HOOK DEVICE FOR HANGING SURFBOARD

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to recreational sports equipment, and specifically to storage devices used to store surfboards on a vertical surface.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

Although we do not know its exact origins, the sport of surfing, and the requisite surfboards, has been around for many centuries. The earliest documented descriptions of the oval-shaped wooden boards date back to the 1700's. While modern surfboards maintain the oval shape of their predecessors, the surfing industry is additionally taking advantage of the latest technology to construct ever more efficient and functional surfboards. As a result, not only does the new surfboard come in an endless array of shapes, sizes, and colors, it may also be augmented by all kinds of accessories and embellishments.

hi general terms, a modern surfboard is shaped from a block of foam that has a rigid internal skeleton that is then covered with a fiberglass coat. Design features including the overall dimensions and shape of the surfboard, the degree of the curve of the rocker, the location and number of the fins, and the quality and thickness of the fiberglass coat all reflect carefully engineered decisions and precise construction.

Oftentimes, modern surfboards are unique creations, hand-shaped by professional board shapers. As a result, not only is the performance and handling of each surfboard unique, but the purchase of a new surfboard represents a substantial investment.

While designed to withstand the battering forces of the ocean waves, the fiberglass-coated, foam surfboards of today can be easily damaged while on land. Given the unique properties and the sizeable investment that each surfboard

represents, it is therefore important for an owner to be able to safely store his surfboard away from the elements and the threat of theft.

. . Frequently, the most secure location to store the surfboard is within the living quarters of its owner. The owner then needs an appropriate storage method that will also protect the surfboard.

There are prior art methods that address these issues in various manners. For example, JPl 0252985 offers a stand to hold a surfboard vertically, by supporting the fins; US5014955 provides a surfboard holder that comprises a first and second piece for inserting the two ends of a surfboard, and a stretchable cord that extends between the two pieces; US5082123 discloses a wall-mounted rack that is mountable to an. upright surface, with an extended portion which projects from the wall to support surfboards and the like and US5141116 stores a plurality of surfboards in upright orientations by means of a serpentine-shaped rack.

However, these inventions simply do not offer an easy-to-use and inexpensive storage method that allows a surfboard to be suspended in an efficient and space saving fashion in accordance with the present invention."

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention is an improved method of stowing a surfboard that overcomes the shortcomings of prior art storage methods, and that has a number of other advantages.

This invention allows the surfboard to be suspended on the wall or other vertical surface such that the surfboard is longitudinally and essentially parallel to the vertical storage surface. This allows the surfboard to take up very little space, and the option of stowing the surfboard on the back of a door or in a corner of a room offers further space-savings.

Because there are only two points where the surfboard contacts the hanger device, and because those points of contact are quite small, the surfboard is less likely

to be damaged while stowed, and equally, is unlikely to damage the surface along which it is stowed.

Finally, the present invention is very simple and practical to use. Once the hanger device is attached to the vertical service, the user can easily, and in one step, slip the leash plug pin over the hook to stow the surfboard.

A unique feature of the present invention is the novel shape of the hook that works in conjunction with a leash plug of the surfboard rather than requiring additional hardware. The tapered end of the hook is designed to accommodate the leash plug pin on the leash plug of the surfboard. A pin notch on the hook provides a seat in which the leash plug pin may be seated securely.

Another novel feature of the present invention is a protruding element that protrudes from the back-plate. This protruding element protects and holds the surfboard away from the vertical storage surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

These and further features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly understood in light of the ensuing description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein-

Figure 1 briefly describes the anatomy of the upper surface of a basic surfboard,

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 3 provides a side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the present invention with a surfboard suspended thereon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hanger device 10 of the present invention affixes to a vertical storage surface such as a wall or a door and enables stowing a surfboard 50 from a said surface such that surfboard 50 is suspended vertically and essentially parallel to the vertical storage surface.

In order to better understand the present invention, Figure 1 provides a brief anatomy of the upper surface of a basic surfboard. The upper surface of a surfboard 50 is referred to as the deck 53. The outer edges of deck 53 constitute the rails 54. The forward portion of surfboard 50 is known as the nose 55, and the rear portion the tail 56.

A leash plug 51 may be securely inset into the deck of surfboard 50 towards the tail and a leash plug pin 52 spans the opening of leash plug 51. Leash plug 51 and pin 52 are used for attaching a leg leash to surfboard 50.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises a back-plate 20, a hook 30 with a pin notch 32 and a tapered end 34 for suspending the surfboard 50, and a protruding element 40 that helps prevent damage to the surfboard 50. For clarification, reference is made herein to the details in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 shows the same embodiment from the side, and Figure 4 provides a cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the invention with a surfboard suspended thereon.

