Patent Publication Number: US-2004056060-A1

Title: Board sling

Description:
DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART  
       [0001] Surfing in the ocean is a popular sport that requires a surfboard. Surfboards are watercrafts that are stored out of water and must be portaged to the ocean for use. In the history of surfing, some surfboards have regularly exceeded the users&#39; height. Carrying an elongated load such as a surfboard can be cumbersome and walking an extended distance with a board can be tiring. Often times, the best surfing spots in the world require an extended hike across treacherous terrain to reach the ocean. A variety of devices have been invented to carry an elongated load such as a surfboard.  
       [0002] U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,551 by Conroy shows a lightweight carrier for transporting a surfboard. The carrier is fastened to into one end of the load by a padded cross member, which carries the load. The surfer can then carry the opposite end of the load. This invention helps surfers carry surfboards across long distances of road where the road is paved. Unfortunately, it requires the use of at least one hand and does not go up steps.  
       [0003] A board carrying apparatus was invented by Silberberg as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,989 and includes a handle connected to a rigid carrier bar. The carrier bar holds a plurality of straps that support a sailboard or surfboard.  
       [0004] Inventor Frietze in U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,101 describes a body board carrying device comprising a plurality of adjustable straps fashioned into loops to encircle various sports equipment that can hold a variety of miscellaneous items. This configuration has the drawback of a complex system of straps that would be compromised by particles of silica sand from the beach.  
       [0005] Another attempt at a surfboard carrying device was invented by Savage in U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,344. A carrying case includes a flexible soft portion and a rigid hard portion for transporting a surfboard so as to prevent damage to the surfboard fins. The carry case is constructed so that at least one surf board can be carried, with a tail portion of the surfboard, including the fans, protectively encapsulated within a the hard case portion thereby preventing damage due to impact and mishandling of the case during transport. The Savage invention is an improvement on the surfboard bag allowing transportation on airplanes and buses.  
       [0006] Yet another device for carrying recreational boards is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,254 issued to inventor Challoner. The carrier case for a recreational board contains a base and a first and second engagement pouch or compartment for securing a recreational board to the base. This carrying case has the advantage of protecting the ends of a board while in transport. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0007]FIG. 1 is a view of a user operating the device while riding a bicycle.  
     [0008]FIG. 2 is a view of a user operating the device while standing.  
     [0009]FIG. 3 is a view of the device when it is opened and laid flat. 
    
    
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
     [0010] It is a primary object of the invention to offer a device that allows a surfer to carry a surfboard hands free while walking an extended distance, riding a bicycle or traversing terrain that requires use of both hands.  
     [0011] It is a secondary object of the invention to offer a washing machine compatible device that also carries accessories such as a wet suit or surf accessories.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0012] The present invention includes a  101  main sling member made of terry cloth towel material. The main member is of rectangular shape having a vertical dimension greater than a horizontal dimension. The vertical dimension is preferably 48 in. long and the horizontal dimension is preferably 27 in. wide. The best mode consists of using a  101  main sling member that is a beach towel, as they are widely available. The main sling member creates a cavity fold  150  between an upper and lower edge to hold a surfboard. Other recreational boards such as boogie boards, and sailboards can also be held and transported in the sling.  
     [0013] A top edge  310  of the FIG. 1( a ),  101  main sling member parallel to the horizontal dimension opposes a  320  bottom edge of the main sling member, also parallel to the horizontal dimension. Preferably, respective strips  311  of polypropelene fabric reinforce the top  310  and bottom edge  320 . A strip of polypropylene fabric  311  being linearly shaped is preferably rectangular and has two ends.  
     [0014] A pair of straps  120  is sewn on opposite ends of the  101  main sling member parallel to the horizontal width. Preferably, the straps  120  each has two connection points  325  at the two ends of the reinforcing polypropylene fabric  311 . The  120  straps should be made of polypropylene fabric.  
     [0015] Optionally, a FIG. 2, 210 pocket made of the same material as the  101  main sling member can be sewn and attached to the  101  main sling member. The pocket is preferably rectangular having a vertical dimension of 8 in and a horizontal dimension of 10 in. Preferably, the  212  opening edge of the pocket is 6 in. from the top edge of the  101  main member.  
     [0016] The  210  pocket can be closed by hook and loop tape sewn into opposite sides of the opening of the pocket. The device can be unfurled and used as a beach towel.  
     [0017] A  210  pocket, if made large enough, allows the device to be folded upon itself and stowed into the  210  pocket for storage. A  210  pocket additionally allows a user to store accessory items such as surfboard wax.  
     [0018] A surfboard fits into a  150  folded cavity formed by opposite ends of the vertical lengths of the substantially rectangular main section.  
     [0019] A user puts one strap over the shoulder while holding the opposite  120  strap. This creates a cavity formed by the  101  main sling member. The user then places one or two surfboards and optionally other equipment inside the cavity. A user places the middle portion of a surfboard inside the  150  cavity and balances the surfboard according to the user&#39;s natural center of gravity. The user then puts the other strap over the shoulder, which wraps the top and bottom ends of the  101  main sling member around the surfboard. The terry cloth material of the  101  main sling member conforms to the waxed and curved shape of the surfboard to maintain separation between ends of the straps and ends of reinforcing strips along the horizontal direction. With both  120  straps over the shoulder a user can carry a surfboard without using hands, which allows a user to ride a bicycle or carry other equipment while walking over sand.  
     [0020] The opposing  120  straps connected to the top and bottom ends of the  101  main member can be connected to each other. Connecting the straps improve ease of use.  
     [0021] While the user carries the device hands free, the user can access the  210  optional pocket.  
     [0022] An optional support pad  250  made of soft cloth, foam or gel padding alleviates stress concentration around a user shoulder and slides along and relative to a strap for ease of adjustment. The supporting pad  250  is of planar shape when opened. The support pad  250  has a padding portion and a flexible portion. The flexible portion can open and close. The flexible portion can wrap around a strap and close by hook and loop tape at a pad connection point between the flexible portion and the support pad. Alternatively, hook and loop tape can be attached to the flexible portion alone according to configurations commonly known in the industry. The support pad  250  thus folds open to accommodate and attach to a strap  120  and can accommodate both straps  120 . A variety of support pads  250  currently in widespread use and known in the industry can be used with the board sling.  
     [0023] After the user arrives at the surfing spot the user unfurls the device that is then used as a beach towel. After a day at the beach, the device may be covered with sand. A user can shake the sand loose from the device before going home.  
     [0024] Modification from an Existing Towel  
     [0025] The board sling can be created by modifying an existing beach towel that is commonly and commercially available in a wide variety of styles and designs.  
     [0026] The process of modification comprises several steps. The first step consists of selecting a desirable beach towel. The towel is used as the  101  board sling main section. A  120  strap is connected to the ends of the top edge of the  101  beach towel board sling main section. A  120  strap is connected to the ends of the bottom edge of the  101  beach towel board sling main section. Optionally, the top and bottom edges of the beach towel can be reinforced with reinforcing fabric strips  311 . The left and right sides of the beach towel can be reinforced with fabric strips as well. The reinforcing fabric strips  311  have opposite ends  325  where  120  fabric straps can be connected. Optionally, a pocket can be sewn in the main section of the beach towel. The pocket can be biased closed by affixing opposite strips of hook and loop tape across the opening of the pocket  212 .