Surfboard locking device

A portable locking device for surfboards equipped with adjustable surfboard fin holders. A U shaped padlock eye attaches to the base of the surfboard fin by means of the retaining screw which retains the surfboard fin in the fin holder. A locking bracket is placed over and locked to the padlock eye with a padlock together with the ends of a flexible member which connects the surfboard to a fixed object. When locked in place, the locking bracket prevents the unauthorized removal of the padlock eye from the surfboard by preventing access to the surfboard fin retaining screw and by preventing the rotation of the padlock eye and surfboard fin retaining screw.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The instant invention relates generally to locking devices and more 
particularly to a surfboard locking device which may be used to lock 
surfboards equipped with adjustable surfboard fin holders to a fixed 
object. 
The primary problem in locking a surfboard to a fixed object is that the 
shape and structure of surfboards do not provide an obvious but convenient 
and secure point of attachment for a locking means and a cable or chain. 
The various approaches which have been used in the past to lock surfboards 
deflect different attempts to solve or work around this problem, but none 
are without disadvantages. 
For example, some surfers have locked surfboads with cables or chains 
passed through holes specially drilled through the surfboard. The 
disadvantage of this method is that the necessary hole disturbs the 
physical integrity and aesthetics of the surfboard and its performance 
while in use. 
Other surfers have locked their surfboards with thin flexible steel cables 
passed under the pin of the surboard leash cup installed on many 
surfboards to provide a point of attachment for the surfboard leg rope or 
"leash" which connect the surfer to his surfboard. However, many 
surfboards cannot be locked in this fashion because they are not equipped 
with leash cups. Also, this method is inconvenient in use because the 
leash must usually be unattached from the leash cup pin before the cable 
may be passed under and around the pin. Finally, this method is subject to 
relatively easy tampering because leash cups are so small that the cable 
used must be very thin in order to pass under the leash cup pin and can 
thus be readily cut with handtools, and because leash cups themselves can 
be forceably removed from a surfboard without causing serious harm to the 
surfboard or its usefulness. 
A third method for locking surfboards employs flexible steel cables which 
harness the surfboard at its front and rear ends. This method, however, is 
inconvenient and involves the use of a large amount of materials, in that 
cumbersome cables are required to be adjustably fastened near the front 
and rear ends of the surfboad, then to each other, and finally to a 
locking cable or chain. Also, in order to tightly encircle and harness the 
surfboard near its front and rear ends, it is necessary to use a thin 
cable subject to relatively easy cutting. 
A fourth method previously employed by surfers involves the use of chains 
permanently attached to the roof of a vehicle to harness and lock a 
surfboard to the vehicle. The use of this method, however, is limited to 
the locking of surfboards to the tops of vehicles or to similar structures 
and requires the permanent fastening of chains thereto. 
The end result of the disadvantages of the above-mentioned surfboard 
locking methods is that very few surfers presently utilize any method 
whatsoever to lock their surfboards to other objects. Instead, surfers 
either stay with their surfboards at all times while away from home, leave 
them inside locked vehicles or in the care of someone else, or leave then 
unattended with the risk of loss or unauthorized use. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide an improved 
surfboard lock which can be used to lock most surfboards without requiring 
any permanent physical alterations to be made thereto. Another object of 
the invention is to provide a surfboard lock which is convenient in use, 
simple and inexpensive to manufacture. A further object of the invention 
is to provide a surfboard lock which is relatively secure against 
tampering. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a surfboard 
lock which permits most surfboards to be locked to any other object 
through or around which a cable or chain may be passed, and not just to an 
object specially adapted to harness and lock a surfboard. 
These and other objects and advantages are achieved according to the 
present invention by providing, in its preferred embodiment, a surfboard 
lock utilizing as the point of attachment for a locking cable or chain a 
special padlock eye attached to the surfboard at the base of the surfboard 
fin by the same screw which retains the surfboard fin in the adjustable 
surfboard fin holder used in the construction of most new surfboards. An 
auxiliary locking means, typically a padlock, is used to lock a locking 
bracket and a cable or chain to the padlock eye and thus to the surfboard. 
