Inflatable case to transport a sports board and a method for making the same

Abstract

An inventive case capable of transporting a sports board, such as a surfboard, snowboard or skate board or element thereof, is described. The case may include a top cushion designed to conform to a top surface of a sports board, a bottom cushion designed to conform to a bottom surface of the same sports board. Optionally or alternatively, each of the top and the bottom cushions may include a plurality of compartments which have varying cross-sectional dimensions along a length of the compartments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A case capable of transporting a surfboard, comprising:
 a top cushion designed to conform to a top surface of a surfboard;   a bottom cushion designed to conform to a bottom surface of the surfboard, wherein each of said top and said bottom cushions include a plurality of compartments which have varying cross-sectional dimensions along a length of said compartments.   
     
     
         2 . The surfboard case of  claim 1 , wherein said top and bottom cushions and said plurality of compartments are inflatable and said compartments have defined therein an aperture which allows air to travel from one compartment to another compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The surfboard case of  claim 1 , further comprising a side rail cushion that is disposed between said top cushion and said bottom cushion and is designed to be adjacent to a side rail of said surfboard when said surfboard is encased inside said case. 
     
     
         4 . The surfboard case of  claim 2 , wherein at a distance which equals between about 0 and about ⅓ of a length of said case and said distance measured from the front end of said case, a cross-sectional area of said compartment in an inflated state of said top cushion is between about 4 square inches and about 30 square inches. 
     
     
         5 . The surfboard case of  claim 2 , wherein at a distance which equals between more than ⅓ and about ⅔ of a length of said case and said distance measured from a front end of said case, a thickness of said compartment of said top cushion in an inflated state is between about 6 square inches and about 30 square inches. 
     
     
         6 . The surfboard case of  claim 2 , wherein at a distance which equals between about 0 and about ⅓ of a length of said case and said distance measured from a back end of said case, a thickness of said compartment of said top cushion in an inflated state is between about 4 inches and about 24 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The surfboard case of  claim 2 , wherein at a distance which equals between about 0 and about ⅓ of a length of said case and said distance measured from a front end of said case, a thickness of said compartment of said bottom cushion in an inflated state is between about 6 square inches and about 30 square inches. 
     
     
         8 . The surfboard case of  claim 2 , wherein at a distance which equals between about ⅓ and about ⅔ of a length of said case and said distance measured from a front end of said case, a thickness of said compartment of said bottom cushion in an inflated state is between about 4 square inches and about 24 square inches. 
     
     
         9 . The surfboard case of  claim 2 , wherein at a distance which equals between about 0 and about ⅓ of a length of said case and said distance measured from a back end of said case, a thickness of said compartment of said bottom cushion in an inflated state is between about 4 square inches and about 30 square inches. 
     
     
         10 . A case capable of transporting a surfboard, comprising: a top inflatable cushion designed to conform to a top surface of a surfboard in an inflated state of said top cushion; a bottom inflatable cushion designed to conform to a bottom surface of the surfboard in an inflated state of said bottom cushion; wherein in an inflated state, each of said top and said bottom cushions vary in thickness along their length to protect said top surface and bottom of surfboard from being impacted from an external force when said surfboard is secured inside said case. 
     
     
         11 . The case of  claim 10 , further comprising a side rail cushion that is capable of being disposed between said top and said bottom cushions. 
     
     
         12 . The case of  claim 11 , wherein said top and said bottom cushion are inflatable such that in an inflated state said top cushion conforms to said to top surface of said surfboard and said bottom cushion conforms to said bottom surface of said surfboard and said case further comprising a first valve designed to inflate said top cushion, a second valve designed to inflate said bottom cushion and a third valve designed to inflate said side rail cushion. 
     
     
         13 . The surfboard case of  claim 12 , wherein at a distance which equals between about 0 and about ⅓ of a length of said case and said distance measured from the front end of said case, a thickness of said compartment of said top cushion in an inflated state is between about 2 inches and about 4 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The surfboard case of  claim 12 , wherein at a distance which equals between more than ⅓ and about ⅔ of a length of said case and said distance measured from a front end of said case, a thickness of said inflatable compartment of said top cushion in an inflated state is between about 2.5 inches and about 4.75 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The surfboard case of  claim 12 , wherein at a distance which equals between about 0 and about ⅓ of a length of said case and said distance measured from a back end of said case, a thickness of said inflatable compartment of said top cushion in an inflated state is between about 2 inches and about 4.75 inches. 
     
     
         16 . The surfboard case of  claim 12 , wherein at a distance which equals between about 0 and about ⅓ of a length of said case and said distance measured from a front end of said case, a thickness of said inflatable compartment of said bottom cushion in an inflated state is between about 2 inches and about 4.75 inches. 
     
     
         17 . The surfboard case of  claim 12 , wherein at a distance which equals between about ⅓ and about ⅔ of a length of said case and said distance measured from a front end of said case, a thickness of said inflatable compartment of said bottom cushion in an inflated state is between about 2.5 inches and about 3.5 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The surfboard case of  claim 12 , wherein at a distance which equals between about 0 and about ⅓ of a length of said case and said distance measured from a back end of said case, a thickness of said inflatable compartment of said bottom cushion in an inflated state is between about 2 inches and about 4.75 inches. 
     
     
         19 . A method for manufacturing a case, comprising:
 fabricating a plurality of longitudinal inflatable compartments having varying cross-sectional areas along their lengths; and   adhering some of said longitudinal compartments to form a top cushion and adhering others of said longitudinal compartments to form a bottom cushion.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said adhering includes heat welding.