On-site-inflatable water skis with at least one cooperating on-site-inflatable paddle

On-site-inflatable water skis with at least one cooperating on-site-inflatable paddle for use by a user in water. The combination includes water skis and at least one paddle. The water skis are on-site inflatable to facilitate transport and reduce required storage space and are worn by the user. The at least one paddle is on-site inflatable to facilitate transport and reduce required storage space and is used by the user to paddle the water and propel the user wearing the water skis through the water.

1. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

The embodiments of the present invention relate to water skis, and more particularly, the embodiments of the present invention relate to on-site-inflatable water skis with at least one cooperating on-site-inflatable paddle.

B. Description of the Prior Art

Water skiing is a popular sport. Still, water skiing is associated with fast speeds and for that reason is not appealing to many individuals. Also, water skiing requires that the skier have sufficient strength to get up from a sitting position and be able to hold on to a rope and thereby be pulled behind a boat over the water surface. In addition, water skiing requires a boat having sufficient power to pull the skier over the water. Thus, in addition to requiring sophisticated equipment, the sport requires a particular type of athlete.

Since today's water skiers are propelled by boats and helicopters, the skiers have no independence. Moreover, the ability to walk on water has intrigued man for millennia.

Numerous innovations for water skis and related water devices have been provided in the prior art, which will be described below chronologically to show advancement in the art, and which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, they each differ in structure and/or operation and/or purpose from the embodiments of the present invention in that they do not teach on-site-inflatable water skis with at least one cooperating on-site-inflatable paddle, but rather teach devices that are bulky, not portable, and require special apparatus to transport them, i.e., they cannot be deflated and carried by the user and then inflated by the user on-site.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,835,494 issued to Dougherty on Sep. 17, 1974 in class 9 and subclass 310 D teaches a water walking apparatus, including a pair of elongated pontoons by which a user is able to propel himself through the water with a walking motion. The pontoons have longitudinally extending tunnels with flippers therein and have ballast tanks with buoyancy adjusting valves. The pontoons are formed with pitch dampeners thereon for improved stability and may also be provided with inertia reducers and propelling fins or flippers to increase the speed and distance traveled with the expenditure of a given amount of energy.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,157,597 issued to Trebnick on Jun. 12, 1979 in class 9 and subclass 310 D teaches operator propelled water skis, including a pair of elongated float-type ski members with suitable operator foot supports therein mounted in a thwart-type frame having outrigger floats attached thereto. A pair of ski pole floats are similarly positioned on the frame and are slidable relative thereto through movement of ski poles coupled to the floats to increase stability of the water skis to the operator and provide a way for propelling the skis. The ski members and ski pole floats have surfaces thereon increasing the resistance of movement of the floats and ski members in one direction of the skis and reduce resistance in the opposite direction of movement to aid in movement of the skis.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,728 issued to Simpson on Aug. 19, 1986 in class 441 and subclass 66 teaches a water ski aid for supporting a water skier, including an inflatable seat member. A pair of inflatable arms are used to secure the skier to the inflatable seat member. The free ends of the arms overlap the body of the skier when in a secure position in the seat member. The arms separate when the skier gains sufficient speed to overcome the drag of the inflatable seat member.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,600 issued to Nordby on Oct. 10, 2000 in class 440 and subclass 101 teaches a paddle floatation apparatus, including a unitary-inflatable sleeve fitting over a kayak or other shallow draft water craft paddle blade. When installed on a paddle blade, the entire paddle may be configured as an outrigger to assist the user in righting the kayak and reentering the cockpit from the water. The shape of the float when inflated is substantially triangular when viewed on end and includes numerous stabilizing surfaces engaging the water to resist unintentional movement in every direction.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 2003/0203686 published to Rothschild on Oct. 30, 2003 in class 441 and subclass 77 teaches skis allowing a human subject to walk by sliding of the legs back and forth in a motion similar to cross-country snow skis. In an embodiment, included are two skis having a foot-support for the subject to secure a foot on the upper surface of each ski, flaps secured to the bottom of each ski allowing the skis to frictionally interact with the water, so that when the subject pushes back on one of the skis, the subject is propelled forward across the water, and a frame connecting the two skis to each other allowing the skis to slide back and forth with respect to one another in a first direction being parallel to the length of the skis and also maintains the skis at a constant distance apart from each other in a second direction and at the same depth in the water in a third direction.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,855,024 issued to Rothschild on Feb. 15, 2005 in class 441 and subclass 77 teaches skis allowing a human subject to walk by sliding of the legs back and forth in a motion similar to cross-country snow skis. In an embodiment, included are two skis having a foot-support for the subject to secure a foot on the upper surface of each ski, flaps secured to the bottom of each ski allowing the skis to frictionally interact with the water, so that when the subject pushes back on one of the skis, the subject is propelled forward across the water, and a frame connecting the two skis to each other allowing the skis to slide back and forth with respect to one another in a first direction being parallel to the length of the skis and also maintains the skis at a constant distance apart from each other in a second direction and at the same depth in the water in a third direction.