The locking bracket is of such structure and shape that a would-be thief 
cannot then access or unscrew the surfboard fin retaining screw in order 
to remove the padlock eye. No permanent alterations to the surfboard need 
to be made in order to utilize the device because the padlock eye may be 
easily and quickly attached to and removed from a surfboard already 
equipped by the manufacturer with a standard adjustable surfboard fin 
holder. The device is relatively secure against tampering because a thick 
guage flexible steel cable or chain may be used to connect the surfboard 
to another object and because the adjustable surfboard fin holder to which 
the device is anchored is firmly fiberglassed by the surfboard 
manufacturer into the surfboard and cannot be removed easily or without 
causing serious damage to the surfboard and its usefulness. Using the 
device, a surfer can lock his surfboard to anything around or through 
which the end of a cable or chain could be passed, such as surfboard racks 
on a car, the post of a pier or other fixed structure, a fence railing, a 
bicycle rack, etc., and which would form an immoveable or bulky and 
ackward package for a would-be thief, and not merely to another object 
specially adapted to lock a surfboard. Further, a surfer can use the 
locking cable or chain to lock other items, such as neoprene wet suits, 
articles of clothing, backpacks and even bicycles, at the same time as he 
locks his surfboard by simply passing one of the cable or chain ends 
through holes in these items prior to locking it to the surfboard. 
Finally, when a surfer is using his surfboard, he can use the padlock and 
cable or chain to lock the device itself to another object, along with 
other items as mentioned immediately above. 
Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a 
consideration of the drawings and ensuring description thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
Referring to FIG. 1, a typical modern surfboard 10 is shown secured to a 
fixed structure 11 by means of the instant invention, comprising an 
elongated flexible member 12 (typically a flexible steel cable or chain) 
having a loop or hole at each end thereof, a padlock 13, a locking bracket 
36, and an attachment means concealed by locking bracket 36. 
Referring to FIG. 2, the underside of the rear of surfboard 10 is shown 
together with, in exploded form, the parts of the instant invention. 
Surfboard 10 is equipped with a surfboard fin 16 and an adjustable 
surfboard fin holder 15 of the type used in the construction of most new 
surfboards (hereinafter referred to as "fin holder 15"). Fin holder 15 is 
typically fiberglassed by the surfboard manufacturer into a recess in the 
underside of surfboard 10. In order to retain surfboard fin 16 in fin 
holder 15, a fin retaining screw 18 passes through a hole 17 extending 
vertically through the base of surfboard fin 16 and threadably engages a 
retaining plate 19 carried in longitudinal grooves provided in the 
interior sidewalls of fin holder 15. Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 
3,564,632 for a more complete discussion of this type of fin holder. 
In order to achieve the objects of the instant invention, in the preferred 
embodiment a padlock eye 20 is attachable to surfboard 10 at the base of 
surfboard fin 16 by fin retaining screw 18. When so attached, padlock eye 
20 is anchored by fin retaining screw 18 to retaining plate 19 carried by 
fin holder 15, and thus provides a structure on surfboard 10 to which 
elongated flexible member 12 may be lockably attached by padlock 13. 
Padlock eye 20 has padlock shackle holes 23 and 24 extending through its 
vertical side arms 21 and 22 and a fin retaining screw hole 25 extending 
through its base portion. Padlock shackle holes 23 and 24 are aligned with 
each other along an axis generally parallel to the base portion of padlock 
eye 20. Padlock eye 20 may be provided with only one vertical arm and 
padlock shackle hole in order to decrease weight and manufacturing 
expense, but the greater strength and resistance to tampering afforded by 
the design illustrated outweighs the benefits of such alternative design. 
Padlock eye 20 can be inexpensively stamped from a strong, corrosion 
resistant metal such as stainless steel. 
Referring for the moment to FIGS. 3 and 4, it can be seen that the function 
of padlock eye 20 can be performed by other alternative attachment means. 
In FIG. 3 is shown an eyebolt attachment means 26 incorporating a threaded 
lower portion 27 for threadably engaging retaining plate 19 and an 
enlarged head portion 28 having a padlock shackle hole 29 extending 
therethrough along an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal 
axis of threaded lower portion 27. Eyebolt attachment means 26 simply 
replaces fin retaining screw 18, thereby serving both to retain surfboard 
fin 16 in fin holder 15 and to provide a structure on surfboard 10 to 
which elongated flexible member 12 may be lockably attached by padlock 13. 
