a ring 38 attached to the pole by spaced radial strips of material 39 to allow for water and sand movement thru the surface displacement device between the radial strips of material.
In FIG. 5, the pole comprises a top shaft portion 31 A with a hand grip and a bottom shaft portion 33 having the end 37 and surface displacement device 32. The bottom shaft portion 33 is removably attached to the top shaft portion by a threaded end 41 of one of the shaft portions interconnecting with a mating threaded opening 42 of the other of the shaft portions. The pole shaft 31, handle 34, rounded or pointed end 37;, and surface displacement device 32 may all be formed in one molded unit or variations of parts.
In FIGS. 6-8A, a preferred embodiment 20 of the ski of the present invention has an overall elongated rectangular shape with slightly tapered front and back ends. In FIG. 7, the hydroplaning ski of FIG. 6 showing the front end camber and or rocker and a small attaching device with a shoe 18 mounted on the ski by one or more mechanical fasteners 17 such as, but not limited to, screws or bolts or rivets into a small attaching portion 26A. In FIG. 8, the hydroplaning ski of FIG. 6 has a large attaching portion 26B with a boot 19 mounted on the ski.
In FIGS. 9 and 10, another hydroplaning ski 20A of the present invention has a body 21A with a curved outer side edge and a small attaching portion 26 with a shoe or boot 18/19 mounting location outlined. In FIG. 10A the attaching portion 26 is molded in the ski.
In FIGS. 11 and 12, another hydroplaning ski 20B of the present invention has a body 21B with a tapered front 22A and a small back extension 27 to assist maneuverability with a small attaching portion 26 with a strap having a front strap foot securing means front portion 24, a back strap heel portion 25 and sole 28. In FIG. 12A the attaching portion 26 is molded in the ski.
The skis, foot securing means, poles, hand grip, and surface displacement device are each fabricated of at least one of the following materials taken from the list of materials including polymers, polymer composites, metal, and natural materials and each preferably fabricated of water resistant material or materials.
An example of but not limited to a ski for a 5′4″ 140 lb. user, the skis can each be 43.5 inches long and 10 inches wide with a 1.75 inch rocker at a front end for a 9 mm thick ski. The foot attaching means (toe placement) from front tip can be 23 inches and 21 inches from the tail. The foot attaching means is centrally located on the board which can be 10 inches of width.
In use, user-propelled hydroplaning skis for use all year in the form of skim or hydroplaning skis for use on wet ground surfaces employing cross country ski-type foot securing means and poles and using a cross country ski-type technique for propulsion. A kick and glide motion similar to skate skiing and or cross country skiing is used for propulsion of two skis with poles in the surf, shallow water at the edge of the surf, slick sand, wet grass or other wet ground surface. It is necessary for the heel to pivot from the board in a forward motion.
The poles are necessary to help with propulsion of user. The poles hand grips have safety loops which are encircled about the wrist of the user to securely retain the poles. The surface displacement device has positive and negative space to allow for water and sand movement thru the surface displacement device. The surface displacement device is a mostly rigid ring and slightly flexible connecting straps.
It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Claims

1. A hydroplane ski device for user propelled hydroplane skiing on a wet ground surface, the device comprising:

a pair of hydroplane skis each comprising a planar ski having at least one bottom type taken from the list of bottom types including a flat bottom, a grooved bottom, a cambered bottom, and a combined flat and cambered bottom of the ski having a front end camber and a width wider than a foot of a user and a length greater than the width to provide a bottom surface area to support the weight of the user on the ski and distribute the weight of the user over a sufficient area of a wet ground surface to allow a user to hydroplane along on top of the wet ground surface without sinking into the wet ground surface;

a foot securing means attached to a top surface of each of the skis by a means for attaching the foot so that the heel of the foot of the user is free to move upwardly so that the user is able to stride and kick to propel the ski forward;

a pair of poles each comprising an elongated member with a hand grip at a proximal end and a tip at a distal end with a surface displacement device spaced upwardly from the tip, the surface displacement device being sufficiently wide to stop the insertion of the pole into a wet ground surface up to the surface displacement device to enable a user to push against the wet ground surface with the pole inserted in the wet ground surface up to the surface displacement device to assist in propelling the user on the pair of skis.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein each of the skis further comprises a center flat portion or upward camber, the center upward camber being arched upwardly so that the weight of a user on the ski may lower the center portion of the ski to be level with adjacent portions of the ski in front of the center portion and in back of the center portion.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the foot securing means comprises a portion to secure the front of the foot to the ski and a back portion enabling the back of the user's foot to elevate while the front of the user's foot is secured to the ski.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the front portion comprises at least one front foot strap with a forward end of the device attached to the ski for receiving and securing a front of a foot of a user to the ski and the back portion comprises at least one heel strap attached to the at least one front foot strap for retaining a heel of a user to enable lifting the heel of the user.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for attaching the foot securing means comprises a portion in a center section of the ski for receiving a series of mechanical fasteners to secure the front end of the foot attaching means to the ski.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for attaching the foot securing means comprises a portion in a center section of the ski for receiving an adhesive fastener to secure the front end of the foot securing means to the ski.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the foot securing means is molded in the ski.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the foot securing means comprises a shoe attached to the ski at a front portion of the shoe.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the foot securing means comprises a boot attached to the ski at the front of the boot.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the hand grip of the pole further comprises a flexible strap for encircling a wrist of a user to secure the pole to the wrist of the user.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the strap comprises an elongated flexible material attached to the hand grip at a proximal end of the strap and a first strip of a mating hook and loop fastener attached to the strap at a distal end of the strap and a second strip of a mating portion of a hook and loop fastener attached to the strap a spaced distance from the distal end of the strap to enable the two strips of mating hook and loop fastener to removably interconnect adjustably so that a portion of the strap encircles the wrist of the user.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the surface displacement device comprises a ring attached to the pole by spaced strips of material to allow for water and sand movement thru the surface displacement device between the radial strips of material.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the pole comprises a top shaft portion with a hand grip and a bottom shaft portion having the end and surface displacement device, the bottom shaft portion removably attached to the top shaft portion by a threaded end of one of the shaft portions interconnecting with a mating threaded opening of the other of the shaft portions.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the foot securing means is fabricated of at least one of the following materials taken from the list of materials including polymer, polymer composites, metal, and natural materials.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein each of the skis is fabricated of at least one of the following materials taken from the list of materials including polymer, polymer composites, metal, and natural materials.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein the pole is fabricated of at least one of the following materials taken from the list of materials including polymer, polymer composites, metal, and natural materials.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein the hand grip is fabricated of at least one of the following materials taken from the list of materials including polymer, polymer composites, metal, and natural materials.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein the surface displacement device is fabricated of at least one of the following materials taken from the list of materials including polymer, polymer composites, metal, and natural materials.

19. The device of claim 1 wherein the skis, foot securing means, and poles are each fabricated of water resistant material.

20. The device of claim 1 wherein the skis, foot securing means, and poles are each fabricated of waterproof material.