Patent Application
20200188763
The present invention generally relates to a cover for sports equipment, such as for skis, snowboards, surfboards, skateboards, ice skates, wakeboards, waterskis, kiteboards and the like. The cover is made of a either a combination of fabrics, or a combination of faces of fabric, which allow for moisture to be wicked away from the sports equipment, and which provide protection for the equipment from rust and/or other damage.
Presented below is background information on certain aspects of the present invention as they may relate to technical features referred to in the detailed description, but not necessarily described in detail. That is, certain components of the present invention may be described in greater detail in the materials discussed below. The discussion below should not be construed as an admission as to the relevance of the information to the claimed invention or the prior art effect of the material described.
Surfing, skating, snow sports, such as skiing and snowboarding, and many other board or ski sports must be done in a location where the terrain and weather are conducive for such activities, and therefore participants of these sports usually have to travel to such locations to engage in these sports, which also necessitates the transport of their sporting equipment to those locations.
Surfing, skating, snow sports, such as skiing and snowboarding, and many other board or ski sports are high performance articles of sporting equipment and are therefore usually relatively expensive. Furthermore, these skis, boards and skates, such as snow skis and snowboards, are also somewhat delicate, especially with regard to keeping their various surfaces and edges in optimal condition for their use, such as skiing or snowboarding. It is therefore essential that the skis, skates and boards be protected from physical harm while they are being transported. But, because of their awkward lengths, shape, and cutting edges, protecting the skis and other sports equipment during transit prove to be a challenge. Likewise, because of the cutting edges on certain sports equipment, a cover which protects the user from injury from those edges is also desired. Moreover, having a cover which is lightweight, easy to fold and store and easy to use makes it more likely that the sports enthusiast will actually use the cover.
Ski bags of various designs are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,196,762 to Goodwin et al. discloses a bag for transporting skis, ski poles and the like. The bag is formed from a matching pair of side panels of indoor-outdoor carpet material and a strip of nylon edge reinforcing tape stitched together along two sides and one end of the side panels. The bags also include a nylon wrapping handle to facilitate carrying and a metal ring to permit hanging the bag for drying or storage. U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,355 to Wymore et al. discloses a protective container for snow skis having an elongated body with inner and outer wall members fabricated of a pliable material. The wall members are retained in spaced-apart relationship by a resiliently deformable cushion member placed therein between, with the inner wall defining a compartment for receipt of a set of snow skis. On the whole, ski bags such as those described above are bulky and heavy. As a result, they cannot conveniently be carried by a skier while skiing and a safe place must be found for storing the ski covers or bags when not in use.
Smaller and relatively lightweight devices for transporting a pair of skis are also known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,678 to Mayfield discloses a ski sleeve, which is designed to fit over the tip of a ski at either end. The ski sleeves have integral hook and loop fasteners which may be used to secure the ski sleeve to the ski. This design, however, fits over only a single ski and leaves the bulk of that ski, as well as the other ski in the pair, completely unprotected. U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,287 to Champenois, Jr. discloses a protective covering for a snow ski binding which includes a weatherproof sheet that is wrapped around the bindings of a pair of skis and then secured thereto by means of an integral hook and loop fastener. This design also leaves a large expanse of the skis completely unprotected. U.S. Pat. No. 3,851,689 to Kohls discloses a foldable ski cover including an elongated bag having two compartments for receiving an individual ski in each compartment. The bag is made from a flexible, waterproof material and includes several reclosable fasteners attached thereto. This waterproof material will tend to trap dirt and debris therein after use with dirty skis, wherein such debris can only be removed with difficulty. Furthermore, skis are manufactured and sold in widely varying lengths, and the positioning of the fasteners on this prior art bag may be awkward when used with certain ski lengths. U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,323 to McConnell discloses a ski sock which is made from a stretchable material and configured to receive a pair of skis. Additionally, the sock includes an elastic band for closure at an inlet end, a closed opposite end, and handles and straps for carrying the skis together. The ski sock fits snugly about and completely covers both skis. The interior surface of this sock is coated with a dry, slick-film to facilitate insertions and removal of skis from the ski sock. The slick surface, being an applied coating, is subjected to wear and will have to be re-applied in order to maintain its slickness.
U.S. Design Patents D643,493 and D490,491 show designs for snowboard covers that cover the base and edges of a snowboard. However, these designs do not show a fastening device that secures the snowboard easily. Moreover, these design patents do not describe materials for the snowboard cover, which enable the cover to wick moisture away from the snowboard.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,736,263, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, describes an elastic covering for alpine sports equipment. The covering is made from a water-permeable elastic material formed into the shape of a sock, into the narrow end of which, the ski or other equipment can be slid. However, this patent does not disclose a cover with a wide opening for the top (i.e., the side opposite the base and the side that is not in contact with the snow or surf during use) of the ski, snowboard or surfboard which allows for ease of inserting or removing the ski or snowboard. Moreover, this patent does not describe combining layers of materials designed to wick moisture away from the ski or snowboard.
