Abstract:
An apparatus for sliding exercise and recreation, such as a sports board including stick-on sheeting having an adhesive outer layer adhered to a substrate such as the underside of a sport board, and an opposed layer consisting of a low-friction, durable material adapted for engaging in sliding contact with the low-friction surface of area sheeting superposed on a support structure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to apparatuses and methods for exercise and recreation providing sliding motion, and more specifically to sheeting having a low-friction, durable surface which provides a top surface for structures such as ramps, trampolines and gym mats, and which also is adhesively applied to sports equipment, such as snow boards and gym shoes, for contacting such top surfaces. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Virtually all board sport and ski enthusiasts face the problem of how to maximize practice, skill development and exercise during times of the year when use of such equipment is not feasible. For example, snow boarders find that after a full winter season their skills are enhanced, but after the spring, summer and fall months of inactivity, board skills must be redeveloped and tuned once winter conditions provide an appropriate backdrop for practicing the sport. 
     Not only do winter sport enthusiasts face the grim prospect of having to go long periods between board usage, others such as surfers face similar constraints. Obviously, a surfer can only effectively use a surf board when access to a beach is available. But there are times when the surfer must travel inland and away from major bodies of water, preventing board usage. 
     Even when development of board skills is not the focus of such recreational activity, a board sport enthusiast may wish access to sliding surfaces for sheer recreation. For example, it is contemplated that there is an unsatisfied need to develop both permanent and temporary recreational systems which include ramps, jumps, chutes and slides so that both children and adults can experience the thrill of traversing an inclined low-friction, durable surface. The present invention can meet this need by quickly and inexpensively modifying an existing season-specific facility to transform it into a year-round, all-weather recreational and skill-enhancing facility. One example is modifying waterslides such as are commonly found in amusement parks featuring water-type recreation. In a conventional waterslide, water is applied to the surface of an inclined chute, typically made of fiberglass and concavely arcuate and bounded by upturned edges, to create an aqueous, low-friction film on which a user slides. Because water is required, such a device is inappropriate for indoor use, and outdoor use during cold weather. Moreover, some amusement park visitors are deterred from going on waterslides because they choose not to get their clothes wet. 
     My U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,483 B1 (“&#39;483”), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, is directed to a sliding exercise and recreational apparatus including a sport board housed within a carrying case. The case bottom has a low-friction surface which facilitates sliding the apparatus over a contact area. The case top has a removable portion to enable a user to access the board while it is housed within the case so that the user can be supported on the board and navigate the contact area without removing the board from the case. 
     German published application DE 2654898 discloses a backing strip made of aluminum foil, synthetic fiber or paper. One side of the strip is coated with an adhesive and covered with a protective film. The other side is coated with a wax layer which provides a low-friction running surface for a ski when, after removing the film, the strip is adhesively applied to the underside of the ski. 
     It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a simple and effective yet low cost expedient which can be applied to sport boards, runners, shoes and the like, as well as to surfaces upon which their undersides are intended to slide, and which is usable under all climatic conditions. 
     Another object of the invention to provide a recreational device which would enable a user to slide along a downwardly inclined support surface without the need for the use of a sport board or a liquid interface to reduce friction. 
     Other objects of the invention will become evident when the following description is considered with the accompanying drawing figures. In the figures and description, numerals indicate the various features of the invention, like numerals referring to like features throughout both the drawings and description. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect the invention provides an a sliding exercise apparatus and recreational device including a sports hoard having a top for contacting a user and a bottom, for sliding along a support surface, to which is adhered an adhesive layer of stick-on sheeting. The stick-on sheeting includes a low-friction, durable layer for engaging in sliding contact the support surface. Applied to the support surface is low-friction, durable sheeting for contacting the stick-on sheeting. 
     In another aspect the invention provides a sliding exercise apparatus and recreational device including the combination of a sports board and a support surface. The board has a bottom to which is adhered an adhering layer of a stick-on sheeting. The stick-on sheeting has a low-friction, durable layer for engaging in sliding contact low-friction, durable sheeting supported by and in contact with the support with the support surface. 
     A more complete understanding of the present invention and other objects, aspects and advantages thereof will be gained from a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings provided herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a typical sport board, here a snow board, to whose underside is attached a piece of stick-on sheeting, so that the board can be used in practicing the present invention. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are perspective and cross-sectional views, respectively, of a typical sport board fabricated for practicing the invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a user traversing a hillside covered with area sheeting according to the invention. Pieces of stick-on sheeting are attached to the user&#39;s knee pads and shoe soles. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a rail wrapped with a length of stick-on sheeting, and a sport board in contact with the rail sheeting. 
