A SURFBOARD AND SPRING ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A surfboard having a core, a first elongate spring member located adjacent an upper side of the core, and a second elongate spring member located adjacent a lower side of the core, wherein the first elongate spring member extends substantially from a nose portion of the surfboard to a tail portion of the surfboard.

Claims

1. A surfboard having a core; a first elongate spring member located adjacent an upper side of the core; and a second elongate spring member located adjacent a lower side of the core; wherein the first elongate spring member extends substantially from a nose portion of the surfboard to a tail portion of the surfboard, and wherein each elongate spring member includes a plurality of layers of resilient material, and wherein a number of layers of resilient material is greater in a central portion of the elongate spring member compared to a portion of the elongate spring member towards the nose of the surfboard and compared to a portion of the elongate spring member towards the tail of the surfboard.

2. A The surfboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first elongate spring member is located within a channel in the upper side of the core, and the second elongate spring member is located within a channel in the lower side of the core.

3. A surfboard having a core; and a first elongate spring member located adjacent an upper side of the core; wherein the first elongate spring member extends substantially from a nose portion of the surfboard to a tail portion of the surfboard, and wherein the first elongate spring member has a width which is greater than a thickness of the first elongate spring member, wherein the first elongate spring member includes a plurality of layers of resilient material, and wherein a number of layers of resilient material is greater in a central portion of the elongate spring member compared to a portion of the elongate spring member towards the nose of the surfboard and compared to a portion of the elongate spring member towards the tail of the surfboard.

4. The surfboard as claimed in claim 3 further including a second elongate spring member located adjacent a lower side of the core, wherein the second elongate spring member extends substantially from a nose portion of the surfboard to a tail portion of the surfboard, and wherein the second elongate spring member has a width which is greater than a thickness of the second elongate spring member,. and wherein the second elongate spring member includes a plurality of layers of resilient material, and wherein a number of layers of resilient material is greater in a central portion of the elongate spring member compared to a portion of the elongate spring member towards the nose of the surfboard and compared to a portion of the elongate spring member towards the tail of the surfboard.

5. A surfboard having a core; and a second elongate spring member located adjacent a lower side of the core; wherein the second elongate spring member extends substantially from a nose portion of the surfboard to a tail portion of the surfboard, and wherein the second elongate spring member has a width which is greater than a thickness of the second elongate spring member, and wherein the second elongate spring member includes a plurality of layers of resilient material, and wherein a number of layers of resilient material is greater in a central portion of the elongate spring member compared to a portion of the elongate spring member towards the nose of the surfboard and compared to a portion of the elongate spring member towards the tail of the surfboard.

6. The surfboard as claimed in claim 5, further including a first elongate spring member located adjacent an upper side of the core, wherein the first elongate spring member extends substantially from a nose portion of the surfboard to a tail portion of the surfboard, and wherein the first elongate spring member has a width which is greater than a thickness of the first elongate spring member, and wherein the first elongate spring member includes a plurality of layers of resilient material, and wherein a number of layers of resilient material is greater in a central portion of the elongate spring member compared to a portion of the elongate spring member towards the nose of the surfboard and compared to a portion of the elongate spring member towards the tail of the surfboard.

7. The surfboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein each elongate spring member is made of a carbon fibre composite material and has a width that is greater than its thickness.

8. A method of manufacturing a surfboard, including the steps of shaping a foam core; forming a channel in a top surface of the foam core, the channel extending from a tail portion of the surfboard to a nose portion of the surfboard; inserting a first elongate spring member in the channel in the top surface of the foam core, such that the first elongate spring member is located adjacent the top surface of the core, wherein the first elongate spring member includes a plurality of layers of resilient material, and wherein the number of layers of resilient material is greater in a central portion of the elongate spring member compared to a portion of the elongate spring member towards the nose of the surfboard and compared to a portion of the elongate spring member towards the tail of the surfboard; and covering the foam core and the first elongate spring member with a shell layer.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 further including the step of forming a channel in a lower surface of the foam core, the channel extending from a tail portion of the surfboard to a nose portion of the surfboard, and further including the step of inserting a second elongate spring member in the channel in the lower surface of the foam core, such that the second elongate spring member is located adjacent the lower surface of the core.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the surfboard comprises a core; a first elongate spring member located adjacent an upper side of the core; and a second elongate spring member located adjacent a lower side of the core; wherein the first elongate spring member extends substantially from a nose portion of the surfboard to a tail portion of the surfboard, and wherein each elongate spring member includes a plurality of layers of resilient material, and wherein the number of layers of resilient material is greater in a central portion of the elongate spring member compared to a portion of the elongate spring member towards the nose of the surfboard and compared to a portion of the elongate spring member towards the tail of the surfboard.

