Kiteboard

Abstract

A kiteboard includes a base, a front extension and/or a back extension. The base includes a top face and a bottom face and an outer edge face. The outer edge face is extending in a circumferential direction along an outer contour of the top face and the bottom face and includes a first mechanical interface. The front extension and/or the back extension include a top face and a bottom face and an inner edge face. The inner edge face extends between the top face and the bottom face along an inner contour and corresponds at least partially to the outer contour of the base. The inner edge face further includes a second mechanical interface, such that in an assembled position the first and the second mechanical inter-face are engaged with each other to position the front extension and/or the back extension with respect to the base.

Claims

1. A kiteboard (1) comprising: a. a base (2) comprising i. a top face (5) and a bottom face (6) wherein the top surface is configured to receive a rider standing while riding the kiteboard, and wherein the bottom face is oriented in a direction of water while riding the kiteboard and ii. an outer edge face (7) extending in a circumferential direction along an outer contour (8) of the top face (5) and the bottom face (6) and comprising a first mechanical interface (9), wherein the outer edge face (7) of the base (2) is a riding edge such that the base is a fully functioning kiteboard in itself; b. a front extension (3) and/or a back extension (4) comprising a top face (10) and a bottom face (11) and an inner edge face (12) extending between the top face (10) and the bottom face (11) along an inner contour (30), wherein c. the inner edge face (12) corresponds at least partially to the outer contour (8) of the base (2) and comprises a second mechanical interface (13), wherein d. in an assembled position the first and the second mechanical interface (9, 13) are engaged with each other to position the front extension (3) and/or the back extension (4) with respect to the base (2).

2. The kiteboard (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second mechanical interface (9, 13) comprise a notch (14) and a thereto corresponding tongue (15).

3. The kiteboard (1) according to claim 2, wherein the notch (14) is arranged in the outer edge face (7) and the tongue (15) is arranged in the inner edge face (12).

4. The kiteboard (1) according to claim 1, wherein the front extension (3) and the back extension (4) are U-shaped.

5. The kiteboard (1) according to claim 1, wherein the front extension (3) and the back extension (4) in the assembled position extend around the base (2) and meet at a widest area of the base (2).

6. The kiteboard (1) according to claim 1, wherein the bottom face (11) of the front extension (3) and/or the back extension (4) in the assembled position continuously merges into the bottom face (6) of the base (2).

7. The kiteboard (1) according claim 1, wherein at least one first locking element (16) in the assembled position locks the front extension (3) and/or the back extension (4) with respect to the base (2).

8. The kiteboard (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one first locking element (16) in the assembled position locks the front extension (3) with respect to the back extension (4).

9. The kiteboard (1) according to claim 8, wherein the at least one first locking element (16) is located on the top face (10) of the base (2) and/or top face (10) of the front extension (3) and/or the back extension (4).

10. The kiteboard (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one fin (18) is releasably attached to the base (2) and/or the front extension (3) and/or the back extension (4).

11. The kiteboard (1) according to claim 1, wherein the base (2) comprise a second insert (19) to which a foil (20) is releasably attached.

12. The kiteboard (1) according to claim 1, wherein the front extension (3) and/or the back extension (4) comprises a floating member.

13. The kiteboard (1) according to claim 1, wherein the base (2) is dividable in at least two parts.

14. A kit comprising a base (2) and at least two front extensions (2) and/or at least two back extensions (3) according to claim 1.

15. The kiteboard (1) according to claim 1, wherein the front extension and/or the back extension is a first front extension and/or a first back extension, and further comprising: a second front extension and/or a second back extension, wherein the second front extension and/or the second back extension is interchangeable with the first front extension and/or first back extension, and wherein the second front extension and/or the second back extension is different from the first front extension and/or the first back extension.

16. The kiteboard (1) according to claim 15, wherein the second front extension and/or the second back extension is adapted for a water or weather condition that is different than for the first front extension and/or a first back extension.

17. The kiteboard (1) according to claim 1, wherein the front extension and/or the back extension further includes a second riding edge along an extension outer contour of the front extension and/or the back extension, wherein the base kiteboard and the riding edge are adapted for a first water condition, and the front extension and/or the back extension and the second riding edge is adapted for a second water condition which is different than the first water condition.

