Patent Publication Number: US-2015076194-A1

Title: Shoulder harness for transport of water boards

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Applicant claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/744,200, filed Sep. 21, 2012. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to water boards, such as surfboards of any size, boogey boards and the like, used with respect to aquatic recreation and more particularly to a harness removably securable to the water board which allows the water board to be transported by an individual by supporting the water board to a harness secured to the individual&#39;s shoulders and allowing the individual&#39;s hands and arms to be free for the transport of additional equipment. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Water boards are a popular form of aquatic recreation, particularly along the coastline where they can be utilized with respect to the waves generated by the wind and tides. 
     Surfboards were the original form of water boards in which an individual would paddle outwardly from the shoreline to a position where the individual could catch a wave and ride the board into the shore. From the original surfboards, additional types of water boards have been developed, including boogey boards, which are smaller in shape and are ridden in the prone position, and other boogey boards which are smaller in shape and which are ridden parallel to the shoreline in the breaking surf. 
     Surfboards can be made from wood, but are primarily made from polymer and the same holds true for the smaller boogey boards. Surfboards themselves can come in various sizes. Typically the surfboard and boogey board are slightly unwieldy and are normally carried under the arm of the individual user. The boards must be transported from the vehicle across the beach to the water line. Sometimes this is a relatively short distance, sometimes it is a relatively long distance. In addition, the board user may have additional gear which he wishes to transport to the shore line for use, such as a wetsuit, fins, mask, or the like. There therefore has been a difficulty in transporting all of this equipment in one trip. 
     Applicant&#39;s harness allows the water board user to strap the board, be it a surfboard of any size, or a boogey board, to his back, the harness support by the user&#39;s shoulders, such that the board can be transported from a vehicle across the beach to the water&#39;s edge, leaving the user&#39;s hands free for carrying additional equipment, food or beverage. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel harness which allows an individual to transport a water board attached to the user&#39;s back. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel harness which is worn about the shoulders of an individual and secures a water board to the back of an individual for transport to the water&#39;s edge. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel harness which is easily secured and unsecured from a water board without affecting the surface of the water board 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel harness which is easily secured to the water board, easily removed from the water board, and easily stored when not in use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A harness system for the transport of a water board, the harness system consisting of two adjustable straps, each strap having a padded portion for engagement with the shoulders of an individual, each strap of the harness having a securing means at each end removably securable to the surface of a water board such that the water board is secured to the back of the individual and supported by the individual&#39;s shoulders. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent, particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of the harness system of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the harness system of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the harness system of  FIGS. 1 and 2  secured to a boogey board; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the harness system of  FIGS. 1 and 2  secured to a surfboard; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of an individual with the harness system of  FIGS. 1 and 2  secured to a surfboard; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of an individual having the harness system of  FIGS. 1 and 2  secured to a surfboard; and 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of a surfboard with an alternative form of the harness system secured thereto. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of the harness invention of the present invention and  FIG. 2  is a side view of one of the harness elements. In the preferred embodiment, the harness  10  is comprised of two identical elements, each element having the same features. In  FIG. 1  the two elements  12  and  14  are shown in a vertical parallel relationship as they would be secured to the water board. Each of the harness elements is comprised of two suction cups  16  and  18  arranged in vertical relationship with respect to the water board, the two suction cups  16  and  18  are secured by an intermediate strap assembly  20  which consists of an adjustable strap portion  22  having a buckle  24 , and a padded strap portion  26  designed to interact and engage with the shoulders of the individual. The strap members are secured to the respective suction cups  16  and  18  by a securing means  30  which may be a nut and bolt assembly, or other suitable securing means such as a rivet or the like. 
     The adjustable strap portion  22  and buckle  24  allow for the strap member to be adjusted to the torso and height of the individual. The suction cups  16  and  18  on each harness  12  and  14  are designed to be engaged with a surface of a water board. The water board can thus be carried on the back of an individual leaving the individual&#39;s arms free for carrying additional gear. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of a boogie board  34  in which the strap members as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  have been affixed.  FIG. 4  is a front view of a surfboard  36  again in which the harness members  12  and  14  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  have been affixed. 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of an individual&#39;s torso illustrating the harness system  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  engaged with the individual&#39;s shoulders  40 , and engaged with a surfboard  36  illustrating the manner in which the surfboard is supported by the individual&#39;s torso and shoulders so that the individual&#39;s hands and arms remain free for carrying or transporting additional gear across the beach to the waters edge. 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the harness system of  FIGS. 1 and 2  engaged with the shoulders of a individual illustrating the manner in which the surfboard is supported by the shoulders of the individual for transport to the waters edge. 
     In all of the aforesaid illustrations, the preferred embodiment of the harness system utilizing the suction cups allows for the individual to quickly and easily secure the harness system to the surface of the water board and to engage the harness system with the shoulders of the individual for the transport of the water board to and from the waters edge while allowing the individual&#39;s hands and arms freedom to carry or transport additional gear. 
     It will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that different manners of arrangement with respect to the harness system are and will be available, which would allow such transport.  FIG. 7  illustrates the elimination of the suction cups with a harness system utilizing adjustable horizontal straps  50  and  52  which would be drawn taut, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the water board. Straps  50  and  52  drawn taut would then have the intermediate strap assemblies  20  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  including the padded portions  26  adjustable strap  22  and buckle  24  secured to them. Since most water boards are somewhat tapered from the middle to the rear end and the front end (A and B), these taut straps would prevent the water board from slipping through the harness. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the alternative manner of transport in which the two taut straps  50  and  52  are drawn taut about the surfboard  36 , these straps having similar intermediate support straps  20  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  having adjustable strap lengths  22 , a buckle  24 , and a padded portion  26  for engagement with the shoulders of the individual. The intermediate support straps  20  for supporting the water board on the shoulders of the individual could be fixedly secured to the horizontal taut straps  50  and  52  drawn tautly about the surfboard or water board  36 , or could be secured to these horizontal straps by means of eye hooks, carboniers or the like. It must be remembered that the transport harness should allow for the transport of the water board, but should not have hardware associated with it which would damage or mar the surface of the water board which could affect the water boards performance or lead to deterioration of the water board. 
     Therefore, while the present invention has been disclosed with respect to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalence thereof.