US20080020660A1

US20080020660A1 - Body surfing device

Info

Publication number: US20080020660A1
Application number: US11/458,429
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert Barney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-07-19
Filing date: 2006-07-19
Publication date: 2008-01-24

Abstract

A body surfing article, which is attachable to, and can be worn about, a person's upper torso, includes a chest plate and, extending from either side of the chest plate, is preferably a pair of fins. Flexible shoulder straps may be attached to an upper edge of the chest plate for securing the chest plate to the user's torso and flexible side portions may extend from sides of the chest plate for fastening with the flexible shoulder straps behind the user's back. The fins separation, or spacing between the fins, defines a planing surface, so that the user can move both forwards and laterally across the face of a wave.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

This invention relates to the area of body surfing equipment and in particular, to a body surfing device which assists a body surfer to traverse across the face of a wave at a better angle and speed than normally achieved with the body alone.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Conventionally, most body surfers will surf or ‘ride’ a wave using their body alone or a body board to help them traverse over the waves.
Recent times have seen a number of fin-like devices being developed to assist a swimmer by increasing thrust whilst they are swimming. These fin members can be attached to the arms or legs of the user and can be directed to give a greater thrust when a swimmer moves their arms or legs in specific motions whilst they are swimming.
The disadvantages with the previous devices is that they are generally complex and uncomfortable to wear, and more importantly, these devices are not useful for gripping the wave face as they move across it.

OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a body surfing device which assists a body surfer to traverse across the face of a wave at a more acute angle and speed than normally achieved with the body alone.
The invention provides a body surfing device having at least one fin and a least one fastening means for securing the device to a user's body.
It is preferred that the body surfing device be in the form of a chest plate, which can be secured over and/or around a user's torso.
It is preferred that the body surfing device have provided a pair of fins spaced apart by a prescribed distance to permit lateral movement across a wave.
It is further preferred that the body surfing device have a first face abutting the wearers body and a second opposing face on to which the fins are either or fixed or are integrally formed.
It is preferred that the fastening means includes at least one adjustable strap and at least one securing means which enables the device to be removably secured to the person's body.
It is further preferred that the securing means be a snap connector or the like.
In order that the invention may be more readily understood a specific embodiment thereof will be described by way of non limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 Shows the body surfing device of the invention;

FIG. 2 Shows the body surfing device as worn by a person;

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In this embodiment, the body surfing device 10 is in the form of a chest plate 20 to be worn on the upper half of a person's body. The vest can be made of a plastic sheeting such as 5 mm thick acrylic bethylene styrene however, any other suitable material could also be used. It is preferred however that the material be resistant to ultraviolet light and water. The thickness and size of the device can also vary so long as the functional requirements of the device are met.
The device 10 is adapted to be worn on the upper half of a person's body similar to a vest. The chest plate 20 is provided with shoulder straps 15 which in this embodiment of the invention attach to side portions 25 which fasten at the wearer's back after wrapping round the wearer's torso. It is envisaged that any fastening means can be used as long as it is strong enough and suitable to enable both side portions 25 to be readily connected behind a person's back.
The side portions 25 are attached to a flange 26 on the chest plate 20 by fusing, glueing, bolting or riveting to the flange. The flange in this embodiment of the invention is 20 mm in height and runs parallel to the wearer's body down the length of the chest plate. This flange 26 is integrally formed onto the underside of the chest plate and is of the same material.
The side portions can be manufactured of flexible plastic sheeting such as 2 mm thick polypropylene however other suitable materials could be used.
In a preferred embodiment the fastening means may include at least one adjustable strap which can be provided with a securing means for enabling both sides to be fastened to each other. It is preferred that the securing means be a snap connector or the like which provides a strong and easy means of securement.
Provided along the side edge of each back portion may be at least one aperture through which a first end of a strap can be fed and fixed thereto. The other end of the strap may be provided with a connecting portion of a securing means which is complementary to and adapted to be received by a receiving portion of the securing means located on the second end of an opposite strap. In this way, the back portions can wrap around a person's torso and be fastened together at the back. The adjustable straps ensures that the device is suitable for a person s of differing size and shape.
The shoulder straps also have provided a fastening means which enables the device to be secured over the shoulders to the outwardly side portions once they have been wrapped around the person's torso. It is envisaged that any fastening means can be used so long as it is strong enough to withstand the forces of the surf and suitable to enable both side portions to be readily connected behind a person's back. The fastening means may also be the same or different to that which is used to secure the back portions.
Provided on the front of the chest plate are two fins 30 although any number of fins may be provided. The fin extends outwardly and downwardly away from the person's torso. In this preferred embodiment the fins are spaced apart by a distance sufficient to define a planing surface 35 and channel the flow of water over it thus providing lateral and forward movement across the face of the wave for the surfer.
Whilst a single fin could also assist in traversing across a wave, it would tend to rotate the body, rather than keeping the user stable.
The fins may be fused or glued or otherwise attached to the chest plate or integrally moulded with it.
When in use the body surfing device is positioned securely over and around a person's torso. The device is designed such that the user is able to dress alone and wear it without feeling any restriction to their body extension as they are breathing.
The device assists the user in initially catching a wave remaining on the wave for a longer period than without the device. The chest plate provides a planing surface which, combined with the fins, enables the person to traverse the face of a wave at a more acute angle and greater speed than would otherwise be possible with the body alone.
Further embodiments of the invention may provide different shapes for the device and different shape and number of fins, fin shapes and hardnesses to suit a variety of surfing conditions. It is also envisaged that the materials used in the device may vary as does it fastening means. For example the chest plate could be part of a garment which was worn.
It is therefor envisaged that other embodiments of the invention can exhibit any number of and combination of the features previously described and it is to be understood that variations and modifications in this can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A body surfing article, comprising:

at least one fin; and,

means for securing said body surfing article to a user's body.

2. The body surfing article according to claim 1, further comprising a chest plate upon which said at least one fin is mounted.

3. The body surfing article according to claim 2, wherein said chest plate is located on a surface directed away from the user's body and said at least one fin is a pair of fins spaced apart from one another by a prescribed distance for defining a planing surface and permitting lateral movement across a wave.

4. The body surfing article according to claim 3, wherein said pair of fins extend outwardly and downwardly away from a torso of the user's body.

5. The body surfing article according to claim 2, further comprising:

flexible shoulder straps attached to an upper edge of said chest plate for securing said chest plate to a torso of the user's body; and,

flexible side portions extending from sides of said chest plate for fastening with said flexible shoulder straps behind the user's back.

6. The body surfacing article according to claim 2, further comprising a garment with said chest plate being integral with said garment.