INFLATABLE CONVERTIBLE PADDLE BOARD

Abstract

A convertible inflatable stand-up paddle board includes a main body member defining a first aperture and optionally a second aperture, and one or more panels fixed to the main body member and covering a bottom end of the apertures. A foldable seat assembly is disposed in the first aperture, and a second seat assembly is disposed in the second aperture. The seat assemblies have a seat portion and a backrest portion. The backrest portion is movable between (i) a folded position wherein a surface of the backrest portion and an upper surface of the main body member define a standing surface for the stand-up paddle board, and (ii) an upright position wherein the backrest portion extends away from the seat portion. The stand-up paddle board is thereby convertible between a stand-up configuration and a sit-down configuration.

Claims

1-19. (canceled)

20. A convertible stand-up paddle board, comprising: a main body member defining an aperture, wherein the aperture is defined by an upper portion having a first transverse dimension and other portions having a second transverse dimension, at least a portion of the first transverse dimension being smaller than at least a portion of the second transverse dimension; a panel fixed to the main body member and covering a bottom end of the aperture; and a seat assembly disposed in the aperture, the seat assembly having a seat portion and a backrest portion, wherein the backrest portion is movable between a folded position and an upright position, and wherein at least a portion of the transverse dimension of the seat assembly corresponding to the upper portion is larger than the at least a portion of the first transverse dimension such that when the backrest portion is in the folded position the seat assembly is positively retained in the aperture by interference between the upper portion and the at least a portion of the transverse dimension of the seat assembly.

21. The convertible stand-up paddle board of claim 20, wherein when the backrest portion is in the folded position a surface of the backrest portion and an upper surface of the main body member define a standing surface for the stand-up paddle board.

22. The convertible stand-up paddle board of claim 20, further comprising at least two straps that attach the seat portion to the backrest portion.

23. The convertible stand-up paddle board of claim 20, further comprising a flexible panel that attaches a back end of the seat portion to the backrest portion.

24. The convertible stand-up paddle board of claim 20, wherein the seat assembly is inflatable.

25. The convertible stand-up paddle board of claim 24, wherein the main body member is inflatable and the main body member and the seat assembly are formed with a drop stitch construction.

26. The convertible stand-up paddle board of claim 20, wherein the main body member has a uniform thickness.

27. The convertible stand-up paddle board of claim 20, wherein the main body member has a non-uniform thickness.

28. The convertible stand-up paddle board of claim 20, wherein the main body member has one of a uniform thickness, a non-uniform thickness and a flat rocker.

29. The convertible stand-up paddle board of claim 20, wherein the aperture comprises a square aperture with one of rounded corners and non-rounded corners.

30. A convertible stand-up paddle board, comprising: a body member defining a recess, wherein the recess is defined by an upper portion having a first transverse dimension and other portions having a second transverse dimension, wherein at least a portion of the first transverse dimension being smaller than at least a portion of the second transverse dimension, wherein the recess is shaped to receive a seat assembly having a seat portion and a backrest portion, wherein the backrest portion is movable between a folded position and an upright position, and wherein at least a portion of the transverse dimension of the seat assembly corresponding to the upper portion is larger than the at least a portion of the first transverse dimension such that when the backrest portion is in the folded position the seat assembly is positively retained in the recess by interference between the upper portion and the at least a portion of the transverse dimension of the seat assembly.

31. The convertible stand-up paddle board of claim 30, wherein when the backrest portion is in the folded position a surface of the backrest portion and an upper surface of the body member define a standing surface for the stand-up paddle board.

32. The convertible stand-up paddle board of claim 30, further comprising at least two straps that attach the seat portion to the backrest portion.

33. The convertible stand-up paddle board of claim 30, further comprising a flexible panel that attaches a back end of the seat portion to the backrest portion.

34. The convertible stand-up paddle board of claim 30, wherein the seat assembly is inflatable.

35. The convertible stand-up paddle board of claim 34, wherein the body member is inflatable and the body member and the seat assembly are formed with a drop stitch construction.

36. The convertible stand-up paddle board of claim 30, wherein the body member has a uniform thickness.

37. The convertible stand-up paddle board of claim 30, wherein the body member has a non-uniform thickness.

38. The convertible stand-up paddle board of claim 30, wherein the body has one of a uniform thickness, a non-uniform thickness and a flat rocker.

39. The convertible stand-up paddle board of claim 30, wherein the recess comprises a square recess with one of rounded corners and non-rounded corners.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0025] FIG. 1A is an environmental view showing an inflatable convertible paddle board having a foldable seat assembly in accordance with the present invention, with a backrest portion of the foldable seat assembly in a folded position, wherein the convertible paddle board is configured for stand-up paddle boarding;

[0026] FIG. 1B is an environmental view showing the inflatable convertible paddle board shown in FIG. 1A with a backrest portion of the foldable seat is in an upright position, wherein the convertible paddle board is configured for sit-down paddle boarding;

[0027] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded view of the inflatable convertible paddle board shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B;

[0028] FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of another embodiment of an inflatable convertible paddle board in accordance with the present invention, wherein the paddle board has two foldable seat assemblies, each shown in the upright position; and

[0029] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the inflatable convertible paddle board shown in FIG. 3 with the convertible paddle board configured for stand-up paddle boarding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] FIGS. 1A and 1B are environmental views showing an inflatable convertible paddle board 100 in accordance with the present invention, shown floating in a body of water 94 and a user 90 shown in phantom.