It is apparent that numerous innovations for water skis and related water devices have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the embodiments of the present invention as heretofore described, namely, on-site-inflatable water skis with at least one cooperating on-site-inflatable paddle.

Thus, there exists a need for skis and at least one cooperating paddle that are not bulky, portable, and do not require special apparatus to transport them, i.e., they can be deflated and carried by the user and then inflated by the user on-site.

2. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, an object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide on-site-inflatable water skis with at least one cooperating on-site-inflatable paddle that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

Briefly stated, another object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide on-site-inflatable water skis with at least one cooperating on-site-inflatable paddle for use by a user in water. The combination includes water skis and at least one paddle. The water skis are on-site inflatable to facilitate transport and reduce required storage space and are worn by the user. The at least one paddle is on-site inflatable to facilitate transport and reduce required storage space and is used by the user to paddle the water and propel the user wearing the water skis through the water.

The novel features considered characteristic of the embodiments of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The embodiments of the present invention themselves, however, both as to their construction and their method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing.

3. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1is a diagrammatic perspective view of the on-site-inflatable water skis with at least one cooperating on-site-inflatable paddle of the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of an on-site-inflatable water ski of the on-site-inflatable water skis with at least one cooperating on-site-inflatable paddle of the embodiments of the present invention identified by ARROW2inFIG. 1;

FIG. 2Ais an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the on-site-inflatable water ski of the on-site-inflatable water skis with at least one cooperating on-site-inflatable paddle of the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the at least one on-site-inflatable paddle of the on-site-inflatable water skis with at least one cooperating on-site-inflatable paddle of the embodiments of the present invention identified by ARROW3inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3Ais an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW3A inFIG. 3of the telescopic version of the handle of the at least one paddle of the on-site-inflatable water skis with at least one cooperating on-site-inflatable paddle of the embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 3Bis an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW3B inFIG. 3of the collapsible version of the handle of the at least one paddle of the on-site-inflatable water skis with at least one cooperating on-site-inflatable paddle of the embodiments of the present invention.

4. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING

10on-site-inflatable water skis with at least one cooperating on-site-inflatable paddle of embodiments of present invention for use by user11in water having surface11user12water skis14at least one paddle

16body of each ski of water skis1218valve of body16of each ski of water skis1220keel of body16of each ski of water skis1222outer side of body16of each ski of water skis1224inner side of body16of each ski of water skis1226top of body16of each ski of water skis1228bottom of body16of each ski of water skis1229longitudinal center line of body16of each ski of water skis1230bow of body16of each ski of water skis1232stern of body16of each ski of water skis1234boot of body16of each ski of water skis12for allowing user11to insert lower leg therein to control lateral rocking of body16of each ski of water skis12by user11and keeping body16of each ski of water skis12in upright position36upper portion of boot34in/on body16of each ski of water skis12for encasing ankle and calf of lower leg of user1138shoe portion of boot34in/on body16of each ski of water skis12for encasing foot of lower leg of user1140water line of body16of each ski of water skis1242pitch dampeners of body16of each ski of water skis1244front deck of pitch dampeners42of body16of each ski of water skis1246rear deck of pitch dampeners42of body16of each ski of water skis1248bottoms of front deck44of pitch dampeners42of body16of each ski of water skis12and rear deck46of pitch dampeners42of body16of each ski of water skis1249first cord for resisting natural tendency for water skis12to drift apart during use50second cord for resisting natural tendency for water skis12to drift apart during use52third cord for resisting natural tendency for water skis12to drift apart during use and for serving as stirrups aiding user11in mounting and dismounting

