Stand-up inflatable paddle board

Abstract

A stand-up inflatable paddle board (2) comprising (i) a deck (4); (ii) a valve (6) for enabling the stand-up inflatable paddle board (2) to be inflated and deflated; (iii) indicator means (12) for indicating that the stand-up inflatable paddle board (2) requires at least one fold which is longitudinal when the stand-up inflatable paddle board (2) is to be placed in a deflated condition; and (iv) at least one deck pad (8, 10) which extends longitudinally of the deck (4) and which is for receiving a user of the stand-up inflatable paddle board (2), and the stand-up inflatable paddle board (2) being such that (v) the deck pad (8, 10) causes the stand-up inflatable paddle board to have a gap (14) which permits the fold to be effected about the gap (14).

Claims

1. A stand-up inflatable paddle board which is for a single user and which comprises: (i) a deck; (ii) a valve for enabling the stand-up inflatable paddle board to be inflated and deflated; (iii) indicator means for indicating that the stand-up inflatable paddle board requires at least one fold which is longitudinal when the stand-up inflatable paddle board is to be placed in a deflated condition; and (iv) at least one pair of deck pads for receiving the user of the stand-up inflatable paddle board, and wherein the deck pads extend longitudinally of the deck, and the stand-up inflatable paddle board being such that: (v) the deck has a top side and an underside; (vi) the top side and the underside are such that water cannot pass through the deck from the underside to the top side; (vii) the deck has a front portion which curves upwardly in use of the stand-up inflatable paddle board; and (viii) the deck pads are spaced apart by a longitudinal gap which permits the fold to be effected about the gap.

2. A stand-up inflatable paddle board according to claim 1 in which there is one pair of the deck pads, and in which the gap extends along a longitudinal central axis of the stand-up inflatable paddle board.

3. A stand-up inflatable paddle board according to claim 1 in which there are two pairs of the deck pads, and in which the two pairs of the deck pads are symmetrically disposed about a longitudinal central axis of the stand-up inflatable paddle board.

4. A stand-up inflatable paddle board according to claim 1 in which the indicator means is on the deck.

5. A stand-up inflatable paddle board according to claim 1 in which the gap is configured to form the indicator means.

6. A stand-up inflatable paddle board according to claim 1 and including auxiliary indicator means which is on an underside of the stand-up inflatable paddle board in use of the stand-up inflatable paddle board.

7. A stand-up inflatable paddle board according to claim 6 in which the indicator means is on a top side of the stand-up inflatable paddle board, and in which the auxiliary indicator means is on the underside of the stand-up inflatable paddle board and in line with the indicator means.

8. A stand-up inflatable paddle board according to claim 1 and including at least one stiffening member for stiffening the stand-up inflatable paddle board when it is in an inflated condition for use.

9. A stand-up inflatable paddle board according to claim 8 in which there is at least one of the stiffening members on a top side of the stand-up inflatable paddle board, and at least one of the stiffening members on an underside of the stand-up inflatable paddle board.

10. A stand-up inflatable paddle board according to claim 8 in which there are at least two of the stiffening members positioned one on either side of the indicator means.

11. A stand-up inflatable paddle board according to claim 10 in which there are the same number of stiffening members on the underside of the stand-up inflatable paddle board as there are on the top side of the stand-up inflatable paddle board.

12. A stand-up inflatable paddle board according to claim 8 in which the or each stiffening member is made of a flexible material.

13. A stand-up inflatable paddle board according to claim 1 in which the valve is positioned on a left side of the deck.

14. A stand-up inflatable paddle board according to claim 1 in which the valve is positioned on a right side of the deck.

15. A stand-up inflatable paddle board according to claim 1 and including anchor means on the deck for enabling goods to be secured on the deck.

16. A stand-up inflatable paddle board according to claim 15 which the anchor means comprises a plurality of eyelets.

17. A stand-up inflatable paddle board according to claim 1 in which the stand-up inflatable paddle board is made of a drop stitch material.

18. A stand-up inflatable paddle board according to claim 1 and including at least one of a handle which is off-set from the fold and a pair of fins which are off-set from the fold.