[0031] FIG. 1A shows the convertible paddle board 100 in a stand-up configuration with the user 90 positioned to propel the paddle board 100 with a paddle or oar 92. The convertible paddle board 100 has an inflatable main body member 102 providing a standing platform 101. The main body member 102 has a tail end 104 and a nose end 106. Optionally, one or more handles 103 (one shown) may be provided to facilitate moving the convertible paddle board 100 to the body of water 94 and may assist the user 90 in boarding (and reboarding) the paddle board 100 during use. An inflation valve 105 provides a means for inflating and deflating the main body member 102. A lanyard connector 107, for example a through channel, a loop member, or the like, allows the user 90 to connect to the convertible paddle board 100, for example, with an ankle lanyard or the like (not shown). In a current embodiment the inflated main body member 102 has a generally uniform thickness along most or substantially all of its length, and the nose end 106 curves gently upward. In other embodiments the paddle board may have a non-uniform thickness and/or a relatively flat rocker.

[0032] The main body member 102 defines a recess 108, for example, an aperture through the main body member 102. The recess 108 in this embodiment is generally rectangular with rounded corners and is centered along a longitudinal centerline of the main body member 102. A foldable seat assembly 120 is disposed in the recess 108. In FIG. 1A the seat assembly 120 is shown in a down or folded position wherein an upper surface 121 of the seat assembly 120 may have a generally flat upper surface 121 that is substantially coplanar with the standing platform 101 portion of the main body member 102, such that the main body member 102 and the seat assembly 120 cooperatively provide a standing surface for the user 90 during use. It will be appreciated that with the foldable seat assembly 120 in the folded position the convertible paddle board 100 is operable as a conventional inflatable stand-up paddle board.

[0033] Referring now also to FIG. 1B wherein the convertible paddle board 100 is shown configured for use in a sitting configuration. It can be seen that the foldable seat assembly 120 includes a backrest portion 122 and a seat portion 124. In FIG. 1B the backrest portion 122 is rotated to an upright position and the seat portion 124 remains in the recess 108, such that the seat assembly 120 provides a recessed seat for the user. Refer also to FIG. 2, which shows a partially exploded view of the convertible paddle board 100 with the backrest portion 124 shown in the upright position.

[0034] A pair of oppositely disposed straps 126 (one visible in FIG. 1B) connect the backrest portion 122 to the seat portion 124 of the seat assembly 120. For example, the straps 126 may have one end fixed near a middle of a generally vertical edge 122A of the backrest portion 122, and an opposite end fixed near a middle of a generally horizontal edge 124A of the seat portion 124. Optionally, the backrest portion 122 and the seat portion 124 may also connect with a panel 128 affixed along corresponding rearward edges of the backrest portion 122 and the seat portion 124.

[0035] In a current embodiment the backrest portion 122 and the seat portion 124 are also made with a drop stitch construction and include one or more inflation valves 129 (one shown) for inflating the backrest 120.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 2, in the current embodiment a retainer panel 130 is fixed to a bottom surface of the main body member 102 underlying the recess 108, sealing a bottom end of the recess 108. In an alternative embodiment the retainer panel is an integral portion of a bottom of the main body member 102.

[0037] In a currently preferred embodiment, the foldable seat assembly 120 is configured to be removable from the main body member 102. For example, in an embodiment the main body member 102 and the foldable seat assembly 120 further comprise releasable connection means, for example hook and loops fasteners, straps, adhesive panels, or the like, to releasably attach the seat assembly 120 to the main body member 102. In another embodiment the recess 108 defines an upper lip portion that has a smaller transverse dimension than other portions of the recess 108, and smaller than a corresponding transverse dimension of the seat assembly 120, such that the seat assembly is positively retained in the recess 108 by interference. In other embodiments the seat assembly is permanently affixed to the main body member 102.

[0038] FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of a tandem embodiment of an inflatable convertible paddle board 200 in accordance with the present invention. The convertible paddle board 200 has a main body member 202 similar to the main body member 102 described above and defining two spaced-apart recesses 208, for example, apertures that open to the standing platform 201.

[0039] Two foldable seat assemblies 120, are shown in an upright position and sized and configured to slidably engage a corresponding one of the two recesses 208 in the main body member 202. The two foldable seat assemblies 120 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 are interchangeable. However, it is contemplated that in other embodiments one of the foldable seat assemblies may be smaller than the other, for example, to accommodate paddleboarders of different sizes. A pair of retaining panels 216 are fixed to a bottom side of the body portion 202 and configured to retain the foldable seat assemblies 120. In other embodiments a single larger retaining panel may be provided, or a retaining panel may be integral with the main body member 202.

[0040] While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.