Body board

Abstract

A body board or boogie board has an elongated flotation body with raised side features or a raised skirt that wraps around the front portion and portions of both sides of the elongated flotation body and protrudes upward to cradle or support a user in a recumbent position while riding waves. The body board or boogie board also has a grab-bar for manipulating the body board or boogie board while riding waves and can include one or more attachment features for securing one or more accessories to the body board or boogie board.

Claims

1. A body board comprising: a) an elongated flotation body with a front portion, a back portion, elongated sides, a top surface and a bottom surface; and b) raised side features attached along edge portions of the elongated sides and protruding upward relative to the top surface.

2. The body board of claim 1, wherein the elongated flotation body is contoured or curved to form a channel on the top surface between a right side and a left side of the elongated body portion.

3. The body board of claim 1, wherein the raised side features are wedge shaped and taper towards the back portion of the elongated flotation body.

4. The body board of claim 1, further comprising a grab-bar attached to the raised side features and near the front portion of the elongated flotation body, wherein the grab-bar is elevated a distance from the top surface of the elongated flotation body.

5. The body board of claim 1, further comprising one or more attachment features for securing one or more accessories to the body board.

6. The body board of claim 1, wherein the back portion of the elongated flotation body is curved and the front portion of the elongated flotation body is tampered.

7. The body board of claim 1, wherein the elongated flotation body and the raised side feature are made from one or more material selected from the group comprising foam, fiberglass, polymer resin, and plastic.

8. The body board of claim 1, wherein the elongated flotation body is five feet or less in length and three feet or less in width.

9. A body board comprising: a) an elongated flotation body with tapered or pointed front portion, a back portion, a top surface and a bottom surface; and b) a raised skirt that wraps around the tapered or pointed front portion and portions of both sides of elongated flotation body and that protrudes upward relative to the top surface.

10. The body board of claim 9, wherein the elongated flotation body is contoured or curved to form a channel on the top surface between a right side and a left side of the elongated body.

11. The body board of claim 9, wherein the raised sides of the raised skirt taper towards the back portion of the elongated flotation body.

12. The body board of claim 9, further comprising a grab-bar connected to side portions of the raised skirt.

13. The body board of claim 9, further comprising one or more attachment features for securing one or more accessories to the body board.

14. The body board of claim 9, wherein the back portion of the elongated flotation body is curved.

15. The body board of claim 9, wherein portions of the body board are made from one or more material selected form the group comprising of foam, fiberglass, polymer and plastic.

16. The body board of claim 9, wherein body board is five feet or less in length and three feet or less in width.

17. A body board comprising: a) an elongated flotation body with tapered or pointed front portion, a back portion, a top surface and a bottom surface; b) a raised skirt that wraps around the tapered or pointed front portion and portions of both sides of elongated flotation body and protrudes upward relative to the top surface, wherein the raised skirt tapers towards the back portion of the elongated flotation body; and c) a grab-bar connected to side portions of the raised skirt near the tapered or pointed front portion of the elongated flotation body, wherein the grab-bar is elevated a distance from the top surface of the elongated flotation body.

18. The body board of claim 17, further comprising attachment features for securing one or more accessories to the elongated flotation body.

19. The body board of claim 9, wherein portions of the body board is made from one or more material selected from the group consisting of foam, fiberglass and plastic and wherein the body board is five feet or less in length and three feet or less in width.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] FIG. 1 illustrate a view of a body board 100 with an elongated flotation body 101 with a front portion 107, a back portion 105, elongated edges or sides 112/112′, a top surface 116 and a bottom surface 114. The elongated flotation body 101 can have any number of shapes. In accordance with an embodiment back portion 105 of the elongated flotation body 101 is curved as shown.

[0014] The body board 101 is preferably five feet or less in length 102 and three feet or less in width 108 and is formed form any number suitable materials or combination of materials. For example, the body board 100 can be formed with a foam core that is covered with a fiberglass resin, polymer or plastic. Alternatively, the body board 100 can made of foam and can include a fabric cover or can be made of a molded plastic.

[0015] The body board 100 also has raised side features 103 and 103′ attached along portions of the elongated edges or sides 112/112′ and that protrude upward relative to the top surface 116. The elongated flotation body 101 is contoured or curved, as indicated by the arrow 104 to form a channel on the top surface 116 between the raised side features 103 and 103′.

[0016] Preferably the raised side features 103 and 103 are wedge shaped and protrude upward relative to the top surface 116 a greater distance near the front portion 107 of the elongated flotation body 101 and protrude upward relative to the top surface 116 a lesser distance near the back portion 105 of the elongated flotation body 101, as shown.

