SURFBOARD - FOLDING TYPE

For many years there have been surfboards manufactured in a variety of styles and there have been proposals to cut them into sections to make it more convenient for storage and transport. Usually they require a method of relocating each section to allow for alignment of its adjacent section, each join is then secured with fasteners.

This invention has been specially devised to provide an improved surfboard that remains essentially in one piece but with the aid of a linked hinge allows each section to be disengaged from its adjacent section and folded back 18Od eg. to a position parallel to its adjacent section. Making it easier for storage, transportation and reassembly Figure 3. When reassembled the sections are locked in position with the aid of over centre locking clips which are integral with the hinge mechanism, therefore, there are no parts that can be misplaced.

When assembling, the process is reversed. The hinges of each join are re-engaged with their mating part and the adjacent sections are pushed together thus allowing the faces of, each pair of sections to touch. At this stage the clips are then engaged locking the sections together. A surfboard in accordance with this invention can be cut into multiple sections Figure 1&2 with one or more hinges inserted into the adjacent faces of the two sections created by the cut. When reassembled the clips securing each section in its assembled position are below the surfaces of the surfboard and therefore are not protruding above the surfaces.

The invention may be better understood by reference to the illustrations of embodiments of the invention which :-

Figure 1 & 2. Is a typical surfboard showing the positions of two but not limited to two cuts for the placement of two but not limited to two hinges connecting each section. The number of cuts and hinges can vary with the length of the surfboard.

Figure 3. Is a typical surfboard fofded into three but not limited to three sections showing how the sections are parallel to each other in the folded stage.

Figure 4. Is a typical hinge consisting of the receiving member 1 , the tongue 2, the link 3 and locking clip 8 shown in the closed and locked position.

Figure 5. The same typical hinge as Figure 4, shown in the open position with clip 8 disengaged from niche 10.

Figure 6. The same typical hinge as Figure 4 & 5 but shown in the hinged position, the tongue rotated clockwise 180deg. to the receiving member.

Figure 7. The typical hinge shown as an end elevation of Figure 6

The operation of the hinge may be better understood by reference to the following:-

Figure 4. The typical hinge, shown in a closed position, has a receiving member 1 connected to the tongue 2 by the link 3. The link 3 is fixed to 1 by pin 4 through slot 6 in 1. The other end of the link 3 is fixed to 2 by pin 5 through slot 7 in 2.

Figure 5. The clip 8 is released by operating the lever 9 anti-clockwise about pin 11. By exerting an opposing force between the receiving member and the tongue in a direction parallel to the axis of the surfboard, the slot 6 allows the pin 4 to move the length of the slot to the right and slot 7 allows the tongue to move along pin 5 to the right and be disengaged from the receiving member. Which results in the hinge being in the open position Figure 5.

Figure 5. The typical hinge, shown in the open position. The tongue 2 and link 3 can be rotated in a clockwise direction about the centre of pin 4 through 90deg. The tongue is then rotated in a clockwise direction about the centre of pin 5 through 90deg. resulting in a total of 180deg. movement of the tongue 2. The tongue then rests parallel to and adjacent to the receiving member Figure 6.

When the surfboard is to be used the process is reversed. This may be better understood by reference to the following:-

Figure 6. The typical hinge shown in the hinged position. The tongue 2 is rotated anti-clockwise about the centre of pin 5 through 90deg. The tongue 2 and link 3 are rotated anti-clockwise about the centre of pin 4 through 90deg. bringing the hinge into the open position Figure 5.

Figure 5. The typical hinge shown in the open position. A nominal force is applied to the receiving member 1 and the tongue 2 toward each other along the axis of the surfboard. The pin 4 slides along slot 6 and pin 5 slides along slot 7 allowing 15 to seat in 14 and 16 to seat in 13. This action brings the adjacent faces of the two sections of the surfboard together Figure 4.

Figure 4. The locking clip consists of the clip 8, lever 9, fulcrum 11 , and connecting pin 12. The receiving member 1 and tongue 2 are locked together by placing the clip 8 into the niche 10. A clockwise force is applied to the lever about fulcrum 11 gaining mechanical advantage at pin 12, which moves clip 8, thus applying a force to tongue 2 at niche 10. The aforementioned force is continued until the centre of pin 12 is past the horizontal axis of pin 11 and lever 9 is seated in space 18.