Abstract:
A container for storage of items during watersports is described, having a base ( 10 ) affixed to the watersports equipment such as a surfboard or diver&#39;s gas tank and a body forming a waterproof enclosure detachably secured to the base. The top cover ( 14 ) of the body has tabs ( 44 ) which are retained under projections ( 22 ) of the base such that the bottom tray ( 12 ) and top cover of the body cannot be unsealed without disengaging the body from the base. 
     The top surface ( 40 ) of the cover forms a ramp engageable by the foot of the surf rider and may have grip material attached thereto.

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/008,052, filed Jan. 16, 1998 now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an accessory for storage of items during watersports such as surfing, boating and diving. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     During surfing and other watersports, the participant may be a long way from the shore. Car keys, in particular, often now include electronic components and cannot be taken into the water and thus are usually left on the shore where they are vulnerable to theft. Similarly, a person whose work requires them to be ‘on call’ cannot take a pager into the surf and thus will often abstain from surfing on the chance that he or she will be contacted. Others will rely on a pre-arranged visual signal, such as a two-coloured towel being inverted, to return to shore. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention aims to provide a means by which persons can combine their passion for watersports with the demands of the electronic age. 
     The present invention provides a container for storage of items during watersports having a base adapted for attachment to watersports equipment or a watersports participant, and a body detachably secured to the base forming a waterproof enclosure for storage of the items. 
     Preferably, the device includes a seal which keeps the enclosure waterproof, the arrangement being such that the seal cannot be released without removing the body from the base. 
     In one preferred form, the base is adapted to be affixed to an exposed surface of watersports equipment, for example to the deck of a surfboard or other watercraft, or to a diver&#39;s air tank. The bottom surface of the base may be shaped to suit the intended application—preferably flat or slightly concave to suit the deck of a watercraft, or significantly concave to match the contour of a cylindrical diving tank. Alternatively, the base could include a formation for attachment of a strap for securing the device around the waist of the diver or other watersports participant. 
     Additionally, if the device is to be fixed to the deck of a surfcraft such as a surfboard, the body may form a ramp or other formation for engagement by the rider&#39;s foot. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of a device adapted for application to the deck of a surfboard; 
     FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross section along line  2 — 2 ; 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 are transverse cross sections along line  3 — 3  and  4 — 4  respectively; 
     FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross section of the container being closed; 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective of a larger volume container; and 
     FIG. 7 is a detail longitudinal cross section showing an alternative embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The device as illustrated consists generally of a base plate  10 , a tray  12  and cover  14 . The base plate  10  has on its undersurface a preferably waterproof adhesive layer  11  for attachment to a water-exposed surface of the watercraft, such as to the deck of a surfboard or other surfcraft. Other means of attachment, such as screws or straps, may be provided where appropriate to the specific application of the device. 
     The size and shape of the device, and the contour of the bottom of the base plate, e.g., flat or concave may be varied to suit the type of craft to which the device is to be affixed. 
     The base plate  10  has a raised peripheral portion  16  with a series of regularly spaced inwardly projecting projections  22  along both sides, and an overhanging flange  24  at the rear end of the base. Both the projections  22  and flange  24  are spaced above the floor  25  of the base plate, thus forming undercut slots for receiving formations on the cover, as will be described below. 
     The body consists of a bottom part (tray  12 ) and a top part (cover  14 ), which fit together before securing to the base, as will be described later with reference to FIG.  5 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 to  4 , the tray  12  has a floor  26 , a short front wall  28 , higher rear wall  30  and side walls  32  sloping in height between the two. 
     The cover has front  34 , rear  36  and side  38  walls and a top  40 , and is adapted to closely receive the tray so that the floor of the tray is substantially level with the bottom of the cover. Inside the cover, along the edges between the top  40  and the walls  34 ,  36 ,  38 , is a seal  42  shown in FIGS. 2-4. When the tray is received fully within the cover, the top edges of the tray contact this seal, sealing the cavity between the tray and cover against the ingress of water. The tray and/or cover inner surface may also include a resiliently compressible material to minimise rattling of the items placed in the cavity. 
     Projecting transversely from the bottom of the cover side walls  38  are a series of horizontal tabs  44  sized and spaced to pass downwards in the spaces  18  between the projections  22  on the base and then be pushed longitudinally (eg. rearwards) so that the tabs  44  are held under the projections  22 , as best seen in FIG. 3. A rear flange  46  on the cover is held under the rear overhanging flange  24 . A cam  47  on the front of the base may be turned to prevent accidental disengagement. 
