SURFBOARD LEASH

Abstract

A surfboard leash, including a cord having a first durometer hardness, a connector having a second durometer hardness molded over an end of the cord, and a flex ring having a third durometer hardness positioned a least partially around the cord and at least partially between the cord and the connector, wherein the third shore durometer is less than first shore durometer and the second shore durometer.

Claims

1. A surfboard leash configured to provide a connection between a surfboard and a leg of a user, the surfboard leash comprising: a rail saver attachable to the surfboard; a cuff attachable to the leg of a user; a cord extending between a first end and a second end and having a first durometer hardness enabling the cord to be resiliently extendable in length; a swivel operably coupling the cord to the cuff, the swivel operably coupled to the cord by a swivel connector having a second durometer hardness molded over a portion of the swivel and the first end of the cord; and a flex ring having a third durometer hardness positioned around the cord and at least partially between the cord and the connector, wherein the third shore durometer is less than first shore durometer and the second shore durometer.

2. The surfboard leash of claim 1, wherein the cord and the swivel connector are constructed of urethane.

3. The cord of claim 1, wherein the cord and the swivel connector have a durometer hardness of about 90 A.

4. The cord of claim 1, wherein the flex ring is constructed of silicone.

5. The cord of claim 1, wherein the flex ring is has a durometer hardness of less than 90 A.

6. A cord for surfboard leash, comprising: a cord having a length extending between a first end and a second end, the cord having a first durometer hardness enabling the length of the cord to be resiliently extendable; a connector having a second durometer hardness molded over the first end of the cord; and a flex ring having a third durometer hardness positioned around the cord and at least partially between the cord and the connector, wherein the third shore durometer is less than first shore durometer and the second shore durometer.

7. The cord of claim 6, wherein the cord and the connector are constructed of urethane.

8. The cord of claim 6, wherein the first hardness and the second hardness are substantially equal.

9. The cord of claim 6, wherein the cord and the connector have a durometer hardness of about 90 A.

10. The cord of claim 6, wherein the flex ring is constructed of silicone.

11. The cord of claim 6, wherein the flex ring is has a durometer hardness of less than 90 A.

12. The cord of claim 6, further comprising swivel operably coupled to the connector.

13. The cord of claim 6, wherein the flex ring comprises a tubular wall extending between a first end and a second end, with an apex representing a maximum thickness of the tubular wall positioned between the first end and the second end.

14. The cord of claim 1, wherein the tubular wall decreases in thickness between the apex and the second end.

15. The cord of claim 6, wherein the flex ring comprises a first portion layered between the cord and the connector, and a second portion extending away from an end of the connector.

16. A surfboard leash, comprising: a cord having a first durometer hardness; a connector having a second durometer hardness molded over an end of the cord; and a flex ring having a third durometer hardness positioned a least partially around the cord and at least partially between the cord and the connector, wherein the third shore durometer is less than first shore durometer and the second shore durometer.

17. The surfboard leash of claim 16, wherein the cord and the connector are constructed of urethane.

18. The surfboard leash of claim 16, wherein the cord and the connector have a durometer hardness of about 90 A.

19. The surfboard leash of claim 16, wherein the flex ring is constructed of silicone.

20. The surfboard leash of claim 16, wherein the flex ring is has a durometer hardness of less than 90 A.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the description, illustrate several aspects of the present disclosure. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view depicting a surfboard leash, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a plan view depicting a connection between a cord and a cuff, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a plan view depicting a connection between a cord and a cuff, wherein the cord has a polygon cross-section, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view depicting a flex ring, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a plan view depicting a swivel connector molded over a portion of a flex ring, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the present disclosure that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, a surfboard leash 100 is depicted in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. As depicted, the surfboard leash 100 is configured to provide a secure connection between a surfboard 40 and a leg of a user 50. In embodiments, the surfboard leash 100 includes a rail saver 102 attachable to the surfboard 40, a cuff 104 attachable to the leg of the user 50, and a cord 106 operably coupling the rail saver 102 to the cuff 104. In embodiments, the cord 106 can be constructed of a resilient material having a first durometer hardness enabling the cord 106 to be resiliently extendable in length having the effect of dampening tensile shock, while inhibiting excessive spring back during use. Accordingly, should the user 50 fall while riding a wave, the surfboard 40 will not be swept away from the user 50, thus allowing the user 50 to quickly recover the surfboard 40 and return to the takeoff zone.

[0024] As further depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 the cord 106 can extend between a first end 108 and a second end 110. In some embodiments, the cord 106 can have a substantially circular cross-section (e.g., such as that depicted in FIG. 2). In other embodiments, the cord 106 can have other cross-sectional shapes, such as a hexagon (e.g., such as that depicted in FIG. 3). Additionally, in some embodiments, the cord 106 can be constructed to have a range of thicknesses or diameters for desired drag and tensile strength usage. In one non-limiting example, the cord 106 can be constructed to have a cross-sectional thickness or diameter of about 5.5 mm, wherein the term about or substantially as used throughout this disclosure means+5% of the referenced value(s).

[0025] As discussed above, one area of high stress concentration in the cord 106 occurs at or near a connection point between the cord 106 and a swivel connector 112, which operably couples the first end 108 of the cord 106 to the swivel 114. As further depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, the swivel 114 is secured to the cuff 104 (e.g., via a fastener 116, etc.), thereby pivotably coupling the cuff 104 to the cord 106. In particular, the swivel connector 112 can be molded over the first end 108 of the cord 106 to encompass a portion of the cord 106 in proximity to the first end 108.

