Surfboard lock

The present invention 10 discloses a device used as a security locking device for surfboards 12. The present invention discloses a U-shaped member 14 having parallel leg members which effectively encircle the surfboard 12 with the leg members being slightly wider than the thickness of a surfboard and slightly longer than the width of a surfboard which operates by sliding a surfboard 12 into and between the parallel legs of the U-shaped member 14 and thereafter, placing a locking member 30 that connects the two parallel legs of the device about the surfboard 12. There is also a cable member 24 which can be used to then attach the locking member 30 to any object or structure which will thereby prevent movement of the surfboard 12 beyond the length of the cable 24. The locking mechanism 30 of the present invention 10 has two pivotal leg members 32 which when rotated to the operative position 40 form divergent leg members thereby serving as a security locking upstanding rack device for said surfboard 12 when using one or more of said devices 10 in conjunction with the cable member 32.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates generally to surfboard devices and, more 
specifically, to a security locking device comprising a u-shaped member 
and a locking member which slides over the open end of said u-shaped 
member and a cable member which can be attached to any object or structure 
preventing the movement of said surfboard beyond the length of said cable 
member and said locking member having two pivotal leg members which when 
rotated to the operative position form opposed divergent leg members being 
basically parallel to said u-shaped device, thereby serving as a security 
locking rack device for said surfboard when using one or more of said 
devices in conjunction with said cable member. 
Another embodiment is provided having a substantially oval shaped rod 
member having two closely spaced bar members extending transversely to a 
second substantially oval shaped rod member having a space between said 
bar members wherein the fin of a surfboard shall reside thereby preventing 
access and removal of the securement means for removable fin assemblies. 
Still another embodiment is provided having a substantially oval shaped rod 
member having a break in said oval wherein each end of said break forms a 
closely spaced eyelet thereby allowing said member to be inserted over the 
end of the surfboard passing the centrally located fin member and having a 
cable member which can be looped or threaded through or around any object 
or structure and having an eyelet on each distal end which will be passed 
over said oval eyelets and said oval eyelets will be secured by any means 
incorporating a padlock. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
There are other locking devices designed to prevent theft of surfboards. 
Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,680 issued to Wroble on Jan. 13, 
1998. 
Another patent was issued to Bolich on Dec. 10, 1996 as U.S. Pat. No. 
5,582,044. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,622 was issued to Nealy on Jul. 
2, 1996 and still yet another was issued on Jul. 1, 1997 to Craig as U.S. 
Pat. No. 5,643,028. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,680 
Inventor: Ronald G. Wroble 
Issued: Jan. 13, 1998 
Locking devices for surfboards, sailboards, and skateboards which clamp 
about tapered sides of surfboards and sailboards adjacent the fins. The 
devices clamp about skateboard sides between the two sets of wheels. One 
version has a hook ended rod that grips about a board side and another end 
that attaches by a padlock to a second rod which hooks about another board 
side. The first rod end has through holes that insert into a cylinder end 
of the second rod. The further one rod is inserted into the second 
cylindrical rod end, the closer the spacing between the hooks. A padlock 
in the through-holes connect the rods. Another version has a padlock in 
the second cylindrical rod where grooves on the first rod end are locked 
in place. Another version has a perpendicular extension bracket that wraps 
about one surfboard or sailboard fin. Another version uses a top flat 
plate that hingedly connects to a curved bottom plate. Opposite ends of 
the plates have matching through-holes for a padlock. Another version has 
side-by-side holes in both plates to accommodate different board widths. A 
cable connects the devices to a pole or bike rack. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,044 
Inventor: Gary Bolich 
Issued: Dec. 10, 1996 
A method of locking a surfboard to a roof rack crossbar using a series of 
adjustable mount block assemblies (10a-b) affixed to the rack crossbars 
(13) at a lateral position of contact with the sides of a surfboard 
