GB2084521A

GB2084521A - Improvements in or relating to surf boarding or sail boarding

Info

Publication number: GB2084521A
Application number: GB8031169A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-09-26
Filing date: 1980-09-26
Publication date: 1982-04-15

Abstract

An accessory for stabilising a sail board 10 or a surfboard against tipping over comprises two pontoons 12 interconnected by a rigid cross- member 13 or 18 with straps 14 fitted with over-centre tensioning buckles 15 for strapping the accessory to the board. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to surf boarding or sail boarding This invention relates to surf boarding or sail boarding. In surf boarding one stands upon a surf board and allows surf of the sea to propel the board along. In sail boarding one stands upon a sail board to which a mast with a sail is fitted, for the wind to propel the board along. In either case the board is easily tipped over so that one needs to be very fit and to have fast reflexes.

As seen from one aspect of the invention there is provided a stabilising accessory for a surf board or sail board, comprising two laterally spaced apart floats, means interconnecting said floats so as to maintain them spaced apart in use and means for attaching the accessory to the surf board or sail board so as to place the two floats on opposite sides of the surf board or sail board so as to resist sideways tipping of the board.

The invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 illustrates a sail board (without its mast and sail) fitted with an accessory in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 illustrates one of two identical fastening devices incorporated in the accessory of Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates a modification; Figure 4 illustrates a further modification; Figure 5 is a scrap view, enlarged, of part of Figure 4; and Figure 6 illustrates yet a further modification.

Like references are used throughout for like parts or features.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a known sail board 10 (the mast and sail of which are not shown) is fitted with an accessory 11 embodying the invention. The accessory 11 comprises two laterally spaced apart floats in the form of pontoons 12, a rigid cross-member 1 3 interconnecting the pontoons 12 so as to maintain them spaced apart in use and two straps 1 4a, 1 4b, fitted with fastening devices in the form of buckles 1 spa, 1 sub respectively, for attaching the accessory 11 to the sail board 10 so as to place the two pontoons 12 on opposite sides of the sail board 10 so as to resist sideways tipping of the board.

The pontoons 12 may be blow-moulded, or made of foamed plastic, or metal or fibre glass or may even be inflatable.

The cross-member 13 may be made from "marine ply" (that is to say, marine quality plywood) and is formed with a relatively wide centre section 1 3a with two pairs of slots 1 3b, 1 3c for the two straps 1 4a, 1 4b respectively.

The buckles 1 spa, 1 sub, also necessarily of marine quality, preferably have over-centre tensioning means so that the straps 1 4a, 1 4b may be secured really tightly to avoid any relative movement between the sail board 10 and the accessory 11.

The above-described accessory 11 may be used until sufficient proficiency has been achieved with sail board 10 and may then be taken off and discarded, possibly for use by another person.

Figure 3 of the drawings illustrates a modification in which the cross-member 1 3 of Figure 1 is replaced by a modified cross-member 18 on which two side-pieces 19a, 19b are slidably mounted to closely grip the sides of the sail board 10. In this modification, the straps 1 4a, 1 4b, with similar buckles (not shown) to those of the first embodiment, pass through four pairs of slots 20a to 20d in the side-pieces to clamp the accessory to the sail board.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, a modified crossmember 21 takes the form of two bowed rods 22a, 22b which are spread apart in the middle and converge at both ends as shown, to fit into connectors 23a, 23b. Four elastomeric blocks 24a to 24d are fitted slidably in pairs to the rods 22a, 22b and the two flexible straps 14a,14b (with buckles, not shown, like buckles 15a,15b) extend through slots 25 (Figure 5) in the blocks 24 and around the sail board 1 0. The connectors 23a, 23b are fixed to the floats 12. Figure 5 also shows the cylindrical hole 26 in each block 24 to receive the respective rods 22. The rods 22 (and holes 26) need not be of circular cross-section.

Referring to Figure 6 a cross-member 27 is formed with a dihedral angle as shown, to raise the level of floats 12 relative to the centre of cross-member 27 (where the sail board, not shown, would be fixed) instead of being flat. In other respects, cross-member 27 may be like any of the other above-described and illustrated crossmembers.

The sail board 10 might equally as well be a surf board of a well known type.

1. A stabilising accessory for a surf board or sail board, comprising two laterally spaced apart floats, means interconnecting said floats so as to maintain them spaced apart in use and means for attaching the accessory to the surf board or sail board so as to place the two floats on opposite sides of the surf board or sail board so as to resist sideways tipping of the board.

