U.S. patent application number 12/490170 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-03 for watch leash apparatus and methods.
This patent application is currently assigned to WHAM-O INC.. Invention is credited to CHRIS MONROE.
Application Number | 20100133306 12/490170 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41445266 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100133306 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MONROE; CHRIS |
June 3, 2010 |
WATCH LEASH APPARATUS AND METHODS
Abstract
Systems, devices and methods for tethering a person to a sports
board are disclosed herein. An article of manufacture provides a
flexible, shock-absorbing tether, having an integrated timekeeping
device.
Inventors: |
MONROE; CHRIS; (San
Clemente, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DERGOSITS & NOAH LLP
Three Embarcadero Center, Suite 410
SAN FRANCISCO
CA
94111
US
|
Assignee: |
WHAM-O INC.
Emeryville
CA
|
Family ID: |
41445266 |
Appl. No.: |
12/490170 |
Filed: |
June 23, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61075675 |
Jun 25, 2008 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/219 ;
224/222; 224/267 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 32/73 20200201;
B63B 21/50 20130101; B63B 32/70 20200201 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/219 ;
224/267; 224/222 |
International
Class: |
A45F 5/00 20060101
A45F005/00 |
Claims
1. An article of manufacture, comprising: a cuff configured to
encircle an extremity of a user, the cuff comprising a waterproof
timekeeping device; a non-rigid shock-absorbing member comprising a
first proximal end and a first distal end, the first proximal end
flexibly coupled to the cuff and having at least two degrees of
freedom of motion with respect to the cuff; a non-rigid
substantially non-shock-absorbing member comprising a second
proximal end and a second distal end, the second proximal end
coupled to the first distal end and having at least two degrees of
freedom of motion with respect to the non-rigid shock-absorbing
member; a anchoring device configured for removable attachment to a
waterboard, the anchoring device coupled to the second distal end
and having at least two degrees of freedom of motion with respect
to the non-rigid substantially non-shock absorbing member.
2. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the timekeeping
device comprises at least one of a watch, a countdown timer, a
stop-watch and a tidal gauge.
3. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the cuff further
comprises: a fabric sleeve configured to retain the waterproof
timekeeping device; and an adjustable strap configured to engage
the fabric sleeve and to adjust a circumference of the cuff.
4. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the non-rigid
shock-absorbing member comprises a coiled non-elastic cord.
5. The article of manufacture of claim 4, wherein the coiled
non-elastic cord is fabricated from one of urethane and
polypropylene.
6. The article of manufacture of claim 5, wherein the coiled
non-elastic cord is covered with a plastic sleeve.
7. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the non-rigid
shock-absorbing member comprises a non-coiled elastic cord.
8. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the non-rigid,
substantially non-shock-absorbing member comprises one of a nylon
strap and a neoprene strap.
9. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the waterproof
timekeeping device is selected from an analog watch, a digital
watch, a stopwatch, and a countdown timer.
10. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the waterproof
timekeeping device incorporates a tide gauge.
11. The article of manufacture of claim 1, further comprising a
tide gauge.
12. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein said a non-rigid
substantially non-shock-absorbing member comprises a lanyard.
13. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein said a non-rigid
substantially non-shock-absorbing member comprises a swivel.
14. The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein said lanyard
comprises a swivel.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(e) to U.S. provisional application No. 61/075,675, filed
Jun. 25, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Filed of the Invention
[0003] The present invention is related to systems, devices and
methods for tethering a person to a waterboard.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Background
[0005] Tethers are used to attach a surfboard to a surfer to
prevent the surfer from being separated from the surfboard after
falling from the surfboard. Typically, the tether is attached at
one end to the rear of the surfboard and at the other end to an
ankle cuff worn by the surfer. The bodyboard leash is a leash
system that connects to the nose area of a bodyboard and is
designed to keep the board close to the rider at all times while
riding waves in the ocean. Bodyboard leashes typically include a
cuff which allows the leash to be connected to, e.g., a wrist or a
bicep. Bodyboard leashes may be, for example, polyurethane cords
which can be either straight or coiled. Conventionally, the tether
is a flexible, non-elastic material that is long enough to provide
the surfer freedom of movement. One shortcoming of a conventional
tether is that, being inelastic, tremendous force can be exerted on
the surfer's ankle as the surfboard is accelerated away from the
surfer by the force of a wave. Such force may result in injury to
the surfer.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to one aspect of the invention, an article of
manufacture comprises a cuff configured to encircle an extremity of
a user, the cuff comprising a waterproof timekeeping device; a
non-rigid shock-absorbing member comprising a first proximal end
and a first distal end, the first proximal end flexibly coupled to
the cuff and having at least two degrees of freedom of motion with
respect to the cuff; a non-rigid substantially non-shock-absorbing
member comprising a second proximal end and a second distal end,
the second proximal end coupled to the first distal end and having
at least two degrees of freedom of motion with respect to the
non-rigid shock-absorbing member; a connecting device configured
for removable attachment to a waterboard, the connecting device
coupled to the second distal end and having at least two degrees of
freedom of motion with respect to the non-rigid substantially
non-shock absorbing member.
