Abstract:
Accessory mounting systems for stand up paddle boards are disclosed. In one example, the accessory mounting system includes a mounting plug secured to a stand up paddleboard, a accessory plate secured to the mounting plug, and one or more accessories secured to the accessory plate. In other examples, the accessory plate is provided with an adhesive backing and can be mounted and secured to the stand up paddle board, thereby allowing the accessory mounting system to be used on boards not having mounting plugs and/or at locations where mounting plugs are not present. In yet another example, a mounting track is provided instead of a accessory plate such that one or more accessories, such as fishing rod holder, can be slidably mounted on the stand up paddle board.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/136,160, filed Mar. 20, 2015, and titled “Accessory Mounting System for a Stand Up Paddle Board,” and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/207,199, filed Aug. 19, 2015, and titled “Accessory Mounting System for a Stand Up Paddel Board,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Stand up paddle boarding has become a popular recreational and competitive activity recently. In some uses, it is desirable for a rider of a stand up paddle board to be able to store items while paddle boarding. For example, those who fish while on a stand up paddle board have a need to securely store fishing tackle, fishing rods, and other items while not being directly used by the rider. Although some accessory mounting systems have been developed for this purpose, many such systems are prone to failure. As such, improvements are desired. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Accessory mounting systems for stand up paddle boards are disclosed. In one example, the accessory mounting system includes a mounting plug secured to a stand up paddleboard, a accessory plate secured to the mounting plug, and one or more accessories secured to the accessory plate. In other examples, the accessory plate is provided with an adhesive backing and can be mounted and secured to the stand up paddle board, thereby allowing the accessory mounting system to be used on boards not having mounting plugs and/or at locations where mounting plugs are not present. In yet another example, a mounting track is provided instead of a accessory plate such that one or more accessories, such as fishing rod holder, can be slidably mounted on the stand up paddle board. 
         [0004]    A variety of additional aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. These aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a first embodiment of an accessory mounting system attached to a stand up paddle board, the accessory mounting system including a mounting plug, a accessory plate, and an accessory. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a schematic top view of the accessory plate of the accessory mounting system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a perspective photographic view of the accessory plate shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a perspective photographic view of the accessory plate shown in  FIG. 1  with an accessory mounted to the accessory plate. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a perspective photographic view of the accessory plate shown in  FIG. 1  having an accessory mounted to the accessory plate and including a fastener for attaching the accessory plate to the stand up paddle board. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a top perspective photographic view of the mounting plug of the accessory mounting system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a bottom perspective photographic view of the mounting plug of the accessory mounting system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a side perspective photographic view of the mounting plug of the accessory mounting system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the mounting plug of the accessory mounting system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a second embodiment of an accessory mounting system attached to a stand up paddle board, the accessory mounting system including a accessory plate and an accessory. 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a schematic bottom view of the accessory plate shown in  FIG. 10 , with an adhesive covering shown as being partially removed. 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a third embodiment of an accessory mounting system attached to a stand up paddle board, the accessory mounting system including a accessory plate and an accessory. 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a fourth embodiment of an accessory mounting system attached to a stand up paddle board, the accessory mounting system including a pair of mounting plugs, a mounting track, and an accessory. 
           [0018]      FIG. 14  is a photographic perspective view of the accessory mounting system shown in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 15  is photographic top view of the stand up paddle board shown in  FIG. 1  with mounting plugs mounted therein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the appended claims. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an accessory mounting system  100  for a stand up paddle (SUP) board  200  having a top surface  202  is shown. The SUP board may be a solid board (e.g. foam core with fiberglass/carbon epoxy outer skin), a hollow rigid board (e.g. a carbon fiber and epoxy board), or an inflatable board. One example of a SUP board  200  is shown at  FIG. 15 . The accessory mounting system  100  includes, and is for supporting, a variety of different accessories  102 . Non-limiting examples of accessories  102  are battery powered lights, d-rings, cinch straps, screws, knobs, cup holders, phone holders, camera mounting bases, mounts (e.g. RAM MOUNTS®), fishing rod holders, and other equipment. In the particular example shown at  FIG. 1 , a knob-type or RAM MOUNT® accessory  102  is shown to which additional accessory attachments may be made. In one aspect, the accessory  102  may be provided with a threaded projection  102   a  such that it can be threaded into a corresponding threaded aperture of a accessory plate  120 , discussed later. 
