GB1560011A

GB1560011A - Windsurfer board kit

Info

Publication number: GB1560011A
Application number: GB40048/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SHARK WASSERSPORT
Current assignee: SHARK WASSERSPORT
Priority date: 1976-09-25
Filing date: 1977-09-26
Publication date: 1980-01-30
Also published as: FR2365476A1; NL7710139A; DE2643221A1; SE7710171L; CH622747A5

Abstract

The hull of the windsurfer is composed of a bow part (A), a stern part (B) and a centre part (1) which carries a rig and a centreboard. The bow and stern parts (A, B) can alternatively be assembled with interchangeable centre parts (1 to 3) to form a hull of different length, the centre parts being of matching design at least at the end faces to be connected to the bow and stern part. The windsurfer can thereby be adapted like a construction kit to the respective use or the wave conditions of the respective sailing area. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) WINDSURFER BOARD KIT (71) We, SHARK WASSERSPORTGERATE GmbH, a German Company of Auf den Hohen, D-2830 Bassum, West Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a windsurfer board kit composed of a nose section, a tail section and a plurality of different central Sections at least one of which is adapted to carry the mast and a centreboard.

Windsurfers are made in various forms.

There are one-piece windsurfer boards made to different dimensions, for instance there are standard boards such as those used for regatta purposes and so-called tandem boards with tuio masts. Windsurfer-boards in three sections, which can be dismantled to facilitate transporting them, are also known.

- However, a disadvantage of all of'the known windsurfers is that a completely different board is required for each purpose, which- results in high manufacturing and storage costs.

The problem underlying-the invention is therefore to provide a kit of board sections which can be adapted by virtue of its unitized -or modular construction, to construct a board to suit any purpose of the -wave conditions of any particular sailing area.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a windsurfer board kit comprising a nose section, a tail section and a plurality of central sections, at least one of which central sections is adapted to carry a mast and a centre-board, wherein the dimensions of each of the central sections is different and the noSe and tail sections can be selectively assembled with any one of the central sections to form a windsurfer board of variable dimensions.

Preferably the kit will include central sections of different lengths which will be adapted, when attached to the nose and tail sections to accommodate the weight of an average male user, an average female user or an average juvenile user of a predetermined age group.

A plurality of central sections may be provided, each dimensioned and shaped to g;t different wave conditions for use in different- sailing areas. It is also envisaged that a central section may be included which is adapted to support a plurality of masts and a central section which does not have any means for supporting a mast. The central section which is adapted to support a plurality of masts may be composed of a plurality of individual sections each having a- mast support so that a tandem or triple windsurfer board can be produced, for instance from two standard central sections each having a mast fitting.

The cross-sectional shape of the-centr l sections may differ from section to section and may vary over the length of each section.

The present invention therefore has the advantage that a windsurfer board can be readily adapted to suit both the weight of the user, for example a family consisting of mother, father and children, and difficult sailing conditions, for example cruising or regatta sailing, as well as the wave conditions of different sailing areas simply by changing the central section. The board can even be converted from a windsurfer for one person to -a tandem windsurfer for two or more persons which is particularly useful for instructional purposes.As a result, this reduces not only the cost to the user since only the central sections need to be changed to suit different purposes, all the other com- ponents, such as the nose and tail sections, the centre board and the rigging being constant. but also the manufacturing and storage costs for the manufacturer and dealer.

A preferred form of the invention is now described with reference to the drawing.

The drawing shows a kit of parts com- prising a windsurfer nose section A and a tail section B, which can be combined with different central sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 to form windsurfer boards of varying lengths.

The central sections 1 2, 3 and 4 have similar end faces designed to be connected to the nose section A or tail section B, as can be seen in the drawing.

The central section 1, which has a mounting or fixture C for connection to the foot of a mast and a box-shaped recess D for installing a centre-board, is of a length such that it will produce a standard windsurfer, suitable for example, for male users of average weight. A different central section.

slightly shorter than the central section 1, c en bz provided for users of lighter weight, for example, female surfers.

The central section 3 also shown in the drawing, the length of which is approximately one third of the length of the central section I, will form a windsurfer board for young persons of light weight. This central section, together with the nose section A and tail section B, produces a substantially shorter board, the buoyancy of which is sufficient for the lighter weight of a juvenile user. The central section 3 also has a mounting C for the foot of a mast and a boxshaped recess D for a centre-board, which is not shown in the drawing and can be shorter in design than the centre-board for the central section 1.

The central section 2, which is also shown in the drawing, is approximately three times as long as the central section 1 and has two mountings C, each adapted to receive the foot of a mast, and two recesses D each for a centre-board. With the aid of this central section 2 a tandem windsurfer is produced, using the same nose and tail sections A and B as are used with central sections 1 and 3.