C. At Least One Paddle14

54handle of each paddle of at least one paddle14for engaging by hands of user1156head of each paddle of at least one paddle14for engaging water to propel user11paddling through water58valve of head56of each paddle of at least one paddle1460rear surface of head56of each paddle of at least one paddle14for facilitating rearward pushing of water when each paddle of at least one paddle14is paddled through water by user1162front surface of head56of each paddle of at least one paddle14

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly toFIG. 1, which is a diagrammatic perspective view of the on-site-inflatable water skis with at least one cooperating on-site-inflatable paddle of the embodiments of the present invention, the on-site-inflatable water skis with at least one cooperating on-site-inflatable paddle of the embodiments of the present invention is shown generally at10for use by a user11in water having a surface.

The on-site-inflatable water skis with at least one cooperating on-site-inflatable paddle10comprises water skis12and at least one paddle14. The water skis12are on-site inflatable to facilitate transport and reduce required storage space and are for wearing by the user11. The at least one paddle14is one or two paddles and is on-site inflatable to facilitate transport and reduce required storage space and is for use by the user11to engage the water and propel the user11wearing the water skis10through the water.

Both the water skis12and the at least one paddle14are inflatable by helium, which is much lighter than, and is more buoyant than, air.

B. The Water Skis12

Since the water skis12are mirror images of each other, only on water ski12will be discussed.

The configuration of a water ski12can best be seen inFIG. 2, which is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of an on-site-inflatable water skis of the on-site-inflatable water skis with a cooperating on-site-inflatable paddle of the embodiments of the present invention identified by ARROW2inFIG. 1, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

The water ski12is elongated, and has a generally rectangular cross section, a height, and a width less than the height so as to allow the water skis12to be positioned in a close juxtaposed relationship to each other so as not to require a user11to assume an exaggerated straddle-legged position and so as to resist lateral drifting.

The water ski12comprises a body16. The body16is hollow, and made of an inflatable material and has a valve18so as to allow the water ski12to be on-site inflatable.

The body16further has a keel20, an outer side22, an inner side24, a top26, a bottom28, and a longitudinal center line29. The keel20of the body16is optional, reinforces the body16, and is made of a friction-reducing material for facilitating movement through the water. SeeFIG. 2Afor a body16without a keel20.

The outer side22of the body16and the inner side24of the body16are longitudinally extending arcuate so as to form arcuate shapes that are streamline and have midship portions24that are laterally bulging and tapering fore and aft into a bow30that is substantially pointed and a stern32that is substantially pointed, respectively.

It should be understood however, that the arcuate shapes of the outer side22of the body16and the inner side24of the body16need not be symmetrical. For example, the inner side24of the body16may be formed with less of a curve than the outer side22of the body16so as to allow the water skis12to be positioned closer together for allowing the user11to stand in a more natural position.

The body16further has a boot34for allowing the user11to insert the lower leg therein to control lateral rocking of the body16by the user11and keep the body16in an upright position. The boot34of the body16is located substantially centrally intermediate the bow30of the body16and the stern32of the body16and is located at different elevations relative to the body16depending upon skill of the user.

The boot34in the body16is laterally offset adjacent to the inner side24of the body16for eliminating the user11from having to assume an exaggerated straddle-legged position.

The boot34in the body16has an upper portion36that is substantially cylindrical, and a shoe portion38. The upper portion36of the boot34is for encasing the ankle and the calf of the lower leg of the user11, and the shoe portion38of the boot34is for encasing the foot of the lower leg of the user11.