Description

(1) Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the front and one side of a first stand-up inflatable paddle board of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the stand-up inflatable paddle board shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a side view of the stand-up inflatable paddle board shown in FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is an underneath plan view of the stand-up inflatable paddle board shown in FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view from the front and one side of a second stand-up inflatable paddle board of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view from the front and one side of a third stand-up inflatable paddle board of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a fourth stand-up inflatable paddle board of the present invention;

(9) FIG. 8 is a side view of the stand-up inflatable paddle board shown in FIG. 7;

(10) FIG. 9 is an underneath plan view of the stand-up inflatable paddle board shown in FIG. 7;

(11) FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a fifth stand-up inflatable paddle board of the present invention;

(12) FIG. 11 is an exploded view like FIG. 10 but with the various component parts of the inflatable paddle board brought more closely together;

(13) FIG. 12 is a section through the stand-up inflatable paddle board as shown in FIG. 11; and

(14) FIG. 13 is a section through the stand-up inflatable paddle board as shown in FIG. 12 but with some component parts omitted in order to illustrate more clearly other component parts.

(15) Referring to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown a stand-up inflatable paddle board 2 which is for a single user and which comprises a deck 4, and a valve 6 for enabling the stand-up inflatable paddle board 2 to be inflated and deflated.

(16) A pair of deck pads 8, 10 extend longitudinally of the deck 4. The deck pads 8, 10 are for receiving the user of the stand-up inflatable paddle board 2. The user may stand or kneel on the deck pads 8, 10 as desired

(17) The stand-up inflatable paddle board 2 includes indicator means 12 for indicating that the stand-up inflatable paddle board 2 requires a fold which is longitudinal when the stand-up inflatable paddle board 2 is to be placed in a deflated condition. The pair of deck pads 8, 10 are spaced apart by a longitudinal gap 14. The gap 14 permits the told to be effected about the gap 14. Thus the fold takes place about the indicator means 12.

(18) The indicator means 12 extends along a longitudinal central axis of the stand-up inflatable paddle board 2. The indicator means 12 is shown in FIG. 1 in the form of a broken line. If desired, the indicator means 12 could alternatively be simply the gap 14 between the deck pads 8, 10. Still further, in other embodiments of the invention, the indicator means 12 may be in the form of a broken line, or the indicator means 12 in the form of the gap 14 may be supplemented or replaced by other indicator means such for example as oppositely facing arrows indicating where the fold is to take place.

(19) The stand-up inflatable paddle board 2 is such that the valve 6 is on a left side of the stand-up inflatable paddle board 2, and at a rear part of the stand-up inflatable paddle board 2. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the stand-up inflatable paddle board 2 has a pair of fins 16, 18. The fins 16,18 are mounted on mounting structures known as fin boxes. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the stand-up inflatable paddle board 2 has a front portion 20 which curves upwardly as shown.

(20) FIG. 4 shows an optional embodiment of the invention in which auxiliary indicator means 22 is provided. The auxiliary indicator means 22 is provided on an underside 24 of the stand-up inflatable paddle board 2 and is shown by a dotted and broken line. The auxiliary indicator means 22 is present on the stand-up inflatable paddle board 2 and is in addition to the indicator means 12 which then becomes the main indicator means 12. The auxiliary indicator means 22 is in line with, i.e. exactly below, the main indicator means 12 in use of the stand-up inflatable paddle board 2. Thus, if the stand-up inflatable paddle board 2 is facing upwardly or downwardly, there will always be an indicator means 12, 22 indicating that when the stand-up paddle board 2 is to be placed in a deflated condition, by example by folding or rolling, then what is initially required is the fold which is longitudinal and which is along the indicator means 12, 22.

(21) With reference to FIG. 4, in a further optional embodiment of the invention, if there were to be two or more of the main indicator means such for example as the main indicator means 12, then there would typically be the same number of the auxiliary indicator means such for example as the auxiliary indicator means 22, positioned in line with, i.e. exactly below, the main indicator means in use of the stand-up inflatable paddle board 2. In the stand-up inflatable paddle board 2, the auxiliary indicator means may be regarded as being in line but spaced apart from the main indicator means.

