BOARD CARRIER BACKGROUND

[0001] The disclosed subject matter relates to the field of carriers that are strapped to a person and particularly to such carriers for surfboards, paddleboards, and the like used for making it easier to port such objects from place to place. For personally carrying ungainly or heavy objects, strap secured hooks are known as in US 603538 to Pettibone, US 2651441 to Rau et al, US 4699415 to Skovajsa, US 5361954 to Tura, US 5490618 to Davidson, US 5582338 to Tamura, US 7543726 to MacNaughton, PCT/US 10/0187274 to Chock, Jr., Des. 321792 to MacNeary, and PCT/ WO07/058552 to Winter; as well as sling mounts as in US 3377007 to Gayler Jr., FR 2913891 to Cavallini, US 4804025 to Bear, PCT/US 04/0056060 to Iannini et al, PCT/US09/0090754 to Haberlein, and US 4724989 to Silberberg. These devices are fastened by straps and harnesses to a person at the waist, shoulder, chest or other locations in order to distribute weight, free the hands, distribute weight and provide other benefits of convenience and necessity. However, what is needed in this field is not found in the prior art for a paddleboard or surfboard since these water sport items are being made in ever larger and heavier versions. Also, needed is a carrier that is quick and easy to employ, and yet is easy to store conveniently when not in use. The presently described apparatus distinguishes over the prior art in a number of ways and fulfills this need.

SUMMARY

[0002] The following detailed description includes references to the accompanying illustrations which form a part of the detailed description. When carrying a water board to and from a body of water such as a lake, ocean, or river, for recreation, its weight and size requires a specialized carrier system to enable a person to easily handle this task. In breezy conditions such as at the beach, the large surface area of a board may cause it to catch the wind and, be difficult to handle without a specialized carrier system, and, after dismounting the board from its carrier it is desirable to stow the carrier system on the person so that it doesn't interfere with recreational use of the board and is not left on the beach, river bank, dock or pier. In summary, the carrier system should therefore be light-weight, relatively compact, easily stowed and inexpensive to manufacture. Example embodiments of the specialized carrier system are described herein in enough detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the presented subject matter. However, once familiar with this disclosure it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present apparatus may be practiced without some of the presented specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components may not be described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments. The embodiments can be combined, other embodiments can be utilized or structural and logical changes can be made without departing from the scope of what is defined and claimed. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, as the scope is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents which are to be understood in their broadest possible sense.

[0003] In this document, the terms "a" or "an" are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one. Furthermore, the term "or" is used to refer to a nonexclusive "or," such that "A or B" includes "A but not B," "B but not A," and "A and B," unless otherwise indicated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] Embodiments of the described apparatus are illustrated by way of example in the figures of the accompanying drawing sheets, in which like references indicate the same or similar elements shown and in which:

[0005] Figure 1A is a front perspective view of a board and paddle mounted on a carrier strapped to a person;

[0006] Figure IB is a side elevation view thereof demonstrating a manner of holding and carrying the board and paddle;

[0007] Figure 2 is a partial bottom perspective view of a belt of the carrier showing a pouch mounted on the belt with the hook and straps folded and stored within;

[0008] Figure 3 is a front elevation view of the hook showing the board in section as inserted into the hook with proximal and distal straps attached to the hook and with paddles shown held in place by spring clamps;

[0009] Figure 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the hook with opposing ends bent into misalignment;

[0010] Figure 5 is an elevation view of the carrier with the belt attached to the person, with the hook shown hanging downwardly from the belt by a proximal strap in a position for receiving the board; and

[0011] Figure 6 is a partial perspective view of the carrier illustrating a portion of the board being secured by a distal strap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Disclosed in Figs. 1A, IB, and 2-6 are aspects of an apparatus 10 (board carrier) for carrying a water board 20. Apparatus 10 is especially useful for porting a paddleboard and paddle, or a stand-up surfboard known as a longboard. Today boards 20 may have a medial width of from about 26 to 36 inches, an overall length of up to 14 feet and may weigh 25 pounds or more. The thickness of board 20 may be 8 inches or more. Boards 20 are typically transported to water locations by vehicles and then carried or ported to and from the water's edge manually. Due to its weight, and size, such boards 20 are difficult to carry. Under breezy conditions board 20 may become difficult to control especially when carried as shown in Figs. 1A and IB.

[0013] As shown in the figures apparatus 10 may include a belt 30 of Cordura® or similar fabric sewn around a molded foam insert and may have a nylon backing, whereas such construction provides strength, durability and comfort. A hook bag 12, water bottle holder 14 and gear bag 16 and other features may be attached to belt 30 as shown in Fig. IB, and may be made of ripstop nylon or similar material for flexibility and durability.

