WO2007012164A1

WO2007012164A1 - Flexible strap applied on a board-shaped body

Info

Publication number: WO2007012164A1
Application number: PCT/BR2005/000207
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eduardo Maynart Wisniewski
Original assignee: Eduardo Maynart Wisniewski
Priority date: 2005-07-28
Filing date: 2005-09-29
Publication date: 2007-02-01
Also published as: BRMU8501512U

Abstract

It is described as a pliable a strap on a board-shaped body, which comprises a @liabl5 material strip (11), fixed preferably between the intermediate and rear regions of the board-shaped body (50), and said @li0ble strap (10), which has on its edges a coupler cut (12) of an appropriate joint device (13) connected to the devices (20) previously fixed on the board-shaped body girder (50), and said @li0ble strip (11), which has, in its inner part, vulcanized metallic structures (14) arranged along with the strip @li0ble material (11).

Description

FLEXIBLE STRAP APPLIED ON A BOARD-SHAPED BODY INVENTION FIELD

This invention is about a flexible strap on a board-shaped body. More specifically, it comprises a flexible strap applicable on the surface of a device, such as a surfboard or a skateboard, making air tricks easier.

INVENTION BACKGROUND

The first surf accounts say it was introduced in Hawaii by Polynesian king Tahito. Officially, however, the first concrete fact revealing the existence of this sport was carried out by navigator James Cook, who discovered the archipelago of Hawaii and saw the first surfers in action. At that time, the navigator liked the sport as a way of relaxation, but the Protestant Church discouraged the practice of surf for over 100 years. The worldwide acknowledgement originated with Olympic swimming champion and father of modern surf, Hawaiian Duke Paoa Kahanamoku. When winning the 1912 Games, in Stockholm, the athlete said he was a surfer and became the largest promoter of the sport in the world. After that, the archipelago and the sport came to be internationally acknowledged.

After the victory in the Olympics, Duke quite successfully introduced the sport in the United States and Australia.

The sport success was so dramatic that nowadays it is among the most practiced throughout the world. Practicing surf demands a good board, adapted to the athlete size and physical characteristics. The development of the material used in the boards was so large, that the old (wooden) boards were replaced by modern polyurethane boards. In addition to well-known small boards, which are faster and used by mains surfers, there are the Fun and Long Boards. Also in the list of materials required to practice surf, there is a leash (a strap usually tied to the surfer's ankle, which attaches him to the board), paraffin (spread along the board to hold the surfer's feet during the wave) and neoprene (a rubber clothing used mainly in the winter or in cold seas).

The surfer's performance is assessed in function of his agility during rescues, speed in excelling the waves and the surfer's positioning when coming into the wave, as well as air tricks, a movement during which the surfer uses the wave as a ramp and displaces the board off the water, flying with the board tied to his feet by the adherence force caused by the counter-attraction.

Other sports use boards, but not in the aquatic environment. Mountain Board is a new genre, mixing surf, snowboard and skateboard sensations. The sport was created in Hawaii by surfer David Kalama, in the early 90's to please surfers' minds on a waveless sea day. The full equipment has air chamber wheels, suspensions and foot clamps, which are essential to perform air tricks and supply safety to the sport. Skateboarding started in the decade of 1960. After then, it was possible to surf on firm ground by means of shapes as well as perform air tricks.

In order to make air tricks easier, the technique state outlines adjustable clamps fixed on the board surface, which enable you to tie your feet during air tricks, keeping the board attached to users' feet.

The MU8102291-3 utility model request outlines a device for foot fit and support in surfboards, characterized for being comprised by a part completely manufactured of rubber and provided with a circular, flexible and adherent basis, front support, rear support and a switch flat bar positioned between the front and rear supports, manufactured with pliable non-skid circular-shaped rubber. The purpose of the rear support is effectively adapting the surfer's feet and the switch flat bar. The rear support aims at totally and safely grip the switch flat bar, which is inserted in particular grooves positioned in both front and rear supports.

Invention patent PI9503851-5 outlines fixture profiles applied with some space from the board body on the board top side and which have equidistant reception bores, each with a fit slit, a rear cut and a positioning groove on the top side to fit the block prong with an articulate knob. The block prongs are turnable on the fixture boards on the edges of foot straps and have a block shoulder adapted to the reception bores fit slit on the fixture profiles by turning a block prong applied in the fixture profile reception bore of one of the selected positions for the feet straps.

Invention patent EP1145948 outlines a handling system including a tubular knob arranged on the top surface of a floating body.

Invention patent US4241929 presents handholds positioned at the ski front and central part to adapt the feet.

Nevertheless, these aforementioned devices had several inconvenient issues related to the arrangement of clamps on the board central and rear positions, causing discomfort to the user when he needs to lie down on the board to row. Also, when the surfer is about the start the trick, the foot fit in the clamps is an operation which requires speed and skill, and is able to cause the user to destabilize.