The drawing finally shows a central section 4 which does not have a mounting for a mast, but only a box-shaped recess D for a short centre-board. By using this short central section 4 the nose and tail sections A and B can be assembled to form a simple surfboard which is propelled not by the wind, but by the waves.

By selecting central sections of different lengths, the windsurfer to be made using the nose and tail sections A and B can be adapted to suit the wave conditions of any sailing area so that the central sections of varying lengths and designs are used not for adapting the board to suit different body weights of the user but also different sailing and weather conditions.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A windsurfer board kit comprising a nose section, a tail section and a plurality of central sections at least one of which central sections is adapted to carry a mast and a centre board, wherein the dimensions of each of the central sections is different and the nose and tail sections can be selectively assembled with any one of the central sections to form a wind surfer board of variable dimensions.

2. A windsurfer board kit as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of the central sections has a length adapted when attached to the nose and tail sections to carry a male user of average weight.

3. A windsurfer board kit as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of the central sections has a length adapted when attached to the nose and tail sections to carry a female user of average weight 4. A windsurfer board kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the central sections has a length adapted when attached to the nose and tail sections to carry a juvenile user of average weight from a predetermined age group.

5. A windsurfer board kit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the dimensions of some of the central sections are designed to suit different wave conditions.

6. A windsurfer board kit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least one of the central sections is adapted to carry a plurality of masts.

7. A windsurfer board kit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the central section is itself made up from a plurality of sections at least two of which are adapted to carry a mast.

8. A windsurfer board kit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the crosssectional shape of at least some of the central sections is different and varies over the length of each central section.

9. A windsurfer board kit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each central section is formed with a box shaped recess adapted to receive a mounting for a centre board.

10. A windsurfer board kit substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

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

Claims

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

to the nose section A or tail section B, as can be seen in the drawing.

The central section 1, which has a mounting or fixture C for connection to the foot of a mast and a box-shaped recess D for installing a centre-board, is of a length such that it will produce a standard windsurfer, suitable for example, for male users of average weight. A different central section.

slightly shorter than the central section 1, c en bz provided for users of lighter weight, for example, female surfers.

The central section 3 also shown in the drawing, the length of which is approximately one third of the length of the central section I, will form a windsurfer board for young persons of light weight. This central section, together with the nose section A and tail section B, produces a substantially shorter board, the buoyancy of which is sufficient for the lighter weight of a juvenile user. The central section 3 also has a mounting C for the foot of a mast and a boxshaped recess D for a centre-board, which is not shown in the drawing and can be shorter in design than the centre-board for the central section 1.

The central section 2, which is also shown in the drawing, is approximately three times as long as the central section 1 and has two mountings C, each adapted to receive the foot of a mast, and two recesses D each for a centre-board. With the aid of this central section 2 a tandem windsurfer is produced, using the same nose and tail sections A and B as are used with central sections 1 and 3.

The drawing finally shows a central section 4 which does not have a mounting for a mast, but only a box-shaped recess D for a short centre-board. By using this short central section 4 the nose and tail sections A and B can be assembled to form a simple surfboard which is propelled not by the wind, but by the waves.

By selecting central sections of different lengths, the windsurfer to be made using the nose and tail sections A and B can be adapted to suit the wave conditions of any sailing area so that the central sections of varying lengths and designs are used not for adapting the board to suit different body weights of the user but also different sailing and weather conditions.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A windsurfer board kit comprising a nose section, a tail section and a plurality of central sections at least one of which central sections is adapted to carry a mast and a centre board, wherein the dimensions of each of the central sections is different and the nose and tail sections can be selectively assembled with any one of the central sections to form a wind surfer board of variable dimensions.
2. A windsurfer board kit as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of the central sections has a length adapted when attached to the nose and tail sections to carry a male user of average weight.
3. A windsurfer board kit as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of the central sections has a length adapted when attached to the nose and tail sections to carry a female user of average weight
4. A windsurfer board kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the central sections has a length adapted when attached to the nose and tail sections to carry a juvenile user of average weight from a predetermined age group.
5. A windsurfer board kit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the dimensions of some of the central sections are designed to suit different wave conditions.
6. A windsurfer board kit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least one of the central sections is adapted to carry a plurality of masts.
7. A windsurfer board kit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the central section is itself made up from a plurality of sections at least two of which are adapted to carry a mast.
8. A windsurfer board kit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the crosssectional shape of at least some of the central sections is different and varies over the length of each central section.
9. A windsurfer board kit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each central section is formed with a box shaped recess adapted to receive a mounting for a centre board.
10. A windsurfer board kit substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.