US20080248701A1 - Sports board having stringers - Google Patents
Sports board having stringers Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20080248701A1 US20080248701A1 US11/976,943 US97694307A US2008248701A1 US 20080248701 A1 US20080248701 A1 US 20080248701A1 US 97694307 A US97694307 A US 97694307A US 2008248701 A1 US2008248701 A1 US 2008248701A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- foam
- foam core
- sports board
- core
- foam layer
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B32/00—Water sports boards; Accessories therefor
- B63B32/57—Boards characterised by the material, e.g. laminated materials
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B2231/00—Material used for some parts or elements, or for particular purposes
- B63B2231/40—Synthetic materials
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B2231/00—Material used for some parts or elements, or for particular purposes
- B63B2231/40—Synthetic materials
- B63B2231/50—Foamed synthetic materials
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Laminated Bodies (AREA)
Abstract
A sports board includes a foam core, a top skin, a bottom skin, at least one stringer and at least one flexible foam tube. The top skin is connected to a top of the foam core. The bottom skin is connected to a bottom of the foam core. The stringer enclosed by the foam tube is secured in the foam core for strengthening the board.
Description
- 1. Field of Invention
- The present invention relates to a sports board and in particular to a skimboard with stringers.
- 2. Related Prior Art
- There are types of sports board on the market, such as a skimboard, a surfboard and body board, for water sports activities. Among the sports boards, the skimboard is particularly employed for gliding on the beach. Although skimboarding is predominantly a recreational activity, like surfing, it has also evolved into a highly competitive water sport. However, unlike surfing, skimboarding starts on the beach. A skimboarder stands within running distance from the point of entry into the water with the skimboard in hand and waits for a wave. As the desired wave approaches, the skimboarder runs towards the water. For this, the skimboard is smaller and thinner than the surfboard or the bodyboard because it does not require as much buoyancy. The skimboard seems to be merged from the surfboard for ocean surf and a skateboard for land riding.
- A conventional skimboard is made by wood or of a foam core enclosed with glass fiber. The plywood skimboard is easier to slide along the sands, but is heavier, which may cause trouble while using carelessly. However, the foam skimboard provides more buoyancy than a wood one, and is more like a bodyboard.
-
FIG. 4 is a conventional foam board, which comprising afoam core 40, atop skin 41, abottom skin 42 and threestringers 43. Thefoam core 40 defines three holes therein for receiving thestringers 43. Thestringers 43 are therefore secured in three holes of thefoam core 40 for strengthen the foam board. However, in extreme conditions of use or with long wear and use, each of the channels of thefoam core 40 will be enlarged and the gaps generated between thefoam core 40 and thestringers 43 get bigger and bigger. Particularly, when the foam board is bent up harshly or frequently, any one of thestringers 43 can and does pop out of the either thetop skin 41 or thebottom skin 43 of the board. Such pop out of thestringer 43 ruins the board and can possibly injure the rider. This problem is caused because thestringers 43 do not flex or bend as easily as thefoam core 40 which surrounds thestringers 43. - U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,560 concerns a bodyboard with a variable flexible, two-part stringer element. The bodyboard includes a polyethylene foam core material in which the two-part stringer element is secured. The stringer element is composed of a solid portion of a thermoset resin impregnated glass fiber or graphite fiber material, and a flexible portion of polyethylene rod material. Furthermore, the stringer element includes polyethylene caps snapped on the ends thereof, and thereby avoids puncturing out of the bodyboard. However, a gap generated between the stringer element and the foam core material is unavoidable to become larger and larger over time, which reduces the performance of the bodyboard.
- The primary object of this invention is therefore to provide a foam board, especially a skimboard with high rigidity, endurance and safety.
- According to the present invention, a sports board comprises a foam core, a top skin, a bottom skin, at least one stringer and at least one flexible foam tube. The top skin is connected to a top of the foam core. The bottom skin is connected to a bottom of the foam core. The stringer is secured in the foam core for strengthening. The flexible foam tube encloses the stringer within and is disposed in the foam core.
- Preferably, the top skin or the bottom skin is formed by at least two laminated foam layers with different densities.
- Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become clear as the description proceeds.