(22) Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a second stand-up inflatable paddle board 26. The stand-up inflatable paddle board 26 is like the stand-up inflatable paddle board 2. Similar parts have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. In the stand-up inflatable paddle board 26, it will be seen that the valve 6 is on the right side of the deck 4 rather than the left side of the deck 4 as in the stand-up inflatable paddle board 2.

(23) Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown a third stand-up inflatable paddle board 28. The stand-up inflatable paddle board 28 is like the stand-up inflatable paddle board 2. Similar parts have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. The stand-up inflatable paddle board 28 is provided with four eyelets 30. These eyelets 30 may receive ties (not shown) for tying luggage onto the deck 4 of the stand-up inflatable paddle board 28.

(24) Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, there is shown a fourth stand-up inflatable paddle board 32. Similar parts as in the stand-up inflatable paddle board 2 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. The stand-up inflatable paddle board 32 is provided with two pairs of deck pads, with the first deck pad pair being made up of deck pads 34, 36, and the second deck pad pair being made up of deck pads 38, 40. The deck pads 34, 36 are spaced apart by a gap 42. This gap 42 permits a longitudinal and first fold to be effected about the gap. The deck pads 38, 40 are spaced apart by a gap 44. This gap 44 permits a second fold to be effected about the gap 44. The first and second folds effected about the gaps 42, 44 are able to be made inwardly such that the opposing longitudinal edges 46, 48 of the stand-up inflatable paddle board 32 are folded inwardly and they lie in the gap 50 between the deck pads 36, 38. The stand-up inflatable paddle board 32 may then be rolled up, or it may be folded again about the gap 50 and then rolled up. In an alternative way of folding the stand-up inflatable paddle board 32, a user could simply fold the stand-up inflatable paddle board 32 once longitudinally about the gap 50. Thus the user is able to fold the stand-up inflatable paddle board 32 in different ways as may be determined as appropriate by the user. Also as determined as appropriate by the user, the user could make one single longitudinal fold about either the gap 42 or the gap 44. The fourth stand-up inflatable paddle board 28 is such that there are two pairs of the deck pads 34, 36 and 38, 40. The two pairs of the deck pads 34, 36 and 38, 40 are symmetrically disposed about a longitudinal central axis of the stand-up inflatable paddle board. The gap 50 is along the longitudinal central axis, and the gap 50 is also between the two pairs of the deck pads 34, 36 and 38, 40.

(25) Referring now to FIGS. 10-13, there is shown a fifth stand-up inflatable paddle board 52. Similar parts as in the stand-up inflatable paddle board 2 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. The stand-up inflatable paddle board 52 is provided with stiffening members 54, 56, 58, 60. The stiffening members 54, 56, 58, 60 are flexile stiffening members and they may be stiffening members which are known as stringers.

(26) Each stiffening member 54, 56, 58, 60 comprises a first strip 62 and a second strip 64. The second strip 64 is wider than the first strip 62 and it overlays the first strip 62. The first and second strips 62, 64 may be stuck together by an adhesive. By way of example, it is mentioned that the first strip 62 may be 50 mm wide, and the second strip 64 may be 80 mm wide. Other widths for the first and second strips 62, 64 may be employed.

(27) As can best be appreciated from FIG. 12, there is one of the stiffening members 54, 56 on either side of the gap 14 on a top side of the stand-up inflatable paddle board 52, and there is one of the stiffening members 58, 60 on either side of the gap 52 on the underside of the stand-up inflatable paddle board 52. The stiffening members 58, 60 on the underside of the stand-up inflatable paddle board 52 are in line with the stiffening members 54, 56 respectively on the top side of the stand-up inflatable paddle board 52. The stiffening members 54, 56, 58, 60 may be stuck to their surfaces of the stand-up inflatable paddle board 52 by any suitable adhesive, for example one of the adhesives currently used for securing known stiffening members to known stand-up inflatable paddle boards.

(28) It to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the deck pads 8 may be longer or shorter than shown. The valve 6 may be provided at other positions on the stand-up inflatable paddle boards 2, 26, 28. Other types of indicator means 12 may be employed to those shown and described above. More than two fins 16, 18 may be employed in which case the fins may be employed in various configurations. A single fin may also be employed if desired. Individual components shown in the drawings are not limited to use in their drawings and they may be used in other drawings and in all aspects of the invention.