Patent Abstract:
Toy surfboards and methods of snapping together a figurine with a surfboard and a skeg and a wing to form a surfboard toy. The assembled toy can ride incoming waves back to a shore. The hydrofoil can have a V or boomerang shape with side wings having ends extending rearward and out from the surfboard. Wing ends can incorporate curved discs for stability. Optional stabilizing tail/fin/rudder can extend rearward from the hydrofoil. Games can include racing toys by tossing them simultaneously from the shore to see which one reaches the shore first.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/788,355 filed Mar. 7, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,894,460 issued, Nov. 25, 2014, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/647,910 filed May 16, 2012 and U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/447,627 filed Mar. 5, 2013, now U.S. Design Pat. No. D711,485 issued Aug. 19, 2014. The entire disclosure of each of the applications listed in this paragraph are incorporated herein by specific reference thereto. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to toys, and in particular to toy surfboard devices, apparatus and methods of playing a game with a figurine mounted on a surfboard and a hydrofoil rudder underneath the board for allowing the surfboard to ride incoming waves back to a shoreline. 
       BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
       [0003]    Popular marketed water toys over the years have generally included balls and blow up toys which may be fun to some but would have limited fun to surfers. Traditional many toys, such as dolls and the like, may also sink in the water or float out to sea, both of which would not be desirable. The inventor is not aware of any marketed surfboard toys that would be popular with surfers and beachgoers that is able to take advantage of the direction and power of incoming waves found along ocean and large lake shorelines. 
         [0004]    A check of the U.S. Patent Office database has shown that some patents on toy type surfboards have been proposed in years past. See for example, U.S. patents: Des. 312,491 to Roland; Des. 324,706 to Gibson, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,427 to Roland. 
         [0005]    Although both Roland patents reference having heavy keels/fins, these toys are primarily for show. The downwardly protruding keels/fins would have difficulty in balancing the toy surfboard and keeping the surfboard in an upright position in the water. 
         [0006]    Gibson &#39;706 shows a surfer doll on top of a toy surfboard. The large mass of the doll compared to the thin toy board and single fin would not be able to balance in the water and would not be able to ride waves coming to shore at a beach. The top heavy doll would undoubtably cause the toy to capsize if used in the water without someone&#39;s hand holding the toy upright. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, there is a good chance that Gibson &#39;706 and possibly the Roland products would end up floating away and not being able to return to the shoreline which could result in the loss of these toys. 
         [0008]    Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    A primary objective of the present invention is to provide toy surfboard devices, apparatus and methods of playing a game with a figurine mounted on a surfboard and a hydrofoil rudder underneath the board for allowing the surfboard to ride incoming waves back to a shoreline. 
         [0010]    A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide toy surfboard devices, apparatus and methods of playing a game, having a buoyant surfboard with a weighted hydrofoil which offsets the weight of a figurine mounted on the board which is able to continuously float on water in an upright position. 
         [0011]    A third objective of the present invention is to provide toy surfboard devices, apparatus and methods of playing a game, having figurines that can interchangeably be mounted to the top of the surfboard. 
         [0012]    A fourth objective of the present invention is to provide toy surfboard devices, apparatus and methods of playing a game with a figurine mounted on a surfboard and a hydrofoil rudder underneath the board, where players can simultaneously toss or throw respective surfboard toy devices, and determine a winner of the first surfboard toy to reach the shoreline. 
         [0013]    A fifth objective of the present invention is to provide toy surfboard devices, apparatus and methods, which turns right-side up, points toward the shore after being put into a incoming shore wave, and returns to the shore each time it is used where the toy surfs the wave to the shore. 
         [0014]    A sixth objective of the present invention is to provide toy surfboard devices, apparatus and methods, which takes advantage of the waves at a beach, instead of being overwhelmed, where a figurine on the toy stays upright and surfs the waves all the wave to the shore. 
         [0015]    A seventh objective of the present invention is to provide toy surfboard devices, apparatus and methods, having a figurine, surfboard, skeg and wing (hydrofoil) which can be in separate pieces that easily snap together when assembled. 
         [0016]    An eighth objective of the present invention is to provide toy surfboard devices, apparatus and methods, having a figurine and upper portion of a skeg with mateable attachment points to one another through holes that pass through the board. 
         [0017]    A ninth objective of the present invention is to provide toy surfboard devices, apparatus and methods, having figurines with rounded, and non sharp tip edges (such as on hair ends and hand ends) that will not easily break off, and are safe to use. 
         [0018]    A tenth objective of the present invention is to provide toy surfboard devices, apparatus and methods, with a hydrofoil (wings) that do not break off when the toy surfboard is stepped upon. 
         [0019]    An eleventh objective of the present invention is to provide toy surfboard devices, apparatus and methods, having separate figurine, board, skeg and wing main that when separated can easily be packaged together taking up less space than a fully assembled or partially assembled surfboard toy. 
         [0020]    A twelfth objective of the present invention is to provide toy surfboard devices, apparatus and methods, that can perform tricks similar to real surfers in surf and waves through its unique weighting and balancing. 
         [0021]    Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a top right perspective view of surfboard toy with mounted figurine and hydrofoil. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a top left perspective view of the surfboard toy of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a bottom left perspective view of the surfboard toy of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a bottom right perspective view of the surfboard toy of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the surfboard toy of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the surfboard toy of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the surfboard toy of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a rear view of the surfboard toy of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a front view of the surfboard toy of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  is a top exploded perspective view of the surfboard toy of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  is a bottom exploded perspective view of the surfboard toy of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  shows a user on the back-swing of throwing a surfboard toy of  FIG. 1  into the breaking surf from a shoreline. 
           [0034]      FIG. 13  shows the person in  FIG. 12  throwing a toy into the breaking surf. 
           [0035]      FIG. 14  shows the toy of  FIG. 13  just after landing upside-down in the breaking surf. 
           [0036]      FIG. 15  shows the beginning of the self righting ability of the toy in  FIG. 14 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 16  shows the toy of  FIG. 15  fully upright. Floatation zone is noted. 
           [0038]      FIG. 17  shows the toy of  FIG. 16  floating in the breaking surf with its side to the oncoming waves. 
           [0039]      FIG. 18  shows the toy of  FIG. 17  just being caught by a breaking wave. The front three quarters of the board float free of the water allowing the assembly to rotate about the floatation zone as the wave exerts its influence. This naturally points the nose of the floatation board in the direction of wave travel. 
           [0040]      FIG. 19  shows the toy of  FIG. 18  continuing to rotate influenced by the breaking wave. 
           [0041]      FIG. 20  shows the toy of  FIG. 19  has full oriented itself with its nose in the direction of wave travel and is “surfing” on the breaking wave. 
           [0042]      FIG. 21  is an enlarged view of an alternative figurine that can be mounted on the surfboard toy of  FIG. 1 . 
         Second Embodiment 
         [0043]      FIG. 22  is an exploded view of another embodiment of the surfboard toy with figurine, board, skeg and main wing (hydrofoil). 
           [0044]      FIG. 23  is a side assembled view of the surfboard toy with figurine, board, skeg and main wing of  FIG. 22 . 
           [0045]      FIG. 24  is a front view of the assembled surfboard toy of  FIG. 23 . 
           [0046]      FIG. 25  is a rear view of the assembled surfboard toy of  FIG. 23 . 
           [0047]      FIG. 26  is a cross-sectional view of the assembled surfboard of  FIG. 23  along arrows  26 X. 
           [0048]      FIG. 27  is a side cross-sectional view of the assembled surfboard of  FIG. 24  along arrows  27 X. 
           [0049]      FIG. 28  is an enlarged perspective view of the separated figurine of  FIGS. 22-27 . 
           [0050]      FIG. 29  is a side view of the figurine of  FIG. 28 . 
           [0051]      FIG. 30  is a front view of the figurine of  FIG. 28 . 
           [0052]      FIG. 31  is a rear view of the figurine of  FIG. 28 . 
           [0053]      FIG. 32  is an enlarged perspective view of the separated surfboard of  FIGS. 22-27 . 
           [0054]      FIG. 33  is a top view of the surfboard of  FIG. 32 . 
           [0055]      FIG. 34  is a bottom view of the surfboard of  FIG. 32 . 
           [0056]      FIG. 35  is an enlarged perspective view of the separated keel/strut member (skeg) of  FIGS. 22-27 . 
           [0057]      FIG. 35A  is a bottom view of the skeg of  FIG. 35  along arrow  35 X. 
           [0058]      FIG. 36  is a side view of the skeg from  FIG. 35  assembled to the separate wing of  FIGS. 22-27 . 
           [0059]      FIG. 37  is a top view of the separate wing of  FIGS. 22-27  and  36 . 
           [0060]      FIG. 38  is a bottom view of the wing of  FIG. 37 . 
           [0061]      FIG. 39  is a side view of the wing of  FIG. 37  along arrow  39 X. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0062]    Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
         [0063]    In the Summary above and in the Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally. 
         [0064]    In this section, some embodiments of the invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate similar elements in alternative embodiments. 
         [0065]    A list of the components referenced in the figures will now be described.
     10  Surfboard toy     20  Floatation board     22  front upwardly curving end (nose)     24  top surface     26  bottom surface     28  rear end     30  Surfer figurine     40  Hydrofoil-generally V or boomerang shape (weighted)     42  left wing/vane     44  apex     46  right wing/vane     48  stabilizing tail/rudder     50  wing end stabilizers/weights (curved portions or disc shapes)     60  figurine mounting pegs     70  figurine mounting holes in floatation board     80  Keel/strut member     82  mount tenon (male member)     90  Keel mount mortise in bottom of surfboard     100  Shore surf     110  Small breaking shore wave     120  Person     130  Water line     140  Floatation zone of surfboard toy     150  Pivot point around which Surfer Dude assembly rotates when acted upon by a breaking wave   
 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0000]    
       
