Abstract:
A board connection module for detachably coupling a surfboard with a surfboard leash is provided. The leash may include a rail saver, a leash length, and an ankle strap. The leash length and rail saver couple the ankle strap with the board connection module. The board connection module detachably anchors the rail saver with an attachment pin of a leash cup of the surf board. The board connection module may engage the attachment pin of the leash cup with (a.) a cam lock; (b.) a cam lock configured with a push release element; (c.) a hooked shaft having a circular threaded end; (d.) a hook and loop attachment fabric.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to leashes that mechanically couple a human being to a mobile sports device, such as a surfboard, snowboard, skateboard, wakeboard or bodyboard. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Numerous sports devices include a board element upon which a user stands and balances during use. It is often desirable to provide a leash coupling the user to the board element to increase the ease of management and retrieval of the board element. In the prior art a first end of the leash is typically attached to the trailing section of the board element. Board leashes may include a second end having a wrist or ankle strap for attachment to the user&#39;s body. The leash is preferably long enough to reduce the likelihood of injury to the user, e.g., a surfer, when the user becomes separated from the board element, while enabling the surfer to readily recover the board element for remounting. 
         [0003]    A rail saver comprising a strip of fabric wider than the cord may optionally be provided to protect the board element from damaging contact with the cord. The rail saver may increase undesirable drag that degrades the mobility of the board element. 
         [0004]    The prior art provides leashes that enable removal of the leash from the user as desired by the user, while securing the leash to the board by means of a cord knotted about a pin located within a plug assembly. The plug assembly (hereafter “plug”) may be fitted into a recessed area of the board, whereby the plug and its pin are located below a substantially planar top surface of the board. The cord may be untied from the pin to facilitate storage of the sports device. Undesirably, the cord may also be detached from the other leash elements and misplaced between uses of the leash. 
         [0005]    The prior art includes attempts to improve leash attachments means. U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,324 discloses a combination rail saver and key holder. U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,861 presents a combination leash attachment and lock for surfboard. U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,965 provides a leash release mechanism for surfboards and the like. U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,872 discloses a surfboard having improved leash plug anchoring. And U.S. Pat. No. 7,013,684 teaches of a cable lock coupling and lock system for surfboards 
         [0006]    The entire disclosures of each and every patent mentioned in this present disclosure, to include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,098,324; 5,127,861; 5,775,965; 6,390,872; and 7,013,684 as noted above, are incorporated herein by reference and for all purposes. 
         [0007]    There is therefore a long felt need to provide a detachable leash attachment means that more conveniently and manageably affects attachments and detachments of a leash to and from a board element of a sports device. It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a leash connection means that supports comfortable use of the sports device. This and other objects of the invention will become clear from an inspection of the detailed description of the invention and from the appended claims 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a detachable leash attachment means for attaching and detaching a leash to an element of a sports equipment. 
         [0009]    It is an additional object of certain alternate preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide a detachable leash attachment means for attaching and detaching a leash to a surfboard. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Towards these and other objects that will be made obvious in light of the present disclosure, a first alternate preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention is a board connection module provides a fixture or flexible base attached to a rail saver of a leash of a board of a sports device. A strap attached to the base fits around a pin attachment of a surfboard leash plug. The strap is then detachably secured to the base by means of closure material strips, such as hook and loop fasteners. 
         [0011]    A second alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a hook driven by a manually adjustable cam, wherein the hook is driven by the cam to attach to, and release from, the attachment pin of the surfboard leash plug by manual manipulation of the cam. The leash may alternatively be attached to a surfboard, a bodyboard, a skim board, a skate board, or other suitable sports device board. 
         [0012]    A third alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a tapped hook driven by a manually adjustable tapped handle, wherein the tapped hook is driven by the cam to attach to, and release from, the attachment pin of the surfboard leash plug by manual rotation of the tapped handle. 
         [0013]    A fourth alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a spring biased lever arm and a curved post that are used to detachably capture the attachment pin of the surfboard plug. 