- The invention will now be elucidated with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings where:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sports board according to an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along line II-II ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sports board according to another embodiment of the present invention; and -
FIG. 4 is a prior art. - With reference to
FIGS. 1 and 2 , description will be given of a sports board according to a first embodiment of this invention. More specifically, the sports board is directed to askimboard 100 for a user to skim at the beach. Theskimboard 100 includesfoam core 1, atop skin 2, abottom skin 3, threestringers 5, threefoam tubes 6 each enclosing onestringer 5, a plurality ofprotective parts 7 and threeadhesive layers 8 coated around thefoam tubes 6. -
FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along line II-II ofFIG. 1 . Referring toFIG. 2 , thefoam core 1 has atop 11 and abottom 12. Thetop skin 2 and thebottom skin 3 are heat-bonded onto thetop 11 and thebottom 12 of thefoam core 1 respectively. Each of thestringers 5 is a hollow fiberglass tube enclosed within the respective one of theflexible foam tubes 6 and secured in thefoam core 1 for strengthen theskimboard 100. Each of thefoam tubes 6 may be formed in one-piece or be made by shaping a piece of foam sheet like a roll. Since thefoam tubes 6 are made of by flexible foam material, such as expanded polyethylene (EPE), theflexible foam tubes 6 act as buffers to absorb shocks generated between thefoam core 1 and thestringers 5, which reduces a possibility of generating or enlarging gaps therebetween. - In another example, a stringer may be a solid cylinder rod instead of the
hollow cylinder tube 5 mentioned above. No matter what it is, a cylindrical fiberglass stringer is flexible, pliable and good at absorbing shocks. Preferably, thestringers 5 are the hollow fiberglass tubes because they exhibit the advantage of higher buoyancy than that of the solid ones. - Referring back to
FIG. 1 , the protectingparts 7 are hemispherical plastic caps snapped on the opposite ends of each of thestringers 5 to provide a smooth or rounded configuration which eliminates any sharpness at the ends. Thus, thestringers 5 are prevented from popping out of the either thetop skin 2 or thebottom skin 3 of theskimboard 100. - Unlike a surfboard or a bodyboard, the
skimboard 100 does not require as much buoyancy, but stiffness. For this, thefoam core 1 may be made of a material selected from the group consisting of expanded polystyrene (EPS), expanded polypropylene (EPP) and expanded polyolefin (EPO). In the present embodiment, thefoam core 1 is made by the expanded polystyrene. Preferably, thefoam core 1 has a density in a range of 4 to 24 pcf, and a thickness in a range of 0.5 to 1.25 inches so as to unite rigidity and weight. - In this embodiment, since the
foam tubes 6 are made of expanded polyethylene which differs from the expanded polystyrene of thefoam core 1, theadhesive layer 8 made of a PE/PS copolymer is therefore provided for connecting thefoam tubes 6 with thefoam core 1. - To enhance the exterior of the skimboard with stiffness and flexibility, the
top skin 2 of the present invention is a multi-layered foam laminate and is characteristic of easy coupled to thefoam core 1. In this embodiment, thetop skin 2 includes afirst foam layer 21, asecond foam layer 22 and afirst film 23. Thefirst foam layer 21 is heat-bonded onto the top 11 of thefoam core 1. Thesecond foam layer 22 is heat-bonded onto thefirst foam layer 21. Thefirst film 23 is provided onto the outside of thesecond foam layer 22. Thefirst foam layer 21 has a density lower than that of thesecond foam layer 22. That is, the softfirst foam layer 21 contributes the flexibility to theskimboard 100, and the stiffsecond foam layer 22 strengthens theskimboard 100. Preferably, thefirst foam layer 21 has a density in a range of 1.5 to 10 pcf. In addition, thefirst film 23 has afirst pattern 231, as depicted inFIG. 1 . In practice, thefirst film 23 may be a plastic sheet printed with thepattern 231 thereon, or be composed of two plastic sheets with thepattern 231 printed therebetween. Either one or two sheets, thefirst film 23 having thefirst pattern 231 enhances the appearance of theskimboard 100. - On the other hand, the
