A novel safety leash system for surf ski type craft

Abstract

The present invention provides a safety leash system for surf skis and all their variants (all herein referred to as "surf skis") that avoids both the risk of tangling around the user and / or breaking apart of existing leg leash systems. Said system having a number of parts including a flexible loop whose ends attach to the adjustment foot pedal rails employed by various brands of surf ski's and fitted on either side of the footwell walls where the user's legs are positioned. The flexible loop is designed to suspend and secure a safety leash at its apex so as to position it above the steering foot pedals so as not to interfere with their action during use. Said safety leash is secured from the flexible loop to the user's mid waist section by means of a clip or shackle on the user end of the safety leash. This in turn is attached to a dedicated harness strong point attached to the life jacket or harness worn by the user. Positioned in this way, it suspends the safety attachment leash above the user's legs and avoids tangling around the legs during mounts, re-mounts and dis-mounts.

Description

A Novel Safety Leash System for Surf Ski Type CraftField of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved safety leash system used for surf ski type watercraft in all their variants. It is designed to overcome the disadvantages of the existing type of leg leash systems in use.Background of the invention

[0002] The objective of existing leash systems in surf ski's is to maintain a safety connection at all times between the user and the surf ski so that when the user falls out, they do not get separated from the surf ski which can easily be blown or washed out of reach of the user thereby endangering their safety. The existing leg leash systems comprise a strap which may be fitted just under the left or right knee above the calf and connects a strap or coiled bungee cord to a fitting in the centre bottom of the surf ski's footwell as illustrated in Figure 1 along with other common parts of the surf ski for reference. Various other ski attachment options can also be used such as to the foot strap.

[0003] The issues with this system are as follows.[003-1] The bungee or strap can get tangled around either leg after the user has remounted the surf ski after falling out. This is due to the attachment connection being from between the lower legs to a point under the legs. Such a tangle can restrict the user's balance and thereby the safe and effective use of the surf ski. This results in the user having to disconnect the attachment at the leg strap and untangle the strap or cord from around the effected body part and then re-attach back to the strap.[003-2] The current system requires the user to be unattached both when entering the water with the surf ski and before dismounting the surf ski prior to exiting from the water. This results in the user being required to re-attach or detach the safety leash before the ski is safely back on shore.[003-3] Most model surf skis have a manufactured attachment point for the safety leash which is in the center of the footwell located under and between the upper legs. This can result in the surf ski bucket / cockpit filling up with either water or air pressure in extreme conditions and resulting in the failure and parting of the bungee cord or attachment strap due to excessive force between the user in the water and the surf ski.[003-4] The existing leash system restricts the free movement of the lower limbs when the user is in the water and attempting to maneuver to quickly remount the surf ski. The free movement of the legs to aid in swimming motion is even more important as one of the hands is also restricted as it is required to be attached to or hold onto the paddle.

[0004] Any reference herein to known prior art does not, unless the contrary indication appears, constitute an admission that such prior art is commonly known by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, at the priority date of this application.Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention provides a system whereby the safety leash that connects the user to the surf ski is suspended above the steering pedals to the apex of a flexible loop or other similar structure which in turn is secured to the adjustment rails for the same steering pedals in a variety of ways illustrated in figure 2. The opposing end of the safety leash is then secured to the user's life jacket by means of a safety hook, snap shackle, carabinier or similar detachable fastener. This attaches to a reinforced ring which in turn forms part of an integrated harness, strap, belt or similar device illustrated in figure 4. When installed, the system ensures that the safety leash is positioned above the user's legs thereby preventing tangling around the users' limbs.Furthermore, it allows the user to remain attached to the ski when entering or exiting the water or carrying the ski with its paddle.

[0006] The ends of the flexible loop can be secured to each side rail by means of a screw or bolt according to the specifications of the original screw or bolt gauge in use by the ski but lengthened to account for the thickness of the flexible loop.

[0007] The ends of the flexible loop can also be secured by means of an adjustable rod whose length can be adjusted by hand or by tool to become shorter or longer in order to fit into the opposing adjustment holes in the centre rail of each adjustment track of a variety of ski designs as shown in figure 2. The entire safety leash system can be shortened and detached then repositioned to a more suitable position along the adjustment rail depending on the desired location of the foot pedals.

[0008] The safety leash can comprise a number of materials including bungee cord, reinforced fabric with elastic, material straps or other materials of similar strength and flexibility.

[0009] The flexible loop can comprise a variety of suitable materials including glass or carbon fibre as well as plastics or laminates of various kinds. It can also be designed so as to form a straight triangular rod whose apex also positions the safety strap in the same position above the foot pedals.

[0010] Attachment of the safety leash to the apex of the flexible loop can be by integrated leash end loop or, if the adjustment rod is used to secure the loop to the ski, then around the centre section of the adjustment rod and back up to the apex of the flexible loop as shown in figure 4.[Oil] Additional reinforcement can also be employed from the loop attachment points at either side up to the apex of the loop. These reinforcement members can employ a variety of suitable materials such as spectra line, heavy gauge fishing line or wires of various types and gauges. These reinforcement lines also assist in keeping the safety leash in place at the top of the apex by means of small apertures near the peak of the flexible loop either side of the safety leash as shown in figure 4.Brief description of the drawings

[0012] A detailed description of a preferred embodiment will follow, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures of the drawings, in which:Figure 1 illustrates the parts of a common surf ski and how an existing leg leash is designed to be attached.Figure 2 illustrates a complete isometric rendering of the most common form of the proposed safety leash system and how it connects into the surf ski and positioned in the footwell whilst in use.Figure 3 shows how the other end of the safety leash can connect to the user in various ways.Figure 4 illustrates the preferred use of a novel integrated harness with a circular ring which the safety leash can attach to. This integrated harness forms part of the system and describes a novel way of attaching said harness to all existing life jacket and harness types commonly in use.

