Surfboard Stringer Reinforcing system

Abstract

A reinforcing system for a floatation device, such as a surfboard, and a method of its manufacture is disclosed. Such a floatation device has an elongated stringer that has at least a top edge and a bottom edge. The reinforcing system of the present invention includes an elongated top bracket and an bottom bracket. The top and bottom sides of each bracket are wider than the top and bottom edges of the stringer. The cross-sectional shape of the top bracket is preferably rectangular, forming an I-beam cross-section when each bracket is fixed to the stringer with a fastening means, such as a strong adhesive or screws. The floatation device is preferably of the type having two buoyant blanks, each adhered to one side of the stringer. During fabrication of the floatation device, each blank is fixed at one substantially flat side thereof to one side of the stringer with adhesive. A pair of notches may then be cut into each blank and the stringer to accommodate each bracket, which is then fastened with the fastening means to each blank and to the stringer, resulting in each blank being adhered to the stringer and each bracket. Alternately, or additionally, each bracket may be fastened to the stringer with a plurality of the screws. The assembled floatation device may then be sanded and then coated with a resin coating, applied over each blank, the stringer and each bracket.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not Applicable.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not Applicable.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]This invention relates generally to floatation devices, and more particularly to a stringer reinforcing system for a surfboard.DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART[0004]Typical surfboard blanks are either made from a pressure-molded polyurethane or polystyrene material, either as a single piece or with a pair of buoyant foam blanks fixed to each side of a rectangular cross-section reinforcing stringer. If included, the stringer is typically made of balsa wood, a strip of adhesive, or other light-weight materials, and provides some amount of strength to the surfboard against breaking when strongly impacted by waves, the seabed, or other object. Even so, such conventional surfboards are still routinely subject to breaking laterally across the board and stringer. Surfboards are rarely broken longitudinally, clearly indicating ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]The present invention is an improved stringer reinforcing system that may be optionally added to any surfboard or like device that is made with conventional fabrication methods and tooling. The present invention results in an I-Beam stringer shape, greatly increasing the lateral breaking resistance of any floatation device into which it is installed. Further, use of the present system does not greatly increase the cost, complexity or time of manufacturing such a b

Problems solved by technology

Even so, such conventional surfboards are still routinely subject to breaking laterally across the board and stringer.

Such additional reinforcing core members, while aiding in the strength of such a ski, do not provide additional strength against breaks that originate in the bottom surface of the ski, such as may happen if a strong impact is experienced at the top central portion of the ski, forcing the ends of the ski upward and the center of the ski downward.

As surfboards are typically thicker than skis, such a reinforcing design is even less suited for surfboards, particularly with large waves impacting any portion of the board.

Such a device, while effective, is unnecessarily complex and expensive to manufacture.

Further, such a device does nothing to provide additional support beyond the stringers to the foam blanks, which are the weakest portions of the board and where board failures typically being when the board is strongly impacted.

Such a stringer, however, and the required method of manufacturing a surfboard with such a stringer, is unnecessarily complex and requires additional tooling and manufacturing space to accommodate such tooling.

Further, the stringer of such a device is unusually thick and cannot be made of various woods and adhesives.

Such a stringer, moreover, cannot be added to a conventionally made surfboard.

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