Grip pad for a surfcraft

Abstract

A grip pad for use on a surfcraft, including a surface (11) adapted for gripping by a surcraft rider's foot, a support block (12) against which the foot may engage to resist the foot from slipping along the surfcraft, the support block (12) having at least one cavity (20) for holding an item and a closing means (21) for closing the cavity (20).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a grip pad for use on a surfcraft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As water sports such as surfing, windsurfing and the like inevitably entail contact with water, certain items that are required to be at hand, such as car keys, sunscreens, watches, money or jewellery must be securely retained.

Accessories such as wetsuits and leg ropes have been adapted to provide a storage receptacle for keeping items at hand. However, such accessories do not permit the storage of bulkier items, such as a tube of sunscreen.

Further, some accessories do not provide a waterproof container.

Accordingly, a limitation applies to the use of these accessories for storing water sensitive items such as car keys for use in central locking systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention seeks to at least minimise at least one of the above identified limitations and in one aspect provides a grip pad for use on a surfcraft. The grip pad includes a surface adapted for gripping by a surfcraft rider's foot, a support block against which the foot may engage to resist the foot from slipping along the surfcraft, the support block having at least one cavity for holding an item and a closing means for closing the cavity.

The closing means may close the cavity by being at least partially inserted into the cavity. Examples of such closing means include a stopper, cork, plug, bung or the like. Further, the closing means may have a thread or other means for engaging with the cavity to close the cavity.

Alternatively, the closing means may close the cavity by engaging with the outer surface of the grip pad. A cap, lid or slide is an example of such a closing means.

A closing means such as a stopper, cork, plug or bung or the like is advantageous because these are particularly effective for preventing water from entering the cavity after it has been closed by such a closing means. Further, in use, they tend to be retained better than a means that engages with the outer surface of the grip pad.

The grip pad may further include a locking means for locking the closing means against the grip pad to close the cavity.

The grip pad may include means for securing the closing means to the grip pad.

In another aspect, the invention provides a support block for use on a surfcraft, against which a surfcraft rider's foot may engage to resist the foot from slipping along the surfcraft, the block including at least one cavity for holding an item and closing means for closing the cavity.

The support may further include a surface adapted for gripping by a surfcraft rider's foot.

Examples of closing means for the support block are described above.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a grip pad for use on a surfcraft, the grip pad including a support block for supporting the foot of a rider of the surfcraft, a gripping surface located on an upper part of the support block, said gripping surface being contacted by the foot of a rider of the surfcraft in use, the support block having a cavity therein, and a receptacle for holding an item, said receptacle being insertable into and removable from said cavity.

According to this aspect of the invention, the cavity receives the receptacle by insertion of the receptacle into the cavity. One advantage of this arrangement is that, when in the water, an item can be readily retrieved from the grip pad by withdrawing the receptacle from the cavity and then obtaining the item from the withdrawn receptacle.

The receptacle may be closed after it has been inserted into the cavity. Alternatively, the receptacle may have an opening from which an item held by the receptacle can be obtained, and a means for closing the opening. This arrangement is particularly advantageous because when in the water, a closed receptacle can be withdrawn from the cavity without wetting the items held in the receptacle. The items are then obtained from the receptacle by removing from the opening the means for closing the opening.

Accordingly, in one embodiment the receptacle and/or cavity are adapted to permit the receptacle to be withdrawn from the cavity.

It will be understood that in certain circumstances the receptacle and/or cavity may be adapted to prevent the receptacle from being withdrawn from the cavity.

Typically, the support block according to the invention is arranged for resisting the surfcraft rider's foot from slipping along the surfcraft toward the tail of the surfcraft.

Further, it will be understood that the surface adapted for gripping by a surfcraft rider's foot may be formed on the support block so that the surface and the support block are an integral unit. For example, the surface may be formed on the support block by abrading the support block or otherwise by forming the support block to provide a surface that can be gripped by a surfcraft rider's foot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to preferred embodiments and to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a surfboard having a grip pad thereon;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the grip pad;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a closing means for closing the cavity and the support block;

FIG. 5. 5A: a top view of the closing means of FIG. 4; 5B: an end view of the closing means; 5C: a side view of the closing means; 5D: an end view of the closing means; 5E: a sectional view of the closing means taken along line A-A of FIG. 5C;

FIG. 6. 6A: a top view of the support block with closing means present; 6B: a sectional view of the support block taken along line A-A of FIG. 6A; 6C: a sectional view of the support block taken along line B-B of FIG. 6B; 6D: a sectional view of the support block taken along line C-C of FIG. 6C;

FIG. 7. 7A: a top view of the support block without closing means present; 7B: a sectional view of the support block taken along line A-A of FIG. 7A; 7C: a sectional view of the support block taken along line B-B of FIG. 7B; 7D: a sectional view of the support block taken along line C-C of FIG. 7C;

FIG. 8. 8A: a side view of the support block of FIG. 8C; 5B: a side view of the support block of FIG. 8C; 8C: a top view of the support block without closing means present; 8D: a side view of the support block of FIG. 8C; 8E: a side view of the support block of FIG. 8C; 8F: an underneath view of the support block of FIG. 8C;

FIG. 9. 9A: a side view of the support block of FIG. 9C; 9B: a side view of the support block of FIG. 9C; 9C: a top view of the support block with closing means present; 9D: a side view of the support block of FIG. 9C; 9E: a side view of the support block of FIG. 9C; 9F: an underneath view of the support block of FIG. 9C; and

FIG. 10. 10A a plan view of a receptacle; 10B: a sectional view of the receptacle taken along line A-A of FIG. 10A; 10C: a side view of a closing means for closing the receptacle; 10D: a top view of a closing means for closing the receptacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Throughout the drawings, features that are common between the various embodiments are designated by common reference numerals.

