Patent Publication Number: US-2006016842-A1

Title: Surfboard protective shoulder bag

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      (a) Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a protective shoulder bag for carrying and protecting a surfboard. Basically, the surfboard protective shoulder bag of the present invention provides functionality for rapid packing and unpacking of the surfboard when not in use for purpose of carrying and transportation thereof, and moreover, is advantageous to carrying the surfboard on the shoulder, consigning to a luggage hold, and so on, whereby protective effectiveness of the surfboard is achieved.  
      (b) Description of the Prior Art  
      The sport of surfing is quite different from aquatic sports in general, and produces intense attraction for some persons. Because the sport of surfing necessitates a surfer confronting ocean waves of diverse and unpredictable nature while surfing and weaving among great waves, thus the sporting substance of surfing is such to fill the surfer with appealing sensations of wave incitement and conquest. Hence, sporting fans of surfing regularly head for major surfing sites worldwide to experience firsthand beaches of varied environment and a dissimilitude of ocean waves.  
      Almost all surfers usually possess their own personal favorite surfboard, which suits charge of the surfboard as habitually practiced by the surfer. Therefore, when the surfer carries the surfboard and proceeds towards a certain beach, such an itinerary may involve self-drive motoring, taking a long-distance bus, a train, an airplane, a steamboat, and so on, and unavoidably walking a certain distance. During course of transporting the surfboard, the surfboard might be carried on the shoulder, tied to a roof of an automobile or squeezed into a luggage cargo hold, which can result in damage occurring to the surfboard, including surface scores, breakage, deformation, and so on.  
      The surfboard is a piece of sporting equipment that is large in size but light in weight, thus weight of the surfboard does not create a problem when carrying the surfboard around, whereas a problem of the surfboard being easily damaged upon impact with other objects is evident. In light of the aforementioned, the inventor of the present invention has actively carried out extensive research into portability problems of the surfboard. Regarding portability of the surfboard, current markets provide a surfboard shoulder bag made from fiber cloth material and having an outer appearance corresponding to that of the surfboard, which thereby enables the surfboard to be disposed therein, and the surfboard to be carried by means of shoulder straps configured on the shoulder bag. However, the shoulder bag is fabricated from only a single layer or two layers of fiber cloth, which are unable to realistically effect protection of the surfboard. During course of different transporting methods, such as disposing the surfboard into the luggage cargo hold, and so on, situations will inevitably happen in which the surfboard is pressed down upon, knocked against, thrown about, and so on, resulting in damage to the surfboard.  
      Further problems related to usage of existent surfboard shoulder bags are also apparent, for instance, because sand becomes intermingled with a zipper of the shoulder bag, normal pulling open and closing of the zipper is made difficult. Furthermore, because of the absorbent material the shoulder bag is made from, thus, after coming in contact with and absorbing sea water, the material produces a foul smell, moreover, the material is difficult to treat and thus frustrating to the surfer. In addition, surface of a conventional shoulder bag is smooth and monotonous, and not commensurate with the bold and unconstrained character of the surfer and ocean, particularly considering the enormous extent of the ocean. Hence, when the surfer is carrying the surfboard, extreme regret is manifested if the shoulder bag does not display a unique, innovative three-dimensional pattern and design appropriate to the sporting substance of surfing.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Based on research analysis of the aforementioned existing problems, the inventor of he present invention acquired several prospectives for product development, and thus invested in researching and developing a surfboard protective shoulder bag for usage in carrying a surfboard.  
      A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a surfboard protective shoulder bag that possesses three-dimensional air-inflated ribs to protect the surfboard, and which during course of carrying or transporting the surfboard are able to protect the surfboard from being easily damaged from external forces.  
      Another objective of the present invention is to provide the surfboard protective shoulder bag which enables the surfboard to be easily packed into and retrieved from the shoulder bag by means of a bag divided into three sections and hook and loop tapes that realize binding together thereof.  
      Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide the surfboard protective shoulder bag configured as a tri-sectional bag, which allows the shoulder bag to be easily spread out for airing, and that does not easily accumulate moisture, which would otherwise produce foul smells.  
