Hinged inflatable surfboard cover

Abstract

Inflatable tubes forming elongated top and bottom sections hingedly connected together along one side and open on the opposite side but closeable about a surfboard for protection thereof.

Claims

1. A combination inflatable protective surfboard cover device comprising: an elongated surfboard having top and bottom surfaces and curved lateral opposite rails curving forwardly and inwardly in respective predetermined curves; elongated top and bottom cover bodies for covering the top and bottom surfaces and configured to complement the shape of the surfboard, the bodies having respective longitudinal centers and first and second lateral sides and being flexibly connected together along the respective first lateral sides and shiftable to a closed position with the top and bottom cover bodies disposed in covering relationship on the respective top and bottom surfaces of the surfboard and openable along the respective second lateral sides to an open position to lay in a horizontal plane with bottom body having an interior bed formed to, when the bottom body is in the horizontal plane, face upwardly, the top and bottom bodies constructed of respective sets of elongated, juxtaposed, inflatable body tubes with adjacent tubes abutted against one another along their lengths and affixed to one another to be, when inflated, self-supporting and, when the cover bodies are in the open position in the horizontal plane cause the top surfaces of the juxtaposed inflatable tubes of bottom body cover to cooperate in forming the horizontal bed; the body tubes of the respective cover bodies being progressively longer starting from the respective first and second lateral sides and progressing inwardly toward the respective longitudinal centers and formed with respective forward ends cooperating to form respective outlines curving inwardly and forwardly from opposite lateral sides toward one another in the respective predetermined curves; an inflatable rail tube device extending along the lateral sides of the bottom cover body, mounted to the bottom cover body and constructed to, project forwardly and inwardly along the predetermined curves and constructed to, when the bottom body is laid horizontally and the body tubes and rail tube device inflated, stand vertically above the level of the bed; and a fastener to hold the bodies in the closed position with the rail tube abutted against the respective rails.

2. The combination of the inflatable protective surfboard cover device of claim 1 including: a plurality of inflatable tubes cooperating to form a partitioning insert configured with a periphery to compliment the shape of the periphery of the bed and configured to be inserted over the top surface of the surfboard for receipt thereon of a second surfboard and wherein: the cover device is constructed to fit over the first mentioned and second surfboards.

3. The combination of the inflatable protective surfboard cover device of claim 1 wherein: the top and bottom cover bodies consist only of body tubes.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein: at least some of the tubes are constructed of a durable material selected from the group of nylon, GORE-TEX fabric, or canvas.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein: the tubes are constructed of multiple layers.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein: the elongated top and bottom cover bodies are configured with the tubes extending lengthwise of the surfboard and the adjacent tubes affixed to one another to cooperate in constructing the top and bottom cover bodies integral.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein: the tubes are inelastic.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a plan view of an inflatable surfboard embodying the present invention, open end clam shell fashion for receipt of a surfboard;

(2) FIG. 2 is top plan view of a divider insert to be inserted between surfboards housed in the top and bottom sections of the cover shown in FIG. 1;

(3) FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view, in enlarged scale, taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view, in enlarged scale, taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but depicting surfboards nested in the and bottom section;

(6) FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view, in enlarged scale, taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 6 but depicting the air valve in an open position;

(8) FIG. 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view, in enlarged scale, taken the line 8-8 of FIG. 1;

(9) FIG. 9 is a detailed sectional view, in enlarged scale, taken from the circle 9 in FIG. 5;

(10) FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the surfboard cover shown in FIG. 1 but depicted in its closed position;

(11) FIG. 11 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken, in enlarged scale, taken along the line of 11-11 of FIG. 10;

(12) FIG. 12 is a broken longitudinal sectional view, in enlarged scale, taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 10; and

