Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02764089 2012-01-17
IMPROVED HIKING PADS
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to sailing equipment. More specifically, the
present invention
relates to improved hiking pads for sailors.
Background of the Invention
Sailboats, particularly small craft without heavy keels, tend to lean or tip
over in heavy winds,
termed "heeling". To counteract this tipping action, the crew of small
sailboats often lean in the
opposite direction to balance the craft. This technique, colloquially known as
"hiking", allows
the boat to be sailed more aggressively, and is therefore a common technique
used when racing
sailboats. On particularly small craft, sailors braces their backsides/thighs
against the boat's
gunnel or gunwale when leaning out over the water.
Typical hiking pads are adapted to cushion the sailor's legs against the hard
edge of the gunnel.
These pads fit inside a pair of specially designed shorts or wetsuit to
position the pads in the
correct location so that the pressure of the gunnel is distributed evenly
across the sailor's
backside/thighs. Foot rests or straps are often provided on the deck to secure
the sailor's feet. A
rope or cable may be provided so that the sailor can hang on and support their
upper body. In this
way, the sailor can lean away from the boat to counteract the tipping forces
of the sail and
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balance the heeling boat.
As one can readily appreciate, hiking is a physically tiring exercise that
requires strength and
endurance. Pressure points created by the gunnel and friction generated by the
hiking pads can cause
considerable discomfort to the sailor when hiking for long periods of time.
Known hiking pads are not custom fitted to a particular user, and often
consist of multiple,
articulating pieces of fibreglass. These pads are not customizable, and are
not designed with the
ergonomically-correct posture of the sailor in mind.
Accordingly, there is need for customizable and ergonomically designed hiking
pads of unitary
construction that contact the gunnel in a stable manner.
Brief Summary of the Invention
In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides an improved hiking
pad for ergonomically
receiving the leg of a sailor comprising: a pad element having a first
longitudinal side and a second
longitudinal side, said pad element having a curved profile about a centrally
located longitudinal axis
so as to have a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface, said outer
surface having at least
one groove or ridge formed therein.
Description of the Drawings
Preferred embodiments will now be described in greater detail and will be
better understood when
read in conjunction with the following drawings.
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Figure 1 is an upper perspective end view of the interior of a hiking pad in
accordance with at
least one embodiment;
Figure 2 is an upper perspective side view of the interior of a hiking pad in
accordance with at
least one embodiment;
Figure 3 is an upper perspective side view of the outer surface of a hiking
pad in accordance
with at least one embodiment; and,
Figure 4 is an upper perspective end view of the outer surface of a hiking pad
in accordance with
at least one embodiment.
Detailed Description of the Embodiments
The present invention provides an improved hiking pad for cushioning the
backside or thighs of a
sailor against the gunnel of a sailboat when hiking. The improved pad is
substantially stiff such
that it maintains its shape when performing the intended duty of cushioning
the sailor against the
gunnel, however it is contemplated that the hiking pad can slightly flex about
a longitudinal or
lateral axis without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In at least one embodiment the hiking pad is generally rectangular in plan
shape, although other
plan shapes are contemplated including reniform, ovular, obround and circular
among other
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shapes. The hiking pad can take any shape provided that it suitably receives
the leg of a sailor in
a comfortable manner without pressure points or sharp edges. It is
contemplated that in at least
one embodiment the hiking pad will have a rounded rectangular plan shape
having straight
longitudinal edges oriented perpendicularly to straight end edges joined by
rounded corners, as
will be discussed in further detail below.
The hiking pad of the present invention has a curved profile such that it can
receive the leg of a
sailor and cushion it against the gunnel when the sailor is hiking. As will be
understood by the
skilled person, in order to accommodate a human leg in a comfortable manner,
the hiking pad is
curved about a centrally located longitudinal axis of the hiking pad. In some
embodiments the
hiking pad will be symmetrically curved about a central longitudinal axis, and
in other
embodiments the hiking pad will be asymmetrically curved about a central
longitudinal axis.
In at least one embodiment, the thickness of the hiking pad is variable such
that one longitudinal
side of the pad is thicker than the opposing longitudinal side of the pad, as
will be discussed in
further detail below. In at least one embodiment it is contemplated that the
hiking pad can be
customizably moldable to a particular user's leg, resulting in improved
comfort and protection.
Suitable methods of molding could include heat molding or customized
manufacture to a
particular user's body, among other arrangements.
In at least one embodiment, the hiking pad is comprised of an outer shell and
an inner liner. In
such embodiments, the outer shell can be constructed of a wide variety of
suitable materials,
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provided that the outer shell is sufficiently stiff such that the hiking pad
maintains its shape while
the sailor is hiking. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to,
wood, plastic, metal,
fibreglass and carbon fibre, among other materials that will be readily
understood by the skilled
person.
In some embodiments, the inner liner will be formed separately from the outer
shell. In these
embodiments, the inner liner will be formed of a material providing suitable
cushioning to ensure
the comfort of the sailor while hiking. Suitable materials for construction of
the inner liner
include, but are not limited to, cloth, open cell padding, closed cell
padding, foam rubber, kevlar,
neoprene and other types of padding, among other materials that will be
readily understood by
the skilled person.