Back-plate 20 is a substantially planar, elongate constituent of device 10. Back-plate 20 may be affixed to a vertical surface and contains the remainder of the components of hanger device 10.

i ^Q BSTmm IHIlT (IULB ZiI

In the preferred embodiment, back-plate 20 is made of acrylic; in other embodiments, back-plate 20 may be constructed of any other rigid material.

Located on the upper portion of back-plate 20 is a hook 30. In some embodiments of the present invention, hook 30 may be an integral part of back-plate 20. In other embodiments, hook 30 may be a separate piece, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. In embodiments where hook 30 and back-plate 20 are separate pieces, any means may be used to rigidly affix hook 30 to back-plate 20, including, inter alia, screws, nails, and glue.

Located on the lower portion of back-plate 20 is a protruding element 40. In some embodiments of the present invention, protruding element 40 may be an integral part of back-plate 20, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. hi other embodiments, protruding element 40 may be a separate piece. In embodiments where protruding element 40 and back-plate 20 are separate pieces, any means may be used to rigidly affix protruding element 40 to back-plate 20, including, inter alia, screws, nails, and glue.

The overall outline of back-plate 20 may be of any shape. For example, in addition to the rectangular shape shown in Figure 2, back-plate 20 may be, for example, an oval or a novelty shape such as a surfboard.

There is also the option of placing a message on back-plate 20, including, inter alia, a commercial message, or a logo.

In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first end of hook 30 is rigidly affixed to back-plate 20 by means of screws, as clearly seen in Figures 3 and 4. There is also the option of using other means to attach hook 30 to back-plate 20, or constructing hanger device 10 such that hook 30 is an integral part of back-plate 20.

Hook 30 extends away at a perpendicular angle from back-plate 20 and terminates in an upturned portion.

A novel feature of hanger device 10 is a pin notch 32 that is located at the second end of the horizontal span of hook 30, before the upturned portion of hook 30. Pin notch 32 is shaped to correspond to the shape and size of the leash plug pin 52 of

the leash plug 51 of a surfboard 50, as seen in Figure 4. Pin notch 32 provides an indentation on which pin 52 may be seated, ensuring that the surfboard 50 remains securely in place.

Another novel feature of the present invention is a tapered end 34 located on the end of the upturned portion on the second end of hook 30. Tapered end 34 is specially shaped and sized to facilitate the placement of surfboard 50 over hook 30.

The combination of these two novel features enables secure placement of surfboard 50 because the taper of tapered end 34 is small enough to easily slip tapered end 34 under leash plug pin 52, and pin notch 32 holds surfboard 50 securely.

In the preferred embodiment, hook 30 is made of stainless steel; in other embodiments, hook 30 may be constructed of any other rigid material. There is the option of encasing tapered end 34 in a covering material of, inter alia, rubber or other protective material.

Protruding element 40 prevents surfboard 50 from banging against the wall or other vertical surface.

In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, protruding element 40 is an integral part of back-plate 20 as seen in Figures 2 and 3. There is also the option of constructing hanger device 10 such that protruding element 40 is rigidly affixed to back-plate 20 by means of, inter alia, screws, nails, or glue.

While the shape of protruding element 40 of the exemplary embodiment is substantially triangular in shape, in other embodiments, protruding element 40 may be of other shapes.

There is the option of affixing padding material to at least part of protruding element 40.

Hook 30 and protruding element 40 need to be at least the same length. In some embodiments, protruding element 40 may extend beyond the length of hook 30.

In the preferred embodiment, protruding element 40 is made of acrylic; in other embodiments, protruding element 40 may be constructed of any other rigid material.

Hook 30 does not interfere with the leash; therefore, there is no need to remove the leash before stowing surfboard 50.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, hanger device 10 may be configured so as to be free-standing, thereby eliminating the need for affixing hanger device 10 to a vertical support surface. In addition to a hook 30 and a protruding element 40, this embodiment of hanger device 10 comprises an elongated back-plate 20 that functions as a free-standing upright member, and a pedestal that supports and maintains back-plate 20 in an upright position. Such an embodiment may be useful in situations where mere may not exist a suitable vertical surface on which to mount hanger device 10 as well as in commercial display areas. Some alternative options of this embodiment may also have a second hook 30 and protruding element 40 affixed to the second side of back-plate 20, enabling the simultaneous suspension of two surfboards 50.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of some of the preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other possible variations, modifications, and applications that are also within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should not be limited by what has thus far been described, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.