Paddleboard

Abstract

A paddleboard with a supporting base which is composed of a floating body (1). The floating body (1) is provided with at least one boarding opening (6) in the central part, around the perimeter of which mounting points (7) are arranged on the bottom wall of the floating body (1), to which a position-adjustable seat (9) is removably fixed. For example, the seat (9) has the shape of a downwardly curved basket with a square perimeter and is formed by mutually perpendicularly arranged and interwoven straps (91) fixed in the peripheral rim (92).

Description

[0001] Paddleboard

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The invention falls within the field of water sports equipment design, specifically paddleboarding, and relates to a modification of the board (floating body), in particular an inflatable one, to enable less physically fit users to use the paddleboard.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] Paddleboarding originated as an alternative to surfing when the surfboards started to be used for riding small waves while standing up with a paddle when the conditions were not ideal for surfing. This active type of water sport has gained great popularity among the public, since it can be practiced not only in ocean surf waves but also on the surface of lakes, ponds, or rivers. Moreover, it is also recommended by physicians, since it is a sport which engages the whole body evenly, improving the sense of balance and physical fitness. According to medical studies, paddling engages a large group of muscles ranging from the calf muscles in the legs, through the back and abdominal oblique muscles, to all the muscles in the arms. Moreover, it is an aerobic sport. Paddleboarding can be enjoyed by riders who prefer wave riding, as it requires a smaller wave than a traditional surfboard, and for a beginner, catching waves is easier thanks to the paddle, which provides greater stroke than the hand in surfing. Paddleboarding is very often practiced by users who are into recreational fitness paddling on lakes, ponds, rivers, and seas and are therefore looking for calm, non-flowing waters. Traditional designs of the paddleboard floating bodies allow users to stand, kneel, or lie down while paddling, but standing or kneeling for long periods of paddling is tiring and users get tired and often have difficulty maintaining balance. If the user decides to lie down on the floating body, they lose visibility and orientation at longer distances.

[0006] In order to enable less physically fit persons to practice paddleboarding, the floating bodies have long been modified and equipped with various additional seats, which are either rigidly attached to the upper surface of the floating body or may be inserted into closed recesses formed in the core of the floating body and covered with rigid fillers for standard use. Examples of such modifications include, for example, the solutions described in the documents US8752492, US 10494066, US2015059638, US2022089256, US202324222, US2023331354, CN217048971, CN219770120, CN219096936, CN217673106. However, such additional seats may have a negative effect on the user's posture and stability when paddling, as they also do not guarantee stability of the floating body on the water surface.

[0007] The purpose of the present invention is to present an entirely new concept of paddleboard modification that allows for a more comfortable and stable method of practicing paddleboarding for an extended period of time without requiring the users to stand, kneel, or lie down, while maintaining versatility and functionality of use.

[0008] Summary of the Invention

[0009] The said object is achieved by the invention, which is a paddleboard, a supporting base of which is formed by a floating body made of an elastic plastic material, where the essence of the invention lies in the fact that the floating body is provided with at least one boarding opening in the central part, around the perimeter of which mounting points are arranged on the bottom wall of the floating body, to which a position-adjustable seat is removably fixed.

[0010] The position adjustability preferably allows the seat to be adapted to the user, especially in terms of height and / or tensi on stiffness. This can increase the comfort, and effici ency of paddling. In particular, this adjustability may be provided by the adjustability of the length of the mounting points. For example, using the D-rings described below. It may also be provided by the shape of a basket, which is also described below.

[0011] Therefore, the floating body may be made of flexible plastic. For example, the floating body may be made of a multi-layer PVC. Other suitable materials for the floating body may be determined by a person skilled in the art.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the bottom wall of the floating body is equipped in the area in front of the boarding opening with at least one pair of grips situated perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the floating body, to which a foot support is removably attached, wherein the boarding opening is formed in the shape of a circle, or a half-oval, or a square, or an ellipse, or a rhombus, or a triangle, or a hexagon, or other polygon, where in the angular shapes, the transitions in the edges of the boarding opening contour are rounded.

[0013] Further, it is preferred if the seat has the shape of a downwardly curved basket with a square perimeter and is formed by mutually perpendicularly arranged and interwoven straps fixed in the peripheral rim.

[0014] Also, it is preferred when the mounting points are formed in a D-ring design to which the seat is fixed by means of sliding buckles.

[0015] In an optimal embodiment, the seat is equipped with a backrest removably attachable to its seating area in the direction towards the stern of the floating body.

[0016] In an alternative embodiment, the floating body is provided with two boarding openings positioned one behind the other.

[0017] The present invention achieves a novel and enhanced effect by utilizing the conventional basic design of the floating body, into which a seat support is integrated under the bottom surface of the floating body through the boarding opening of the paddleboard, allowing the user to sit directly in the water. Thanks to this design, the user's center of gravity is lowered compared to sitting on the upper surface of the paddleboard, which significantly increases stability and comfort. The design also provides a rigid foot support, against which the user can brace themselves. This support allows the user to actively engage their legs while paddling in the seated position, similar to a kayak, by allowing the user to comfortably extend their legs during the paddling. Simultaneously, this design provides a cooling effect of the water on the user's body during hot days.

