WO2006095090A1

WO2006095090A1 - Floating board or bodyboard

Info

Publication number: WO2006095090A1
Application number: PCT/FR2006/000515
Authority: WO
Inventors: Damien Saumureau; Stephan Sahun
Original assignee: Promiles
Priority date: 2005-03-10
Filing date: 2006-03-08
Publication date: 2006-09-14
Also published as: ES2367842T3; ATE508040T1; EP1858752A1; DE602006021715D1; EP1858752B1; FR2882983B1; FR2882983A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a floating board or bodyboard with two lateral edges (4). The front edge (2) has a central region and two oblique lateral regions which are concave, convex or straight, and form two gripping regions (6). Two hollow regions are formed in the thickness of the upper surface of the board (1), said hollow regions being arranged towards the rear of the inner part (6a) of the gripping regions (6) and forming supporting regions (8) for forearms. Two regions (9) which are raised in relation to the supporting region (8) and the upper surface (1a) are formed in the thickness of the upper surface of the front part (7) of the board (1), said raised regions extending the external parts (6b) of the two gripping regions (6) along the two lateral edges (4) towards the rear. Preferably, the bottom of each supporting region (8) has a regular incline towards the front, from the rear part (11) to the corresponding gripping region (6).

Description

FLOATING OR BODYBOARD PUNCH

The present invention relates to the field of sliding sports on water. It relates more particularly to a device consisting of a floating board generally called bodyboard.

Such a board is designed to allow swimmers to move quickly by taking advantage of wave energy as they move towards the beach.

In this hobby, the swimmer remains attached to the floating board generally having the front part of the body lying on the board, the legs remaining in the water and having the ability to contribute to the movement of the board.

Since this hobby develops, the manufacturers of sports equipment have proposed a very large number of floating boards, different structure and configuration, the differences mainly due to the technical feature that is put forward.

In the thickness of the underside of the board, recessed areas may be provided, which have the effect of increasing the amount of air under the board and thus increase its sliding capacity on the water. In the document WO97 / 28862 there is provided on the upper face of the board reinforcements for elbows and torso and laterally fingerprints for handling the board.

Some floating boards have, in top view, a generally rectangular configuration with two side edges which have a convex curvature which facilitates the penetration into the water and with a rear edge optionally having a curvature.

Such a board is known from document FR.2.738.546, in which it is envisaged that the optimum placement areas of the bearing surfaces of the body may be materialized by visible markers, possibly depressions. The present invention relates to a floating board or bodyboard whose profile is adapted to good penetration into the water and which, moreover, allows a very effective maintenance for the user by its particular structure.

This floating board or bodyboard which has, in plan view, a generally rectangular configuration with two lateral edges having a convex curvature, is characterized in that:

its front edge has a central convex or straight zone and, on either side of it, two oblique lateral zones constituting two gripping zones, each of them being either concave or convex or straight, and having a inner part adjoining the central zone of the front edge and an outer part and

in the thickness of the upper face of the front part of the board are formed on the one hand two recessed areas, forming support zones for the forearms, arranged on the rear of the inner part of said zones of gripping and secondly two lateral zones raised above the bearing zones, and possibly the upper face, extending rearwardly the outer portions of the two gripping zones, along the two lateral edges. Thus, according to the particular arrangement of the floating board of the present invention, the user has the hands that are gripped on the front edge of the board in the two gripping areas and has forearms that extend into both bearing zones and which are wedged laterally by the two lateral zones in elevation.

The gripping of the board at the two gripping zones is clearly facilitated because of the lower thickness of the board in these areas with respect in particular to the central zone of the front edge of the board.

It should be noted that the recessed zone, which constitutes the support zone, is disposed rearwardly only along part of the gripping zone, that is to say one that is adjacent to the zone convex center of the front edge. Along the two lateral edges of the front part, the raised zones of greater thickness than the support zones make it possible, on the one hand, to preserve the resistance mechanics of the board including torsion and, secondly, to avoid slipping, outside the board, forearms and elbows.

Each support zone may be completely continuous, being in direct extension of the gripping zone. It can also be interrupted at an area corresponding to the wrist.

In an alternative embodiment, the bottom of each bearing zone has a regular forward tilt from the rear to the corresponding gripping zone or possibly to the corresponding wrist area. Preferably, the front part occupies at least one third of the length of the board, length taken along the longitudinal median plane thereof.

In an alternative embodiment, the width of the central zone of the front edge is substantially twice the width of each gripping zone. This particular arrangement minimizes the penetration forces in the water of the board along its front edge, while maintaining a good grip of the board by the user according to the two gripping zones.

