AU2010100469B4

AU2010100469B4 - Board stand

Info

Publication number: AU2010100469B4
Application number: AU2010100469A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jerry Soklaridis
Original assignee: Probst Susann
Current assignee: Sssp Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2010-05-14
Filing date: 2010-05-14
Publication date: 2011-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 2018-05-14
Also published as: AU2010100469A4

Description

Our Ref: 20681126 P/00/0 I 1 Regulation 3:2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Applicant(s): Susann Probst AND Jerry Soklaridis 12 McCormack Street, Newcastle, New South Wales 2300, Australia Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys 255 Elizabeth Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Invention Title: "Board stand" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- C:\4RPotbl\DCCUFS\2957023_1 DOC-135/2010 BOARD STAND Technical Field The present invention relates to a board stand for a board, such as a surfboard and the like. 5 Background There are a number of board stands that are currently available. There are generally two types of stands: fixed and portable stands. 10 Fixed stands are generally fixed to some location, such as the ground or some other substantially horizontal surface. Some fixed stands include two support portions which are fixed via concrete or some other fixing means to the ground or some other substantially horizontal surface. Whilst fixed stands are suitable for performing work on boards, particularly on a large commercial scale, a considerable spatial footprint needs to be 15 permanently which may not be appropriate in all instances. Portable stands are also currently available which include a set of support feet which support the stand which can be temporarily supported on the ground or some other substantially horizontal surface during use. As the support feet are not fixed, portable 20 stands are more appropriate in situations where a dedicated amount of space cannot be allocated solely for performing work on a board. However, portable stands that are currently available are quite large pieces of equipment and thus whilst portable, it is still necessary to have some form of significant space available to move and store the portable stand during non-use. 25 Therefore, there is a need for a board stand that overcomes or at least alleviates one or more of the above-mentioned problems, or at least provides a useful commercial alternative. 30 The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement C:\NRorb\C\F\414223_1 DOC-552O01 I -2 or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates. 5 Summary In one broad aspect there is provided a board stand including a pair of support legs which are movable between a stowed and deployed position, wherein each support leg includes a support foot at a first end and a board support element at a second end for supporting a portion of the board, wherein each board support element includes a pair of upturned arms 10 defining a support cavity therebetween for supporting the board in a first orientation. In one form, the pair of support legs are operably connected via a pivot point, wherein the pair of support legs pivotally move within a first plane when moving between the stowed and deployed position. 15 In another form, one of the support legs includes a bent portion to align the board support elements substantially parallel with respect to the first plane. In one embodiment, each upturned arm includes a substantially out-turned portion for 20 supporting thereon the board in a second orientation. In another embodiment, at least a portion of at least one of the board support elements is provided with padding. 25 In an optional form, the board stand includes a releasable locking arrangement to restrict the board support element pivoting further apart whilst positioned in the deployed position. In another optional form, the board stand includes a retaining element for releasably retaining the support legs substantially parallel to each other in the stowed position to 30 thereby restrict the support legs inadvertently splaying.

