WAX APPLICATOR DESCRIPTION

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a refillable wax applicator for applying wax to a surface. The wax applicator has particular but not exclusive application for applying wax to surfboards, surf skis, body boards, knee boards and snow boards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Before surfing, surfers wax their surfboards by applying wax to the deck or top surface of their surfboard. The applied wax is then textured with a comb to create grooves and slightly raised ridges in the wax. The texturing of the applied wax gives the surfer more grip when standing on their surfboard.

Wax products currently sold for applying to surfboards are poorly packaged. The wax is sold as a solid block either placed in a plastic cup or a cardboard box.

After a first use, the container is discarded or if returned to the container, the wax is usually exposed and not covered. When the wax is exposed, sand or other foreign matter can contact and contaminate the wax. When the contaminated wax is applied to the surface of the surfboard, the sand and other foreign matter is transferred onto the surface of the surfboard. The presence of sand and other foreign matter on the surface of the surfboard can cause skin irritations to surfers.

Furthermore wax melts when left in the sun and if the wax is not in a sealed container, the melted wax can leak out of the container and create a mess.

Consequently the surfer is often faced with the problem of cleaning the melted wax from their bag, boot or floor of their car.

To prepare the surfboard, it is necessary to comb the applied wax before surfing. Most combs are small so that they can be placed in a pocket of a surfer's board shorts. This causes the combs to be easily lost or misplaced, and thereby creates frustration for the surfer. The need to purchase a comb to replace the lost comb is inconvenient and adds to the cost of the sport.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wax applicator that overcomes at least one or more of the abovementioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect the present invention broadly resides in a wax applicator for applying wax to a surface of a surfboard or the like including a container with a lid, said container adapted to store the wax; and a comb member integrally formed with or attachable to the lid, said comb member is shaped to texture the wax that has been applied to the surface.

Surfboard or the like includes surfboards, surf skis, body board, knee boards snow skis and snow boards.

The container is preferably cylindrical in shape. The container is preferably wide to provide an efficient application of the wax.

Preferably the container includes a screw means for moving the wax upwards and downwards relative to an opening of the container. The screw means includes a moveable platform operatively connected to a threaded rod to enable the moveable platform to move upwards and downwards and thereby move the supported wax upwards and downwards. Preferably the moveable platform has complementary screw threads that engage the threaded rod. More preferably the threaded rod passes through the centre of the moveable platform.

Preferably there is one or more lugs that extend substantially vertically along an inside surface of the side wall of the container to allow the wax and moveable platform to move upwards and downwards rather than rotate.

Preferably the threaded rod is part of a rotatable actuator. The rotatable actuator preferably forms part of a base portion of the container. More preferably, the rotatable actuator has a grip portion for enabling a person to rotate or partly rotate the actuator. The grip portion preferably has a plurality of recesses or scalloped sections to provide grip.

The lid is attachable or fixedly hinged to a top portion of the container.

Preferably, the lid has a scraper to remove the wax on the surface. The scraper preferably extends outwards from the centre of the lid and when the lid is attached to the container, the scraper overhangs the side wall of the container.

The lid preferably has one or more recesses to enable a person to grip the lid to scrape wax from the surface.

The comb member preferably has teeth-like portions that have a pyramidal configuration. The pyramidal configuration provides comparatively greater strength

to the teeth-like portions to reduce deformation or breakage. (Note -Their positioning near the scraper acts as a displacement devise when removing old wax)

Where the comb member is attachable to the lid, a new comb member may replace an existing comb member which has deformed or broken teeth-like portions.

Preferably the container has a separate compartment for storing sunscreen. The compartment is preferably located on the base of the container and is part of the base portion. The compartment has a cover member to enclose the sunscreen in the compartment. Preferably the sunscreen can be replaced.

Preferably the wax applicator can be refilled with a wax refill by positioning the wax within the container on the moveable platform. In a preferred embodiment the wax refill includes a platform with wax formed thereon. The platform has a central threaded aperture for positioning on a complementary - threaded rod within the applicator.

In a further aspect the present invention broadly resides in a wax applicator for applying wax to a surface of a surfboard or the like including a container with a lid, said container adapted to store the wax, said container has a centrally located threaded rod on which a platform with a centrally located threaded aperture is positioned and able to move upwards and downwards, said platform supports said wax; and a comb member integrally formed with or attachable to the lid, said comb member is shaped to texture the wax that has been applied to the surface.

In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a wax applicator for applying wax to a surface of a surfboard or the like including a container with a lid, said container adapted to store the wax; said lid has a scraper for removing wax on a surface and a comb member integrally formed with or attachable to the lid, said comb member is shaped to texture the wax that has been applied to the surface.