     When the body is thus locked down onto the base, the bottom of the tray is held against the base. The tray cannot move out of engagement with the seal  42  without removal of the body from the base and so the cavity remains waterproof. 
     FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-section of the body being closed to contain an article, such as an electronic car key  48 . The tray  12  and the cover  14  are hingedly coupled to each other at  50 , preferably by a live hinge. The short front wall  28  of the tray  12  has a lug  51  which engages with a recess  52  inside the cover front wall  34 . With the key  48  in position in the tray, the tray and cover are then pivoted together so that the tray is received in the cover and engages with seal  42 , as described earlier with reference to FIGS. 2 to  4 . The rear wall  30  of the tray may have a tang  56  and the cover a corresponding recess  58 , to snap fit the cover and tray together. 
     The rear wall  30  of the tray may have a tag  54  which may be pulled to help release the tray from the cover once the tang  56  has been pushed to release the snap fit. The tag is flexible so that it does not interfere with attachment of the body to the base. 
     FIGS. 1 to  5  show the device with a sloping top, adapted to be attached to the deck surface of a surfboard at a position corresponding generally to the rear foot position of the rider. The container is adapted to be large enough to hold an electronic car key, for example about 10 cm×5 cm in plan view and 2 cm at its maximum height. The sloping top surface of the cover forms a ramp which is engageable by the rider&#39;s rear foot, and especially the arch of the foot, to provide additional grip and support. The ramp may have grip material  59 , for example foam rubber of the type often applied to surfboards, applied to its surface. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective showing an alternative container shape for more general purpose use, attachable to any convenient position on the watercraft or other watersports equipment and generally similar in construction and operation to the device of FIGS. 1 to  5 . In FIG. 6, like parts to the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5 are provided with like numbers increased by 100. Thus, the base plate  110  is provided with projections  122 , while the cover  114  is shown having a rear  136 , side walls  138  and a top  140 . In FIG. 6, the cover is shown as being rectangular in three dimensions. 
     In FIG. 6, at least part of the body may be transparent, preferably at least the top  140  of the cover, so that the item in the container remains visible to the user, for example for pagers or other communications devices which emit a visible signal for incoming messages. The cover construction may have the top  140  formed as a transparent, flexible panel through which the user can operate pressure-sensitive electronic equipment by depressing the surface. 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail of a modified undercut slot arrangement for secure engagement between the base  10  and the body. In the embodiment, the underside of overhanging projections  22   a  on the base have a downwards facing ramp  60  and a rebated portion  62  of height intermediate the maximum and minimum ramp height, separated from the lowermost end of the ramp  60  by a short vertical wall  64 . The height differences involved need only be small, for example 2 mm height difference along the ramp  60  and a 1 mm jump up to the rebated portion  62 . 
     A first advantage of this arrangement is more secure locking of the body to the base, as the tabs  44  on the cover ride under the ramps, and are trapped in the rebated portion behind the vertical wall  64 . Resilient engagement between the cover and tray, including the seal  42 , ensures that the tab is held in the rebated portion until the user deliberately disengages the body from the base by pressing down on the cover and sliding it along. A further advantage may be attained by having the tray contact the seal  42  while the bottom of the tray still sits slightly proud, for example 1-2 mm, of the bottom of the cover. Thus, the tray contacts the base first, and when the tabs  44  are forced under the ramp  60  and into rebated portion  62  the seal  42  between the tray and the cover is held in compression. 
     The body also serves as a convenient container for the items when removed from the base. Electronic keys and other equipment may be safely stored in the detached container while on shore and then the container and contents can simply be clipped onto the base on the water sports equipment while surfing, sailing or diving. 
     In an unillustrated embodiment, the device shown in FIGS. 1-5 may further be provided with a horizontal plate with tabs similar to those on the body, the plate being inserted in place of the body when it is not desired to carry the container on the surfboard. The plate will minimise discomfort to the rider&#39;s foot which might be caused by the projections  22  of the base, and the top of the plate may also carry grip material. Another plate may also be provided, incorporating a hanging strap so that the board may be hung up for storage. 
     In a further unillustrated embodiment, the engagement between the body and the base can be circular, such as a bayonet or screw engagement. 
     In all embodiments the base may be provided with straps or other attachment means for attaching to the body of a watersports participant. 
     While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.