         [0014]    A fifth alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a looped cord that may be removabley located around the attachment pin of a surfboard plug to couple a surfboard leash to a surfboard. 
         [0015]    The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    These, and further features of the invention, may be better understood with reference to the accompanying specification and drawings depicting the preferred embodiment, in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates a first alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention, or first version, wherein a strap is positioned about a surfboard plug attachment pin; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates the first version of  FIG. 1  in an attachment state; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2A  is a side view of the first version of  FIG. 1  in the attachment state of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a second alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention, or second version; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the second version of  FIG. 3 , wherein a cam and hook are used to couple a surfboard leash to a surfboard; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is an additional side view of the second version of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and wherein the hook and cam are in a release state and the surfboard leash is detached from the surfboard; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a third alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention, or third version, wherein a threaded hook is used to couple a surfboard leash to a surfboard; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6A  is a top view of the third version of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a fourth alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention, or fourth version, wherein a spring biased lever arm and a curved post are used to couple a surfboard leash to a surfboard; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7A  is a top view of the fourth version of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a fifth alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention, or fifth version, wherein a looped cord is positioned about a surfboard plug attachment pin; 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a fifth version of  FIG. 8 , wherein the fifth version is in an attaching state and the surfboard leash is detachably coupled with the leash plug attachment pin; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 9A  is a top view of the fifth version of  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]    The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his or her invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the Present Invention have been defined herein. 
         [0031]    Referring generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  2 A,  FIG. 1  illustrates a first preferred embodiment of the present invention  2 , or first version  2  in an open position A, wherein the first version  2  is coupled with a surfboard leash cord  4 . The surfboard leash cord  4  may be comprised within a suitable surfboard leash known in the art, such as a FCS CLASSIC LEASH(™) as marketed by Fin Control Systems of 5-7 By the Sea Road, Mona Vale, NSW 2103, Australia. 
         [0032]    The first version  2  is configured to be removabley attached to a leash plug  6  of a surfboard  8 . The leash plug  6  may be a suitable leash plug known in the art having a surfboard leash plug pin  6 A, such as a SHAPERS LEASH PLUG(™) marketed by Shapers Australia of 9/7 Traders Way, Currumbin, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, 4223. The plug pin  6 A that is typically a solid cylindrical pin made from a strong, rigid material (e.g., metal, composite, plastic, etc.). However, it is to be understood that pin  6 A could also be hollow and have a non-cylindrical external geometry without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0033]    The first version  2  includes a fixture  10 , a flap  12  and a strap  14 . The fixture  10  is adhered to a rail saver  16  of the leash  4  by stitching, heat treatment, and/or a water resistant adhesive, or other suitable means known in the art, at an attachment surface  10 A of the fixture  10 , as per  FIG. 2 . The first version  2  may be sized, shaped and made of suitable materials known in the art and as applicable to and compatible with uses and configurations of surfboard leashes. 
         [0034]    It is understood that the surfboard  8  may be replaced with a bodyboard, a skim board, a skate board, or other suitable sports device board. 
         [0035]    The strap  14  extends from the fixture  10  and is configured to be wrapped around the attachment pin  6 A by a user while the attachment pin  6 A remains fixed within a positioning cup  6 B of the leash plug  6  of the surfboard  8 . A pair of first closure strips  18 A &amp;  18 B are each separately and permanently attached on opposite sides of the strap  14 . The first closure strips  18 A &amp;  18 B are each positioned to separately couple with one of a pair of second closure strips  20 A &amp;  20 B of the flap  12  and the fixture  10 . The first closure strips  18 A &amp;  18 B and the second closure strips  20 A &amp;  20 B are selected to provide a detachable closure of the first version  2  in a coupling position A, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The first closure strips  18 A &amp;  18 B and the second closure strips  20 A &amp;  20 B may be matched and paired and may alternately comprise hook and loop fastener strip material, such as VELCRO(™) closure material. For example, the first closure strips  18 A &amp;  18 B may present small nylon hooks and the second closure strips  20 A &amp;  20 B may present small nylon loops, wherein the hooks and loops of the first closure strips  18 A &amp;  18 B and second closure strips  20 A &amp;  20 B are configured to detachably couple the attachment strip  14  with the flap  12 . 