18. The kiteboard (1) according to claim 17, wherein each of the riding edge and the second riding edge is structured to interact with the water during the riding of the kiteboard.

19. A kiteboard comprising: a. a base kiteboard that is a fully functioning kiteboard in itself, the base kiteboard comprising: i. a top face configured to receive a rider, ii. a bottom face oriented in a direction of water while the rider is riding the kiteboard, and iii. a first riding edge, the first riding edge comprising an outer edge face extending in a circumferential direction along an outer contour of the top face and the bottom face and comprising a first mechanical interface, b. a first front extension and/or a first back extension comprising a top face and a bottom face, a second riding edge along a first extension outer contour of the first front extension and/or the first back extension, and an inner edge face extending between the top face and the bottom face along an inner contour, wherein c. the inner edge face corresponds at least partially to the outer contour of the base kiteboard and comprises a second mechanical interface, wherein d. in an assembled position the first and the second mechanical interface are engaged with each other to position the first front extension and/or the first back extension with respect to the base kiteboard, e. wherein the base kiteboard can be interconnected with the first front extension and/or the first back extension for a first different water condition.

20. The kiteboard of claim 19, further comprising: a second front extension and/or a second back extension comprising a top face and a bottom face, a third riding edge along a second extension outer contour of the first front extension and/or the first back extension and an inner edge face extending between the top face and the bottom face along a second extension inner contour, wherein the base kiteboard can be interconnected with the second front extension and/or the second back extension for a second different water condition which is different than the first different water condition.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The herein described invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which should not be considered limiting to the invention described in the appended claims. The drawings are showing:

(2) FIG. 1 a first variation of the kiteboard according to the invention in the assembled position in a perspective view;

(3) FIG. 2 a detail of the kiteboard according to FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 a first variation of a kiteboard kit in a partly disassembled position in a perspective view;

(5) FIG. 4 a detail of the kiteboard kit according to FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 a second variation of the kiteboard according to the invention having an additional fin in a perspective view from below;

(7) FIG. 6 a third variation of the kiteboard according to the invention having an additional foil in a perspective view from above;

(8) FIG. 7 the kiteboard according to FIG. 6 in a perspective view from below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all features are shown. Indeed, embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in many different forms and should not be understood as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Whenever possible, like reference numbers will be used to refer to like components or parts.

(10) FIG. 1 shows a first variation of the kiteboard 1 according to the invention in a perspective view and in the assembled position from above. The shown kiteboard 1 comprises a base 2, a front extension 3 and a back extension 4 such that the front extension 3 and the back extension extend around the base 2 and meet each other at a widest area (in the lateral direction y) of the base 2. It can further be seen that in the shown variation the base 2 may be divided in a first part 2a and a second part 2b. In the perspective view of FIG. 1, a top face 5 of the base 2, respectively a top face 10 of the front and the back extension 3, 4 are facing upwards (positive z-direction) and can be thus seen in said view. In the assembled position an outer side face 7 extending in a circumferential direction along an outer contour 8 of the top face 5 and the bottom face 8, cannot be seen directly however, an edge of the top face 5 of the base 2 being flush mounted to an edge of the top face 10 of the front and back extension 3, 5 can be detected. Furthermore, it can be seen that the bottom face 11 of the front extension 3 and/or the back extension 4 in the assembled position advantageously merge continuously into the bottom face 6 of the base 2, such that fluidic drag can be reduced, when in use.

(11) On the top faces 5, 10 first and second locking elements 16, 24 can be seen, which are illustrated in more detail in FIG. 2. The first locking element 16 locks the front extension 3 and/or the back extension 4 with respect to the base 2 in an assembled position. Preferably, the at least one first locking element 16 also locks the front extension 3 with respect to the back extension 4 in the assembled position. Meanwhile, the first and the second part 2a, 2b of the base 2 may be interconnected separately by at least one second locking element 24, placed on the top face 5 of the base 2. The first locking element 16 hereby comprises preferably a tension element 21, at least two deflecting members 22 and one cord 23. Hereby, the cord 23 is first wound around the at least two deflecting members 22 in a pre-assembled position (with the base and front and/or back extension interconnected at least through the first and second mechanical interfaces) and then the tension element 21 tightens the cord 23 around said deflecting members 22. In the shown application, the deflecting member 22 deflects the cord 23 by a deflecting angel of alpha=90 deg between the incoming cord 23i and the outgoing part of the cord 23o at the deflecting member 22 (compare FIG. 2, deflection member 22d). However, depending on the amount of deflecting members 22 used, the deflection angle may vary. To avoid that the cord 23 may slip from the deflecting members 22, the deflecting members 22 may comprise a guiding indentation 25, in which the cord 23 is guided and secured over the length of the deflection. (In the assembled position the cord 23 is taut and thus straight between each deflecting member 22.)

(12) In FIG. 3 a kit 28 is illustrated comprising a base 2 and at least two front extensions 3a, 3b and/or at least two back extensions 4a, 4b (3b not shown here). In the shown example, combining the base 2 with the back extension 4a and the respective front extension 3a generates a wider and also a longer kiteboard 1a than a kiteboard 1b using the base, the front and back extension 3b, 4b. However, also other front and back extensions shapes may be used in a kit 28. The illustrated kiteboard kit 28 can be seen in a partly disassembled position which offers a view on the outer and inner edge faces 7, 12. An outer edge face 7 of the base 2 can be seen that is extending in a circumferential direction along an outer contour 8 of the top face 5 and a bottom face 6. Said outer edge face 7 is comprising a first mechanical interface 9 for the interconnection of the front and/or the back extension via a second mechanical interface 13 of the front and/or the back extension. Hereby an inner edge face 12 of the front and/or the back extension extends between the top face 10 and the bottom face 11, corresponds at least partially to the outer contour 8 of the base 2 and comprises said second mechanical interface 13. In the assembled position the first and the second mechanical interfaces 9, 13 are engaged with each other to position the front extension 3 and/or the back extension 4 with respect to the base 2. In the illustrated case, the first and the second mechanical interface 9, 13 comprise a notch 14 and a thereto corresponding tongue 15 with the notch 14 being arranged in the outer edge face 7 and the tongue 15 being arranged in the inner edge face 12. However, other mechanical interconnection means such as e.g. pins party insertable in respective holes may be used.

(13) In FIG. 5 a second variation of the kiteboard 1 according to the invention can be seen from a perspective view from below on the bottom faces 6, 11. In this variation the kiteboard 1 further comprises at least one first insert 17 to which at least one additional fin 18 may be attached. In the shown application two (not used) first inserts 17a, 17b are located in the base 2. Furthermore, in total four fins 18a, 18b are illustrated attached to the base 2 and the back extension 4 via further first inserts 17, which are concealed by the presence of the fins 18a, 18b. However, a user may change the position of the fins 18a and 18b due to personal preferences or according to the local weather and water conditions using other insert positions such as e.g. the positions of the first inserts 17a, 17b. The amount and the position of the first inserts 17 may vary depending on the individual application.

(14) In the variation of the kiteboard 1 according to FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, the base 2 as well as the overall kiteboard 1 have a shape of a so-called twin-tip board with the front and back extensions 3, 4 being essentially U-shaped. However, other shapes of base 2, the front and back extensions 3, 4 are also possible. The fins 18a 18b as illustrated in FIG. 5 are therefore also applicable to a kiteboard 1 in the shape of e.g. a raceboard.

(15) FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate a third variation of the kiteboard 1 according to the invention. FIG. 6 shows the perspective view on the top face 5, 10 and FIG. 7 on the respective bottom face 6, 11. The third variation of the kiteboard 1 is an example of the front extension 3 and the back extension 4 being different from each other such that an overall new shape of the kiteboard 1 is generated in view of the base 2. In this case, the base 2 has the shape of a “twin-tip” board, meanwhile the kiteboard 1 in the assembled position has the shape of a race board, which has a greater extension in longitudinal direction and may additionally feature a triangular cutout 29 at the end of the back extension. Additionally, the kiteboard 1 may be supplemented with a foil 20. In this variation the kiteboard 1 therefore comprises at least one second insert 19 over which at least the additional foil 20 may be attached. Due to the higher forces acting on the foil 20, the at least one second insert 19 may be larger in dimension than the first insert 17. Additionally of alternatively, the base 2 may comprise a feed-through to insert part of the foil 20 and fixate the foil 20 on the top face 5 (not shown here).

(16) The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.