           200  Second embodiment surfboard toy 
           205  floatation board 
           210  top of board 
           212  front generally beveled tip edge 
           213  upwardly angling tip 
           214  generally flat surface 
           215  front cylindrical through-hole 
           216  rear square (or rectangular) through-hole 
           217  rounded beveled upper rear surface edge 
           218  flat rear end 
           219  rounded and beveled sides 
           220  bottom of board 
           222  flat upwardly angling front surface 
           223  rounded transition surface 
           224  generally flat lower surface 
           226  longitudinal indentation 
           227  angled tip indentation 
           228  flat rear indentation 
           229  slightly upwardly angled rear surface 
           230  figurine 
           231  rounded enlarged hair tip ends 
           232  downwardly extending front cylindrical male peg 
           233  parallel ribs on front face of front peg 
           234  flat surface under front foot 
           236  downwardly extending rear square (or rectangular) male peg 
           237  parallel ribs on front face of rear peg 
           238  flat surface under rear foot 
           239  curved hands 
           240  skeg 
           242  upwardly extending front cylindrical tube with socket Upper edge rests generally flush with (or slightly recessed from) upper board surface 
           243  parallel slits/slots in front face of front tube 
           244  flat upper ledge surface with narrow tip and flat rear to mateably fit into longitudinal indentation  226  in board bottom  220   
           246  upwardly extending rear square (or rectangular) tube with socket 
         Upper edge rests generally flush with upper (or slightly recessed from) board surface 
           247  parallel slits/slots in front face of rear tube 
           250  strut portion of skeg 
           252  front concave curved edge 
           256  rear convex curved edge 
           258  enlarged lower footer 
           260  male connector 
           262  front split step 
           264  longitudinal split fin portion 
           266  longitudinal side rib(s) 
           270  main wing 
           272  front convex edge 
           274  rear extending left wing/vane 
           275  enlarged rounded (weighted) end 
           276  rear right wing/vane 
           277  enlarged rounded (weighted) end 
           280  central rear extending tail 
           281  rounded tip end of tail 
           282  concave root ends of tail 
           284  sculpted surfaces about concave root ends  282   
           285  raised footer under front of main wing near apex to allow assembled toy surfboard to be balanced when placed on a flat surface for display purposes 
           286  through-hole mounting slot 
           287  front end indentation step in wing top 
           288  side indentation steps along slot  286  sides in wing bottom 
       
