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  Surfboard having a skin of reinforced fabricUSPTO Application #: 20070218787Title: Surfboard having a skin of reinforced fabric Abstract: A fiberglass covered recreational board for surfing and other water sports having increased strength and rigidity provided by a longitudinal, central band or bands of higher strength glass fibers such as S Glass and S-2 Glass, or by aramid fibers, or by quartz fibers that are woven into the fiberglass cover as warp threads. (end of abstract) Agent: Mcnair Law Firm, P.A. - Greenville, SC, US Inventors: H. Landis Carter, Shobha Murari USPTO Applicaton #: 20070218787 - Class: 441074000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Buoys, Rafts, And Aquatic Devices, Water Skimming Or Walking Device, Surfboard The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070218787. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to surfboards and similar recreational boards for water sports. More particularly, the present invention relates to high strength, lightweight, durable surfboards and to the construction of such surfboards. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The popularity of surfing and water sports in general has increased significantly in recent decades and includes not only the use of surfboards but also body boards, water skis, and wind-surfing craft. Because of the increased interest, the demand for improved construction has likewise increased. Accordingly, one general object of this invention is to make a lightweight and durable surfboard so that the rider will have a board that lasts longer and will enhance his performance on the waves. [0003] The first surfboards, it is believed, were originated by Polynesians and were made of wood from trees found on their islands. They were carved and shaped by hand and stained and finished with natural oils. The early boards were 12 to 20 feet long and weighed 100 to 200 pounds. [0004] Before the days of widespread availability of polymeric materials and fiberglass, surfboards continued to be constructed of wood, particularly lightweight wood, which was laminated in order to provide strength; that is, a board of wood that was advantageously lightweight usually would not have sufficient strength to withstand the force of waves if it were constructed from a single piece of wood. Subsequently, laminated wooden boards and then molded fiberglass boards appeared. Next, fiberglass covered surfboards were developed having lighter weight and enhanced performance. Wooden board cores began to be replaced by lighter weight polymeric foams, particularly polyurethane foam cores. However, foam cores alone did not possess enough material strength to maintain the structural integrity of the board for long periods of strenuous use and, consequently, the foam cores required additional structural support which, in some designs, was in the form of wooden stringers to provide the necessary strength for a successful board. Unfortunately, this type of construction limited the number of designs that were sturdy enough. In addition, foam surfboards generally did not last more than a season or two with frequent use. One drawback was that an air bubble tended to form between the fiberglass and the foam thus destroying the structural integrity of the board. [0005] One example of a surfboard body molded around a longitudinal stringer is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,549 to Mark Hirsch. [0006] Another construction for strengthening the core is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,017 to William J. Chimiak wherein the core is a honeycomb of a polyamide for increased strength and rigidity. The Chimak patent mentions the application of multiple fiberglass scrim covers and also mentions that reinforcing carbon filers may be woven in the scrim. [0007] Still another honeycomb construction is shown in U.S. Pat. No.6,800,006 B1 to Mark T. Itnyre, et al. Longitudinal reinforcing stringers are shown in this patent. Another design using fiber reinforced resin on the top of a board is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,790,402 to Richard Greven. [0008] A patent showing a multi-layer core construction reinforced between layers and having longitudinal stringers is U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,570 which issued to J. Randolph Appleby. The foregoing mentioned patents show the desirability of the longitudinal reinforcement of a surfboard. These prior designs can provide high performance and a minimum weight of five to eight pounds, high strength, tough dent and puncture resistance skin, strong side rails, and an attractive high gloss finish with a slick surface to enhance speed: The designer's goal is to provide all these features at a relatively low cost. Another general object of the present invention is to provide an improved surfboard incorporating the desirable features described above. [0009] A further object of the present invention is to increase the strength of a fiberglass covered surfboard while keeping the increased cost to a minimum. [0010] Still another object of the present invention is to provide increased strength of the surfboard without adding to the weight of the surfboard. [0011] The foregoing and other objects of the present invention can be appreciated by the description below under the heading Summary of the Invention. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] In one aspect, the present invention is a surfboard or similar recreational board for surfing and other water sports which comprises an elongated, shaped core, said core having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a longitudinal axis; a skin or skin layers completely covering said core, at least one skin layer comprising a woven fiberglass fabric having a multiplicity of reinforcing strands woven into said fabric and extending the length of said board parallel to the longitudinal axis, said strands increasing the rigidity and strength of said board. The core of said board is preferably a foamed polymer which may be polyurethane or polystyrene. The core may be of a honeycomb polymeric construction or a light weight metal honeycomb such as aluminum; or, it may be wood, a wood laminate, or foam and wood composite. The skin is preferably adhered to the core with a polymeric resin, the bottom of the core having at least one skin layer and the top or deck having at least one of the reinforced skin layers and preferably a plurality of such layers. [0013] The fiberglass skin fabric is woven from either a C or E fiberglass and the reinforcing strands may be either S Glass, S-2 Glass, quartz, carbon or aramid fibers or may be a blend of these fibers with each other. In general, S-2 Glass or quartz reinforcing strands are preferred for their bright white appearance and ability to be woven readily with other glass fabrics. [0014] The multiplicity of reinforcing strands define a band having a preferable width from about six inches to about twelve inches that extends the length of said core when the skin is applied to the core. Rather than a band, every other longitudinal strand may be a reinforcing strand. [0015] In another aspect, the single central band of reinforcing fiber may be divided into two bands, one on either side of the longitudinal axis that continues to the respective edges of the board; or, four bands or more may be used. In addition, transverse reinforcing bands may be incorporated in a skin layer. There may be one central band about midway of the surfboard or there may be two bands, one at about one-third the length of the board and the other positioned at about two thirds of the length of the board. [0016] In a still further aspect, a skin with a multiplicity of reinforcing strands may be positioned only on one surface of the board which may be either the upper or lower side. [0017] In yet another aspect, a multiplicity of bands may be positioned on both the upper and lower surfaces of the board. There can be more reinforcing strands on the upper surface than on the lower or vice versa. [0018] These and other aspects of the invention can be further appreciated from reference to the description of the drawings and detailed description which follow. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and are presented by way of illustration and not limitation and wherein: [0020] FIG. 1 shows a surfboard according to the present invention with part of the cover removed in a preferred embodiment showing a honeycomb core with the position of the reinforcing band being in bold to show their position as a band. The bold representation is for illustration purposes only as in all drawings because the reinforcing strands are generally of the same color and size as the other fiber strands; Continue reading... Full patent description for Surfboard having a skin of reinforced fabric Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Surfboard having a skin of reinforced fabric patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Surfboard having a skin of reinforced fabric or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Decoupler Next Patent Application: Fin attachment system and method Industry Class: Buoys, rafts, and aquatic devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Surfboard having a skin of reinforced fabric patent info. 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