SURFBOARD COVER

Abstract

A surfboard cover may cover the bottom and side rails of a surfboard. The cover may leave about 90% of the surfboard's top exposed. The cover may include an elastic and/or a drawstring so that the cover may be placed on the surfboard. A cut out may be disposed on the cover to accommodate a fin to slip through. The cover may reduce or eliminate wax build-up from inside the cover, may protect the board when, for example, the board is placed on the ground while waxing the top side.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional patent application No. 61/363,328, filed Jul. 12, 2010, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a surfboard cover and, more particularly, to a topless surfboard cover adapted to cover the bottom and side rails of a surfboard.

Traditional surfboard bags literally cook the surfboard while inside the surfboard bag, melting all the wax. Wax may drip down the side of the surfboard, creating a mess. Sometimes, the surfboard may get stuck inside conventional bags due to melted and re-hardened wax. Traditional surfboard bags are cumbersome and take up much space. Because of these reasons, many surfers have abandoned the use of surfboard bags.

As can be seen, there is a need for a surfboard bag that may protect a surfboard without overheating the surfboard inside the bag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a surfboard cover comprises a single piece of material having at least a portion of its edge formed as an elastic edge; and an opening in the cover, the opening adapted to accommodate a fin of the surfboard.

In another aspect of the present invention, a surfboard cover comprises a single piece of material having at least a portion of its edge formed as an elastic edge, wherein at least 80% of a top surface of a surfboard covered with the surfboard cover is uncovered.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a surfboard cover comprises a single piece of material; a gathering mechanism for gathering the material about an edge thereof; and an opening in the cover, the opening adapted to accommodate a fin of the surfboard.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a surfboard encased in a surfboard cover according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the surfboard in the surfboard cover of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the surfboard cover of FIG. 1 is a compacted, stored configuration; and

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a surfboard encased in a surfboard cover according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a surfboard cover that may cover the bottom and side rails of a surfboard. The cover may leave about 90% of the surfboard's top exposed. The cover may include an elastic and/or a drawstring so that the cover may be placed on the surfboard. A cut out may be disposed on the cover to accommodate a fin to slip through. The cover may reduce or eliminate wax build-up from inside the cover, may protect the board when, for example, the board is placed on the ground while waxing the top side.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a surfboard 12 may be disposed in a cover 16 as shown generally at reference number 10. The cover 16 may cover the bottom and the sides of the surfboard 12. An opening 17 may be formed in a portion of the cover 16 to accommodate a fin 14 or skeg of the surfboard. The cover may include a gathering mechanism, such as an elastic edge 18, adapted to gather the material of the cover about at least one portion of its edge. The elastic edge 18 may be adapted to stretch to permit the surfboard 12 to be inserted and removed from the cover 16.

As shown in FIG. 3, the elastic edge 18 may be formed of an elastic band 20 disposed in a hem formed at the elastic edge 18. In some embodiments, a drawstring (not shown) may be disposed in the hem and may protrude from openings in the hem to allow a user to tighten and loosen the cover 16 on the surfboard 12. In still other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5 and discussed in greater detail below, the elastic edge 18 may be formed upon a portion of the elastic edge 18.

The cover 16 may be formed of a single piece of material, optionally with other material for design options. The material may be, for example, Spandex® 4-way stretch material, stretch terry cloth, canvas, hemp, or any other textile material having variations of colors, patterns, and designs, including light, medium and heavy weight materials. For example, the tail section of the cover 16 may be formed in a reflective color/material that may alert drivers when the surfboard 12 extends out of a vehicle. The cover 16 may be designed in various sizes. The cover 16 may include padded rails for added surfboard side board protection. In some embodiments, the cover 16 may include padded material throughout the entire fabric for added protection. The cover 16 may include water proof materials, ultraviolet (UV) reflective materials, nose and tail section padding. The cover 16 may be custom made depending on a user's requirements. The cover 16 may include one or more straps (not shown), such as hook and loop fastener straps, that may extend from one side to an opposite side of the cover. The straps may help secure the cover 16 to the board 12 and may help eliminate wind noise when a covered surfboard is transported.

The cover 16 may not only be used on surfboards, but also may be used on wake boards, paddle boards, and the like.

The cover 16 may leave at least about 50% of the top surface of the surfboard 12 uncovered. Typically, the cover 16 will leave at least about 75% of the top surface of the surfboard 12 uncovered. Even more typically, from about 90% to about 95% of the top surface of the surfboard 12 may be uncovered. The elastic edge 18 of the cover 16 may extend up to from about 3 to about 4 inches from the center of the top of the surfboard 12.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cover 16 may be folded up to a compacted form 21. Typically, the compacted form 21 may be as small as, for example, a football.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a surfboard cover 22 may fit over the surfboard 12. Similar to the embodiment described above, the cover 22 may include the elastic edge 18. However, the elastic edge 18 may only extend about a portion of the edge of the cover 22. For example, the elastic edge may be disposed at a head end and a tail end of the cover 22, leaving a non-stretch material portion 24 on each side of the cover 22. A logo 26 or other ornamental design may be formed in the cover. In some embodiments, the logo 26 may be disposed in the non-stretch material portion 24.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A surfboard cover comprising:

a single piece of material having at least a portion of its edge formed as an elastic edge; and

an opening in the cover, the opening adapted to accommodate a fin of the surfboard.

2. The surfboard cover of claim 1, wherein the elastic edge is formed about the entire edge of the material.

3. The surfboard cover of claim 1, wherein the elastic edge is formed on one or more sections of the edge of the material.

4. The surfboard cover of claim 3, wherein the one or more sections include a head end of the surfboard cover and a tail end of the surfboard cover.

5. A surfboard cover comprising:

a single piece of material having at least a portion of its edge formed as an elastic edge, wherein

at least 80% of a top surface of a surfboard covered with the surfboard cover is uncovered.

6. The surfboard cover of claim 5, further comprising an opening in the cover, the opening adapted to accommodate a fin of the surfboard.

7. The surfboard cover of claim 5, wherein the elastic edge is formed about the entire edge of the material.

8. The surfboard cover of claim 5, wherein the elastic edge is formed on one or more sections of the edge of the material.

9. A surfboard cover comprising:

a single piece of material;

a gathering mechanism for gathering the material about an edge thereof; and

an opening in the cover, the opening adapted to accommodate a fin of the surfboard.

10. The surfboard cover of claim 9, wherein at least 80% of a top surface of a surfboard covered with the surfboard cover is uncovered.