Abstract:
Systems, devices and methods for tethering a person to a sports board are disclosed herein. An article of manufacture provides a flexible, shock-absorbing tether, having an integrated timekeeping device.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. provisional application No. 61/075,675, filed Jun. 25, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Filed of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention is related to systems, devices and methods for tethering a person to a waterboard. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of the Background 
         [0005]    Tethers are used to attach a surfboard to a surfer to prevent the surfer from being separated from the surfboard after falling from the surfboard. Typically, the tether is attached at one end to the rear of the surfboard and at the other end to an ankle cuff worn by the surfer. The bodyboard leash is a leash system that connects to the nose area of a bodyboard and is designed to keep the board close to the rider at all times while riding waves in the ocean. Bodyboard leashes typically include a cuff which allows the leash to be connected to, e.g., a wrist or a bicep. Bodyboard leashes may be, for example, polyurethane cords which can be either straight or coiled. Conventionally, the tether is a flexible, non-elastic material that is long enough to provide the surfer freedom of movement. One shortcoming of a conventional tether is that, being inelastic, tremendous force can be exerted on the surfer&#39;s ankle as the surfboard is accelerated away from the surfer by the force of a wave. Such force may result in injury to the surfer. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to one aspect of the invention, an article of manufacture comprises a cuff configured to encircle an extremity of a user, the cuff comprising a waterproof timekeeping device; a non-rigid shock-absorbing member comprising a first proximal end and a first distal end, the first proximal end flexibly coupled to the cuff and having at least two degrees of freedom of motion with respect to the cuff; a non-rigid substantially non-shock-absorbing member comprising a second proximal end and a second distal end, the second proximal end coupled to the first distal end and having at least two degrees of freedom of motion with respect to the non-rigid shock-absorbing member; a connecting device configured for removable attachment to a waterboard, the connecting device coupled to the second distal end and having at least two degrees of freedom of motion with respect to the non-rigid substantially non-shock absorbing member. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, the novel articles of manufacture provide a leash suitable for attachment, for example, to a bodyboard, surfboard, or other sports board, which may be attached via the cuff to a user&#39;s body (e.g., attached to a wrist, arm, ankle, leg, or elsewhere), the cuff comprising a waterproof timekeeping device. The novel articles of manufacture disclosed herein advantageously provide a tether that reduces the forces experienced by a user, such as, e.g., a bodyboarder, and advantageously provide a means for tracking time, e.g., during a waterboard session. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0008]    The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of the present invention in a cuff-closed configuration; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of the present invention in a cuff-released configuration; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a close-up view of a cuff according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    In the following description, the terms proximal and distal are used in their directional/positional sense to indicate directed toward or closer to a user (proximal) and directed away or farther from the user (distal). 
         [0013]    In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific methods, materials, components, etc. in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that these specific details need not be employed to practice the present invention. In other instances, well-known materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a watch leash  100  according to one embodiment of the present invention. Watch leash  100  includes a cuff  101  configured to encircle an extremity of a waterboard user, such as a surfer or bodyboarder, which extremity my be an arm or a leg. Preferably, the cuff may be adjustable to fit comfortably around an ankle, a thigh, a wrist or a bicep of the user. The cuff may be sewn or otherwise attached to a strap  101   b , such as a nylon or neoprene strap for example. Strap  101   b  may include means for fastening and adjusting the cuff, such as a VELCRO® fastener, for example. The cuff  101  may incorporate a waterproof timekeeping device  102 . Waterproof timekeeping device  102  may be, for example, an analog or digital watch, a stopwatch, a countdown timer or other type of timekeeping device. In one embodiment, waterproof timekeeping device  102  may also incorporate a tide gauge. In embodiments, a watch leash  100  may further include a tide gauge in addition to a timekeeping device  102 . 
         [0015]    Watch leash  100  may also include a non-rigid, shock-absorbing member  103 . Non-rigid, shock-absorbing member  103  may have a proximal end  104  with a lanyard  105  to attach non-rigid, shock-absorbing member  103  to cuff  101 . In one embodiment, non-rigid, shock-absorbing member  103  may be fabricated as a coil from a plastic such as polyurethene, for example, or other such materials as are known in the art. 
         [0016]    Non-rigid, shock-absorbing member  103  may have a plastic coating  106 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Lanyard  105  may include, a swivel  107  fabricated from brass or other corrosion resistant material. Swivel  107  may be secured to cuff  101  with a loop  101   c  formed in strap  101   b,  such that non-rigid, shock-absorbing member  103  has at least two degrees of freedom of motion with respect to cuff  101 . The proximal end of non-rigid, shock-absorbing member  103  may be secured to swivel  107  via a screw attachment  108 , and protected by a molded elastomeric covering  109 . In one embodiment (not illustrated), non-rigid, shock-absorbing member  103  may fabricated from a non-coiled elastomeric material to provide shock absorbing qualities. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, the distal end of non-rigid, shock-absorbing member  103  may have may be connected to a lanyard  110 , which may be of the same or similar construction as lanyard  105 , for attachment to a non-rigid, substantially non-shock-absorbing member  111 , such that non-rigid shock-absorbing member  103  has at least two degrees of freedom or motion with respect to non-rigid, substantially non-shock-absorbing member  111 . Non-rigid, substantially non-shock-absorbing member  111  may be a strap (e.g., a nylon strap) having a proximal end loop  112  configured to engage a swivel  113  in lanyard  110 . Swivel  113  may be of the same or similar construction to swivel  107  in lanyard  105 . 
         [0018]    Non-rigid substantially non-shock-absorbing member  111  may have a distal end with a loop  114  configured to capture a retaining loop  115 , which may be a loop of woven nylon, for example. Loop  115  may be configured to engage an anchor pin  116 . In one embodiment, anchor pin  116  may have a cylindrical or polygonal shank  117 , tapered or otherwise configured for a friction fit to a mating receptacle in a waterboard such as a surfboard or bodyboard. Alternately, shank  117  may be configured with splines, keys or other devices as are known in the art to achieve a locking fit with a matching receptacle in a waterboard. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates watch leash  100  in a configuration with strap  101   b  released for fitting to a user. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a close-up view of cuff  101  illustrating waterproof timekeeping device  102  mounted to strap  101   b  within fabric  101   a.    
         [0021]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.