Buoyancy harness

Abstract

A buoyancy harness for connecting a rider to a water sport apparatus, including sailboards, boats, and boating accessories, the harness comprised a body portion, a fastener, and a connector. The body portion may take the form of a waist or seat harness that is configured to encircle at least a portion of the lower abdomen of the rider and possibly a portion of the pelvic region. At least a portion of the body portion is comprised of at least one layer of buoyant material. The body portion may also include a water permeable material that permits trapped water to pass through the harness. The fastener is operably connected to the body portion and is configured to secure the body portion to at least a portion of the rider. The connector is also operably connected to the body portion and is configured for operable attachment to the water sport apparatus.

1 . A buoyancy harness for connecting a rider to a kite or boom of a sailboards comprised of: 
 a. a body portion, the body portion configured to encircle at least a portion of the lower abdomen of the rider, the body portion having an inner region, an outer region, and a mid region, at least a portion of the inner region being comprised of at least one layer of a buoyant closed cell foam material, at least a portion of the buoyant closed cell foam material of the inner region being enclosed by the outer region, at least a portion of the outer region being comprised of a water resistant material;    b. a fastener operably connected to the body portion, the fastener configured to secure the body portion to at least a portion of the rider, at least a portion of the fastener being attached to the body portion; and    c. a connector, the connector operably connected to the body portion, the connector configured for operable attachment to the kite or boom.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the body portion is configured to be a waist harness in which the body portion terminates at approximately at the waist region of the rider.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the body portion is configured to be a seat harness in which the body portion covers at least a portion of the buttock region of the rider.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  including at least one thigh strap, said at least one thigh strap being operably connected to the body portion.  
   
   
       5 . The invention of  claim 4  wherein the seat harness is configured to be a chest harness when inverted, said at least one thigh strap being configured to encircle at least a portion of at least one arm of the rider.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the outer region is comprised of a water permeable material.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fastener is comprised of at least one strap and at least one clamp, said at least one clamp configured to operably maintain said at least one strap in a taut condition.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the connector is comprised of a clasp and a bar, said bar configured for engagement with at least a portion of the at least one strap, the clasp configured for operable attachment to the water sport apparatus.  
   
   
       9 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein the body portion is further comprised of a first body and a second body, the first body comprised of an inner surface and an outer surface, at least a portion of the outer surface configured to abut against at least a portion of the second body.  
   
   
       10 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the outer region is comprised of nylon.  
   
   
       11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein the at least one layer of buoyant material is configured to provide padding to the harness.  
   
   
       13 . The invention of  claim 1  including a secondary layer comprised of a closed cell foam having a higher density than said buoyant closed cell foam material of said body portion, said secondary layer configured to provide structural support to said buoyant closed cell foam material of said body portion.  
   
   
       14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein the mid region includes at least one arm.  
   
   
       16 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein the mid region is operably connected to a belt, said belt being configured to traverse at least a portion of the lower abdomen of the rider.  
   
   
       17 . A buoyancy harness for connecting a rider to a kite or boom of a sailboards comprised of: 
 a. a body portion, the body portion configured to encircle at least a portion of the lower abdomen of the rider, the body portion having an inner region, an outer region, an upper region, a mid region, and a lower region, at least a portion of the mid region being comprised of at least one layer of a buoyant closed cell foam material, at least a portion of the lower region being comprised of a water permeable material;    b. a fastener operably connected to the body portion, the fastener configured to secure the body portion to at least a portion of the rider, the fastener being comprised of at least one strap and at least one clamp, at least a portion of said fastener being attached to the body portion, said at least one clamp configured to operably maintain said at least one strap in a taut condition; and    c. a connector comprised of a clasp and a bar, said bar configured for operable connection to the body portion, the clasp configured for operable attachment to the kite or boom.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the body portion is configured to be a waist harness in which the lower region terminates at approximately at the waist region of the rider.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the body portion is configured to be a seat harness in which the lower region covers at least a portion of the buttock region of the rider.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  including at least one thigh strap, said at least one thigh strap being operably connected to the body portion.  
   
   
       21 . The invention of  claim 20  wherein the seat harness is configured to be a chest harness when inverted, said at least one thigh strap being configured to encircle at least a portion of at least one arm of the rider.  
   
   
       22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 . The invention of  claim 17  wherein the at least one layer of buoyant material is configured to be padding in the harness.  
   
   
       24 . The invention of  claim 17  including a secondary layer comprised of a closed cell foam material having a higher density than said buoyant closed cell foam material of said body portion, said secondary layer configured to provide structural support to said buoyant closed cell foam material of said body portion.  
   
   
       25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . The invention of  claim 17  wherein the mid region includes at least one arm.  
   
   
       27 . The invention of  claim 17  wherein the mid region is operably connected to a belt, said belt being configured to traverse at least a portion of the lower abdomen of the rider.  
   
   
       28 . A buoyancy harness for connecting a rider to a kite or boom of a sailboards comprised of: 
 a. a body portion, the body portion configured to encircle at least a portion of the lower abdomen of the rider, the body portion having a first body, a second body, an inner region, an outer region, an upper region, a mid region, and a lower region, at least a portion of the mid region of the first body being comprised of at least one layer of a water buoyant closed cell foam material, the mid region including at least one arm, at least a portion of the lower region being comprised of a water permeable material, the first body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface configured for operable engagement with at least a portion of the second body;    b. a secondary layer comprised of a closed cell foam material having a higher density than said buoyant closed cell foam material of said body portion said secondary layer configured to provide structural support to said buoyant closed cell foam material of said body portion;    c. a fastener configured to secure the body portion to at least a portion of the rider, the fastener being comprised of at least one strap and at least one clamp, said at least one clamp configured to operably maintain said at least one strap in a taut condition, said strap comprised of a first end and a second end, at least a portion of said first end being attached to at least a portion of said at least one layer of said water buoyant closed cell foam material; and    d. a connector, the connector operably connected to the body portion, the connector being comprised of a clasp and a bar, said bar configured for operable engagement with at least a portion of the at least one strap, the clasp configured for operable attachment to the kite or boom.    
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the body portion is configured to be a waist harness in which the lower region terminates at approximately at the waist region of the rider.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the body portion is configured to be a seat harness in which the lower region covers at least a portion of the buttock region of the rider.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 30  including at least one thigh strap, said at least one thigh strap being operably connected to the body portion.  
   
   
       32 . The invention of  claim 31  wherein the seat harness is configured to be a chest harness when inverted, said at least one thigh strap being configured to encircle at least a portion of at least one arm of the rider.  
   
   
       33 . (canceled)  
   
   
       34 . The invention of  claim 28  wherein the at least one layer of buoyant material is configured to provide padding to the harness.  
   
   
       35 . (canceled)  
   
   
       36 . (canceled)  
   
   
       37 . The invention of  claim 28  wherein the mid region is operably connected to a belt, said belt being configured to traverse at least a portion of the lower abdomen of the rider.  
   
   
       38 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein the attachment of said fastener to said body portion is a sewn attachment.  
   
   
       39 . The invention of  claim 17  wherein the attachment of said fastener to said body portion is a sewn attachment.  
   
   
       40 . The invention of  claim 28  wherein the attachment of said first end to said at least one layer of said water buoyant closed cell foam material is a sewn attachment.