Towable Watercraft With Flight Control

Abstract

A towable watercraft including a body member capable of accommodating a rider's torso such that the rider's legs extend beyond an aft portion of the body member is disclosed. A tail portion extending from the aft portion of the body member includes two foot-accommodating stirrups spaced apart from each other and spaced apart from the rearward portion of the body member. Under tow and in flight, the watercraft is controllable by configuration of the tail portion upon movement of the rider's legs when the riders' feet are disposed in the stirrups.

1 . A towable watercraft for a human rider, the towable watercraft comprising:
 an inflatable body member having a top side, a front portion, a rearward portion, and opposite lateral portions located between the front portion and the rearward portion,   the body member capable of accommodating a rider's torso on the top side such that the rider's legs extend beyond the rearward portion of the body member;   a tow-rope hitch coupled to the body member;   a flexible wedge-shaped web having a first end portion coupled to the rearward portion of the body member, the web having a second end portion extending away from the body member, a width of the first end portion of the web more narrow width than a width of the second end portion of the web;   two foot-accommodating open-ended boots coupled in spaced apart relation to the second end portion of the web, each open-ended boot spaced apart from the body member and capable of accommodating the rider's foot when the rider's legs extend beyond the rearward portion of the body member,   wherein, when under tow, the watercraft is an airfoil controllable in flight by configuration of the web upon movement of the rider's legs when the riders' feet are disposed in the open-ended boots.   
     
     
         2 . The towable watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the body member includes winglet portions extending from the opposite lateral portions. 
     
     
         3 . The towable watercraft of  claim 2 , wherein the body member is covered by a nylon sheath. 
     
     
         4 . The towable watercraft of  claim 1 , the open-ended boots are adjustably coupled to the web wherein a spacing between the open-ended boots and the body member is adjustable. 
     
     
         5 . The towable watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the web is coupled to the body member by at least one articulating point. 
     
     
         6 . The towable watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the web includes elongated members disposed along opposite lateral sides thereof, and each open-ended boot is coupled to a corresponding elongated member. 
     
     
         7 . The towable watercraft of  claim 6 , wherein each elongated member is coupled to the body member. 
     
     
         8 . The towable watercraft of  claim 7  further comprising a retaining member interconnecting each elongated member to the body member. 
     
     
         9 . The towable watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the two foot-accommodating open-ended boots are movable toward and away from each other upon upon movement of the rider's legs when the riders' feet are disposed in the open-ended boots. 
     
     
         10 . A towable watercraft comprising:
 a body member having a front portion, a rearward portion, and opposite lateral portions located between the front portion and the rearward portion,   a tow-rope hitch coupled to the body member;   a tail portion extending from the rearward portion of the body member, the tail portion flexible relative to the body member;   two foot-accommodating stirrups coupled to an end portion of the tail portion, the two foot-accommodating stirrups spaced apart from each other and spaced apart from the rearward portion of the body member;   wherein, when under tow and in flight, the watercraft is controllable by configuration of the tail portion upon movement of the foot-accommodating stirrups.   
     
     
         11 . The towable watercraft of  claim 10 , the tail portion is a wedge-shaped member wherein a width of the tail portion near the body member is greater than a width of the tail portion near the foot-accommodating stirrups. 
     
     
         12 . The towable watercraft of  claim 11 , wherein the two foot-accommodating stirrups are movable toward and away from each other and wherein the tail portion is movable relative to the body member. 
     
     
         13 . The towable watercraft of  claim 11 , wherein each foot-accommodating stirrup is part of an open-ended boot. 
     
     
         14 . The towable watercraft of  claim 11 , wherein the body member is an inflatable member covered by a nylon sheath. 
     
     
         15 . The towable watercraft of  claim 14 , wherein the body member includes winglet portions extending from the opposite lateral portions. 
     
     
         16 . The towable watercraft of  claim 11  further comprising two elongated members, each elongated member having a first end coupled to the body member in spaced apart relation, the tail portion includes a flexible web interconnecting the two elongated members, each of the two foot-accommodating stirrups coupled to a second end portion of a correspond elongated member. 
     
     
         17 . A towable water craft comprising:
 a body member having an airfoil portion including a leading portion and a trailing portion, the body member having an unassembled flexible tail portion extending from the trailing portion of the airfoil;   a tow-rope hitch coupled to the leading portion of the body member;   two foot-accommodating stirrups coupled to the flexible tail portion in spaced apart relation, the two foot-accommodating stirrups spaced apart from the trailing portion of the airfoil;   wherein, when under tow, the watercraft is controllable in flight by configuration of the flexible tail portion upon movement of the foot-accommodating stirrups.   
     
     
         18 . The towable watercraft of  claim 17 , the flexible tail portion is a wedge-shaped member wherein a width of the flexible tail portion near the airfoil portion is greater than a width of the flexible tail portion near the foot-accommodating stirrups. 
     
     
         19 . The towable watercraft of  claim 17 , wherein at least the airfoil portion of the body member is inflatable. 
     
     
         20 . The towable watercraft of  claim 19 , wherein the two foot-accommodating stirrups are movable toward and away from each other and wherein the tail portion is movable relative to the body member.