Wakeboard and kiteboard with curved fins and methods of use

Abstract

A water floatation board includes a pair of curved side fins for an increase in holding power of the board when in the matter, and without increasing drag during board use. Each curved side fin has a concave surface that faces a centerline of the board, and a convex surface that is opposite of the concave surface. The inner and outer surfaces merge to form leading and trailing edges, and a fin tip. The use of the concave surface allows the fin area to increase without an increase in fin depth, thus providing greater holding power without increasing drag.

1 - 10 . canceled.  
   
   
       11 . In a wakeboard having at least a pair of side fins extending from a bottom surface of the board, the improvement comprising each side fin having a concave surface generally facing a centerline of the board, and a convex outer surface opposite the concave surface, the inner and outer surfaces merging into a leading edge, a trailing edge and a tip, wherein each of the concave and convex surfaces of each side fin follow a curved profile when viewed from the leading or trailing edge, the curved profile extending from a tip of the side fin to a point where the side fin meets the bottom surface of the board.  
   
   
       12 . The wakeboard of  claim 11 , further comprising a center fin disposed between the pair of side fins.  
   
   
       13 . The wakeboard of  claim 11 , further comprising a pair of side fins mounted on each end of the wakeboard.  
   
   
       14 . The wakeboard of  claim 13 , further comprising a center fin mounted between each pair of side fins  
   
   
       15 . In a kiteboard having at least a pair of side fins extending from a bottom surface of the board, the improvement comprising each side fin having a concave surface generally facing a centerline of the board, and a convex outer surface opposite the concave surface, the inner and outer surfaces merging into a leading edge, a trailing edge and a tip, wherein each of the concave and convex surfaces of each side fin extends from an edge of the side fin that meets a bottom surface of the board to the tip, wherein each of the concave and convex surfaces of each side fin follow a curved profile when viewed from the leading or trailing edge, the curved profile extending from a tip of the side fin to a point where the side fin meets the bottom surface of the board.  
   
   
       16 . The kiteboard of  claim 15 , further comprising a center fin disposed between the pair of side fins.  
   
   
       17 . The kiteboard of  claim 15 , further comprising a pair of side fins mounted on each end of the kiteboard.  
   
   
       18 . The kiteboard of  claim 17 , further comprising a center fin mounted between each pair of side fins.  
   
   
       19 . In a method of pulling a wakeboard through water using a watercraft, the improvement comprising pulling the wakeboard of  claim 11  by the watercraft.  
   
   
       20 . In a method of pulling a kiteboard through water using windpower, the improvement comprising pulling the kiteboard of  claim 15  by the windpower.