AU2011101350B4 - Connector for a leg rope - Google Patents

Connector for a leg rope Download PDF

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Publication number
AU2011101350B4
AU2011101350B4 AU2011101350A AU2011101350A AU2011101350B4 AU 2011101350 B4 AU2011101350 B4 AU 2011101350B4 AU 2011101350 A AU2011101350 A AU 2011101350A AU 2011101350 A AU2011101350 A AU 2011101350A AU 2011101350 B4 AU2011101350 B4 AU 2011101350B4
Authority
AU
Australia
Prior art keywords
connector
cord
shoulder
mounting base
leash
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
AU2011101350A
Other versions
AU2011101350A4 (en
Inventor
John Leo Malloy
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Leisure Collective International Pty Ltd
Original Assignee
Leisure Collective International Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2007226812A external-priority patent/AU2007226812B2/en
Application filed by Leisure Collective International Pty Ltd filed Critical Leisure Collective International Pty Ltd
Priority to AU2011101350A priority Critical patent/AU2011101350B4/en
Publication of AU2011101350A4 publication Critical patent/AU2011101350A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of AU2011101350B4 publication Critical patent/AU2011101350B4/en
Assigned to THE LEISURE COLLECTIVE INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD reassignment THE LEISURE COLLECTIVE INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD Request for Assignment Assignors: GREAT WAVES PTY LTD
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63BSHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B32/00Water sports boards; Accessories therefor
    • B63B32/70Accessories not specially adapted for a particular type of board, e.g. paddings or buoyancy elements
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63BSHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B32/00Water sports boards; Accessories therefor
    • B63B32/70Accessories not specially adapted for a particular type of board, e.g. paddings or buoyancy elements
    • B63B32/73Accessories not specially adapted for a particular type of board, e.g. paddings or buoyancy elements for tethering users or objects to the board, e.g. leashes

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)

Abstract

Abstract A connector arranged to connect a water sports leash or leg rope to a board, the connector having an outer shoulder which attaches to the leash along a length greater than a circumference of the leash

