Apparatus and system for detecting and sharing characteristics of a ride on a watercraft

• US 9,045,202 B1
• Filed: 04/30/2014
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Data Fin Corporation
• Original Assignee: Data Fin Corporation
• Inventors: Alarcon, Mauricio, Jonas, Nick, Aaron, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): AVILA, STEPHEN P
• Application Number:
  US14/266,794
• Time in Patent Office: 398 Days
• Field of Search: 441/74, 441/79, 114/274
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 32/60 Board appendages, e.g. fins, hydrofoils or centre boards
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 32/64 Adjustable, e.g. by adding sections, by removing sections or by changing orientation or profile
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/203 Specially adapted for sailing ships

Abstract

Described herein are systems and apparatuses for detecting and sharing characteristics of a ride on a watercraft. In general, a watercraft apparatus may include at least one fin coupleable to a bottom portion of a planar body. In a preferred embodiment, the fin may define a fully enclosed cavity configured to receive a ride tracking device. In general, a watercraft system may optionally include a planar body configured for moving across a water surface and for carrying a rider. In general, a watercraft apparatus may include at least one fin coupled or coupleable to a bottom portion of the planar body. In a preferred embodiment, the fin may define a fully enclosed cavity, and a ride tracking device may be disposed within the cavity.

Claims

1. A watercraft system comprising:

a planar body configured for moving across a water surface and for carrying a rider;

at least one fin coupled to a bottom portion of the planar body, wherein the fin defines a fully enclosed cavity; and

a ride tracking device disposed within the cavity,

wherein the fin comprises a base with a slot configured for receiving the ride tracking device, and

wherein the cavity becomes watertight by coupling the base of the fin to the bottom portion of the planar body.

2. The watercraft system of claim 1, wherein the planar body is a surfboard.

3. The watercraft apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ride tracking device further comprises at least one of a power cable port and data transfer cable port.

4. The watercraft system of claim 1, wherein the ride tracking device is configured to collect data about a ride on the planar body.

5. The watercraft system of claim 4, wherein the ride tracking device is configured to collect data comprising at least one of duration of a ride, velocity, movement, and location.

6. The watercraft system of claim 4, wherein the ride tracking device comprises at least one of a gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, global positioning device, and device comprising a combination thereof.

7. The watercraft system of claim 4, wherein the data are wirelessly transmitted to another location.

8. The watercraft system of claim 4, wherein the data are transformed into an artistic representation of the ride.

9. A watercraft system comprising:

at least one fin coupleable to a bottom portion of a planar body, wherein the fin defines a cavity, and the cavity is accessible by a user; and

a ride tracking device disposed within the cavity, wherein the cavity comprises opposing concave grooves configured to receive and hold the ride tracking device.

10. The watercraft system of claim 9, wherein the ride tracking device is configured to collect data about a ride on the planar body.

11. The watercraft system of claim 10, wherein the ride tracking device is configured to collect data comprising at least one of duration of a ride, velocity, movement, and location.

12. The watercraft system of claim 10, wherein the ride tracking device comprises at least one of a gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, global positioning device, and device comprising a combination thereof.

13. The watercraft system of claim 10, wherein the data are wirelessly transmitted to another location.

14. The watercraft system of claim 10, wherein the data are transformed into an artistic representation of the ride.

15. The watercraft system of claim 9, wherein the ride tracking device is one of watertight and waterproof.

16. The watercraft system of claim 9, wherein the ride tracking device is powered by hydroelectricity.

17. The watercraft system of claim 12, wherein the ride tracking device further comprises a storage device, and wherein the data are stored in the fin on the storage device.

18. A watercraft system comprising:

at least one fin coupleable to a bottom portion of a planar body, wherein the fin defines a cavity, and the cavity is accessible by a user; and

a ride tracking device disposed within the cavity, wherein the cavity has a substantially rectangular shape and is configured to receive and hold the ride tracking device.