Board hanger

{
  "publication_number": "US9481429B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Board hanger",
  "abstract": "The present invention provides a hanger configured to support a sports board (e.g. surfboard), for example, in a vertical orientation. The hanger comprises a mount configured for attachment to a supportive structure (e.g. a wall mount) and a ring configured to surround and contact the body of the sports board (‘body ring’) such that at least a portion of the weight of the board is supported by friction imparted by the body ring on the sports board. Embodiments of the present invention provide an efficient and aesthetic mechanism for hanging a sports board such as a surfboard.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A surfboard hanger comprising: a. an end seat configured to support an end of a sports board, wherein the sports board is a surfboard and wherein the end seat is configured for attachment to a leash rope of the surfboard or a leash plug of the surfboard; b. a ring (body ring) configured to surround and contact the body of the sports board; and c. a mount connected to the body ring, wherein the mount is configured for attaching the hanger to a supportive structure; wherein, the mount and the end seat are connected to opposing portions of the body ring such that when installed on a sports board and mounted to a supportive structure, the weight of the sports board on the body ring causes the body ring to squeeze the sports board, thereby applying a lateral force to the sports board.",
    "2. The hanger of claim 1, wherein the hanger comprises a first strap (lower strap) connected at one end to the end seat and at another end to the body ring and wherein the length of the lower strap is adjustable.",
    "3. The hanger of claim 2, wherein the adjustability of the lower strap is provided by a hook and loop mechanism or a buckle.",
    "4. The hanger of claim 1, wherein when the hanger is mounted to the supportive structure, the amount of lateral force applied to the surfboard by the body ring is dependent upon the weight of the surfboard.",
    "5. The hanger of claim 4, wherein when the hanger is mounted to the supportive structure, the weight of the surfboard is at least partially supported by friction imparted on the surfboard by the body ring.",
    "6. The hanger of claim 1, wherein the end seat comprises a hook.",
    "7. The hanger of claim 1, wherein the hangar comprises at least one of a first strap (lower strap) connected at one end to the end seat and at another end to the body ring and a second strap (upper strap) connected at one end to the mount and at another end to the body ring; and when the hanger is installed on a surfboard and mounted to a supportive structure, the body ring forms a “Y” shape in combination with at least one of the upper strap and the lower strap.",
    "8. The hanger of claim 7, wherein the “Y” shape is symmetrically positioned over the center line of the surfboard.",
    "9. The hanger of claim 1, wherein: a. the mount is directly attached to the body ring; or b. the hanger comprises a second strap providing connection of the mount to the body ring, wherein the length of the second strap is less than a length which, when the hanger is installed on the surfboard and the end seat is connected to a first end of the surfboard, extends from the body ring past a second end of the surfboard which opposes the first end.",
    "10. The hanger of claim 1, further comprising a first strap connected at one end to the end seat and at another end to the body ring.",
    "11. A sports board hanger installed on a sports board, the hanger comprising: a. an end seat attached to an end of the sports board; b. a ring (body ring) surrounding and contacting the body of the sports board; and c. a mount connected to the body ring, wherein the mount is configured for attaching the hanger to a supportive structure; wherein the mount and the end seat are connected to opposing portions of the body ring such that when the hanger is mounted to the supportive structure, the weight of the sports board on the body ring causes the body ring to squeeze the sports board, thereby applying a lateral force to the sports board.",
    "12. The hanger of claim 11, further comprising a first strap connected at one end to the end seat and at another end to the body ring.",
    "13. The hanger of claim 12, wherein the length of the first strap is adjustable.",
    "14. The hanger of claim 13, wherein the adjustability of the first strap is provided by a hook and loop mechanism or a buckle.",
    "15. The hanger of claim 12, wherein the end seat is a tail seat attached to a tail of the sports board.",
    "16. The hanger of claim 15, wherein the tail seat comprises a tail pocket, a tail loop, a fin seat, a plug seat, or a plug seat comprising a hook.",
    "17. The hanger of claim 11, wherein the end seat is a tail seat attached to a tail of the sports board.",
    "18. The hanger of claim 17, wherein the tail seat comprises a tail pocket, a tail loop, a fin seat, a plug seat, or a plug seat comprising a hook.",
    "19. The hanger of claim 11, wherein when the hanger is mounted to the supportive structure, the weight of the sports board is at least partially supported by friction imparted on the sports board by the body ring.",
    "20. The hanger of claim 19, wherein the sports board is a surf board.",
    "21. A sports board hanger comprising: a. an end seat configured to support an end of a sports board, b. a ring (body ring) configured to surround and contact the body of the sports board; and c. a mount connected to the body ring, wherein the mount is configured for attaching the hanger to a supportive structure, wherein the mount comprises a rigid hook, a rigid ring, or an eyelet in a strap; wherein, the mount and the end seat are connected to opposing portions of the body ring; and wherein when installed on a sports board and mounted to a supportive structure, the weight of the sports board on the body ring causes the body ring to squeeze the sports board, thereby applying a lateral force to the sports board.",
    "22. The sports board hanger of claim 21 wherein the supportive structure is a nail or a screw.",
    "23. The sports board hanger of claim 21, wherein the mount comprises the eyelet in a strap, and wherein the eyelet is a grommet made of plastic, rubber, or metal."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to sports board hangers such as surfboard hangers.\n\nThe storage of surfboards can present problems due to their large size and awkward shape. Furthermore, surfers often take great pride in presenting these delicate works of art for others to admire share stories about the waves they surfed with each surfboard. While careful handling of surfboards can reduce damage, the easily-damaged materials used in the construction of many surfboards can present quite a burden to successful storage.\n\nHorizontal wall mounts have long been used to successfully store surfboards. These horizontal mounts essentially present a surfboard in an orientation similar to that seen when the board is in use. However, attempts at vertical storage have been met with limited success.\n\nU.S. Pat. No. 4,878,585 (Orestano) describes a T-harness for storing a surfboard having a nose-stirrup serving to support the vertical load and T-straps that wrap around the mid-body region to keep the surfboard in an upright position.\n\nU.S. Pat. No. 5,107,995 (Simpson) describes a strap for holding a surfboard. The strap has a pocket that holds the nose to support the weight of the surfboard and has a slit that surround a fin of the surfboard to keep the surfboard board in an upright position but sitting upside down with the top facing the wall.\n\nU.S. Pat. No. 5,014,955 (Thompson) describes a surfboard holder comprising a lower enclosure for insertion of the nose of a surfboard and an upper enclosure for insertion of the tail of a surfboard; and a stretchable cord member extending from the upper enclosure to the lower enclosure.",
  "cpc": [
    "B63B 35/7946",
    "B63B 32/83",
    "F16B 2/08",
    "F16M 13/02"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A45F 3/14",
    "B63B 35/79",
    "F16B 2/08",
    "F16M 13/02"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Thomas Adolpho"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-05-05",
  "publication_date": "2016-11-01",
  "grant_date": "2016-11-01",
  "priority_date": "2014-05-05",
  "application_number": "US-201514704704-A",
  "family_id": "54354656",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "US4903875A",
    "US4878585A",
    "US5014955A",
    "US5107995A",
    "US20090001034A1",
    "US20130043291A1",
    "US9114270B2"
  ]
}