Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B32/00—Water sports boards; Accessories therefor
  • B63B32/50—Boards characterised by their constructional features
  • B63B32/56—Boards convertible into vessels or other types of water sports boards, e.g. into sailboats, canoes or water-cycles

Definitions

• TITLE A rack structure for connection with at least one float member, in particular a surfboard .
• the present invention relates to a rack structure for connec ⁇ tion with at least one elongated float member, in particular a surf ⁇ board , the rack structure comprising a frame structure including at least two longitudinal frame members connected or connectable with at least two transverse frame members to provide a main frame, and leg structures for supporting and connecting said main frame to each of the float members .
• a rack structure to provide a catamaran -like vessel which comprises as its float members two usual surfboards which are coupled together side by side by means of the rack structure.
• a sheet of cloth such as canvas may be distended in the main frame of the rack structure to provide a deck for the vessel .
• rack structures for the above purpose should be a simple construction which is easy to connect with and disconnect from the surfboards without the necessity of making excessive changes in the structure and shape of usual surfboards .
• the rack structure when connected to the surfboards, shall provide a safe and sufficiently stable construction or vessel .
• Another basic requirement is that the rack structure should be easy to transport, e. g . on the roof of a car together with surfboards, masts and sails .
• an object of the present invention to pro- vide an improved rack structure of the type mentioned above which is particularly simple in construction and easy to connect with and disconnect from float members such as surfboards .
• Another object of the invention is to provide a rack structure of the type contemplated which is particularly easy to transport on the roof of a car.
• each of the leg structures comprises a free end which is provided with means for removably connecting an attach ⁇ ment fitting to the free end .
• the rack structure of the invention may, accordingly, rapidly and easily be connected with or discon- nected from appropriate float members by means of attachment fittings.
• the attachment fittings can be permanently or removably mounted on the float members.
• the attachment fittings are easy to remove from each surfboard which thereby still can be used for wind surfing in the usual manner.
• the rack structure of the invention is, however, that the attachment fittings for connect ⁇ ing the rack structure to float members rapidly and easily can be replaced by appropriate clamp fittings for connection with edges on a car roof.
• the rack structure in itself can serve or be used directly as a roof luggage rack for transport of float members or surfboards, sails and masts.
• each attach ⁇ ment fitting comprises a foot plate for removable connection with the free end of the leg structure.
• the underside of the foot plate which is to rest against the upper surface of a float member, can appropriately be provided with a friction increasing layer or coat ⁇ ing .
• the upper side of the foot plate includes connector means for receiving or connection with the free end of a leg structure.
• the rack struc- ture further comprises a set of attachment fittings, the set includ ⁇ ing for each surfboard a mast-hole fitting and a support fitting, said mast-hole fitting including at least one plug for insertion into a mast-hole of the surfboard and said support fitting being adapted to be attached to the upper surface of the surfboard at an area aft of said mast hole.
• the support fitting of this preferred embodiment may appro ⁇ priately be designed as the simple embodiment just mentioned having a footplate which may stand freely on the upper surface of the surfboard .
• the support fitting can be secured to the surfboard, e. g . by means of screws or by tightening one or more appropriate straps around the surfboard .
• the mast-hole fitting of the preferred embodiment may also include a footplate with the masthole plug of the mast-hole fitting projecting from the underside of the footplate.
• each leg structure of the rack structure of the invention may be defined by end portions of the longitudinal or transverse frame members which have been bent down to provide legs with a free end .
• each leg structure comprises a separate leg member, one end thereof being adjustably connected or connect- able with a frame member while the opposite free end thereof includes said connecting means for connection with said attachment fitting .
• each leg structure can be displaced or adjusted along a frame member to which the structure is connected and the leg structures can be locked in desired positions .
• This adjustability of the leg structures along a frame member of the rack structure is particularly useful when the rack structure i s used as roof luggage rack on a car.
• each of the transverse frame members are adjustable to provide a main frame having longitudinal frame members which are transversely adjustable and displaceable in parallel to each other.