2. An accessory as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the means for attaching the accessory to the board comprises a rigid member adapted to extend transversely underneath or over the top of the board, a flexible member adapted to extend transversely over or under the board and means

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to surf boarding or sail boarding This invention relates to surf boarding or sail boarding. In surf boarding one stands upon a surf board and allows surf of the sea to propel the board along. In sail boarding one stands upon a sail board to which a mast with a sail is fitted, for the wind to propel the board along. In either case the board is easily tipped over so that one needs to be very fit and to have fast reflexes. As seen from one aspect of the invention there is provided a stabilising accessory for a surf board or sail board, comprising two laterally spaced apart floats, means interconnecting said floats so as to maintain them spaced apart in use and means for attaching the accessory to the surf board or sail board so as to place the two floats on opposite sides of the surf board or sail board so as to resist sideways tipping of the board. The invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 illustrates a sail board (without its mast and sail) fitted with an accessory in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 illustrates one of two identical fastening devices incorporated in the accessory of Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates a modification; Figure 4 illustrates a further modification; Figure 5 is a scrap view, enlarged, of part of Figure 4; and Figure 6 illustrates yet a further modification. Like references are used throughout for like parts or features. Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a known sail board 10 (the mast and sail of which are not shown) is fitted with an accessory 11 embodying the invention. The accessory 11 comprises two laterally spaced apart floats in the form of pontoons 12, a rigid cross-member 1 3 interconnecting the pontoons 12 so as to maintain them spaced apart in use and two straps 1 4a, 1 4b, fitted with fastening devices in the form of buckles 1 spa, 1 sub respectively, for attaching the accessory 11 to the sail board 10 so as to place the two pontoons 12 on opposite sides of the sail board 10 so as to resist sideways tipping of the board. The pontoons 12 may be blow-moulded, or made of foamed plastic, or metal or fibre glass or may even be inflatable. The cross-member 13 may be made from "marine ply" (that is to say, marine quality plywood) and is formed with a relatively wide centre section 1 3a with two pairs of slots 1 3b, 1 3c for the two straps 1 4a, 1 4b respectively. The buckles 1 spa, 1 sub, also necessarily of marine quality, preferably have over-centre tensioning means so that the straps 1 4a, 1 4b may be secured really tightly to avoid any relative movement between the sail board 10 and the accessory 11. The above-described accessory 11 may be used until sufficient proficiency has been achieved with sail board 10 and may then be taken off and discarded, possibly for use by another person. Figure 3 of the drawings illustrates a modification in which the cross-member 1 3 of Figure 1 is replaced by a modified cross-member 18 on which two side-pieces 19a, 19b are slidably mounted to closely grip the sides of the sail board 10. In this modification, the straps 1 4a, 1 4b, with similar buckles (not shown) to those of the first embodiment, pass through four pairs of slots 20a to 20d in the side-pieces to clamp the accessory to the sail board. Referring to Figures 4 and 5, a modified crossmember 21 takes the form of two bowed rods 22a, 22b which are spread apart in the middle and converge at both ends as shown, to fit into connectors 23a, 23b. Four elastomeric blocks 24a to 24d are fitted slidably in pairs to the rods 22a, 22b and the two flexible straps 14a,14b (with buckles, not shown, like buckles 15a,15b) extend through slots 25 (Figure 5) in the blocks 24 and around the sail board 1 0. The connectors 23a, 23b are fixed to the floats 12. Figure 5 also shows the cylindrical hole 26 in each block 24 to receive the respective rods 22. The rods 22 (and holes 26) need not be of circular cross-section. Referring to Figure 6 a cross-member 27 is formed with a dihedral angle as shown, to raise the level of floats 12 relative to the centre of cross-member 27 (where the sail board, not shown, would be fixed) instead of being flat. In other respects, cross-member 27 may be like any of the other above-described and illustrated crossmembers. The sail board 10 might equally as well be a surf board of a well known type. CLAIMS

2. An accessory as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the means for attaching the accessory to the board comprises a rigid member adapted to extend transversely underneath or over the top of the board, a flexible member adapted to extend transversely over or under the board and means for tightly fastening the flexible member so as to secure the rigid member to the board.

3. An accessory as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the flexible member comprises a flexible belt.

4. An accessory as claimed in Claim 2 or 3 wherein the flexible member comprises means for adjusting the effective length thereof and for tightening the flexible member.