Finger-Operated Surfboard and Method of Use

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a finger-operated surfboard. The finger-operated surfboard includes an elongated body extending along a longitudinal axis from a front portion to a rear portion. The elongated body includes a top surface defining a finger-engaging region and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. At least one fin is fixedly coupled with and extends outwardly from the bottom surface. An attachment aperture extends through the elongated body from the top surface to the bottom surface and is configured to removably secure an attachment member. The elongated body defines a longitudinal curvature between the front and rear portions to direct fluid flow along the bottom surface and generate lift during relative motion between the elongated body and a surrounding fluid. The elongated body and the at least one fin are each made entirely of a polymer foam material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A finger-operated surfboard comprising:
 an elongated body extending longitudinally along a longitudinal axis from a front portion to a rear portion and having a top surface, defining a finger-engaging region, and a bottom surface, opposite the top surface;   at least one fin fixedly coupled with and extending outwardly from the bottom surface of the elongated body; and   an attachment aperture extending through the elongated body from the top surface to the bottom surface and configured to removably secure an attachment member;   wherein:
 the elongated body defines a longitudinal curvature extending between the front portion and the rear portion and configured to direct fluid flow along the bottom surface to generate lift during relative motion between the elongated body and a fluid; and 
 the elongated body and the at least one fin are each made entirely of a polymer foam material. 
   
     
     
         2 . The finger-operated surfboard of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fin and the elongated body are integrally formed as a single, seamless, unitary construction. 
     
     
         3 . The finger-operated surfboard of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fin comprises three fins including a central fin aligned along the longitudinal axis of the elongated body and two outer fins positioned laterally on opposite sides of the central fin. 
     
     
         4 . The finger-operated surfboard of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fin extends outwardly from the bottom surface of the elongated body at an angle substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface. 
     
     
         5 . The finger-operated surfboard of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one fin has a height; and   the at least one fin defines a generally crescent-shaped profile that curves rearward toward the rear portion of the elongated body along the height.   
     
     
         6 . The finger-operated surfboard of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal curvature includes an upward curvature at a front portion of the elongated body, the upward curvature defined relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body. 
     
     
         7 . The finger-operated surfboard of  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment member comprising an engagement end and a securement end, opposite the engagement end, wherein the securement end is secured within the attachment aperture of the elongated body and the engagement end is configured to attach to an extremity of a user. 
     
     
         8 . The finger-operated surfboard of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer foam material comprises at least one of an expanded polyurethane, expanded polypropylene (EPP), or expanded polyethylene (EPE). 
     
     
         9 . The finger-operated surfboard of  claim 1 , wherein the rear portion of the elongated body defines a swallow-tail shape comprising a v-shaped notch extending inward along the longitudinal axis toward the front portion of the elongated body. 
     
     
         10 . The finger-operated surfboard of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body has an overall length between, and inclusive of, three inches to seven inches. 
     
     
         11 . A finger-operated surfboard comprising:
 an elongated body made entirely of a polymer foam material, the elongated body having a longitudinal curvature and a top surface that is unobstructed;   a plurality of fins made entirely of the polymer foam material and fixedly coupled to a bottom surface of the elongated body, opposite of the top surface;   an attachment aperture extending through the elongated body from the top surface to the bottom surface; and   an attachment member comprising an engagement end and a securement end, opposite the engagement end, the securement end secured within the attachment aperture of the elongated body.   
     
     
         12 . The finger-operated surfboard of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one fin and the elongated body are integrally formed as a single, seamless, unitary construction. 
     
     
         13 . The finger-operated surfboard of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of fins comprises three fins including a central fin aligned along the longitudinal axis of the elongated body and two outer fins positioned laterally on opposite sides of the central fin. 
     
     
         14 . The finger-operated surfboard of  claim 11 , wherein the longitudinal curvature includes an upward curvature at a front portion of the elongated body. 
     
     
         15 . A method of simulating surfing motions using a finger-operated surfboard, the method comprising:
 contacting a top surface of an elongated body of the finger-operated surfboard with one or more fingers of a user, the elongated body made entirely of a polymer foam material and defining a longitudinal curvature, the finger-operated surfboard including at least one fin fixedly coupled to the elongated body; and   maneuvering the finger-operated surfboard through a fluid such that the fluid interacts with a bottom surface of the elongated body to generate lift.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising attaching an attachment end of an attachment member to an extremity of the user, wherein the attachment member includes a securement end, opposite of the attachment end, that is secured within an attachment aperture of the elongated body. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the elongated body and the at least one fin are made of a polymer foam material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one fin defines a generally crescent-shaped profile that curves rearward toward a rear portion of the elongated body. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the elongated body defines a swallow-tail shape comprising a v-shaped notch at a rear portion of the elongated body. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the elongated body has an overall length between, and inclusive of, three inches to seven inches.