Abstract:
This invention discloses a storage apparatus for sportboards of variable width, which is mountable onto a supporting surface. The apparatus comprises two gripping members, with a distance between them that is greater than the minimum width of the sportboard that is to be held therein, and lesser than the maximum width of the sportboard. A narrow part of the board is placed between the two gripping members, and the board is lowered until a wider part rests on the gripping members. The edges of the gripping members grip the board and hold it in the apparatus. In one embodiment, the distance between the gripping members is adjustable, so that boards of different sizes may be held in the apparatus. In an alternative embodiment designed to hold two sportboards such as a pair of skis, the apparatus comprises a center member with gripping edges, which functions to divide in two the space between the gripping members so that a pair of skis can be held in the apparatus. All sportboards with varying widths may be held in different embodiments of this invention, however the invention is particularly useful for the storage of snowboards and skis.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to an apparatus for the storage of sports equipment and, in particular snowboards and skis.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The proper storage of sportboards, such as snowboards and skis is necessitated by the fact that if these items are not properly stored they may injure persons, they may become damaged, or the surrounding area may become damaged. Because of their generally unusual shapes, sizes or characteristics many sportboards can not generally be satisfactorily stored on shelves. If leaned against a wall, they tend to fall over because of their rounded ends, and they therefore pose a hazard to anyone nearby who might be hit by the falling equipment, or to someone who later trips over it.  
           [0003]    For these reasons, a storage apparatus for sportboards, which apparatus provides a means to stably and securely store the board, is required. This apparatus should be adaptable to different sizes of sportboards, and it should be simple to manufacture, install and use.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    There is provided a storage apparatus for sportboards with a varying width, which apparatus provides a means to stably and securely store a sportboard, is adaptable to different sizes of sportboards, and is simple to manufacture, install and use. The apparatus is particularly useful for the storage of snowboards and skis.  
           [0005]    The apparatus of this invention will store any sportboard with a tapered section that results in the board having at least two different widths, a minimum width and a maximum width, along its length. Boards that meet this criterion can be stored by this apparatus, which uses a similar mechanism for all boards which have a varying width. The apparatus is particularly suited and suitable for the storage of generally planar sportboards that are narrower in the middle and wider at one or both ends, such as snowboards and parabolic skis, however it is not intended to be limited to only these types of sportboards.  
           [0006]    The sportboard storage apparatus is mountable onto a support surface, and comprises a back member and two gripping members which each have an inner edge that grips an edge of the sportboard. In a preferred embodiment the gripping members are operatively connected to the back member such that the distance between the gripping members can be adjusted and then fixed.  
           [0007]    To store a sportboard such as a snowboard in a vertically mounted apparatus according to the present invention, the distance between the two gripping members is first adjusted so that it is greater than the minimum width of the snowboard but less than the maximum width of the snowboard. A narrow part of the snowboard is then inserted between the two gripping members and the board is lowered until the sides of a wider part of the board engages the gripping members. The inner edges of the gripping members grip the edges of the snowboard, thereby holding the board in the apparatus.  
           [0008]    In an alternative embodiment of the apparatus which can store two sportboards, such as pair of skis, a center member is attached to the back member about midway between the two gripping members, each of which include a gripping edge facing toward the center member. The center member includes two gripping edges, one of which is positioned facing the gripping member on one side and the other of which faces the gripping member on the other side. To store a pair of skis, the narrow part of one of the skis is inserted between the center member and one of the gripping members and the ski is lowered (in a vertically mounted apparatus) until the sides of the ski engage against and are held by the gripping edges of the center member and the gripping member on one side. The other ski is similarly mounted between the center member and the gripping member on the other side.  
           [0009]    In yet another embodiment the apparatus is convertible between an apparatus that holds only one sportboard and one that holds two sportboards, simply by the removable attachment of a center member.  
