Buoys – rafts – and aquatic devices – Water skimming or walking device – Having stabilizing surface
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-28
2001-06-19
Sotelo, Jesus D. (Department: 3617)
Buoys, rafts, and aquatic devices
Water skimming or walking device
Having stabilizing surface
C441S074000, C114S127000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247985
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1) Field of the Invention
The field of this invention relates to surfboards and more particularly to a cover for a through hole that is formed within the surfboard that is usable to mount a fin on the surfboard.
2) Description of the Prior Art
Surfboards are known to have between one and three fins mounted on the undersurface of the surfboard. The purpose of the fins are to provide control to the rider when the surfboard moves through water. In the past, these fins have been mounted permanently in conjunction with the board. This permanent type of mounting has certain disadvantages. One disadvantage is that when the board is being shipped or being carried from one location to another, the overall size of the surfboard is significantly increased. Elimination of the fin or fins will substantially reduce the size of the surfboard especially if it is contained within a surfboard carry bag. If the surfboard is carried on board an airplane, it is common for the carrier to charge a fee for each surfboard that is being carried. If the fin could be removed, in the same space that a single board would occupy, there could be placed within the carry bag three in number of surfboards. Generally, a single carry bag is only charged a fee for a single surfboard even though there are two or three in number of surfboards within the bag.
Additionally, the protrusion of the fin or fins substantially increases the possibility of damage to the surfboard when being transported. The fin can strike an object or an object can strike the fin which can result in the fin actually being broken or the mounting arrangement of the fin could be damaged.
Within recent years, it has been known to mount a surfboard fin in a removable manner in conjunction with a surfboard. A box is utilized which is imbedded within the board and then the fin is then mounted in conjunction with the box. This mounting permits removing of the fin during times of transporting of the surfboard. An advantage of mounting the fin in conjunction with a box imbedded within the surfboard is that if the box is made of an extended length, then the fin can be adjusted to different longitudinal positions within the box. Once an established longitudinal position is achieved, the fin is then fixed in position to the box by means of a fastener, such as a screw or bolt that is to be engageable from the top side of the surfboard by a tool being extended into the opening of the box. After the longitudinal position of the fin is established and the fin is then fixed in position, the opening into the box on the top side of the surfboard is open. This provides an open hole which is capable of being contacted by the surfboard rider's feet. This open hole, if not adequately deburred during installation, has somewhat sharp edges which can actually cause injury to the rider's feet. Additionally, as a rider maneuvers the surfboard, there is at times substantial force encountered between the surfboard rider's feet and the surfboard. It has been discovered that at times this force may be sufficient to cause separation to occur between the surfboard and the surfboard fin mounting box. Separation between the watertight fiberglass skin and the solid column of resin that surrounds the box will provide a point of entry for water to be absorbed by the foam core which will cause premature destruction of the surfboard. One of the purposes of the fiberglass skin is to prevent absorption of water by the foam core. If this separation gets severe enough, it can actually cause he surfboard mounting box to become dislodged from the surfboard thereby losing the mounting arrangement for the control fin that is to be mounted within the surfboard mounting box.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One of the primary objectives of the present invention is to construct a cover to be located about a through hole that is used to mount a surfboard control fin to the surfboard with this cover being mounted on the top side of the board around the through hole closing of the through hole preventing any contact between the rider of the surfboard and the through hole during use of the surfboard.
A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide a flexible watertight seal. This seal is intended to bridge the interface between the surfboard top surface fiberglass shell and the solid column of resin cast around the box.
Another objective of the present invention is to construct a cover for the through hole that is used for mounting of a control fin of a surfboard which provides an element of protection to tend to prevent separation occurring between the surfboard and the fin mounting box that is mounted in conjunction with the through hole.
Another objective of the present invention is to construct a cover which is simple in construction and can be manufactured inexpensively and thereby sold to the ultimate consumer at an inexpensive price.
The surfboard box cover of the present invention comprises a thin base having an inner side and an outer side. The basic configuration of the base can be of any desired shape with generally an oblong configuration being preferred. The base includes a center opening. A nametag is removably mounted within the opening with the base including a pair of flanges that extend partially over the opening with the edges of the nametag to be located under these flanges in order to retain the nametag in position. Removal of the nametag will provide access into the fin mounting box so as to gain access to a bolt or screw fastener or any other means of securing the fin that is utilized within the fin box that is to be used to securely mount the fin in a fixed position on the surfboard. The inner side of the base includes a layer of adhesive which is used to securely mount the base onto the top side of the surfboard surrounding the through hole within which is mounted the fin mounting box.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5176096 (1993-01-01), Molnar et al.
patent: 5493989 (1996-02-01), Anderson
patent: 5997379 (1999-12-01), Block et al.
Block Larry A.
Daum Dennis L.
O'Keefe Thomas L.
Munro Jack C.
Sotelo Jesus D.
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