Therefore, the technical literature presents devices which, despite providing the board fixture to the user's feet, there is still a need for improving a device provided with an elastic strap which makes it easier the board grip to the user's feet without needing to fit his feet into fixed straps arranged on the board-shaped body surface.

Thus, the open literature does not outline or suggests a pliable strap arranged on the rear part of a board-shaped body with enough elasticity for the user to grab the strap at the height of his waist during the tricks, and such elastic strap is outlined and claimed in this request.

SUMMARY

Altogether, this invention is about a pliable strap applied on a board-shaped body which comprises a pliable material strap, fixed preferably between the intermediate and rear regions of the board- shaped body, and said pliable strap which has on its edges a coupler cut of an appropriate joint device connected to the devices previously fixed on the board-shaped body girder, and said pliable strap has, in its inner part, vulcanized metallic structures arranged along with the strap pliable material.

The characteristic of the utility model has a pliable strap equipped with elasticity enabling the user to hold it when needed.

The characteristic is a pliable strap arranged on the board surface rear region, in a way that the strap positioning does not cause discomfort when the user needs to sit or lie on the board or in any ordinary practical situation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order to best present the pliable strap characteristics, the object of this utility model, the following related figures are presented:

Figure 1 presents the pliable strap top view.

Figure 2 presents the pliable strap side view fixed on fixture devices arranged on the board. Figure 3 presents a cut view evidencing the internal structures arranged on the pliable strip.

Figure 4 presents the pliable strip fixed on a board surface.

Figure 5 presents the pliable strip fixed on a board surface, evidencing the positioning of said strip in use by the user.

Figure 6 presents a representation of the user using the pliable strap.

Figure 7 presents a representation of the pliable strip applied on the board surface and the user lying down on the surface of such board.

COMPREHENSIVE INVENTION DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of this invention, girder has the following meaning: a wooden fillet inserted lengthwise in the board block, splitting it into two parts and working as a block structure. The pliable strap (10) applied on the board-shaped body, the object of this utility model, comprises a strip made of pliable material (11), such as rubber, with elasticity and resistance characteristics enabling the said strip (11) to be totally outstretched and prodded to return to its original position when a counter-attraction force is released.

The pliable material strip (11) presents, on its edges, a cut (12) for the bolster of an appropriate joint device (13) which are connected to the devices (20) previously fixed on the board-shaped body girder (50) for universal use. The pliable strip connection region (11) to the devices (20) inserted in the board-shaped body girder (50) has, in its internal region, the arrangement of vulcanized metallic structures (14) along with the strip pliable material (11), in a way to increase safety during the pliable strip stretching (11).

As an option, the pliable strip (11) has, in its internal region, semi- pliable material (15) limiting the strip elasticity (11), enabling such strip (11 ) to return to its original shape.

The pliable strap (10) is fixed preferably between the intermediate and rear regions of the board-shaped body (50), and said pliable strap

(10) may be fixed by sticking it with resin from the joint devices (13) arranged on the edges of the pliable strips (11), bolting the joint devices (13) directly in the girder or by fixing it in devices (20) for universal use.

As an option, the pliable strip (10) has a lining region (not presented) in the grip region for more comfort of the user.

In tricks requiring the board (50) to be attached to the feet, the users holds the pliable strap (10) with his hands, and such pliable strip

(11) is stretched along his waist height and makes the movements during the trick easier. When the trick is completed, the user releases the pliable strap (10), which returns to is original position, without destabilizing the user. For example, the pliable strap (10) is about 30 cm long and may reach about 70 cm when prodded, adapting to the user's needs.

The pliable strap (10) may be removed from the board and reused in another piece of equipment upon release of the joint devices (13).

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. PLIABLE STRAP APPLIED ON A BOARD-SHAPED BODY characterized by a pliable material strip (11) fixed preferably between the intermediate and rear regions of the board-shaped body (50), and said pliable strap (10) has on its edges a coupler cut (12) of an appropriate joint device (13), which are all connected to the devices (20) previously fixed on the board- shaped body girder (50), and said pliable strip (11) has, in its internal part, vulcanized metallic structures (14) arranged along with the strap pliable material (11).

2. PLIABLE STRAP APPLIED ON THE BOARD-SHAPED BODY, according to claim 1 , characterized by the pliable material strip (11) having elasticity and resistance characteristics enabling the said strip (11) to be totally outstretched and prodded to return to its original position when a counter-attraction force is released.

3. PLIABLE STRAP APPLIED ON A BOARD-SHAPED BODY, according to claim 1 , characterized by the pliable strip (11) having, in its internal region, a semi-pliable (15) limiting the strip elasticity (11).

4. PLIABLE STRAP APPLIED ON A BOARD-SHAPED BODY, according to claim 1 , characterized by the pliable strip (10) having a region with lining (not presented) on the grip region.