           [0010]    It is preferred that the distance between the gripping members be adjustable, as described above, because this renders the apparatus adaptable to sportboards of various sizes. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the distance between the gripping members is not adjustable, limiting the use of an apparatus made to use with sportboards having certain minimum and maximum diameters.  
           [0011]    In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the edges of the gripping and center members are angled, such that there is less than a 90 degree angle between these edges and the front face of the back member. In another embodiment of the invention, the edges of the gripping and center members comprise a compressible member. Both of these embodiments function to grip the sportboard and hold it in the apparatus.  
           [0012]    In another preferred embodiment, the gripping and center members have edges that are curved along their longitudinal axis, to approximate the taper of the part of the sportboard that is in the apparatus. This feature increases the amount of contact between the edges of the sportboard, and the edges of the gripping and/or center member, thereby increasing the force with which the sportboard is held in the apparatus. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the sportboard storage apparatus, with a snowboard inserted therein.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the back member of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with the gripping members removed.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is an exploded front perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, demonstrating how it is assembled.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4A is a partial cross section taken along line I-I of FIG. 1 to demonstrate how the gripping members and back member are connected together.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4B is a cross section taken along line II-II of FIG. 1.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the apparatus in which only one screw per gripping member is used.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the back member of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, with the gripping members removed.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7A is a front elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the apparatus that holds a pair of skis.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7B is a cross sectional view, taken at line III-III in FIG. 7A. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]    FIGS.  1  to  4 B show an embodiment of the sportboard storage apparatus  10  of this invention, with a snowboard  12  mounted therein. Apparatus  10  comprises a back member  14  and two gripping members  16 , each with a gripping edge  18 .  
         [0023]    Back member  14  of this embodiment is essentially planar, with four apertures  20  for accepting mounting screws or nails, to mount the back member onto a support surface such as a wall or a door. Mounting screws or nails that are used in apertures  20  are preferably countersunk into front surface  40  (FIG. 4B) of back member  14 , so that the mounting screw or nail will not protrude above the front surface and interfere with the movement of gripping members thereover. The size of the enlargement for countersinking the mounting screws or nails is indicated by space  21  in FIG. 2 or FIG. 6. The number and location of apertures  20  can be varied, as long as they collectively function to secure back member  14  to the support surface. Alternatively, apertures  20  may extend only partially through back member  14 , or they may be mounted upon back member  14 , for instance as a metal attachment with an aperture therein for mounting.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 shows four adjustment openings  22  on back member  14 , which function both to secure gripping members  16  to back member  14 , and also to permit the position of gripping members  16  to be adjusted, such that the distance between them can be increased or decreased according to the size of the board that is to be stored in the apparatus. In the embodiment shown, the adjustment opening is a slot that extends through back member  14 . However, alternative adjustment openings such as for example, a slot that only partially penetrates the back member, or a metal slot or other device that is attached to the front surface of back member  14  are intended to be included in this invention.  
         [0025]    Gripping members  16  are positioned on back member  14  such that the gripping edges  18  of gripping members  16  are separated by a pre-determined distance  24 . Gripping members  16  are preferably elongate and planar, as shown in FIG. 1. In the embodiment shown in FIGS.  1 - 4 , gripping edges  18  are curved when progressing from the top to the bottom of apparatus  10 , such that the widest part of each gripping member  16  is the midsection. This curvature mimics the curvature of the part of the snowboard that is inserted in apparatus  10  and therefore gripping edge  18  provides more surface contact with the edge of the snowboard than would a flat gripping edge, which surface contact aids in holding the snowboard in the apparatus. However, although desirable, the curvature of gripping edge  18  is not an essential feature of the invention, as a straight gripping edge  18  would function in apparatus  10  as well.  
