GB2336132A

GB2336132A - Surfboard having a viewing window

Info

Publication number: GB2336132A
Application number: GB9807684A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ching Hsi Chen
Original assignee: Sun Own Industrial Co Ltd; Sun Own Ind Co Ltd
Current assignee: Sun Own Industrial Co Ltd; Sun Own Ind Co Ltd
Priority date: 1998-04-09
Filing date: 1998-04-09
Publication date: 1999-10-13
Also published as: FR2777532A1; GB9807684D0

Abstract

A surfboard 10 includes an opening 11 for allowing a user to view a scene under water. A window 20 is engaged in the opening 11 and includes a hood 21 and a panel 24 secured to the bottom of the hood for forming an enclosed chamber. A number of fasteners 31,32 may secure the hood 21 and the panel 24 to the surfboard 10. A water resistive tape 40 is provided for covering the heads of the fasteners. The window may be in the form of a lens.

Description

- 1 2336132 SURFBOARD HAVING A VIEWING WINDOW The invention relates to a

surfboard viewing window.

Typical surfboards comprise a solid plate having no openings such that the user may not view the scene under the water. For viewing the plants and fishes, the divers have to wear a lot of diving facilities with them. The expenses of the diving facilities and the inconvenience for wearing the complicated facilities stop many people to enjoy viewing the scene under the water. In addition, special diving training is required before people may dive into the water.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a surfboard having a viewing window for allowing the user to easily view the scene under the water without wearing any diving facilities.

According to the present invention there is provided a surfboard comprising:- a body including an opening for allowing a user to view a scene under water.

A window is further engaged in the opening. The opening of the body is defined by an inner peripheral surface, the window includes a hood having a cylindrical peripheral surface for engaging with the inner peripheral surface of the body. The hood includes a curved upper surface. The window includes an enclosed chamber and includes a hood having a bottom portion and having an annular flange extended radially outward from the bottom portion of the hood, and includes a panel secured to the annular flange for forming the enclosed chamber in the hood.

A securing means is further provided for securing the window to the body. The window includes a hood having a bottom portion and having an annular flange extended radially outward from the bottom portion of the hood, and includes a panel secured to the annular flange, the securing means is provided for securing the annular flange and the panel to the body. The securing means includes screws and nuts for securing the annular flange and the panel to the body. A water resistive tape is engaged on the screws and nuts for covering the screws and nuts. The window is preferably a lens.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a surfboard; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the surfboard; and FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings, a surfboard comprises a surfboard body 10 including a plate-shaped structure made of lightweight or floatable materials, such as foamable materials, for allowing the body 10 to float on the water. The body 10 may also be any of the floatable plates or boards and includes an opening 11 and a number of holes 12 formed around the opening 11. The holes 12 are preferably angularly spaced from each 3 other. The body 10 also includes one or more punctures 13 for engaging with a thread or the like and for allowing the body 10 to be pulled by the thread.

A window 20 is engaged in the opening 11 and is transparent and includes a hood 21 having a cylindrical wall 22 for engaging with the inner peripheral surface of the opening 11 and having a curved or spherical upper surface. The hood 21 includes an annular flange 23 extended radially outward from the bottom portion of the cylindrical wall 22 for engaging with the bottom surface of the body 10 (FIG. 3). A panel 24 is also transparent and has a size substantially equals to that of the annular flange 23 for engaging with the bottom surface of the annular flange 23. The annular flange 23 is and the panel 24 each includes a number of punctures 25 for aligning with the holes 12 of the body 10 and for engaging with fasteners 31, 32, such as screws 32 and nuts 31, and for allowing the window 20 to be secured to the body 10. The annular flange 23 and the panel 24 may be solidly secured together by such as water resistive adhesive materials or by welding processes for forming an enclosed chamber in the hood 21 and for allowing the hood 21 to be formed as a float member. An annular water resistive tape 40 is engaged on the fasteners 31, 32 for covering and shielding the fasteners and for preventing water from entering into the holes 12. The tape 40 may also stably position the 4 - fasteners 31, 32 for preventing the fasteners from being disengaged from the body 10.

In operation, the user may easily view the scene under the water via the window 20. Alternatively, the window 20 may also be made of lenses, such as or convex lenses, for allowing people to easily view the scene under the water. The window 20 may also be force-fitted within the opening without the fasteners. The user may also view the scene under the water via the opening 11 without the window 20.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A surfboard comprising:

a body including an opening for allowing a user to view a scene under water.

2. The surfboard as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a window engaged in said opening.

3. The surfboard as claimed in claim 2, wherein said opening of said body is def ined by an inner peripheral surface, said window includes a hood having a cylindrical peripheral surface for engaging with said inner peripheral surface of said body.

4. The surfboard as claimed in claim 3, wherei said hood includes a curved upper surface.

5. The surfboard as claimed in claim 2, wherei said window includes an enclosed chamber.

6. The surfboard as claimed in claim 5, wherein said window includes a hood having a bottom portion and having an annular flange extended radially outward from said bottom portion of said hood, and includes a panel secured to said annular flange for forming said enclosed chamber in said hood.

7. The surfboard as claimed in claim 2 further comprising means for securing said window to said body.

8. The surfboard as claimed in claim 7, wherein said window includes a hood having a bottom portion and having an annular flange extended radially outward from said bottom portion of said hood, and includes a panel secured to said annular flange, said securing means is provided for securing said annular f lange and said panel to said body.

9. The surfboard as claimed in claim 8, wherein said securing means includes screws and nuts for securing said annular flange and said panel to said body.

10. The surfboard as claimed in claim 9 f h comprising a water resistive tape engaged on screws and nuts for covering said screws and nuts.

11. The surfboard as claimed in claim 2, wherein said window is a lens.

12. The surfboard substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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