For beginners, the shoe portion38of the boot34is located adjacent the bottom28of the body16, and the upper portion36of the boot34extends upwardly through the body16to the top26of the body16so as to afford stability due to a lower center of gravity. But for more experienced skiers, as shown inFIG. 2A, which is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the on-site-inflatable water ski of the on-site-inflatable water skis with at least one cooperating on-site-inflatable paddle of the embodiments of the present invention, the shoe portion38of the boot34is located adjacent the top26of the body16so as to afford less stability due to a higher center of gravity and therefore require better balance, coordination, and be more challenging as a sport.

Effects on the user11of pitching movements, i.e., rocking in a plane laying through the longitudinal center line29of the body16, are held to a minimum by the ball of the foot of the user11being located substantially intermediate the bow30of the body16and the stern32of the body16.

The body16further has a water line40and pitch dampeners42. The pitch dampeners42of the body16are disposed on the bow30of the body16and the stern32of the body16and further insure stability of the body16.

The pitch dampeners42of the body16include a front deck44that is a forwardly extending cantilever located at the bow30of the body16, and a rear deck46that is a rearwardly extending cantilever located at the stern32of the body16. The front deck44of the pitch dampeners42and the rear deck46of the pitch dampeners42are flush with the top26of the body16and have bottoms48and thicknesses placing the bottoms48thereof just above the water line40of the body16. Thus, the front deck44of the body16resists attempts of the bow30of the body16to dip below the surface of the water and the rear deck46of the body16resists attempts of the stern32of the body16to dip below the surface of the water.

The water ski12further comprises a first cord49, a second cord50, and a third cord52for resisting a natural tendency for the water skis12to drift apart during use. The first cord49is connected between the bows30of the bodies16, respectively. The second cord50is connected between the sterns32of the bodies16, respectively. The third cord52is interconnected between the midship portions24of the bodies16, respectively, and is for further serving as stirrups aiding the user11in mounting and dismounting.

C. The At Least One Paddle14

Since the at least one paddle14are identical to each other, only one paddle14will be discussed.

The configuration of the paddle14can best be seen inFIG. 3, which is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the at least one on-site-inflatable paddle of the on-site-inflatable water skis with at least one cooperating on-site-inflatable paddle of the embodiments of the present invention identified by ARROW3inFIG. 1, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

The paddle14comprises a handle54and a head56. The head56of the paddle14extends from the handle54of the paddle14.

The handle54of the paddle14is for engaging by the hands of the user11, and is slender, elongated, and as shown inFIG. 3A, which is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW3A inFIG. 3of the telescopic version of the handle of the at least one paddle of the on-site-inflatable water skis with at least one cooperating on-site-inflatable paddle of the embodiments of the present invention, is telescopic to facilitate transport, reduce required storage space, and is height adjustable to adjust for height of the user. In the alternative, as shown inFIG. 3B, which is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW3B inFIG. 3of the collapsible version of the handle of the at least one paddle of the on-site-inflatable water skis with at least one cooperating on-site-inflatable paddle of the embodiments of the present invention, the handle54of the paddle54is collapsible to facilitate transport, reduce required storage space, and is height adjustable to adjust for height of the user.

The head56of the paddle14is downwardly tapering for facilitating insertion into the water, bulbous, hollow, is made of an inflatable material, has a valve58so as to allow the head56of the paddle14to be on-site inflatable, and is for engaging the water to propel the user11paddling through the water.

The head56of the paddle14has a rear surface60. The rear surface60of the head56of the paddle14is rearwardly facing, is flat for facilitating rearward pushing of the water when the paddle14is paddled through the water by the user11, and is downwardly extending past the head56of the paddle14for facilitating insertion of the head56of the paddle14into the water.

The head56of the paddle14has a front surface62. The front surface62of the head56of the paddle14is forwardly facing and arcuate and diverges to the rear surface60of the head56of the paddle14to reduce drag.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described as embodied in an on-site-inflatable water skis with at least one cooperating on-site-inflatable paddle, however, they are not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions, and changes in the forms and details of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated and their operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the embodiments of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the embodiments of the present invention.