| US0429766A | 1890-06-10 | |||
| US0623338A | 1899-04-18 | |||
| US0751190A | 1904-02-02 | |||
| US1505797A | 1924-08-19 | |||
| US2551929A | 1951-05-08 | |||
| US3339607A | 1967-09-05 | |||
| US3575327A | 1971-04-20 | |||
| US4191233A | 1980-03-04 | |||
| US4301920A | 1981-11-24 | |||
| US4402355A | 1983-09-06 | |||
| CH318337A | 1956-12-31 |
| 1. | A protective cover for elongated sports equipment, having opposite end and bottom portions particularly sensitive to damage, said cover comprising: an outer layer of material having a length and width greater than said elongated sports equipment; an inner layer of foam material within said outer layer, said inner layer having a length and width greater than said elongated sports equipment but no greater than said outer layer, with said foam material being positionable adjacent to said elongated sports equipment to be protected so that said cover, when wrapped about said elongated sports equipment, completely covers said equipment and provides dual layers of foam material that completely covers said op¬ posite end and bottom portions of said elongated sports equipment to provide protection therefor; and a plurality of straps engaging said outer layer of material at least adjacent to said opposite end portions of said elongated sports equipment for maintaining said cover wrapped about said elongated sports equipment. |
| 2. | The cover of claim 1 wherein said outer layer of material is fabric and said inner layer is foam plastic. |
| 3. | The cover of claim 1 wherein said cover 'includes a pair of pockets at the opposite ends of said outer layer, said 'pockets being within said cover when assembled to protect said equipment. |
| 4. | The cover of claim 1 wherein said plurality of straps includes a first pair of straps extending substantially parallel to the ends of said cover and centrally located with respect to said cover, and a second pair of straps at the ends of said cover, said second pair of straps being adjacent to said opposite end portions of said elongated sports equipment. |
| 5. | The cover of claim 4 wherein said cover includes a handle connected to said first pair of straps for enabling carrying of said equip¬ ment. |
| 6. | The cover of claim 5 wherein said handle includes reinforcing means extending between said first pair of straps and a handle strap extending from said reinforcing means. |
| 7. | The cover of claim 5 wherein said equipment is one of a surfboard and skis, and wherein said cover, when assembled, provides a carrying case for said equipment. |
| 8. | The cover of claim 7 wherein said handle is adjustable for providing one of an adjustable hand grip for load balancing and a shoulder support. |
| 9. | The cover of claim 1 wherein said end portions of said cover have reinforcing means spanning the central portion of the width of said cover with said reinforcing means having a length at least equal to the minimum anticipated width of equipment within said cover. OMPI . |
| 10. | The cover of Claim 3, wherein said plurality' of straps includes first and second straps; web means being fastened to said outer side of said outer layer for positioning said straps across the width of said outer layer at the central portion thereof, said first and second straps holding said cover wrapped about said elongated sports equipment with dual layers over the bottom of said elongated sports equipment; said plurality of straps further including third and fourth straps attached to said outer side of said opposite ends of said outer layer and extending across the width thereof, said third and fourth straps holding said cover wrapped about the opposite ends of said elongated sports equipment with at least dual layers of cover about the ends of said elongated sports equipment; and handle means being connected with said first and second straps so that said assembled cover having said elongated sports equipment therein may be readily carried. |
| 11. | The cover of claim 10 wherein said cover includes first and second reinforcing means at the opposite ends of said outer layer of said cover, and third reinforcing means at said handle means. |
| 12. | The cover of claim 11 wherein said handle means includes a fifth strap connected with said third reinforcing means. |
| 13. | The cover of claim 12 wherein said handle means includes strap adjustment means for optionally providing one of a hand grip and a shoulder support. |
| 14. | I2 " '. |
| 15. | The cover of claim 1, wherein said elongated sports equipment is a surfboard, said plurality of straps includes first and second straps; web means being fastened to said outer side of said outer layer for positioning said straps across the width of said outer layer at the central portion thereof, said first and second straps holding said cover wrapped about said surfboard with dual layers over the bottom of said surfboard; third and fourth straps being attached to said outer side of said opposite ends of said outer layer and extending across the width thereof, said third and fourth straps holding said cover wrapped about the opposite ends of said surfboard with at least dual layers of cover about said surfboard ends; and handle means being connected with said first and second straps so that said assembled cover having said surfboard therein may be readily carried. |
| 16. | The cover of claim 10, wherein said elongated sports equipment is a surfboard. |
| 17. | The cover of claim 15 wherein said cover includes first and second reinforcing means at the opposite ends of said outer layer of said cover, and third reinforcing means at said handle means. |
| 18. | The cover of claim 16 wherein said handle means includes a fifth strap connected with said third reinforcing means. |
| 19. | The cover of claim 17 wherein said handle means includes strap adjustment means for optionally providing one of a hand grip and a shoulder support. OMPI. |
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a protective cover and, more particularly, relates to a foldable protective cover for sports equipment.