[0014] Belt 30 may be worn around the waist as shown in the figures, but other configurations may be adapted to be worn in other ways. Hook bag 12 may be in the form of a pouch, see Fig. 2, with a downwardly facing entry 34 including a closure 36 such as a zipper, Velcro® strips, spring mounted flaps, or otherwise. The downwardly facing entry 34 is novel, providing the convenience and utility of unloading contents directly as will be further described.

[0015] Apparatus 10 may include a u-shaped hook 40 of a straight type as shown in Fig. 5 or of a type shown in Fig. 4, having a modified contour wherein a distal end 44 is twisted to one side of a proximal end 42. Both aligned and misaligned versions of hook 40 provide for advantageous support of board 20 with the twisted version demonstrating improved longitudinal stability of board 20. Hook 40 may have a width of up to about 5 inches providing a stable support surface for board 20 while also fitting conveniently within hook bag 12. Hook 40 may be covered by a sleeve 45 of Cordura or similar material as shown in Fig. 3, and may have a neoprene or rubber outer surface 47 as also shown in part on Fig. 3 for cushioning against board 20 as well as providing a non-slip surface. Proximal end 42 of sleeve 45 may be joined to a proximal end 52 of length- adjustable first strap 50, while this strap's opposite end 54 may be joined to strap 55 which may be conducted into and fixed within hook bag 12 and to belt 30 as shown in Fig. 5, by stitching, riveting, or by clamps, snaps, or other means. Hook 40 therefore may be let out of hook bag 12 and positioned directly below hook bag 12 hanging by strap 55 and first strap 50 as shown in Fig. 5. Lower end 52 of first strap 50 may be stiff and shaped so as to force hook 40 away from the person's leg thus preventing mutual contact making it easier to place board 20 into hook 40 and preventing interference while walking. Board 20 may be carried on the left side or on the right side of an individual. As shown in Fig. 1A board 20 is carried with its bottom surface 22 facing the individual. This is advantageous since bottom surface 22 is near flat. Another advantage is that there is usually a hand-hold (not shown) on the top surface 24 (Fig. 3) of board 20 within reach of an individual's hand so that placing an arm over board 20, as shown in Fig. 1A, and placing a hand in said hand hold can provide manual control of the attitude of board 20 especially when traversing a grade or stairs and in breezy conditions. A further advantage is that the board's fins 28 face toward the individual carrying board 20 preventing accidents with passers-by. Hook 40 may be configured and shaped to receive board 20 therein with no more than three-points of mutual contact as shown in Fig. 3, i.e. points "A," "B," and "C." This is advantageous since with this three-point posture the weight of board 20 causes hook 40 to tend away from the individual's leg. A distal, length-adjustable second strap 60 may be attached at one end 62 to distal end 44 of hook 40 (Fig. 3) while its opposite end, as shown in Fig. 6, may be attached to belt 30 through a D-ring and secured with hook and loop (Velcro®) fasteners thereby tightly lashing over board 20 to provide for hands-free carrying.

[0016] In an embodiment, hook 40 may have an integral hinge 45 whereby tightening of distal second strap 60 may cause hook 40 to grip board 20 more tightly. In an alternate embodiment, hook 40 may be made of spring steel with the distance between ends 42 and 44 smaller than the thickness of board 20 so that hook 40 may apply a clamping force on board 20 for securing it in place within hook 40. As shown in Fig. 3, point B is below point A so that board 20 tends to tilt away from the individual carrying it thereby forcing hook 40 to clear the individual's legs.

[0017] Hook 40 is vertically positionable by adjustment of length- adjustable straps 50 and 60 thereby enabling carrier 10 to be used by both short and tall individuals. Straps 50 and 60 may be made of heavy duty dive/scuba belt webbing material and may 3 or more inches in width providing lateral stability to board 20.

[0018] As shown in Figs. 1A and 3, hook 40 may have attached thereto a spring clip 46 which may provide a clamping force on a paddle 25 to hold it in place in a parallel attitude to board 20.

[0019] Hook 40 may be fabricated of spring temper metal, or of an elastic plastic or rubber or a combination compound so as to selectively provide for spring flexibility. In this case proximal and distal ends of hook 40 may be flexibly-tensed apart when inserting board 20 so that compressive clamping forces are applied to board 20 to improve the holding power of hook 40 on board 20.

[0020] In the foregoing description, embodiments are described as a plurality of individual parts, and this is solely for the sake of illustration. Accordingly, it is contemplated that some additional parts may be added, some parts may be changed or omitted, and the order of the parts may be re-arranged, without leaving the sense and understanding of the apparatus as claimed.