[0013] 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. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

[0014] While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein.Detailed description of the embodiment or embodiments

[0015] Illustrated in Figure 2a is a complete isometric diagram of all parts of the system comprising a strong yet flexible loop secured at each base end to an adjustable bar which projects through the base of said loop at each end in order to fit into the adjustment rail holes or slots on either side wall of the footwell without the use of the adjustable bar as shown in Figure 2b. The flexible loop can also be connected directly to the screw holes of the adjustment rails by use of the same screws or bolts used for these same adjustment rails.

[0016] The adjustable rod can be disconnected by means of a screw thread by hand so that it can be repositioned up and down the adjustment rails depending on desired foot pedal position as also shown in Figure 3. In this way the safety leash can be positioned at the apex of the flexible loop close enough to the steering pedals so as not to interfere with their action yet suspend the safety leash above these same steering pedals so that it will also not interfere with their action.

[0017] The safety leash can secure to the flexible loop in a variety of ways either being connected directly to the flexible loop by means of passing said flexible loop through the end loop of the safety leash or for the leash to pass over the flexible loop and then down to the adjustment rod with the adjustment rod passing through the safety leash end loop as shown in Figure 4.

[0018] A preventor line or strap can also be secured from the apex of the flexible loop to a point forward of the loop at the front of the footwell as illustrated in figure 2b. This is to prevent a strong backward pull on the safety leash that may rotate the flexible loop back onto the foot pedals and interfere with their freedom of movement necessary to steer the ski. This preventor line also assists with tensioning the safety leash between the flexible loop and the user so that the leash maintains an ideal position above the user's legs.

[0019] Illustrated in Figure 2a is an example of how the reinforcing members can pass through either side of the safety leash at the apex of the flexible loop so as to reinforce the flexible loop but also constrain the position of the safety leash so that it cannot slide down either side of the safety loop but remain secured to the apex of the safety loop. This feature is designed to work in the same way irrespective of whether the safety leash end is attached to the apex of the flexible loop or passing through then down to be secured to the adjustable rod. Figure 2b shows the use of a saddle attached to the apex of the flexible loop to also secure the leash in position without the use of reinforcing members.

[0020] Illustrated in Figure 3 are the various ways in which the other end of the safety leash can be attached to the user either by means of a belt, an upper body harness or more ideally, to the novel integrated vest positioned under the lifejacket and comprising a securing ring for the safety leash.

[0021] Illustrated in Figure 4 is a novel vest which supports a connection ring positioned under the lifejacket or harness it is attached to. This novel vest is part of the SeaFlex system and is designed to attach to various straps integral to the construction of all life jackets or harnesses in use and thereby maintain a secured position between the inside of the lifejacket at the front torso of the user.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 13 June 2024 (13.06.2024)1. A safety leash system for a surf ski or similar craft, said safety leash system comprising of a flexible loop which is fixed to the steering pedal adjustment rails of the surf ski footwell walls. Said flexible loop can be directly connected to the adjustment rails by means of screws or bolts or can be adjusted up and down the rails by means of an adjustable rod whose ends are designed to fit into the series of adjustment holes along the inside of the rails. Said flexible loop is of a length whereby it's sides and apex is sufficiently around and above the steering pedals as to not interfere with their action.

2. The feature of this flexible loop as claimed in claim 1 wherein the anchor point of a safety leash can now be suspended close to but above the steering pedals so as not to interfere with their action and to prevent tangling around the user's legs when remounting the surf ski. This suspended anchor point also allows the user to carry the surf ski to and from the water and to mount, remount and exit the surf ski without having to disconnect the safety leash.

3. A suspended safety leash anchor point as claimed in claim 1 and 2 whereby the safety leash can either pass through the flexible loop apex and down to be secured around the adjustment rod or be directly connected to the apex of the flexible loop.

4. Two reinforcing members may be anchored either at the ends of the flexible loop or around the ends of the adjustment rod and passing through near the apex of the flexible loop as claimed in claim 1 to 3 secures the safety leash to the apex of the flexible loop and prevents it from sliding down either side of said flexible loop.

5. A separate saddle can be affixed to the apex of the flexible loop in order to secure the safety leash to the apex without the use of reinforcing members as described in 4.

6. A novel design of safety vest with an integrated attachment ring for the safety leash to attach to by means of a snap shackle, hook or similar device. Said safety vest designed to attach to the inside front panels of most life jackets in use by securing to the shoulder and side straps from behind. An integrated front zip allows continued use of centre zip in those particular models of life jacket.

7. This same safety vest with an integrated attachment ring can also be reversed to face backwards and attach inside the back panel of the lifejacket in exactly the same way but in reverse as it attached to the inside of the front panel as described in Claim 6.

8. The rear facing safety vest is now positioned to accept an elastic leash by means of a snap shackle, hook or similar device. This in turn is connected at its opposite end to an anchor point designed to attach to the rear deck of the surf ski by a variety of means including adhesive and suction cups.

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