Background of the Invention
It is oftentimes desirable to provide a protective cover for various articles. Such covers have assumed various shapes and dimensions depending upon the nature of the article, and such covers have been used for other auxiliary purposes, such as, for example, being used as a towel or the like (see, for example, U.S. Patent NO. 2,659,404), and such covers have heretofore been folded and attached by straps to a luggage carrier or the like (see, for example, U.S. Patent No. 1,552,563) .
Covers for protecting sports equipment have also been heretofore suggested, and, more partiσ- larly, protective covers for elongated sports equipment, such as, for example, surfboards and skis, having portions more sensitive to damage have also been heretofore suggested.
Surfboard covers have, for example, been heretofore proposed that were fitted to the particular board (see, for example, U.S. Patent No. 3,339,607 and U.S. Design Patent No. 204,431), and ski bags have been heretofore proposed for receiving a pair of skis with the excess material at the open end of the sleeve,type bag being folded over the rear ends of the skis (see, for example, U.S. Patent No. 3,851,689).
While protective coverings have been hereto¬ fore suggested for sports equipment such as surf-
boards and skis, such coverings have not heretofore provided the degree of protection needed for adequately and continuously protecting such sports equipment including protecting sensitive portions of such equipment, such as the ends and bottom of a surfboard, for example.
Summary of the Invention
This invention provides an improved protective cover that is particularly well suited for sports equipment, with the cover providing improved pro¬ tection for sensitive portions of such equipment. The cover, when fully assembled, provides a carrier for the equipment and when unwrapped can be used for auxiliary purposes such as a beach pad or sleeping bag, for example.
This invention more particularly provides for a protective cover for elongated sports equipment, having opposite end and bottom portions particularly sensitive to damage, said cover comprising: an outer layer of material having a length and width greater than said elongated sports equipment; an inner layer of foam material within said outer layer, said inner layer having a length and width greater than said elongated sports equipment but no greater than said outer layer, with said foam material being positionable adjacent to said elongated sports equipment to be protected so that said cover, when wrapped about said elongated sports equipment, completely covers said equipment and provides dual layers of foam material that completely covers said opposite end and bottom portions of said elongated sports equipment to provide protection therefor; and
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a plurality of straps engaging said outer layer of material at least adjacent to said opposite end portions of said elongated sports equipment for maintaining said cover wrapped about said elongated sports equipment.
This invention resides in the novel con¬ struction, combination, arrangement of parts and method substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention are meant to be included within the scope of the claims.
Brief Description of the Drawings The accompanying drawings illustrate a complete embodiment of the invention according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the protective cover of this invention in a fully assembled condition protecting a surfboard within the cover and providing a carrier for the board;
FIGURE 2 is a top view of the protective cover shown in FIGURE 1 in a fully unfolded condition with a typical surfboard positioned thereon; FIGURE 3 is a side sectional view taken through lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2;
FIGURES 4 and 5 are top views of the protective cover shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 to illustrate progres- sive folding steps utilized in assembling the cover;
FIGURES 6 and 7 are top edge views of the protective cover to illustrate progressive folding steps following those shown in FIGURE 5 to complete
the assembly of the cover to the fully assembled condition as shown in FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 8 is a partial side view of the protective cover showing protection provided to a surfboard having a skeg affixed thereto;
FIGURE 9 is an expanded perspective view showing the handle portion of the protective cover; and
FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the protective cover in assembled condition used to protect a • pair of skis.
Description of the Invention
The protective cover 14 of this invention is shown in fully assembled condition in FIGURE 1 providing protective covering for surfboard 16 and serving as a carrier for the board. As shown in FIGURE 1, cover 14 is held in the fully as¬ sembled condition by straps 18, 20, 22 and 24, with straps 18 and 20 holding the cover about the central portion 25 of the board and also providing anchoring for handle 26 positioned at top side edge 28 of the fully assembled cover. As also shown in FIGURE 1, straps 22 and 24 hold the folded top and bottom end portion 30 and 31 of the cover wrapped about the nose and tail portions 33 and 34, respectively, of board 16 to provide enhanced protection for these sensitive portions of the board.