      An additional objective of the present invention is to provide the surfboard protective shoulder bag that utilizes three-dimensionality of air-inflated ribs to endow the protective shoulder bag with an adornment feature. Moreover, a large surface area of the surfboard allows for diversification in exterior surfaces of the shoulder bag, which provides for commercialization and individualistic features.  
      Basically, the surfboard protective shoulder bag of the present invention provides functionality for rapid packing and unpacking of the surfboard when not in use for purpose of carrying and transportation thereof, and moreover, is advantageous to carrying the surfboard on the shoulder, consigning to a luggage hold, and so on, whereby protective effectiveness of the surfboard is achieved. The present invention is structured to comprise three elements that can be locally air inflated, and which are utilized as reinforcing ribs, and embodies a middle element that protects a middle section of the surfboard, and which after folding forms a middle bag; two elements formed as sub-triangular end bags that afford protection of two extremities of the surfboard, and detachable carrying straps. The present invention is characterized in that the middle bag and the two end bags are fabricated from nonabsorbent, light film material, and air-inflated ribs, which can be inflated with air, are configured on edgings of the middle bag and the end bags and exterior surfaces thereof. Furthermore, hook and loop tapes, which are able to mutually bind together, are configured on mouth openings of the shoulder bag, and which enable employing the middle bag to cover the middle section of the surfboard, whereupon the hook and loop tapes are employed to fasten together end openings of the middle bag to the end bags. The end bags are employed to sheath two extremities of the surfboard, and the hook and loop tapes are utilized to fasten together the mouth openings of the end bags with end openings of the middle bag, thereby realizing covering of the entire surfboard. Furthermore, the surfboard protective shoulder bag utilizes the air-inflated ribs configured on the outer edgings and the exterior surfaces to form a protective effect for the surfboard. Fastening rings are configured on top edges of the middle bag, which realize fastening together with movable fastening rings of the carrying straps, thereby enabling a user to utilize the carrying straps to lift and carry the entire surfboard on the shoulder of the user therewith. Moreover, because of the air-inflated ribs, protection of the surfboard is effectuated therewith, and such protective packing of the surfboard provided by the air-inflated ribs even allows stacking the surfboard among luggage without concern over damage.  
      To enable a further understanding of the said objectives and the technological methods of the invention herein, the brief description of the drawings below is followed by the detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  shows a general schematic view of an end bag of a protective shoulder bag covering an extremity of a surfboard according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional view of a middle bag prior to covering the surfboard according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  shows a schematic view of the protective shoulder bag after covering the surfboard according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  shows a schematic view of the protective shoulder bag in usage according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , which show the present invention depicting a protective shoulder bag A for a surfboard B fabricated from three elements that can be locally air inflated, and which are utilized as reinforcing ribs, therewith constructing the protective shoulder bag A. The protective shoulder bag A is structured to comprise a middle element that protects a middle section of the surfboard B, and which after folding forms a middle bag  10 ; two elements formed as sub-triangular end bags  20  that afford protection of two extremities of the surfboard B, and detachable carrying straps  30 , therewith enabling the entire surfboard B to be covered, and allowing shoulder carrying and thus portability of the surfboard B. Moreover, because of the air-inflated ribs, protection of the surfboard B is effectuated therewith, and such protective packing of the surfboard B provided by the air-inflated ribs even allows stacking the surfboard B among luggage without concern over damage.  
