Abstract:
A water sport board locking system includes multiple key members that are insertable into a slot of a fin box of a water sport board (e.g., a surf board, for example a surfboard. The key members include a key member that operates as a rotation deterrent element which prevents rotation of another key member when the key members are located in the fin box slot and secured together with a tether or padlock. The system can be used to secure a water sport board while a fin of the watersport board remains located in the fin box slot.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Pat. App. No. 60/600,554, filed on Aug. 10, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this specific reference. 

   BACKGROUND 
   The present invention relates generally to surfboard devices and, more specifically, to a security locking device for a surfboard, sailboard, kayak and the like. 
   The streamlined shape and relatively small size of many modern surfboards make them easy and inviting targets for theft. A typical surfboard can cost from $400 to a $1,000 so replacement of a stolen board is not always economically feasible. In addition, a surfboard has a size and shape that makes it not easily adapted to being fitted with a conventional locking device or being secured within an automobile when not in use. 
   Consequently, a number of locking devices have been developed to prevent the theft of surfboards. The Fruzetti et. al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,220) employs the ankle tether commonly found on surfboards to secure the board to a stationary object. However, the ankle tether is typically a lightweight material such as nylon that can be easily severed with common wire cutters. 
   Other surfboard locks that have been developed require some mechanical connection with the cross bar that is typically built into a surfboard and intended to provide a point of connection between the surfboard and the ankle tether. Still other devices have been developed that utilize a fin box of a surfboard as an anchor point for a locking mechanism. Though effective to some extent against opportunistic theft, these prior art devices are often defeatable by thieves that have sufficient time and/or skill to effectively manipulate the device. In addition, such devices are often cumbersome to install and so are not always properly utilized. 
   There still exists a need for methods and devices for securing and/or deterring theft of water sport boards, for example, surfboards, sailboards, body boards, boogie boards and the like, which methods and devices are easy to use not easily circumvented. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a locking method and system for tethering, securing or locking a water sport board to a vehicle or stationary object thereby deterring theft or unauthorized removal of the water sport board. Water sport boards that are useful with the present invention are generally those water sport boards that comprise a body, such as a buoyant platform, having a built-in fin box, for example, but not limited to surfboards, sailboards, kayaks, body boards, boogie boards, paddle boards, or similar devices. 
   In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a system for deterring theft or unwanted movement of a water sport board (e.g., a surfboard, sailboard, kayak, body board, boogie board, paddle board, or similar device) of a type having a built-in fin box. This system generally comprises a) a key member or element that is configured to enter and engage a slot of the fin box, said key member being additionally configured to be attached to a fastening member, for example, a theft deterring tether, padlocked cable, chain, etc., and b) second key member, for example, a rotation deterring member or element that is configured to substantially prevent the key member from rotating in a manner that allows the key member to be disengaged and removed from the slot. In some embodiments, the rotation deterring member may comprise one or more additional key member(s) that are received within the same slot as the first key member so as to substantially fill an open area within that slot thereby substantially preventing at least the first key member from rotating within the slot. The rotation deterring member (e.g., additional key member(s)) may be engaged, locked or connected to the first key member and/or to one another. In at least some embodiments, the systems of the present invention may not require removal of a fin from a fin box in order to be useful as is true of some prior art devices that utilize a fin box as an anchor for a locking mechanism but require removal of a fin in order to work. 
   In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the first key member, second key member and fastening member are configured so as to be easily manipulable to enable a user of the system to position the first key member and the second key member in the fin box slot such that the key members are received in first and second recesses within the fin box slot. When the key members are engaged to the fin box in this manner and are secured together, for example, using a fastening member or mechanism through apertures formed in the key members, the coupled system and watersport board can be locked to an object. 
   Further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for deterring theft or unauthorized movement of a water sport board that includes a fin box having a slot with first and second recesses formed therein. Such method comprises the steps of a) providing a system that comprises a first member and a second member, the first member and second member being configured to enter and be engaged in the slot of the fin box; b) inserting a portion of the first member into the slot such that it resides in the first recess; c) inserting a portion of the second member into the slot such that it resides in the second recess; d) moving the first member and second member into engagement with one another; e) fastening the first member and the second member together and f) securing the fastened first member and the second member to an object. 
   Still further in accordance with the invention, there are provided embodiments of the above-summarized system which comprise a first key member that includes a protrusion configured to engage a first recess in the fin box slot, and a second key member which functions as the rotation deterring member. In such embodiments, the second key member includes a structure or surface that is configured to engage the first key member so as to prevent substantial rotation of the first and/or second key members when the first and second key members are in a locked position, for example when the first and second key members are engaged to the fin box slot and are bound or locked to one another, for example, by means of a padlock. In at least some embodiments, at least one of the first and the second key members is structured to be received within a second recess of the fin box slot, wherein the second recess is a recess substantially opposing the first recess. 