         [0026]    Although gripping members  16  are shown as elongate, planar structures in FIGS.  1 - 4 , other shapes and sizes of gripping members, if they have a gripping edge, and hold a sportboard according to the principles disclosed in this invention, are intended be included herein.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4B, which is a cross-section of FIG. 1 taken at line II-II, demonstrates another feature of gripping edge  18  which is particularly useful when apparatus  10  is mounted substantially vertically. In a preferred construction of gripping members  16 , gripping edge  18  converges with the front surface  40  of back member  14 , at a less than 90 degree angle. This angle between gripping edge  18  and front surface  40  enables the gripping members to engage the edges  19  of snowboard  12 , to keep it from falling out of an apparatus  10  that is substantially vertically mounted. FIG. 4B also demonstrates that the angle on gripping edge  18  is ideally selected to be complementary to edge  19  of snowboard  12 , such that both edges  18  and  19  would have maximum contact with one another along their entire width. However, this is not necessary. Edge  18  need simply be angled sufficiently such that some part of it will catch and grip some part of edge  19  of snowboard  12 , to keep it from falling out of apparatus  10 . To hold a snowboard that does not have an edge that is angled, or on which edge  19  has only a very slight angle, gripping edge  18  would simply have to be sufficiently wide to extend beyond the top corner  42  of the edge of snowboard  12 . As is appreciated, rather than, or in addition to, angling edge  18 , a similar gripping function could be obtained in a number of ways, for example by forming a lip along gripping edge  18 , or by making gripping edge  18  convex.  
         [0028]    In an alternative embodiment, gripping edge  18  is at a substantially right angle to surface  40  of back member  14 , and is covered with a compressible member such as a rubber or foam gasket, which holds snowboard  12  in place by compression of the compressible member by edge  19  of the snowboard. As is appreciated, edge  18  could be angled or otherwise formed as described in the previous paragraph, and in addition have a compressible member attached thereto. As is also appreciated, only one of the gripping edges  18  need be formed, as described in the preceding paragraphs, to prevent a board from falling out of the apparatus.  
         [0029]    For the storage of a sportboard in apparatus  10 , distance  24  between gripping members  16  must be greater than the minimum width of the sportboard but less than the maximum width of the sportboard. A snowboard  12  is stored in apparatus  10  by inserting a narrow part of the snowboard between the gripping edges  18  and then wedging the snowboard between the gripping edges by contacting the gripping edges with a wider part of the snowboard. In an apparatus that is vertically mounted, as shown in FIGS.  1 - 4 , the wedging is accomplished by lowering the board until the edges of a wider part of the board engage the gripping edges, at which point downward movement of the snowboard ceases.  
         [0030]    In one embodiment of this invention, distance  24  is fixed at the point of manufacture, or by the end user, and cannot be adjusted. In the embodiment shown in FIGS.  1 - 4 , which is preferred, distance  24  is adjustable by the end user of the apparatus.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIGS. 3 and 4 demonstrate how gripping members  16  and back member  14  may be connected, in order to allow movement of gripping members  16  to increase or decrease distance  24 . An adjustment screw  26  is inserted through a gasket  28  and then through an aperture  30  in gripping member  16 , and adjustment opening  22  in back member  14 , before being threaded into a T-bolt  32 . Four screws and T-bolts are used in the embodiment shown in FIGS.  1 - 4 . T-bolt  32  has a flange  38 , and is slideably mounted within adjustment opening  22 .  
         [0032]    Gasket  28  functions in one aspect to protect gripping member  16  from wear and tear from the head of screw  26 , as screw  26  is tightened and loosened. Gasket  28  may also prevent screw  26  from slipping through aperture  30 . Finally, gasket  28  functions to pull gripping member  16  towards back member  14 , as screw  26  is threaded into T-bolt  32 . Gasket  28  may be attached to the head of screw  26 , or may be omitted altogether, if the head of screw  26  is sufficiently large to perform the functions of gasket  28 .  
