Carrying harness for surfboards and the like

Claim 1

Apparatus for facilitating human portage of a sailboard, surfboard or the like having ends, comprising: a spreader bar having ends and a longitudinal center; a pair of slings supported at first and second spaced locations on said spreader bar, said bar having sufficient rigidity to keep said first and second locations separated, along the length of said spreader bar, by a distance of at least twelve inches, during use of said apparatus; a fastener attaching each of said slings into a loop, the size of which may be adjusted to fit around said sailboard, surfboard or the like, said loops separated from one another, along the length of said spreader bar by a distance substantially equal to the distance between said first and second locations, said spreader bar maintaining separation between said loops, when said apparatus is in use, along the length of said sailboard, surfboard or the like, by means of the separation between said first and second locations, without attachment between said loops and said ends of said sailboard, surfboard or the like; a strap, supporting said spreader bar at third and fourth spaced locations, said third and fourth locations separated, along the length of said spreader bar, by a distance of at least twelve inches, said strap forming a shoulder harness having an adjustable length for accommodating different-sized people, the length of said strap being greater than the distance between said spreader bar and the top of said sailboard, surfboard or the like to thereby permit said spreader bar to be used as a handle while said strap is used as a shoulder harness.

Claim 14

A method of transporting a surfboard, sailboard or the like having ends, comprising: encircling said surfboard, sailboard or the like with first and second slings each formed into a loop; suspending said first and second loops from first and second locations spaced along the length of a rigid spreader bar; suspending said spreader bar, and, thus in turn, said surfboard, sailboard or the like, from a strap passing over a shoulder of a person and attached at third and fourth locations on said spreader bar; maintaining separation between said loops, along the length of said surfboard, sailboard or the like, by means of the separation between said first and second locations along said spreader bar, without attachment between said loops and said ends of said surfboard, sailboard or the like; and adjusting the length of said strap between said third and fourth locations to position said spreader bar in a location which permits said person to conveniently grasp said spreader bar while said strap is passed over said person's shoulder and to allow said person to guide said surfboard, sailboard or the like using said spreader bar as a handle.

Claim 15

A method of transporting a surfboard, sailboard or the like having ends, comprising: encircling said surfboard, sailboard or the like with first and second slings each formed into a loop; suspending said first and second loops from first and second locations spaced along the length of a rigid spreader bar; suspending said spreader bar, and, thus in turn, said surfboard, sailboard or the like, from a strap passing over a shoulder of a person and attached at third and fourth locations on said spreader bar; maintaining separation between said loops, along the length of said surfboard, sailboard or the like, by means of the separation between said first and second locations along said spreader bar, without attachment between said loops and said ends of said surfboard, sailboard or the like; and adjusting the length of said strap between said third and fourth locations to position said spreader bar in a location which permits said person to conveniently grasp said spreader bar while said strap is passed over said person's shoulder and to allow said person to guide said surfboard, sailboard or the like using said spreader bar as a handle.