         [0036]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIGS. 2 and 2A ,  FIG. 2  is illustration of the first version  2  of  FIG. 1  in an attachment position B, and  FIG. 2A  is a side view of the first version  2  in the attachment position B. In the attachment position B, the first closure strips  18 A &amp;  18 B and each separately and detachably coupled with one of the second closure strips  20 A &amp;  20 B, and the strap  14  is wrapped around the leash plug pin  6 A. 
         [0037]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 ,  FIG. 3  is a top view of a second preferred alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention, or second version  24 . The second version  24  includes a housing  26  and a movable cam  28 . The housing  26  is attached to a rail saver  30  of the surf leash cord  4  by rail saver pins  32  and is detachably coupled with the surfboard  8 . 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the movable cam  28  is shown in a side view and in a cam closed position C, wherein the cam presses against a curved recessed surface  31  and a hook  32  of the second version  24  is pulled up in compression and against the surfboard leash plug attachment pin  6 A. The hook  32  of the second version  24  is rotatably attached to the movable cam  28  and extends from a cam pin  34  through a hook aperture  36  of the housing  26 . The cam pin  34  is fixed to the housing  26  and the movable cam  28  is rotatably attached to the cam pin  34 . The cam pin  34  is typically a solid cylindrical pin made from a strong, rigid material (e.g., metal, composite, plastic, etc.). However, it is to be understood that cam pin  34  could also be hollow and have a non-cylindrical external geometry without departing from the scope of the present invention. The rotatable coupling of the hook  32  and the movable cam  28  to the housing  26  enables the cam  32  and hook  32  to be moved from the cam closed position C to a cam detach position D, as per  FIG. 5 . A user may alternatively transition the second version  26  from the cam closed position C to the cam detach position D by manually rotating a handle  36  of the movable cam  28  about the cam pin  34 . A bottom surface  38  of the housing  26  is configured to press against a top surface  40  of the surfboard  8  when the hook  32  is pulled against the surfboard attachment pin  6 A. 
         [0039]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIGS. 6 and 6A ,  FIG. 6  shows a third alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention  42 , or third version  42 , wherein a tapped hook  44  is alternately positioned towards and away from a tapped handle  46 , whereby rotation of the tapped handle  46  in a first rotational direction pulls a hook section  48  of the tapped hook  44  towards a third version housing  50  of the third version  42 , and rotation of the tapped handle  46  in an opposite rotational direction drives the tapped screw hook section  48  away from the third version housing  50 . A user may secure the third version  42  to the surfboard  8  by (1.) dropping the hook section  48  into the leash cup  6  to place the hook section  44  below the surfboard attachment pin  6 A; (2.) positioning a bottom surface  52  of the third version housing  50  in contact with the surfboard top surface  40 ; and (3.) turning the tapped handle  42  in the first rotational direction to pull the hook section  44  towards the third version housing  46  and up against the surfboard attachment pin  6 A. The user may then detach the third version  42  from the surfboard  8  by turning the tapped handle  46  in the opposite rotational direction until the tapped hook  44  may be removed from the surfboard leash cup  6 B. A tapped section  54  of the tapped hook  44  and a tapped channel  56  of the tapped handle  46  are configured to engage together to drive the tapped hook  44  along an third version axis E, and the rotational movement of the tapped handle  46  occurs within a plane F that is normal to the third version axis E. 
         [0040]      FIG. 6A  is a top view of the third version  42  showing the tapped handle  46  and the third housing  50 . The tapped handle  46  is substantively circular and has a one-inch diameter that is normal to the third version axis E. 
         [0041]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIGS. 7 and 7A ,  FIG. 7  illustrates a fourth preferred alternate embodiment of the present invention  58 , or fourth version  58 , wherein a curved post  60  extends away from a fourth bottom surface  62  of a fourth version housing  64 . Both a release arm  66  and a lever arm  68  are coupled to a spring-loaded pin  70 . The spring-loaded pin  70  is coupled with the first version housing  64  and provides a spring bias force to drive a lever end  72  of the lever arm  68  against a hook end  74  of the curved post  60 . The spring bias force may be in the range of from less than one pound to over 100 pounds, and more preferably between 2 pounds and 10 pounds. 
