WO2009095609A2

WO2009095609A2 - Surfboard cover

Info

Publication number: WO2009095609A2
Application number: PCT/FR2009/050118
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philippe Capin; Julien Nicolas
Original assignee: Philippe Capin; Julien Nicolas
Priority date: 2008-01-28
Filing date: 2009-01-27
Publication date: 2009-08-06
Also published as: WO2009095609A3; FR2926784A1; FR2926784B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cover (1) for transporting and protecting a surfboard (2), comprising a bag consisting of at least one lower part (4) connected along at least part of its perimeter to at least one upper part (5) which covers said lower part (4), said cover (1) being characterized in that said bag is sealed and encloses a compact shock-absorbing material consisting of particles agglomerated by the evacuation of said bag.

Description

COVER FOR SURF BOARD

The present invention is in the field of transport, more particularly in the transport and protection of sports equipment and equipment.

The invention relates to a cover for transport and protection of surfboard.

Nowadays, a surfboard usually made of polyester foam, fiberglass and synthetic resin (like a polyurethane foam roll and polyester resin).

These lightweight materials provide gliding benefits on the water but are not very resistant to shocks. This is why it is necessary to offer protection to the board during transport.

The state of the art offers carrying bags and protective covers for surfboard. Generally, such a cover is in the form of an envelope consisting of a lower portion secured on at least one of its edges with an upper portion overlapping said lower portion, closure means ensuring the holding together of said parts. The latter have complementary shapes adjusted to that of the wrap board. In particular, the upper part has a recess or boss intended to receive the fins of the board.

In order to improve the protection conferred by such a carrying case, it has been imagined to inflate it. The lower and upper parts form sealed pockets pressurized after insertion of the board in the cover. Once inflated, the board is maintained internally and protected from shocks from the outside. Such covers are described in documents US 5 193 677 and FR 2 856 662.

However, the protection of such an inflatable cover is not entirely satisfactory. Indeed, in case of shock, the air under pressure dampens to a certain extent but does not prevent the membranes of the pockets to get closer, sometimes causing impacts on the boards.

In addition, a loss of pressure greatly limits the protection of the board inserted therein. Thus, such a cover is prone to puncture. It is therefore necessary to be vigilant during transport, especially the surfaces on which it rests.

Another disadvantage lies in the fact that this type of cover maintains only the board by a sandwich effect between the two inflated pockets. In case of insufficient inflation, the board can move inside the cover.

Other known covers use compact materials for absorbing shocks. Such materials are generally in the form of solid foam obtained by polymerization and having the advantages of being compact and lightweight. Such foam is generally synthetic, especially plastic such as expanded polypropylene (EPP) or polyurethane foam. Such uses are described in US 5,147,235 and US 5,094,344.

However, these covers have the disadvantage of being rigid and not resistant to bending. If they cash well shocks, they are consistent for a given size of board and can not adapt to all the dimensions of the latter. Therefore, said board is likely to move inside the shell formed by such a cover.

The invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of the state of the technique by providing a cover for transporting and protecting a surfboard providing a protective envelope in a compact material and an improved maintenance of said board.

To do this, such a cover comprises a pocket consisting of at least one lower portion secured to at least a portion of its periphery with at least one upper portion overlapping said lower portion, characterized in that said pocket is hermetic and encloses a compact shock absorbing material.

More particularly, said compact material consists of the agglomeration of particles during the depression of said pocket.

Thus, such a pocket offers both impact resistance and flexibility. In addition, it adapts to all dimensions of board, firmly holding it in, without giving it the opportunity to move.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following detailed description of the nonlimiting embodiments of the invention, with reference to the appended figures in which:

- Figure 1 shows a top view of a surfboard on a cover according to the invention;

- Figure 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of such a cover surrounding a board; and

- Figures 3A and 3B show top views of two embodiments of a cover according to the invention.

The present invention relates to a cover 1 for transporting and protection of a board 2 intended for sliding sports on the water.

As such, it may be preferentially but not limited to a surfboard, windsurf board or the like. In addition, such a board 2 comprises on its underside at least one fin 3.

Said cover 1 forms at least one pocket inside which said board 2 can be slipped. This pocket formed by a lower part 4 on which comes to rest said board 2, and an upper part 5 overlapping said lower part 4.

Said parts 4 and 5 have complementary shapes, adjusted to that of the board 2.

Said lower 4 and upper 5 parts are integral with each other on at least part of their periphery.

More particularly, according to the preferred embodiment, it is a single band or folded envelope.

According to another embodiment, said parts 4 and 5 can be fastened together through a seam, weld or the like.

