Patent Publication Number: US-2005142961-A1

Title: Sportsboard locking arrangement

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
      1. Field of Invention  
      The present invention relates to sportsboard, and more particularly to a sportsboard comprising a locking arrangement which is capable of securely and conveniently locking the sportsboard onto a fixture so as to avoid being stolen.  
      2. Description of Related Arts  
      Conventional sportsboard, such as a surfboard, are widely utilized by those who love water sports including the likes of surfing, wake riding, snowboarding, kayaking, and skating. A conventional sportsboard usually comprises a riding board having a predetermined shape which is adapted to fit a predetermined water sports, and a stabilizing device, such as a fin, extended from the riding board for steering, propelling and stabilizing of the sportsboard when it is gliding on a water surface.  
      Conventional sportsboard has a pressing disadvantage of lacking an effective locking device for locking the sportsboard when it is not in use in order to prevent such undesirable conduct as theft. The underlying difficulty in designing such a locking device lies with its interference with the normal operation of the spbrtsboard. Specifically, any add on locking device is liable to deteriorate the performance of the sportsboard. This perhaps small and insignificant deterioration in performance may become material when it is to be utilized in professional competition in which extremely accurate assessment of performance is required. Thus, a small deterioration in performance may result in material alteration in the ranking in a particular water sports competition.  
      Obviously, the deterioration in performance is not necessarily material when the sportsboard is utilized only for entertainment purpose. However, it doesn&#39;t mean that it poses no problem when the add-on locking device, such as a locking hole drilled on the riding board, affects the stability of the whole sportsboard. As such, it is even unsafe that the sportsboard is to be utilized for water sports.  
      Even though the locking device does not affect the general stability of the sportsboard, it may present a danger to the user during the course of the water sports. For example, during surfing, the user may unexpectedly encounter an intensely strong wave which brings the user out of the riding board. Normally, the user should be able to swim and grab the riding board so as not to get lost of floating support in the water. However, it is possible that the locking device, due to random motion driven by the strong wave, accidentally hit the user, then, the user may no longer be able to grab the sportsboard tightly and then regain control thereof. In other words, the locking device may pose a danger to the user.  
      Since the sportsboard is fairly expensive, it is necessary to protect it from being stolen, especially when it is not in use. However, with the above-mentioned problems, conventional locking device seems to provide the locking function at the expense of the quality of performance, which is definitely undesirable. This presents a rather paradoxical dilemma in which two conflicting considerations equally prevail. In view of this, a novel sportsboard with a locking arrangement which is capable of overcoming the above-mentioned difficulties has to be developed.  
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
      A main object of the present invention is to provide a sportsboard locking arrangement, which provides a locker guider on the sportsboard for firmly locking the sportsboards with a fixture through a fastener so as to avoid the sportsboard from being stolen.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a sportsboard locking arrangement, which is adapted to operate between a locking position and a storage position, wherein in the locking position, the locking arrangement is to firmly lock the sportsboard in order to avoid the sportsboard from being stolen, wherein in the storage position, the locking arrangement is received in the sportsboard so as not to interfere with the normal operation of the sportsboard.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a sportsboard locking arrangement, which is adapted for use in conjunction with conventional locking devices, such as a regular lock, so that no specifically-designed equipments are needed. In other words, no unnecessary expense will be incurred to the user for buying any specific equipment in using the present invention.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a sportsboard locking arrangement, which is adapted for use effectively in a wide variety of sportsboards so as to generally enhance security for conventional sportsboards.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a sportsboard locking arrangement, which does not alter the original design and structure of the sportsboard, so as to minimize the manufacturing cost and the ultimate selling price of the present invention.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a sportsboard locking arrangement, which is easy and convenient to operate, but provides sound security protection to the sportsboard from theft.  
      Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a sportsboard locking arrangement for a sportsboard having a surface and a receiving slot indented thereon, wherein the sportsboard locking arrangement comprises: 
          a locking guider having a guiding member defining a locker guiding hole thereon and two pivot arms downwardly extended from the guiding member wherein a distance between the two pivot arms of the locking guider is smaller than a width of the receiving slot; and     means for pivotally mounting the two pivot arms of the locking guider on two sidewalls of the receiving slot, wherein the locking guider is adapted for pivotally moving between a locking position that the guiding member is pivotally folded at a position above the surface of the sportsboard, and a storage position where the guiding member is pivotally folded into the receiving slot below the surface of the sportsboard;     whereby, when the locking guider is folded at the locking position, a fastener is adapted to pass through the locker guiding hole of the locking guider to lock up the sportsboard to a fixture.        

      These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sportsboard incorporating with a sportsboard locking arrangement according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a sectional side view of the sportsboard locking arrangement according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is an alternative mode of the sportsboard locking arrangement according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a sportsboard incorporating with a sportsboard locking arrangement according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of the sportsboard locking arrangement according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  is an alternative mode of the sportsboard locking arrangement according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, a sportsboard  1  incorporating with a sportsboard locking arrangement according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, in which the sportsboard  1 , such as a regular surf board, has a surface  2  and a receiving slot  3  is indent thereon.  
      The sportsboard  1  is embodied as a surf-board having a propelling fin outwardly extended from the receiving slot  3  for propelling and stabilizing the sportsboard  1  while it is surfing on a water surface. Alternatively, the sportsboard  1  can be embodied as a skateboard wherein the receiving slot  3  is formed on one of the surface  2  of the skateboard.  
      According to the preferred embodiment, the sportsboard locking arrangement is utilized for locking the sportsboard  1  with an external fixture via a fastener  4  so as to prevent the sportsboard  1  from being stolen when it is not in use and left unattended. According to the preferred embodiment, the sportsboard locking arrangement comprises a locking guider  10 , and means  20  for pivotally mounting the locking guider  10  to the receiving slot  3 .  
      The mounting means  20  is utilized for mounting two pivot arms  12  of the locking guider  10  to two sidewalls of the receiving slot  3  respectively, wherein the locking guider  10  is adapted for pivotally moving between a locking position that the guiding member  11  of the locking guider  10  is pivotally folded at a position above the surface  2  of the sportsboard  1 , and a storage position that the guiding member  11  of the locking guider  10  is pivotally folded into the receiving slot  3  below the surface  2  of the sportsboard  1 . Therefore, when the locking guider  10  is folded at the locking position, the fastener  4  is adapted to pass through the locker guiding hole  111  of the locking guider  10  to lock up the sportsboard  1  to a fixture, such as a column or a fence in order to avoid unauthorized seizure of the sportsboard  1 .  
      The locking guider  10  comprises a guiding member  11  defining a locker guiding hole  111  thereon and two pivot arms  12  downwardly extended from the guiding member  11  wherein a distance between the two pivot arms  12  of the locking guider  10  is smaller than a width of the receiving slot  3 , so that the locking guider  10  is adapted to be pivotally received in the receiving slot  3 .  
      The pivot arms  12  of the locking guider  10  are integrally extended from the guiding member  11  thereof to form a U-shaped member to define the locker guiding hole  111  within said locking guider  10 , wherein the locking guider  10  is adapted for pivotally mounting to the receiving slot  3  having an elongated structure via the mounting means  20 .  
      Accordingly, the U-shaped locking guider  10  allows the fastener  4 , such as a fastening string, to pass through the locker guiding hole  111  so as to lock up the sportsboard  1  with the external fixture. Moreover, the two pivot arms  12  are spacedly extended from the guiding member  11  while the U-shaped locking guider  10  is specifically fitted into the elongated receiving slot  3  of the sportsboard  1 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 2 , each of the pivot arms  12  of the locking guider  10  has a blocking edge  121  for substantially biasing against a bottom wall of the receiving slot  3  of the sportsboard  1 , so as to retain the locking guider  10  at the locking position. Accordingly, each of the pivot arms  12 , having a L-shaped cross section, has a bottom surface defining the blocking edge  121  thereon wherein the locking guider  10  is pivotally and upwardly folded from the receiving slot  3  until the blocking edges  121  of the locking guider  10  bias against the bottom wall of the receiving slot  3  so as to block up a further pivot movement of the locking guider  10  when the locking guider  10  is folded at the locking position.  
