Abstract:
A device for allowing a user to move across a body of water. This device comprises at least one ski wherein the ski contains a foot strap, sandal, or similar type device allowing the user to attach his or her feet to the ski. This ski contains a self-propelling element in the form of a fin, rotationally coupled to the ski or a frame having louvered blades rotationally coupled to the frame. As the user moves the ski forward, the fin folds up, or the blades open, allowing the ski to easily slide forward. AS the user moves the ski back, the fin rotates down, or the blades close, to catch the water and hold the ski in place allowing the user to propel himself across the water. This device may also contain a rudder, and a rudder control allowing the user to steer these skis in the water.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates to a self-propelled water ski. Essentially, this self-propelled water ski has two floating boards that are activated by a user standing on each of the boards. The user is attached to the boards by a pivoting sandal. When a user uses the boards, the fins or other pushing means snap down to push the water allowing a person to walk across the water.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention relates to a self-propelled water ski. This water ski comprises at least one floating board. This board can be made from a floatable material such as wood, styrofoam, plastic, or any other type composite material that floats on water. This water ski can contain a roughened region so that a user can stand on this water ski and maintain traction. The user can strap himself or herself to this water ski via a rotatable or moveable sandal. Each of these water skis contains a series of fins which rotate about an axle attached to the water ski. Each of these fins is V-shaped, wherein the angle of this V is approximately 120°. These fins are V-shaped because it allows each of the fins to be designed stronger than a flat piece. This is because this V-shaped piece acts as an arch receiving pressure in a central portion that can be made thicker than the remaining portions. In addition, the angle of this V-shaped fin keeps the fin away from a bottom surface of the board, to avoid any suction between the floating board and the fin.  
           [0003]    In a first embodiment of the invention, the three rotatable fins attach to a bottom section of each of the self-propelled water skis. In addition, attached to the back end of the water ski is a rotatable rudder which comprises two rudder fins and a backplate, all attached on an axle.  
           [0004]    Essentially, when a user wants to propel himself or herself across the water, the user straps on each of these floating boards using a rubber sandal. The sandal has a series of buckles to be adjusted to strap a user&#39;s feet tight against the floating boards. Once a person stands up on these boards, with these boards floating on the water, the person can then walk forward by pushing one of his or her legs forward. As the user pushes his or her leg forward, the remaining leg is propelled back in the water. This remaining leg eventually locks in place on the top of the water because as that remaining floating board propels backwards, the fins and the rudder flip down. Once each of these fins and the rudder flip down on that remaining board, that board remains substantially stable and static on the water. By holding that remaining board static on the water, the user is given enough force to propel the other moveable board forward. As each of these boards is propelled forward, the fins and the rudder fold up underneath the moving board to allow it to propel forward with limited restraint across the water. So that this board remains stable along the water, the board has an substantially triangular shaped upward extending frontal region, that allows the board to cut through the water. In addition, the underside region of this board can contain small tracks or fins to keep the board floating in a straight line. Furthermore, a series of fins on the rudder also keep the board traveling in a substantially straight line.  
           [0005]    In the second embodiment of the invention, the propelling means includes a detachable frame having a plurality of louvered blades disposed within the frame. These frames are joined to each ski, not at right angles but with a back slanting of approximately 83 degrees. When a person wants to propel himself through water these louvered blades would rotate 90 degrees up and down to alternately let water flow past them and then to close to allow the user to propel himself through the water.  
           [0006]    In both the first and the second embodiment, each of the boards can be attached together along the inside region which allows some flexibility in the up and down movement of either ski.  
           [0007]    These boards can be attached to each other with a series of hinges that have ball bearings. In this case, each of the boards is attached together along the inside region to keep the boards together to allow the skier to move the skis back and forth along the grooves. At the same time, there is some flexibility in the up and down movement of either ski.  
           [0008]    With this optional design, these hinges with ball bearings allow a beginner to train his or her inner thigh muscles to hold the skis closer together. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.  
