Folding Board System and Method
A folding board system comprising a plurality of board sections rotatably coupled via one or more hinge assemblies between respective board sections. In various embodiments, the folding board system is configured to assume a plurality of configurations including: a folded configuration wherein the plurality of board sections assume a stacked configuration and an assembled configuration wherein the plurality of board sections extend along a common axis.
This application is a non-provisional of, and claims the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/983,350 entitled FOLDING BOARD SYSTEM AND METHOD, filed Apr. 23, 2014. This application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all purposes.
BACKGROUNDFolding and collapsible board systems are known in the art, but suffer from various deficiencies. For example, some systems include a plurality of board and assembly pieces that can be taken apart to reduce the size of an elongated board. Unfortunately, disassembly and re-assembly of such systems is time consuming and cumbersome, especially when there are multiple board sections and assembly pieces. Moreover, having assembly and board pieces that become physically separate is not desirable because if any one piece is lost, then the system becomes inoperable.
Additionally, while some board systems allow for reduced volume or length, which may be desirable for travel, existing board systems fail to provide for a compact stacked arrangement that allows board pieces to remain integrally connected.
Moreover, existing folding or collapsing board systems fail to provide a board that is sufficiently rigid or structurally sound, and such systems are prone to undesirable bending or decoupling. Accordingly, while such systems provide for folding or collapsing, the assembled board is not suitable for its intended purpose and fails to perform like a non-collapsible or non-folding board.
In view of the foregoing, a need exists for an improved folding board system and method to overcome the aforementioned obstacles and deficiencies of conventional collapsible board systems.
It should be noted that the figures are not drawn to scale and that elements of similar structures or functions are generally represented by like reference numerals for illustrative purposes throughout the figures. It also should be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the preferred embodiments. The figures do not illustrate every aspect of the described embodiments and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Since currently-available collapsible or folding boards fail to provide for a solid board structure when assembled and fail to provide for fast folding and stacking, novel folding board systems and methods that provide for a board that can fold into a compact stack, and that can be quickly assembled and folded, can prove desirable and provide a basis for improved portability and storage of such boards without sacrificing performance of the assembled board. This result can be achieved, according to one embodiment disclosed herein, by a folding board system 100 as illustrated in
Turning to
For example,
The board system 100 may be configured for use as various types of sports boards, including a surfboard (long-board or short-board), paddle-board, boogie-board, windsurfing board, or the like. In further embodiments, the board system 100 may be configured for use with other types of sports boards, including a skateboard, wakeboard, kitesurfing board, sandboarding board, snowboard, street luge board, skurfboard ski, or the like. In further embodiments, the board system 100 may be configured for use with any suitable extended objects of various sizes and shapes, both regular and irregular. Accordingly, the board sections 120 may comprise any suitable material, including fiberglass, foam, wood, plastic or the like.
Additionally, while the present example embodiments depict three board sections 110A, 110B, 110C and two hinge assemblies 120A, 120B, in further embodiments there may be any suitable number of hinge assemblies 120 and board sections 110. For example a board system 100 may be foldable into two, three, four, five, six, or seven sections in some embodiments.
As shown in
For example, as depicted in
When the hinge assembly 120 is assuming a closed configuration where opposing planar faces of the end-caps 205, 210 come together, the latch head 222 is configured to enter the latch-cavity 315, and engage the latch bar 320. In various embodiments, the latch clip 220 may be biased toward the latch bar 320 such that the latch head 222 engages the latch bar 320, when the latch head 222 is sufficiently extended within the latch-cavity 315. The engagement of the latch bar 320 and latch head 222 may provide a rigid locked coupling between the end-caps 205, 210 such that opposing faces of the end-caps 205, 210 are held together. Such a rigid locked coupling in each of the hinge assemblies 120 of the board system 100 may allow the board system 100 to assume a rigid assembled configuration, wherein the board system 100 is operable for a desired sporting use such as paddle-boarding, or the like.
To unlock the rigid coupling generated by the latch clip 220 and latch bar 320, a user can actuate the latch lever 223, which rotates the latch head 222 out of the engaged coupling with the latch bar 320, and allowed the latch head 222 to emerge from the latch cavity 315 as the faces of the end-caps 205, 210 separate. In various embodiments, the latch lever 223 may be actuated via a button-orifice 310 that is defined by a portion of the button-side end-cap 210.
Although one example embodiment of a latch clip 220 and latch bar 320 is illustrated herein, various other suitable configurations of a latch mechanism can be used to rigidly couple the board sections 110. For example, some embodiments can comprise a latch mechanism that includes a rod having a notch that is configured to interface with a latch bar, or the like.