In a further aspect the invention broadly resides in a wax applicator for applying wax to a surface of a surfboard or the like including a container with a lid, said container adapted to store the wax; said container has a separate compartment for storing sunscreen; and a comb member integrally formed with or attachable to the lid, said comb member is shaped to texture the wax that has been applied to the surface.

In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a wax applicator for applying wax to a surface of a surfboard or the like including a container with a lid, said container adapted to store the wax, said container has a separate compartment for the storage of sunscreen or a fin key or the like, said lid has a scraper for removing wax on a surface and a comb member integrally formed with or attachable to the lid, said comb member is shaped to texture the wax that has been applied to the surface.

In another aspect the invention broadly resides in a wax refill including a platform with a centrally located threaded aperture for positioning on a complementary - threaded rod in the above mentioned wax applicator, and wax supported on the platform.

Preferably the wax is formed on the platform prior to its positioning.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a wax applicator according to one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the wax applicator of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a front view of the wax applicator of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the wax applicator of Figure 1 showing the different parts and wax;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the platform of the wax applicator of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the rotatable actuator of the wax applicator of Figure 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The wax applicator of the present invention will now be described using the example of applying wax to surface of a surfboard. - It is to be understood that the wax applicator can be used for applying wax to other surfaces, for example that of surf skis, body boards, knee boards and snow boards.

With reference to Figures 1 to 6, there is shown a wax applicator 10 including a cylindrical shaped container 12 with a lid 13 and a comb 14 that is integrally formed with the lid 13.

The lid 13 is attachable to a top portion 16 of the container. In particular, Figure 4 shows the wax applicator 10 with the lid 13 attached to the top portion 16 of the container 12 by screw threaded engagement 17. In other embodiments of the wax applicator a lid can be fixedly hinged to a top portion of the container.

The container 12 is able to store wax 18 for applying to the deck or top surface of a surfboard. The wax 18 can be moved upwards and downwards relative an opening that is formed when the lid 13 is removed from the top portion 16 of the container 12. The wax 18 is supported on a moveable platform 19 which is able to upwards and downwards along threaded rod 20. The platform 19 has a collar 33 that has complementary screw threads 22 that engage screw threads 27 of the threaded rod 20. The threaded rod 20 passes through the centre of the platform 19. The threaded rod 20 includes a rotatable actuator 21. The actuator 21 forms part of a base portion of the container 12.

When a person rotates or partly rotates the grip portion 31 of the actuator 21 the wax 18 supported on the platform 19 moves upwards or downwards with the platform 19. Upon moving the platform 19 upwards to expose the wax 18, a person can rub the exposed portion of the wax 18 on the surface of a surfboard. The container 12 is wide providing a relatively wide wax surface so that a person can apply the wax 18 efficiently to the surface of their surfboard. When sufficient wax has been applied to the surface of the surfboard the wax 18 can be moved downwards by

rotating or partly rotating the grip portion 31 of the actuator 21. The lid 13 can then be replaced on the top portion 16 of the container 12 so as to reduce the likelihood of sand and other foreign matter contaminating the wax 18.

The grip portion 31 has a plurality of recesses 32 where the fingers of a person can be placed to provide a firm grip.

An annular lip 35 of the platform 19 acts as a seal to stop leakage should the wax become liquefied and provides accurate positioning for the refill by interfacing with the internal lugs 23 Wax refills can be placed within the container 12 by (aligning) the platform 19 of the wax refill with the internal lugs 23 . The container 12 is therefore reusable and provides an effective way of storing wax for surfboards and the like.

With particular reference to Figure 4, there are two lugs 23 that extend substantially vertically along the inside surface of the side wall of the container 12 to allow the wax 18 and platform 19 to move upwards and downwards rather than rotate.

The lid 13 has a scraper 24 that is used to remove wax on the surface of a surfboard and the like. The scraper 24 extends outwards from the centre of the lid 13 and when the lid 13 is attached to the container 12, the scraper 24 overhangs the side wall of the container 12. The lid 13 has recesses 25 to enable a person to grip the lid 13 to scrape wax from the surface of a surfboard and the like. The lid 13 has a comb 14 that is integrally formed with the lid 13. The comb 14 has teeth-like portions 26 that have a pyramidal configuration. The pyramidal configuration provides comparatively greater strength to the teeth-like portions 26 to reduce

deformation such as breakage or bending of the teeth-like portions 26.(The teeth like portions pyramidical configuration 26 positioning on the lid 13 near the scraper 24 acts as a displacement agent for residue when residue builds up on scraper 24

The container 12 has a separate compartment 28 with a cover 29 for storing sunscreen or a fin key or the like 30. The sunscreen or fin key or the like 30 is held in the compartment 28 that is located on the base of the container 12. Compartment 28 is part of the rotatable actuator 21.

VARIATIONS

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth. Throughout the description and claims this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.