In addition to protection from damage due to impact or excessive use that dulls the edges of sport equipment, equipment such as skis, snowboards, surfboards, ice skates and the like may become damaged by extended exposure to moisture. As such, it is desired to have a lightweight, breathable cover for sports equipment that is capable of wicking moisture away from the equipment such that rust and other moisture-related damage does not occur.
The inventor has surprisingly found, that providing a lightweight, foldable and storable cover that is self-moisture-wicking mitigates the above technical problems, including keeping the edges of the sports equipment sharp, the base smooth and various components of the sports equipment rust-free, without the hassle of a massive traditional board bag.
The following brief summary is not intended to include all features and aspects of the present invention, nor does it imply that the invention must include all features and aspects discussed in this summary.
It is an object of the present invention to provide flexible lightweight bags for the transportation of equipment for sports equipment, which partially enclose the equipment being transported in order to prevent damage to the equipment, and in turn prevent the sharp edge of the equipment from being damaged and damaging surrounding articles.
It is another object of the present invention to provide coverings for sports equipment which are made from a material that is self-moisture-wicking, to protect the sports equipment from damage caused by excessive or prolonged exposure to moisture during storage.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a lightweight cover for sports equipment, that is foldable and easily stored.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a covering for sports equipment from which dirt and debris may easily be removed after each use.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are described. Generally, nomenclatures utilized in connection with, and techniques of, cell and molecular biology and chemistry are those well-known and commonly used in the art. Certain experimental techniques, not specifically defined, are generally performed according to conventional methods well known in the art and as described in various general and more specific references that are cited and discussed throughout the present specification. For purposes of the clarity, following terms are defined below.
By “self-wicking” is meant the process of assisting in absorbing moisture and drying until the moisture is gone.
By “breathable” is meant a somewhat porous nature that allows for the passage of air and/or moisture to allow for drying in an efficient manner.
By “fabric” is meant any type of essentially two-dimensional material, typically made up of fibers, such as textiles.
By “dot-gluing” is meant using an adhesive at small, strategic locations of the layers so as to not produce an entire glue layer.
By “stitching” is meant connecting the layers with thread.
By “protective” is meant capable of preventing damage, such as scratches or scrapes.
The present invention generally relates to a cover for sports equipment, such as for skis, snowboards, surfboards, skateboards and the like. In one embodiment, the cover is formed in a similar shape to the equipment it is meant to cover, and large enough to cover at least one flat side and the edges of the equipment, while optionally leaving some portion of the equipment open to the air. In the embodiment used for skis and snowboards, the open portion of the cover is for the side of the equipment that is opposite the “base” and that is not in contact with snow when in use, and which houses bindings or footholds. In an alternative embodiment, such as for a skateboard, the opening in the cover provides a space for wheels of the skateboard. In another embodiment, such as for ice skates, the opening of the cover is against the base of the shoe attached to the skate blade. The piece of sport equipment is inserted into the opening, which is fastened to fit snuggly over the equipment.
Moisture causes rust when it meets certain types of metal, so a cover that not only protects the sports equipment from getting scratched, but also removes rust-causing moisture is desired. The way this works is by having a fabric, or combination of fabrics, that are protective, yet breathable, on the outside and absorbent, quick-drying and wicking on the inside.
1. A self-moisture-wicking cover for sports equipment, including:
2. The self-moisture-wicking cover of Item 1, wherein the inner, moisture-wicking layer of fabric is fleece or micro chamois.
3. The self-moisture-wicking cover of Item 1, wherein the inner, moisture-wicking layer of fabric is polyester.
4. The self-moisture-wicking cover of Item 1, wherein the outer breathable layer of fabric is a polyester blend.
5. The self-moisture-wicking cover of Item 1, wherein the fastener is a drawstring.
6. The self-moisture-wicking cover of Item 1, wherein the inner and outer layers are bonded by incorporating a layer of polyurethane between the inner and outer layers, and heating the layer of polyurethane to bond the inner and outer layers.
7. The self-moisture-wicking cover of Item 1, wherein the inner and outer layers are bonded by dot-gluing.
8. The self-moisture-wicking cover of Item 1, wherein the inner and outer layers are bonded by stitching.
9. The self-moisture-wicking cover of Item 1, wherein the cover is designed to cover a snowboard.
10. The self-moisture-wicking cover of Item 1, wherein the cover is designed to cover a ski.
11. The self-moisture-wicking cover of Item 1, wherein the cover is designed to cover a surfboard.
12. The self-moisture-wicking cover for sports equipment of Item 6, wherein the heating is performed by flame lamination.