      It is worth to mention that in order to completely receive the locking guider  10  in the receiving slot  3  of the sportsboard  1 , a depth of the receiving slot  3  must be greater than a thickness of the locking guider  10  so that when the locking guider  10  is folded at the storage position, the locking guider  10  is arranged to be received in a position below or at most substantially align with the surface  2  of the sportsboard  1 . In other words, the thickness of the locking guider  10  is smaller than the depth of the receiving slot  3  such that the locking guider  10  is capable of being received in the receiving slot  3  of said sportsboard  1  below the surface  2  thereof when the locking guider  10  is folded in the receiving slot  3 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 2  of the drawings, the pivotal mounting means  20  comprises a mounting axle  21  transversely mounted in the receiving slot  3  of the sportsboard  1  on the two sidewalls of the receiving slot  3  wherein the two pivot arms  12  of the locking guider  10  are rotatably engaged with two end portions of the mounting axle  21  so as to pivotally mount the locking guider  10  within the receiving slot  3 . In other words, the locking guider  10  is capable of pivotally moving between the locking position and the storage position about the locking member  21 .  
      According to the first preferred embodiment, the mounting axle  21  is preferably embodied as a cylindrical pin having two ends connected to the two sidewalls of the receiving slot  3  respectively so as to pivotally connect with the locking guider  10  of the sportsboard locking arrangement.  
      It is worth to mention that when the locking guider  10  is in the storage position, it is arranged to be completely received in the receiving slot  3  so that it does not protrude from the surface  2  so as to minimize interference to the user who is riding on the surface  2 . In other words, the sportsboard locking arrangement does not materially affect the quality performance of the sportsboard  1  during the course of its normal operation, nor risking to cause undesirable harm to the user of the present invention.  
      The operation of the sportsboard locking arrangement is elaborated as follows: when a user of the present invention wants to lock up the sportsboard  1  in a particular fixture, he/she should pivotally move the locking guider  10  from the receiving slot  3  to the locking position, then, he/she should pass the fastener  4  through the locker guiding hole  111  and fasten the fastener  4  to the fixture to which the user wants to lock the sportsboard  1 , usually via an conventional lock, as shown in  FIG. 1  of the drawings.  
      It is important to point out that the sportsboard  1  as disclosed above may be utilized for a wide variety of sports, such as that for skating, surfing, and the likes. As a result, the sportsboard locking arrangement can be adopted for use in a wide variety of events and sportsboards  80 .  
       FIG. 3  illustrates an alternative mode of the mounting means of the sportsboard locking arrangement according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Accordingly, the mounting means  20 ′ comprises two connecting elements  22 ′, which are preferably embodied as two connecting screws, pivotally mounting the two pivot arms  12  of the locking guider  10  to the two sidewalls of the receiving slot  3  in such a manner that the locking guider  10  is capable of pivotally moving between the locking position and the storage position.  
      Referring to  FIG. 4  of the drawings, a sportsboard  1 ″ incorporating with a sportsboard locking arrangement according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, in which the sportsboard  1 ″ has a surface  2 ″ and a circular receiving slot  3 ″ indent thereon.  
      According to the second preferred embodiment, the sportsboard locking arrangement″ comprises a locking guider  10 ″, and means  20 ″ for pivotally mounting the locking guider  10 ″ in the receiving slot  3 ″.  
      The locking guider  10 ″ has a guiding member  11 ″ defining a locker guiding hole  111 ″ thereon, and two pivot arms  12 ″ downwardly extended from the guiding member  11 ″ wherein a distance between the two pivot arms  12 ″ of the locking guider  10 ″ is smaller than a diameter of the circular receiving slot  3 ″, so that the locking guider  10 ″ is adapted to be pivotally received in the receiving slot  3 ″.  
      According to the second preferred embodiment, the pivot arms  12 ″ of the locking guider  10 ″ are integrally extended from the guiding member  10 ″ thereof to form a semi-circular member to define the locker guiding hole  111 ″ within the locking guider  10 ″, wherein the locking guider  10 ″ is adapted for pivotally mounting to the receiving slot  3 ″ having a circular structure via the mounting means  20 ″.  