In various embodiments, the hinge assembly 120, hinge mechanisms 215 and latch clip 220 are substantially concealed when the board system 100 is in an assembled configuration. This may be desirable because it allows for use of the assembled board system 100 in sports activities without such parts obstructing use, generating unnecessary drag, or potentially causing injury to a user. In other words, the board system 100 may have a profile that is substantially or maximally similar to a non-foldable or non-collapsible board.
Accordingly, while some depicted embodiments show exposed portions, cavities or other features that are not typically present on a non-foldable or non-collapsible board, such features may be altered or removed to provide for a board system 100 that is substantially similar or analogous to a non-foldable or non-collapsible board. For example,
Although specific embodiments of a hinge assembly 120 are depicted herein, such embodiments should not be construed to be limiting as to the numerous embodiments of hinge assemblies that are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, in some embodiments there may be one or more latch clip 220 and one or more latch bar 315. In some embodiments, a latch clip 220 and associated structures may be absent. In further embodiments a hinge assembly 120 may comprise one or more hinge mechanisms 215 disposed in any suitable position about the end-caps 205, 210. In some embodiments, the hinge mechanisms 215 may have any suitable number of hinge-arms 216, 217. Additionally, in further embodiments, the hinge assemblies 120 may be rigidly held together in a locked configuration via any suitable structures, including variations of latches, pin-in-slot, a friction coupling, or the like.
For example,
When in an open configuration as shown in
In further embodiments, board sections 110 can be hingedly coupled via a living hinge 800. In various embodiments, one or more living hinges 800 can be positioned on any suitable location on a board system 100 including on one or both sides of the board system 100 and one or more living hinge 800 can be coupled along a given edge of a side of the board system 100 and/or at a linear board section mating interface 105.
In still further embodiments, as illustrated in
As discussed herein, the example embodiments shown should not be construed to be limiting on the many variations and alternative embodiments that are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, one embodiment of a folding board system 100 can comprise a plurality of hinge assemblies (e.g., 500, 600, 800, 850, or the like) comprising fixing rods 860, and also comprise a plurality of draw latches 700 and/or latch clips 220, or the like.
Accordingly, the described embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, and specific examples thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the described embodiments are not to be limited to the particular forms or methods disclosed, but to the contrary, the present disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives.
Claims
1. A folding board system comprising:
- a plurality of board sections rotatably coupled via one or more hinge assemblies between respective board sections, the folding board system configured to assume a plurality of configurations, including: a folded configuration wherein the plurality of board sections assume a stacked configuration; and an assembled configuration wherein the plurality of board sections extend along a common axis.
2. The folding board system of claim 1, wherein the hinge assemblies comprise first and second opposing end caps rotatably coupled via a hinge mechanism, the end caps configured to couple with an end of at least one of the board sections and define a portion of a linear board section mating interface.
3. The folding board system of claim 2, wherein the end caps are configured to reside within respective cavities defined by the board sections.
4. The folding board system of claim 2, wherein the hinge assemblies define planar faces configured to abut in the assembled configuration.
5. The folding board system of claim 2, further comprising at least one latch at each of the linear board section mating interfaces configured to couple opposing board section ends in the assembled configuration.
6. The folding board system of claim 5, wherein the latch comprises a latch clip configured to engage a latch bar disposed within a latch-cavity.
7. The folding board system of claim 6, wherein the latch clip is biased and configured to be actuated via a button-orifice defined by a portion of an end cap.
8. The folding board system of claim 2, wherein the hinge assemblies are elongated and comprise a plurality of hinge mechanisms associated with a pair of end caps.
9. The folding board system of claim 2, wherein each linear board section mating interface comprises a plurality of hinge assemblies.
10. The folding board system of claim 9, wherein each hinge assembly comprises only one hinge mechanism and only one pair of end caps.
11. The folding board system of claim 2, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a living hinge.
12. The folding board system of claim 2, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a dual-axis hinge.
13. The folding board system of claim 2, wherein the hinge assembly comprises a fixing rod configured to fix the hinge assembly in the assembled configuration.
14. The folding board system of claim 13, wherein the fixing rod is configured to slidably reside within a fixing slot defined by the hinge assembly.
15. The folding board system of claim 1, wherein the folding board system comprises a paddle-board.
16. The folding board system of claim 1, consisting of three board sections.
17. The folding board system of claim 1, wherein the board sections are planar and configured to lie flat on each other in the folded configuration.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 23, 2015
Publication Date: Oct 29, 2015
Applicant: Ntrepid Labs LLC (Bothell, WA)
Inventors: Thomas Shane Patton (Bothell, WA), Cornelis Janse Papenfus (Bellevue, WA), Andrew James Hurliman (Seattle, WA)
Application Number: 14/694,206