         [0033]    Screws  26  and T-bolts  32  are preferably countersunk in gripping members  16  and back member  14  respectively, so as not to protrude above either the front or back surface of apparatus  10 . This countersinking enables apparatus  10  to lie flush against the support surface and prevents protrusion of screw  26  above the front surface of apparatus  10 , where it may be caught by, for instance by the clothing of, persons passing by the apparatus. The size of the enlargement for countersinking screws  26  is indicated by space  34  in FIG. 3, and the size of the enlargement for countersinking T-bolt  32  is indicated by space  36  in FIG. 2. Although a preferred feature, countersinking of screws  26  and T-bolts  32 , is not an essential element of the invention.  
         [0034]    Screw  26  and T-bolt  32  confine one another in adjustment opening  22 . Adjustment opening  22  functions, therefore, to guide and limit the movement of screw  26  which in turn guides and limits the movement of gripping member  16  relative to back member  14 . If a greater or lesser range of movement of gripping member  16  is desired, adjustment opening  22  need simply be made longer or shorter. As is appreciated, adjustment openings  22  could be positioned on gripping members  16 , so that rather than sliding in an opening in back member  14 , screw  26  slides in an opening in the gripping member. This embodiment of the invention is intended to be included herein.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 4A shows a cross section taken along line I-I in FIG. 1, to demonstrate how screw  26  and T-bolt  32  interact to reversibly pull gripping member  16  and back member  14  towards one another. As screw  26  is threaded into T-bolt, the forces created on flange  38  and gasket  28  cause back member  14  and gripping member  16  to move towards one another. When screw  26  is tightened sufficiently, back member  14  and gripping member  16  cannot move relative to one another. To position or reposition gripping member  16 , screw  26  is loosened until gripping member  16  can slide relative to back member  14 . When gripping member  16  is positioned as desired by the end user, screw  26  is tightened once again.  
         [0036]    As is appreciated, in the embodiment shown in FIGS.  1 - 4 B, gripping members  16  and back member  14  will remain operatively connected during adjustment of distance  24 . However, continued operative connection is not a necessary feature of the invention, and the invention is intended to include an embodiment wherein gripping members  16  actually dissociate from back member  14  during the adjustment process. For instance, adjustment may be accomplished by a stepped series of pegs and holes, rather than a sliding of one member relative to the other.  
         [0037]    Often, gripping members  16  will be positioned such that they are substantially parallel to one another. However, another feature of this embodiment of the invention will allow the end user to position the gripping members such that they are angled slightly to accommodate the curvature of the board. Therefore, the distance between gripping members  16  at the top of apparatus  10  (as shown in FIG. 1) may be set to be greater than the distance between the gripping members at the bottom of the apparatus. This arrangement would be used to more precisely mimic the curvature of the part of the snowboard that is inserted in apparatus  10 , and thereby increase the amount of contact between gripping edges  18  and the edges of the snowboard.  
         [0038]    Although the embodiment in FIGS.  1 - 4  has been described in relation to its use to hold a snowboard, the principles are equally applicable to skis or other sportboards that have curved side edges.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIGS. 5 and 6 show apparatus  10   a , an alternative embodiment of the invention in which back member  14   a  is attached to each gripping member  16   a  by only one screw  26 , rather than two. Back member  14   a  has only two adjustment openings  22  to receive screws  26 . In other respects, apparatus  10   a  is similar to and functions on the same principles as apparatus  10 . One particular advantage of apparatus  10   a  is that because gripping members  16   a  are attached to back member  14   a  by only one screw  26  each, they are able to pivot on screw  26 . Therefore, apparatus  10   a  can be mounted to a support surface after gripping members  16   a  are attached to back member  14   a , which makes assembly and mounting of the apparatus more simple than in the case of the embodiment shown in FIGS.  1 - 4 , wherein gripping members cover apertures  20 . Note however, that apertures  20  need not be placed underneath gripping members  16  in apparatus  10 , but rather maybe positioned elsewhere on back member  14 . Additionally, because gripping members  16   a  can pivot in apparatus  10   a  they are able to adjust to the curvature of the edges of the part of the snowboard that is inserted into the apparatus, as it is inserted into the apparatus, to maximize the amount of contact between the edges of the snowboard and gripping edges  18 . In this regard, screws  26  would be threaded into T-bolt  32  with sufficient torque to prevent, along with the frictional forces between back member  14   a  and gripping member  16   a , gripping members  16   a  from being driven apart when a board is placed there between.  
