US20200307742A1

US20200307742A1 - Universal Foil Mounting System with Quick Connect & Disconnect

Info

Publication number: US20200307742A1
Application number: US16/363,201
Authority: US
Inventors: Lancelot Gelas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-03-25
Filing date: 2019-03-25
Publication date: 2020-10-01

Abstract

A universal, quick release foil mounting system is disclosed. The device is comprised of three mam parts: a first part being a ‘mount plate’ that is fixedly connected to existing kite surfing, windsurfing and standup paddle boarding foils by means of fasteners; a second part being a ‘base plate’ that is fixedly secured to the mast track of existing kite surfing, standup paddle hoarding (SUP) and windsurfing boards—also affixed by means of fasteners; a third part being a quick disconnect system on said mount plate or base plate comprised of, but not limited to catch tabs, locking pins and slide locks etc. The mount plate is configured to receive the base plate and temporarily join the foil mast to the board. An object of the invention is to allow any foil having standard 165 mm×90 mm (6.5″×3.5″) hole mounts (as well as other dimensions) to be quickly installed or removed from a board.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to hydrofoils. More specifically, it relates to a quick-disconnect foil mounting retrofit kit that fits onto popular, recreational, hydrofoil boards.

BACKGROUND

The first hydrofoils were developed by Enrico Fodanini in the late 1800s and were comprised of ladder like structures affixed to the sides of a boat. In the early 1900s, Alexander Graham Bell began working on hydrofoils with Fodanini and developed high speed hydrofoil boats that were later adopted by the U.S. Navy. Hydrofoils continual to make waves in recreational venues and water skiers invented the Air Chair™ and the Sky Ski™ that allowed riders to sit on small hydrofoils pulled by a boat. Famous waterman Laird Hamilton began standing on these skis and used them to surf waves. Later, kitesurfers began affixing hydrofoils to the bottom of their boards to be pulled by the wind. Recreational hydrofoils continue to evolve. European Patent No. 2907737A1 granted to Geislinger disclosed a hydrofoil wing and fuselage assembly for kite boards but it does not include a quick disconnecting mast. U.S. Pat. No. 7,021,232B2 granted to Chen disclosed a self-propelled, human powered hydrofoil bur does not include a foil that quickly disconnects from the board. U.S. Pat. No. 9,586,659B2 granted to Langclaan disclosed a self-propelled hydrofoil board; however, the foil is permanently anchored to the underside of the board. Many patents exist that disclose hydrofoil systems; however, none were found in the prior art that related to quick-disconnect systems for recreational hydrofoils.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device herein disclosed and described provides a solution to the shortcomings in the prior art through the disclosure of a quick disconnect retrofit kit that fits onto popular, recreational, hydrofoil boards. An object of the invention is to allow users to quickly mount and dismount a foil to a board having a conventional mast track. Users permanently affix a base plate to the board and a mount plate to the foil roast. When ready to foil, the user simply slides the foil with mount plate into the board with base plate and secure the locking mechanism. When they are finished, they unlock the mechanism and slide the foil off of the board.
Another object of this invention is to provide a means to allow the device to fit into foils having shorter bolt hole configurations. The mounting plate firs on the standard 165 mm×90 mm (6.5″×3.5″) configuration and can also accommodate lengths greater than or shorter than 165 mm—as such may be the case with larger SUPs and older foil models. The mounting plate includes elongated slots to accommodate such sizes.
Another object of the aforementioned invention is to provide a means to quickly lock the toil to the apparatus without tools to prevent sliding and vibration. The device comes with a locking mechanism, such as a thumb screw, catch tabs, locking pins and slide locks etc. that provide an extra measure of securement.
Another object of the invention is to provide a means to adjust a foil's position within a mast track. Standard T-nuts are used to affix the plates together and also mount the foil. Users can simply slide the base plate into the desired position on the track and tighten the bolts down to the T-nuts inside the track channels.
It is briefly noted that upon a reading this disclosure, those skilled in the art will recognize various means for carrying out these intended features of the invention. As such it is to be understood that other methods, applications and systems adapted to the task may be configured to carry out these features and arc therefore considered to be within the scope and intent of the present invention, and are anticipated. With respect to the above description, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the herein disclosed invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention herein described is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosed device. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. As used in the claims to describe the various inventive aspects and embodiments, “comprising” means including, but not limited to, whatever follows the word “comprising”. Thus, use of the term “comprising” indicates that the listed elements are required or mandatory, but that other elements are optional and may or may not be present. By “consisting of” is meant including, and limited to, whatever follow's the phrase “consisting of”. Thus, the phrase “consisting of” indicates that the listed elements arc required or mandatory, and that no other elements may be present. By “consisting essentially of” is meant including any elements listed after the phrase, and limited to other elements that do not interfere with or contribute to the activity or action specified in the disclosure for the listed elements, Thus, the phrase “consisting essentially of” indicates that the listed elements are required or mandatory, but that other elements arc optional and may or may not be present depending upon whether or not they affect the activity or action of the listed elements.
The objects features, and advantages of the present invention, as well as the advantages thereof over existing prior art, which will become apparent from the description to follow, are accomplished by the improvements described in this specification and hereinafter described in the following detailed description which fully discloses the invention, but should not be considered as placing limitations thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIFFION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but nor the only or exclusive, examples of embodiments and/or features.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the invention on a foil.