(15a-b) placed horizontally on top of the crossbars. The mount block 
assemblies utilize a metal clamp (12) that is vertically adjusted to the 
thickness of the surfboard at the lateral position of contact. An internal 
axle (14) connects two side cams (10b) vertically adjacent to a center 
mount block (10a) with clamp (12) affixed within the side cams. Axle (14) 
allows for the clamp assemblies to open and close by means of rotation of 
the side cams relative to the position of the mount block. The mount block 
assemblies utilize a lock pin (16a-b) that inserts through an alignment of 
holes in the mount block assembly to a position of engagement with a cam 
lock assembly (22a-f). Utility of the cam lock serves to prevent or allow 
removal of the lock pin. This clamping method prevents movement of a 
surfboard on the crossbar and deters theft. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,622 
Inventor: Robert B. Nealy 
Issued: Jul. 2, 1996 
A quick disconnect leash for a surfboard or the like consists of a 
resilient cord affixed at one end to an object such as a surfboard and a 
securing strap attached to the opposite end for securing the leash to the 
ankle or waist of a user. The securing strap is closed by a quick release 
mechanism consisting of a fastener having opposed locking members for 
securing the ends of the strap and a quick release assembly for rapidly 
and conveniently releasing the fastener to free the ends of the strap. The 
quick release mechanism consists of a connector for acting on the fastener 
and a upstanding pull for actuating the connector. Preferably the fastener 
is of the side release type consisting of a housing and clip which is 
received in the housing to lock the two members together. The fastener is 
released by pulling the pull to cause the connector to unlock the clip 
from the housing. The pull should be of sufficient size to be readily 
grasped, even under emergency conditions. The ring is of sufficient 
stiffness to carry the pull in the generally upright position, while at 
the same time is sufficiently resilient so that the pull can be readily 
moved aside in the event of contact with another object so that the 
fastener is not accidentally released. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,028 
Inventor: James J. Craig 
Issued: Jul. 1, 1997 
A surfboard leash assembly includes an ankle band and an elongate flexible 
cord having a first end releasably attachable to the ankle band and an 
opposite second end attachable to a surfboard. A lock mechanism on the 
ankle band includes a foot actuated switch operable between a locked 
position to maintain the first end of the cord attached to the ankle band 
and at least one unlocked position to release the first end of the cord so 
that, when under tension, the cord disconnects from the ankle band. 
While these surfboard locking devices may be suitable for the purposes for 
which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes 
of the present invention, as hereinafter described. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention discloses a device used as a security locking device 
for surfboards. The present invention discloses a U-shaped member having 
parallel leg members which effectively encircle the surfboard with the leg 
members being slightly wider than the thickness of a surfboard and 
slightly longer than the width of a surfboard which operates by sliding a 
surfboard into and between the parallel legs of the U-shaped member and 
thereafter, placing a locking member that connects the two parallel legs 
of the device about the surfboard. There is also a cable member which can 
be used to then attach the locking member to any object or structure which 
will thereby prevent movement of the surfboard beyond the length of the 
cable. The locking mechanism of the present invention has two pivotal leg 
members which when rotated to the operative position form divergent leg 
members thereby serving as a security locking upstanding rack device for 
said surfboard when using one or more of said devices in conjunction with 
the cable member. An alternative embodiment is provided which is composed 
of two closely spaced bar members being a front and a rear bar member 
connected together by a two-piece U-shaped flat plate whereby the U-shaped 
flat plate slides around and over the fin of the surfboard and thereafter 
is connected together with a combination lock or other type of padlock. 
Another embodiment is provided having an effectively surfboard encircling 
rod member having a break therein wherein each end of said break forms a 
closely spaced eyelet thereby allowing said member to be inserted over the 
end of the surfboard passing by the centrally located fin member and is 
thereafter locked with a combination lock or other padlock. 