In order to improve the holding of the user in the bearing areas, it may be provided that the upper face of the board at said support areas comprises grooves in relief, longitudinal and / or transverse. In an alternative embodiment, each bearing zone has a convergent configuration from the rear portion to the gripping zone.

This particular arrangement allows a differentiated placement of the elbows and forearms according to the movements of the user on the board.

The board may notably consist of a main body made of a light floating material and a stiffening sub-layer, covering the underside of said main body.

The present invention will be better understood on reading the description of exemplary embodiments of a floating board or bodyboard with gripping zones and support zones illustrated by the appended drawing in which: - Figure 1 is a view schematic from above and in plan of said board; - Figures 2, 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of the plate of Figure 1 along the axes IMI, IIHII, IV-IV;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the plate of FIG. 1;

- Figures 6, 7 and 8 show three other embodiments. In this detailed description, use will be made of the term

"Board" which is the term conventionally used in the field of sliding sports on water to designate a bodyboard or floating board.

In the first embodiment, the plate 1, as represented in FIGS. 1 to 5, has a general configuration of generally rectangular shape, with a front edge 2, a rear edge 3 and two lateral edges 4. This plate 1 comprises a plane of longitudinal symmetry DD '. The two lateral edges 4 have a convex curvature which is not strictly regular but whose radius of curvature decreases from the rear edge 3 to the front edge 2. In this example, the rear edge 3 has a curvature almost over its entire width. concave. It should be noted that this curvature is accompanied by a reduction in the thickness of the board in the rear end portion 12 to the rear edge 3, which contributes to the comfort of the user when he bears on the edge rear 3 to mount on the board, that is to say, put in position with the front portion of the body lying on the upper face of said board.

This board 1 is made of a floating material; it is usually a low or high density foam, depending on the type of user, child or adult and also the level of practice of the user. This foam EVA, polyethylene, polypropylene or polystyrene may optionally be covered on the underside Ib of the board of a stiffening sole, also providing a sliding capacity on the eaϋ, for example high density polyethylene.

The front edge 2 of the board has a central zone 5 having a slight curvature which is convex in the first example illustrated in FIG. 1 but which may be straight and therefore perpendicular to the axis DD 'and, on the other hand, else of this central zone 5, two slightly oblique lateral zones 6, which have a curvature which is concave in this example but which can also be straight, which constitute two gripping zones, that is to say two zones where the user will preferentially position the hands when using the board. It is considered that the gripping zone is oblique when its end common to the central zone of the front edge is shifted longitudinally, especially forward, relative to its other end common with the side edge of the board.

Due to the substantially rectangular configuration of the board 1 and the gripping zones are formed on the front edge 2, the hands in the hooking position in said areas are substantially in alignment with the forearms, not presenting a large angular difference as is the case of a board in which the gripping zones for the hands are arranged according to the convex side edges, as described in document US.2004 / 0152377A1.

In the thickness of the upper face of the front portion 7 of the board are formed two recessed areas 8, which, in the example shown, extend backwards, partially the two gripping zones 6. More precisely each hollow zone 8 is formed from the inner portion 6a of the gripping zone which is adjacent to the convex central zone 5 and extends the latter towards the rear. These recessed areas 8 constitute, on the back of the gripping zones, support zones for the forearms of the user.

FIG. 1 shows in dashed lines the contours of the bearing zones 8, knowing that the thickness variations between the hollow zones 8 and the adjoining zones are not sudden but progressive, so as not to form edges.

The outer part 6b of each gripping zone 6 is in turn extended, along the lateral edge 4, by a zone 9 which is raised with respect to the bearing zone 8 and, in the example illustrated, also in elevation relative to the upper face la of the board (Figure 3). These two raised zones 9, not only, allow to preserve the mechanical strength of the board, especially in torsion, but also constitute some kind of lateral stops for the forearms. In addition, the bottom of each bearing zone 8 has a forward inclination which is regular to the gripping zone 6. Thus, it is at the level of the gripping zone 6, in the part 6a of the latter which is extended by the support zone 8, the board 1 has its lowest thickness. This can be further accentuated by slightly curving the lower face Ib of the board in the front part thereof.

This reduced thickness at the inner portions 6a (Figure 2) greatly facilitates the gripping of the board in the gripping areas by the user. In addition, this general profile of the board at its front edge 3 improves the penetration into the water and its sliding. For a total width L of the front edge, taken along the ends of the two attachment zones 6, the width L1 of the convex central zone 5 is in this example substantially equal to twice the width L2 of a gripping zone. 6.

