Infant Water Ski Apparatus and Method

Abstract

An apparatus is shown which allows a small child or infant to perform a gliding sport on water. The apparatus includes a platform having an upper surface, a lower surface, a thickness, a front extent and a rear extent, the platform being wide enough to accommodate at least the width of two feet. A pair of foot grips are located on the upper surface of the platform. A handle bar extending upwardly from the upper surface of the platform from a location in front of the foot grips. The handle bar includes a grip portion which lies in a horizontal plane at a height which allows the grip portion to be conveniently gripped by a small child or infant. A tow point is located at the front extent of the platform for receiving a tow rope for pulling the platform over a surface of water.

1 . An apparatus for performing a gliding sport on water, the apparatus comprising:
 a platform having an upper surface, a lower surface, a thickness, a front extent and a rear extent, the platform being wide enough to accommodate at least the width of two feet;   a pari of foot grips located on the upper surface of the platform in a side-by-side location on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the platform;   a handle bar extending upwardly from the upper surface of the platform from a location in front of the foot grips, the handle bar being comprised of a pair of oppositely arranged vertical side posts and an intermediate horizontal grip portion connecting the pair of vertical side posts;   a tow point located at the front extent of the platform for receiving a tow rope for pulling the platform over a surface of water;   wherein the grip portion of the handle bar lies in a horizontal plane which is located at a predetermined distance above the top surface of the platform, the distance being such that the grip portion can be conveniently gripped by a small child or infant.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the grip portion of the handle bar lies in a horizontal plane which is between about 12 and 36 inches above the top surface of the platform. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the grip portion of the handle bar lies in a horizontal plane which is between about 12 and 30 inches above the top surface of the platform 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the platform is a water ski board having a front extent in the form of a continuous planar surface. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the platform is comprised of a pair of laterally aligned but spaced-apart ski boards, the board being joined at front and rear extents thereof by connecting cross members. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the platform is made of a buoyant material. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the platform is made at least partly of balsa wood. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical side posts of the handle bar are upright cylindrical members and wherein the handle bar grip portion has a pair of downwardly extending vertical leg portions which are received within the cylindrical members in telescoping fashion. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the handle bar vertical side posts are removably attached to the upper surface of the platform, whereby the handle bar can be stored in collapsed fashion on top of the upper surface of the platform when not in use.