Abstract:
An attachment system for affixing a number of accessories to an aquatic board. The attachment system includes an attachment bar having a length to extend laterally across a portion of the standup paddleboard. The attachment system further includes a first board clamp attached to the attachment bar at a first end of the attachment bar, and a second board clamp attached to the attachment bar at a second end of the attachment bar. The first board clamp and the second board clamp each have an internal surface to complement and engage with a respective location of the standup paddleboard to attach the accessory attachment system to the portion of the standup paddleboard.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/203,210, filed on Aug. 10, 2015 and titled “ACCESSORY ATTACHMENT SYSTEM FOR BOARD,” the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to an accessory attachment system for surfboard-type apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Water-based activities have increased in popularity over the years. Active people in particular are spending a lot of time using non-motorized floating boards, such as surfboard, standup paddle boards, and the like, to spend time on the water. When surfers and paddle boarders spend time out on the water there is the possibility that they become uncomfortable and dehydrated. Surfers and paddle boarders like to be unencumbered and therefore rarely take a bag with supplies, such as sunscreen, water, flotation aids, etc., out on the water with them. Not having some of these supplies can cause a surfer or paddle boarders to spend less time than desired out on the water, or cause the surfer or paddle boarder to forgo, for example, hydrating or applying sunscreen. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    One aspect of the disclosure relates to a system for attaching accessories to an aquatic board, such as a surfboard or a standup paddleboard. The system can include an attachment bar extending laterally across a standup paddleboard. The attachment bar can be configured to receive one or more accessories for an operator of the standup paddleboard. The system can include a first board clamp operably attached to the attachment bar at a first end of the attachment bar. The first board clamp can be configured to engage with a first side of the standup paddleboard. A second board clamp can be operably attached to the attachment bar at a second end of the attachment bar. The board second clamp can be configured to engage with a second side of the standup paddleboard. 
         [0005]    The first board clamp and the second board clamp can operably engage with the first side and the second side of the standup paddleboard to secure the attachment bar in place. 
         [0006]    An accessory connector can be engaged with the attachment bar. The accessory connector can be configured to facilitate connection of at least one accessory to the attachment bar. Rails can extend along at least one side of the attachment bar to facilitate slideable engagement of the accessory connector with the attachment bar. 
         [0007]    A first board clamp attachment lever can be provided. The board clamp attachment lever can be configured to operably engage with the first board clamp to secure the first board clamp in position. A second board clamp attachment lever can be configured to operably engage with the second board clamp to secure the second board clamp in position. 
         [0008]    A first board clamp attachment device can be configured to attach the first board clamp to the attachment bar and provide multiple degrees of freedom to the movement of the first board clamp when the first board clamp is in a non-secured state. A second board clamp attachment device can be configured to attach the second board clamp to the attachment bar and provide multiple degrees of freedom to the movement of the second board clamp when the second board clamp is in a non-secured state. The first board clamp attachment device can be configured to secure the first board clamp in place when the first board clamp is in a secured state. The second board clamp attachment device can be configured to secure the second board clamp in place when the second board clamp is in a secured state. 
         [0009]    The accessory attached to the accessory attachment bar can include a handle, rudder, electronic product mount, fishing rod holder, beverage holder, illumination device, sail, flotation device, seat, and/or other accessories. 
         [0010]    These and other features, and characteristics of the present technology, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of an attachment system installed on a standup paddle board, the attachment system having one or more elements consistent with the current subject matter; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of an attachment system for an aquatic board with an attachment, having one or more elements consistent with the current subject matter; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an attachment system for an aquatic board having one or more elements consistent with the current subject matter; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a front view of an attachment system for an aquatic board having one or more elements consistent with the current subject matter; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a top view of an attachment system for an aquatic board having one or more elements consistent with the current subject matter; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of an attachment system for an aquatic board having one or more elements consistent with the current subject matter; and, 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is an illustration of an attachment system installed on a standup paddle board, the attachment system having one or more elements consistent with the current subject matter. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    The present disclosure relates to an attachment system for attaching one or more accessories to an aquatic board. In some variations, the attachment system can be an accessory bar disposed laterally across an aquatic board, such as a standup paddleboard. The accessory bar can serve as a base or hub for attaching numerous accessories utilized by the rider or a passenger of the standup paddleboard. The accessory bar can be configured to support multiple accessories, and the accessories can be interchangeable. Examples of uses for attachments can include, but are not limited to, supporting a rider or passenger, facilitating stability of the paddle board, storing items for use by the rider or passenger, facilitating directional control of the paddleboard, attaching items used by a rider or passenger, facilitating mobility of the paddleboard out of the water, visual devices, and/or other uses. 