         FIG. 5  shows a horizontal platform leading to a ramp and a plurality of generally horizontal, contiguous gym mats. The ramp and mats are covered with area sheeting according to the invention. 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a waterslide modified by applying area sheeting according to the invention. 
         FIG. 7  shows a user on a snow board, to whose underside is attached a piece of stick-on sheeting, bouncing on a trampoline covered with area sheeting superposed on the trampoline fabric. 
         FIG. 8  shows, a ski bicycle to whose runners are attached pieces of stick-on sheeting, traversing an undulating ramp covered with area sheeting. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     While the present invention is open to various modifications and alternative constructions, the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings will be described herein in detail. It is to be understood, however, there is no intention to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, it is intended that the invention cover all modifications, equivalences and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  shows a snow board  10  which has been modified for practicing the present invention. Board  10  has a top side  11  to which are attached supporting bindings  12 , and an underside  16  to which is attached a piece  13  of low-friction, durable stick-on sheeting. Sheeting piece  13  includes an adhesive layer  15  which can be provided with a removable backing (not shown) which is peeled from layer  15  prior to use. Preferably the adhesive is selected so that sheeting piece  13  is easily removable from underside  16 . Alternatively, the adhesive is such that piece  13  is permanently adhered to underside  16 . Sheeting piece  13  further includes a low-friction, durable layer  14  opposed to layer  15 . Preferably, layer  14  consists essentially of NYLON™, DACRON™, TEXLON™, sailcloth or a polyester resin. Sheeting piece  13  can be cut to size and shape to fit over the entire underside  16  of board  10 . Alternatively, several smaller pieces of sheeting can be selectively placed to create areas of relatively low- and high-friction enabling a skillful user to control the board&#39;s sliding characteristics while traversing the low-friction, durable surface of a support structure such as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8 . 
     Besides being able to adapt conventional sport boards to practice the present invention, dedicated boards are feasible.  FIGS. 2A and 2B  show a typical rectangular board  20  having a cushioned top side  21  and an underside  22  composed of a plurality of cushioning layers made of a material such as STYROFOAM™. To add structural rigidity, top side  21  and underside  22  sandwich a rigid core  25  made of a material such as plywood. Board  20  further includes a piece  23  of stick-on sheeting having an adhesive layer  24  attached to underside  22 , and an opposed low-friction, durable layer  26 . Preferably, piece  23  is permanently adhered to underside  22 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a support structure  36 , here a hillside, is covered with area sheeting  37  having a surface  35  composed of a low-friction, durable material. Surface  35  preferably consists essentially of NYLON™, DACRON™, TEXLON™,sailcloth or a polyester resin. The area sheeting  37  can be applied in sheets rolled out onto the support structure. In  FIG. 3 , the area sheeting  37  is simply applied to an existing sloping hillside converting the hillside into a low-friction sliding area. Area sheeting can be virtually any length and width, and various lengths can be laid end-to-end and side-to-side as shown in my &#39;483 patent. Moreover, area sheeting according to the invention can be laid over any support structure whatsoever including custom made ramps, frames and horizontal surfaces, both indoors and outdoors. As shown in the &#39;483 patent, frames, pillow-like cushions and other expedients can be placed beneath and in conjunction with area sheeting to create bumps, moguls, dips and protrusions increasing the degree of difficulty in traversing the area sheeting. 
       FIG. 3  further shows a user  30  traversing the area sheeting  37 . User  30  is shown wearing knee pads  33  each having a piece of stick-on sheeting  34  adhered thereto. User  30  also wears shoes with soles  31  each having a piece of stick-on sheeting adhered thereto. User  30  could also have one or more pieces of stick-on sheeting adhered to his clothing. Practicing traverses while in the standing position could enhance the ability to balance upon a low-friction surface, thus developing skills which can be applied directly to sports such as snow boarding and surfing. 
       FIG. 4  shows a handrail assembly  40  such as is commonly installed on a staircase. Assembly  40  includes vertical support members  41  and an inclined handrail  42  whose inclination generally parallels the inclination of the staircase. 
