ILLUMINATED BOARD

Abstract

A buoyant illuminated board having a board assembly with a deck, a bottom, first and second lateral sides, and at least one aperture. An electrical system has a power source, and at least one light source within the at least one aperture. A hatch assembly has a lid, and a housing that defines a cavity. The electrical system further comprises a controller, an amplifier, and a battery charger connector that are housed within the hatch assembly along with the power source. The at least one aperture may be elongated to define a channel. The at least one light source is a bulb, a light, a lamp, a light-emitting diode, a light-emitting diode strip, or rope lighting. The board assembly also has an exterior cover that covers the at least one light source within the at least one aperture, and may have a battery charger to recharge the power source.

Claims

1. An illuminated board, comprising: A) a board assembly comprising a deck, a bottom, first and second lateral sides, and at least one aperture; and B) an electrical system comprising a power source, and at least one light source within said at least one aperture.

2. The illuminated board set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said board assembly is buoyant.

3. The illuminated board set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said power source is a battery.

4. The illuminated board set forth in claim 3, further characterized in that said battery is rechargeable.

5. The illuminated board set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said board assembly further comprises a hatch assembly.

6. The illuminated board set forth in claim 5, further characterized in that said board assembly comprises a second aperture to house said hatch assembly.

7. The illuminated board set forth in claim 6, further characterized in that said second aperture extends from said deck.

8. The illuminated board set forth in claim 5, further characterized in that said hatch assembly extends from said deck a predetermined distance towards said bottom without reaching said bottom.

9. The illuminated board set forth in claim 5, further characterized in that said hatch assembly comprises a lid, and a housing that defines a cavity.

10. The illuminated board set forth in claim 5, further characterized in that said hatch assembly is impermeable.

11. The illuminated board set forth in claim 9, further characterized in that said housing comprises at least one hole, and at least one electrical connector extends through said least one hole to said at least one light source.

12. The illuminated board set forth in claim 9, further characterized in that said lid is approximately flush with said deck.

13. The illuminated board set forth in claim 5, further characterized in that said electrical system further comprises a controller.

14. The illuminated board set forth in claim 13, further characterized in that said electrical system further comprises an amplifier.

15. The illuminated board set forth in claim 14, further characterized in that said electrical system further comprises a battery charger connector.

16. The illuminated board set forth in claim 15, further characterized in that said hatch assembly houses said power source, said controller, said amplifier, and said battery charger connector.

17. The illuminated board set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said at least one aperture is elongated and defines at least one channel.

18. The illuminated board set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said at least one light source is a light-emitting diode, a light-emitting diode strip, or rope lighting.

19. The illuminated board set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said board assembly further comprises an exterior cover that covers said at least one light source within said at least one aperture.

20. The illuminated board set forth in claim 1, further comprising a battery charger.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0031] FIG. 1 represents an isometric top view of an illuminated board.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a top partial cross section of the illuminated board.

[0033] FIG. 3 is an isometric bottom view of the illuminated board.

[0034] FIG. 4 is a cross section of the illuminated board taken along the lines 4-4 as seen in FIG. 1.

[0035] FIG. 5 is a cross section of the illuminated board taken along the lines 5-5 as seen in FIG. 1, with a battery charger.

[0036] FIG. 6 represents an isometric top view of an alternate embodiment illuminated board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0037] Referring now to the drawings, the present invention is an illuminated board and is generally referred to with numeral 10. It can be observed that it basically includes board assembly 20 comprising electrical system 60.

[0038] As seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, board assembly 20 is a paddleboard, surfboard, or any buoyant board used in a body of water. Such a paddleboard, surfboard, or any buoyant board used in a body of water can be an elongated platform that is relatively light, but strong enough to support an individual standing on it. They may comprise one or more fins on a bottom rear section of the board to improve directional stability. They may be made of polyurethane or polystyrene foam covered with layers of fiberglass cloth, and/or polyester epoxy resin, carbon fiber, and/or composites. The result is a light and strong board that is buoyant and maneuverable.

[0039] Board assembly 20 comprises deck 22, bottom 24, first and second lateral sides 26 and 28 respectively, and at least one aperture 34. In a preferred embodiment, at least one aperture 34 is elongated and defines at least one channel. Board assembly 20 is buoyant.

[0040] Electrical system 60 comprises a power source, and at least one light source within at least one aperture 34. In a preferred embodiment, the power source is a 12-volt battery 66 that is rechargeable. In a preferred embodiment, the at least one light source is a bulb, a light, a lamp, a light-emitting diode (LED), LED strip 74, or rope lighting.

[0041] Board assembly 20 further comprises exterior cover 38 that covers the at least one light source within at least one aperture 34.

[0042] As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, board assembly 20 may comprise fin 32. Board assembly 20 further comprises core 30 that may be made of, but not limited to, polyurethane or polystyrene foam covered with layers of fiberglass cloth, and/or polyesteror epoxy resin, carbon fiber, and/or composites.

[0043] As seen in FIG. 5, board assembly 20 further comprises hatch assembly 40, and second aperture 36 to house hatch assembly 40. Second aperture 36 extends from deck 22, and hatch assembly 40 extends from deck 22 a predetermined distance towards bottom 24 without reaching bottom 24. Hatch assembly 40 comprises lid 42, and housing 44 that defines cavity 46. Hatch assembly 44 is impermeable. Housing 44 comprises at least one hole 48, and may comprise hole 50, and at least one electrical connector 70 extends through at least one hole 48 and/or hole 50 to the at least one light source. In a preferred embodiment, lid 42 is approximately flush with deck 22.

[0044] Electrical system 60 further comprises controller 62, amplifier 64, and battery charger connector 68. It is noted that battery charger 80 may be connected to battery charger connector 68 to recharge battery 66. In a preferred embodiment, battery charger 80 connects to an electrical source such as a 120-volt source. Hatch assembly 40 houses the power source, controller 62, amplifier 64, and battery charger connector 68.

[0045] Bottom 24 is disposed underwater when board assembly 20 is in the body of water. When in use, light emitting from the at least one light source can be seen underwater. Such bodies of water include, but are not limited to, oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, lagoons, ponds, wetlands, pools, etc.

[0046] In addition, electrical system 60 may comprise a microcontroller and/or a remote control to provide for selective illumination of the at least one light source. The selective illumination may comprise change in color, a steady light, a pulsating light, a flickering light, and various illumination patterns.

[0047] Seen in FIG. 6 is an alternate embodiment board assembly 20 as a surfboard having three fins 32, and at least one light source within at least one aperture 34.

[0048] The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.