Rail Saver Handle for Water Sports Board Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surfboards, long boards, paddle boards, foil boards, sail boards, and body boards lack a built-in handle for riders to grasp and control, leading to difficulties in variable water conditions, increased risk of injury, and potential hazards to others when riders attempt to reattach in turbulent waters.
Innovation Solution
A 'rail saver with a handle' is integrated into the leash, providing a convenient and protective grip near the leash cord junction and board attachment point, allowing riders to easily grab and control their boards, constructed from materials like nylon or polyester with a protective cover for comfort and grip enhancement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a standard water sport leash without a handle is used, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simpler, but the ease of operation deteriorates as riders cannot easily grab and control their boards in variable water conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the rail saver attachment mechanism with a handle into a single integrated component. The handle is formed as part of the rail saver structure that attaches to the board rail, merging two previously separate functions (attachment and gripping) into one unified device. This allows riders to easily grab the handle while the rail saver portion secures the leash to the board, improving ease of operation without requiring multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The rail saver handle serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a gripping handle for board control, provides the attachment mechanism to secure the leash to the board rail, and protects the board rail from leash cord damage. This multi-functionality improves ease of operation by combining control and attachment capabilities in one component while avoiding the need for separate handles and attachment devices.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If riders attempt to control boards by grabbing standard leashes, then no additional components are needed, but the object-generated harmful factors increase due to finger and hand injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The handle acts as an intermediary between the rider's hand and the board control system. Instead of directly gripping the thin leash cord or rail saver attachment points that can cause injury, riders grab the thicker, more protective handle portion. This intermediary structure distributes pressure more evenly and provides a safer gripping surface, reducing the risk of finger and hand injuries while maintaining the ability to control the board.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle is designed with a protective cover made of softer materials such as neoprene or foam that cushions the rider's hand before contact with harder components. This pre-cushioning protects riders from potential injuries by providing a compliant, injury-reducing interface between the hand and the rigid rail saver attachment mechanism, allowing safe gripping without direct contact with potentially harmful hard surfaces.
3Ease of operation
If boards include built-in handles, then rider control improves, but the manufacturing precision and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of integrating handles directly into the board structure (which would require precise manufacturing and modification of the board itself), the patent extracts the handle function and places it on the removable leash assembly. The rail saver handle can be attached to and removed from the board rail without permanent modifications, avoiding the need for precise manufacturing of built-in board handles while still providing the same gripping functionality. This extraction approach simplifies manufacturing by separating the handle function from the board structure.
4Reliability
If a rail saver handle is added to the leash, then rider control and safety improve, but the drag on the board increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is positioned locally at the rail saver attachment point near the board rail, rather than distributing mass throughout the entire leash system. This localized placement provides the necessary gripping functionality exactly where it is needed for board control while minimizing the overall drag-inducing mass in the water. The handle's compact design at the attachment point allows effective control without significant additional drag compared to larger or more distributed handle configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed toward a “Rail saver with a handle. The rail saver has a handle the extends laterally away from the rail saver, creating a “loop” which the user can grab to maintain control over a water sports vehicle such as a long board, SUP, foil board, sail board, body board and other water sports vehicles. The “rail saver with a handle” is designed to add the functionality of being able to grab and control a free-floating board while in water. Grabbing and controlling an SUP board is also difficult while holding a paddle. This new functionality provides an opportunity to control a board with one hand whether or not you are holding a paddle. By holding and using the handle, the board rider avoids injury to his fingers or hands from grasping at a leash cord that is not designed to be grabbed.