         [0019]    The accessory bar can be attached to any type of aquatic board. Acquatic boards can include, but are not limited to, surfboards, body boards, standup paddleboards, and/or aquatic boards. Examples of standup paddle boards that the contemplated accessory bar can be attached to include hard top paddleboards, soft top paddleboards, inflatable paddleboards, and other types of paddleboards. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of an accessory attachment system  100  installed on a standup paddleboard  102 , having one or more elements consistent with the current subject matter. The accessory attachment system  100  can be disposed at any location on the paddleboard  102 . The accessory attachment system  100  can be configured to attach to different sizes of paddleboards. The accessory attachment system  100  can be disposed on a front portion  104  of the standup paddleboard  102 . 
         [0021]    The accessory attachment system  100  can comprise an accessory bar  106 . The accessory bar  106  can be configured to support one or more accessories. The accessory bar  106  can comprise one or more accessory connectors  108 . The accessory connectors  108  can be universal connectors configured to receive and secure different accessories to the accessory bar  106 . The accessory connectors  108  can be tailored to different accessories. In some variations, accessories for attaching to the accessory bar  106  can include clamps, configured to clamp to the accessory bar  106 . 
         [0022]    The accessory attachment system  100  can include board clamps  110 . The board clamps  110  can be disposed at opposing ends of the accessory bar  106 . The board clamps  110  can be configured to grip to the sides, or rails, of the standup paddleboard  102 . The board clamps  110  can be activated by locking levers  112 . The locking levers  112  can be configured to cause the board clamps  110  to be drawn inward toward the center of the standup paddleboard  102 . Drawing the board clamps  110  inward applies a force between the accessory attachment system  100  and the standup paddleboard  102 . In some variations, the force applied to the rails of the standup paddleboard  102  can cause the board clamps  110  to embed into the rails of the standup paddleboard  102 . In some variations, the force applied to the rails of the standup paddleboard  102  can cause the accessory attachment system  100  to be frictionally secured to the standup paddleboard  102 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of an accessory attachment system  100  for an aquatic board with an attachment  114 , having one or more elements consistent with the current subject matter. The attachment  114  illustrated in  FIG. 2  can be a rider support. The rider support can include a stem  116 . The rider support can include one or more handles  118 . The rider support  114  can be configured to support a rider of the standup paddleboard and/or a passenger of the standup paddleboard. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an accessory attachment system  100  for an aquatic board having one or more elements consistent with the current subject matter. The accessory connector  108  can include one or more connector flanges  120 . The one or more connector flanges  120  can be configured to engage with the accessory bar  106 . The accessory bar  106  can include one or more connector channels  122 . The connector channels  122  can be disposed along the length of the accessory bar  106 . The connector flange(s)  120  can be configured to engage with the connector channels  122 . The connector flange(s)  120  can be configured to facilitate positioning of the accessory connector  108  at positions along the accessory bar  106 . 
         [0025]    The accessory connector  108  can include an accessory port  124 . The accessory port  124  can be configured to receive one or more accessories. Accessories can be adapted to securely fit into the accessory port  124 . Accessory port locks  126  can be configured to lock one or more accessories into the accessory port  124 . The accessory port locks  125  can be configured to engage with the accessory when it is installed into the accessory connector  108 . The accessory port locks  125  can include disengagebale locking mechanisms. 
         [0026]    The board clamps  110  can include a cushioned surface  126 . The cushioned surface  126  can be disposed on an inner surface of the board clamps  110 . The cushioned surface  126  can be adjacent the side, or rail, of the standup paddleboard. The cushioned surface  126  can be adapted to distribute the pressure exerted by the clamps over the surface of the board clamps  110 , reducing the likelihood of having a pressure spot that would distort the standup paddleboard. The board clamps  110  can be configured to be generally positioned on the rails of the standup paddleboard. Locking levers  112  can be configured to draw the board clamps  110  further toward the middle of the accessory attachment system  100  to secure the accessory attachment system  100  to the standup paddleboard. 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a front view of an accessory attachment system  100  for an aquatic board having one or more elements consistent with the current subject matter. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is a top view of an accessory attachment system  100  for an aquatic board having one or more elements consistent with the current subject matter. The accessory connector  108  can include on or more accessory positioning flanges  128 . The accessory positioning flanges  128  can be configured to guide accessories into the accessory connector  108 . The accessory flanges  128  can be configured to secure the accessory into a particular position within the accessory connector  108 . Accessories can be configured to have flanges and troughs that compliment the accessory flanges  128  of the accessory connector  108 . In this manner, accessories can be secured to the accessory connector  108  in a particular orientation. Securing accessories in a particular orientation can be beneficial when the accessories are designed to serve a particular functions where the orientation of that accessory is important to fulfillment of that function. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of an accessory attachment system  100  for an aquatic board having one or more elements consistent with the current subject matter. The clamps  110  can be configured to be rotated about a fulcrum  130 . The board clamps  110  can be secured to the accessory bar  106  by a rotatable fixture  132 . The rotatable fixture  132  can include a bolt and a nut. The bolt can be disposed to run through the board clamp  110  and be engaged with the locking levers  112 . The rotatable fixture  132  can be configured to facilitate rotational positioning of the board clamps  110  such that an internal surface  126  of the board clamps  110  complement the surface of the standup paddleboard at the location where the accessory attachment system  100  is to be affixed. 