[0018] Description of Drawings

[0019] Specific exemplary embodiments of the invention are schematically shown in the accompanying drawings, in which fig. 1a) is a top view of the basic embodiment of the paddleboard with a central circular boarding opening in the floating body, fig. 1b) is a bottom view of the paddleboard of fig. 1a), fig. 2a) and fig. 2b) are views of the paddleboard with a central half-oval aperture, fig. 3a) and fig. 3b) are views of the paddleboard with a central square boarding opening, fig. 4a) and fig. 4b) are views of the paddleboard with a central elliptical boarding opening, fig. 5a) and fig. 5b) are views of the paddleboard with a central rhombic boarding opening, fig. 6a) and fig. 6b) are views of the paddleboard with a central triangular boarding opening, fig. 7a) and fig. 7b) are views of an alternative embodiment of the paddleboard with two circular boarding openings positioned one behind the other, fig. 8a) and fig. 8b) are views of the paddleboard with a central hexagonal boarding opening, fig. 9a) and fig. 9b) are views of the paddleboard with a central hexagonal boarding opening fitted with a seat support with a backrest, fig. 10a) and fig. 10b) are views of the paddleboard with a central elliptical boarding opening of fig. 4a) and fig. 4b) fitted with a seat support, with a backrest.

[0020] The drawings showing the presented invention and the subsequently described examples of a particular embodiment do not, in any way, limit the scope of protection stated in the definition, instead, they merely clarify the essence of the paddleboard modification.

[0021] Exemplary Embodiments of the Invention

[0022] In the basic embodiment, the paddleboard is composed of the conventional supporting base comprising a floating body 1 of the standard design in the shape of an elongated ellipse, which is made of an elastic plastic material and the surface thereof is preferably covered with at least one layer of vinyl material, typically PVC. In the front and rear part, the upper surface of the floating body 1 is provided with two handles 2, 2’ situated perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the floating body 1 and used to facilitate the carrying of the inflated and assembled paddleboard. Behind the front handle 2 towards the center of the floating body 1, elastic binding cords 3 are installed on its upper surface, serving to fix a cargo, for example a backpack or other necessities that the user takes along for the ride. A control valve 4 is installed on the upper surface in front of the rear handle 2’ used to inflate and deflate the floating body 1. A fin 5 is installed in the rear part of the bottom surface of the floating body 1 used to maintain the direction of the ride and stability when paddling.

[0023] The floating body 1, with a standard length usually between 300 and 340 cm and width approximately 80 cm, is provided with a circular boarding opening 6 in the central part with a diameter of approximately 50 cm for inserting the rider's legs and lower torso when boarding the paddleboard. Around the circular boarding opening 6, four mounting points 7, preferably in a D- ring design, are regularly arranged on the bottom wall of the floating body 1, to which a position- adjustable seat 9 in the shape of a downwardly curved basket having a square perimeter, formed of mutually perpendicularly arranged and interwoven straps 91 fixed in the peripheral rim 92, is removably fixed by means of sliding buckles 8. The bottom wall of the floating body 1 is equipped with two pairs of grips 10 situated perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the floating body 1 preferably in a D-ring design, in the area in front of the boarding opening 6, to which, by means of unmarked sliding buckles, a foot support 11 may be optionally attached depending on the length of the rider’s legs.

[0024] The embodiment described is not the only possible design solution of the paddleboard, since the boarding opening 6 does not have to be circular in shape but may have any contour, for example, as shown in fig. 2 to fig. 10, the shape of a half-oval, square, ellipse, rhombus, triangle, hexagon, or other polygon, wherein in the shapes of the angular embodiment, the transitions in the edges are rounded. The floating body 1 may be provided with two boarding openings 6 positioned one behind the other, as shown, for example, in fig. 7a) and fig. 7b). The seat 9 may be equipped with a backrest 93. removably attachable to the bottom unmarked seating area towards the stern of the floating body 1, as shown, for example, in fig. 9 and fig. 10. Finally, without affecting the scope of protection of the present invention, the floating body 1 may be provided with more than one fin 5, more than four mounting points 7 may be positioned around the boarding opening 6 on the bottom side of the floating body 1, or the floating body 1 may be equipped with only two grips

[0025] 10 for attaching the foot support 11. Industrial Applicability

[0026] The paddleboard incorporating the new design elements is intended for use by a wide range of persons, regardless of their physical fitness, age, or weight,

Claims

CLAIMS1. A paddleboard with a supporting base formed by a floating body (1) made of an elastic plastic material, characterized in that the floating body (1) is provided with at least one boarding opening (6) in a central part of the floating body (1), wherein around a perimeter of the boarding opening (6), mounting points (7) are arranged on the bottom wall of the floating body (1), to which mounting points (7) a position-adjustable seat (9) is removably fixed.

2. The paddleboard according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom wall of the floating body (1) is equipped with at least one pair of grips (10) in an area in front of the boarding opening (6), the grips (10) being situated perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the floating body (1), wherein a foot support (1 1) is removably attached to the grips (10).

3. The paddleboard according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the boarding opening (6) is formed in the shape of a circle, or a half-oval, or a square, or an ellipse, or a rhombus, or a triangle, or a hexagon, or other polygon, wherein for the angular shapes, transitions in the edges of the boarding opening (6) are rounded.

4. The paddleboard according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the seat (9) has a shape of a downwardly curved basket with a square perimeter and is formed by mutually perpendicularly arranged and interwoven straps (91) fixed in a peripheral rim (92).

5. The paddleboard according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the mounting points (7) are formed as D-rings to which the seat (9) is fixed by means of sliding buckles (8).

6. The paddleboard according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the seat (9) is equipped with a backrest (93) removably attachable to a seating area of the seat (9) in direction towards a stern of the floating body (1).

7. The paddleboard according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the floating body (1) is provided with two boarding openings (6) positioned one behind the other.

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