   Each and every feature described herein, and each and every combination of two or more such features is included within the scope of the invention provided that the features included in such combination are not mutually inconsistent. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention may be more clearly understood with reference to the following Detailed Description and accompanying Drawings, which describe and show specific embodiments of the present invention but are not intended to limit the scope thereof. 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a surfboard lock system as the system is being used to prevent theft or unauthorized removal of a surfboard. 
       FIG. 1A  shows a plan view of a surfboard lock system of an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 1B  shows a cross-sectional view of the system shown in  FIG. 1A  as the system is engaged to a fin box of a surfboard. 
       FIG. 1C  shows a side view of the system shown in  FIG. 1A  as the system is engaged to a fin box of a surfboard and is secured to a padlock and tether. 
       FIG. 2A  is a side view of another embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG.  2 A′ is a top view of the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 2A . 
       FIG. 2B  is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 2A  as the system is engaged to a fin box of a surfboard 
       FIG. 2C  is a front view of the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 2A  as the system is engaged to a finbox and secured to a padlock and tether. 
       FIG. 3A  is a side view of another embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG.  3 A′ is a top view of the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 3A . 
       FIG. 3B  is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 3A  as the system is engaged to a fin box of a surfboard 
       FIG. 3C  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 3A  as the system is engaged to a finbox and secured to a padlock and tether. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Turning now to  FIG. 1 , a system  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is shown as it is being used to deter theft of a water sport board  2  comprising a buoyant platform  4 , a fin box  5  and a fin  6 . In this particular example, the water sport board  2  used with the system  10  is a conventional surfboard. It should be appreciated, however, that the system  10  of the present invention is structured to be useful for deterring theft of other types of water sport boards which generally include a buoyant platform, a fin box and a fin. The water sport board may be, for example, a surfboard, sailboard, kayak, body board, boogie board, paddle board, or similar device. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the system  10  is being used in conjunction with a theft deterrent tether  7 , a padlock  8  and an immovable post  9 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1A , the system  10  generally comprises a first key member  14  and a second key member  16 . Turning as well to  FIG. 1B , a cross sectional view of the system  10  in accordance with the present invention as it is engaged to fin box  5  is shown. The first and second key members  14 ,  16  respectively, are configured and structured to engage a slot  20  of a fin box  5  (shown in cross section). 
   More particularly, the first key member  14  includes a head portion  14   a , a pin portion  14   b , and a protrusion  14   c  (more clearly shown in  FIG. 1B ) that is sized and configured to engage a recess  20   b  within a fin box slot  20 . Second key member  16  may also include a protrusion  16   c . The protrusion  16   c  is located, sized and configured to engage an opposing recess  20   c  of the slot  20 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1B , each key member  14  and  16  includes at least one aperture  14 ′ and  16 ′ respectively, for receiving a shank of a padlock  30 , a chain, tether, cable or other security element (see  FIG. 1C ) such that the system  10  and surfboard can be bound to a fence, post, truck bed, bicycle rack or other fixed structure. When the system  10  is properly arranged in a fin box slot  20  as shown, the apertures  14 ′ and  16 ′ of key member  14  and key member  16  are in substantial alignment with one another. 
   First key member  14  and second key member  16  may be made of stainless steel, aluminum, or any other suitable material. In some embodiments, the members  14 ,  16  have a solid metal construction. As shown, the key members  14  and  16  are substantially planar in structure and are configured to align with the longitudinal axis of the fin box slot  20  when engaged thereto. 
   In order to install the system  10  to a surfboard, second key member  16  is manually inserted into an exposed portion of a fin box slot  20 , for example a portion of the fin box slot  20  that is not covered by the surfboard fin  6  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and protrusion  16   c  is pushed into engagement with the slot recess therein. Next, key member  14  is placed into the slot  20  such that it engages the substantially opposing recess  20  and slid along the slot  20  until apertures  14 ′ and  16 ′ are in alignment with one another. In this particular embodiment, key member  16  includes structure, for example flange portion  34  that engages upper edge of key member  14  as shown, and prevents substantial rotation of either of the key members  14  and  16  when the system is installed to a fin box  22  as shown in  FIG. 1C . 
