Sectionalized surfboard

Abstract

A sectionalized, disassemblable board-like hull which can be adapted for use as a surfboard, windsurfer, or the like. The hull preferably has two sections, i.e. front and rear. The hull sections are joined using a detachable securing device which includes a single loadbearing tube assembly extending into each section concentrically along a centrally located longitudinal axis of the hull. The securing device also includes a clamp assembly located in an upper surface of the hull and another clamp assembly located in a bottom surface of the hull. These clamp assemblies bridge the joint between the front section and the rear section, and when engaged, hold the front and rear sections together longitudinally. The clamp assemblies can each include a breakable link. This link has a tensile strength such that whenever the hull is subjected to a prescribed bending moment the link breaks and causes the corresponding clamp assembly to disengage. In addition, the tube assembly can be made to exhibit a bending strength such that whenever the hull is subjected to this prescribed bending moment the tube breaks or crimps. The prescribed bending moment is chosen to be less than a bending moment sufficient to fracture the hull sections during use. In this way, the relatively small, inexpensive, and easily replaced breakable link and tube assembly are sacrificed to save the hull sections should the hull be subjected to a bending moment which would otherwise be strong enough to cause a section to fracture and destroy the hull.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.