         [0022]    The accessory mounting system  100  also includes a mounting plug  104  which can be permanently secured to the SUP board, as shown at  FIGS. 1 and 15 . The mounting plug  104  forms a secure base for the accessory mounting system  100 . As most easily viewed at  FIGS. 6 to 9 , the mounting plug  104  can include a main body  106  within which a threaded insert  108  is provided. In one example, the main body  106  is formed from a polymeric material, such as a plastic, and the threaded insert  108  is formed from stainless steel, wherein the main body  106  is molded onto the threaded insert  108 . In one example, the main body  106  is generally hollow, as can be seen at  FIG. 7 . The main body  106  can be provided with ribs, barbs, or other structures  110  to enhance the connection to the SUP board  200 . As shown, circumferntially directed ribs  110  are provided that are seprated by axially extending channels to result in four spaced rib segments for each rib  110 . The main body  106  may also be provided with a flange or tabs  112  at one end to support the plug  104  within the SUP board  200  and to act as a stop to prevent further insertion into the SUP board  200 . In one example, the SUP board is a solid structure having a bore  204  within which the plug  104  can be inserted. In such a case, the plug  104  can be secured to the board either mechanically or with an adhesive  206 , such as an epoxy. Where an adhesive  206  is used, as shown in the example at  FIG. 1 , the structures  110  help to secure the plug  104  within the adhesive  206  and thus to the SUP board  200 . In one example, the bore  204  is countersunk to support the flange or tabs  112  and to ensure that the top surface  104   a  of the plug  104  is generally aligned with the top surface  202  of the SUP board  200 . 
         [0023]    As mentioned previously, the accessory mounting system  100  can also include a accessory plate  120 , which is shown in further detail at  FIGS. 2 to 5 . The accessory plate  120  is configured as a relatively thick disk (e.g. thickness of between about ¼ of an inch and ½ of an inch and prefereably about ⅜ of an inch) formed from a rigid material (e.g. aluminum, steel, stainless steel, polymeric material, etc.). In one aspect, the accessory plate  120  operates to distribute loads from the accessory  102  onto the SUP board  200  top surface such that the plug  104  experiences significantly less torqueing forces, as compared to a configuration in which an accessory  102  is directly mounted to the mounting plug  104 . In one aspect, the accessory plate  120  includes a central mounting aperture  122  through which a fastener  114  can be used to mount the accessory plate  120  to the mounting plug  104  via the threaded insert  108 . In one example, the aperture  122  is provided with a countersink to accept a correspondingly shaped screw such that the top portion of the plate  120  is flush. In one embodiment, the aperture  122  has a larger internal diameter than that of the fastener  114  such that the accessory plate  120  can freely or nearly freely rotate about the fastener  114 . The accessory plate  120  is also shown as being provided with multiple threaded apertures  124  for receiving the threaded projection  102   a  of an accessory  102 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , accessory plate  120  is shown as being provided with four such apertures  124   a,    124   b,    124   c,    124   d.  The apertures can be provided with differently sized and/or thread configurations such that the same plate can be used with different type of accessory threads. For example, apertures  124   a  and  124   b  could be provided with a ¼ inch major diameter and  20  threads per inch (i.e. ¼-20) while apertures  124   c  and  124   d  could be provided with a 5/16 inch major diameter and  20  threads per inch (i.e.  5 / 16 - 20 ). Many other configurations are possible. For example, some or all of the apertures could be provided with metric threads while some or all of the other threads could be provided with standard threads. Also, the threaded insert  108  can be provided with a diameter that matches the projection  102   a  of one or more accessories  120  so that the accessories can be directly attached to the mounting plug  104  without the use of the mounting plate. In one embodiment, an accessory  102  having fastener  114  (i.e. projection  102   a  is same size as insert diameter  108 ) is used to secure the mounting plate  120  to the mounting plug  104 . 