   Another system  110  in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 2A–2C .  FIG. 2A  shows a side view of system  110 . FIG.  2 A′ shows a top view of system  110 .  FIG. 2B  shows a cross sectional view of system  110  as it is engaged to a fin box  22 .  FIG. 2C  shows a view of system  110  similar to the view shown in  FIG. 2   b , with the addition of a padlock  30  received through the system  110 . 
   The system  110  generally includes a first key member  114  and a separate, second key member  116  each having body portions  114   a  and  116   a , respectively, and legs  114   b  and  116   b , respectively. When arranged in a fin box slot  20 , leg portions  114   b  and  116   b  are spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the fin box  22 . Like system  10 , system  110 , when in use, has aligned apertures  114 ′ and  116 ′ as shown. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 2B and 2C , each of legs  114   b  and  116   b  includes opposing protrusions  114   c  and  116   c  located, sized and structured to engage opposing slot recesses  20   b  and  20   c . For example, as shown in  FIG. 2   b , leg  116   b  includes a protrusion  116   c  and an opposing protrusion  116   c ′. Leg  116   b  is sized and structured to closely conform within fin box slot  20 . 
   When system  110  is properly installed to a fin box  22 , such as shown in  FIG. 2C , and a fin (not shown) is installed in another portion of the fin box slot  20 , the relatively wide spacing of legs  114   b  and  116   b  substantially prevents the system  110  from being removed from a fin box  22 , for example, by manual attempts to pivot or rotate the system  110  out from the fin box slot  20 , for example in a longitudinal direction. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 3A–3C , another system  210  in accordance with the present invention is shown. Unlike systems  10  and  110 , system  210  includes identical, or substantially identical, key members  250  and  250 ′. Each key member  250  ( 250 ′) includes a head portion  250   a  ( 250   a ′) and a pin portion  250   b  ( 250   b ′) structured to engage a fin box slot  20 . For example, each pin portion  250   b  ( 250   b ′) includes opposing protrusions  250   c  ( 250   c ′). 
   As shown in FIGS.  3 A and  3 A′, each of identical key members  250  is structured, sized and/or otherwise configured to engage another of said key members  250 ′, for example by means of aperture  252  and pin  254 . This embodiment of the present invention is shown most clearly in  FIG. 3C , which provides a cross sectional view of system  210  engaged to a fin box  22  and having a padlock  30  connected to both members  250  and  250 ′ by means of aligning apertures  251  and  251 ′. 
   One or more of the systems of the invention may be designed such that upon securement of the system to the fin box as described elsewhere herein, at least one of the key members, for example, due to size or shape thereof, will overlap or obstruct access to a screw or other fastener that secures the fin box to the board, thereby preventing or at least deterring theft of the board by removal of the fin box itself. This is possible in part because of the design of embodiments of the system which prevents any substantial rotation of the key members when they have been secured to the fin box in accordance with the invention. 
   The present invention also provides methods for deterring theft or unauthorized removal of a water sport board, for example, using one of the systems of the invention as described elsewhere herein. 
   A method of the invention for deterring theft may comprise the steps of providing a system including a first member and a second member wherein the members are configured to enter and be engaged in a slot of a built-in fin box of a water sport board. In accordance with a method of the invention, the first member is manually inserted into the fin box slot such that a portion of the first member enters and resides within a longitudinal recess in the slot. The second member is similarly placed into the slot such that a portion of the second member resides within a substantially opposing recess in the slot. The method further comprises the step of moving the first member and second member into contact or engagement with one another so as to cause an aperture of the first member to become aligned with an aperture of the second member. The first member and second member are now located in the slot in a manner such that a cross-sectional region of the slot is substantially filled with the members. The first member and second member are fastened to one another, for example, by inserting a tether, padlock or combination thereof, through the aligned apertures. The fastened first member and the second member are now restricted from rotating any substantial degree. The fastened members can then be secured or locked to an object, for example a truck bed, bicycle rack, tree, post, etc., in order to deter theft or prevent unauthorized removal of the water sport board therefrom. 
   It is to be appreciated that the invention has been described hereabove with reference to certain examples or embodiments of the invention but that various additions, deletions, alterations and modifications may be made to these examples and embodiments without departing from the intended spirit and scope of the invention. For example, any element or attribute of one embodiment or example may be incorporated into or used with another embodiment or example, unless to do so would render the embodiment or example unsuitable for its intended use. Also, for example, where the steps of a particular method are described in a certain order, the steps may be performed in any other order unless specified otherwise or unless changing the order of the steps would render the method ineffective or unsuitable for its intended purpose. All reasonable additions, deletions, modifications and alterations are to be considered equivalents of the described examples and embodiments and are to be included within the scope of the following claims.