Referring first to FIG. 1 there is shown a surfboard (1) having a grip pad (10) affixed thereto. The grip pad (10) is located at the rear of the surfboard and provides a surface adapted for gripping by the feet of a surfcraft rider, in particular in the wet environment in which surfboards are used.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the grip pad (10) mounted on a surfboard (1). The grip pad (10) includes a surface (11) adapted for gripping by the feet of a surfcraft rider and a support block (12) which has formed therein one or more cavities (20), and a closing means (21). The grip pad can be a plastic or rubber moulding.

The cavity (20) can be used for holding surfcraft rider's keys, money, sunscreen, watch, jewellery or like items. The cavity (20) is a simple shape for smooth insertion and removal of various articles. Most preferably the cavity (20) is sized and shaped to receive a tube of sunscreen. A closing means (21) such as a plug, bung, stopper or the like closes the cavity (20). The closing means (21) may be sufficient to prevent the ingress of water into the cavity (20) when the closing means (21) closes the cavity (20). A tab (22), which may be formed integrally on the closing means (21), is used to remove the closing means (21) from the cavity (20).

One embodiment of the closing means (21) is shown in FIGS. 5A-5E. FIG. 5A shows a plan view of the closing means (21), including tab (22), and means (23) for assisting in the closing means (21) being retained in the cavity (20) of the support block (12), or otherwise for preventing ingress of water into the cavity (20) when the closing means (21) closes the cavity (20). FIG. 5B is an end view of the end of the closing means (21) that is distal to the end of the closing means (21) to which is attached tab (22). FIG. 5D is an end view of the end opposite to the end shown in FIG. 5B. FIG. 5C is a side view of the closing means (21) and FIG. 5E is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 5C.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show further aspects of an embodiment of the grip pad and support block.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show further aspects of an embodiment of a support block (12) without and with the closing means (21) present respectively.

A top view of the support block (12) without the closing means (21) present is shown in FIG. 8C. FIG. 8A shows the side of the support block (12) which, when placed on a surfboard (1), faces the tail of the surfboard (1). FIG. 8E shows the side of the support block (12) which engages the surfcraft rider's foot. FIG. 8D shows the side of the support block (12) which includes the opening of the cavity (20). The side of the support block (12) opposite to the side shown in FIG. 8D is shown in FIG. 8B. FIG. 8F shows the underneath surface of the support block (12) of FIG. 8C.

A top view of the support block (12) with the closing means (21) present is shown in FIG. 9C. FIG. 9A shows the side of the support block (12) which, when placed on a surfboard (1), faces the tail of the surfboard (1). FIG. 9E shows the side of the support block (12) which engages the surfcraft rider's foot. FIG. 9D shows the side of the support block (12) which receives the closing means (21). The side of the support block (12) opposite to the side shown in FIG. 9D is shown in FIG. 9B. FIG. 9F shows the underneath surface of the support block (12) of FIG. 9C.

A plan view of a receptacle (29) having a closing means for closing the receptacle (30) is shown in FIG. 10A. FIG. 10B shows a cross section from FIG. 10A. Notably, the receptacle (29) has a shape for permitting easy insertion of the receptacle (29) into a cavity (20) of the support block (12).

The closing means for closing the receptacle (30) is shown in further detail in FIGS. 10C and 10D. The receptacle closing means (30) includes a lid portion (25) adapted to fit in an outer recess (14) of the receptacle (29) to become substantially flush with the cavity (20) when the receptacle (29) is inserted into the cavity (20). An inner projection (28) of the receptacle closing means (30) is received inside the receptacle (29) and engages against the inner walls of the receptacle (29). Circumferential grooves (31) are formed in the inner projection (28) and receive sealing and locking o-rings.

A receptacle closing means (30) of the type shown in FIGS. 10C and 10D could also be an embodiment of the closing means (21) for the cavity (20).

Whilst only one cavity (20) is shown, the support block (12) may be formed with two such cavities, one from either side.

A locking mechanism (not shown) may be provided to ensure that the closing means (21) is not inadvertently removed from the cavity (20).

The cavity (20) may be adapted to receive an inner pouch or other similar container to further ensure that a surfcraft rider's items are properly waterproofed.

The closing means (21) or the receptacle (29) may be secured to the grip pad (10) or other part of the surfcraft by a cord or other suitable attachment to prevent them being removed and lost from the surfcraft.

Although the Figures describe the use of the grip pad on a surfboard, it will be understood that the grip pad may be used on other surfcraft, including for example a windsurfer.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

The foregoing describes embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A grip pad for use on a surfcraft, the grip pad including a support block for supporting the foot of a rider of the surfcraft, a gripping surface located on an upper part of the support block, said gripping surface being contacted by the foot of a rider of the surfcraft in use, the support block having a cavity therein, and a receptacle for holding an item, said receptacle being insertable into and removable from said cavity.

2. A grip pad as claimed in claim 1 further including closing means for closing an end of the receptacle.

3. A grip pad as claimed in claim 2 wherein the closing means comprises an inner portion sized to be received within the open end of the receptacle and to engage against inner walls of the receptacle and a lid portion that sits flush with the cavity when the receptacle is inserted in the cavity.

4. A grip pad as claimed in claim 3 wherein the inner portion of the closing means includes one or more circumferential grooves.

5. A grip pad as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 further comprising a locking mechanism to prevent inadvertent removal of the closing means from the cavity.

6. A grip pad as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including two cavities in the support block.