11. A surfboard having a core; and an elongate spring member substantially centrally located relative to the core, wherein the elongate spring member extends substantially from a nose portion of the surfboard to a tail portion of the surfboard.

12. The surfboard as claimed in claim 11, wherein the elongate spring member includes a plurality of layers made of resilient material, wherein in use, the plurality of layers of resilient material are bonded together to form the elongate spring member.

13. The surfboard as claimed in claim 11, wherein the elongate spring member is part of a spring assembly, wherein the spring assembly includes an upper portion and a lower portion at least partially spaced from one another by the elongate spring member, and wherein the spring assembly is located between two body portions of the core.

14. A spring assembly for a surfboard, including: an elongate spring member, and an upper portion and a lower portion at least partially spaced from one another by the elongate spring member, wherein in use, the spring assembly is substantially centrally located in the surfboard.

15. The spring assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the elongate spring member includes a plurality of layers of resilient material.

16. The spring assembly as claimed in claim 15 wherein the number of layers of resilient material is greater in a central portion of the elongate spring member compared to a portion of the elongate spring member towards the nose of the surfboard and compared to a portion of the elongate spring member towards the tail of the surfboard.

17. The spring assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the plurality of layers of resilient material are bonded together to form the elongate spring member.

18. A method of manufacturing a surfboard, including the steps of locating a spring assembly between two body portions of a surfboard core; shaping the two body portions to form the surfboard core; and covering the spring assembly and the surfboard core with a shell layer.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18 further including the step of shaping the spring assembly to conform to the surfboard core.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the spring assembly comprises an upper portion and a lower portion at least partially spaced from one another by the elongate spring member, wherein in use, the spring assembly is substantially centrally located in the surfboard.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0106] In order that the present invention can be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

[0107] FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of a surfboard according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0108] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the surfboard of FIG. 1;

[0109] FIG. 3 is a top view of the surfboard of FIG. 1;

[0110] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the surfboard of FIG. 1;

[0111] FIG. 5 is a lateral section view of the surfboard of FIG. 1; and

[0112] FIG. 6 is an exploded section view of the surfboard of FIG. 1.

[0113] FIG. 7 is a section perspective view of a surfboard according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0114] FIG. 8 is a section perspective view of the surfboard of FIG. 7;

[0115] FIG. 9 is a top view of the surfboard of FIG. 7;

[0116] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the surfboard of FIG. 7;

[0117] FIG. 11 is a section view of the surfboard of FIG. 7;

[0118] FIG. 12 is an exploded section view of a spring assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0119] FIG. 13 is a side view of the spring assembly of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0120] With reference to FIGS. 1-6 there is shown a surfboard 10. The surfboard 10 has a core 12 made of foamed polyurethane. A first elongate spring member 14 is located adjacent an upper side 16 of the core 12. The first elongate spring member 14 is made of a plurality of layers (best seen in FIG. 6) of unidirectional carbon fibre and resin. A second elongate spring member 18 located adjacent a lower side 20 of the core 12. The second elongate spring member 18 is made of a plurality of layers (best seen in FIG. 6) of unidirectional carbon fibre and resin.

[0121] The first elongate spring member 14 extends from a nose portion 22 of the surfboard to a tail portion 24 of the surfboard 10. The first elongate spring member 14 is located in a centrally located channel 26 in the upper surface 16 of the surfboard 10 (FIG. 5 shows the channel 26 with the first elongate spring member 14 removed for clarity). The first elongate spring member 14 is formed in the channel 26 during the manufacture of the surfboard 10.