[0017] The body board also has a grab-bar 109 attached to the raised side features 103 and 103′ near the front portion 107 of the elongated flotation body 101. The grab-bar 109 is elevated a distance 106 from the top surface 116 of the elongated flotation body 101 so that a user can hold the grab-bar 109 and manipulate the body board 100 while riding waves. The grab-bar 109 is preferably formed from a plastic, such PVC pipe, composite materials, fiberglass, carbon fiber, aluminum or any combination thereof. The grab-bar 109 can include gripping pads and/or a fabric sleeve with or without gripping features and/or padding.

[0018] FIGS. 2A-F illustrate views of a body board 200 with an elongated flotation body 201 having a tapered or pointed front portion 207, a contoured back portion 205, a top surface 210 formed from a right side 211 and a left side 211′ and a bottom surface 213. The elongated flotation body 201 is preferably contoured or curved to form a channel 204 on the top surface 210 between the right side 211 and the left side 211′ of the elongated flotation body 201. The body board 200 also preferably includes a raised skirt 216 that wraps around the tampered or pointed front portion 207 and portions of both sides of elongated flotation body 201 and that protrudes upward relative to the top surface 210. The raised skirt 216 preferably has a depression 208 near the front portion 207 of the elongated flotation body 201. Raised side features 203 and 203′ of the raised skirt 216 preferably taper to protrude upward relative to the top surface 210 to a lesser distance toward the back portion 205 of the elongated flotation body 201.

[0019] The body board 200 is preferably five feet or less in length 202 and three feet or less in width 218 and formed form any number suitable materials or combination of materials. For example, the body board 200 can be made of a foam core that is covered with a fiberglass resin, polymer or plastic. Alternatively, the body board 200 can made of foam and can include a fabric cover or can be made of a molded plastic.

[0020] The body board 200 also has grab-bar 209 attached to the raised side features 203 and 203′ of the raised skirt 216 near the front portion 207 of the elongated flotation body 201. The grab-bar 209 is elevated a distance 206 from the top surface 210 of the elongated flotation body 201 so that a user can hold the grab-bar 209 and manipulate the body board while riding waves. The grab-bar 209 is preferably formed from a plastic, such a PVC pipe, composite materials, fiberglass, carbon fiber, aluminum or any combination thereof. The grab-bar 209 can include gripping pads and/or a fabric sleeve with or without gripping features and/or padding.

[0021] It will be clear to one skilled in the art that the elongated flotation body 101, raised side features 103 and 103′ and grab-bar 109 described with reference to FIG. 1 and the elongated flotation body 201, the raised skirt 216 and the grab-bar 209, described with reference to FIGS. 2A-F can be made from different materials, formed as a single unit (monolithic) or formed in parts that are assembled.

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a body board 300 similar in structure and materials to the body board 200 described above with reference to FIGS. 2A-F. The body board 300 has an elongated flotation body 301 with tapered or pointed front portion 307, a contoured back portion 305, a top surface 310 formed from a right side 311 and a left side 311′ and a bottom surface 323. The elongated flotation body 301 is preferably contoured or curved to form a channel on the top surface 310 between a right side 311 and a left side 311′ of the elongated flotation body 301. The body board 300 has a raised skirt 306 that wraps around the tampered or pointed front portion 307 and portions of both sides of elongated flotation body 301. The raise skirt 306 has a depression 308 near the front portion 307 and protruding sides 303 and 303′ that taper toward the back portion 305 of the elongated flotation body 301.

[0023] The body board 300 has dimensions that are within the parameters described above with reference to the body board 200 (FIGS. 2A-F). The body board 300 as has a grab-bar 309 attached to the raised side features 303 and 303′ near the front portion 307 of the body board 300.

[0024] The elongated flotation body 301, the raised skirt 306 and the grab-bar 309 are formed from any suitable material or combinations of materials including, but not limited to, foam, fiberglass, plastic, composite materials, carbon fiber and any combination thereof.

[0025] The body board 300 has one or more attachment features 313 and 313′ for securing one or more accessories to the body board 300. For example, the body board 300 can include one or more apertures on the elongated flotation body 310, the raised side features 303/303′ or the raised skirt 306 and/or can include hooks, clips, and the like. Accessories include mesh pockets, board leashes or any other gear suitable for using body board 300 in an aquatic environment

[0026] The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding of the principles of construction and operation of the invention. For example, the body board can have any number of suitable shapes or configurations. As such, references herein to specific embodiments and details thereof are not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications can be made in the embodiments chosen for illustration without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.