Similar eyebolt type fin retaining screws are currently used by some 
surfers to provide a convenient point of attachment for a surfboard leg 
rope or leash. However, the diameter of the hole extending through the 
enlarged head of such eyebolt type fin retaining screw is not large enough 
to permit the passage of the shackles of most padlocks if the leg rope 
remains attached thereto. Therefore, in order to permit a surfer to lock 
his surfboard without having to remove the surfboard leg rope first, 
eyebolt attachment means 26 may be provided with a padlock shackle hole 29 
of sufficient diameter to permit the passage therethrough of the shackle 
of padlock 13 even though the surfboard leg rope remains attached to 
eyebolt attachment means 26. Although more convenient in use than padlock 
eye 20, eyebolt attachment means 26 would be more expensive to manufacture 
from a strong, corrosion resistant metal such as stainless steel. 
In FIG. 4 is shown another alternative attachment means comprising a 
modified padlock eye attachment means 30 having an L shaped tab 31 
extending from one end of the base portion thereof. When modified padlock 
eye attachment means 30 is attached to surfboard 10, L shaped tab 31 
extends down into the elongated channel defined by the interior sidewalls 
of fin holder 15 and under the base of surfboard fin 16 and retaining 
plate 19. Like padlock eye 20, modified padlock eye attachment means 30 
has padlock shackle holes 33 and 34 extending through its vertical side 
arms and a fin retaining screw hole 32 extending through its base portion. 
Padlock shackle holes 33 and 34 are also aligned with each other along an 
axis generally parallel to the base portion of modified padlock eye 
attachment means 30. L shaped tab 31, however, has a second fin retaining 
screw hole 35 extending through the base portion of L shaped tab 31 in 
such location that, when modified padlock eye attachment means 30 is 
attached at the base of surfboard fin 16 with fin retaining screw 18, fin 
retaining screw 18 passes through second fin retaining screw hole 35 after 
threadably engaging retaining plate 19. Second fin retaining screw hole 35 
may also be threaded for interengaging fin retaining screw 18, if desired. 
Modified padlock eye attachment means 30 may also be provided with a means 
for attaching a surfboard leg rope by simply extending a hole through or 
attaching an eyebolt, ring or similar structure to the vertical arm of L 
shaped tab 31. Modified padlock eye attachment means 30 provides a 
stronger point of attachment on surfboard 10 than the other attachment 
means discussed, but it is not as easy or convenient to attach to 
surfboard 10 as the others and is more expensive to manufacture than 
padlock eye 20. 
Referring again to FIG. 2, a locking bracket 36 is shown, having a 
surfboard fin slot 37 defined longitudinally along one portion thereof by 
spaced apart side walls 38 and 39. Locking bracket 36 also has padlock 
shackle holes 40 and 41 extending through side walls 38 and 39 at 
locations under top portion 42 of locking bracket 36. Padlock shackle 
holes 40 and 41 are aligned with each other along an axis generally 
parallel to top portion 42. Like padlock eye 20, locking bracket 36 can be 
inexpensively stamped from a strong, corrosion resistant metal such as 
stainless steel. 
The function of locking bracket 36 is to prevent the unauthorized removal 
of padlock eye 20 (or an alternative attachment means) from surfboard 10 
when locking bracket 36 is lockably attached thereto by padlock 13. First, 
access to fin retaining screw 18 which anchors padlock eye 20 (or modified 
padlock eye attachment means 30) to surfboard 10 is prevented by side 
walls 38 and 39 and top portion 42. Second, rotation of locking bracket 36 
and padlock eye 20 (or eyebolt attachment means 26) relative to surfboard 
10 is blocked by surfboard fin 16 where it extends within surfboard fin 
slot 37. Such rotational movement might otherwise be used by a would-be 
thief to unscrew and removed eyebolt attachment means 26 or padlock eye 
20. The said blocking action of surfboard fin 16 is sufficient to prevent 
such rotational movement. However, a tab 43 may also be attached to 
locking bracket 36 to provide added security. When locking bracket 36 is 
locked to padlock eye 20 or to one of the alternative attachment means, 
tab 43 extends down into the elongated channel defined by the interior 
sidewalls of fin holder 15, thereby further inhibiting the application of 
rotational force intended by a would-be thief to break or shear padlock 
eye 20 (or one of the alternative attachment means) or fin retaining screw 
18. Tab 43, typically welded to the underside of top portion 42, may also 
be attached to side walls 38 and 39 to provide additional strength to 
locking bracket 36. 