This attachment or fold 6 may extend only over a portion of one of the edges to maintain almost the entire periphery of said parts 4 and 5, leaving an opening 7 to slide said board 2.

In addition, said fastener 6 makes it possible to fold all or part of the upper part 5 as a function of the length of junction with the lower part 4.

Once the upper part 5 in recovery of the board 2, the two parts 4 and 5 can be held together by closure means (not shown). Velvet type hanging, buttoning, zipper or other. Said closing means make it possible to close the envelope forming the cover 1, in particular on all or part of the opening 7.

In addition, one of the parts 4 or 5, preferably the upper portion 5, as shown in Figure 2, comprises a space 8 for receiving the fin 3.

According to an essential characteristic of the invention, said lower 4 and upper 5 parts consist of two membranes forming at least one pocket. The latter is provided hermetically to enclose a shock absorbing material. The membranes of this pocket are made of a material impervious to said shock absorbing material.

Preferably, the membrane material may also be airtight.

An essential feature of the present invention is that the shock absorbing material is compact.

In other words, once in place within the cover 1, the board 2 is found within a rigid or semi-rigid shell. Unlike pressurized air, a compact material has a greater shock absorption power. More particularly, said material has a resilience enabling it to be deformed locally, for example by compression. This elasticity allows him to cash a higher force and then return to its original form.

According to the preferred embodiment, said compact material is constituted by the agglomeration of particles during the depression of said pockets 4 and 5. Indeed, these the latter comprise a valve (not shown) for emptying manually or automatically, by pumping, the enclosed air. Now thus almost empty inside the pockets 4 and 5, the particles previously suspended agglutinate with each other to form a rigid or semi-rigid shell.

By way of example, said particles may be polystyrene beads. This lightweight material can become very compact and offers a known shock absorption quality.

Another advantage of said materials used in the context of the invention lies in the fact that they adapt to the shape of each board 2.

In particular, a single pocket formed of two parts 4 and 5 allows to have a shock absorbing material on the sides, at the edges of the board 2, a place that receives more blow during transport.

According to another characteristic, one of said parts 4 or 5 comprises means for holding the fin 3 of said board 2.

These holding means may advantageously be in the form of at least one flap 9.

On the embodiments shown in the drawings, this flap 9 is secured to the lower portion 4. It comes to subject to one or more fins 3, depending on the type of board 2.

As shown in the figures, several configurations of flaps 9 are conceivable, provided with more or fewer slots 10. According to another embodiment, said holding means may be present or comprise at least one slot 10 of dimensions corresponding to the drift 3 of said board 2.

The maintenance can be carried out directly on the board 2, therefore at the fins 3 and inside the cover 1. According to another embodiment, the maintenance can be performed by covering the upper portion 5. The latter can then have, at the level of space 8, cutouts to allow each drift to pass through 3.

The holding of the flap 9 can be carried out by fastening means similar to the aforementioned closure means, for example through a hanging velvet.

According to the embodiment using a vacuum absorption material, each flap 9 may be constituted by a pocket containing this type of material. The suction of the air stiffens the flap 9, keeping the board 2 firmly in the cover 1.

In addition, the portion 4 or 5 supporting the holding means may comprise, at the space 8, at least one slot (not shown) for the passage of at least one drift 3. This slot can be arranged so to completely cross said portion 4 or 5. According to another embodiment, said slot can partially traverse this part, for example its lower layer, then remaining protected by the upper layer of the part.

According to a preferred embodiment, not shown, the cover 1 according to the invention comprises several superimposed pockets.

The cover 1 according to the invention may also include integrated pumping means (not shown). Combined with said valve, this pump can allow aspiration or depression manually or automatically within the pocket. The present invention therefore consists of a cover 1 for transporting board 2 surfing offering increased impact resistance, adapting to any form of board and now strongly, especially through its fins 3.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples illustrated and described above which may have variants and modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Cover (1) for transporting and protecting a board (2) surf, comprising at least one pocket consisting of at least a lower portion (4) secured to at least a portion of its periphery at least an upper portion (5) overlapping said lower portion (4), characterized in that said pocket is hermetic and encloses a compact shock absorbing material constituted by the agglomeration of particles during the setting depression of said pocket.

2. Cover (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that one of said parts (4 or 5) comprises means for holding at least one fin (3) of said board (2).

3. Cover (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said holding means are in the form of at least one flap (9).

4. Cover (1) according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that said holding means comprise at least one slot (10) of dimensions corresponding to a drift (3) of said board (2).

5. Cover (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said holding means are in the form of a slot in one of said parts (4 or 5).