Folding recreational boards

Abstract

Recreational boards are disclosed that include a first segment having a first top surface, a first bottom surface, and a first side surface that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the board when the board is in a folded-out configuration, as well as a second segment having a second top surface, a second bottom surface, and a second side surface that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the board when the board is in the folded-out configuration. The recreational boards can further include a first connector associated with the first side surface of the first segment and a second connector associated with the second side surface of the second segment. The first connector is configured to be engaged with the second connector when the first side surface of the first segment is brought adjacent to the second side surface of the second segment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A recreational board comprising:
 a first segment having a first top surface, a first bottom surface, and a first side surface that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the board when the board is in a folded-out configuration;   a second segment having a second top surface, a second bottom surface, and a second side surface that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the board when the board is in the folded-out configuration;   a first connector associated with the first side surface of the first segment; and   a second connector associated with the second side surface of the second segment;   wherein the first connector is configured to be engaged with the second connector when the first side surface of the first segment is brought adjacent to the second side surface of the second segment.   
     
     
         2 . The recreational board of  claim 1 , further comprising a hinge at least partially connecting the first segment to the second segment. 
     
     
         3 . The recreational board of  claim 2 , wherein the hinge comprises a coating covering at least a portion of the first and second top surfaces. 
     
     
         4 . The recreational board of  claim 2 , wherein the hinge is associated with the first top surface and the second top surface and allows the first and second segments to be folded together such that the first top surface and the second top surface substantially face one another. 
     
     
         5 . The recreational board of  claim 2 , wherein the first hinge is associated with the first bottom surface and the second bottom surface and allows the first and second segments to be folded together such that the first bottom surface and the second bottom surface substantially face one another. 
     
     
         6 . The recreational board of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third segment having a third top surface, a third bottom surface, and a third side surface;   a third connector associated with the third side surface of the third segment; and   a fourth connector associated with a fourth side surface of the second segment, the fourth side surface being positioned substantially opposite the second side surface;   wherein the third connector is configured to be engaged with the fourth connector when the third side surface of the third segment is brought adjacent to the fourth side surface of the second segment.   
     
     
         7 . The recreational board of  claim 5 , further comprising a strap configured to connect at a first end to one of the first and second connectors and at a second end to one of the third and fourth connectors. 
     
     
         8 . The recreational board of  claim 5 , further comprising a pouch configured to hold the board when the board is in a folded-up configuration such that the first, second and third segments are stacked together. 
     
     
         9 . The recreational board of  claim 7 , wherein the pouch comprises a plurality of backpack straps and a pocket configured to hold a detachable skeg member configured to be detachably fixed to the first bottom surface or the third bottom surface. 
     
     
         10 . The recreational board of  claim 1 , further comprising a detachable skeg member configured to be detachably fixed to the first bottom surface or the third bottom surface. 
     
     
         11 . The recreational board of  claim 1 , wherein the board is one of a surfboard, snowboard or paddleboard. 
     
     
         12 . The recreational board of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second connectors comprise Velcro connector structures. 
     
     
         13 . The recreational board of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second connectors comprise snap connectors. 
     
     
         14 . A method of folding-out a recreational board, the method comprising:
 providing a first board segment having a first top surface, a first bottom surface, and a first side surface, the first side surface having a first connector associated therewith;   providing a second board segment having a second top surface, a second bottom surface, and a second side surface, the second side surface having a second connector associated therewith;   brining the first side surface of the first board segment adjacent to the second side surface of the second board segment; and   engaging the first connector with the second connector.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said brining the first side surface adjacent to the second side surface comprises operating a hinge associated with the first top surface and the second top surface. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the hinge comprises a coating layer covering at least a portion of the first and second top surfaces. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 providing a third board segment having a third top surface, a third bottom surface, and a third side surface, the third side surface having a third connector associated therewith;   brining the third side surface of the third board segment adjacent to a fourth side surface of the second board segment, the fourth side surface having a fourth connector associated therewith; and   engaging the third connector with a fourth connector associated with the fourth side surface of the second board segment.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising connecting a strap at a first end to one of the first and second connectors and at a second end to one of the third and fourth connectors, the strap being dimensioned to be placed around the arm of a user. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising inserting the first, second and third board segments into a pouch in a stacked configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising detachably fixing a skeg member to the first bottom surface or the third bottom surface.