         [0010]    In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 shows a top view of a floating board according to the invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 shows a side view of a floating board shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 shows a front view of the floating board according to FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4A shows a side view of a floating board having a series of fins and a rudder attached thereto, wherein these fins and rudder are in a folded down position;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4B shows a front view of the floating board shown in FIG. 4A;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4C shows a back view of the floating board shown in FIG. 4A;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the board wherein the fins and rudder are in their folded down position;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6A shows a closeup side view of a fin;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6B shows a bottom view of the fins in their folded down position showing the angle of the inner section on either side of the fin;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7A shows a side view of the board, wherein the fins and the rudder are in a folded up position;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7B shows a front view of the floating board shown in FIG. 7A;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 7C shows a back view of the floating board shown in FIG. 7A;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 8 shows a bottom view of the invention, wherein the fins and the rudder are in a folded up position;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 9 shows a side view of the rudder;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 10 shows a bottom view of the rudder;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 11 shows a back view of the rudder in its folded down position;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 12 shows a top view of the second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 13 shows a closer view of the hinges shown in FIG. 12;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 14 shows a top view of the sandal in an unstrapped position;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 15 shows a top view of the sandal in a buckled position;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 16 shows a side view of the sandal in its buckled position; and  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of the first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 18 shows a side view of the second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 19 shows a front view of a louver shown in FIGS. 17 and 18;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 20 shows a perspective view of the blade;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 21 shows a top view of the blade;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 22 shows a side view of the blade;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 23 shows a perspective view of this second embodiment of the invention wherein the blades are closed;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 24A shows a perspective view of the invention wherein both skis are joined together;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 24B shows a close up view of the joined skis;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 24C shows a top view of these joined skis;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 25 shows a close up view of a back portion of the skis; and  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 26 shows a side view of the skis with rudders. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0044]    Referring now in detail to the drawings and, in particular, FIG. 1 relates to a top view of the self-propelling ski  10  according to the invention. Here there is a floating board  12 , having a roughened region  14  in a center portion wherein the board extends along the longitudinal axis  16  that intersects with a latitudinal axis  18  at a center point  20 . Floating board  12  is substantially rectangular, however, this front region  12 ′ has a flattened back at a back region  12 ″. In this way, floating board  12  has a ski-shape so that floating board  12  can cut across the water. FIG. 2 shows a side view of the floating board  12 , which forms one of the self-propelling skis  10 . The texture of the bottom region of floating board  12  has a series of fins  22 ,  24  and  26 .  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 3 shows a front view of floating board  12  which has the narrowed point for front region  12 ″. In this way, floating board  12  cuts across the water when this narrowed point  12  allows water to flow on either side of this narrowed point  12  creating a streamlined profile across the water. FIG. 4A shows a side view of floating board  12  having a series of fins  32 ,  34  and  36  attached to floating board via axles  23 ,  25  and  27 . Fins  32 ,  34  and  36  can fold up into recessed regions  22 ,  24  and  26 , respectively. In this case, fins  32 ,  34  and  36  are all folded down along with rudder  40  to create a resistant profile in the water. In this case, the self-propelled water ski  10  is designed to stay substantially stationary within the water while being held in place by fins  32 ,  34  and  36  and rudder  40 . Fins  32 ,  34  and  36  and rudder  40  all fold down away from floating board  12  when a person pushes back on floating board  12 . This backward push causes freely rotatable fins  32 ,  34  and  36  to rotate around axles  23 ,  25  and  27  and fold away from a bottom portion of floating board  12 . In addition, rudder  40 , which is attached by an axle, not shown, is also freely foldable. This folded down position can be seen also from a front view in FIG. 4B and a back view of floating board  12  shown in FIG. 4C.  
         [0046]    As shown in FIG. 4B, there is a first angle fin region  35  that joins with a second angle fin region  37  along a center line  30 . In addition, fins  44  extend down and out from rudder  40  below fins  32 ,  34  and  36 . In addition, FIG. 4C shows a back view, wherein there is a rudder plate  46  (see FIG. 11) that extends down to catch the water when rudder plate  46  is held in place by rudder tongues or fins  44 .  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of self-propelled water ski  10  showing fins  32 ,  34  and  36  and rudder  40  in a down extended position. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, fins  32 ,  34  and  36  are formed by a series of separate plates. In this case, catch flange  33  is attached to a first angled fin region  35  and a second angled fin region  37 , respectively. First angled fin region  35  and a second angled fin region  37  join in a center region  30  to form an approximately 120° angle. The design of this fin is important because with this angled fin, it forms a substantially stronger fin than that of a substantially flat fin shape. This additional strength is created by the substantially arch-shaped features of this fin.  