A primary object of the present invention is to provide an economical 
security device to deter the theft of surfboards. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a security device 
having one or more u-shaped members, transversal locking member(s) and a 
length of cable having eyelets on each distal end which will be slipped 
onto said u-shaped member after said cable has been looped or threaded 
through or around a preselected securement prior to inserting said locking 
member(s). 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a security device 
having rotatable leg members attached to the locking member which when 
extended to the operative position forms divergent leg members allowing 
said security device to act as a rack for said surfboard. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide an 
alternate embodiment that will slide onto a surfboard having transversal 
bar members to prevent the removal of fin securement means. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide still another 
embodiment of the present invention that can be slid onto the end of the 
board past the centrally located fin and secured by a padlock. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide all embodiments 
with a length of steel cable that can be looped or threaded through or 
around a predetermined securement and attached to said security devices. 
Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description 
proceeds. 
The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by 
providing a security device which can be attached to a surfboard and 
having a length of steel cable that can be looped through or around and 
attached to said security device and wherein said security device can be 
closed by any means incorporating a padlock. 
The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the 
description to follow. In the description reference is made to the 
accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by 
way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be 
practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to 
enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be 
understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural 
changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In 
the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or 
similar parts throughout the several views. 
The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a 
limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by 
the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference 
characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 
through 13 illustrate the present invention being a security device for 
surfboards. 
Turning to FIG. 1, therein is shown the preferred embodiment of the present 
invention 10 shown in use. Shown therein is a surfboard 12 having a 
U-shaped member 14 which effectively encircles the surfboard 12 placed 
between the widest 16 part of the surfboard and the narrower fin members 
18 at the rear end of the surfboard thereby securing said surfboard 12 to 
the rack 20 of a vehicle 22 using a length of steel cable 24. It should be 
understood that the rack 20 is made of two pieces and is secured by 
attachment means to the roof of the automobile 22. 
Turning to FIG. 1A, therein is shown the preferred embodiment of the 
present invention 10 attached to a thruster 26 surfboard. Therein is shown 
the ground 28 along with the U-shaped member 14, the cable 24, the legs 32 
stuck in the ground 28 and the fins 18 of the surfboard. Legs 32 are shown 
sticking in the ground 28 so as to hold the surfboard 26 up on its side in 
order to keep the surfboard clean and out of contact with the ground. 
Turning to FIG. 1B, therein is shown the preferred embodiment of the 
present invention 10 attached to a malibu 25 surfboard. Therein is shown 
the ground 28 along with the U-shaped member 14, the cable 24, the legs 32 
stuck in the ground 28 and the fin 18 of the surfboard. 
Turning to FIG. 1C, therein is shown the preferred embodiment of the 
present invention 10 attached to a typical beginners 27 surfboard. Therein 
is shown the ground 28 along with the U-shaped member 14, the cable 24, 
the legs 32 stuck in the ground 28 and the ends 18 of the surfboard. 
Therein is shown the use of a second U-shaped member 14 wherein the two 
U-shaped or dual members 14 are connected to each other by a second 
flexible cable 23 having an intermediate handle 21 for carrying the 
surfboard 27. Dual U-shaped members 14 may be used on other types of 
surfboards also. 
Turning to FIG. 2, therein is shown the present invention 10 taken from 
FIG. 1C as indicated, showing the U-shaped member 14 and locking member 30 
having leg members 32 rotated and extended to their operative position 
forming divergent leg members. Also shown therein is the surfboard 12 and 
the cable 24. The cable 24 is wrapped around the U-shaped member 14 and 
has means 29 for connecting back to itself. The leg members 32 have stops 
33 located on the leg ends so as to abut the locking means 30 and support 
the leg 32 in its operative positions so that the legs can be stuck into 
the ground. 
Turning to FIG. 2A, therein is shown the present invention 10, shown in 
operative connection about a surfboard 12. Shown are the dual U-shaped 
members 14, connected to each other by the cable 23, the cable 24, the fin 
18, the locking member 30 showing the key hole 31 along with the legs 32 
shown in a non-operative position attached thereto. For this non-operative 
position the legs 32 are rotated to lie parallel to the locking member 30. 
Turning to FIG. 3, therein is shown the present invention 10 taken from 
FIG. 1C as indicated, showing the U-shaped member 14 and locking member 30 
with key hole 31 and notches 34 having leg members 32 rotated and extended 
to their operative position forming divergent leg members. Also shown is 
the surfboard 12 along with the cable 24. 
