Inflatable water-sports board with raised protrusions along its sides

Abstract

An inflatable water sports board has internal spacer threads separating upper and lower faces. The water sports board has side portions free of internal spacer threads. When the water sports board is inflated the side portions expand in a part-circular shape, forming ridges above and below the respective upper and lower faces.

1 . An inflatable water-sports board having an internal structure comprising an upper fabric layer and a lower fabric layer, the upper fabric layer being connected to the lower fabric layer by a plurality of spacer threads, the thickness of the water-sports board being defined by the length of the spacer threads; the water-sports board having side portions extending between the upper fabric layer and the lower fabric layer, the side portions being free of spacer threads, the side portions having an external perimeter having a length between two and three times the thickness of the water sports board. 
     
     
         2 . An inflatable water-sports board as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein when the board is inflated the side portions form a convex curved portion on outer sides of the board, the convex curved portion extending around an arc of between about 220° and 260°. 
     
     
         3 . An inflatable water-sports board as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the convex curved portion has a diameter of between about 1.05 and 1.3 times the thickness of the water sports board. 
     
     
         4 . An inflatable water-sports board having an upper surface, a lower surface, and side rails, wherein when the board is inflated the lower surface has a generally flat portion extending between two side portions, each of the side portions being convex, the flat portion extending through at least 50% of the width of the board, each side portion extending below a level of the flat portion. 
     
     
         5 . An inflatable water-sports board as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein each convex side portion extends along between 50% and 90% of the length of the board. 
     
     
         6 . An inflatable water-sports board as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the inflated board has a central thickness defined at a midpoint of the board, and each convex side portion has a diameter between 105% and 130% of the central thickness of the inflated board. 
     
     
         7 . An inflatable water-sports board having an upper surface, a lower surface, and side rails, wherein when the board is inflated the upper surface has a generally flat portion extending between two side portions, each of the side portions being convex, the flat portion extending through at least 50% of the width of the board, each side portion extending above a level of the flat portion. 
     
     
         8 . An inflatable water-sports board as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein each convex side portion extends along between 50% and 90% of the length of the board. 
     
     
         9 . An inflatable water-sports board as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the inflated board has a central thickness defined at a midpoint of the board, and each convex side portion has a diameter between 105% and 130% of the central thickness of the inflated board.