The outer surface 1a of the board 1 is substantially flat over the entire area 10 which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis DD ', the central zone 5, then over the entire width of the board 1 beyond the two support zones 8, except for the rear end 12 of the board 1, near the rear edge 3, in which is formed a gradual inclination towards the rear edge 3 as indicated above. The front portion 7 of the board, measured along the longitudinal plane DD ', from the front edge 2, to the level of the rear end of the bearing zones 8, occupies at least one third of the length of the board.

Along the two zones 9 in elevation, the bearing zones 8 have a convergent configuration towards the gripping zones 6, which allows a certain latitude of movement of the elbows and forearms of the user. in said support zones 8, for the same positioning of the hands in the gripping zones 6.

Each bearing zone 8 may possibly end towards the rear by a bent portion 8a which opens out on the lateral edge 4 (FIGS. 1 and 4). It may be provided that the upper face of the board 1, at the level of the bearing areas 8, has grooves in relief in the longitudinal direction of the board, or transversely, or possibly a combination of longitudinal and transverse grooves or a succession of longitudinal and transverse grooves. This grooving is intended to limit the possible slippage of the forearms on the upper face of the board in these bearing zones 8.

The three additional embodiments which are illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 differ from the first example detailed above by the configuration of the front edge and / or the rear edge. The board 20 of FIG. 6 has a front edge 21 whose central zone 22 is slightly convex and the two oblique gripping zones 23 are concave, and a corrugated rear edge 24 with a central zone in relief towards the outside.

The board 30 of FIG. 7 differs from the board 20 by its front edge 31 which has a central right zone 32 and two oblique gripping zones 33 which are rectilinear on their greatest length corresponding to their inner part 33a, with a slight recess 33b, on the one hand, to the central zone 32 and on the other hand, in its outer portion 33c.

The board 40 of FIG. 8 differs from the board 30 by its front edge 41 which has a right central zone 42 and two convex gripping zones 43.

In the exemplary embodiments which have just been described and illustrated, the bearing zones are continuous in the direct extension of the inner parts of the gripping zones for the hands. This is not exclusive. They may also, being arranged on the rear of said inner parts, not be continuous but be interrupted locally, leaving two areas that are not recessed at the wrists, so as to match the morphology of the user from the hand to the elbow. It is also possible to provide that each recessed area, behind the gripping zone, has a deeper profile for adaptation to the carp bone.

As for the raised side zones, they may possibly be at the same level or even below the level of the upper face of the board.

Claims

Floating board or bodyboard having, in plan view, a generally rectangular configuration with two lateral edges (4) having a convex curvature, characterized in that:

its front edge (2) has a central convex or straight zone (5) and, on either side thereof (5), two oblique lateral zones constituting two gripping zones (6), each of which they being either concave or convex or straight and having an inner part (6a) adjoining the central zone (5) of the front edge and an outer part

(6b) and

- In the thickness of the upper face (la) of the front part (7) are formed on the one hand two recessed zones forming support zones (8) for the forearms, arranged on the back of the inner portion (6a) of the two gripping zones (6) and on the other hand two raised zones

(9) relative to the bearing areas (8), and possibly to the upper face (1a), extending rearwards the outer portions (6b) of the two gripping zones (6) along the two lateral edges (4).

2. Floating board according to claim 1 characterized in that the bottom of each bearing zone (8) has from the rear to the front a regular inclination.

3. Floating board according to one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the front portion (7) occupies at least one third of the length of the board, length taken along the longitudinal median plane (D, D ^; ) of that -this.

Floating board according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the width (L1) of the convex central zone (5) of the front edge (2) is substantially twice the width (L2) of each zone d gripping (6).

5. Floating board according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the upper face (la) of the board at said support zones (8) has grooves in relief, longitudinal and / or transverse.

6. Floating board according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that each bearing zone (8) has a convergent configuration from the rear portion (11) to the gripping zone (6).

7. floating board according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that each gripping zone (33) is rectilinear over its greatest length in its inner portion (33a), with a slight recess (33b, 33c). on the one hand towards the central zone (32) and on the other hand, in the outer part (33c).

8. Floating board according to one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that the bearing areas are arranged continuously in the extension of the inner portions of the gripping zones.

9. floating board according to one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that the bearing zones are arranged discontinuously on the rear of the inner parts of the gripping zones, providing two areas that are not recessed at level of both wrists.