[0122] The first elongate spring member 14 has a width (in the direction of rails 30,32) that is greater than a thickness (depth) of the first elongate spring member 14.

[0123] The second elongate spring member 18 extends from a nose portion 22 of the surfboard to a tail portion 24 of the surfboard 10. The second elongate spring member 18 is located in a centrally located channel 28 in the lower surface 20 of the surfboard 10 (FIG. 5 shows the channel 28 with the second elongate spring member 18 removed for clarity). The second elongate spring member 18 is formed in the channel 28 during the manufacture of the surfboard 10.

[0124] The second elongate spring member 18 has a width (in the direction of rails 30,32) that is greater than a thickness (depth) of the second elongate spring member 18.

[0125] The surfboard 10 includes a shell layer 34 which covers the core 12, the first elongate spring member 14 and the second elongate spring member 18. The shell layer 34 is formed of a fibreglass and resin composite material.

[0126] The surfboard also includes a plurality of fin boxes 40,42,44. The fin boxes 40,42,44 are inserted into the core 12 prior to the shell layer 34 covering the core 12.

[0127] With reference to FIGS. 7-11, there is shown a surfboard 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The surfboard 110 has a core 112 made of expanded foamed polyurethane. A spring assembly 114 is centrally located relative to the core 112.

[0128] The core 112 includes two body portions 116,118. The spring assembly 114 is centrally located between the two body portions 116,118.

[0129] The spring assembly 114 extends from a nose portion 128 of the surfboard 110 to a tail portion 130 of the surfboard 110. The spring assembly 114 is formed before shaping of the surfboard 110.

[0130] The spring assembly 114 includes an elongate spring member 120 made of unidirectional carbon fibre and resin, an upper portion 124 and a lower portion 126. The upper portion 124 and the lower portion 126 are made of polystyrene foam.

[0131] The surfboard 110 includes a shell layer 132 which covers the two body portions 116,118 of the core 112 and the spring assembly 114. The shell layer 132 is formed of a fibreglass and resin composite material.

[0132] The surfboard 110 also includes one or more fin boxes (not shown). The fin boxes are inserted into the core 112 and/or the spring assembly 114.

[0133] With reference to FIG. 12, there is shown an exploded section view of a spring assembly 214 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The spring assembly 214 includes an elongate spring member 220, an upper portion 224 and a lower portion 226.

[0134] The elongate spring member 220 includes a plurality of layers 222. The plurality of layers 222 are made of unidirectional carbon fibre and resin. The plurality of layers 222 are bonded together to form the elongate spring member 220.

[0135] The number of layers 222 defines the thickness of the elongate spring member 220. The number of layers 222 is greater in a central portion of the elongate spring member 220 compared to the elongate spring member 220 towards a nose portion of a surfboard (not shown), and compared to the elongate spring member 220 towards a tail portion of the surfboard.

[0136] Each layer 222 of the elongate spring member 220 has a different length. As shown in FIG. 12, the layers 222 towards the lower portion 226 are shorter than the layers towards the upper portion 224.

[0137] With reference to FIG. 13, there is shown a side view of the spring assembly 214 of FIG. 12. The upper portion 224 and the lower portion 226 are spaced from one another by the elongate spring member 220.

Advantages

[0138] An advantage of the preferred embodiment of the surfboard includes providing desired flex whilst enhancing longitudinal strength. Another advantage of the preferred embodiment of the surfboard includes the ability to control the amount and location of the flex by positioning the plurality of layers of the first and/or second elongate spring members in a desired location during the manufacture of the surfboard. A further advantage of the preferred embodiment of the surfboard includes a reduction in torsional flex compared to a surfboard with a single centrally located stringer. Another advantage of the preferred embodiment of the surfboard includes the ability to control the amount of the flex by positioning the plurality of layers of the elongate spring member. A further advantage of the preferred embodiment of the surfboard includes that the spring assembly can be formed before or after shaping of the surfboard.

Variations

[0139] While the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

[0140] Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word “comprise” and variations of that word such as “comprises” and “comprising”, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.