Stand Up Paddle Board Window Friction Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stand up paddle boards and similar floating boards typically obstruct the view of marine life, making it inconvenient and potentially dangerous for users to observe underwater environments without leaning over the edge, which can lead to accidents.
Innovation Solution
A stand up paddle board design featuring a transparent window with a sealed, friction-fit configuration in the front end, allowing users to view marine life without entering the water, combined with light ports for illumination, enhancing visibility and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a window is added to the paddle board to enable viewing of marine life, then viewing capability is improved, but the risk of water entry into the board increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible sealing materials including a rubber gasket and silicone sealant that form water-tight barriers around the window opening. The gasket compresses against the board housing to create a seal, while silicone sealant fills gaps and crevices to prevent water penetration, thus maintaining reliability while enabling viewing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary sealing structure consisting of a rubber gasket and silicone sealant layer between the window assembly and the board housing. This intermediary sealing layer absorbs dimensional variations and creates a water-tight barrier, mediating between the viewing function and water-tightness requirement.
2Ease of operation
If a window is installed in the paddle board, then viewing of marine life is enabled, but the structural integrity of the board may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the window assembly into separate components including a window glass, rubber gasket, and housing structure. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the glass for viewing clarity, the gasket for sealing, and the housing for structural strength - while maintaining overall integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction by combining different materials with complementary properties: transparent material for the window glass to provide viewing capability, rubber material for the gasket to provide flexibility and sealing, and structural material for the housing to maintain strength. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between viewing function and structural integrity.
3Area of stationary object
If the window is made larger to improve viewing, then viewing area increases, but the risk of water entry and structural weakness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible sealing materials such as a rubber gasket and silicone sealant that can accommodate larger window areas while maintaining water-tight seals. The flexible nature of these materials allows them to conform to the window perimeter and compensate for dimensional variations, enabling larger viewing areas without compromising water-tightness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables users to observe marine life without leaning over, improving safety and convenience by providing a clear view through the window and additional lighting for enhanced visibility under the board.
Implementation Method 1
The seal is inserted from a top surface of the board and provides a friction fit between the window and the opening
Implementation Method 2
The window is sealed to prevent water from entering the void
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for viewing marine life is disclosed. The apparatus includes a board configured to float on water and a window positioned in an opening in the board. The opening in a front end of the board and the window includes a transparent top portion, a transparent bottom pane and sides forming a center void. The window is sealed to prevent water from entering the void and the window includes a bottom lip planar with the transparent bottom pane. The apparatus includes a seal positioned in a gap between the window and the opening in the board and above the lip. The seal is inserted from a top surface of the board and provides a friction fit between the window and the opening. The seal includes a flexible resilient material and sized for a friction fit between the opening and the window to prevent movement of the window.