• the latter possibility of adjustment is preferably obtained by having the ends of the longitudinal frame members displaceabiy, but lockably connected with the respective transverse frame members .
• a similar possibility of adjustment can also be obtained by providing each of the transverse frame members with a tubular central portion and two end portions , each end por ⁇ tion having one end telescopically inserted into the central portion , while the opposite end of each end portion is connected with a lon ⁇ gitudinal frame member.
• Figure 1 schematically illustrates a first embodiment of the rack structure of the invention connected with two surfboards to
• OMP provide a catamaran structure
• Figure 2 schematically illustrates another embodiment of the rack structure of the invention connected with a single surfboard and provided with buoyancy members for laterally stabilizing the surfboard;
• Figure 3 is a sectional view schematically illustrating a particu ⁇ lar mast-hole fitting which can be part of the rack structure of the invention
• Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment corresponding to that in Figure 1 , but provided with a special deck of cloth material ;
• Figure 5 is a schematical view of an example of a water cycle frame which can be part of the rack structure of the invention.
• Figure 6 is a schematical view illustrating a special fitting for clamping around a usual surfboard mast
• Figure 7 illustrates a clamp fitting removably connected with a leg member in connection with use of the rack structure of the invention as a roof luggage rack.
• FIG. 1 of the drawings showing two usual surfboards 2 which are arranged side by side and in parallel to each other.
• the two surfboards have been connected with a rack structure according to the invention which includes a main frame 4 assembled by two transverse frame members 6, 8, and two longitudinal frame members 10, 12.
• the main frame 4 is attached to the two surfboards by means of a mast-hole fitting 14 and a support fitting 16 arranged aft of the mast-hole fitting of each surfboard .
• the two surfboards 2 have been coupled together into a catamaran structure which can be provided with mast, sail and rigging e.g . by means of a mast-foot fitting 20 mounted to the foremost transverse frame member 8 and, moreover, the catamaran structure can be provided with a rudder by means of a rudder fitting 22 mounted to the rearmost transverse frame member 6.
• the main frame 4 can be provided with or carry a deck, e.g . of a sheet of cloth material which is mounted by means of an appropriate lashing e.g . in a similar manner as the cloth in a trampoline.
• FIG 2 shows another embodiment wherein a rack structure according to the invention and including a main frame corresponding to frame 4 in Figure 1 , has been connected to one single surfboard 2.
• the two longitudinal frame members 10, 12 have, moreover, been combined with schematically shown buoyancy members 24 which, preferably, are located at a somewhat higher level than the surf ⁇ board 2 so that the buoyancy members only get in contact with the water, when the surfboard heels over laterally.
• This embodiment is particularly useful for unskilled windsurfers who at the first in ⁇ stance can concentrate on maneuvering mast and sail which can be mounted in the fitting 20.
• each mast-hole fitting 14 includes at least one plug for insertion into the usual mast-hole of the surfboard , and each support fitting 16 may stand freely on the uppor surface of the surfboard .
• each support fitting 16 can be secured to the surfboard by means of screws or by tightening one or more straps around the surfboards . Such straps can also extend over the frame members and thereby laterally stabilize the entire rack structure.
• FIG 3 illustrates schematically an example of a mast-hole fitting 14 for use on a surfboard with two mast-holes .
• the fitting includes a footplate 26 which, at the underside thereof, carries two parallelly projecting mast-hole plugs 32, 34.
• One, 34, of these plugs is mounted adjustably and d ⁇ splaceably in parallel in a slot in the footplade 26.
• the footplate On the upper side the footplate has a socket 28 which, in the embodiment shown , is removably attached by means of a threaded plug or pin 30.
• the mast-hole fitting may also include only one projecting plug which may be mounted in alignment with the leg member 18.
• the support fittings 16 may be designed in a corresponding manner, but without projecting plugs corresponding to plugs 32 and
• the frame members 6, 8 and 10, 12 in Figures 1 and 2 may, moreover, be connected at the corners of the main frame by means of clamp fittings as that shown in the upper part of Figure 3.
• clamp fittings as that shown in the upper part of Figure 3.
• the footplate belonging to the support fittings 16 may be permamently mounted on each surfboard 2, since the leg member 18 can be unscrewed from the footplate.
• the socket 28 may also be replaced by or designed as a snap coup ⁇ ling wherein the free end of the leg member 18 quickly, and easily can be inserted and removed .
• pin 30 can also be a screw for inser ⁇ tion from the underside of plate 26 through a hole therein .
• the connection means would also comprise an internally threaded bore in the end of the leg member 18.
• the socket 28 on the foot plade 26 may also be replaced by a flange or collar of similar shape on the end of the leg member 18.
