Human/Water Propelled Buoyant Skis

Abstract

Equipment for a human subject's use in an upright position for transportation on the water's surface. The equipment includes: two buoyant skis ( 20 ) one attached to each foot by foot stretchers; two retractable fins ( 22 ) one towards the heel of each ski for stability on the water and sustainability in shallow water by recession; one buoyant double bladed paddle ( 26 ); three quick release leashes: one ( 25 ) running from each ankle to each ankle leash cleat ( 40 ), and one on the paddle pole to the wrist ( 27 ). Said equipment is useable in all bodies of water and is designed to ride rapids and currents and to transition between and to travel on the surface of still or slow moving water by using leg movements taking turns with each float while paddling. This equipment calls on the human subject's strength to maneuver in all water conditions with two finned floats, a paddle and related leashes.

1 . Human/water propelled buoyant skis designed for riding waves and rapids usable in calmer waters to approach and transition to riding faster water comprised of: a) two skis one to be attached to each foot by way of a recessed foot welt and a foot stretcher; b) a double bladed paddle, a pole with one blade on each end. 
     
     
         2 . Human/water propelled buoyant skis according to  claim 1 , wherein said skis are buoyant ski-shaped floats being longer length than width, to be attached to the feet of a human subject consisting of a top side, bottom side, two side walls, a nose rocker and a tail rocker. 
     
     
         3 . Human/water propelled buoyant skis according to  claim 2 , wherein said nose and tail rockers are the slanted connecting end pieces between said bottom side which is shorter than said top side forming said slants, said slants can be defined as said nose rocker towards the front of said ski and said tail rocker towards the rear end of said ski allowing said skis to run through choppy water with additional stability. 
     
     
         4 . Human/water propelled buoyant skis according to  claim 2 , wherein said skis have enough buoyant mass to float user on said skis on or near the water's surface with stability having the water line stay below said top side of said ski. 
     
     
         5 . Human/water propelled buoyant skis according to  claim 4 , wherein said skis can be manufactured using several different materials including but not limited to: polyurethane foam epoxy sandwich with marine paint and roto-molded plastic, wood, plastic, and/or foam; materials can be chosen to ensure maximum safety, product durability and profit. 
     
     
         6 . Human/water propelled buoyant skis according to  claim 2 , wherein said skis have foot recessions, one in each ski wherein said foot recessions open on the top surface of said skis towards the center and contain foot stretchers comprised of a toe of the foot stretcher, a cup shaped object which cradles the front of the foot of the user and a heel of the foot stretcher which cradles the heel of the user and is set on an adjustable heel track allowing adjustment for foot size. 
     
     
         7 . Human/water propelled buoyant skis according to  claim 6 , wherein said adjustable foot stretchers are comprised of a rubber or other malleable material allowing a user comfort and though secure, a quick release of both feet from the foot stretchers when necessary. 
     
     
         8 . Human/water propelled buoyant skis according to  claim 2 , wherein further comprised of a retractable fin on each said ski located close to the tail, said retractable fin retracts into a fin box in the body of said ski when coming into contact with an object avoiding damage to the fin in shallow waters and avoiding damage from contact with obstacles. 
     
     
         9 . Human/water propelled buoyant skis according to  claim 8 , wherein said retractable fin assists with tracking and turning in the water. 
     
     
         10 . Human/water propelled buoyant skis according to  claim 9 , wherein said fin box is recessed inside of said ski's structure with the bottom edges flush with the underside of said ski and the bottom side of said fin box is open, allowing said fin to fall out from the underside of said ski into the water. 
     
     
         11 . Human/water propelled buoyant skis according to  claim 10 , wherein said fin box has two flanges extending from the middle of each long side of the said bottom edges extending outwards away from said fin box with two holes for fin box flange screws creating a means of attaching said fin box to said ski offering the option of fin replacement with different sizes and configuration of said fins or creating the option of removing said fin and using said skis without said fin. 
     
     
         12 . Human/water propelled buoyant skis according to  claim 11 , wherein said fin is similar to a triangle with three edges, two of which are flat and the third an arc and can vary in shape and size. 
     
     
         13 . Human/water propelled buoyant skis according to  claim 12 , wherein when said fin is fully recessed in said ski, one flat edge is flush with said fin box side towards said heel rocker, the other flat edge is flush with the bottom edge of said fin box and said arc is facing said toe rocker side and top of said fin box. 
     
     
         14 . Human/water propelled buoyant skis according to  claim 13 , wherein said fin box contains two dowels located in the bottom two corners of said fin box which maintain the width of said fin box, dowel A is on the tail rocker side of said ski and dowel B is on the nose rocker side. 
     
     
         15 . Human/water propelled buoyant skis according to  claim 14 , wherein said dowel A penetrates one wall of said fin box, through the corner edge of said fin and extends to and penetrates the other wall of said fin box creating a pivot point for said fin. 
     
     
         16 . Human/water propelled buoyant skis according to  claim 15 , wherein said dowel B goes from one wall of said fin box and across the width of the box to the other side of said fin box while serving as a stopper for said fin only allowing said fin to pivot forty-five degrees from the fully recessed point in to the water. 
     
     
         17 . Human/water propelled buoyant skis according to  claim 16 , wherein said fin has a small catch comprised of a rectangle extending the length of said fin's edge on the heel rocker's side of said fin box which prevents said fin when transitioning from recessed position down into the water from rotating past said dowel acting as a stopper, never rotating past 45 degrees when dropping out of recessed position. 
     
     
         18 . Human/water propelled buoyant skis according to  claim 1 , wherein the user has the choice to use or not to use a double bladed paddle with a blade on each end of a pole appropriately sized for a user's height allowing each blade to reach the water's surface while the user is standing to assist the user with forward movement through any and all waterways. 
     
     
         19 . Human/water propelled buoyant skis according to  claim 1 , wherein further comprised of two ankle leashes with loop and hook reusable adhesive fabric bands on each end of a rubber band, tube or a rope attaching ankle leash cleats to the user's ankles or the leashes being permanently affixed to the ankle leash cleats and the loop and hook reusable fabric bands available at the other end for the ankle attachments thereby avoiding loss of said buoyant floats when using equipment and affording quick release when necessary, user has the option to use or to go without using the leashes. 
     
     
         20 . Human/water propelled buoyant skis according to  claim 1 , wherein further comprised of a wrist leash with loop and hook reusable adhesive fabric bands on each end of a rubber band, tube or a rope attaching said paddle pole to the user's wrist or the leash being permanently affixed to the double bladed paddle and the loop and hook reusable fabric band available at the other end for the wrist attachment to avoid loss of paddle when using equipment and afford a quick release when necessary.