Transparent and buoyant aquatic recreation assembly

Abstract

A transparent and buoyant aquatic recreation system is provided. The system includes a board with an elongated buoyant body having front and rear ends and top and bottom surfaces extending between the front and rear ends. The body is made of a substantially transparent material. The system also includes a battery powered camera having a switch operable to activate and deactivate the camera. The camera is mounted to the board such that the camera projects in a downwardly and outwardly direction from the bottom surface to capture image data forward and below the board. In another embodiment, the system includes a paddle made of the substantially transparent material and the switch is positioned on the paddle.

1 . A transparent and buoyant aquatic recreation system, comprising:
 a board with an elongated buoyant body having front and rear ends and top and bottom surfaces extending between said front and rear ends, said body being made of a substantially transparent material; and   a battery powered camera having a switch operable to activate and deactivate the camera;   said camera mounted to the board such that the camera projects in a downwardly and outwardly direction from said bottom surface to capture image data forward and below the board.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the camera is secured in a housing mounted along the bottom surface. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the housing is mounted more proximate to the front end than the rear end. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the housing is mounted within a recess along the bottom surface and wherein the housing comprises a removable hatch to access the camera. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the housing is flush with the bottom surface. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein a smart phone comprising the camera is secured in the housing, wherein the housing is made of the substantially transparent material, and wherein the hatch is a threaded hatch including an O-ring to provide a water-tight seal to prevent water from entering the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a paddle, wherein the switch is positioned on the paddle in a manner that is accessible for operation by a user of the paddle and wherein the switch is communicatively coupled with the camera. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the paddle is made of the substantially transparent material. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the switch is on a grip of the paddle and wherein the switch is configured to activate the camera to capture still image data based on one of a single and multiple actuation of the switch and wherein the switch is configured to activate the camera to capture video image data based on one of the single and multiple actuation of the switch. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the paddle includes a cap that is removable from the grip to access a cavity within the grip, wherein the system further comprises a memory card positioned in the cavity, said memory card being communicatively coupled with the camera to receive and store the captured image data from the camera. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the cap is configured to threadably engage the grip and wherein an O-ring is positioned between the cap and the grip to provide a water-tight seal to prevent water from passing between the cap and the grip and entering the cavity. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the board further comprises a support frame disposed within said body and providing support to said body against collapsing, the support frame having a main spar extending between said front and said rear ends, a first plurality of transverse spars extending laterally outward from a first longitudinal side of said main spar at spaced intervals, and a second plurality of transverse spars extending laterally outward from a second longitudinal side of said main spar at spaced intervals and wherein the main spar, first plurality of transverse spars and the second plurality of transverse spars are made of the substantially transparent material. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the camera is secured in a housing positioned within a bore that extends between the top and bottom surfaces and wherein the housing is flush with the bottom surface. 
     
     
         14 . A transparent and buoyant aquatic recreation system, comprising:
 a board with an elongated buoyant body having front and rear ends and top and bottom surfaces extending between said front and rear ends, said body being made of a substantially transparent material;   a paddle made of the substantially transparent material; and   a battery powered camera having a switch on the paddle that is operable to activate the camera; said camera mounted to the bottom surface such that the camera projects in a downwardly and outwardly direction from said bottom surface to capture image data forward and below the board.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the camera is secured in a housing mounted within a recess along the bottom surface and wherein the housing comprises a removable hatch to access the camera. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein an interior channel is formed along a shaft of the paddle and wherein a plurality of LEDs extend along the interior channel to illuminate the shaft of the paddle. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the board further comprises a plurality of LEDs extending around a perimeter of the bottom surface. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of LEDs extend in an interior channel positioned within, the body. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A transparent and buoyant aquatic recreation system, comprising:
 a board with an elongated buoyant body having front and rear ends and top and bottom surfaces extending between said front and rear ends, said body being made of a substantially transparent material;   a paddle made of the substantially transparent material;   a support frame disposed within said body and providing support to said body against collapsing, the support frame having a main spar extending between said front and said rear ends, a first plurality of transverse spars extending laterally outward from a first longitudinal side of said main spar at spaced intervals, and a second plurality of transverse spars extending laterally outward from a second longitudinal side of said main spar at spaced intervals, wherein the main spar, first plurality of transverse spars and the second plurality of transverse spars are made of the substantially transparent material; and   a battery powered camera having a switch on the paddle that is operable to activate the camera; said camera mounted to the hoard such that the camera projects in a downwardly and outwardly direction from said bottom surface to capture image data forward and below the board.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the camera is secured in a housing mounted along the bottom surface;   a cap is removable from a grip of the paddle to access a cavity within the grip;   a memory card is positioned in the cavity and wherein the memory card is in wireless communication with the camera to receive and store the captured image data from the camera.