(13) FIG. 13 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 but of a second embodiment of the surfboard of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(14) Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the inflatable surfboard cover of the present invention includes, generally, a plurality of coextensive inflatable pneumatic tubes 21 and 23 which cooperate to make up respective top and bottom sections, generally designated 27 and 29, connected together at one side by a hinge 31. The sections 27 and 29 are preferably constructed as mirror images to, in plan view, imitate the plan view of a surfboard and one or both include respective enlarged-in-cross section peripheral rail cushions tubes 35 and 37 extending around the respective peripheries of the respective sections to, when the sections are in their closed positions as shown in FIG. 11, cooperate to form a cushioning bumper about the periphery of one or more surfboards 41 and 43 housed therein. The top section 27 is formed along its open side with respective loops defining D-rings 47 for mating with the respective fastener straps 49 connected to the open side of the bottom section 29 and the ends thereof to strap together to form closure fasteners to hold the sections in the closed position shown in FIG. 11

(15) Accomplished surfers take great pride in the selection of high performance surfboards and often travel a great distances and sometimes to somewhat remote areas to have access to ideal surfing waves. Often times surfers travel in groups and each surfer will want to have a surfboard for exercising his or her surfing sport. The surfboard cover of the present invention is constructed to house one or more surfing boards and in the preferred embodiment is constructed to house the surfing boards 41 and 43 as shown in FIG. 11.

(16) Surfboards are typically formed at the fore peak with a narrowed fore section having a somewhat pointed end and the sides thereof curve rearwardly and outwardly to a wide mid ship section and then curve gradually rearwardly and inwardly toward one another to form a somewhat blunt aft end extending transversely (alhwartship). In the preferred embodiment, the surfboard cover of the present invention is constructed to simulate this configuration so that the inflated rail cushion tubes 35 and 37 curved inwardly in toward one another in the respective forward and rearward directions to fairly closely follow the contour of the surfboards to hold them in position and cooperate in providing protection to the edges of the surfboard.

(17) In one preferred embodiment, the surfboard cover incorporates a dual-layered construction laminated to form outer and inner layers. The layers may be formed of any desirable material and are preferably formed from a non-permeable, flexible and durable yet lightweight material that will withstand exposure to the elements such as water and sunlight while also being resistant to tearing and puncturing or other damage that may otherwise occur during transport and storage.

(18) The material may be constructed of a plastic vinyl, nylon, gortex, canvas or other materials well-known in the art which provide flexibility and compactness when deflated. The inner layer of the laminated construction may be of a less durable material but is air impermeable to cooperate in holding pressurized air.

(19) As shown in FIG. 3, the bottom section 37 is constructed of a plurality of pneumatic tubes 21 which may be of identical or varying cross sections but which are typically fused together at their adjoining peripheries 51 and which cooperate to form a layer of pneumatic cushioning material to dispose their upper peripheries in a horizontal plane. The numbers and sizes of such tubes may vary but, in a preferred embodiment the widest portion of the bottom section is formed by eight flanking pneumatic tubes 21 which are the lateral outer two tubes permeating at their rear extremity along a curve defined by the periphery of the opposite sides of the section to provide for flanking tubes at the aft end of the cover.

(20) With continued referenced to FIG. 3, a aft section 35 is of similar construction as formed by the flanking tubes 23 which likewise cooperate to form a layer pneumatic cushion material to protect the dorsal side of a board.

(21) The sections 35 and 37 may include a covering layer 61 which may be formed medially in the area of the hinge 31 with a turn back 63 between the cushioning tubes 35 and 37 on the proximate sides of the respective sections to form the hinge line.

(22) The respective loops 47 may be embedded on one side in the cover layer to receive the fastening straps 49 when the cover sections are closed on each other.

(23) Referring to FIGS. 1 and 8, the cushioning tubes 35 and 37 are configured at the front extremities with a transverse partition wall 67 to add structural integrity and strength.

(24) With a continued reference to FIG. 1, the respective tubes 21 and 23 are formed at their respective one ends with pneumatic valves 71 for inflation thereof. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the valves are of conventional construction including a depressible valve housing neck, generally designated which may be depressed down from the position in FIG. 7 to the recessed position shown in FIG. 6, folded back on itself to form an annular convolution. The valves are configured with flapper tongues 77 which are biased to their closed position shown in FIG. 6 but may be forced opened cantileverally to the open position shown in FIG. 7 as pressurization is commenced. A covering flap 79 is mounted adjacent the respective valves and includes hook and pile fastening material 81 on the free extremity thereof for adjoining with a hook and pile fastener on the body of the respective tubes.