         [0030]    The rotatable fixture  132  can be configured to provide multiple degrees of freedom to the movement of the board clamps  110 . The multiple degrees of freedom to the movement of the board clamps  110  can occur during a non-fixed state of the board clamps  110 . The moveable nature of the board clamps  110  can facilitate obtaining a secure fit of the accessory attachment system  100  to the standup paddleboard. The board clamps  110  can slideably engage with the fixture  132 . The board clamps  110  can include a fixture slide  134  configured to receive the fixture  132  as the board clamps  110  are slid onto the accessory bar  106 . The fixture  132  can be configured to facilitate rotation of the clamps  110  about the fulcrum  130 . 
         [0031]    The locking levers  112  can be operably engaged with the fixture  132 . The locking levers  112  and the fixture  132  can be configured to cause a reduction in the distance between the locking levers  112  and the board clamps  110  causing the fixture  132  and the locking lever  112  to exert a pressure on the board clamps  110  and the accessory bar  106 . The pressure exerted on the board clamps  110  and the accessory bar  106  can cause the board clamps  110  to become fixed at a desired position along the accessory bar  106  and also at a desired angle relative to the accessory bar  106  complementing the shape of the standup paddleboard. 
         [0032]    The position of the accessory attachment system  100  along the length of the standup paddleboard can be selected based on the accessory, accessories, attached, or intended to be attached, to the accessory bar  106 . The accessories  114  for attachment to the accessory bar  106  can include, but are not limited to, a handlebar, a rudder, an electronic product mount, a fishing rod holder, a tackle box, a seat, a beverage holder, a cooler, a sail, wheels, flotation devices, illumination devices, and/or other accessories. 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  is an illustration of an accessory attachment system  700  having one or more features consistent with the current subject matter. The accessory attachment system  700  can include a tackle box  702 . The accessory attachment system  700  can include a beverage holder  704 . The accessory attachment system  700  can include a handle  706 . 
         [0034]    A rudder can be fixed to the accessory bar in a manner similar to the handle illustrated in  FIG. 2 . A pivot can be provided in the rudder to facilitate steering of the standup paddleboard. The rudder can include a handle and one or more blades operatively connected to the handle. The blades of the rudder can be attached to the handle via a non-resilient connection or a resilient connection. A resilient connection can include wood, plastic, metal, or other form of resilient material. A non-resilient connection can include string, rope, nylon, rubber, chain, and/or other non-resilient connection. 
         [0035]    The connection between the rudder handle and the rudder blades can extend lengthways relative to the standup paddleboard. Such that the connection extends to a blade disposed near the front, or back, of the standup paddleboard. The connection between the rudder handle and the rudder blades can extend sideways relative to the standup paddleboard. Such that the connection extends to one or more blades disposed at the sides of the standup paddleboard. 
         [0036]    In some variations, the accessory attachment system can include an electrical supply accessory. The electrical supply accessory can include a water-resilient electrical connectors for electrically charging or powering one or more electronic devices. The accessory attachment system can include a water-resilient speaker. The water-resilient speaker can be configured to wirelessly connect with one or more music players. The music players can include any music player such as a MP3 player, smartphone, streaming music player, or similar music player. 
         [0037]    The accessory attached to the accessory attachment system can include a water-resilient box. The water-resilient box can be configured to store electronics or other water-sensitive items. When paired with a water-resilient speaker, music players capable of wirelessly communicating with the water-resilient speaker can be used to play music through the water-resilient speakers. 
         [0038]    Illumination devices can be attached to the accessory attachment system. Illumination devices can be configured to provide illumination of an area around the standup paddleboard to facilitate navigation of water by the operator of the standup paddleboard. Illumination can be used as an alert to alert bystanders to a problem. Illumination devices can be configured to provide surface or under-water illumination. 
         [0039]    Although the present technology has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the technology is not limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present technology contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any implementation can be combined with one or more features of any other implementation.