Hydrofoil attachment system and method

Abstract

The disclosure includes systems, assemblies, sub-assemblies and methods for removably and securely attaching a hydrofoil to a board used in water sports. At least some of the systems include toolless removable attachment and/or toolless forward and backward position adjustment. In various embodiments, the attachment includes a U-Rail adapter mechanically mating with a U-Trench frame assembly disposed within said board.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toolless attachment assembly configured to removably and securely attach a hydrofoil to a board configured for water sports, the hydrofoil including a mounting plate operably attached to a mast operably attached to one or more wings, the one or more wings configured to interact with water as the board moves to create lift, the attachment assembly comprising:
 a trench frame including at least two elongated portions operably connected by a transverse portion to roughly form a U shape, the trench frame including cavities within the two elongated portions; and   at least one toolless locking assembly configured to removably and securely position the mounting plate of the hydrofoil with respect to the board.   
     
     
         2 . The attachment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein an adapter comprises two rail portions and a transverse portion, each rail portion configured to slide within said cavities of said trench frame, said adapter including fastener portions aligned to fastener portions of the mounting plate of the hydrofoil. 
     
     
         3 . The attachment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said adapter includes an adjustable portion configured to change the dimensions between at least some of the fastener portions of said adapter. 
     
     
         4 . The attachment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one toolless locking assembly includes at least two toolless locking assemblies, a first locking assembly configured to removably and securely position the mounting plate in a first mid-position with respect to said board and a second locking assembly configured to removably and securely position the mounting plate in a second end-position with respect to said board. 
     
     
         5 . The attachment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one toolless locking assembly comprises one or more user actuators configured to enable a user to secure a position of the mounting plate with respect to the board without any tools. 
     
     
         6 . The attachment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one toolless locking assembly is disposed within the trench frame. 
     
     
         7 . The attachment assembly of  claim 1 , comprising a housing, and wherein said trench frame and said at least one toolless locking assembly are mounted in the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The attachment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said board comprises a surfboard. 
     
     
         9 . The attachment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said board comprises one of a surfboard and a kite surfboard. 
     
     
         10 . The attachment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said board comprises one of a wakeboard, a wake surfboard, and an air chair. 
     
     
         11 . The attachment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the trench frame comprises one or more alignment features configured to control a position of the mounting plate of the hydrofoil with respect to the board. 
     
     
         12 . The attachment assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more alignment features are configured to prevent the mounting plate from decoupling from the trench frame. 
     
     
         13 . An adapter configured to toollessly mechanically operate with an attachment assembly to removably and securely attach a hydrofoil to a board configured for water sports, the hydrofoil including a mounting plate, the adapter comprising:
 two rail portions operably connected by a transverse portion to roughly form a U shape, each rail portion configured to slide within cavities of a trench frame having a roughly U shape and disposed within said board, said adapter including fastener portions configured to align with fastener portions of the mounting plate of the hydrofoil; and   an adjustable portion configured to change dimensions between at least some of the fastener portions of said adapter to cause said alignment.   
     
     
         14 . The adaptor of  claim 13 , wherein the adjustable portion is configured to slide lengthwise relative to the two rail sections. 
     
     
         15 . The adaptor of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the fastener portions is disposed on the adjustable portion. 
     
     
         16 . The adaptor of  claim 13 , wherein the two rail portions comprise one or more alignment features configured to interface with corresponding alignment features in the trench frame. 
     
     
         17 . The adaptor of  claim 16 , wherein the alignment features are configured to prevent the adaptor from decoupling from the trench frame. 
     
     
         18 . The adaptor of  claim 13 , further comprising one or more locking features configured interface with a locking assembly configured to securely position the adaptor with respect to the board. 
     
     
         19 . The adaptor of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more locking features are disposed in the transverse portion.