Body surfboard

Abstract

A body surfboard has an upwardly extending bulbous formation extending from a location spaced forwardly of the rear end of the board up to a location adjacent the front end of the board. The upper surface is generally flat at the rear end, and an upwardly inclined region extends from the flat region of the board up to the peak of the bulbous formation. The upwardly inclined region provides a support for the upper torso of a rider so that they are supported in a comfortable, heads-up orientation.

1 . A body surfing device, comprising: 
 a board having a lower surface, an upper surface for a rider to lie on, a front end, opposite side edges, and a rear end; and    the upper surface of the board having an upwardly extending bulbous formation extending from a location spaced forwardly of the rear end of the board up to a location adjacent the front end of the board.    
   
   
       2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the bulbous formation is of varying width along the length of the board, and has a forward end portion of minimum width.  
   
   
       3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the bulbous formation has an upper portion of maximum height adjacent the forward end of the board.  
   
   
       4 . The device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the bulbous formation has an upwardly inclined portion extending from an intermediate position in the length of the board to the upper portion of the bulbous formation, the upwardly inclined portion comprising a support for the torso of a user when prone on the board.  
   
   
       5 . The device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the upper surface of the board has a generally flat portion extending rearwardly from said intermediate position to the rear end of the board.  
   
   
       6 . The device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the intermediate position is an approximately central position along the length of the board.  
   
   
       7 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising hand grip regions on opposite sides of the bulbous formation at a location close to the forward end of the board.  
   
   
       8 . The device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the bulbous formation has a forward end portion which is narrower than the remainder of the bulbous formation, the hand grip regions being provided on opposite sides of the narrower forward end portion.  
   
   
       9 . The device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein each hand grip region comprises a concave recess in the upper surface of the board, and a hand grip extending over the concave recess.  
   
   
       10 . The device as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a handle having opposite ends secured to opposite sides of the board adjacent said respective hand grip regions, the handle extending across said bulbous formation and over said hand grip regions to provide hand grips.  
   
   
       11 . The device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the handle is vertically oriented.  
   
   
       12 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the board has two conformal body grooves extending along respective opposite sides of the bulbous formation for receiving a rider's arms, elbows and legs when positioned on the board.  
   
   
       13 . The device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein each body groove follows the contour of the respective adjacent side edge of the board and extends along more than half the length of the board.  
   
   
       14 . The device as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising a vertically oriented hand grip at the forward end of each body groove.  
   
   
       15 . The device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the vertically oriented hand grips comprise spaced portions of a one-piece handle extending across the board and having opposite ends secured to the board.  
   
   
       16 . The device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the bulbous formation has opposite sides and is of varying width along its length, the formation having a minimum width at the hand grip regions and tapering outwardly along the respective opposite sides to a maximum width before tapering inwardly towards the rear end of the board, and the respective body grooves have inner sides following the contour of the respective side of the bulbous formation up to the respective hand grip region.  
   
   
       17 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a displacement bow at the forward end of the lower surface of the board.  
   
   
       18 . The device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the board has a vertical thickness at the upper, maximum height portion of the bulbous formation which is at least twice the vertical thickness adjacent the rear end of the board.  
   
   
       19 . The device as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising a generally arcuate handle having opposite ends secured to the board on opposite sides of said bulbous formation and a central region extending transversely across said bulbous formation, the bulbous formation having a transverse groove and the central region of the handle being seated in said transverse groove.  
   
   
       20 . A body surfing device, comprising: 
 a board having a lower surface, an upper surface for a rider to lie on, a front end, opposite side edges, and a rear end;    the upper surface of the board having a rear, generally flat portion extending from the rear end of the board, an upwardly inclined portion extending from the flat portion towards the front end of the board, and a maximum height portion adjacent the front end of the board; and    the upwardly inclined portion being adapted to support the upper torso of a rider in an upwardly inclined, heads up orientation.    
   
   
       21 . The device as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the maximum height portion of the upper surface is of generally bulbous shape.  
   
   
       22 . The device as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the upwardly inclined portion and maximum height portion are of varying transverse width, the maximum height portion having a width less than that of the upwardly inclined portion.  
   
   
       23 . The device as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the upper surface of the board has an arcuate body groove extending along each side of the upper surface adjacent respective opposite sides of said upwardly inclined portion and maximum height portion, each body groove terminating in a hand grip recess on respective opposite sides of said maximum height portion.  
   
   
       24 . The device as claimed in  claim 20 , further comprising a handle extending across the maximum height portion of said upper surface and secured to the board on opposite sides of the maximum height portion to provide hand grips.  
   
   
       25 . The device as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the maximum height portion has a transverse groove and a central portion of the handle is seated in said groove.  
   
   
       26 . The device as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the hand grips are vertically oriented.