         [0040]    In the embodiments shown in FIGS.  1 - 6 , both gripping members may be adjusted, to enable the end user to set distance  24 . However, it is appreciated that distance  24  may be adjusted by the end user if one gripping member is fixed, for example by glue, nails, screws or staples, and the other gripping member is adjustable. This embodiment is intended to be included herein.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 7 shows apparatus  10   b , an alternative embodiment of this invention that will hold two sportboards, such as a pair of skis. In this embodiment, gripping members  16   b  are the same as gripping members  16   a  and function on the same principles. Apparatus  10   b  has an additional center member  44  that is attached in a predetermined position to back member  14   b . FIG. 7 shows the preferred means of attachment of center member  44 , using screws  46  that pass through apertures in center member  44  and into back member  14   b . Note that because center member  44  is affixed by screws in embodiment  10   b , it is removable from the apparatus. Once the center member is removed, apparatus  10   b  could be used to store one larger sportboard between gripping members  16   b . Any other means of removably attaching center member  44  are intended to be included herein.  
         [0042]    In an alternative embodiment, center member  44  is permanently attached to back member  14   b , for example with glue, nails or staples.  
         [0043]    Center member  44  has two gripping edges  48 . One gripping edge  48  faces the gripping edge  18  on one side of center member  44 , and the other gripping edge  48  faces the gripping edge  18  on the other side of center member  44 . Therefore, two sportboards can be inserted into apparatus  10   b , one on either side of center member  44 .  
         [0044]    In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7A, center member  44  is shaped so that the width of the top portion (as seen in FIG. 7) is narrower than the width of the bottom portion, with a resulting curvature to gripping edges  48  of center member  44 . This results in a gradual narrowing of the opening between either gripping member  16   b  and center member  44 , progressing from top to bottom. This narrowing mimics the shape of the portion of a curved ski that would be in the apparatus, being wider on the top than on the bottom and would therefore aid in holding the ski in the apparatus, because it would increase the amount of contact between the gripping edges  48  and  18 , and the edges of the ski. However, the curvature it is not an essential feature of the invention, as a straight gripping edge  48  would function in apparatus  10   b  as well.  
         [0045]    Gripping edges  48  may embody some or all of the features described above for gripping edges  18 , which features enable the edges to hold a sportboard and to keep it from falling forward out of a vertically mounted apparatus  10   b . FIG. 7B shows a cross section of apparatus  10   b  taken along line III-III of FIG. 7A, which shows that in this embodiment edges  48  are angled, as described above for edges  18 .  
         [0046]    The position of gripping members  16   b  on back member  14   b  can be adjusted, as described for gripping members  16  and  16   a . Therefore, the distance between gripping edges  18  and  48  on both sides of the center member can be adjusted to suit the size of sportboard that is to be stored therein. As each side is independently adjustable, sportboards of different sizes may be stored in apparatus  10   b . In an alternative embodiment, the position of one of gripping members  16   b  is fixed and center member  44  is adjustable. In yet another embodiment, the position of both gripping members  16   b  and center member  44 , are adjustable.  
         [0047]    In the embodiments described herein the distance between gripping edges is adjustable, which is preferred, because then one apparatus as purchased by the end-user, or as manufactured, is adaptable to differently sized sportboards. However, alternative embodiments in which the distance between the gripping edges is fixed, are intended to be included herein. Additionally, in such embodiments the entire apparatus may be constructed as one unit rather than as separate parts that are connected together.  
         [0048]    While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that numerous variations, modifications and embodiments are possible and all such variations and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the invention.