         [0048]    In addition, because this fin is substantially V-shaped or arch-shaped, fins  32 ,  34  and  36  avoid being caught or stuck to floating board  12  via a suction force.  
         [0049]    As is common in the water in water-based designs, water can be trapped between a foldable fin and a floating board. If the fin was designed substantially flat, water could be trapped between the surfaces of the fin and of the floating board and cause the fin to be substantially stuck to the floating board  12 .  
         [0050]    With this design, as the user tries to propel himself or herself forward, this flat-shaped fin would remain stuck to floating board  12 , rather than rotate down to provide a fin for propelling the user forward. Therefore, with this angle as shown in FIG. 6B, it creates a space between fins  32 ,  34  and  36  and floating board  12 . This gap keeps fins  32 ,  34  and  36  away from floating board  12  so that when a user propels himself or herself forward, fins  32 ,  34  and  36  automatically rotates down around hinges  23 ,  25  and  27 , respectively to create a self-propelled water ski. FIG. 7A shows a side view of self-propelled ski  10 , wherein fins  32 ,  34  and  36  are in a folded up position stored adjacent to recesses  22 ,  24  and  26 , respectively. In addition, rudder  40  is also folded up in an upward position so that rudder fins  42 ′ and  42 ″ (see FIG. 10) help point the ski in a straight line. In addition, attached to board  12  is a button like protrusion  43  that is designed to hold rudder  40  away from the body of floating board  12 , making it easier for rudder  40  to switch from an up position to a down position.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIGS. 7B and 7C show a front view and a back view, respectively of the fins and the rudder in their folded up position. As shown in FIG. 7B, there is a first angled fin region  35   a  and a second angled fin region  35   b  joined in middle region  30  to form a V-shaped profile underneath board  12 . In addition, rudder fins  42   a  and  42   b  set a profile along the water so that floating board  12  flows in a straight line. When fins  32 ,  34  and  36  and rudder  40  are in their folded up position, floating board  12  can cut across the water more easily than when fins  32 ,  34  and  36  and rudder  40  are in their downward position which then provide propulsion.  
         [0052]    Thus, to allow an individual to walk across the water, one of the boards has fins in their downward position while the other board has fins in their upward position. Since the fins extend in an upward position when a person pushes forward on the board, and the fins extend in a downward position when a person pushes back on the board to move across the water, a user would ultimately push forward on one board and backward on another to propel forward across the water. For example, if the user pushed forward on the board attached to his or her right leg, then the user would ultimately push back on board  12  attached to his or her left leg. These movements simulate a walking motion across the water.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 8 shows a bottom view of board  12  showing fins  32 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  all folded up underneath board  12 . In addition, rudder  40  is also folded up and viewed from the bottom view.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 9 shows a side view of rudder  40  wherein there is shown rudder fin  44  and back plate  46  joining rudder fin  42 . Back plate  46  helps to catch the flow of water as rudder fin  42  in  40  is folded down. With this design, back plate  46  keeps the water from flowing underneath board  12  to allow a user to propel himself or herself across the water.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 10 shows an alternate view of rudder  40  wherein there is shown rudder fins  42 ′ and  42 ″ joining with rudder plate  46 . As shown when rudder  40  is folded down, rudder fins  42 ′ and  42 ″ extend out in an angled manner such that they flare in toward the back region and flare out toward the front region such that the outer edges of fins  42 ′ and  42 ″ join with an outer region of board  12 .  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 11 shows the back view of rudder  40  shown rudder plate  46  as it joins rudder fins  42 ′ and  42 ″.  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of the invention showing board  110  consisting of boards  112  and  116  joined together in a central region by a series of ball bearings shown in FIG. 13. Here, boards  112  and  116  have a roughened region  114  positioned in a main center portion of the board. There is also a hole  120  for attaching straps onto these boards. In addition, there is a plate  121  that joins these two boards  112  and  116  together. Plate  121  is shown in FIG. 13 wherein there are shown a series of ball bearings  122  and  124  designed to join plate  121  together as shown in FIG. 12. With this design, plate  121  is a slidable plate allowing boards  112  and  116  to be connected together while sliding along side each other.  