• a rack struc ⁇ ture can also be used as a roof luggage rack, since suitable clamp fittings quickly and easily can be attached to each socket instead of a footplate.
• FIG 7 shows an example of a clamp fitting 20 which may be part of or accessories for the rack structure of the invention .
• the fitting 20 shown comprises a shaft 20a and a threaded pin 20b for removable connection with an internally threaded bore in the end of leg member 18.
• the same internally threaded bore can be used for connecting an attachment fitting for connection with a surfboard, such as a mast-hole fitting as that shown and described in connec- tion with Figure 3 or a support fitting as fitting 16 shown in Figures 1 and 2.
• the clamp fitting shaft 20a can also be provided with appropriate snap coupling member which matches with a corresponding coupling member provided at the end of leg member 18 and which is used as means for connecting an attachment fitting .
• the rack structure of the invention and in par ⁇ ticular the main frame 4 in Figure 1 may appropriately be provided with a deck.
• Figure 4 shows a special design of such a deck which by means of two struts can be errected to provide a windscreen or a tent which can be used at sea and on the beach as well .
• Figure 5 shows an example of a water cycle framework which may belong to or be part of the frame structure of the rack struc- ture of the invention .
• the framework can be removably mounted to the main frame of the rack structure and the framework includes stems 40 for mount ⁇ ing of pedal drives, and cross bars 42 on which a suitable seat can be suspended .
• a paddle wheel can be mounted on a cross bar 44 and the paddle wheel can be connected with the pedal drives by means of belt or chain transmis ⁇ sions .
• the frame structure in the rack of the invention is, prefe ⁇ rably, built of tube pieces which suitably can be coupled together by means of clamp fittings so that the structure is quick and easy to disassemble and to adjust as needed .
• the frame struc ⁇ ture can appropriately be provided with suitable reinforcements and staying.
• a usual surfboard sail can be used in a holder or fitting 20.
• outrigger embodiments as that shown in Figure 2 can be used to practice the windsurfing technique.
• the buoyancy members 24 may be built into or define the longitudinal frame members 10, 12 which , thereby, can be shaped as pontoons .
• buoyancy members may be separate units which are attached to the frame members as needed and in a desired number.
• a surfboard mast or a special mast with sail can also be mounted in the holder 20 by means of suitable wires or lines .
• Figure 6 shows a special fitting, whereby such wires can be con ⁇ nected with a usual surfboard mast without the necessity of per- forming changes in the structure of the mast, e.g . by drilling holes therein .
• float members than usual surfboards can be used in connection with the rack structure of the invention to build outrig ⁇ gers, catamarans, trimarans or other types of vessels .
• the rack structure of the invention provides a substantial extension of the possibilities of use of usual surfboards.
• a boat hirer-out can , with limited costs of materials, have a very flexible equipment with which usual surfboards, outriggers, catamarans or water bicylces can be assembled and hired out in accordance with instantaneous customers' demands . To be able to do so only re ⁇ quires a certain number of surfboards with masts and sails and a number of rack structures according to the invention .
• a basic aspect of the invention resides in the fact that one or more usual surfboards can be connected with a rack structure and thereby be made laterally stable. Simultaneously the rack structure gives the possibility of mounting a deck so that several persons can sail together.
• the rack structure is rapid and simple to mount, in particular if the rack structure is assembled in advance and has been used as a roof luggage rack for transport of surfboards etc.

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
• Revetment (AREA)
• Road Paving Structures (AREA)
• Slide Fasteners, Snap Fasteners, And Hook Fasteners (AREA)
• Joining Of Building Structures In Genera (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8117139

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Cited By (8)

Families Citing this family (6)

Citations (11)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 1982
  • 1982-06-29 DK DK292082A patent/DK292082A/da not_active Application Discontinuation
• 1983
  • 1983-06-21 ZA ZA834525A patent/ZA834525B/xx unknown
  • 1983-06-22 GB GB08316906A patent/GB2124157A/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1983-06-23 IL IL69053A patent/IL69053A0/xx unknown
  • 1983-06-28 IT IT21820/83A patent/IT1194574B/it active
  • 1983-06-28 GR GR71789A patent/GR78584B/el unknown
  • 1983-06-29 EP EP83902246A patent/EP0112886A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1983-06-29 WO PCT/DK1983/000068 patent/WO1984000134A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1983-06-29 JP JP58119445A patent/JPS5932590A/ja active Pending
• 1984
  • 1984-02-28 NO NO840762A patent/NO840762L/no unknown

Patent Citations (11)

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