bottom skin 3 includes athird foam layer 31, asecond film 32 and a wear-proof plastic plate 33. Thethird foam layer 31 is laminated to the bottom 12 of thefoam core 1. Thesecond film 32 is laminated to thethird foam layer 31. Theplastic plate 33 is laminated to thesecond film 32. Thethird foam layer 31 serves as a buffer and a media to join thesecond film 32, as well as theplastic plate 33, and thefoam core 1 together. Thesecond film 32 having a pattern (not shown) is similar to thefirst film 23 of thetop skin 2. In such a fashion, the skimboard can be bearable and endurable and still have a splendid appearance. In another example of thebottom skin 3, theplastic plate 33 may be directly bonded to thethird foam layer 31 without thesecond film 32. - Referring now to
FIG. 3 , a second embodiment of the skimboard is shown having thefoam core 1, thetop skin 2, thebottom skin 3 and thestringers 5 which are essentially the same as those shown inFIG. 2 of the first embodiment. However, thefoam core 1 of the second embodiment is made of expanded polyolefin (EPO), a copolymer of polyethylene (PE)/polystyrene (PS) such that thefoam tube 6 which is made of expanded polyethylene (EPE) can directly heat-bonded onto thefoam core 1 without theadhesive layer 8. - Numerous characteristics and advantages of the invention have been set forth in the foregoing description. The disclosure, however, is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail within the principle of the invention, to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Claims (12)
1. A sports board comprising:
a foam core;
a top skin connected to a top of the foam core;
a bottom skin connected to a bottom of the foam core;
at least one stringer disposed within the foam core to strengthen the foam core; and
at least one flexible foam tube enclosing the stringer within and disposed in the foam core.
2. The sports board of claim 1 , wherein the foam tube is made of expanded polyethylene (EPE).
3. The sports board of claim 2 , wherein the foam core is made of a material selected from the group consisting of expanded polystyrene (EPS), expanded polypropylene (EPP) and expanded polyolefin (EPO).
4. The sports board of claim 3 , wherein the foam core has a density in a range of 4 to 24 pcf, and a thickness in a range of 0.5 to 1.25 inches.
5. The sports board of claim 3 further comprises an adhesive layer connecting the foam tube and the foam core.
6. The sports board of claim 1 , wherein the stringer is a cylindrical tube.
7. The sports board of claim 1 , wherein the top skin includes a first foam layer and a second foam layer; the first foam layer connects to the top of the foam core with a first density; and the second foam layer connects to the first foam layer with a second density larger than the first density.
8. The sports board of claim 7 , wherein the first density is in a range of 1.5 to 10 pcf.
9. The sports board of claim 7 , wherein the top skin further includes a first film formed with a first pattern and connected with the second foam layer.
10. The sports board of claim 7 , wherein the bottom skin includes a third foam layer connected to the bottom of the foam core, and a plastic plate connected to the third foam layer.
11. The sports board of claim 9 , wherein the bottom skin includes a third foam layer connected to the bottom of the foam core, and a plastic plate connected to the third foam layer.
12. The sports board of claim 9 , wherein the bottom skin includes a third foam layer connected to the bottom of the foam core, a second film formed with a second pattern and connected to the third foam layer, and a plastic plate connected to the second film.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
TW09611389 | 2007-04-09 | ||
TW096112389A TW200840767A (en) | 2007-04-09 | 2007-04-09 | Sports board |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20080248701A1 true US20080248701A1 (en) | 2008-10-09 |
Family
ID=44821298
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/976,943 Abandoned US20080248701A1 (en) | 2007-04-09 | 2007-10-30 | Sports board having stringers |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20080248701A1 (en) |
