Collapsible Hard Case for Surfboards and Other Large Objects

Abstract

A protective case for large objects including a lock housing formed from a first section and a second section, both of the sections including at least one external subsection and at least one internal subsection configured to telescope inside the external subsection; and an extension lock comprising a lock housing and a compression lock, the lock housing including a screw-threaded channel, and the compression comprising at least one screw-threaded shaft with a compressive component on the interior end and a lock handle on the exterior end, the screw-threaded shaft configured to matingly engage with the screw-threaded channel of the lock housing; the compression lock configured to descend in the lock housing and compressingly lock the internal subsection in an extended position upon locking rotation of the compression lock; and the compression lock configure to ascend in the lock housing upon unlocking rotation of the cam latch.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective case for large objects, comprising:
 a housing including a rigid, impact-resistant outer surface, wherein the housing is formed from a first section and a second section, at least one of the first second and the second section including at least one external subsection and at least one internal subsection; the external subsection having a distal end; and wherein the internal subsection is configured to telescope inside the external subsection; and   at least one extension lock on the distal end of the at least one external subsection configured for locking the internal subsection in an extended position relative to the external subsection;   the at least one extension lock comprising a lock housing and a compression latch, the lock housing including a screw-threaded channel, and the compression latch comprising at least one screw-threaded shaft with a compressive component on an interior end and a lock handle on an exterior end, the at least one screw-threaded shaft configured to matingly engage with the screw-threaded channel of the lock housing;   the compressive component configured to descend out of the lock housing and compressingly lock the internal subsection in an extended position upon locking rotation of the compression latch; and the compressive component configure to ascend into the lock housing upon unlocking rotation of the compression latch;   thereby providing a protective case that is easily collapsible and secure when extended.   
     
     
         2 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the compressive component is a cam and the compression latch is a cam latch; the cam configured to move into and out of the lock housing with rotation of the cam latch, thereby allowing the internal subsections to telescope into the external subsection when the extension lock is in the unlocked position. 
     
     
         3 . The case of  claim 2 , wherein the rotation of the cam latch is between about 180 and 270 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The case of  claim 2 , wherein the rotation of the cam latch is about 180 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the compressive component comprises metal and/or toughened plastic. 
     
     
         6 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the internal subsection includes contact surfaces, wherein the contact surfaces comprise metal and/or toughened plastic. 
     
     
         7 . An extension lock for telescoping subsections comprising:
 a lock housing and a compression latch; the lock housing positioned on a first subsection that telescopes over a second subsection;   the lock housing including a screw-threaded channel; and   the compression latch comprising at least one screw-threaded shaft with a compressive component on the interior end and a lock handle on the exterior end, the screw-threaded shaft configured to matingly engage with the screw-threaded channel of the lock housing;   the compressive component configured to descend in the lock housing and compressingly lock the first and the second subsections in an extended position upon locking rotation of the compression latch; and the compressive component configured to ascend in the lock housing upon unlocking rotation of the compression latch.   
     
     
         8 . The extension lock of  claim 7 , wherein the compressive component is a cam and the compression latch is a cam latch; the cam configured to move into the lock housing with unlocking rotation of the cam latch, thereby allowing the second subsections to telescope into the first subsection when the extension lock is in the unlocked position. 
     
     
         9 . The extension lock of  claim 8 , wherein the rotation of the cam latch is between about 180 and 270 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The extension lock of  claim 8 , wherein the rotation of the cam latch is about 180 degrees.