Turning to FIG. 4, therein is shown the present invention 10 taken from 
FIG. 2 as indicated, showing the U-shaped member 14 encompassing the 
surfboard 12 and having the locking member 30 attached thereon with the 
rotatable leg members 32 extended to the operative position whereby said 
security device forms a standup rack for the enclosed surfboard. Also 
shown is the cable 24 and notches 34. 
Turning to FIG. 5, therein is shown the locking member 30 taken from FIG. 4 
as indicated, showing the U-shaped member 14 extending through said 
locking member 30 having rotatable leg members 32 extended to the 
operative position. Also shown is the surfboard 12. Also shown are notches 
34 cut into the U-shaped member 14 so as to allow an attaching surface for 
the locking member 30 to lock to. Also shown is a stop means 36 which 
forms a stop for the leg 32. The locking member 30 comprises a standard 
type of locking mechanism, similar to a common commercially available 
bicycle lock, which is made and operates in the standard manner. 
Turning to FIG. 6, therein is shown the locking member 30 showing in 
outline a non-operative position 38 of the rotatable leg members 32 and 
the operative position 40 of the rotatable leg members 32. 
Turning to FIG. 7, therein is shown an alternative embodiment of the 
present invention 10 in use. Shown is a surfboard 12 having the security 
device 10 in place preventing access to the fin removal assembly and 
having the cable 24 wrapped around a tree 42 so that the surfboard cannot 
be removed. Also shown is a combination lock 44 which locks the present 
invention 10 in place. 
Turning to FIG. 8, therein is shown the alternative embodiment of the 
present invention 10 shown in FIG. 7. Shown is a surfboard 12 having a 
security device 10 in place preventing access to the fin removal assembly 
(not shown). Shown are the fins 18 of the surfboard having two bar members 
being a front bar member 46 and a rear bar member 48 which effectively 
encircle the surfboard 12 which have a U-shaped plate 50 to connect it 
thereto which U-shaped plate slides around and encompasses the fin 18. The 
combination lock 44 is then placed into and about the lock eyes 52 of the 
bar 46 and thereby the security device 10 is secured to the surfboard. The 
U-shaped plate assembly 50 comprises two overlapping mating pieces 49 and 
51 which are welded or attached by other means 60, 62 to the bar members 
46 and 48. The pieces 49 and 51 have means for connection to each other, 
e.g., nuts and bolt 64. 
Turning to FIG. 9, therein is shown the alternative embodiment of the 
present invention 10 shown in FIG. 8. Shown is a surfboard 12 having a 
security device 10 preventing access to the fin removal assembly 66. A 
front bar 46 is shown connected to the rear bar 48 by a flat piece member 
54. T he member assembly 54 comprises two overlapping, mating pieces 68 
and 70 connected to the front bar 46 by a weld 72 and to the rear bar 48 
by a weld 74. 
Turning to FIG. 10, therein is shown an additional embodiment of the 
present invention 10 showing a single bar member 56 which effectively 
encircles the surfboard 12 inserted between the fins 18 and secured by 
means of a padlock 44. The eyes of the bar member are shown at 52. 
Turning to FIG. 11, therein is shown a cross-sectional view of the 
additional embodiment of the present invention 10 shown in FIG. 10, 
showing a single bar member 56 inserted between the fins 18 and secured by 
means of a padlock 44. The eyes of the bar member 52 are shown with the 
shackle 58 padlock passing through the eyes 52. Also shown is the 
surfboard 12. 
Turning to FIG. 12, therein is shown the additional embodiment of the 
present invention 10 shown in FIG. 10. Shown is the rod member 56 
installed between the fins 18 of the surfboard 12 and closed by means of a 
padlock 44 which passes through the eyes 52 of the rod member 56. 
Turning to FIG. 13, therein is shown the additional embodiment of the 
present invention 10 shown in FIG. 10, showing a single bar member 56 
inserted between the fins 18 and secured by means of a padlock 44. Also 
shown is the surfboard 12.