[0007] Accordingly, the novel articles of manufacture provide a
leash suitable for attachment, for example, to a bodyboard,
surfboard, or other sports board, which may be attached via the
cuff to a user's body (e.g., attached to a wrist, arm, ankle, leg,
or elsewhere), the cuff comprising a waterproof timekeeping device.
The novel articles of manufacture disclosed herein advantageously
provide a tether that reduces the forces experienced by a user,
such as, e.g., a bodyboarder, and advantageously provide a means
for tracking time, e.g., during a waterboard session.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0008] The present invention is illustrated by way of example and
not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention
in a cuff-closed configuration;
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention
in a cuff-released configuration; and
[0011] FIG. 3 is a close-up view of a cuff according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] In the following description, the terms proximal and distal
are used in their directional/positional sense to indicate directed
toward or closer to a user (proximal) and directed away or farther
from the user (distal).
[0013] In the following description, numerous specific details are
set forth such as examples of specific methods, materials,
components, etc. in order to provide a thorough understanding of
the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled
in the art that these specific details need not be employed to
practice the present invention. In other instances, well-known
materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to
avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a watch leash 100 according to one
embodiment of the present invention. Watch leash 100 includes a
cuff 101 configured to encircle an extremity of a waterboard user,
such as a surfer or bodyboarder, which extremity my be an arm or a
leg. Preferably, the cuff may be adjustable to fit comfortably
around an ankle, a thigh, a wrist or a bicep of the user. The cuff
may be sewn or otherwise attached to a strap 101b, such as a nylon
or neoprene strap for example. Strap 101b may include means for
fastening and adjusting the cuff, such as a VELCRO.RTM. fastener,
for example. The cuff 101 may incorporate a waterproof timekeeping
device 102. Waterproof timekeeping device 102 may be, for example,
an analog or digital watch, a stopwatch, a countdown timer or other
type of timekeeping device. In one embodiment, waterproof
timekeeping device 102 may also incorporate a tide gauge. In
embodiments, a watch leash 100 may further include a tide gauge in
addition to a timekeeping device 102.
[0015] Watch leash 100 may also include a non-rigid,
shock-absorbing member 103. Non-rigid, shock-absorbing member 103
may have a proximal end 104 with a lanyard 105 to attach non-rigid,
shock-absorbing member 103 to cuff 101. In one embodiment,
non-rigid, shock-absorbing member 103 may be fabricated as a coil
from a plastic such as polyurethene, for example, or other such
materials as are known in the art.
[0016] Non-rigid, shock-absorbing member 103 may have a plastic
coating 106, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Lanyard 105 may include, a
swivel 107 fabricated from brass or other corrosion resistant
material. Swivel 107 may be secured to cuff 101 with a loop 101c
formed in strap 101b, such that non-rigid, shock-absorbing member
103 has at least two degrees of freedom of motion with respect to
cuff 101. The proximal end of non-rigid, shock-absorbing member 103
may be secured to swivel 107 via a screw attachment 108, and
protected by a molded elastomeric covering 109. In one embodiment
(not illustrated), non-rigid, shock-absorbing member 103 may
fabricated from a non-coiled elastomeric material to provide shock
absorbing qualities.
[0017] In one embodiment, the distal end of non-rigid,
shock-absorbing member 103 may have may be connected to a lanyard
110, which may be of the same or similar construction as lanyard
105, for attachment to a non-rigid, substantially
non-shock-absorbing member 111, such that non-rigid shock-absorbing
member 103 has at least two degrees of freedom or motion with
respect to non-rigid, substantially non-shock-absorbing member 111.
Non-rigid, substantially non-shock-absorbing member 111 may be a
strap (e.g., a nylon strap) having a proximal end loop 112
configured to engage a swivel 113 in lanyard 110. Swivel 113 may be
of the same or similar construction to swivel 107 in lanyard
105.
[0018] Non-rigid substantially non-shock-absorbing member 111 may
have a distal end with a loop 114 configured to capture a retaining
loop 115, which may be a loop of woven nylon, for example. Loop 115
may be configured to engage an anchor pin 116. In one embodiment,
anchor pin 116 may have a cylindrical or polygonal shank 117,
tapered or otherwise configured for a friction fit to a mating
receptacle in a waterboard such as a surfboard or bodyboard.
Alternately, shank 117 may be configured with splines, keys or
other devices as are known in the art to achieve a locking fit with
a matching receptacle in a waterboard.
[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates watch leash 100 in a configuration with
strap 101b released for fitting to a user.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a close-up view of cuff 101 illustrating
waterproof timekeeping device 102 mounted to strap 101b within
fabric 101a.
[0021] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it will be evident
that various modifications and changes may be made to these
embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of
the invention as set forth in the claims. Accordingly, the
specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative
rather than a restrictive sense.
* * * * *