Body surfing suit

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for body surfing which provide the body surfer a means to stabilize his ride and control his direction/position on a wave are described herein. According to one aspect, a body surfing apparatus includes a body suit having a torso, arms, and legs; a plurality of fins located on the torso; a plurality of fins located on the arms; and one or more fins located laterally on the legs. The fins are preferably attached to the body suit via an adhesive or mechanical means and the fins and suit may include a buoyant layer. In one embodiment, the body surfing apparatus includes a body suit with multiple segmentations and/or fins with multiple sliced cuts.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A body suit comprising:
 a body including a torso, a pair of arms, a pair of legs, and a plurality of fins located on the body, the torso including a chest region, a sternum region, an abdominal region, a pelvic region, and a back region;   wherein the plurality of fins include:   one or more chest fins located in the chest region on the torso;   one or more arm fins on each arm of the body;   one or more leg fins on each leg of the body; and   wherein each fin provides a directional control surface and a buoyancy element.   
     
     
         2 . The body suit of  claim 1 , wherein the fins are removable. 
     
     
         3 . The body suit of  claim 1 , wherein the fins are interchangeable. 
     
     
         4 . The body suit of  claim 1 , further including two lateral chest fins and one center chest fin. 
     
     
         5 . The body suit of  claim 1 , further including one or more abdominal fins. 
     
     
         6 . The body suit of  claim 1 , further including one or more dorsal fins on the back region. 
     
     
         7 . The body suit of  claim 4 , wherein the center chest fin extends from the sternum region, down the chest region, and ending above the abdominal region. 
     
     
         8 . The body suit of  claim 4 , wherein each of the two lateral chest fins begin adjacent the top of the chest region and extends down the chest region into the torso and curve outwards towards the side of the torso. 
     
     
         9 . The body suit of  claim 1 , wherein each fin is composed of at least one of: plastic, fiberglass, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), IXL foam, fiberclad, phuzion, high density polyethylene (HDPE), polystyrene, polyolefin, Volara, elastopolymer, and polyethylene. 
     
     
         10 . The body suit of  claim 1 , wherein the body is composed of at least one of: plastic, fiberglass, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), IXL foam, fiberclad, phuzion, high density polyethylene (HDPE), polystyrene, polyolefin, Volara, elastopolymer, and polyethylene. 
     
     
         11 . A fin configured for use with a body suit comprising:
 a platform including a top surface and a bottom surface;   a blade portion attached to the top surface of the platform, the blade portion including a base and an apex, wherein the base is wider than the apex;   wherein the top surface of the platform is configured to be removably attached to an inside layer of a body suit;   wherein the blade portion provides a directional control surface; and   wherein the blade portion extends beyond an outside layer of a body suit.   
     
     
         12 . The fin of  claim 11 , wherein the bottom surface of the platform is configured to be attached to an outside layer of a body suit. 
     
     
         13 . The fin of  claim 11 , wherein the body suit is a wet suit. 
     
     
         14 . The fin of  claim 11 , wherein the top surface of the platform is configured to be attached by velcro, glue, or sewing. 
     
     
         15 . The fin of  claim 11 , wherein the blade portion includes a cambered shape. 
     
     
         16 . The fin of  claim 11 , wherein the blade portion includes one or more sliced cuts extending a depth through the blade portion. 
     
     
         17 . The fin of  claim 16 , wherein the depth of the one or more sliced cuts is from 2 mm to 300 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The fin of  claim 16 , wherein the depth of the one or more sliced cuts is through the blade portion. 
     
     
         19 . The fin of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more sliced cuts are configured to attach to the platform of the fin. 
     
     
         20 . The fin of  claim 11 , wherein each fin is composed of at least one of: plastic, fiberglass, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), IXL foam, fiberclad, phuzion, high density polyethylene (HDPE), polystyrene, polyolefin, Volara, elastopolymer, and polyethylene. 
     
     
         21 . A segmented body suit comprising:
 a body including a torso, a pair of arms, a pair of legs, and a plurality of attachable segmentations,   wherein the torso includes a chest region, an abdominal region, a pelvic region, and a back region;   wherein each of the legs include a thigh region and a lower leg region;   wherein the plurality of attachable segmentations includes:   a chest segmentation including a lower end and an upper end, wherein the upper end is attached to the chest region of the body;   an abdominal segmentation adjacent and inferior to the chest segmentation, the abdominal segmentation including a lower end and an upper end, wherein the upper end is attached to the abdominal region of the body;   a pelvic segmentation adjacent and inferior to the abdominal segmentation, the pelvic segmentation including a lower end and an upper end, wherein the upper end is attached to the pelvic region of the body;   a thigh segmentation adjacent and inferior to the pelvic segmentation, the thigh segmentation including a lower end and an upper end, wherein the upper end is attached to the thigh region of the body; and   wherein the chest segmentation, abdominal segmentation, pelvic segmentation, and thigh segmentation include a buoyant material.   
     
     
         22 . The segmented body suit of  claim 21 , further including one or more fins attached to the body. 
     
     
         23 . The segmented body suit of  claim 21 , further including one or more fins attached to one or more segmentations. 
     
     
         24 . The segmented body suit of  claim 21 , wherein the upper end of any adjacent and inferior segmentation is overlapped by the lower end of the adjacent and superior segmentation. 
     
     
         25 . The segmented body suit of  claim 24 , wherein the upper end of any adjacent and inferior segmentation is configured to slide under the lower end of the adjacent and superior segmentation. 
     
     
         26 . The segmented body suit of  claim 21 , wherein the upper end of any adjacent and inferior segmentation is spaced apart from the lower end of the adjacent and superior segmentation. 
     
     
         27 . The segmented body suit of  claim 26 , wherein the space between the upper end of the adjacent and inferior segmentation and the lower end of the adjacent and superior segmentation allow for bending of the body without interference between the segmentations. 
     
     
         28 . The segmented body suit of  claim 21 , wherein the lower ends of all of the segmentations includes a raised surface. 
     
     
         29 . The segmented body suit of  claim 21 , wherein the chest segmentation, abdominal segmentation, pelvic segmentation, and thigh segmentation each further include a plurality of segmentations. 
     
     
         30 . The segmented body suit of  claim 21 , wherein each segmentation is composed of at least one of: plastic, fiberglass, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), IXL foam, fiberclad, phuzion, high density polyethylene (HDPE), polystyrene, polyolefin, Volara, elastopolymer, and polyethylene. 
     
     
         31 . The segmented body suit of  claim 21 , wherein the body is composed of at least one of: plastic, fiberglass, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), IXL foam, fiberclad, phuzion, high density polyethylene (HDPE), polystyrene, polyolefin, Volara, elastopolymer, and polyethylene. 
     
     
         32 . An article of recreational clothing comprising:
 a body including a torso, a collar, a pair of arms, and one or more fins;   wherein the torso includes a chest region and a shoulder region;   wherein each of the arms include an elbow region and a wrist region;   wherein the shoulder region including a lower end, the elbow region includes an upper end and a lower end, and the wrist region includes an upper end;   wherein the one or more fins includes:   one or more upper arm fins, wherein each upper arm fin extends from the lower end of the shoulder region to the upper end of the elbow region, and wherein each upper arm fin includes a blade portion;   one or more lower arm fins, wherein each lower arm fin extends from the lower end of the elbow region to the upper end of the wrist region, and wherein each lower arm fin includes a blade portion; and   one or more chest fins located in the chest region.   
     
     
         33 . The article of recreational clothing of  claim 32 , further including two lateral chest fins and a center chest fin, and wherein each chest fin includes a blade portion.