Hydrofoil kickboard

Abstract

There is provided a kickboard for use in water, the kickboard comprising a central hull having a first surface and a generally opposing second surface. The hull is disposable in the water such that the first surface faces away from the water and the second surface is in the water. The second surface defines a convex configuration. The kickboard further includes an arm rest extending on opposed sides of the central hull and being grippable by a user

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A kickboard for use in water, the kickboard comprising:
 a central hull having a first surface and a generally opposing second surface, the hull being disposable in the water such that the first surface faces away from the water and the second surface is in the water, the second surface defining a convex configuration; and   an arm rest extending on opposed sides of the central hull and being grippable by a user.   
     
     
         2 . The kickboard recited in  claim 1  wherein the central hull defines a longitudinal axis, the central hull being configured such that the second surface is curved within a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The kickboard recited in  claim 2  wherein the second surface is curved within a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         4 . The kickboard recited in  claim 1  wherein the central hull defines a longitudinal axis, the central hull being configured such that the second surface defines a V-shaped configuration within a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The kickboard recited in  claim 1  wherein the first surface defines a concave configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The kickboard recited in  claim 1  wherein the central hull defines a longitudinal axis and the second surface defines an apex having a first plane tangent to the apex, central hull extending from the first plane along an axis perpendicular to the first plane and terminating to define a second plane parallel to the first plane, the kickboard defining a maximum height as the distance between the first plane and the second plane, the maximum height being greater than 30 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The kickboard recited in  claim 6  wherein the maximum height is approximately 62 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The kickboard recited in  claim 1  wherein distance between the first surface and second surface is substantially uniform. 
     
     
         9 . The kickboard recited in  claim 1  wherein the central hull defines a forward end portion and a rearward end portion, the rearward end portion terminating to define a concave edge. 
     
     
         10 . The kickboard recited in  claim 1  wherein the arm rest is integrally formed with the hull portion. 
     
     
         11 . The kickboard recited in  claim 1  wherein the hull is formed from a foam material. 
     
     
         12 . A kickboard for use in water, the kickboard comprising:
 a central hull defining a longitudinal axis and having a curved external surface disposable in the water; and   an arm rest extending on opposed sides of the central hull and being grippable by a user, the arm rest defining an arm;   the kickboard being pivotable about the longitudinal axis during use of the kickboard in the water.   
     
     
         13 . The kickboard recited in  claim 12 , the hull including a first surface and an opposing second surface, the hull being disposable in the water such that the first surface faces away from the water and the second surface is in the water, the second surface defining a convex configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The kickboard recited in  claim 13  wherein the second surface is curved within a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         15 . The kickboard recited in  claim 12  wherein the central hull defines a longitudinal axis, the central hull being configured such that the second surface defines a V-shaped configuration within a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         16 . The kickboard recited in  claim 12  wherein the first surface defines a concave configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The kickboard recited in  claim 12  wherein the central hull defines a longitudinal axis and the second surface defines an apex having a first plane tangent to the apex, central hull extending from the first plane along an axis perpendicular to the first plane and terminating to define a second plane parallel to the first plane, the kickboard defining a maximum height as the distance between the first plane and the second plane, the maximum height being greater than 30 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The kickboard recited in  claim 17  wherein the maximum height is approximately 62 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The kickboard recited in  claim 12  wherein distance between the first surface and second surface is substantially uniform. 
     
     
         20 . The kickboard recited in  claim 12  wherein the central hull defines a forward end portion and a rearward end portion, the rearward end portion terminating to define a concave edge.