     
       First Embodiment 
       [0147]      FIG. 1  is a top right perspective view of surfboard toy  10  having floatation board  20  with mounted figurine  30  and hydrofoil  40 .  FIG. 2  is a top left perspective view of the surfboard toy  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a bottom left perspective view of the surfboard toy  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  is a bottom right perspective view of the surfboard toy  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0148]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the surfboard toy  10  of  FIG. 1  with dimensions of a preferred embodiment.  FIG. 6  is a top view of the surfboard toy  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the surfboard toy  10  of  FIG. 1  with dimensions of a preferred embodiment.  FIG. 8  is a rear view of the surfboard toy  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 9  is a front view of the surfboard toy  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 10  is a top exploded perspective view of the surfboard toy  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 11  is a bottom exploded perspective view of the surfboard toy  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
       Surfboard  20   
       [0149]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-11 , the novel surfboard toy  10  can include a floatation board  20  having a front upwardly curving end  22  with rounded tip and a rear end  28  with rounded edge with a top side  24  and bottom side  26 . The floatation board  20  can be formed from injection molded foam, or foam rubber cut into a selected shape, or other lightweight material impervious to water. Alternatively, the board  20  can be formed from in injection molded plastic hollow housing with rubber placed inside the plastic shell. 
         [0150]    Referring to  FIGS. 5-7 , the surfboard  20  can have dimensions of approximately 10.23 inches in length from the front end  22  to the rear end  28 , and have a width of approximately 3.01 inches that tapers down at both the front end  22  and the rear end  28  to rounded tips. The thickness of the surfboard  20  can have a thickness of approximately 1.28 inches with the rear end  28  curving downward to an outer edge. The surfboard  20  has a generally flat bottom surface  26  that curves upward near the front end  22  in order to aid in lift of the surfboard when riding incoming waves. 
       Figurine  30   
       [0151]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-11  and mounted to the top surface  24  of the surfboard  20  adjacent to the rear end  28  can be surfer figurine  30  mounted thereon. The figurine  30  can have downwardly extending male members  60 , such as pegs, that are insertable into figurine mounting holes (female receptacles)  70  on the top surface  24  of the surfboard  20  adjacent to the rear end  28  of the surfboard  20  as shown in  FIGS. 10-11 . The pegs  60  can be locked into the mounting holes  70  with waterproof glue or cement and the like. 
         [0152]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the figurine  30  can be formed from injection molded plastic and the like, and have a height from a foot portion mounted to the top surface  24  of the surfboard  20  to the top of the head portion to be approximately 4.62 inches and a width of approximately 3.72 inches between ends of the outstretched hands. Additionally, the figurine  30  can be formed from a lightweight foam so that it will stay upright easily while being pummeled by waves as the toy  10  is being used in the surf of incoming waves. The figurine can be narrow thin stick figure turned sideways so the plane of the planar shaped body is in the same plane as the keel/strut member  80  mounted underneath the board  20 . The figurine  30  can be mounted almost directly above the keel/strut member  80 . 
       Hydrofoil  40  and Keel/Strut Member  80   
       [0153]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-11 , and mounted underneath the surfboard  20  adjacent to the rear end  28  can be a hydrofoil  40 . A generally rectangular and narrow diameter keel type strut member  80  can be turned so that one side edge faces forward and the opposite side edge faces rearward. The keel/strut member can have a upper male member (tenon) that fits into a mateable slit  90  on the bottom surface  26  of the surfboard  20  adjacent to the rear end  28  of the surfboard  20  can be locked with waterproof glue or cement and the like. 
         [0154]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the keel/strut member  80  can have a height of approximately 1.59 inches between the bottom surface  26  of the surfboard and the top of the generally flat left wing/vane (not shown) and right wing/vane  47  of the hydrofoil  40 . 
         [0155]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-11 , the hydrofoil  40  can have a generally V or boomerang shape with a generally flat thin left wing/vane  42  connected to a generally flat thin right wing/vane  46  by a rounded/curved tip apex portion  44 . The outer free ends of the left wing/vane  42  and right wing/vane  46  extend rearward from the apex portion and outward from the sides of the surfboard  20 , and end in additional stabilizer/weighted curved portions  50 . The wing end stabilizer/weighted portions  50  can be curve shaped and can include disc shapes and the like. The wing end stabilizer/weighted portions  50  can be slightly thicker with a slightly rounded top surface to add additional stabilizing weight to the hydrofoil  40 . Extending rearward from the apex portion  44  can be an optional generally flat stabilizing tail rudder  46  located between the left wing/vane  42  and the right wing/vane  46 . 
         [0156]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the hydrofoil  40  can have an overall length between outer ends of the of outer stabilizing weights to be approximately 6.03 inches, and a length from the apex portion outer edge  44  to the outer end of the tail/rudder member  48  to be approximately 3.25 inches. Each of the wings/vanes  42 ,  46  can have a width of approximately 0.61 inches, with a width of the tail/rudder member  48  being approximately 0.93 inches. Each of the wing end stabilizers/weights  50  can have a radius of approximately R.74, and the distance between center points of each wing end stabilizers/weights  50  from one another can be approximately 4.55 inches. 
         [0157]    The angle between the wings/vanes  42 ,  46  of the generally V shape or generally boomerang shaped hydrofoil  40  can range between approximately 10 to approximately 120 degrees. A narrower range can be between approximately 22 to approximately 60 degrees, and a narrower range of a preferred embodiment can range between approximately 35 to approximately 5 degrees. 
         [0158]    Both the keel/strut member  80  and the hydrofoil  40  can be formed from hardened plastic, that was injection molded, and can include metal layer imbedded within the plastic. The weight of the keel/strut  80  and hydrofoil  40  can be approximately 1.3 ounces, while the entire weight of the figurine  30 , surfboard  20  and keel/strut member  80  with hydrofoil  40  can be approximately 2.2 ounces. As such, the weight of keel/strut member  80  and the hydrofoil  40  can easily counter-balance the lighter weight of the figurine  30  in order to keep the surfboard toy  10  in an upright floating position. 
         [0159]    The plane of the wings  42 ,  46  of the hydrofoil to the generally flat bottom surface  26  of the surfboard can be slightly angled so that the bottom surface  26  of the surfboard  20  angles upward toward the front end  22  approximately 6 degrees. 
         [0160]    The figurine  30  can be mounted to be approximately perpendicular to the top surface  24  of the surfboard  20 . The generally flat top surface  24  of the surfboard  20  can have an angle of approximately 95 degrees relative to the flat wings  42 ,  46  of the hydrofoil  40 . 
         [0161]    The dimensions referenced in a preferred embodiment shown and described in relation to  FIGS. 5 and 7  are approximate. The term “approximately” can be +/−10% of the dimension numbers referenced for the preferred embodiment. The dimensions come from a preferred embodiment that has been tested in the ocean by the inventor to an effective working embodiment. 
         [0162]    While  FIGS. 5 and 7  show a preferred embodiment dimensions, the invention can use alternative dimensions when the toy is scaled up or scaled down to different sizes such as small as approximately 3 inches long as desired by the user. 
         [0000]    Method of Playing with the Surfboard Toy 
         [0163]      FIG. 12  shows a user  120  standing adjacent to a shoreline near the shore surf  100  and on the back-swing of throwing a surfboard toy  10  of  FIG. 1  into the breaking surf  110 .  FIG. 13  shows the user  120  in  FIG. 12  throwing the toy surfboard  10  into the breaking surf  110 . 
         [0164]      FIG. 14  shows the toy  10  of  FIG. 13  just after landing upside-down in the breaking surf and resting on the water line  130 .  FIG. 15  shows the beginning the self righting ability of the toy  10  in  FIG. 14 . The weighted keel  80  and hydrofoil  40  will always insure that the surfboard toy  10  stays upright.  FIG. 16  shows the toy  10  of  FIG. 15  fully upright. Floatation zone is noted where a rear portion of the bottom surface  26  of the surfboard  20  can float on the water line  130  with the weighted hydrofoil  40  below the waterline  130 . 
         [0165]      FIG. 17  shows the toy  10  of  FIG. 16  floating in the breaking surf  100  with its side to the oncoming waves  110 . 
         [0166]      FIG. 18  shows the toy  10  of  FIG. 17  just being caught by a breaking wave  110 . The front three quarters of the board  20  float free of the water allowing the toy  10  to rotate about the floatation zone  140  as the wave exerts its influence. This naturally points the nose (front end)  22  of the floatation board  20  in the direction of wave travel and pivots at a pivot point  150 .  FIG. 19  shows the toy  10  of  FIG. 18  continuing to rotate influenced by the breaking wave  110 . 
         [0167]      FIG. 20  shows the toy  10  of  FIG. 19  has full oriented itself with its nose  22  in the direction of wave travel and is “surfing” on the breaking wave  110 . 
         [0168]      FIG. 21  is an enlarged view of an alternative figurine  30 F that can be mounted on the surfboard toy  10  of  FIG. 1 . The figurine  30 F can have similar dimensions to the previously described figurine  30 . 
         [0169]    Additional games that can take place with the novel surfboard toys  10  can include two or more players tossing or throwing generally identical surfboard toys  10  into the surf and determining a winner when the first surfboard toy  10  reaches the shoreline. 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0170]      FIG. 22  is an exploded view of another embodiment of the surfboard toy  200  with figurine  230 , board  205 , skeg  240  and main wing  270 .  FIG. 23  is a side assembled view of the surfboard toy  200  with figurine  230 , board  205 , skeg  240  and main wing  270  of  FIG. 22 .  FIG. 24  is a front view of the assembled surfboard toy  200  of  FIG. 23 .  FIG. 25  is a rear view of the assembled surfboard toy  200  of  FIG. 23 . Figurine  230 , board  205 , skeg  240  and main wing  270  can be formed from similar materials to similar components described in the previous embodiment. For example, figurine  230  can be formed from an injection molded hard plastic, and board  205  can be formed from EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) foam. 
         [0171]      FIG. 26  is a cross-sectional view of the assembled surfboard  200  of  FIG. 23  along arrows  26 X.  FIG. 27  is a side cross-sectional view of the assembled surfboard  200  of  FIG. 24  along arrows  27 X. 
         [0172]      FIG. 28  is an enlarged perspective view of the separated figurine  230  of the previous figures.  FIG. 29  is a side view of the figurine  230  of  FIG. 28 .  FIG. 30  is a front view of the figurine  230  of  FIG. 28 .  FIG. 31  is a rear view of the figurine  230  of  FIG. 28 . 
         [0173]    Referring to  FIGS. 28-31 , the figurine  230  be similar to the surfer figurine  30  of the previous embodiment, with some main differences. Figurine  230  can included rounded hair tip ends  231 , which are less sharp and safer than the hair ends in the previous embodiment, and curved hand portions with rounded ends  239  which are also less sharp and safer than those in the previous embodiment. 
         [0174]    Figurine  230  can include a downwardly extending front cylindrical male peg  232 , with parallel ribs  233  on the front face, and a flat surface  234  under the front foot, and a downwardly extending rear square (or rectangular) male peg  236  with parallel ribs  237  on the front face and a flat surface  238  under rear foot. 
         [0175]      FIG. 32  is an enlarged perspective view of the separated surfboard  205  of  FIGS. 22-27 .  FIG. 33  is a top view of the surfboard  205  of  FIG. 33 .  FIG. 34  is a bottom view of the surfboard  205  of  FIG. 33 . 
         [0176]    Referring to FIGS.  23  and  32 - 34 , board  205  can have a board top  210  with a front generally beveled tip edge  212 , and an upwardly angling tip  213 , and a generally flat top surface  214 . Tip edge  212  can have a slight beveling instead of being arced in the previous embodiment. Here, the tip edge is more perpendicular to the bottom with a small arc at the top of the tip edge  212 . Board  205  can also have a front cylindrical through-hole  215  and a rear square (or rectangular) through-hole  216  both adjacent to a rear end of the board  205 . Board  205  can also have a rounded upper rear surface edge  217  and a generally flat rear end  218  with rounded beveled upper side edges  219  on both sides of the board  205 . 
         [0177]    The board bottom  220  can have a flat upwardly angling front surface  222  with a rounded transition surface  223 , and a generally flat lower surface  224 . Down the middle of the board bottom  220  adjacent to rear end of the board  205  can be a longitudinal indentation  226  with a angled front tip indentation  227  and a flat rear indentation  228 . 
         [0178]    The lower rear surface  224  of the board  205  (also shown in  FIG. 23 ) can have an approximately 9 degree angle that can beginning approximately 0.75 inches in from the end  218  of the board  205  sloping up to the end  218  of the board  205 . 
         [0179]      FIG. 35  is an enlarged perspective view of the separated keel/strut member (skeg)  240  of  FIGS. 22-27 .  FIG. 35A  is a bottom view of the skeg  240  of  FIG. 35  along arrow  35 X.  FIG. 36  is a side view of the skeg  240  from  FIG. 35  assembled to the separate main wing  270  of  FIGS. 22-27 . 
         [0180]    Referring to  FIGS. 22 ,  23 , and  27 , main wing  270  can be at a downward 5 degree (+/−2 degrees) angle from board  205  on a perpendicular 90 degree upward angle through skeg  240  and a 35 degree (+/−5 degrees) to the front  212  of board  205 . 
         [0181]    Referring to  FIGS. 35-36 , skeg  240  can include an upwardly extending front cylindrical tube  242  with socket, having an upper edge which rests generally flush with (or slightly recessed from) upper (top) board surface  210  when assembled. The upper ends of the tubes  242 ,  246  can be tapered (narrower) to allow for ease in inserting into the through-holes  215 ,  216  in the board  205 . Front tube  242  can have parallel slits/slots  243  in the front face, and an upwardly extending rear square (or rectangular) tube  246  with socket having an upper edge which rests generally flush with (or slightly recessed from) upper (top) board surface  210  when assembled. Rear tube  246  can have parallel slits/slots  247  in the front face. The tubes  242 ,  246  can raise upward from a flat upper ledge surface  244  that has a narrow tip end and a generally flat rear end which can mateably fit into the longitudinal indentation  226  in the board bottom  220 . 
         [0182]    The strut portion  250  of the skeg  240  can have a front concave curved edge  252  and a rear convex curved edge  256 . Strut portion  250  can have an enlarged lower footer  258  with a male connector  260  extending downward therefrom. The male connector  260  can have a front split step  262  which protrudes from a longitudinal split fin portion  264  and longitudinal side rib(s)  266  can face sideways from the longitudinal split fin portion  264 . 
         [0183]      FIG. 37  is a top view of the separate wing  270  of  FIGS. 22-27  and  36 .  FIG. 38  is a bottom view of the wing  270  of  FIG. 37 .  FIG. 39  is a side view of the wing  270  of  FIG. 37  along arrow  39 X. 
         [0184]    Referring to  FIGS. 37-39 , main wing  270  can include a front convex edge  272  with a rear extending left wing/vane  274  and an enlarged rounded (weighted) end  275 , and a rear right wing/vane  276  with an enlarged rounded (weighted) end  277 . The weighted portions can be additional material such as metal, and/or weighted discs that can be imbedded therein, and/or more plastic type material for the added weight which provide ballast for helping maintain the surfboard toy in an upright position when be used in the ocean as described in the previous embodiment. 
         [0185]    Wing  270  can also include a central rear extending tail  280  with a rounded tip end  281 . The root end of tail  280  can have concave edges  282  with sculpted indented surfaces  284  located about the concave root end edges  282   
         [0186]    A through-hole mounting slot  286  can be located through a mid-portion of the wing between the left vane  274  and right vane  276 , with a front end indentation step  287  in the wing top, and side indentation steps  288  along the sides of the slot  286  in the wing bottom. 
         [0187]    A raised footer  285  can have a pedestal type shape with flat bottom and be located under the front of main wing  270  near the apex portion. Footer  285  allows for the assembled toy surfboard  200  to be balanced when placed on a flat surface for display purposes. 
         [0188]    Table 1 lists preferred dimensions of the board  205 ,  FIG. 230 , skeg  240  and main wing  270  used with the toy surfboard  200 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Surfboard toy component 
               