Protective cover 14 is shown in FIGURE 2 in the fully unassembled (i.e., unfolded) condition. When unfolded, cover 14 is preferably about ten feet by five feet to handle equipment such as surfboards that are commonly five to eight feet
in length and seventeen and twenty-four inches in width. In any event, the cover is preferably of sufficient dimensions to be adapted for use with many differently dimensioned equipments. As shown, the outer side, or layer, 36 of cover 14 is a thin layer of an environmental protective material such as nylon (preferably cordura nylon) . A cushioning layer 38 of foam plastic (such as poly¬ ethylene) is positioned on the inner side of the cover and is preferably attached thereto (which can be accomplished by stitching the foam material to the nylon material or adhesively bonding the materials) . Laterally extending straps 18 and 20 are mounted to the central portion 40 of the outer side of cover 14 by means of webs 41 and 42, while laterally extending straps 22 and 24 are preferably fastened to the central portion of the longitudinal ends 44 and 45 of cover 14. Laterally extending reinforcing strip 47 is preferably positioned at the longitudinal ends 44 and 45 of the cover by means of webs 48 , which strips may be metallic or rigid plastic, are preferably centrally located, and extend for a distance equal to the minimum anticipated width of the equipment to be protected. A pair of pockets 50 and 51 are provided at the ends of the cover. While it is preferable that the pockets be on the inner side, the pockets could be on the outer side and would save material. As best shown in the cross-sectional view of FIGURE 3, foam portion 38 is relatively thick (about 1/4 inch, for example) compared to outer portion 36 (about 4/1000 inches, for example) , and, as best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, pockets 50
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and 51 extend well past the edge' of foam portion 38 which is recessed from the longitudinal ends of the cover. Pockets 50 and 51 are preferably of nylon and may be of any size as desired. As shown in FIGURE 4, the cover is first folded over the bottom side 54 of the board (i.e., one lateral edge 56 of the cover is folded across the upwardly facing bottom side of the board since the bottom side is more sensitive to damage than . is the top side) . A second fold is then made over the ' bottom side of the board (i.e., the other lateral edge 57 of the cover is folded over the board on top of the first fold) to provide a double layer of protective covering along and over the central portion of the bottom side of the board. Straps 18 and 20 are then fastened by conventional fasteners 58 and 59 to secure the positioning of the cover and to also provide an anchor for the handle 26, as shown in FIGURE 5.
As shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, the board is then turned so that the folds of the cover face downwardly (i.e., lateral edges 56 and 57 are below the board) . The longitudinal ends 44 and 45 of the cover are then folded over the ends of the board with the edges being then folded back to provide a dual fold thereat and so that straps 22 and 24 can be used to fasten the ends 44 and 45 tightly against the nose and tail portions 33 and 34 of the board by conventional fasteners 60 and 61. The board is thus encapsulated in the cover with added protection for the more sensitive portions. As can be appreciated from the foregoing, the completed assembly could be versatile in providing protection to more than one
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piece of equipment, and could, for example, also include two covers having straps 22 and 24 encircling both to effectively make a single assembly for carrying purposes. Due to the reinforcing strip 47, there is no gathering of the cover at the edges (as might occur with the reduced dimensions of a surfboard at the ends) , and the pockets are within the assembled package (it should be noted, however, that the pockets are accessible without unwrapping the cover) .
If the structural fin, or skeg, 62 of the board is not removable, the protective cover of this invention allows the skeg to be protected. In this event, the board is preferably placed with the top facing up on the unfolded cover and, as shown in FIGURE 8, the fold of the cover is over the board and strap 24 is fastened beyond the skeg.
Handle 26 is provided to form the assembled cover into a carrier, or tote bag. As shown in greater detail in FIGURE 9, a rigid reinforcing strip 64 extends between straps 18 and 20. A handle strap 66 (of nylon or polypro, for ex¬ ample) is then threaded through a pair of apertures at each end of reinforcing strip 64 and handle adjustment buckles 68 are used to control the effective length of the strap and to move the effective grip longitudinally for load balancing. If strap 66 is adjusted to have an effective ' length only slightly greater than the length of strip 64, a * handle is provided that can be hand gripped. If strap 66 is adjusted to have a greater effective length, then a shoulder strap is provided. FIGURE 10 shows the protective cover used
for protecting a pair of skis 72 and 73 and providing a carrier therefore. As shown, the assembly is the same for protecting the bottoms 74 and ends 75 and 76 of the skis in the same manner as has been described hereinabove with respect to the surfboard. While not specifically shown in FIGURE 10, the skis could be back-to- back, for example, and still protected by the cover of this invention. From the foregoing, it can be seen that this invention provides an improved protective cover and carrier for sports equipment.
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