Although not essential to the successful operation of locking bracket 36, 
side plates 44 and 45 are useful to provide added strength to side walls 
38 and 39 and to protect the fiberglass surface of the underside of 
surfboard 10 against marring and denting which could otherwise be caused 
by padlock 13 and the ends of elongated flexible member 12 during the 
locking and unlocking process. Typically, also, side plates 44 and 45 are 
covered with a resilient plastic material 46 to protect the fiberglass 
surface of the underside of surfboard 10 against scratching. 
Padlock shackle holes 40 and 41 of locking bracket 36 and padlock shackle 
holes 23 and 24 of padlock eye 20 (and the padlock shackle holes of the 
alternative attachment means discussed) typically have a diameter 
substantially larger than that of the shackle of padlock 13 so that the U 
shaped portion of the shackle of padlock 13 can freely pass through the 
said padlock shackle holes. Otherwise, the device is less secure against 
tampering inasmuch as a would-be thief could use the shackle of padlock 13 
to apply considerable force and leverage against padlock eye 20 (or one of 
the alternative attachment means), fin retaining screw 18, the base of 
surfboard fin 16, retaining plate 19, and fin holder 15 in an effort to 
break padlock eye 20 (or one of the alternative attachment means) or fin 
holder 15 free from surfboard 10. 
Padlock shackle holes 40 and 41 of locking bracket 36 are typically 
positioned so that the distance between their centers and the bottom 
surfaces of side walls 38 and 39 is equal to the distance between the 
center of padlock shackle holes 23 and 24 and the bottom surface of 
padlock eye 20. Said postioning assures that padlock shackle holes 40 and 
41 of locking bracket 36 are vertically alignable with padlock shackle 
holes 23 and 24 of padlock eye 20 when padlock eye 20 is in the closest 
expectable vertical position relative to the underside of surfboard 10. 
For conventional surfboards utilizing standard fin holders and surfboard 
fins, the closest expectable vertical position of padlock eye 20 relative 
to the underside of surfboard 10 is one in which the bottom surface of 
padlock eye 20 will be flush with the underside of surfboard 10. The 
actual distance between the bottom surface of padlock eye 20 and the 
underside of surfboard 10 will usually be greater than zero, however, 
because fin holders are generally not recessed to the greatest possible 
depth into the underside of a surfboard. 
In order to lock surfboard 10 to fixed object 11 with the instant invention 
as illustrated in FIG. 1, it is necessary first to attach one of the 
attachment means to surfboard 10 at the base of surfboard fin 16. Padlock 
eye 20 and modified padlock eye attachment means 30 are attached with fin 
retaining screw 18, and eyebolt attachment means 26 is attached by 
inserting threaded lower portion 27 into hole 17 of surfboard fin 16 until 
it reaches retaining plate 19, at which point it may be screwed into 
retaining plate 19. Whichever attachment means employed is installed in 
such manner that the axis of its padlock shackle hole or holes is roughly 
perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of surfboard 10. Then, 
locking bracket 36 is placed over the attachment means and the underside 
of surfboard 10 in such a position that: (1) padlock shackle holes 40 and 
41 of locking bracket 36 are aligned with the padlock shackle hole or 
holes of the attachment means, (2) surfboard fin 16 extends within 
surfboard fin slot 37, and (3) tab 43 extends into the elongated channel 
defined by the interior sidewalls of fin holder 15. Next, the shackle of 
unlocked padlock 13 is passed through the aligned padlock shackle holes of 
locking bracket 36 and the attachment means. Next, one end of elongated 
flexible member 12 is passed around fixed structure 11, through the loop 
or hole in the other end of elongated flexible member 12, and back to the 
rear of surfboard 10 where it is attached to locking bracket 36 and the 
attachment means by the shackle of unlocked padlock 13. Finally, padlock 
13 is locked and surfboard 10 is thereby secured to fixed structure 11, as 
shown in FIG. 1. (Alternatively, of course, both ends of elongated 
flexible member 12 may be attached by padlock 13 to locking bracket 36 and 
the attachment means should it be impossible to pass one end of elongated 
flexible member 12 through the loop or hole in the other end of elongated 
flexible member 12). 
