Leash repair device

Abstract

A leash repair device used on a sporting leash, namely an aquatic leash, to restore the sporting leash as a unit after it has snapped into two pieces. The leash repair device incorporates a sleeve having at least one aperture and two receiving ends. Each piece of the snapped leash is inserted into the receiving ends of the sleeve and is fastened to the sleeve by introducing at least one fastener into and through the aperture until the fastener has come into direct contact with the leash.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to equipment primarily used by sporting enthusiasts. More particularly, it relates to sporting leashes, namely aquatic leashes, utilized to attach a user to his/her board.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Aquatic surfcrafts, such as surfboards and bodyboards, are known in the art. Such surfcrafts typically have a leash which allows a user to be in constant proximity to the board. The standard leash usually includes a wrist strap or an ankle strap that is coupled to the board by a cord or wire. Although the board is left on a water's surface, the leash serves to prevent the board from floating away from the user.

[0003] However, since the leash may experience fatigue due to normal wear or overusage contributed by recreational and/or competitive boarding, the leash is capable of snapping apart. Alternatively, when a user is separated from his/her board, the stress induced and transferred onto the leash during the pulling action may cause the leash to fracture and break apart. Irrespective as to the cause of the damage, a user is left with at least two broken ends of the leash.

[0004] The user can either choose to continue his/her sporting session or seek a replacement leash. If the user chooses to continue the boarding session, the user will often become separated from the board; and as a result, the user will have to retrieve his board and take the board back out through the surf. This option will cause a user to become fatigued and have a shorter sporting session. Alternatively, the user will opt to end the sporting session until he/she can replace the leash. Many times, a user will not have a replacement leash on hand and will have to venture to a sporting goods outlet to purchase another board leash before the user can continue with his/her session.

[0005] Examples of such surfboard leashes are depicted in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,802,011; 3,931,656; 4,044,415; 4,479,785; and 6,000,979. The '011 patent described an ankle leash for securing a surfboard to a surfer's ankle by utilizing a cord having one end of the cord being secured to the surfboard aft and another end attached to an ankle strap. The '656 patent provided for a resilient surfboard leash being sufficiently elastic to absorb the force of a large wave while being reinforced against breakage at full extension.

[0006] The '415 patent taught a leash having an elastic member that stretched to increase the length of the cord. The '785 patent disclosed a leash with a helical cord that varied in length as the user moved farther from the board. Lastly, the '979 patent disclosed a strap coupled to a surfboard leash by a swivel joint that is mounted to a joint housing which extends from the base member.

[0007] These abovementioned patents provided for a device to allow a user, once being separated from the board, to maintain control of the movement of the board. Also, many of these patents provided for leashes capable of stretching in order to increase length of the cord. Further, the '979 strap was designed to prevent a user from becoming entangled in lengthy cords. However, these patents collectively fail to provide for an apparatus that repairs a broken surfboard leash.

[0008] In view of the above described deficiencies associated with aquatic surfcrafts, namely bodyboards and surfboards, the present invention has been developed to alleviate these drawbacks and provide further benefits to the user. These enhancements and benefits are described in greater detail herein below with respect to alternative embodiments of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Several known surfboard leashes have been discussed above. Although these leashes are suitable for allowing a user to maintain constant possession of his/her board, namely during sporting or recreational usage, none of these devices have addressed repairing a leash after it has snapped apart.

[0010] Disclosed herein is a leash repair device incorporating a sleeve, at least one set screw, and a tool key utilized to restore broken inner ends of a leash. The sleeve includes two receiving ends and at least one aperture bored through the sleeve. The inner ends of the leash are inserted into the receiving ends and are positioned within the sleeve. At least one fastener is introduced into and through the aperture of the sleeve. In one embodiment, the inner ends of the leash overlap one another after being introduced into the sleeve. The fastener is tightened down within the aperture by the tool key until the fastener comes into direct contact with the leash.

[0011] An alternative embodiment of the present invention incorporates two apertures bored through the sleeve, where the inner ends of the leash are independently inserted into the receiving ends of the sleeve without overlapping one another therein. Each aperture fittingly receives a set screw where they are fastened within the apertures of the sleeve securing the inner ends of the leash to the sleeve.