               
                 dimensions 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Acceptable 
                   
                 Preferred 
               
               
                 Component description 
                 range 
                 Narrowed range 
                 dimension 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 in inches: 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Surfboard, length 
                  7.0000-12.0000 
                  8.5000-11.5000 
                 11.0236 
               
               
                 Surfboard, width 
                 2.1250-3.6429 
                 2.5804-3.4911 
                 3.3465 
               
               
                 Surfboard, depth or thickness 
                 0.6750-1.1572 
                 0.8197-1.1089 
                 1.0630 
               
               
                 (measured at rear, before bevel, 
               
               
                 or at midpoint of board) 
               
               
                 Male figure, height (peg bottom to 
                 3.7306-6.3954 
                 4.5301-6.1289 
                 5.8750 
               
               
                 top of hair) 
               
               
                 Male figure, width (front hand to 
                 2.5400-4.3543 
                 3.0843-4.1729 
                 4.0000 
               
               
                 back hand) 
               
               
                 Male figure, thickness (rear foot 
                 0.3572-0.6123 
                 0.4337-0.5868 
                 0.5625 
               
               
                 puddle) 
               
               
                 Male figure, thickness (torso) 
                 0.0794-0.1361 
                 0.0964-0.1304 
                 0.1250 
               
               
                 Skeg, height (front to back) 
                 1.7463-2.9936 
                 2.1205-2.8688 
                 2.7500 
               
               
                 Skeg, width (top to bottom) 
                 1.8256-3.1296 
                 2.2168-2.9992 
                 2.8750 
               
               
                 Skeg, depth (side to side) 
                 0.3572-0.6123 
                 0.4337-0.5868 
                 0.5625 
               
               
                 Wing, length (side to side) 
                 3.8100-6.5314 
                 4.6264-6.2593 
                 6.0000 
               
               
                 Wing, width (front to back) 
                 1.9050-3.2657 
                 2.3132-3.1296 
                 3.0000 
               
               
                 Wing, depth (weighted sides or 
                 0.1588-0.2721 
                 0.1928-0.2608 
                 0.2500 
               
               
                 vanes) 
               
               
                 Wing, depth (including bottom 
                 0.2381-0.4082 
                 0.2892-0.3912 
                 0.3750 
               
               
                 souvenir bump) 
               
               
                 in millimeters: 
               
               
                 Surfboard, length 
                 178-305 
                 216-292 
                 280 
               
               
                 Surfboard, width 
                 54-93 
                 66-89 
                 85 
               
               
                 Surfboard, depth or thickness 
                 17-29 
                 21-28 
                 27 
               