      The pivotal mounting means  20 ″ is utilized for mounting two pivot arms  12 ″ of the locking guider  10 ″ to the circular sidewall of the receiving slot  3 ″, wherein the locking member is adapted for pivotally moving between a locking position where the guiding member  11 ″ of the locking guider  10 ″ is pivotally folded at a position above the surface  2 ″ of the sportsboard  1 ′, and a storage position where the guiding member  11 ″ of the locking guider  10 ″ is pivotally folded into the receiving slot  3 ″ below the surface  2 ″ of the sportsboard  1 ″. Therefore, when the locking guider  10 ″ is folded at the locking position, the fastener  4 ″ is adapted to pass through the locker guiding hole  111 ″ of the locking guider  10 ″ to lock up the sportsboard  1 ″ to a fixture, such as a column or a fence in order to avoid unauthorized seizure of the sportsboard  1 ″.  
      The thickness of the locking guider  10 ″ is smaller than the depth of the receiving slot  3 ″ such that the locking guider  10 ″ is capable of being received in the receiving slot  3 ″ of said sportsboard  1 ″ below the surface  2 ″ thereof when the locking guider  10 ″ is folded in the receiving slot  3 ″.  
      Referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  of the drawings, the mounting means  20 ″ comprises a mounting axle  21 ″ transversely mounted in the circular receiving slot  3 ″ of the sportsboard  1 ″ on the opposing sidewall thereof wherein the two pivot arms  12 ″ of the locking guider  10 ″ rotatably engaged with two end portions of the mounting axle  21 ″ so as to pivotally mount the locking guider  10 ″ into the receiving slot  3 ″ via the mounting axle  21 ″. Accordingly, the locking guider  10 ″ is capable of pivotally moving between the locking position and the storage position about the mounting axle  21 ″.  
      According to the second preferred embodiment, the mounting axle  21 ″ is preferably embodied as a cylindrical pin having two ends transversely connected to the opposing and circular sidewall of the receiving slot  3 ″ so as to pivotally connect with the locking guider  10 ″ of the sportsboard locking arrangement.  
      Due to the circular shape of the receiving slot  3 ″, each of the pivot arms  12 ″ of the locking guider  10 ″ has an outer slanted surface  121 ″ extended inwardly for allowing the locking guider  10 ″ to be pivotally folded into the receiving slot  3 ″ of the sportsboard  1 ″. As shown in  FIG. 5 , each of the pivot arms  12 ″ has a thickness gradually reducing to a free end to define the outer slanted surface  121 ″. Therefore, when the locking guider  10 ″ is folded into the receiving slot  3 ″, two clearances are respectively formed between the two outer slanted surfaces  121 ″ of the pivot arms  12 ″ and the circular sidewall of the receiving slot  3 ″ such that the locking guider  10 ″ can be entirely received into the receiving slot  3 ″ at the storage position.  
      It is worth mentioning that when the locking guider  10 ″ is in the storage position, it is arranged to be completely received in the receiving slot  3 ″ so that it does not protrude from the surface  2 ″ so as to minimize interference to the user who is riding on the surface  2 ″. In other words, the sportsboard locking arrangement does not materially affect the quality performance of the sportsboard  1 ″ during the course of its normal operation, nor risking to cause undesirable harm to the user of the present invention.  
      The operation of the sportsboard locking arrangement is elaborated as follows: when a user of the present invention wants to lock up the sportsboard  1 ′ in a particular fixture, he/she should pivotally move the locking guider  10  into the locking position, then, he/she should pass the fastener  4 ″ through the locker guiding hole  111 ′ and fasten the fastener to the fixture to which the user wants to lock the sportsboard  1 ″, usually via an conventional lock, as shown in  FIG. 4  of the drawings.  
      Referring to  FIG. 6  of the drawings, an alternative mode of the sportsboard locking arrangement according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, in which the mounting means  20 A comprises two connecting elements  22 A, which are preferably embodied as two connecting screws, pivotally and transversely mounting the two pivot arms  12 A of the locking guider  10 A to the circular sidewall of the receiving slot  13 A in such a manner that the locking guider  10 A is capable of pivotally moving between the locking position and the storage position.  
      One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.  
      It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.