The present invention relates to a novel water sports device that allows a user to perform water skiing and other activities while sitting on the device. The device includes a toboggan style structure positioned atop a pair of water skis. The pair of skis are secured to the underside of the toboggan using a plurality of panels or supports so that the skis partially overlap and extend beyond the edges of the toboggan. Each of the pair of skis comprise a binding which is sized and configured to accommodate a foot of the user while sitting on the toboggan. The device provides enhanced balance, buoyancy, and floating capability, and also comprises a backrest for supporting the back of the user while enjoying the device on the water.

Diver propulsion devices and methods of propelling the devices and divers upon and beneath the sea are presented. A diver propulsion device is comprised of a wing buoyant in water, an electric motor propulsion system, a leash interconnecting the wing and diver, which leash may integrate control circuitry of the motor, photovoltaics atop the wing, and, batteries, each electrically connecting the motors, fins attaching the wing provide hydrofoil flight stabilization, and foot constraints attaching a deck of the wing. The wing is a hydrofoil, and the diver stands and lies upon the deck of the wing, and, during hydrofoil flight, the diver is substantially above the sea and the wing is seaborne. In hydrofoil flight, the device may be motor propelled, or, by the diver heaving and pitching the device, or, by both methods simultaneously. Undersea, the device tows the diver by motor power energized photovoltaically, and, or, by battery.

An apparatus for automatically adjusting tension on retention member to hold multiple objects together. Examples include using retention apparatus to obtain optimal fit and use of a human wearable item such as article of footwear. Sensors may be used to sense changes in movement of the article of footwear, of the person wearing it, or of a third object such as a vehicle carrying the person. A retention member may surround at least a portion of the objects, and an actuator may be included that automatically rotates a rotating member such as a gear or pulley that may be coupled to the retention member. The rotating member may be configured to automatically adjust tension on the retention member many times per second based on control signals from control logic responsive to the sensors.

A wing, buoyant in water has an upper wing surface comprising a deck upon which a rider stands, and, the wing is in water. A foot constraint proximate the wing leading edge and fixedly attaching the wing projects outwardly from the deck to release-ably receive the rider's forward foot. With the rider standing with both feet upon the deck, and the rider's forward foot ensconced within the foot constraint, and with the rider's aft foot proximate a trailing edge of the wing, the rider bodily heaves and pitches the wing to obtain a chordwise forward velocity thru the water. The forward foot constraint enables the rider to upheave the wing. A second foot constraint may attach the deck proximate the wing trailing edge. Another foot constraining system is comprised as a frictional device broadly applying the deck, and, may be used in addition to or in lieu of other constraints.

Manually propelled water skis support a person skiing on water. The water ski includes a base having a binding on an upper surface and stationary propulsion structures with uniform height on the bottom surface. The propulsion structures include a rearward facing and vertical propulsion surface and a forward facing and sloped surface such that drag is greater when the water ski is moved rearwardly. The propulsion surface may be arcuate, V-shape, U-shaped, or other shaped in a horizontal plane and may also be circularly concave in a vertical plane. Buoyancy structures may be secured to the upper surface of the base forward and rearward of the binding. Water ski poles including elliptically- or cylindrically-shaped floats at the bottom ends may be used to provide a synergistic increase in waterskiing speed. Straps on the base near the binding may be used to secure the water ski poles to the base in order to form an outrigger.

An apparatus for automatically adjusting tension on retention member to hold multiple objects together. Examples include using retention apparatus to obtain optimal fit and use of a human wearable item such as article of footwear. Sensors may be used to sense changes in movement of the article of footwear, of the person wearing it, or of a third object such as a vehicle carrying the person. A retention member may surround at least a portion of the objects, and an actuator may be included that automatically rotates a rotating member such as a gear or pulley that may be coupled to the retention member. The rotating member may be configured to automatically adjust tension on the retention member many times per second based on control signals from control logic responsive to the sensors.

Manually propelled water skis support a person skiing on water. The water ski includes a base having a binding on an upper surface and stationary propulsion structures with uniform height on the bottom surface. The propulsion structures include a rearward facing and vertical propulsion surface and a forward facing and sloped surface such that drag is greater when the water ski is moved rearwardly. The propulsion surface may be arcuate, V-shape, U-shaped, or other shaped in a horizontal plane and may also be circularly concave in a vertical plane. Buoyancy structures may be secured to the upper surface of the base forward and rearward of the binding. Water ski poles including elliptically- or cylindrically-shaped floats at the bottom ends may be used to provide a synergistic increase in waterskiing speed. Straps on the base near the binding may be used to secure the water ski poles to the base in order to form an outrigger.

An apparatus for automatically adjusting tension on retention member to hold multiple objects together. Examples include using retention apparatus to obtain optimal fit and use of a human wearable item such as article of footwear. Sensors may be used to sense changes in movement of the article of footwear, of the person wearing it, or of a third object such as a vehicle carrying the person. A retention member may surround at least a portion of the objects, and an actuator may be included that automatically rotates a rotating member such as a gear or pulley that may be coupled to the retention member. The rotating member may be configured to automatically adjust tension on the retention member many times per second based on control signals from control logic responsive to the sensors.

An apparatus for automatically adjusting tension on retention member to hold multiple objects together. Examples include using retention apparatus to obtain optimal fit and use of a human wearable item such as article of footwear. Sensors may be used to sense changes in movement of the article of footwear, of the person wearing it, or of a third object such as a vehicle carrying the person. A retention member may surround at least a portion of the objects, and an actuator may be included that automatically rotates a rotating member such as a gear or pulley that may be coupled to the retention member. The rotating member may be configured to automatically adjust tension on the retention member many times per second based on control signals from control logic responsive to the sensors.

Water walking skis and a method for boarding them, in which each ski has an elongated body with a bow end in the form of a monohull and a stern end in the form of a twin hull. The skis can be combined with a pair of poles for balance, and binding straps for binding the skis and poles together while boarding/reboarding. The deck of each ski typically has a recessed area for foot placement, and two parallel side extensions protrude downward from the deck. The side extensions, the deck, and an underside or bottom cover together form a tunnel within the ski, the tunnel having a screen-covered first opening for admitting water and a rear opening for expelling water. Traction gates are mounted within the tunnel and spaced apart therein for permitting water flow therethrough when the ski moves forward, while preventing water flow when moving in the reverse direction.