WO2007099325A2

WO2007099325A2 - Surfboard

Info

Publication number: WO2007099325A2
Application number: PCT/GB2007/000717
Authority: WO
Inventors: Grant Iain Strover
Original assignee: Grant Iain Strover
Priority date: 2006-03-02
Filing date: 2007-03-01
Publication date: 2007-09-07
Also published as: WO2007099325A3; GB2436690A; GB0703970D0; GB0604177D0

Abstract

A surfboard (10) has a body (12) defining a deck (14) with a nose region (16), a tail region (18) and a mid-region (20) therebetween. The mid region (20) has a minimum width dimension (from one lateral edge (22) of the deck (14) to the other lateral edge (24) which is less than a corresponding maximum width dimension of the nose region (16). The tail region (18) has a maximum width dimension which is greater than the minimum width dimension of the mid-region (20). In this way, the lateral edges (22,24) of the deck (14) have regions (30,32) which have concave curvature.

Description

TITLE : SURFBOARD

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a surfboard. BACKGROUND ART

In conventional surfboard design (an exemplary surfboard being illustrated in Figure 1) antagonistic forces are generated between the board 5, the convex (anti- parabolic) edges 3 and the fins 4 during turns, when in motion, in water. It is the combined total moment of these forces, which the surfer uses in order to maintain the direction of the surfboard. The main problem that the conventional design of the surfboard presents is that at high speeds, on big waves, the antagonistic forces created between the fins 4, the board 5 and the convex edges 3 , causes the board to develop a speed wobble. This speed wobble reduces the surfers ability to control the direction of the surfboard effectively.

Also, it is impossible to control the direction of the conventional surfboard, without the presence of fins. Fins can present a danger of injury when involved in collisions with the surfer and other water users .

Fins can also restrict the potential for rotational movements (spins) and slides, which for freestyle surfing are both desirable movements. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a surfboard comprising a body defining a deck with a nose region, a tail region and a mid-region therebetween, wherein the mid-region has a minimum width dimension from one lateral edge of the deck to the other which is less than a maximum width dimension of the nose region. In other words, the widest part of the nose region is wider than the narrowest part of the mid-region. For example, the minimum width dimension of the mid-region may be at least about 70% of the maximum width dimension of the nose region.

The tail region may have a maximum width dimension (from one lateral edge of the deck to the other) which is greater than or equal to the minimum width dimension of the mid-region. In other words, the widest part of the tail region may be as wide or wider than the narrowest part of the mid-region. The maximum width dimension of the tail region may be less than or equal to the maximum width dimension of the nose region. In other words, the widest part of the tail region may be as wide or less wide than the widest part of the nose region. The lateral edges of the deck may be smoothly curved (curvilinear) at least in a first transition region from where the nose region is at its widest to where the mid- region is at its narrowest and/or in a second transition region from where the mid-region is at its narrowest to where the tail region is at its widest. Both lateral edges of the deck may have a concave profile in the first transition region and/or in the second transition region. When the concave profile is present in the first and second transition regions, the deck is said to have a waist, and the surfboard with such a waist is hereinafter referred to as a "parabolic surfboard" .

The parabolic surfboard uses a different system to a conventional surfboard to achieve directional control . By making the waist slimmer than the nose and tail regions, a concave arc (parabolic arc) is created through the length of the board, better know as a parabolic arc.

The parabolic surfboard can work with or without fins.

At speed, if pressure is applied to the edges of the surfboard the parabolic arc will cut into the surface of the wave and will grip and cause the board to turn or carve, left or right.

With fins, the parabolic edges, rather than antagonising, complement the action of the board and fins, through the turns at speed, creating smoother, more powerful, wobble-free turns, more suitable for the originally designed purpose, of big wave riding.

Also, the ability for the board to turn without fins enables the surfer to practise a new and unique style of finless surfing. The finless style had advantages in free style surfing, focussed mainly on rotations (spins) and slides .

With a parabolic surfboard, the nose region may be larger than the tail region (e.g. the widest part of the nose region may be greater than the widest part of the tail region) . In such a configuration, the concave arc of the mid-region will encourage the surfboard (at least when travelling at speed) to move in a tail-to-nose direction, in other words encouraging unidirectional movement. The wider the nose region in relation to the tail, the greater this unidirectional quality becomes. The unidirectional quality leans towards a more free ride, high speed carving, big wave style and environment of surfing. On the other hand, if the parabolic surfboard has a nose region and tail region of the same width (i.e. same maximum width dimensions) and shape [e.g. is symmetrical on either side of a notional line passing through the mid- region at its narrowest part) , the surfboard will lose its unidirectional quality. Instead, such a surfboard will be able to move in a tail-to-nose direction (forwards) and a nose-to-tail direction (backwards) with equal energy efficiency. Such a "dual-directional" quality is advantageous when surfing freestyle, when performing tricks and complicated manoeuvres, and more generally when surfing in a smaller wave environment.