         [0042]    The fourth version  58  is configured to enable the fourth bottom surface  62  of the fourth version housing  52  to be compressed against the top surface  40  of the surfboard  8  when the attachment pin  6 A of the leash cup  6 B is captured by the curved post  60  and the lever arm  68  as shown in the attached position G as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The user may detach the fourth version  58  from the surfboard  8  by pressing the release arm  66  towards the fourth bottom surface  62  of the fourth version housing  64  and in opposition to the spring biased force provided by the spring loaded pin  70 . As the user rotates the release arm  66  against the force of the spring loaded pin  70 , the lever arm  68  is pulled away from the curved post  60  and the user may remove the fourth version  58  from contact with the surfboard leash cup  6 B. 
         [0043]      FIG. 7A  is a top view of the fourth version  58 . 
         [0044]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  9 A,  FIG. 8  illustrates a fifth version of the present invention  76 , or fifth version  76 , in a detached position H. The fifth version  76  includes a base strip  78 , an attachment strip  80 , a guide strip  82  and a looped cord  84 . The base strip  78 . is attached to the surf leash cord  4  and the rail saver  16  by stitching, heat treatment, and/or water resistant adhesive, or other suitable means known in the art. The an attachment strip  80 , the guide strip  82  and the looped cord  84  are attached to the base strip  78  by stitching, heat treatment, and/or water resistant adhesive, or other suitable attachment means known in the art. 
         [0045]    The looped cord  84  is configured and sized, and as pictured in  FIGS. 9 and 9A , to (1.) extend from the base strip  78 ; (2.) wrap around the surfboard attachment pin  6 A within the confines of the leash cup  6 B; (3.) extend between the guide strip  82  and the base strip  78 ; and (4.) accept an extension of a first section  80 A of the attachment strip  80  within the looped cord  84 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view and  FIG. 9A  is a side view of the fifth version in a capturing position I. In practice, the user may draw the looped cord  84  first through the leash cup  6 B and around the leash cup attachment pin  6 A, then in between the guide strip  82  and the base strip  78 , and finally detachably capture the looped cord  84  by means of the attachment strip  80  in the capturing position I. The attachment strip includes the first section  80 A, an attached section  80 B and a second section  80 C. The attached section  80 B is attached to the base strip  78  by stitching, heat treatment, and/or a water resistant adhesive, or other suitable means known in the art. The first section  80 A includes a pair first closure strips  18 A and  18 B. The attached section  80 B includes a second closure strip  20 A and the second section  80 C includes another second closure strip  20 B. The first closure strips  18 A  18 B and the second closure strips  20 A &amp;  20 B are positioned to enable a detachable capture of the looped cord  84 . As discussed above, the first closure strips  18 A &amp;  18 B and the second closure strips  20 A &amp;  20 B may be matched and paired, and may alternately comprise hook and loop fastener strip material, such as VELCRO(™) closure material. For example, the first closure strips  18 A &amp;  18 B may present small nylon hooks and the second closure strips  20 A &amp;  20 B may present small nylon loops, wherein the hooks and loops of the first closure strips  18 A &amp;  18 B and second closure strips  20 A &amp;  20 B are configured and positioned to detachably couple the first section  80 A with the second section  80 B while capturing the looped cord  66  in capturing position I. The user may, from capturing position I, release the fifth version  76  from the surfboard  8  by manually separating first closure strips  18 A &amp;  18 B from the second closure strips  20 A &amp;  20 B and withdrawing the looped cord  84  from the leash cup  6 B. 
         [0047]    The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. The examples given should only be interpreted as illustrations of some of the preferred embodiments of the invention, and the full scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just described preferred embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention as disclosed and claimed should, therefore, be determined with reference to the knowledge of one skilled in the art and in light of the disclosures presented above.