Abstract:
A body surfing hydrofoil includes a breastplate having a buoyant material extending between an inner surface and outer surface. The breastplate has a generally rigid planar shape defined by a perimeter having opposing sides diverging outwardly from a top portion to a bottom portion. A spacer is affixed to the inner surface of the breastplate and is sufficiently flexible for compressing and retracting as a result of breathing by a person biased against the spacer. A rear flotation member is integrally connected to the breastplate.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 61/423,879 having a filing date of Dec. 16, 2010; 61/475,999 having a filing date of Apr. 15, 2011; and 61/486,029 having a filing date of May 13, 2011 for Body Surfing Enhancement Device and Associated Methods, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, and all commonly owned. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The invention generally relates to aquatic sports, and more particularly to body surfing. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is known to use surfboards to support a person while on the surface of water, commonly known as “riding” a wave. It is also known to “body surf,” that is, to ride a wave without the use of a surfboard by stretching one&#39;s body out in as planar a configuration as possible and permitting oneself to be carried ashore by the wave. 
     As is well known in the art, body surfers typically extend their bodies horizontally and project their arms forward while allowing a breaking wave to drive them shoreward with the surf. It is important to a body surfer to have a stable ride and to be able to control direction and position on a wave face. Since a body surfer typically avoids using a surf board, it is generally difficult to control stability, direction and position on a wave face. As a result, body surfing suits are popular and well known in the art. For a body surfing suit to work as desired, the suit must allow for ease in bending ones body in all natural directions of movement while swimming and providing buoyancy in a preferred location and position with respect to the surface of the water. It is preferable to have buoyancy greatest at the surfer&#39;s chest and taper down toward the feet to ensure the surfer has a safe and enjoyable ride. It is also desirable to provide comfort during repeated and multiple rides. It is especially desirable that the surfer be allowed to breathe easily during an entire water activity involving swimming, surfing and vertical or horizontal rest periods. 
     While few body surfing suits are well known, typically upper body portions do not allow adequate body bending because of a rigid structure being employed and while buoyant materials are used, they are not strategically placed to provide a desirable water experience. Further, while fins are employed, they are not typically sized or positioned to provide a synergy with the upper body portion of the suit for enhancing the wave surfing experience. 
     The present invention seeks to overcome limitations by providing the body surfer a means to stabilize his ride and control his direction and position on a wave while being able to experience multiple events without over exertion. Further, body surfing is known to be quite difficult and demanding on one&#39;s body, especially in more rigorous wave conditions. Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide means for enhancing the body surfing experience even in such rigorous conditions. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a body surfing hydrofoil. In keeping with the teachings of the present invention, one embodiment may comprise a plurality of substantially rigid elements connectable together with flexible elements to form a “suit” wearable by a user. 
     One embodiment of the invention may include a body surfing hydrofoil comprising a breastplate having a buoyant material extending between an inner surface and outer surface, the breastplate having a planar shape defined by a perimeter having opposing sides diverging outwardly from a top portion to a bottom portion, wherein the breastplate has a generally rigid construction, a spacer affixed to the inner surface of the breastplate, wherein the spacer is sufficiently flexible for compressing and retracting as a result of breathing by a person in a prone position on the spacer, and a rear flotation member having an integrated foam bridge connection to the breastplate. 
     Yet another embodiment according to the teachings of the present invention may comprise a wet suit formed from a generally flexible fabric, a plurality of fixed elements secured to outside surface portions of the wet suit, a breastplate having a buoyant material extending between an inner surface and outer surface, the breastplate having a planar shape defined by a perimeter having opposing sides extending from a top portion to a bottom portion, wherein the breastplate has a generally rigid construction, a spacer affixed to the inner surface of the breastplate, wherein the spacer is sufficiently thick enough to provide a separation of the wearer&#39;s torso from the water surface when a hydrofoil effect begins. The spacer is flexible for compressing and retracting as a result of breathing by a person in a vertical position on the spacer, and non elastic elements attached between each of the plurality of rigid elements and the breastplate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the invention are described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an exemplary body surfing hydrofoil in keeping with the teachings of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is side perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a back perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 4 and 5  are top front perspective views of leg wings operable with the hydrofoil of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is bottom perspective view of the leg wings of  FIGS. 4 and 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial bottom perspective view of the leg wings of  FIGS. 4 and 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of wet suit shorts useable with the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , herein presented by way of example; 
         FIG. 9  is a partial rear view of the wet suit shorts of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a partial front view of a wet suit&#39;s torso portion useable with the embodiment of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a front perspective view illustrating a full wet suit having leg wings in keeping with the teachings of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a partial rear perspective of a top portion of a wet suit useable with the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates rigid elements secured to an otherwise flexible fabric typically used for wet suits; 
         FIG. 14  is a front perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  that illustrates non-elastic straps carried on a wet suit suitable for connection to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a partial rear perspective view of the embodiments of  FIG. 14  that illustrates non-elastic straps carried on a wet suit suitable for connection to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a partial rear perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 14 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown by way of illustration and example. This invention may, however, be embodied in many 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 fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numerals refer to like elements. 