               
                 (measured at rear, before bevel, 
               
               
                 or at midpoint of board) 
               
               
                 Male figure, height (peg bottom to 
                  95-162 
                 115-156 
                 149 
               
               
                 top of hair) 
               
               
                 Male figure, width (front hand to 
                  65-111 
                  78-106 
                 102 
               
               
                 back hand) 
               
               
                 Male figure, thickness (rear foot 
                  9-16 
                 11-15 
                 14 
               
               
                 puddle) 
               
               
                 Male figure, thickness (torso) 
                 2-3 
                 2-3 
                 3 
               
               
                 Skeg, height (front to back) 
                 44-76 
                 54-73 
                 70 
               
               
                 Skeg, width (top to bottom) 
                 46-79 
                 56-76 
                 73 
               
               
                 Skeg, depth (side to side) 
                  9-16 
                 11-15 
                 14 
               
               
                 Wing, length (side to side) 
                  97-166 
                 118-159 
                 152 
               
               
                 Wing, width (front to back) 
                 48-83 
                 59-79 
                 76 
               
               
                 Wing, depth (weighted sides or 
                 4-7 
                 5-7 
                 6 
               
               
                 vanes) 
               
               
                 Wing, depth (including bottom 
                  6-10 
                  7-10 
                 10 
               
               
                 souvenir bump) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0189]    Table 2 lists preferred weights of the board  205 ,  FIG. 230 , skeg  240  and main wing  270  used with the toy surfboard  200 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Surfboard toy component 
               
               
                 weights 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Acceptable 
                 Narrowed 
                 Preferred 
               
               
                 Component description 
                 range 
                 range 
                 dimension 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 in ounces: 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Surfboard only 
                 0.7-1.3 
                 0.8-1.2 
                 1.1 
               
               
                 Male figure 
                 0.4-0.8 
                 0.5-0.7 
                 0.7 
               
               
                 Skeg 
                 0.3-0.5 
                 0.3-0.5 
                 0.4 
               
               
                 Wing, including stability 
                 1.2-2.2 
                 1.5-2.1 
                 1.9 
               
               
                 weights 
               
               
                 Wing, excluding stability 
                 0.8-1.5 
                 1.0-1.4 
                 1.3 
               
               
                 weights 
               
               
                 Male figure 
                 0.4-0.8 
                 0.5-0.7 
                 0.7 
               
               
                 All toy components combined 
                 2.6-4.8 
                 3.1-4.5 
                 4.1 
               
               
                 in grams: 
               
               
                 Surfboard only 
                 19.2-36.3 
                 23.4-34.8 
                 30.3 
               
               
                 Male figure 
                 12.4-21.2 
                 15.0-20.3 
                 19.5 
               
               
                 Skeg 
                  7.9-14.3 
                  9.6-13.7 
                 12.5 
               
               
                 Wing, including stability 
                 33.7-60.6 
                 40.9-58.1 
                 53.0 
               
               
                 weights 
               
               
                 Wing, excluding stability 
                 22.9-41.1 
                 27.8-39.4 
                 36.0 
               