      Configurational characteristics of the surfboard protective shoulder bag A are such to complement entire structure of the surfboard B, and are disclosed hereinafter: The middle bag  10  and the two end bags  20  are fabricated from nonabsorbent, light film material, and air-inflated ribs  103  and  203 , which can be inflated with air, are configured on edgings  101  and  201  of the middle bag  10  and the end bags  20 , and exterior surfaces  102  and  202  respectively. Furthermore, hook and loop tapes  105  and  205 , which are able to mutually adhere and thereby bind together, are configured on two sides of end openings  104  of the middle bag  10  and mouth openings  204  of the end bags  20  respectively.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , which show a clam-like structure of the middle bag  10 , whereby a folding mode is utilized to cover the middle section of the surfboard B. A pair of hook and loop tapes  105 ′ are separately configured on corresponding inner surfaces of two upper edges  106 , and utilized to mutually adhere and thereby bind together the top edges  106  of the middle bag  10  after the top edges  106  have been brought together, thereby realizing covering of the surfboard B there between.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , in order to sheath the two extremities of the surfboard B, the end bags  20  each assume form of a bag having the mouth opening  204 . Hook and loop tapes  205  are separately configured on outer sides of the mouth openings  204  of each of the end bags  20 , and which effectuates binding together with the hook and loop tapes  105  configured on two ends of the middle bag  10 , thus forming the protective shoulder bag A from a pair of side panels that envelope and thereby covers the surfboard B (see  FIG. 2 ).  
      Fastening rings  107  are configured on the top edges  106  of the middle bag  10 , and which realize fastening together with movable fastening rings  301  of the carrying straps  30 , thereby enabling a user to utilize the carrying straps  30  to lift and carry the entire surfboard B on the shoulder of the user therewith, including the middle bag  10  and the end bags  20 , thus realizing free carrying around of the surfboard B (see  FIG. 4 ).  
      Sequence of packing the surfboard B with the protective shoulder bag A is as follows: the two end bags  20  are first sheathed over the two extremities of the surfboard B (see  FIG. 1 ), the middle bag  10  is then used to cover the middle section of the surfboard B (see  FIG. 2 ), thereby enabling the end openings  104  of the middle bag  10  to cover the mouth openings  204  of the end bags  20 , whereupon the hook and loop tapes  105  of the middle bag  10  are bound together with the hook and loop tapes  205  of the end bags  20 . Upon fastening the carrying straps  30 , assemblage of the protective carry bag is thus complete, and which thereby realizes covering of the surfboard B there within, achieving portability and a protective effect during transportation of the surfboard B.  
      The air-inflated ribs  103  and  203 , which have air infused thereinto and thus inflate forming air buffers, are configured on peripheral edges of the middle bag  10  and the end bags  20  and exterior surfaces of the protective shoulder bag A, and thereby effectuate realization of a protective effect for the surfboard B, even if stacked among luggage. Furthermore, because of the air-inflated ribs  103  and  203  effectuating protection of the surfboard B, the surfboard B can thus be protected from being easily damaged from external forces during course of carrying or transporting the surfboard B.  
      The protective shoulder bag A is a tri-sectional bag fabricated from the middle bag  10  and the two end bags  20 , moreover, mutual binding of the hook and loop tapes  105  and  205  is utilized to realize easy manipulation of the protective shoulder bag A to cover the surfboard B therewith. Furthermore, the surfboard B is also very easily retrieved from the bag A.  
      Because the protective shoulder bag A is fabricated from waterproof material, after unpacking the surfboard B, the protective shoulder bag A can also be easily spread out to air the waterproof material. Hence, the protective shoulder bag A is easily cleaned, and does not easily accumulate moisture, which would otherwise produce foul smells.  
      The air-inflated ribs  103  and  203  configured on the peripheral edges of the middle bag  10  and the end bags  20  and the exterior surfaces are not only provided with effectiveness of protective buffers, moreover, three-dimensionality of the air-inflated ribs  103  and  203  endow the protective shoulder bag A with an adornment feature. Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , which show different design arrangements for the air-inflated ribs  103  and  203 , which thereby furnish variant visual effects therewith. Diverse color matching for the surfaces  102  and  202  of the protective shoulder bag A can also be employed, thus bestowing the protective shoulder bag A with a sporting-style and colorful design. Furthermore, because of large surface area of the surfboard B, distinct trademarks can also be created through franchising and commercial alliancing, thereby allowing display of unique regional logos thereon.  
      Apart from the protective shoulder bag A for the aforementioned conventional surfboard (and skimboard), the protective shoulder bag of the present invention can also be employed for application to related products, for instance, a windsurfing board, a kiteboard, a bodyboard, a wakeboard, a skimboard, a snowboard, and so on.  
      It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described herein is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.