13. A self-moisture-wicking cover for sports equipment, comprising: a fabric with a first and second face, wherein the first face is an inner, moisture-wicking face of the fabric and the second face is an outer breathable face of the fabric,
14. A method of making a self-moisture-wicking cover for sport equipment, comprising:
15. The method of making a self-moisture-wicking cover of Item 12, wherein the inner, moisture-wicking layer of fabric is fleece or micro chamois.
16. The method of making a self-moisture-wicking cover of Item 12, wherein the inner, moisture-wicking layer of fabric is polyester.
17. The method of making a self-moisture-wicking cover of Item 12, wherein the outer breathable layer of fabric is a polyester blend.
18. The method of making a self-moisture-wicking cover of Item 12, wherein the fastener is a drawstring.
19. The method of making a self-moisture-wicking cover of Item 12, wherein the inner and outer layers are bonded by: (1) incorporating a layer of polyurethane between the inner and outer layers, and heating the layer of polyurethane to bond the inner and outer layers; (2) dot-gluing; or (3) stitching.
20. The method of making a self-moisture-wicking cover of Item 12, wherein the cover is designed for a snowboard, a ski or an ice skate.
In yet more detail, the present invention is described by the following items which represent preferred embodiments thereof.
The cover of the present invention is designed to fit essentially any size of the particular type of sports equipment it is designed to protect. Differing sizes can also be made for even more specific fits. The cover is elongated to be at least as long as the model of equipment it is designed to protect. The cover is wide enough such that when fastened, the cover completely covers the edges of the equipment it is designed to protect. The cover is equipped with fasteners that allow the cover to fit snugly over the sports equipment, and may be adjustable so as to adjust that fit.
When the cover is at least partially tightened, it forms an inner cavity into which the sports equipment is placed. The fabric of the inner cavity is moisture-wicking so as to absorb moisture that may be on the sports equipment after use. This inner fabric may be a separate fabric from the outer fabric of the cover, or may be the same fabric as the outside of the cover, wherein the fibers of the inner surface or cavity have been treated to increase the surface area available to absorb the moisture, i.e., making the inside “fuzzy” or “nappy.”
The outer fabric of the cover is meant to be relatively strong so as to protect the sports equipment, yet breathable and preferably lightweight enough to allow for easy folding and storage of the cover. One embodiment of the invention uses a polyester blend as the outside fabric. Other examples of materials that can function as the outer layer are known to those of skill in the art, and include, but are not limited to synthetic spacer fabrics. Examples of spacer fabrics are included in the reference list herein, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
The inner fabric of the cover is meant to be absorbent. One embodiment of the invention uses a micro-chamois as the inside fabric. Other fabrics with moisture-wicking properties can also be used for this layer (such as, but not limited to, different types of fleece and polyester). Other examples of materials that can function as the inner layer are known to those of skill in the art, and include, but are not limited to natural fibers such as bamboo, cotton, and wood, or synthetic fibers such as polyester, polypropylene, and cellulose-based fibers such as modal, micro-modal, viscose and TENCEL®.
The fabrics are bonded together using any means that maintains the moisture-wicking properties of the inner layer. In one embodiment, a layer of polyurethane is inserted between the inner and outer layers and is heat-treated, or flame laminated. When this polyurethane fabric is heated, it becomes sticky and bonds the fabrics together. Since polyurethane is porous by nature, it does not inhibit the wicking properties of the fabric in side it. In other embodiments, the fabric may be bonded by methods including, but not limited to, dot-gluing and spotted, intentional stitching, that also connect the fabrics, without inhibiting the ability of the inner-fabric to perform its intended role of wicking moisture.
Any fastener may be used to close the sports equipment cover that allows the cover to snugly cover and protect the working surfaces (base, edges, etc.) of the equipment. Examples include one or more of drawstrings, Velcro, snaps, buttons, zippers, and hooks. A preferred embodiment uses one or more drawstrings.
One embodiment of the invention is described in U.S. Design application Ser. No. 29/615,797, filed Aug. 31, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety
The patent and scientific literature referred to herein establishes the knowledge that is available to those with skill in the art. All United States patents and published or unpublished United States patent applications cited herein are incorporated by reference. All published foreign patents and patent applications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference. All other published references, documents, manuscripts and scientific literature cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference.
While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/779,933, filed on Dec. 14, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62779933 | Dec 2018 | US |