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION For an Innovation Patent Invention title: "CONNECTOR FOR A LEG ROPE" Applicant: GREAT WAVES PTY LTD Associated provisional applications: 2007900934 filed 23 Feb 2007 The following statement is a full description of the invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 "CONNECTOR FOR A LEG ROPE" Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connection between a cord and a base. It is 5 of particular use in connecting a leg rope to a water sports board such a surfboard. Background to the Invention Surfboards and similar water sports boards are often equipped with 'leg ropes' 10 or leashes. These 'ropes' are typically elastomeric cords which are connected at one end to the board, and at the other to a strap which can be wrapped around a surfer's ankle. The leg rope acts to maintain a physical connection between the surfer and their board, in the event that the surfer becomes dislodged from the surfboard. This assists the surfer to quickly retrieve the 15 board in order to resume surfing. Modern leashes are typically made of urethane, with a length in the order of 2m and a diameter in the order of 6mm. Such leashes are able to stretch some 500% in length during use. Failure of the leash occurs in tension when the leash is stretched beyond its 20 limit. In practice such failure rarely occurs. This is because the connection of the leash to the board or the ankle strap regularly fails at a tension lower than the leash's limit. It is considered desirable to provide a connection between a leash and a base, the base being either at the board or at the ankle strap, which fails 25 under tensile stress equal or greater than the tensile limit of the leash. Such an arrangement allows for full utilisation of the resilient properties of the leash. Summary of the Invention In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided an 30 interconnection between a cord and a fixed element, wherein the cord has a capacity for resilient longitudinal extension and the connector comprises a first portion arranged to be fixed to the fixed element and an elongate portion 3 which is resiliently longitudinally extendable and is arranged to be fixed to an end of the cord and be received over an end portion of the cord proximate to the end. According to a preferred feature of the invention the elongate portion of the 5 connector has a capacity of resilient longitudinal extension such that when the end portion of the cord is caused to extend resiliently the elongate portion of the connector resiliently extends with the end portion. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a mounting base for connecting a water sports leash, the leash comprising a 10 cord having an outer end arranged to be connected to the mounting base, the cord being substantially circular in cross section and having a circumference, the mounting base having a connector fixed thereto, the connector including a connector portion which locates around and is bonded to the outer end of the cord, the connector portion having an outer end defining a shoulder, the 15 shoulder defining the edge of the bond between the connector and the cord, wherein the shoulder is shaped such that the length of the shoulder is greater than the circumference of the cord. This arrangement reduces the stress between the shoulder and the leash under tension, by increasing the distance over which the tensile force is distributed. The circumference of the cord may 20 be defined more broadly as a cross sectional perimeter. It will be appreciated that the present invention may be applied to non-circular cords, although these are uncommon. The connector may include a plurality of slots located between the shoulder and an inner end of the connector portion, providing increased elasticity to the 25 connector portion. Brief Description of the Drawings It will be convenient to further describe the invention with reference to preferred embodiments of the connector of the present invention. Other 30 embodiments are possible, and consequently the particularity of the following discussion is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention. In the drawings: 4 Figure 1 is a front elevation of a connector in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the connector of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a plan view of the connector of Figure 1; 5 Figure 4 is a cross sectional elevation through the connector of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a schematic view of a leg rope connected to a surfboard using the connector of Figure 1. 10 Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments The embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings is a mounting utilised to connect a leg rope or leash to an ankle strap and/or a surfboard mount. As shown in the accompanying drawings, the leg rope or leash comprises a cord 10, a connector 12, a mounting base 14 and a swivel connector 16. Figure 5 15 schematically shows the surfboard 100, the ankle strap 102, and the mount 104. The cord 10 has capacity to be resiliently extendable. The mounting base 14 is configured such that it can be mounted to an ankle strap or alternatively to the surfboard mount or to a rope tied or connected to such a mount. The swivel connector 16 is fixed to the connector 12 in that the connector 12 is 20 moulded around the swivel connector 16. The other end of the swivel connector 16 is rotatably received within a tubular boss 18 formed on the mounting base 14. The swivel connector 16 is provided with a plurality of waisted portions 19 as shown in Figure 4 such that it is positively retained within both the connector 12 and the tubular boss 18. The connector 12 is 25 formed by an injection moulding process to be received over and around the swivel connector 16 and an end portion 20 of the cord 10, as best seen in Figure 4, and is formed of a suitable resiliently flexible material such as a rubber, polyurethane, plastics or other resilient material. The connector 12 comprises a first portion 22 which locates over the swivel 30 connector 16, and a second portion 24 which is elongate, and locates over the end portion 20 of the cord 10. The connector 12 has an outer end 40 remote from the swivel connector 16. The outer end 40 defines a shoulder 42, which 5 denotes the edge of the connection between the cord 10 and the connector 12. The second portion 24 is formed with partial helix/diagonal substantially parallel alternating ribs 29 and slots 28. The partial helix/diagonal substantially 5 parallel ribs 29 and slots 28 have a part line 31 extending therethrough as can be seen in Figure 1. This is to enable the connector 12 to be moulded. The second portion 24 of the connector 12 is bonded to the cord 10 throughout the length of the second portion 24 of the connector 12. It will be appreciated that the cord 10 is bonded to the second portion 24 of the 10 connector 12 along the ribs 29 and the part line 31, but not at the slots 28. The formation of the second portion 24 with the partial helix/diagonal substantially parallel alternating ribs 29 and slots 28 between the first portion 22 and the outer end 40 enhances resilient longitudinal extension of the second portion 24 of the connector 12 with longitudinal extension of the cord 15 10 when the cord 10 is under load and extending. This reduces the likelihood of a loss of integrity of the interconnection between the cord 10 and the connector 12 or the exertion of excessive stress on the interconnection between the cord 10 and the connector 12. It will be appreciated that the transfer of tensile stress between the cord 10 20 and the connector 12 will occur along the length of the bond, that is, along the length of the second portion 24 of the connector 12. It will be further appreciated that the weakest point of the connection is likely to occur at the shoulder 42. In prior art connectors, the shoulder 42 passes circumferentially about the 25 cord 10, so that the length of the shoulder 42 is equal to 2-rrr, where r is the radius of the cord 10. In the present invention, the shoulder 42 describes a path approximating a sine wave, the sine wave having a period equal to half the cord circumference and an amplitude equal to about 40% of the period. As a result, the length of the shoulder 42 is about twice that of a circumferential 30 shoulder, with the stress concentration between the cord 10 and the shoulder 42 being about half that known in the prior art. The use of a shoulder 42 having a wave-like path results in the second portion 24 of the connector 12 being formed with opposed fillets 26 and 27 at the 6 outer end 40 forming a wave of alternating projections 26 and 27 and recesses 30. Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. 5