C\NRPonbI\DCC\HFS\2957f23_I DOC-13A)5/2010 -3 Other embodiments will be described throughout the description of the example embodiments. 5 Brief Description of the Figures Example embodiments should become apparent from the following description, which is given by way of example only, of at least one preferred but non-limiting embodiment, described in connection with the accompanying figures. 10 Figure 1 illustrates a perspective front view of an example of a board stand in a deployed position; Figure 2 illustrates a perspective end view of the board stand of Figure 1 in the deployed position; 15 Figure 3 illustrates a perspective front view of the board stand of Figure 1 in a stowed position; Figure 4A illustrates a perspective end view of the board stand of Figure 1 in the stowed 20 position corresponding to Figure 3; Figure 4B illustrates a perspective end view of the board stand of Figure 1 in an alternate stowed position; 25 Figure 5 illustrates a perspective front view of the board stand of Figure 1 whilst supporting a surfboard in an orientation where fins are upturned; Figure 6 illustrates a perspective front view of the board stand of Figure 1 whilst supporting a surfboard in an orientation where fins are out-turned in a plane substantially 30 horizontal to a substantially horizontal surface; and C NRPonbl\DCCfF S\2957023-1 DOC-13A5/2010 -4 Figure 7 illustrates a perspective front view of two example board stands being used to support a large surfboard. Description of Embodiments 5 The following modes, given by way of example only, are described in order to provide a more precise understanding of the subject matter of a preferred embodiment or embodiments. In the figures, incorporated to illustrate features of an example embodiment, like reference numerals are used to identify like parts throughout the figures. 10 Referring to the figures, there is illustrated an example of a board stand 10. In particular, the board stand 10 includes a pair of support legs 20 which are movable between a stowed position, as shown in Figures 3, 4A and 4B, and a deployed position, as shown in Figure 1 and 2. Each support leg 20 includes a support foot 30 at a first end 21 and a board support element 40 at a second end 22 for supporting a portion of a board 300. Whilst the board is 15 supported on the board stand, a user can then perform work on the board, such as shaping or repairing the board. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the board stand 10 has a considerable support length to thereby sufficiently support and allow a user to perform work a board 300, such as a 20 surfboard. However, the board stand 10 in the stowed position, as shown in Figure 3, has a minimal spatial footprint wherein the support legs 20 are substantially parallel with each other whilst also being substantially adjacent to each other to thereby allow the board stand 10 to be easily stowed. 25 Referring more specifically to Figure 1, the pair of support legs 20 are operably connected via a pivot point 50. The pivot point 50 may be provided in the form of a pin member which protrudes through a pair of aligned holes provided in the support legs 20, wherein the ends of the pin may include a coupling 51, 52. 30 As shown in Figure 1, the pair of support legs 20 can pivotally move such that the board support elements 40 move toward or away from each other as shown by arrows 100 and C \NRPorbl\DCC\HFS\2957023 I DOC-135A)f210 -5 200. In particular, as shown in Figure 4A, the support legs may be pivoted in accordance with arrow 100 in Figure 1 to move the board support elements 40 toward each other such that in the stowed position, the board support elements 40 are located adjacent to each other and the support feet 30 are located adjacent to each other. However, referring to 5 Figure 4B, the support legs 20 may be pivoted in accordance with arrow 200 in Figure I to move the board support elements 40 away from each other such that in the stowed position, each board support element 40 is located adjacent to support foot 30 of the opposite support leg 20. 10 Referring to Figures 1, 2, 4A and 4B, one of the support legs 20 includes at least one bent portion 25 to align the board support elements 40 substantially parallel with the plane of movement of the support legs 20. As shown in Figure 1, one of the support legs 20 includes a first bent portion 25 and a second bent portion 26, wherein the first bent portion 25 aligns the board support elements and the second bent portion 26 aligns the support legs 15 with the plane of movement of the support legs. The bent portions 25, 26 can include a gooseneck profile. As shown in Figures 1, 4A and 4B, each board support element 40 includes a pair of upturned arms 42 defining a support cavity 46 therebetween for supporting the board 300 20 to allow a user to perform work on the board in a first orientation as shown in Figure 6 where fins 310 of the board 300 are out-turned in a plane substantially parallel with a substantially horizontal surface. Each upturned arm 42 includes a substantially out-turned portion 48 for supporting thereon the board 300 in a second orientation as shown in Figure 5 where the fins 310 of the board are substantially orthogonal to the substantially 25 horizontal surface. The support cavity 46 also allows for the board 300 to be orientated such that the fins 310 are directed downward and thus positioned within or aligned with an axis of one of the support cavities such that the board 300 is supported in a substantially horizontal plane. As shown in the figures, each board support element 40 can include a "U" shaped profile having outurned portions 48 to support the board 300 in particular 30 orientations.