(25) Referring to FIGS. 1, 5 and 9, a plurality of securement straps 81 are connected on their respective one extremities to the lower section cushioning tube 37 in longitudinally spaced apart relationship. The straps 81 include hook and pile fastening strips 83 mounted centrally thereon for mating with corresponding hook and pile fastening strips 85 mounted on the free extremities thereof.

(26) Mounted in corresponding longitudinally spaced relationship along the cushioning tube 37 on the distal side are a plurality of square rings 87 for receipt of the straps 81 so they may be folded back on themselves and secured in fastening relationship as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9.

(27) Referring to FIGS. 2 and 11, in one preferred embodiment, the surfboard cover apparatus of the present invention includes a partitioning insert, generally designated 91, constructed of a plurality of side by side inflatable tubes 93 and having an overall plan view configurations somewhat simulating plan view of surfboard. The tubes 93 include respective inflation valves 97 similar to the valves 75.

(28) Thus, the partitioning insert 91 when inflated, may be inserted on top of the bottom surfboard 43 (FIG. 11) to be sandwiched between that board and the top surfboard 41 positioned thereover.

(29) The surfboard cover device may include a handle 99 mounted along one side of the top or bottom sections for toting of the cover.

(30) In operation, when it is desirable to carry a surfboard to a distant location, the user may utilize a foot or electric pneumatic pump to inflate the respective tubes 21, 23, 35, 37 and 93 through the respective inflation valves. It will be appreciated that in various different configuration, two or more tubes may be joined for communication of air there between so that multiple tubes are inflated simultaneously.

(31) Then, with the cover device in the open position as shown in FIG. 1, the surfboard 43 may be nested into the bottom area as shown in FIG. 5 and with the peripheral edges thereof protected from impact by means of the cushion tube 37. The straps 81 may then be laid over the top surface of such surfboard, threaded through the loops 87 and folded back on themselves and attach the loop and pile attachments 83 and 85. In some embodiments, the partitioning insert 91 will be positioned over the top surface of the bottom surfboard 43 and the straps 81 fitted thereover.

(32) In any event, once the straps 81 are secured, in the configuration shown, the insert 91 may be positioned over those straps and the surfboard 91 positioned thereover as shown in FIG. 11. The top section 27 may then be folded over as allowed by the articulating hinge 31 to close the cover section 27 on the bottom section. The closure straps 49 then be threaded the hoops 47 and the straps folded back on themselves and attached per the hook and pile attachments 50 to hold the top and bottom sections in the close protective configuration as shown in FIG. 11 to protect all surfaces of the boards 41 and 43, including side rails and the rear stern rail. It will be appreciated that should the packaged boards be dropped or a piece of luggage or tote cart or the like come into impact with the exterior of the exterior of the inflated cover any such impact will be cushioned by the compressible characteristic of the air in the tubes to thus fully protect the surfboards.

(33) Then, when the destination is reached, the fastener straps 49 may be quickly released and the top and bottom sections opened to the position shown in FIG. 1 to provide for access to the surfboards.

(34) It will also be appreciated that, should the protective cover incur a leak or puncture anywhere on the interior exterior surfaces thereof, ready access could be had to the puncture to effect sealing thereof so as to not unduly interfere with the serviceability and effectiveness of the surfboard cover device.

(35) Referring to the embodiment of our invention shown in FIG. 13, we anchor the respective one ends of fastener straps 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, and 115 to the interior at one side of the bottom section 37 and secure hook and pile strips 121 to the respective free extremities thereof so selected pairs of the straps can be wrapped about the bottom surfboard and the free extremities of the pairs secured together to hold the surfboard in place. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the pairs of straps may also be arranged to also fasten around the top surfboard or even both surfboards with the insert 91 sandwiched there between.

(36) In this configuration, we provide a robust plastic zipper, generally designated 125, with the opposite runs 127 and 129 thereof sewn to the peripheral edges of the separable peripheries of the sections 35 and 37 to provide for releasable closure of the cover.

(37) From the foregoing it will be apparent that the pneumatic cover of the present invention provides a lightweight, convenient and effective means for housing a surfboard(s) for transporting thereof.