Flotation device for use in water recreation

Abstract

A recreational water flotation device includes a central body defining an upper surface and a bottom surface and having a front and a rear. A left lateral element extends from a left end of the central body and defines a left canted surface canted toward the central body and further defines a left end of said flotation device. A right lateral element extends from a right end of the central body and defines a left canted surface canted toward the central body and further defining a right end of the flotation device. A propulsion unit is mounted to the bottom surface of the central body. The device is buoyant in water. Preferably, the central body, the left lateral element, the said right lateral element are fabricated of a material buoyant in water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A recreational water flotation device comprising:
 a central body defining an upper surface and a bottom surface and having a front and a rear;   a left lateral element extending from a left end of said central body, said left lateral element defining a left canted surface, said left canted surface canted toward said central body, and further defining a left end of said flotation device;   a right lateral element extending from a right end of said central body, said right lateral element defining a right canted surface, said right canted surface canted toward said central body, and further defining a right end of said flotation device; and   a propulsion unit mounted to said bottom surface of said central body; wherein:   said device is buoyant in water.   
     
     
         2 . The recreational water flotation device according to  claim 1 , wherein said central body, said left lateral element, and said right lateral element are formed of a single homogenous body. 
     
     
         3 . The recreational water flotation device according to  claim 1 , wherein a left side of said left lateral element and a right side of said right lateral element define a width of said flotation device, and the front end and rear end of said central body define a length of said flotation device, and further wherein said width is greater than said length. 
     
     
         4 . The recreational water flotation device according to  claim 3 , wherein said left lateral side and said right lateral side have an arcuately convex peripheral shape, wherein said front end and said rear end have an arcuately convex peripheral shape, and further wherein peripheral areas connecting adjacent ones of said left lateral side, said front end, said right lateral side, and said rear end are arcuately concave. 
     
     
         5 . The recreational water flotation device according to  claim 4 , further including a left rear fin and a right rear fin, wherein said left and right rear fins are arcuately concave and protrude from said bottom surface of said central body at a rear periphery thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The recreational water flotation device according to  claim 1 , further including a front fin extending along a front edge of said central body and further extending between said left lateral element and said right lateral element, said front fin and said front edge defining a surface angled toward said rear for providing a smooth flow of water thereover. 
     
     
         7 . The recreational water flotation device according to  claim 1 , wherein said propulsion unit is at least partially rotatable with respect to said central body. 
     
     
         8 . The recreational water flotation device according to  claim 1 , further including a bottom mount affixed to said bottom surface of said central body, said bottom mount including an outer tube in fixed relation to said central body and an inner tube within said fixed outer tube, said inner at least partially rotatable with respect to said outer tube, and wherein said propulsion unit is attached to said inner tube. 
     
     
         9 . The recreational water flotation device according to  claim 8 , wherein said outer tube at least partially defines a forwardly oriented opening therethrough and wherein said inner tube has attached thereto a transverse tube extending forwardly from said inner tube through said opening and a horizontal cross tube attached to a distal forward end of said transverse tube, and a bottom bracket affixed to said cross tube, said propulsion unit including a propeller mounted in a propeller mount, said bottom bracket retaining said propeller mount thereto. 
     
     
         10 . The recreational water flotation device according to  claim 9 , further including vertical stop bars affixed to said fixed outer tube, said vertical stop bars defining the left and right boundaries of said opening for limiting the rotation of said inner tube with respect to said outer tube. 
     
     
         11 . The recreational water flotation device according to  claim 10 , further comprising a weight, wherein the propulsion unit and the weight are interchangeably mountable to said central body. 
     
     
         12 . A recreational water flotation device comprising:
 a central body defining an upper surface and a bottom surface and having a front and a rear;   a left lateral element extending from a left end of said central body, said left lateral element defining a left canted surface, said left canted surface canted toward said central body, and further defining a left end of said flotation device;   a right lateral element extending from a right end of said central body, said right lateral element defining a right canted surface, said right canted surface canted toward said central body, and further defining a right end of said flotation device; and   a propulsion unit mounted to said bottom surface of said central body, said propulsion unit at least partially rotatable with respect to said central body; wherein:   said device is buoyant in water.   
     
     
         13 . The recreational water flotation device according to  claim 12 , wherein said left lateral side and said right lateral side have an arcuately convex peripheral shape, wherein said front end and said rear end have an arcuately convex peripheral shape, and further wherein peripheral areas connecting adjacent ones of said left lateral side, said front end, said right lateral side, and said rear end are arcuately concave. 
     
     
         14 . The recreational water flotation device according to  claim 13 , further including a left rear fin and a right rear fin, wherein said left and right rear fins are arcuately concave and protrude from said bottom surface of said central body at a rear periphery thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The recreational water flotation device according to  claim 13 , further including a front fin extending along a front edge of said central body and further extending between said left lateral element and said right lateral element, said front fin and said front edge defining a surface angled toward said rear for providing a smooth flow of water thereover. 
     
     
         16 . The recreational water flotation device according to  claim 12 , further including a bottom mount affixed to said bottom surface of said central body, said bottom mount including an outer tube in fixed relation to said central body and an inner tube within said fixed outer tube, said inner tube at least partially rotatable with respect to said outer tube, and wherein said propulsion unit is attached to said inner tube. 
     
     
         17 . A recreational water flotation device comprising:
 a central body defining an upper surface and a bottom surface and having an arcuately convex front end and an arcuately convex rear end;   a left lateral element having a convexly arcuate left lateral side and extending from a left end of said central body, said left lateral element defining a left canted surface, said left canted surface canted toward said central body, and further defining a left end of said flotation device;   a right lateral element having a convexly arcuate right lateral side and extending from a right end of said central body, said right lateral element defining a right canted surface, said right canted surface canted toward said central body, and further defining a right end of said flotation device, wherein   peripheral areas connecting adjacent ones of said left lateral side, said front end, said right lateral side, and said rear end are arcuately concave;   a front fin extending along at least a front edge of said central body, said front fin and said front edge defining a surface angled toward said rear for providing a smooth flow of water thereover;   a left rear fin and a right rear fin, said left and right rear fins being arcuately concave and protruding from said bottom surface of said central body at a rear periphery thereof; and   a propulsion unit mounted to said bottom surface of said central body, said propulsion unit at least partially rotatable with respect to said central body; wherein   said device is buoyant in water.   
     
     
         18 . The recreational water flotation device according to  claim 17 , further including a bottom mount affixed to said bottom surface of said central body, said bottom mount including an outer tube in fixed relation to said central body and an inner tube within said fixed outer tube, said inner tube at least partially rotatable with respect to said outer tube, and wherein said propulsion unit is attached to said inner tube. 
     
     
         19 . The recreational water flotation device according to  claim 18 , wherein said outer tube at least partially defines a forwardly oriented opening therethrough and wherein said inner tube has attached thereto a transverse tube extending forwardly from said inner tube through said opening and a horizontal cross tube attached to a distal forward end of said transverse tube, and a bottom bracket affixed to said cross tube, said propulsion unit including a propeller mounted in a propeller mount, said bottom bracket retaining said propeller mount thereto. 
     
     
         20 . The recreational water flotation device according to  claim 19 , further including left and right stops affixed to said fixed outer tube, said stops defining the left and right boundaries of said opening for limiting the rotation of said inner tube with respect to said outer tube.