     With reference initially to  FIGS. 1-3 , a body surfing hydrofoil  100  may optionally be operable with a wet suit, which preferably is worn and removably connected with the surfing hydrofoil  100 . The wet suit is herein described, by way of example, as being provided in three embodiments: shorts  130  ( FIGS. 8-9 ); a full suit  140  ( FIGS. 10-12 ); and a short legged suit (“spring suit”)  150  ( FIGS. 14-16 ). 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 1-3 , the surfing hydrofoil  100  comprises a breastplate  101  and positioning shoulder portions  109  integrated by incorporating the breastplate  101  and a rear flotation member  110  for upper back stabilization. The surfing hydrofoil  100  further comprises connection elements, including braided straps ( 112 ,  114 ,  115 ,  116 ) and cut outs  119 ( a ),  119 ( b ),  121  and  122 . These connection elements are connected to the breastplate  101  and the rear floatation member  110  which are connectible to fixed non-elastic surface fixed elements (e.g.  FIGS. 10 and 12 ,  144 ) on the wet suit. This allows the surfing hydrofoil  100  to be affixed to a user wearing the wet suit and to provide optimal hydrodynamics when in use. 
     The breastplate  101  is configured to be positioned with an inner surface  111  parallel with and along the length of the chest and torso of a user. The rear flotation member  110  is positioned on the back of the user, kept in place by the integrated shoulder portions  109  and braided straps ( FIG. 11 ,  141  and  142 ;  FIG. 14 ,  151 ,  152 ) passing through the cutouts  119 A,  119 B. The lower neoprene material of rear floatation member  110  is attached above the waist to braided straps ( 112 ,  114 ) that are integrated with the internal structure of the hydrofoil  100 . The breastplate  101  is constructed of a buoyant and semi-rigid material. The surfing hydrofoil  100  comprises an outwardly planar breastplate  101  to provide optimal hydrodynamics when in use. 
     As best illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the breastplate  101  has a trapezoidal shape with a curved lower edge  104 . The lower edge  104  is arcuate, meeting the side edges  106  at a flared lower rounded corner  105 . The lower rounded corners  105  extend longitudinally beyond the middle portion of the lower edge. These extended, flared out rounded corners  105  provide additional surface area to contact the water outside of the width of the user&#39;s body and funnel water away from the user&#39;s body. The side edges  106  are substantially linear sloping inward to provide a shorter upper edge  107  than lower edge  104 . The upper edge  107  has a substantially central inward curvature  108  as it is closest to a neck of the user when in use. The breastplate  101  has a substantially planar outer surface  103 . 
     The breastplate  101  also comprises cutouts  121  and  122  extending through the upper portions of the breastplate from the inner surface  111  to the outer surface  103  for receiving braided shoulder straps  151 ,  152  ( FIG. 14 ) from rigid non-elastic fixed elements ( FIGS. 10 and 12 ,  144 ) on the wet suit to secure the breastplate  101  in place, as will be addressed later with reference to  FIG. 14 . 
     The surfing hydrofoil  100  also comprises spacers ( FIG. 2 ,  102 ;  FIG. 3 ,  102   a ,  102   b , and  102   c ) constructed from a buoyant material. The spacers are affixed to the inner surface  111  of the breastplate  101  and extend substantially along the length of the inner surface  111 . The spacers  102  provide added structure and buoyancy to the breastplate  101  and act as a soft cushion against a user&#39;s chest and lungs to assist breathing during a prone or vertical position by providing a compressible material to compress and retract during breathing. The spacers  102  also provide additional height for the surfing hydrofoil  100  to space the user&#39;s torso further away from the breastplate  101  and thereby desirably raise the user further above the surface of the water while in use. The spacers  102  are dimensioned to provide approximately four to five inches of distance from the user&#39;s chest to the outside surface area where the breastplate  101  contacts the water surface and creates a hydrofoil effect. The distance is not specified as a limitation. 
     The shoulder portions  109  are comprised of elongated flexible members constructed as foam encased neoprene material and dimensioned to extend from the user&#39;s upper chest at the front of the torso, over the shoulders, and to the user&#39;s upper shoulders at the back of the torso. The shoulder portions  109  are connected to the breastplate  101  at connection  162 . The integrated shoulder portions  109  include the cut outs  119 A and  119 B in the rear portion  125  of the shoulder portions  109 . The cut outs  119 A and  119 B extend through the shoulder portions  109  from the inner surface to the outer surface of the incorporated shoulder portions  109  to receive the shoulder braided straps ( FIG. 11 ,  141  and  142 ;  FIG. 14 ,  151  and  152 ) of the wet suits ( FIG. 11 ,  140 ; FIG.  14 ,  150 ) to removably connect the surfing hydrofoil  100  with the wetsuit ( FIG. 11 ,  140 ;  FIG. 14 ,  150 ) and to hold the rear flotation member  110  in place on the user&#39;s back. The rear flotation member  110  is preferably attached to the breastplate  101  at only its upper and lower portions to allow freedom of movement by the wearer. The shoulder portions  109  are adjustable and can include, both for buoyancy and for comfort, foam elements  109 A positioned within the neoprene to act as a counter balance while in a vertical orientation. 
     In some cases, and as illustrated with reference now to  FIGS. 4-7 , it may be desired to provide additional lift with the use of leg wings  38 . One embodiment extends down the legs of the user and is preferably curved outwardly to rest against the front of the user&#39;s legs. As further described below, spacers  113  separate the wing element  45  from the leg. 
     The leg wing  38  has a rear sleeve  40  attachable about the user&#39;s leg with the use of attachment means such as, but not intended to be limited to, hook-and-loop-type fastener elements or zippers. Affixed to a front of the sleeve  40  is a substantially rigid wing element  45  having a cylindrical flotation element  41  affixed longitudinally thereto along an outer edge  42 . The leg wing  38  also has a slot  43  along a top edge  44  for receiving an attachment element, to be discussed below. 
     The leg wings  38  can be affixed to a belt by means of straps  53  ( FIG. 6 ) extending through the leg wing slot  43 . 
     As illustrated with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 3  and  10  through  13 , a desirable element of the surfing hydrofoil is the inclusion of a plurality of substantially semi-rigid elements including the braided straps, which include waist straps  112  and  114  and back strap  115 , a Velcro® and braided combination belt  116 , and the cutouts  119 A,  119 B,  121  and  122 . These connection elements are removably connectible with fixed elements  141 ,  142 ,  143 ,  144 , and/or  145 , that are attached to or sewn onto rigid elements adhered onto an otherwise flexible wet suit. This wet suit incorporates such portions on the suit that do not stretch. This wet suit is wearable by a user with the non-stretching portions ready to accept the Velcro® and braided flexible belt  116  from the lower area on the surfing hydrofoil  100  to hold the surfing hydrofoil in place on the body of the user and in a secure connection to the wet suit. 
     As illustrated with reference to  FIGS. 3 ,  8  and  9 , the connection elements of the shorts  130  include waist belt loops  131  and  134  on each waist side of the shorts, front belt loops  132  and  133  and a rear loop  135  each of which connect with and are secured to respective waist straps  112  and  114  and back strap  115  on the surfing hydrofoil  100 . The waist straps  112  and  114  and back strap  115  are threaded between the surfer&#39;s wet suit and belt  116  and then folded over onto itself connection by means of the Velcro® on the straps. 
     Likewise, the short-legged suit  150 , illustrated with reference to  FIG. 14 , includes connection elements comprising front shoulder straps  151 ,  152  for connection through the cutouts  121 ,  122  ( FIG. 1 ) and front waist belt loops  153 ,  154  and back waist belt loops  155 ,  156 ,  157 , as illustrated with reference to  FIG. 15 , for removably connecting with the waist straps  112 ,  114 ,  115 ,  116  ( FIG. 3 ) of the surfing hydrofoil  100  ( FIG. 3 ). 
     With reference again to  FIG. 11 , the full suit  140  also includes leg wings  148  that extend down the front of the legs of the suit. The leg wings  148  protrude outwardly to have inner  149 B and outer edges  149 A that extend wider than the leg and form a planar surface to provide additional surfing surface area. When the leg wings  148  are positioned with inner edges together in use, the leg wings  148  form a unified surface that provides additional surfing area and lift to the legs of the user. 
     As illustrated with reference to  FIGS. 14 ,  16  and again to  FIG. 4 , the leg wings  148  are also constructed of a buoyant material. The leg wings  148  are securely attached with adhesive and sewn onto the leg wing spacers  113  creating a lower body hydrofoil effect. As a result, cushioning is provided to the user and the leg wings  148  are prevented from being deformed during the wave riding experience. A gap or channel formed by the separation of the leg with the wings is blocked at an upper portion of the leg wings by a seal  113 A. The seal  113 A prevents water from flowing through the gap. In the spring suit  150 , as illustrated with reference to  FIG. 14 , the leg wings  148  extend only to the knee portion of the user. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 15 and 16 , incorporated cylindrical flotation elements  160  (similar to those cylindrical flotation element  41  of  FIG. 7 ) are shown attached to short-legged wet suit  150 . 
     It can be seen by one of skill in the art that the embodiments of the present invention obscure the user&#39;s body shape in the water to provide an improved surface for body surfing. 
     As will be understood, water temperature may determine whether the full suit or the spring suit embodiments are worn. Although water conditions could exist where just the breastplate is needed or just the leg wings used for the body surfing experience. 
     It will also be understood by one of skill in the art that the neoprene and foam cylinders and spacers as described herein could be replaced with a formed buoyant material, such as an extruded blow-molded foam for more than one element, thereby reducing the plurality of element in favor of a unitary element. 
     Although the invention has been described relative to various selected embodiments, herein presented by way of example, there are numerous variations and modifications that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the claims hereto attached and supported by this specification, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.