         [0058]    With this design, a user can use the boards without having the boards slide apart from each other. In this way, this design is a training device allowing users to train on this board without losing his or her balance.  
         [0059]    Foot straps  125  can also be attached to these boards. FIGS. 14, 15 and  16  show foot straps  125  which contain a bottom piece  126 , a series of strap pieces  127 , buckle  128  and a connection hole  129  allowing strap  125  to connect to boards  112  and  116 . Strap pieces  127  shown in FIG. 15 can be folded up and buckled over on top of the foot. As shown in FIG. 16, strap  125  is connected via a bolt or screw to a board such that it can rotate up allowing a person to angle up the straps on the shoe to propel himself or herself forward. With this design a user can propel himself or herself forward while gaining the benefit of further adjustability with these movable straps.  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of the second embodiment of the invention wherein there is shown a ski  112  which has a front tip  112 ′ and a back end  112 ″. There are a plurality of propelling means or blinds  130 ,  140 ,  150  and  160 . Each set of blinds  130 ,  140 ,  150 , and  160  includes a set of blades  132 ,  142 ,  152 , and  162  respectively. Each set of blades  132 ,  142 ,  152 , and  162  are set in their respective frames  124 ,  134 ,  144 ,  154 , and  164 .  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 18 shows blades,  132 ,  142 , and  152  and  162  in an open position wherein these blades are set to allow water to flow past them. These blades as shown in FIGS. 19, 20,  21 , and  22  are substantially wing shaped with a narrow front end that expands into a wider section and then gradually tapers of into a thinner section. Blades  132 ,  142 ,  152  and  162  are coupled to frames  134 ,  144 ,  154 , and  164  via an off center axle ( 132 A,  142 A,  152 A,  162 A) wherein these blades rotate within the frames with a total possible angle of rotation being approximately 80 degrees. The blades can move from a substantially open position as shown in FIG. 18, to a substantially closed position as shown in FIG. 23 due to the off center position of the axis placed toward the front edge of the blade. In the closed position, blades  132 ,  142 ,  152 ,  162  rotate downwards when the ski is pushed back so that it closes an opening, which allows water to pass. Thus, with this design, when a user kicks a ski back, blades  132 ,  142 ,  152 ,  162  snap down to close then openings in frames  134 ,  144 ,  154 , and  164  creating a closed face allowing the ski to brace against the water and propel the user and the other ski forward. At the same time, the alternate ski can move forward because the blades in the ski on the other foot can be in an open position allowing the user to slide that ski forward. The user can thus propel himself forward by alternately kicking one ski back while kicking the other ski forward.  
         [0062]    These blades move in unison resulting from a fine fish-line threaded through each blade at a back center position, this string is knotted on each blade to cause a uniform up and down movement. This fish line is tautly knotted to a bottom of the frame when the blades are in their up position. This allows the blades to drop but not go upward beyond an optimum up position.  
         [0063]    [0063]FIG. 24A shows two skis  112  positioned side by side wherein there is also shown a plurality of coupling tracks  170  and  180  which include rails  172  and  182  and clips  174  and  184  (See FIG. 24B) which couple skis  112  together. Clips  174  and  184  contain ball bearings and allow rails  172  and  182  to slide therethrough. FIG. 24B shows ball bearings  175  within clip  174  and hinges  176  on clip  174  in greater detail. FIG. 24C shows a top view of these skis showing a left and right rudder guide  190 L and  190 R and a left and a right rudder  192 L and  192 R.  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 25 shows a rudder guide  190 L and  190 R and a rudder  192 L and  192 R which allows the user to rotate these rudders to steer skis  112  in the water. The user can rotate rudders  192 L and  192 R a total of 90 degrees left on the left board and up to 90 degrees right on the right board to steer the ski. This design allows the user to rotate the rudder 90° on either board, but not simultaneously. This steers skis  112  in the water in the direction that the user chooses. The non-steering ski is there to maintain balance. FIG. 26 shows a side view of these skis which also shows rudder guides  190 L and  190 R along with rudders  192 L and  192 R.  
         [0065]    Accordingly, while only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.