Locks – Special application – For portable articles
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-22
2004-02-17
Knight, Anthony (Department: 3676)
Locks
Special application
For portable articles
C070S014000, C403S315000, C441S074000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06691537
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention generally relates to sportsboards, such as surfboards snowboards, skis, and skateboards, and more particularly to a sportsboard locking apparatus which is constructed to engage with a recessed channel provided on the sportsboard for locking functions. Although the sportsboards generally include but not limited to snowboards, skis, bicycles, and skateboards, for instructional pruposes the disclosure herein is drawn primarily to water oriented type devices, namely surfboards and the like.
2. Description of Related Arts
Sports and recreational activities involving a board apparatus onto which a recreational user mounts and propels himself and the board along the surface of water and within wave movement has a large consumer and professional base of participation worldwide. The board device utilized in such activities will be collectively referred to herein as a surfboard, although it is understood that the present invention can be applied to a multitude of water oriented sportsboard devices including but not limited to wind surfing/sailing boards, wake riding boards, and the like.
Developments in the surfboard's functional and appearance features; the board's inherent performance; and general quality of materials and manufacture require participants to make substantial monetary investments in the surfboard apparatus. Yet the size, structure and fragility of materials used in the surfboard's manufacture does not lend the surfboard to readily be secured by the activity participant from theft, particularly in the outdoor environment of such recreational activities namely beaches and waterfronts motor vehicle racks, and similar unsecured environments.
Efforts to secure surfboards and the like in these outdoor, recreational environments have included: methods of wrapping substantial planar portions of the surfboard in security cables and the like secured to stationary articles; and to utilize devices intended to be attached to hardware comprising the surfboard itself. These methods and devices have disadvantages including: their being cumbersome to use; prone to dis-engagement by vandals; limited in practicality and effectiveness; and requiring the use of custom surfboard design features, thereby inhibiting their widespread use and effectiveness with surfboards having standard design features.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,649 to Spence describes and claims a lock apparatus attachable to a cross bar positioned in a surfboard article, the apparatus locking thereto and including a cable attaching the surfboard to a stationary article. This Spence '649 apparatus utilizes the surfboard's deck plug cross bar and the purpose of which is for attaching a nylon or like cord thereto, the cord serving as a leash type tether upon its attachment to the user's ankle. The apparatus described in the '649 patent functions with little regard for protecting the leash cord tether. This is evident from
FIGS. 1-3
and the close quartered interaction of a notched bolt end sliding concentric to an outer casing and interacting with casing end slots to surround the cross bar within the close quartered plug recess.
An additional shortcoming of the '649 apparatus involves the confined space in which a multiplicity of close tolerance, moving parts function namely the harsh and corrosive environments including natural and salt water and abrasive sand and dirt particles. The presence of corrosion and salt residue, dirt or sand within or between the apparatus's moving part surfaces invite wear and inhibited motion or seizing during device operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,754 to McKenzie discloses a locking device for surfboards including: a hooked end ratchet blade for engaging the surfboard's cross bar, a device plug to engage flush with the deck surface of the board, and a mechanism within the plug to lock the ratchet blade thereby locking the device to the deck plug cross bar and further employing a cable for subsequent attachment of the assembly to a stationary object to prevent theft.
The '754 device relies upon a ratchet blade's slideable engagement of a locking mechanism utilizing the blades teeth. This must be accomplished in the salt water and sand environments the surfboard encounters. Here, corrosion and salt residue, sand, and dirt within or between the device's moving parts invite wear and inhibited motion or seizing during device operation.
Although the McKenzie device recognizes the importance of not interfering with the standard leash cord within and without the cup recess, its notch at the bottom edge of the device plug provides inadequate accommodation to the leash cord as evidenced by the requirement that the bottom surface of the device plug is sufficiently large to completely cover the cup recess to prevent thieves from prying the cup out of the recess.
Both the '649 and '754 devices engage a cross bar located within a recessed cup within the surfboard's body. As such, both locking devices are prone to vandals “rocking” or “alternately twisting” the lock devices that are attached to the boards such that the cross bar and or recessed cup are torn away from the surfboard. In such case, the board is damaged and or un-secured from the devices' security measures.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,963 to Frizzell discloses and claims a surfboard fin quick release system for attaching a fin to a surfboard. The system comprises a fin box having a longitudinal channel within the surfboard and a mechanism located on the tang of the fin, which secures the fin into the fin box channel. Frizzel's quick release system does not provide a means to fix the mechanism to the surfboard for security purposes. Thus, the system does not function to protect the surfboard from theft neither by itself nor with ancillary devices. Devices such as McKenzie, Spence or other hook or grip-like functioning devices are incompatible with a Frizzel type structure.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
A main objective of the present invention is to provide a sportsboard locking apparatus to overcome the shortcomings of the prior arts with numerous benefits and advantages inherent in the form and function disclosed herein.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a sportsboard locking apparatus for securely, easily and firmly locking the sportsboard to a hardware for security reasons.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a sportsboard locking apparatus, wherein the sportsboard locking apparatus is an universally versatile apparatus for securing a broad range of sports and recreational devices which incorporate a “+” or similar cross section feature so that the inventive apparatus can firmly and securely engage the sportsboard and thereby facilitate a method for securing the sportsboard from theft.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a sportsboard locking apparatus for securing a surfboard from theft by use of a standard design feature of such boards, that is a fin box recess in the body of the surfboard, while overcoming the shortcomings of prior art devices and methods which are susceptible to “rocking” and “alternating twisting” damage inherent in devices attaching to deck plugs and cross-bars.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a sportsboard locking apparatus, wherein the sportsboard locking apparatus would not adversely affect and cause any damages to other structural and appearance features, such as leash cord tethers as in deck plug engaging security devices.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a sportsboard locking apparatus, which is simple to manufacture and use while it is easily adapted to standard surfboard designs rather than custom features, and thus inexpensive. The limited number of components involved, eth simple design features, and the limited interaction and assembly requirements of the present apparatus elements carry a modest raw material, manufacture and assembly cost
Boswell Christopher
Chan Raymond Y.
David and Raymond Patent Group
LandOfFree
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