As discussed above, it is contemplated that in at least one embodiment the
outer shell and inner
liner of the hiking pad are formed of single unitary construction, however it
is also contemplated
that the outer shell is formed of a single unitary piece that is suitably
attached to an inner liner
that is also formed of single unitary construction. Alternatively, both the
outer shell and the inner
liner may each be formed of multiple pieces suitably joined together.
It is contemplated that in at least one embodiment, the hiking pad is
substantially torsionally stiff,
such that it does not appreciably deform during use. The skilled person will
recognize that some
deformation of the hiking pad will be acceptable and still allow the hiking
pad to perform its
intended function.
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In multi-component embodiments, the separate components may be joined together
by any
suitable means provided that the resultant hiking pad has the requisite
stiffness and cushioning
required by the intended application. Suitable means of joining components
will include
stitching, adhesive bonding, mechanical fastening (including riveting among
other means of
mechanical fastening) among other means of joining the separate components
that will be readily
understood by the skilled person.
The outer shell of the hiking pad further includes at least one groove that is
adapted to cooperate
with the gunnel of a sailboat so that the hiking pad can pivot about the
gunnel while the gunnel
stays loosely engaged with the groove. The groove can take a wide variety of
cross sectional
shapes provided that the groove can receive the gunnel in such a manner. It is
contemplated that
the outer shell may include a single groove, or alternatively, the outer shell
may include a number
of grooves so that the sailor can adjust the position of the hiking pad with
respect to the gunnel
and accordingly adjust the distance that the sailor can lean away from the
sailboat, resulting in
more effective hiking.
In at least one embodiment, the hiking pad of the present invention is
designed to slide into
pockets provided in specially designed shorts or wetsuits such that the a pad
is firmly but
comfortable positioned in the hamstring/buttock area of each leg. It is
contemplated that a hiking
pad is used for each of the sailor's legs. Accordingly, a left side hiking pad
and a right side hiking
pad may be provided that are each designed for the ergonomic differences
between the user's
right and left legs. A number of sizes of hiking pads may be manufactured to
suit all shapes and
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sizes of sailors.
Other methods of attaching the hiking pads to the sailor's legs are
contemplated, such as straps,
adhesive strips, mechanical snaps, zippers, hook and loop fasteners among
other suitable
methods that will be readily understood by the skilled person.
In this way, a sailor can comfortably hike for long periods by resting their
padded
thighs/backsides against the gunnel of the sailboat when leaning their body
over the side of the
boat. The hiking pads of the present invention spread the pressure of the
gunnel over the entire
area of the pad, reducing pressure points and frictional irritation that would
be otherwise
debilitating over long periods. Further, the hiking pad of the present
invention encourages proper
technique as the at least one groove is provided in the outer shell of the
hiking pad is adapted to
cooperate with the gunnel creating a pivot point, which serves at least two
purposes. The sailor
will know that when the groove is engaged with the gunnel that the lateral
position of the sailor's
body is correct in relation to the gunnel, and further, the cooperation of the
groove and gunnel
will ensure that the sailor maintains this lateral position even when the
gunnel is wet or the sailor
is jostled in heavy winds or rough waters.
Turning to Figures 1 to 4, at least one embodiment of a hiking pad 10 in
accordance with the
present invention is illustrated. Hiking pad 10 includes a concave inner liner
12 suitably attached
to an outer shell 14. In this embodiment, inner liner 12 consists of two
layers of foam padding
suitable bonded together, however other arrangements are also contemplated.
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CA 02764089 2012-01-17
As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, in this embodiment hiking pad 10 has a
rectangular plan
shape with rounded corners. Rounded corners are provided to improve the user's
comfort,
however other plan shapes are also contemplated as discussed above.
As can be seen in Figure 1, hiking pad 10 is curved about a centrally located
longitudinal axis A-
A. In this embodiment, hiking pad 10 is asymmetrically curved, however other
arrangements are
contemplated. In this embodiment, inner liner 12 is thinner at the left side A
of hiking pad 10
than at the right side of hiking pad B to improve the user's comfort. Further,
this variable
thickness arrangement encourages proper posture in order to promote improved
ergonomic
alignment of the body and can improve the wearer's body position in relation
to the gunnel and
water below which can improve the user's performance.
Turning to Figures 3 and 4, outer shell 14 of hiking pad 10 is illustrated. As
discussed above,
outer shell 14 contains at least one groove that is adapted to pivotably
cooperate with the gunnel
of a sailboat. In this embodiment, multiple grooves 16 are provided, resulting
in a number of
positions that the user can select when hiking.
The above-described embodiments of the present invention are meant to be
illustrative of
preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit
the scope of the
present invention. Various modifications, which would be readily apparent to
one skilled in the
art, are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. The only
limitations to the scope
of the present invention are set out in the following appended claims.
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