Universal accessory mount for watercraft

Abstract

A socket ( 11 ) designed to be installed on the surface of a watercraft such as a sailboard or a stand-up paddle board can accept a number of alternate accessory mounting plug-in inserts such as an adapter mount ( 12 ) for a vent plug ( 9 ), a paddle strap mount ( 16 ), leash or universal joint ball mount ( 18 ), for example. The insert can be positioned in a number of discrete horizontally angular orientations byway of commensurate interlocking crenelations in the form of equidistantly angularly spaced apart splines ( 35 ) and keyways ( 36 ), and secured into the socket by a pair of locking screws engaging angled channels ( 27,28 ). A top flange ( 22 ), lateral gusset blades ( 25,29 ) and a resin dam ( 40 ) facilitate the insertion and gluing of the socket into the foam core of the board.

1 . A device for mounting accessories on a watercraft board having a skin and a solid core, said device comprising:
 a socket comprising:
 a tubular wall; 
 a radial flange projecting outwardly from an upper edge of said wall; 
 a pair of opposite radial blades projecting outwardly from said wall and tapering down toward said lower edge; 
 a plurality of equally spaced apart radial splines formed inwardly into said wall; and, 
 at least one tubular channel extending from said flange to an inside surface area of said wall. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , which further comprises at least one accessory mounting insert having an outer peripheral geometry commensurate with said inside surface. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said geometry comprises a plurality of peripheral keyways intimately matching said splines. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said tubular channel has an interior threaded surface. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , which further comprises a pair of diametrically opposite, inwardly angled ones of said tubular channel. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said socket further comprises a circular bottom proximate a lower edge of said wall. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said bottom has a plurality of bores. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said insert has a circular groove in line with said channel when said insert is positioned within said socket. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , in combination with a watercraft board, wherein said socket is inserted through a skinned surface of the board and secured into its core. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , in combination with a watercraft board, wherein said socket is inserted and secured into the core of the board, and partially covered by an applied skinned surface of the board. 
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 9 , which further comprises locking screws inserted in said channel and penetrating said groove. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 3 , which further comprises at least one of said splines or keyways having at least one elongated longitudinal drainage furrow extending along a length of said at least one of said splines or keyways. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 2 , which further comprises said insert including at least one fastener receptacle, and a accessory mount having a fastener commensurate with said receptacle. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , which further comprises a load spreader having said insert including at least one fastener receptacle, and a accessory mount having a fastener commensurate with said receptacle.