FIG. 3 shows an upward-looking, exploded view.

FIG. 4 shows a downward-looking, exploded view.

FIG. 5 shows an off-center, section view.

FIG. 6 shows a center section view.

Other aspects of the present invention shall be more readily understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the following detailed description, neither of which should be considered limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

In this description, the directional preposition of up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, tight and other such teems refer to the device as it is oriented and appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only; they are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation.
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 showing a perspective view and a top view of the invention holding a foil 1 onto board 16. The figure showing the three main parts of the invention: base plate 4 (selectively affixed to a board mast track 3); mount plate 15 (selectively affixed to a foil 1); and quick disconnect mechanism 5 (fixedly-secured to said mount plate). Base plate 4 and mount plate 15 having a rectangular shape with a plurality of slots and apertures therein and being made, of a rigid material such as, but not limited to: aluminum, stainless steel, carbon fiber and the like. Said combination of apertures and slots accommodating conventional fasteners such as but not limited to bolts, T-nuts and the like and allowing a multitude of foils to the selectively affixed to a varietal of boards having mast tracks thereon.
FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 showing upward looking and downward-looking, exploded views with fasteners 5 passing through apertures 9 on foil base 2 and mount plate 15 and affixing to T-nuts 6 to hold said mount plate 15 there between. The figures also showing fasteners 6 passing through apertures on base plate 4 and engaging in T-nuts 12 within mast track 3. The figures also showing and embodiment of quick disconnect mechanism 5 as a thumb screw—other embodiments may include hit nor be limited to a release button, release pin, cam lever and the like.
FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 showing off-center and center section views respectively. The figures showing fasteners 5 engaged with T-nuts 6 and 12 and sandwiching mount plate 15 and base plate 4 and foil base 2 there between. FIG. 6 illustrating L-shaped, groove on base plate 4 configured to receive and engage tongue 7 extending from a proximal portion of mount plate 15. The aforementioned mating parts within the invention adding more reinforcement to the connection of a foil to a board.
It is additionally noted and anticipated that although the device is shown in its most simple form, various components and aspects of the device may be differently shaped or slightly modified when forming the invention herein. As such those skilled in the art will appreciate the descriptions and depictions set forth in this disclosure or merely meant to portray examples of preferred modes within the overall scope and intent of the invention, and are not to be considered limiting in any manner. While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the invention have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may lie employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A foil mounting system comprised of the following parts:

(a) a base plate;

(b) a mount plate;

(c) a locking mechanism

(d) a multitude of screws; and

(c) a plurality of T-nuts.

2. The mount plate of claim 1 having slots configured to receive bolts positioned in apertures from a multitude of conventional foil masts.

3. The mount plate of claim 1 having apertures configured to receive bolts positioned in slots from conventional board mast tracks.

4. The mount and base plates of claim 1 having interlocking tongues and grooves respectively to provide enhanced strength to the connection.

5. The mount plate of claim 1 remaining on a board mast track when not in use.

6. The base plate of claim 1 remaining on a foil mast when not in use.

7. A method for connecting a foil to a board, the method comprising:

(a) selectively connecting a plurality of foils to a board;

(b) quickly connecting a foil to a board;

(c) selectively locking a foil to a board; and

(d) quickly unlocking a foil from a board.

8. The method of selectively locking a foil to a board of claim 7 wherein no tool is required.