The parabolic surfboard may be made in varying lengths and widths, to suit subtle changes in style, conditions and the size, weight, sex, age and competency of the user. The general limits of the lengths of the surfboard are between

1.5m and 3.7m (5 and 12 feet). The general limits of the width of the surfboard in the nose and tail regions are between 35cm and 64cm (14 and 25 inches) at its widest, and in the mid-region 30cm and 58cm (12 and 23 inches) at its narrowest .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a conventional surfboard;

Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view along line A-A through the first embodiment of Figure 2. DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Figure 2 shows schematically a surfboard 10 comprising a body 12 defining a deck 14 with a nose region 16, a tail region 18 and a mid-region 20 therebetween. The nose region 16 has a maximum width dimension (W_nmax) extending from one lateral edge 22 of the deck 14 to the other lateral edge 24 (in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A-A of the surfboard 10) . The mid-region 20 has a corresponding minimum width dimension (W_mmi_n) which is less than the maximum width dimension (W_nmax) of the nose region 16. The nose region 16 extends from tip 26 with a convex profile and includes the widest part of surfboard 10. The tail region 18 has a maximum width dimension (W_tmax) extending from one lateral edge of 22 of the deck 14 to the other lateral edge 24 which is greater than the mid-region minimum width dimension CW_mmi_n) , but less than the nose region maximum width dimension (W_nmax) . The tail region 18 extends from tail end 28 with a convex profile until the width of the surfboard 10 ceases to increase. As the lateral edges 22,24 of the deck 14 curve smoothly from tip

26 towards tail end 28, there is a first transition region

30 of concave curvature extending from where the nose region 16 is at its widest to where the mid-region 20 is at its narrowest. There is also a second transition region 32 of concave curvature extending from where the mid-region 20 is at its narrowest to where the tail region 18 is at its widest . The concave curvature of the first and second transition regions (30,32) approximates (at least in part) to a parabola. Each part of the concave curvature of the first and second transition regions 30,32 has a radius of curvature or arc radius which is related to the gradient of the parabola. If a circle was drawn, with an equal gradient to the parabola, the arc radius is the radius of that circle. For manufacturing purposes mere qualitative evaluation of the arc radius will satisfy. The smaller the arc radius, the higher the gradient of the parabola and the greater the carving effect of the parabolic edge will be. The arc radius can be adjusted by the manufacturer to suit the rider and conditions. For completeness, fins 40 are shown in Figure 2, but are not essential .

Figure 3 shows schematically a surfboard 50. Features of surfboard 50 in common with those of surfboard 10 share the same reference numbers. The surfboard 50 has nose and tail regions 16,18 of the same width. In other words, it is symmetrical both in length from tip 26 to tail end 28 (about axis A-A) and in width from the narrowest part of mid-region 20 (a notional line passing along W^i_n) .

Figure 4 illustrates schematically the camber of the surfboard 10. The camber remains as standard in conventional surfboards. In other words, the nose and tail regions 16,18 are elevated relative to the mid-region 20 in order to encourage planing qualities required to surf.

Claims

1. A surfboard comprising a body defining a deck with a nose region, a tail region and a mid-region therebetween, wherein the mid-region has a minimum width dimension from one lateral edge of the deck to the other which is less than a maximum width dimension of the nose region.

2. A surfboard according to claim 1, in which the tail region has a maximum width dimension from one lateral edge of the deck to the other which is greater than or equal to the minimum width dimension of the mid region.

3. A surfboard according to claim 2 , in which the maximum width dimension of the tail region is less than or equal to the maximum width dimension of the nose region.

4. A surfboard according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the lateral edges of the deck are smoothly curved at least in a first transition region from where the nose region is at its widest to where the mid-region is at its narrowest.

5. A surfboard according to claim 4, in which the lateral edges of the deck are smoothly curved in a second transition region from where the mid-region is at its narrowest to where the tail region is at its widest.

6. A surfboard according to claim 4 or claim 5, in which the nose region is larger than the tail region.

7. A surfboard according to claim 4 or claim 5, in which the nose region and tail region are of the same shape and width.

8. A surfboard according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the maximum width dimension of the nose region is in the range 35cm to 45 cm.

9. A surfboard according to claim 8, in which the minimum width dimension of the mid-region is in the range 30cm to 59cm.