Claims (5)

1. A mounting base for connecting a water sports leash, the leash comprising a cord having an outer end arranged to be connected to the mounting base, the cord being substantially circular in cross section and 5 having a circumference, the mounting base having a connector fixed thereto, the connector including a connector portion which locates around and is bonded to the outer end of the cord, the connector portion having an outer end defining a shoulder, the shoulder defining the edge of the bond between the connector and the cord, wherein the shoulder is shaped such that the 10 length of the shoulder is greater than the circumference of the cord.
2. A mounting base for connecting a water sports leash, the leash comprising a cord having an outer end arranged to be connected to the mounting base, the cord having a cross sectional perimeter , the mounting base having a connector fixed thereto, the connector including a connector 15 portion which locates around and is bonded to the outer end of the cord, the connector portion having an outer end defining a shoulder, the shoulder defining the edge of the bond between the connector and the cord, wherein the shoulder is shaped such that the length of the shoulder is greater than the cross sectional perimeter of the cord. 20
3. A mounting base as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the shoulder has a plurality of alternating projections and recesses in order to increase the length of the shoulder relative to the cord perimeter.
4. A mounting base as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the connector includes a plurality of slots located between the shoulder and an 25 inner end of the connector portion.
5. A leg rope having a mounting base as claimed in any preceding claim. GREAT WAVES PTY LTD By its Patent Attorneys ARMOUR IP 30 P2019AU01
AU2011101350A 2007-02-23 2011-10-20 Connector for a leg rope Expired AU2011101350B4 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2011101350A AU2011101350B4 (en) 2007-02-23 2011-10-20 Connector for a leg rope

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2007900934 2007-02-23
AU2007226812A AU2007226812B2 (en) 2007-02-23 2007-10-16 Connector for a leg rope
AU2011101350A AU2011101350B4 (en) 2007-02-23 2011-10-20 Connector for a leg rope

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
AU2007226812A Division AU2007226812B2 (en) 2007-02-23 2007-10-16 Connector for a leg rope

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
AU2011101350A4 AU2011101350A4 (en) 2011-11-17
AU2011101350B4 true AU2011101350B4 (en) 2012-02-02

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
AU2011101350A Expired AU2011101350B4 (en) 2007-02-23 2011-10-20 Connector for a leg rope

Country Status (1)

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AU (1) AU2011101350B4 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2565847B (en) * 2017-08-25 2019-07-24 Skunkworks Surf Company Ltd Leash for a surfboard

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5775985A (en) * 1995-08-29 1998-07-07 Devro-Teepak, Inc. Zero time clipper
US7204734B2 (en) * 2004-12-28 2007-04-17 Maneuverline, Inc. Surfing board leash tangle prevention instrument

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5775985A (en) * 1995-08-29 1998-07-07 Devro-Teepak, Inc. Zero time clipper
US7204734B2 (en) * 2004-12-28 2007-04-17 Maneuverline, Inc. Surfing board leash tangle prevention instrument

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2011101350A4 (en) 2011-11-17

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FGI Letters patent sealed or granted (innovation patent)
FF Certified innovation patent
PC Assignment registered

Owner name: THE LEISURE COLLECTIVE INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD

Free format text: FORMER OWNER WAS: GREAT WAVES PTY LTD

MK22 Patent ceased section 143a(d), or expired - non payment of renewal fee or expiry