               
                 weights 
               
               
                 All toy components combined 
                  73.2-132.4 
                  88.9-126.9 
                 115.3 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0190]    The assembly of the toy surfboard  200  will now be described with the figurine  230  mounted to the top  210  of the board  205 , and the skeg mounted to the bottom  220  of the board  205 , with the main wing  270  mounted to the bottom of the skeg  240  as shown by the arrows in  FIG. 22 . 
         [0191]    Referring to  FIGS. 22-36 , the upwardly extending cylindrical tube  242  and square (or rectangular) tube  246  of skeg  240  can be pushed into the cylindrical through-hole  215  and square (or rectangular) through-hole  216  in the bottom  220  of the board  2015  until the flat ledge  244  rests against the flat bottom  224  recessed therein within indentation  226 . The locations of the square hole  216  and cylindrical hole  215  force the assembler to only use the correct holes  215 ,  216  when assembling the skeg  240  to the board  205 . 
         [0192]    Next, the assembler can mount the wing  270  to the bottom of the skeg  240  in reference to  FIGS. 22-39 . The assembler can place the assembled board  205  and skeg  240  upside down on a surface. The top surface of wing  270  can be positioned such that the front end indentation step  287  is placed over front split step  262  and longitudinal split fin portion  264  is aligned into the rest of through-hole slot  286 . The outer facing edges of the longitudinal split fin portion  264  can be tapered to more easily fit into the slot  286 . 
         [0193]    Next the assembler can push the wing  270  so that the slip fin portion  264  passes into the slot  286  which causes the split fin portion to be pinched together. The assembler can push until the longitudinal side facing ribs  266  of split fin portion  264  snap about side indentation steps  288  locking the wing  270  in place. Similarly, the split step can also pinch together and rest against step  287 . 
         [0194]    Next the lower extending cylindrical peg  232  and square (or rectangular) peg  236  of the figurine  230  are passed into the top  210  of the board  205 , and their locations also force the assembler to use the proper through-holes  215 ,  216  for assembly. The raised ribs  233 ,  237  in the respective pegs  232 ,  236  can snap into mateable slits/slots  243 ,  247  in the respective tubes  242 ,  246 , which locks the figurine  230  to the top  210  of the board  205 , and the skeg  240  to the bottom  220  of the board  205 . 
         [0195]    The novel invention shown and described in the second embodiment allows for many additional benefits. 
         [0196]    If the toy were stepped upon after it is assembled, the connection of skeg  240  and wing  270  would snap apart and not fracture, yet the figurine with board and skeg and wing is still strong enough to ensure that the wing (or hydrofoil) will not become unattached in normal play in surf and waves. 
         [0197]    In addition, the novel surfboard toy can only be assembled in one orientation, ensuring that the consumer assembles the surfing toy in the correct orientation. 
         [0198]    The redesign of the connecting mechanism results in the skeg having a rear square channel and a round front channel, which match a new rear square and front round peg in the figure. In addition, the surfboard can have two holes, one square at the rear, and one round toward the front, to match the design of both the skeg and the figurine. 
         [0199]    This redesign ensures that the toy is assembled properly such that the figure and the skeg are logically inserted into the surfboard and their connection in only one orientation. In addition, the square peg of the figure cannot physically be inserted into the round hole of the receptor channel of the skeg. 
         [0200]    The second embodiment can include a new downward pointing “split arrowhead” connector between the skeg and the wing or hydrofoil. 
         [0201]    The first embodiment combined the “strut” (now called a skeg) and wing, or hydrofoil, into a single piece. This would have allowed the single piece construction, which consisted of two perpendicular planar surfaces, to potentially fracture if the toy were stepped on, which fractured piece could have resulted in a sharp edge. 
         [0202]    The second embodiment splits these planar surfaces into two separate pieces and introduces a new “breakaway” split arrowhead (which is a split construction such that the space between the two sides of the “split arrowhead” condenses during insertion into the wing (or hydrofoil), then, once inserted, pops back open to secure the connection that is designed to “breakaway” if the toy were stepped upon, which connection is still strong enough to ensure that the wing (or hydrofoil) will not become unattached in normal play in surf and waves. 
         [0203]    In addition, the second embodiment can only be assembled in one orientation, ensuring that the consumer assembles the surfing toy in the correct orientation. 
         [0204]    The wing, or hydrofoil, was previously a flat, planar surface. The second embodiment smoothes the prior sharp angles and surfaces of the wing and thickens the wing/vanes of the first embodiment. 
         [0205]    The revisions to shape and thickness, especially the “sculpting” of the wing in the second embodiment, promotes much better and more consistent surfing performance, catching random turbulence in the currents of waves which produces more “yawing” motion, which “yawing” motion is corrected by the new unitized design, causing more tricks to be performed during each surfing session, while more consistently keeping the surfboard toy in its natural upright surfing position on top of the surf and wave, perfecting the self-righting capability of the toy in surf. 
         [0206]    The second embodiment can include weighted members, such as but not limited to two weighted disks that can be inserted into the wing, or hydrofoil, during its injection molding manufacturing process that precisely weight and balance, or stabilize, the wing and toy. 
         [0207]    Additional tests during the further design and prototyping of the second embodiment toy surfboard revealed that precise weighting added to each wing vane, which weights were chrome-plated (to discourage rusting in water use) and inserted during the manufacturing (injection molding) process would result in much better and more consistent surfing performance, including more consistent righting of the surfboard toy on any inversion in the surf, helping to ensure the toy inverts to its natural upright position to resume its surfing session. 
         [0208]    In addition, the rear weighting of the toy, combined with the increased upward angle of the nose of the surfboard and overall heavier weight of the toy, avoids the previous embodiment&#39;s tendency to “pearl” or submerge its nose as it acquired a wave. 
         [0209]    In the second embodiment the weight of the wing was increased by over 75% from the previous embodiment 1.3 ounces (for the combined strut/keel and hydrofoil) to a combined weight for the skeg and wing (hydrofoil) of approximately 2.3 ounces. 
         [0210]    The increased weight, and precise stabilization through the ballast weighting system, promotes the optimum combination of trick performance while surfing and ensuring the surfboard toy returns to its natural upright position whenever surf conditions invert the toy during a surfing session. 
         [0211]    The second embodiment adds a bump to the front bottom of the wing such that the surfboard toy, when displayed after a surfing session in one&#39;s home or office, will sit upright. 
         [0212]    The increased back weighting of the toy surfboard and increased angles promote better surfing performance and required the addition of a “souvenir bump” at the front edge of the wing to ensure the surfboard toy would sit upright when displayed on a dresser or credenza in a home bedroom or at an office after use on the beach. 
         [0213]    Although the embodiment shows tubes with sockets extending upward from the skeg and male pegs extending downward from the figurine, the components can be reversed such that the tubes can extend downward from the figurine, and male pegs can extend upward from the skeg. 
         [0214]    Although the embodiment shows a cylindrical hole in front and square (or rectangular) hole toward the rear, the locations of the respective geometrical shaped holes, can be reversed. Additionally, other shapes, such as but not limited to other geometrical shapes, such as but not limited to triangle shapes, hexagon, shapes, and the like can be used. Additionally less than or more than two side slits/slots, can be used, and different types of snaps can be used such as but not limited to raised protrusion locking into a small cylindrical hole, and the like. 
         [0215]    While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0