[0026] In construction of the swivel connector 112, a clamshell mold can be positioned over the first end 108 of the cord 106, with a portion of the swivel 114 positioned within the clam shell mold. Material comprising the swivel connector 112 can then be introduced into the clamshell mold at a desired temperature and pressure, such that as the material cures, the swivel connector 112 is formed in which a portion of the cord 106 and swivel 114 are embedded. In embodiments, the swivel connector 112 can extend between a first end 118 from which the swivel 114 extends, and a second end 120 from which the cord 106 extends.

[0027] In some embodiments, the swivel connector 112 can have a first cross-sectional area at the first end 118, and a second cross-sectional area at the second end 120, wherein the first cross-sectional area is larger than the second cross-sectional area. For example, in some embodiments, the swivel connector 112 can generally taper or reduce in diameter or cross-sectional thickness from the first end 118 to the second end 120, which in turn reduces a stiffness of the swivel connector 112 approaching the second end 120 of the swivel connector 112, which in turn has the effect of inhibiting the occurrence of tight radius bends in the cord 106 in proximity to the second and 120 of the swivel connector 112. To further reduce a stiffness in the swivel connector 112, in some embodiments, one or more apertures 122 can be defined in the swivel connector 112.

[0028] Despite efforts to reduce stiffness in the swivel connector 112 in proximity to the connection to the cord 106, experience shows that breakages in the cord 106 tend to occur in close proximity to the connection between the swivel connector 112 and the cord 106. In particular, during use, tight curves or bends tend to occur in the cord 106 where the cord 106 meets the swivel connector 112. When a load is applied, material on the outer radius of the curve or bend tends to carry a majority of the load, which can lead to the material being overloaded and failing. The failure can propagate through the material to the inner radius as the load is carried by the remaining material.

[0029] To address this concern, applicants of the present disclosure have developed a flexible ring 124 positioned at the second end 120 of the swivel connector 112, between at least a portion of the of the swivel connector 112 and the cord 106. For example, in in some embodiments, the flex ring 124 can be in the form of a hollow tube or loop which can be positioned over a first end 108 of the cord 106, such that the swivel connector 112 is molded over at least a portion of the flex ring 124. In operation, the flex ring can have the effect of increasing the flexibility of the second end 120 of the swivel connector 112, which in turn has the effect of decreasing concentrations of stress in tight bends in the cord 106 that tend to occur at the connection between the cord 106 and the swivel connector 112.

[0030] In some embodiments, the cord 106 can be constructed of an extruded polyurethane material, having a first shore hardness durometer of between about 70 A and about 95 A. In embodiments, the swivel connector 112 can also be constructed of a polyurethane material, having a second shore hardness durometer, which can be similar to the first shore hardness (e.g., the second shore hardness durometer can have a value of between about 65 A and about 100 A). In other embodiments, the shore hardness durometer of the swivel connector 112 can be different than the shore hardness durometer of the cord 106.

[0031] In some embodiments, the flex ring 124 can be constructed of silicone, having a third shore hardness durometer, which can be less than both the first shore hardness durometer and the second shore hardness durometer. For example, in one embodiment, the flex ring 124 can have a shore hardness durometer of between about 20 A and about 80 A), such that the material used to construct the flex ring 124 is generally less hard than the materials used to construct the cord 106 and swivel connector 112.

[0032] As further depicted in FIG. 4, in some embodiments, the flex ring 124 can include a tubular wall 126 that extends between a first end 128 and a second end 130. In some embodiments, the flex ring 124 can include an apex 132 positioned between the first end 128 and the second end 130, representing a maximum thickness of the tubular wall 126. In embodiments, the tubular wall 126 can decrease in thickness when moving from the apex 132 to the second and 130, which can have the effect of decreasing the stiffness of the flex ring 124 over the length of the flex ring 124 between the apex 132 and the second end 130. For example, in some embodiments, while the interior surface 134 of the tubular wall 126 is conformed to fit over the cord 106, the exterior surface 136 of the tubular wall 126 can generally taper away from the apex 132 to a minimum diameter in proximity to the second end 130.

[0033] In some embodiments, the flex ring 124 can define a first portion 138 extending between the apex 132 and the first end 128, and a second portion 140 extending between the apex 132 and the second end 130. In embodiments, the first portion 138 can be positioned as a layer between the swivel connector 112 and the cord 106, which can have the effect of acting as an elastic shock absorber between the swivel connector 112 and the cord 106.

[0034] Accordingly, in some embodiments, the swivel connector 112 is at least partially molded over a portion of the flex ring 124, which can have the effect of adhering the swivel connector 112, flex ring 124 and cord 106 together at the first portion 138. For example, in one embodiment, the first portion 138 can be adherently bonded through the overmolding process to at least the swivel connector 112, and optionally the cord 106. The second portion 140 can be configured to extend from the second end 120 of the swivel connector 112, thereby acting as an extension of the swivel connector 112 surrounding the cord 106.

[0035] Having described the preferred aspects and implementations of the present disclosure, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts may readily occur to one skilled in the art. However, it is intended that such modifications and equivalents be included within the scope of the claims which are appended hereto.