C :\NRPonb\DCCu IFS\2957021 DOC1 3A)5/2010 -6 As shown in the figures, each board support element 40 can include padding 44, wherein the padding 44 covers a substantial portion of the upturned arms 42 and the out-turned support portions 48. The padding 44 may be provided in the form of foam or similar supportable materials which alleviate scratching or marking the board 300 whilst being 5 shaped. The padding 44 may be removable from or replaced on the board support element 40 in the form of a tube of padding. As shown in Figure 1, the board stand 10 includes at least one locking arrangement 60 to releasably lock the board stand 10 in a deployed position. In one form, as illustrated in the 10 figures, the locking arrangement 60 can include a chain which can be releasably coupled between the pair of support legs 20 to restrict the support legs 20 pivoting further apart such that the board support elements 40 are restricted from moving further away from each other. One end of the chain may be fixed to one of the support legs 20 and the opposing support leg 20 may include a couplable member such as a screw or hook which can 15 releasably engage a link in the chain when extended between the support legs 20. A second locking arrangement 65 may also be provided, as shown in Figure 1, wherein the first locking arrangement 60 extends between upper portions of the support legs 20 and the second locking arrangement 65 extends between lower portions of the support legs 20. The second locking arrangement 65 can also be provided as a chain. It will be appreciated that 20 many other forms of locking arrangements can be provided such as a rigid member. Referring to Figures 1 and 5, the board stand 10 includes a retaining element 70 to releasably retain the board stand 10 in the stowed position such that the support legs 20 are restricted from pivotally splaying apart from each other. In particular, as shown in Figures 25 1 and 5, the retaining element 70 can be provided in the form of a resilient clip which can releasably engage about a portion of the circumference of the support leg 20. When the support legs 20 are pivotally moved toward each other, the support leg 20 that fails to include the resilient clip 70 can be urged against an opening of the clip 70, thus urging opposing resilient arms of the clip apart such that at least a portion of the support leg 20 is 30 received between the opposing arms. The opposing arms of the clip then resiliently urge C \NRPn DCC\HFS\9570231- DOC-13)5(2010 -7 against a portion of the circumference of the engaged support leg 20 to thereby releasably retain the support leg 20. When the board stand 10 is to be moved from the stowed position to the deployed position, 5 the user can urge the two support legs 20 apart thereby urging the resilient arms of the clip 70 apart and thus releasing the engaged support leg from the clip such that the support legs 20 are free to pivot relative to each other. As shown in the figures, the support foot 30 of each support leg 20 can be a provided as an 10 elongate support member which is orientated in a plane orthogonal to the plane which the support legs 20 pivot. As shown in Figure 7 there is shown use of a plurality of board stands 10 which are placed in an end-to-end orientation such that the support cavities 46 are aligned. The end-to-end 15 configuration of the board stands 10 can be used for supporting large boards 300, such as longboards, in circumstances where a single board stand 10 would be considered inappropriate due to the weight and/or length of the board 300. It will be appreciated that the user is able to perform work, including shaping and 20 repairing, as well as other tasks which are performed on a ridable board, such as a surfboard and the like. The above embodiments may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, firmware, or an embodiment combining software and 25 hardware aspects. Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A board stand including a pair of support legs which are movable between a stowed and deployed position, wherein each support leg includes a support foot at a first end and a 5 board support element at a second end for supporting a portion of the board, wherein each board support element includes a pair of upturned arms defining a support cavity therebetween for supporting the board in a first orientation.

2. The board stand according to claim 1, wherein the pair of support legs are operably 10 connected via a pivot point, wherein the pair of support legs pivotally move within a first plane when moving between the stowed and deployed position.

3. The board stand according to claim 2, wherein one of the support legs includes a bent portion to align the board support elements substantially parallel with respect to the 15 first plane.

4. The board stand according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each upturned arm includes a substantially out-turned portion for supporting thereon the board in a second orientation. 20

5. The board stand according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the board support elements is provided with padding.