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US 4,952,184 AGranted
Cross-water ski
OwnerMaria G. Grazianoinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cross-water ski for walking on water having a buoyant member with flaps rotatably attached to its bottom surface and stoppers to prevent movement of the flaps when they reach a position perpendicular to the bottom surface of the buoyant member. The flaps rotate from a low water resistance position when the ski is moved forward along the surface of the water to a perpendicular, high water resistance position when the ski is moved rearward. The cross-water ski also includes a foot piece which releasably locks the user's shoe to the buoyant member but allows the user to repeatedly flex his or her foot as the skis are moved forwardly and rearwardly. In addition, a central fin is provided which is free to move upon contact with obstacles below the surface of the water.
Claims21
A cross-water ski for walking on water, comprising:
- a buoyant member having an upper surface, a bottom surface, a front end, and a rear end;
- a flap rotatably secured to the bottom surface of said buoyant member, said flap adapted to rotate from a first position of low water resistance to a second position of higher water resistance;
- stopper means for preventing further rotation of said flap when said flap reaches said second position;
- and
- shoe connecting means positioned on the upper surface of said buoyant member for connection with a shoe being worn by a user with a shoe having a forwardmost portion extending into two exterior side portions which in turn extend into a rear portion, said shoe connecting means including shoe locking means for releasably locking only the forwardmost portion of the shoe such that the two exterior side portions of the shoe are essentially free from attachment with said shoe connecting means and said shoe is detachable from said buoyant member upon a release of said locking means.
2 more elements
A cross-water ski for walking on water, comprising:
- a buoyant member having an upper surface and a bottom surface;
- a flap rotatably secured to the bottom surface of said buoyant member;
- stopper means for preventing rotation of said flap when said flap is essentially perpendicular to the bottom surface of said buoyant member;
- and
- shoe connecting means for releasably connecting a shoe being worn by a user to said buoyant member so as to allow for repeated flexing of the foot of the user from a first position wherein the bottom surface of the foot of the user is essentially parallel with the upper surface of said buoyant member to a second position wherein the bottom of the foot of the user assumes an angle of about 15.degree. to 45.degree. with respect to the upper surface of the buoyant member and the shoe having a forwardmost portion extending into two exterior side portions that extend into a rear portion and said shoe connecting means including shoe locking means for releasably locking only the forwardmost portion of the shoe such that the two exterior side portions of the shoe are essentially free from attachment with said shoe connecting means and the shoe is detachable from said buoyant member upon a release of said locking means.
2 more elements
A cross-water ski package, comprising:
- a pair of cross-water skis each of which includes:
- (a) a buoyant member having an upper surface and a bottom surface;
- (b) a flap rotatably secured to the bottom surface of said buoyant member;
- (c) stopper means for preventing rotation of said flap when said flap is essentially perpendicular to the bottom surface of said buoyant member;
- and
- (d) shoe connecting means for releasably connecting a shoe of the user to said buoyant member;
- a pair of cross water ski poles having a shaft with an inverse V-shaped paddle attached to one end of said shaft;
- and
- a pair of cross-water ski shoes each having a forwardmost portion extending into two exterior side portions that extend into a rear portion, said shoes including attachment means formed at the forwardmost portion, and said shoe connecting means including shoe locking means dimensioned and arranged to releasably lock solely said attachment means such that the two exterior side portions of said shoe and the rear portion are free from attachment with said shoe connecting means.
6 more elements
A cross-water ski for walking on water, comprising:
- a buoyant member having an upper surface, a bottom surface, a front end, and a rear end;
- a flap rotatably secured to the bottom surface of said buoyant member, said flap adapted to rotate from a first position of low water resistance to a second position of higher water resistance;
- stopper means for preventing further rotation of said flap when said flap reaches said second position;
- shoe connecting means positioned on the upper surface of said buoyant member for connection with a shoe of a user so as to allow for repeated flexing of the foot of the user during operation of the ski whereby the heel of the foot of the user is free to rotate off of said shoe connecting means;
- and
- a fin extending from the upper surface of said buoyant member, through a recess in said buoyant member, and to a position below the bottom surface of said buoyant member, said fin being detachably positioned within the recess and free to move upwardly upon contact with an obstacle, and said fin being positioned rearward of said shoe connecting means such that the rear end of the shoe of the user, when in an unflexed position, rests on an upper surface of said fin.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.