Surfing simulator and method using inflatable bladders

• US 6,168,551 B1
• Filed: 09/10/1997
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: McGuinness, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Mulcahy, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): HWANG, VICTOR KENNY
• Application Number:
  US08/927,665
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 482/34, 482/51, 482/77, 482/79, 482/71, 482/112, 482/146, 482/148, 482/26, 434/46, 434/55, 434/247, 434/253, 434/258, 472/127-130, 472/134, 472/135, 472/115, 472/106, 273/449
• US Class Current: 482/51
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0033 Lower limbs performing together the same movement, e.g. on a single support element
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/18 with elements, i.e. platforms, having a circulating, nutating or rotating movement, generated by oscillating movement of the user, e.g. platforms wobbling on a centrally arranged spherical supporthoop exercising apparatus A63B19/00; eccentric weights put into orbital motion by nutating movement of the user A63B21/0608; pots rotating or rocking by moving the whole body A63G23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/62 Inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0093 for surfing, i.e. without a sail; for skate or snow boarding

Abstract

This invention uses a plurality of inflatable bladders to support a surfboard or other balancing platform or sport board. The bladders are inflated with a gas or liquid, and as such, provide a fluid medium on which to seat a surfboard. This type of support system provides a sensation similar to that of water. This type of support system also allows for adjustments in the stability of the balancing platform. When used with a surfboard, snowboard, or other delicate standing platform, this type of support system evenly distributes the user'"'"'s weight-load across a large area of the surfboard, snowboard, or other delicate platform so that it is not damaged.

Claims

1. A simulator apparatus kit for training a user to balance on a board in an athletic simulation, comprising:

(a) a plurality of inflatable bladders each having an upper surface adapted to allow the board to be removably supported thereon said inflatable bladders being selectively spaced relative to one another;

(b) a restraining member to restrain at least one of said inflatable bladders from movement relative to a supporting ground surface;

(c) a means to adjust the level of inflation in at least one of said inflatable bladders so as to allow the user to control the simulation; and

(d) a means of removably securing the board to said upper surface of at least one of said inflatable bladders,

whereby said kit may be assembled and deployed by the user for athletic simulation use with the board.

2. The simulator apparatus kit of claim 1 wherein one of said inflatable bladders is adapted to support a front end of the board and a second of said inflatable bladders is adapted for supporting a rear end of the board and wherein the rear bladder is at a higher elevation than the front bladder to create an angle on the board.

3. The simulator apparatus kit of claim 2 wherein one of the inflatable bladders has a flat upper surface wider than a standard surfboard and wherein (i) by fully inflating said wider bladder the upper surface becomes semi-rigid mitigating the board'"'"'s ability to tilt and (ii) by deflating the wider bladder, slack is provided in the upper surface of the bladder allowing the board greater ability to tilt.

4. The simulator apparatus kit of claim 2 wherein one or more of the inflatable bladders rises to an apex, whereby increasing the level of inflation will elevate the board.

5. A simulator apparatus kit for training a user to balance on a board comprising:

(a) a front inflatable bladder having an upper surface adapted to allow a front end of a board to be removably supported thereon;

(b) a rear inflatable bladder having an upper surface adapted to allow a rear end of the board to be removably supported thereon at a higher level than the front end of the board;

(c) a means of adjusting the level of inflation in said front bladder;

(d) a means of adjusting the level of inflation in said rear bladder;

(e) a restraining member to restrain at least one of said bladders from movement relative to a supporting ground surface, said front and rear bladders being selectively spaced relative to one another; and

(f) a means of removably securing the board to said upper surface of at least one of said bladders,

whereby said kit may be assembled and deployed by the user for sporting simulation use with the hoard.

6. The simulator apparatus kit of claim 5 wherein the bladders can be inflated to different elevations.

7. The simulator apparatus kit of claim 5 wherein the front bladder has a span that is wider than a standard surfboard to control side-to-side roll of the board.

8. The simulator apparatus kit of claim 7 wherein the front bladder is cylindrically shaped.

9. The simulator apparatus kit of claim 5 wherein the rear bladder comes to an apex.

10. The simulator apparatus kit of claim 9 wherein the rear bladder is spherically shaped.

11. A method for training a user to balance on a board comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an inflatable bladder having an upper surface adapted to allow a front end of the board to be removably supported thereon;

(b) placing the board on the bladder;

(c) adjusting the level of inflation of said bladder to accommodate the user'"'"'s level of skill such that the board is canted forward in use and is not capable of striking the ground or any other non-bladder surface subjacent the board during an athletic simulation;

(d) providing a second inflatable bladder having an upper surface adapted to allow the a rear end of the board to be removably supported thereon;

(e) placing the first inflatable bladder under the front end of the board;

(f) placing the second inflatable bladder under the rear end of the board for supporting the rear end of the board at a higher level than the front end of the board;

(g) adjusting the level of inflation in the first and second bladders to accommodate the user'"'"'s level of skill such that the board is not capable of striking the ground or any other surface subjacent the board during any phase of the athletic simulation.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the first bladder has a span that is wider than the board to control side-to-side roll of the board.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the first bladder is cylindrically shaped.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the second bladder comes to an apex.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the second bladder is spherically shaped.

16. The method of claim 11 further including the step of (d) cyclically inflating and deflating the level of inflation of said bladder to provide a more challenging training environment.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein step (d) further comprises coupling an automatic air, fluid, or pressure adjusting means to said inflatable bladder.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein step (d) further comprises coupling an manual air, fluid, or pressure adjusting means to said inflatable bladder.