Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B34/00—Vessels specially adapted for water sports or leisure; Body-supporting devices specially adapted for water sports or leisure
  • B63B34/50—Body-supporting buoyant devices, e.g. bathing boats or water cycles
  • B63B34/565—Accessories, e.g. sticks for water walking
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B34/00—Vessels specially adapted for water sports or leisure; Body-supporting devices specially adapted for water sports or leisure
  • B63B34/50—Body-supporting buoyant devices, e.g. bathing boats or water cycles
  • B63B34/56—Body-supporting buoyant devices, e.g. bathing boats or water cycles for use in a standing position, e.g. water shoes, water walking devices or buoyant skis

Definitions

• the present utility model refers to a pair of floating boards which efficiently enable the user to stand upright and still, walk or run over the water surface without sinking, with improved security and stability as compared to other similar devices available in the prior art.
• the floating boards also referred to as "floating shoes" according to the present utility model, are equiped with adjustable footstraps to fasten the user's feet on the hull and include a pair of hand poles equipped with hydrodynamic floaters to be used simultaneously with the alternating back-and-forth movements of the legs.
• walking on any kind of waterlogged surface becomes easy, efficient and fast.
• the floating shoes according to the present utility model can be used by a wide range of users, including those of low stature.
• the floating device is propelled forward by the alternating movement of the legs, thanks to swinging flaps located under each of the two floating board hulls below the waerline.
• the swinging flap located under the hull lifts while the floating board slides forward by the movement of one leg, and swings down when that same leg tends to push the floating board backwards by the alternated movement of the other leg, so that the water walking device is mechanically propelled forward by the alternated pressure of the water against the swinging flaps disposed below the waterline.
• Various types of floating water-walking devices disclosed in the art include logrolling type devices.
• US 3 628 491 discloses a water-walking device comprising a horizontal cylindrical tread portion joined at its opposite ends to a pair of paddle wheels.
• Other water-walking devices similar to the present utility model include floating board type devices.
• US 5 558 553, for example, discloses a water walking device consisting of a pair of hulls with underwater blades and stabilizer fins. However, these devices do not provide enough stability and speed.
• Fig. 1 is a transparent perspective view of the pair of floating boards in a stand-by position with the hand poles fitted into mortises disposed on the top surface of the board hulls.
• Fig. 2 is a transparent perspective view of one floating board with the swinging flap hanging down;
• Fig. 3 shows a side view and a longitudinal cross section view of the floating board
• Fig. 4 is a back view of the pair of floating boards.
• Fig. 5 is a top view of the pair of floating boards. Detailed description of the utility model
• the new shape of the hull at the stern of the board consists of a slant and flat design with an angle of attack turned towards the water surface.
• This particular characteristic of the hull at the stern of the floating board created a third and new propulsion point which results in a more efficient propelling force and consequently improved speed.
• Fig. 2, Ib / 3b, Fig. 3, 3c / 4c and Fig. 5, 2e / 3e there are embedded spaces where attaching elements are screwed for fastening rubber bands used to bind the floating boards.
• the rubber bands are used to connect and keep the boards together during the walking.
• the embedded attaching elements prevent the side walls of the boards from being damaged or scratched during the walking, provide a longer durability of the material and further protect the user against accidental injuries.
• Fig. 2, 3b and Fig. 5, 4e / 5e show the innovative shape of the anti-slippery area disposed on the top surface of the hulls.
• the prominent anti-slippery areas disposed on the top surfaces of the hulls are advantageously moulded during the manufacturing process of the floating boards. This embodiment avoids the use of anti-slippery sticks which may detach from the hulls due to weather changes and prolonged use.
• Fig. 1, 1a and 2a, Fig. 3, 5c and Fig. 5, 6c show the adjustable footstraps used to fasten the user's feet on the hulls.
• the adjustable footstraps are attached to the hulls next to the anti-slippery areas and can be easily adjusted to any foot size to fasten the user's feet on the hulls.
• this particular embodiment with adjustable footstraps allows the user to wear shoes or remain barefoot with optimum grip and safety.
• FIG. 2, 4b and in Fig. 3, 6c show the innovative "V" shape of the hull at the prow, which allows for easy cut through small waves and improved floatation.
• This innovative V- hull provides functionality and stability even in rough water, making the walking on water even safer and easier to perform.
• Fig. 1 , 3a / 4a shows a pair of hand poles equipped with hydrodynamic floaters properly fitted into mortises disposed on the top surface of the board hulls, in a stand-by position as shown in Fig. 1, 5a / 6a / 7a / 8a and Fig. 3, 7c / 8c / 9c / 10c.
• the main purpose of this arrangement is to keep the floating boards tightly bound together as one single floating board, providing optimum stability if the user chooses to climb up on the floating device in the water.
• the floating shoes is an amphibious device
• the user can also walk over firm soil with the floating shoes on to reach the water, as well as return from the water to firm soil.
• the present utility model includes embedded drains in each hull, next to the stern of each floating board, for draining out the water accumulated inside the floating boards due to the condensation of the gaseous phase of the water in the air resulting from the differences between the internal and external temperatures of the hull.
• Fig. 2, 6b, Fig. 3, 1 Ic and Fig. 4, 2c illustrate the swinging flaps responsible for the propulsion of the floating device in their respective positions.
• the swinging flaps are attached to the boards by hinges.
• the swinging flap located under the floating board lifts while the floating board slides forward by the movement of one leg, and swings down when that same leg tends to push the floating board backwards by the alternated movement of the other leg, so that the water walking device is mechanically propelled forward by the alternated pressure of the water against the swinging flaps.
• Fig. 2, 8b and Fig. 3, 2c prominent side guards disposed along the upper sides of the hulls at the contact areas are advantageously moulded during the manufacturing process of the floating boards.
• the side guards are intended to protect the side walls of the hulls against the natural friction between the floating boards at the contact areas during the walking, which results in a longer lasting of the material used in the manufacturing of the floating shoes.

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=41445002

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (4)

Citations (2)

• 2008
  • 2008-06-24 BR BRMU8801263-8U patent/BRMU8801263U2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2009
  • 2009-06-08 WO PCT/BR2009/000164 patent/WO2009155672A2/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (2)

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