         [0024]    As presented, the threaded apertures  124  are located at a distance D 1  from the central aperture  122 . As such, any force exerted on the accessory plate  120  by the accessory  102  is transferred to the opposite side of the accessory plate  120  such that the torque at the mounting plug  104  and fastener  114  is greatly minimized. Furthermore, the ability of the accessory plate  120  to rotate about the fastener  114  further allows the accessory plate to avoid or greatly reduce accepting oblique torque loads. In such instances, the accessory plate  120  will simply rotate when an oblique force is applied through the accessory  102 . This configuration is greatly advantageous over systems in which an accessory mounts directly to a plug as all torque, including torque produced from oblique forces, is directly absorbed by the plug which can cause the plug to break out of the board. In one example, the accessory plate  120  has a diameter between about 2 inches and 6 inches, and preferably between about 2 inches and 4 inches, and preferably a diameter that is about 3 inches. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a second embodiment of the accessory mounting system  100  is shown. The second embodiment is generally similar to the first embodiment, but does not utilize a mounting plug  104 . Rather, the bottom side  120   a  of the accessory plate  120  is coated with an adhesive  126  which can be used to adhere the accessory plate  120  to the SUP board  200 . In such an application, the accessory plate  120  can be made of a metal material, as suggested previously, or can be formed from a more flexible polymeric material for better conformity to the SUP board  200 . Where a polymeric material is used, the material can be directly threaded for apertures  124  or can be provided with threaded inserts for the apertures  124 . Referring to  FIG. 11 , it can be seen that a backing sheet  128  (partially peeled back) can be provided to protect the adhesive  126  from exposure until the accessory plate  120  is ready for mounting. This construction results in a “peel-and-stick” functionality and allows the accessory mounting system  100  to be used on any part of a SUP board  200 , including the bottom side of the SUP board  200 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , a third embodiment of the accessory mounting system  100  is shown. This embodiment is generally the same as the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , but with a different combination of alternative features. In this example, a single mounting aperture  124  is provided in the center of the accessory plate  120 , which is formed from a polymeric material. As shown, the mounting aperture  124  is provided with a threaded insert (i.e. a backing nut) for receiving the threaded projection  102   a  of the accessory  102 . This particular application is well suited to an inflatable SUP board  200 , as the polymeric material of the accessory plate  120  can be easily bonded to the outer skin of the board and can readily accommodate repeated cycles of inflation and deflation. In this example, the accessory plate  120  can have a diameter between about 1 inches and 4 inches, and preferably between about 1 inches and 3 inches, and preferably a diameter that is about 2 inches. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a further embodiment of the accessory mounting system  300  is shown. Similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , this embodiment utilizes mounting plugs  104  for securing the system  300  to the SUP board  200 . However, instead of including a accessory plate  120 , a slotted channel assembly  302  is provided to allow accessories to be able to be movably mounted onto the system  300 . As shown, the slotted channel assembly  302  includes a base plate  304  to which a channel structure  306  is mounted via fasteners  308 . Attachment can be accomplished by other means as well, such as with adhesives or welding. Alternatively, channel structure  306  and base plate  304  can be provided as an integrally formed single piece. In this embodiment, the threaded projection  102   a  threads into a slide block  310  which can slide within the channel  306   a  of the channel structure  306 . The accessory  102  can be locked in place by rotating and thus tightening the accessory  102  to the channel structure  306 . In one aspect, the base plate  304  is provided with slots  304   a  to allow the plate  304  to be connected to differently spaced mounting plugs  104 . Fasteners  310 , which may be provided as bolts or as knobs that can be manually adjusted, can be provided to secure the mounting plate  304  to the mounting plugs  104 . 
         [0028]    The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the claims attached hereto. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the following claims.