     It is not uncommon for skateboarders to jump upon a handrail and slide down the rail. A similar effect can be achieved by tightly wrapping handrail  42  with a length of low-friction, durable stick-on sheeting  43 . By wrapping either the top surface or the entire surface of handrail  42  with the sheeting  43 , handrail  42  can be made selectively into a sliding surface which both protects the handrail from abusive contact with a sliding board and can be converted back into a traditional handrail by removing the sheeting  43  therefrom. In use, board  44 , supporting a rider, can be caused to travel along the surface of sheeting  43 . To enhance sliding contact, the underside  46  of board  44  has adhered thereto a piece of stick-on sheeting  45  as on the  FIG. 1  board. 
       FIG. 5  depicts a simplistic but effective means of assembling a recreational device out of parts not intended for that purpose. A ramp  50  has a generally horizontal platform  52  and an inclined surface  53 . At the bottom of ramp  50  are placed a plurality of contiguous gym mats  51  each having a body portion  55 . Each mat and the inclined surface  53  are covered by low-friction, durable stick-on sheeting  56 ,  54 , respectively. A user stands on platform  52  and, either with or without a board, slides down sheeting  54  on inclined surface  53  and continues sliding along the sheeting  56  on mats  51 . 
     As in all the support structure embodiments disclosed herein, area sheeting such as sheetings  54  and  56  can be applied to an entire surface, or selectively applied to a surface in order to create certain safety characteristics and zones of interest. For example, the edges along inclined surface  53  and mat body portions  55  can be left without sheeting so that as a user progresses too close to an edge, relatively higher friction areas will slow the sliding motion and help prevent the user from falling off the sliding surface. In addition, segments on a sliding surface can be left without stick-on sheeting to provide areas of relatively high friction which enhance the sliding experience. For example, enhanced skill and dexterity can be promoted by encouraging a user to navigate over a surface while avoiding high friction areas in order to increase speed. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a waterslide  60  with upturned edges  61  which, conventionally, would be traversed by a user riding on a low-friction film created by a continuous stream of water, but which here is modified according to the present invention. Area sheeting  62  provides a low-friction surface obviating the need for water. It is envisioned that a seasonal waterslide park could be converted to an all-season wet and dry facility without necessitating major modifications to the existing equipment. 
     It is well known that trampolines are used by sport board enthusiasts to practice their jumping skills.  FIG. 7  shows an individual  75  on a snow board  76  jumping on a trampoline  70 . The trampoline includes a frame  73  mounted on legs  78 , and a fabric sheet  71  attached to the frame  73  by a cord  72 . 
     In using trampolines to practice jumping, the somewhat sharp edges of the sport boards are known to excessively abrade the trampoline fabric. To avoid this problem, users often put duct tape over the board edges. This remediation is unsightly and can adversely affect the sensation that a user would otherwise experience. 
     The present invention, by contrast, employs stick-on sheeting  77  on the underside  79  of board  76 , either with or without padding between the board and sheeting. Optionally, low-friction sheeting  74 , shown in a partial cutaway view in  FIG. 7 , can be placed on top of fabric  71 . This additional sheeting further acts to protect fabric  71  and changes the coefficient of friction of the trampoline, thereby changing the tactile experience of the user. 
       FIG. 8  depicts a bicycle  82  fitted with ski-like runners  83 ,  84  for traversing a snow-covered slope. Bicycle  82  is adapted for use on an undulating ramp  80  covered with low-friction area sheeting  81  by adhering pieces of low-friction, durable sheeting (not shown) to the undersides of runners  83 ,  84 . 
     It is contemplated that the present invention can be used on a multitude of support surfaces, from carpets to concrete, which are horizontal, inclined or declined and have smooth, rough or mogul-like contours. It is further contemplated that the invention can be employed on inflatable support structures, examples of which are shown and described in my &#39;483 patent. Applying strips of stick-on sheeting to inflatable support structures can be particularly advantageous because besides providing a low-friction, durable surface, such strips would serve to protect and, if necessary, repair support surfaces susceptible to tears and punctures. Numerous types of sport boards can be employed such as snow boards, surf boards, skis, skate boards, body boards, sail boards, wake boards, water skis, sleds and the runners of ski bicycles. It is further contemplated that when a support structure such as shown in  FIG. 3 ,  6  or  8  is used, the invention can be practiced in any climatic condition, e.g., on a hill on a rainy or snowy day, or on a wet, converted waterslide.