[0012] An advantage of the present invention is to provide a leash repair device capable of reconfiguring a leash, in particular a damaged leash, back into a unitary form. By inserting broken ends of the leash into a sleeve and being fastened thereto, a user is able to have longer sporting or recreational boarding sessions. Otherwise, a user who opts to continue his/her sessions without a leash will be increasingly fatigued when chasing after his/her board. Therefore, the restored leash is able to continue to connect the user to the board; and as a result, safety issues are increased by allowing the user to maintain control of the board.

[0013] Another benefit of the present invention is to prevent a user from having to constantly replace the leash which can become increasingly expensive. Further, for users who do have replacement leashes on-hand, the present invention prevents users from having to seek a sporting goods outlet or other retail store to purchase a substitute board leash before being able to embark on another boarding session.

[0014] A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a lightweight and mobile leash repair device that is easily transportable to either the beachfront or into the surf. The leash repair device is made of durable material to ensure the continued integrity of the leash. Further, the present invention is easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

[0015] Numerous objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments are read in conjunction with the drawings which illustrate the same. The specific structures through which these benefits are delivered will be described in detail herein below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The invention will now be described in greater detail in the following way of example only and with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a leash repair device according to present invention having two broken leash ends being receptively inserted into a sleeve.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sporting leash utilizing the leash repair device according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0019] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

[0020] Furthermore, elements may be recited as being “coupled”; this terminology's use contemplates elements being connected together in such a way that there may be other components interstitially located between the specified elements, and that the elements so specified may be connected in fixed or movable relation one to the other. The term “coupled” should be contrasted with the use of the terminology “direct” connection which designates a relationship or joinder that does not have other components interstitially located there between, but the components may be fixed or movable with respect to one another.

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a leash repair device 5 capable of taking a leash 20 which is damaged, namely by snapping apart, and restoring the leash 20 back into a unitary configuration. Preferably, the leash 20 is a surfboard, bodyboard or other sporting good leash made of rubber, plastic, or any other durable material. Alternatively, the leash 20 may be made of elastic material designed to stretch in order to increase the length of the leash 20. Typically, the leash 20 is damaged due to normal wear and tear contributed by recreational and/or competitive sporting usage. Alternatively, when a user is separated from his/her board, the stress induced and transferred onto the leash 20 during any pulling action may cause the leash 20 to fracture and break apart. Irrespective as to the cause of the damage, a user is left with at least two broken ends of the leash 20, namely a first inner end 21 and a second inner end 22, and two outer ends 34, 35.

[0022] The leash repair device 5 collectively includes a sleeve 10, at least one fastener 17, and a tool key 30. The sleeve 10 has two receiving ends 12, 14 and at least one aperture 16 bored through the sleeve 10. Preferably, the sleeve 10 has an elongated, tubular configuration. The inner ends 21, 22 of the leash 20 are each telescopingly inserted into the receiving ends 12, 14 of the sleeve 10. Once the inner ends 21, 22 are positioned within the sleeve 10, at least one fastener 17 is perpendicularly entered into and through the aperture 16 of the sleeve 10. In one embodiment, the first inner end 21 and the second inner end 22 of the leash 20 overlap one another after being introduced into the sleeve 10. The fastener 17 is tightened down within the aperture 16 by the tool key 30 until the fastener 17 comes into direct contact with the leash 20. Preferably, the tool key 30 is an alien wrench and the fastener 17 is a set screw. In an alternative embodiment, the sleeve 10 may have at least one aperture 16 receiving a spring loaded pin as its fastener 17. As a result, the first inner end 21 and the second inner end 22 of the leash 20 are fixed in a stationary position within the sleeve 10.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, two apertures 16, 18 are bored through the sleeve 10. The inner ends 21, 22 of the leash 20 are independently injected into the receiving ends 12, 14 of the sleeve 10 without overlapping one another therein. Each aperture 16, 18 fittingly receives a fastener 17, 19. The fasteners 17, 19 are orthogonally secured within the apertures 16, 18 of the sleeve 10 securing the first inner end 21 and the second inner end 22 of the leash 20 to the sleeve 10.