TW (1) | TW200840767A (en) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20090148666A1 (en) * | 2002-01-09 | 2009-06-11 | Tzong In Yeh | Skidproof sports mat |
US20090264034A1 (en) * | 2008-04-22 | 2009-10-22 | Gianfranco Gasparro | Sport boards with tubular carbon fiber stringers |
US20110052877A1 (en) * | 2002-01-09 | 2011-03-03 | Tzong In Yeh | Skidproof sports mat |
US20110097569A1 (en) * | 2008-06-12 | 2011-04-28 | Tzong In Yeh | Foam product and method of making the same |
TWI504496B (en) * | 2010-11-30 | 2015-10-21 | Tzong In Yeh | Foam product and method of manufacturing the same |
CN106671516A (en) * | 2017-01-09 | 2017-05-17 | 方振兴 | Novel surfboard manufacturing technique and surfboard produced by technique |
US20180148141A1 (en) * | 2016-11-28 | 2018-05-31 | Rightfair Group, Ltd. | Sportsboard Stiffening System |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3414919A (en) * | 1966-09-08 | 1968-12-10 | George A. Gust | Watercraft |
US5816875A (en) * | 1996-01-11 | 1998-10-06 | Bixby; John Anthony | Free flow shaft-stringer |
US6036560A (en) * | 1999-02-05 | 2000-03-14 | Earth & Ocean Sports, Inc. | Variable flexible stringer, bodyboard and method |
US6955576B2 (en) * | 2002-01-09 | 2005-10-18 | Tzong In Yeh | Slider |
US7063769B2 (en) * | 2004-05-26 | 2006-06-20 | Metropole Development Limited | Construction of gliding board and method of production |
US7246568B1 (en) * | 2006-03-03 | 2007-07-24 | Wah Kan Cheung | Sports board with integral laminated stiffening element |
US7347754B1 (en) * | 2007-02-03 | 2008-03-25 | Bamba International (Canada) Ltd | Flexible encapsulated spring stringer for bodyboard |
US7404749B2 (en) * | 2004-10-05 | 2008-07-29 | Wah Kan Cheung | Multi-layer sports board with graphic imprinted skin |
-
2007
- 2007-04-09 TW TW096112389A patent/TW200840767A/en unknown
- 2007-10-30 US US11/976,943 patent/US20080248701A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3414919A (en) * | 1966-09-08 | 1968-12-10 | George A. Gust | Watercraft |
US5816875A (en) * | 1996-01-11 | 1998-10-06 | Bixby; John Anthony | Free flow shaft-stringer |
US6036560A (en) * | 1999-02-05 | 2000-03-14 | Earth & Ocean Sports, Inc. | Variable flexible stringer, bodyboard and method |
US6955576B2 (en) * | 2002-01-09 | 2005-10-18 | Tzong In Yeh | Slider |
US7063769B2 (en) * | 2004-05-26 | 2006-06-20 | Metropole Development Limited | Construction of gliding board and method of production |
US7404749B2 (en) * | 2004-10-05 | 2008-07-29 | Wah Kan Cheung | Multi-layer sports board with graphic imprinted skin |
US7246568B1 (en) * | 2006-03-03 | 2007-07-24 | Wah Kan Cheung | Sports board with integral laminated stiffening element |
US7347754B1 (en) * | 2007-02-03 | 2008-03-25 | Bamba International (Canada) Ltd | Flexible encapsulated spring stringer for bodyboard |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20090148666A1 (en) * | 2002-01-09 | 2009-06-11 | Tzong In Yeh | Skidproof sports mat |
US7850498B2 (en) * | 2002-01-09 | 2010-12-14 | Tzong In Yeh | Skidproof sports mat |
US20110052877A1 (en) * | 2002-01-09 | 2011-03-03 | Tzong In Yeh | Skidproof sports mat |
US8540538B2 (en) | 2002-01-09 | 2013-09-24 | Tzong In Yeh | Skidproof sports mat |
US9004967B2 (en) | 2002-01-09 | 2015-04-14 | Tzong In Yeh | Skidproof sports mat |
US20090264034A1 (en) * | 2008-04-22 | 2009-10-22 | Gianfranco Gasparro | Sport boards with tubular carbon fiber stringers |
US7985111B2 (en) * | 2008-04-22 | 2011-07-26 | Gianfranco Gasparro | Sport boards with carbon fiber stringers |
US20110097569A1 (en) * | 2008-06-12 | 2011-04-28 | Tzong In Yeh | Foam product and method of making the same |
US8652630B2 (en) * | 2008-06-12 | 2014-02-18 | Tzong In Yeh | Foam product and method of making the same |
TWI504496B (en) * | 2010-11-30 | 2015-10-21 | Tzong In Yeh | Foam product and method of manufacturing the same |
US20180148141A1 (en) * | 2016-11-28 | 2018-05-31 | Rightfair Group, Ltd. | Sportsboard Stiffening System |
CN106671516A (en) * | 2017-01-09 | 2017-05-17 | 方振兴 | Novel surfboard manufacturing technique and surfboard produced by technique |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
TW200840767A (en) | 2008-10-16 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |