US20040009722A1 - Circular skim board - Google Patents

Abstract

A skim board is provided which incorporates a flat circular form for use in the receding surf at the waters edge. A rigid flat structure of sufficient weight, thickness and circumference so as to carry a rider across the shallow water and wet sand with little resistance. A circumference large enough to allow the rider side to side and fore and aft stepping about the platform surface, thus affording a certain measure of control and maneuverability.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• “Not Applicable”[0001]
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
• “Not Applicable”[0002]
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX
• “Not Applicable”[0003]
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• Skim boards are devices used for skimming or gliding on the shallow water and wet sand at the surf's edge. [0004]
• In form skim boards are generally elongated boards made of wood or plastic as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No 3,176,999. Other skim boards have concave top surfaces and convex bottom surfaces as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,914. [0005]
• A skim board is ridden in an upright or prone position. After throwing the board on to the shallow water at the surf's edge the rider runs and jumps onto the board creating a forward momentum that propels him over the shallow water and wet sand. [0006]
• It is an object of this invention to provide a skim board with a circular form to: [0007]
• 1. Improve balance, maneuverability and length of ride when traveling on the receeding surf's shallow water. [0008]
• 2. Allow the rider a continuing ride and/or a change in direction by kicking the skim board forward or in a new direction, running, jumping, and remounting the skim board. [0009]
• It is another object of this invention to provide a skim board with a flat bottom surface which allows the total area of the circumference to be in continuous contact with the gliding surface (shallow water and wet sand). [0010]
• It is another important object of this invention to provide a skim board with a rounded over bottom edge sufficient in profile to divert excess water not necessary to glide across the reseeding surf's shallow water and wet sand. [0011]
• The circular form, flat bottom surface and rounded over bottom edge provides the rider with a long, smooth, controllable and continuing ride. [0012]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a top view showing the circular shape and proportional size of the invention. [0013]
• FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation from line [0014] 2-2 in FIG. 1 showing board thickness, diameter and edge treatment.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• In the drawings the [0015] skim board 3 has a circular form with a flat top surface 4 and a flat bottom surface 5 parallel to one another.
• The [0016] skim boards structure 7 is composed of solid or laminated, material such as wood, plastic, or fiberglass and becomes a rigid form once completed.
• The entire circumference of the skim board has a rounded over [0017] bottom edge 6 tapering from the top surface 4 to the bottom surface 5 with a profile sufficient to divert excess water not required for skimming or gliding.
• A surface diameter [0018] 8 of twenty four to forty inches has been found to produce handling and performance characteristics most suitable for the skim board's glide on the shallow water and wet sand at the surf's edge.
• The skim board's finished thickness [0019] 9 of one half to seven eighths of an inch has been found to provide a rigid and stable platform on which the rider may move about executing turns, rotations, and stunts.
• The terms used to describe the invention are for illustrative purposes. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the claims. [0020]

Claims (5)

What I claim is:

1. A skim board comprising a circular board and including a flat top which provides a riding surface, a flat bottom which provides a gliding or skimming surface and a rounded over bottom edge.

2. A skim board as in claim 1 for use in riding on the receeding surf's shallow water and wet sand.

3. A skim board as in claim 1 which the circumference of the board is large enough to allow an upright rider enough stepping movement side to side and fore and aft to afford a certain measure of control and maneuverability.

4. A skim board as in claim 1 in which the flat laminated layers forming the rigid structure are of wood, plastic or a combination of both and attain a finished thickness of one half to seven eighths of an inch.

5. A skim board as in claim 1 in which the bottom edge of the flat gliding or skimming surface has around over shape sufficient in profile to divert excess water not necessary to glide across the receding surf's shallow water and wet sand.

Images