# US 5,700,174 A · Kneeboard > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,700,174 A - Document ID: US5700174A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/710,583 - Filed: 1996-09-19 - Granted: 1997-12-23 - Earliest claimed: 1996-09-19 - Assignees: Swimways Corporation - Inventors: Robert Lee Churchill; Douglas Geller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5700174A ## CPC - B63B 32/50: Boards characterised by their constructional features - B63B 32/20: Boards specially adapted for use in a prone position, e.g. wild-water sledges (towed water sledges B63B34/54) - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) ## Abstract The improved watersports board includes an outer shell that is filled with a rigid foam core. The outer shell includes a hull and a deck connected by a lip. The deck includes an integrated passenger contact area which in turn includes a strengthener for resisting bending, shear and fatigue stresses. The strengthener forms contours within the passenger contact area and allows the lip to be of less thickness than the average thickness of the passenger contact area over the hull. In addition to the above features, the device may also include optional flexible foam padding attached to the passenger contact area and an optional kneestrap attached to the shell to provide increased maneuverability and comfort. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A kneeboard comprising: (a) a core having a dorsal and a ventral surface; and (b) a shell surrounding the core, said shell comprising: i. a hull adjoining the ventral surface of the core, said hull having a ventral surface; ii. a deck adjoining the dorsal surface of the core; said deck comprising a passenger contact area; the passenger contact area having a first lateral side, a middle lateral area, a second lateral side, a front transverse portion, and a most dorsal portion; the passenger contact area comprising means for strengthening integrated into the passenger contact area, said strengthening means forming a plurality of contours in the passenger contact area; and iii. a lip connecting the hull to the deck, said lip having a dorsal surface and a ventral surface; wherein the thickness between the dorsal surface of the lip and the ventral surface of the lip is less than the average thickness of the shell measured between the dorsal portion of the passenger contact area and the ventral surface of the hull. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A kneeboard as recited in claim 1 further comprising a flexible pad attached to the passenger contact area. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A kneeboard as recited in claim 1 further comprising a kneestrap attached to the shell. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A kneeboard as recited in claim 1 wherein the strengthening means comprises: (a) a first lateral support member integrated along the first lateral side of the passenger contact area; (b) a middle lateral support member integrated along the middle lateral area of the passenger contact area, (c) a second lateral support member integrated along the second lateral side of the passenger contact area; and (d) a transverse support member integrated along the front transverse portion of the passenger contact area, said transverse support member also integrated with the first lateral support member, the middle lateral support member, and the second lateral support member; the integration of said first lateral support member, said middle lateral support member, said second lateral support member and said transverse support member forming two parallel contours in the passenger contact area. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A kneeboard as recited in claim 4 further comprising a flexible pad attached to the passenger contact area. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A kneeboard board as recited in claim 4 further comprising a kneestrap attached to the shell. ### Claim 7 A kneeboard comprising: (a) a hull; (c) a lip attached to the hull; and (b) a deck attached to the lip forming an enclosure within the hull, the lip and the deck; said deck comprising a passenger contact area; said passenger contact area having a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a middle lateral area and a front transverse portion; the passenger contact area comprising: i. a first lateral support member integrated along the first lateral side of the passenger contact area; ii. a second lateral support member integrated along the second lateral side of the passenger contact area, iii. a middle lateral support member integrated along the middle lateral area of the passenger contact area; and iv. a transverse support member integrated along the front lateral portion of the passenger contact area; said transverse support member also integrated with the first lateral support member, the second lateral support member, and the middle lateral support member in such a manner as to form two parallel contours in the passenger contact area; (d) a core of size adequate to fill the hollow enclosure formed between the hull, the lip and the deck, said core secured within the enclosure formed between the hull, the lip and the deck. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A kneeboard as recited in claim 7 further comprising a flexible pad attached to the passenger contact area. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A kneeboard as recited in claim 7 further comprising a kneestrap attached to the shell.