[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates each outer end 34, 35 of the leash 20 preferably incorporating an attachment 23, 26 connected thereto. Each attachment 23, 26 includes a housing 37, 53 extending from the outer ends 34, 35 of the leash 20. The housings 37, 53 incorporate a socket 39, 55 therein and a projection 45, 61 outwardly extending therefrom. Preferably, the projections 45, 61 are swivel joints. Each housing 37, 53 further includes an aperture 40, 57 bored therethrough. The attachments 23, 26 are engagingly coupled to straps 32, 50, preferably in a coextensive relationship.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, one strap is a leg or wrist strap and the remaining strap is a board strap. The strap 32, namely the leg or wrist strap, has a housing 70 extending therefrom having an internal socket 72 and an aperture 74 therethrough. The internal socket 72 operatively receives and secures the projection 45 therein by utilizing a set screw 76 to affix the projection 45 in position. The strap 50, namely the board strap, has a cooperating loop 65 attached thereto. The loop 65 is affixed to the projection 61 in order to connect the leash 20 to the strap 50.

[0026] Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only, and is not to be taken as a limitation. The spirit and scope of the present invention are to be limited only by the terms of the claims below.

[0027] Industrial Applicability

[0028] The present invention finds specific applicability in the sporting goods industries; particularly, with respect to equipment and devices used for surfboards and/or bodyboards.

Claims

1. A leash repair device comprising: a sleeve having two receiving ends and at least one aperture positioned through said sleeve; a leash having inner ends and outer ends, one of said inner ends being inserted into one of said receiving ends of said sleeve and another of said inner ends being connectively introduced into other of said receiving ends; and at least one fastener entering said aperture and securing said leash to said sleeve.

2. The leash repair device as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one aperture comprises two apertures.

3. The leash repair device as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one fastener comprises at least one set screw.

4. The leash repair device as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one fastener comprises at least one spring loaded pin.

5. The leash repair device as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one fastener is tightened into said aperture by a tool key.

6. The leash repair device as recited in claim 5, wherein said tool key is an allen wrench.

7. The leash repair device as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said outer ends has an attachment connecting to a first strap.

8. The leash repair device as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said outer ends has an attachment connected to a second strap.

9. The leash repair device as recited in claim 7, wherein said attachment includes a housing extending from one of said outer ends, said housing having a socket therein and an aperture bored therethrough, said socket having a projection extending therefrom.

10. The leash repair device as recited in claim 9, wherein said aperture receives a set screw.

11. The leash repair device as recited in claim 7, wherein said first strap has a housing extending therefrom, said housing having a socket therein and an aperture bored therethrough.

12. The leash repair device as recited in claim 11, wherein said aperture receives a set screw.

13. The leash repair device as recited in claim 8, wherein said attachment includes a housing extending from one of said outer ends, said housing having a socket therein and an aperture bored therethrough, said socket having a projection extending therefrom.

14. The leash repair device as recited in claim 13, wherein said aperture receives a set screw.

15. The leash repair device as recited in claim 9 or 13, wherein said projection is a swivel joint.

16. A leash repair device comprising: a sleeve having two receiving ends and at least one aperture positioned through said sleeve; a leash having inner ends and outer ends, one of said inner ends being inserted into one of said receiving ends of said sleeve and another of said inner ends being connectively introduced into other of said receiving ends; at least one fastener entering said aperture and secures said leash to said sleeve; and said outer ends having attachments connected thereto.

17. The leash repair device as recited in claim 16, wherein said attachments are connected to straps.

18. The leash repair device as recited in claim 17, wherein each of said attachments having a housing extending therefrom, said housing comprising a socket located therein, an aperture bored therethrough and a projection extending outwardly from said socket.

19. The leash repair device as recited in claim 18, wherein said projection is a swivel joint.

20. The leash repair device as recited in claim 17, wherein at least one of said straps has a housing extending therefrom, said housing having a socket therein and an aperture bored therethrough to receive a fastener.