To unlock surfboard 10, padlock 13 is first unlocked and its shackle 
withdrawn from the end or ends of elongated flexible member 12 and from 
the padlock shackle holes of locking bracket 36 and the attachment means. 
Then, locking bracket 36 may be removed. It is not necessary or 
particularly advantageous to remove the attachment means from surfboard 10 
because the attachment means is typically made of a corrosion resistant 
metal which will resist harm caused by periodic exposure to salt water and 
also because it is not of sufficient size or weight to cause a significant 
adverse difference in the handling characteristics of surfboard 10. 
The subject extensive disclosure will suggest or render apparent to those 
skilled in the art various modifications and variations within the spirit 
and scope of the subject invention. For example, the function of locking 
bracket 36 to prevent removal of the attachment means when locked thereto 
could be performed by a variety of structures. First, locking bracket 36 
need not be provided with surfboard fin slot 37 as long as tab 43 is 
provided to the rear of padlock shackle holes 40 and 41, or as long as 
locking bracket 36 extends far enough to the rear of padlock shackle holes 
40 and 41 to abut against surfboard fin 16 is rotated relative to 
surfboard 10 when locked to the attachment means. 
As a second example, a very simple means to perform the same function as 
locking bracket 36 when the attachment means is secured to surfboard 10 
with fin retaining screw 18 comprises a Y shaped member having a front 
portion defining a surfboard fin slot and a rear portion which is more 
narrow than the front portion and which is dimensioned so that it can be 
positioned in between the vertical arms of the attachment means. Operation 
consists of of placing the Y shaped member on surfboard 10 so that 
surfboard fin 16 exends into the surfboard fin slot and the rear portion 
extends immediately above and to the rear of fin retaining screw 18. When 
padlock 13 is locked to the attachment means, the Y shaped member cannot 
be removed from its position blocking rotation of the attachment means and 
preventing access to fin retaining screw 18, thus providing a lockable 
means to provide the removal of the attachment means. 
An another example, an H shaped member defining a surfboard fin slot in the 
front portion thereof and an eyebolt attachment means slot in the rear can 
ber provided as a lockable means to prevent the unauthorized removal of 
eyebolt attachment means 26. In this variation the upper portion of 
eyebolt attachment means 26 is provided with generally parallel flat sides 
immediately below its padlock shackle hole 29, and the width of the 
eyebolt attachment means slot is equal to or slightly greater than the 
distance between the two flat sides of eyebolt attachment means 26. When 
the H shaped member is placed on surfboard 10 so that surfboard fin 16 
extends into its surfboad fin slot and eyebolt attachment means 26 extends 
into its eyebolt attachment means slot, the H shaped member blocks the 
rotation of eyebolt attachment means 26 relative to surfboard 10 
preventing its removal. When padlock 13 is locked to eyebolt attachment 
means 26, the H shaped member cannot be removed from such position. 
As further variations, the H shaped member and Y shaped member may be 
provided with side plates 44 and 45 and/or with a tab for extending into 
the elongated channel defined by the interior sidewalls of fin holder 15. 
Also, in order that locking bracket 36 may further inhibit access to fin 
retaining screw 18, a second tab may be provided extending generally 
vertically from top portion 42 to the bottoms of side walls 38 and 39 in a 
location immediately to the rear of surfboard fin slot 37. 
Thus it can be seen that the function of locking bracket 36 can be 
performed by any structure which is lockable to surfboard 10 in such a 
position that it will prevent access to fin retaining screw 18, if the 
attachment means is secured to surfboard 10 by fin retaining screw 18, and 
will cooperate with the structure of surfboard 10 to prevent the rotation 
of the attachment means relative to surfboard 10. Accordingly, the scope 
of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, 
but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.